Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?
One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Honeywell
The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:
- Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
- Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
- Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt.
- Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
- Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
- Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.
With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at Honeywell.
Factor |
What We Want to See |
Actual |
Pass or Fail? |
---|---|---|---|
Growth | 5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15% | 2.7% | Fail |
1-Year Revenue Growth > 12% | 8.3% | Fail | |
Margins | Gross Margin > 35% | 22% | Fail |
Net Margin > 15% | 6.1% | Fail | |
Balance Sheet | Debt to Equity < 50% | 66% | Fail |
Current Ratio > 1.3 | 1.30 | Pass | |
Opportunities | Return on Equity > 15% | 17.4% | Pass |
Valuation | Normalized P/E < 20 | 28.23 | Fail |
Dividends | Current Yield > 2% | 2.6% | Pass |
5-Year Dividend Growth > 10% | 8.7% | Fail | |
Total Score | 3 out of 10 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Honeywell last year, the company has lost two points. A jump of almost 30% in the shares helped boost valuation above critical levels, but decelerating revenue growth is of somewhat greater concern to the business.
Honeywell is tied closely to the aerospace industry. Producing a variety of different systems and components for both commercial and military aircraft, Honeywell's business is economically sensitive and also dependent in large part on government expenditures.
Conditions in the commercial area are extremely strong. Boeing
Still, Honeywell faces challenges. The same fears of a global slowdown that have hit United Technologies also represent a headwind to Honeywell's success. Moreover, competition is fierce, especially as companies with defense exposure do their best to broaden their markets and diversify away from exposure to cash-strapped government budgets. Cummins
Honeywell will have a tough time improving, because it desperately needs to improve margins despite having a lot of competition. A return to stable economic worldwide growth would go a long way toward restoring Honeywell's upward trajectory.
Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfect than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you'll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate out the best investments from the rest.
Honeywell investors can learn a lot from the challenges that conglomerate GE has had to overcome. Learn all about them in the Fool's premium report on General Electric. You can't afford to miss our top analysts' commentary. Try it out today.
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