After reading ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.’s (TSX:ATA) most recent earnings announcement (29 December 2020), I found it useful to look back at how the company has performed in the past and compare this against the latest numbers. As a long-term investor I tend to focus on earnings trend, rather than a single number at one point in time. Also, comparing it against an industry benchmark to understand whether it outperformed, or is simply riding an industry wave, is a crucial aspect. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways.
View our latest analysis for ATS Automation Tooling Systems
Did ATA perform worse than its track record and industry?
ATA’s trailing twelve-month earnings (from 29 December 2020) of CA$58m has declined by -14% compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 13%, indicating the rate at which ATA is growing has slowed down. Why is this? Well, let’s take a look at what’s transpiring with margins and whether the rest of the industry is experiencing the hit as well.
TSX:ATA Income Statement, February 7th 2020
In terms of returns from investment, ATS Automation Tooling Systems has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 7.0% instead.
What does this mean?
While past data is useful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Companies that are profitable, but have unpredictable earnings, can have many factors influencing its business. You should continue to research ATS Automation Tooling Systems to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:
- Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for ATA’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for ATA’s outlook.
- Financial Health: Are ATA’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here.
- Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.
NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 29 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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