Here’s Why We Think Federal Bank (NSE:FEDERALBNK) Is Well Worth Watching – Yahoo Finance

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Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase ‘the next big thing’, even if that means buying ‘story stocks’ without revenue, let alone profit. But as Warren Buffett has mused, ‘If you’ve been playing poker for half an hour and you still don’t know who the patsy is, you’re the patsy.’ When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy.

In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like Federal Bank (NSE:FEDERALBNK), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital – but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

See our latest analysis for Federal Bank

How Quickly Is Federal Bank Increasing Earnings Per Share?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually. It’s no surprise, then, that I like to invest in companies with EPS growth. It certainly is nice to see that Federal Bank has managed to grow EPS by 33% per year over three years. As a general rule, we’d say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be smiling.

I like to see top-line growth as an indication that growth is sustainable, and I look for a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin to point to a competitive moat (though some companies with low margins also have moats). Not all of Federal Bank’s revenue this year is revenue from operations, so keep in mind the revenue and margin numbers I’ve used might not be the best representation of the underlying business. While we note Federal Bank’s EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 23% to ₹48b. That’s a real positive.

The chart below shows how the company’s bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

You don’t drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Federal Bank’s future profits.

Are Federal Bank Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

I like company leaders to have some skin in the game, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. As a result, I’m encouraged by the fact that insiders own Federal Bank shares worth a considerable sum. Indeed, they have a glittering mountain of wealth invested in it, currently valued at ₹14b. This suggests to me that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders’ interests when making decisions!

Should You Add Federal Bank To Your Watchlist?

You can’t deny that Federal Bank has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That’s attractive. Further, the high level of insider buying impresses me, and suggests that I’m not the only one who appreciates the EPS growth. So this is very likely the kind of business that I like to spend time researching, with a view to discerning its true value. Of course, just because Federal Bank is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you’re wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.