For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit.  Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson.  Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Janus International Group (NYSE:JBI), which has not only revenues, but also profits.  Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business.

How Fast Is Janus International Group Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Even modest earnings per share growth (EPS) can create meaningful value, when it is sustained reliably from year to year.  So it's no surprise that some investors are more inclined to invest in profitable businesses.    Janus International Group's EPS shot up from US$0.73 to US$0.92; a result that's bound to keep shareholders happy.  That's a impressive gain of 26%.  

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth.    Janus International Group shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 18% to 23%, and revenue is growing.  Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth.  

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below.  Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

NYSE:JBI Earnings and Revenue History April 18th 2024

The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don't exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Janus International Group's future EPS 100% free.  

Are Janus International Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It's a necessity that company leaders act in the best interest of shareholders and so insider investment always comes as a reassurance to the market.  So it is good to see that Janus International Group insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock.     We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$145m.   This suggests that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!  

It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable?  A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are.    The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Janus International Group, with market caps between US$1.0b and US$3.2b, is around US$5.5m.  

The Janus International Group CEO received US$3.6m in compensation for the year ending December 2022.  That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies.   While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind.  It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Is Janus International Group Worth Keeping An Eye On?

For growth investors, Janus International Group's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night.   If that's not enough, consider also that the CEO pay is quite reasonable, and insiders are well-invested alongside other shareholders.  The overarching message here is that Janus International Group has underlying strengths that make it worth a look at.     We should say that we've discovered 1 warning sign for Janus International Group that you should be aware of before investing here.  

While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in the US with promising growth potential and insider confidence.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.