One new stock makes September’s Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio, available to members as of September 14, 2023.
Recap from August Picks
Our Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio (-0.8%) underperformed the S&P 500 (+1.4%) from August 16, 2023 through September 12, 2023. The best performing stock in the portfolio was up 8%. Overall, 5 out of the 15 Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Stocks outperformed the S&P from August 16, 2023 through September 12, 2023.
This report leverages our cutting-edge Robo-Analyst technology to deliver proven-superior[1] fundamental research and support more cost-effective fulfillment of the fiduciary duty of care.
This Model Portfolio includes stocks that earn an Attractive or Very Attractive rating and align executive compensation with improving ROIC. This combination provides a unique list of long ideas as the primary driver of shareholder value creation is return on invested capital (ROIC).
New Stock Feature for September: John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS: $102/share)
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS) is the featured stock in September’s Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio.
John B. Sanfilippo & Son has grown revenue and net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) by 3% and 10% compounded annually, respectively, since fiscal 2013. The company’s NOPAT margin improved from 4% in fiscal 2013 to 7% in fiscal 2023 (year-ended June 29, 2023), while invested capital turns rose from 2.3 to 2.7 over the same time. Rising NOPAT margins and invested capital turns drive the company’s return on invested capital (ROIC) from 8% in fiscal 2013 to 18% in fiscal 2023.
Figure 1: John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s Revenue & NOPAT: Fiscal 2013 – Fiscal 2023
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
Executive Compensation Properly Aligns Incentives
John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s executive compensation plan aligns the interests of executives and shareholders by tying the payout of cash awards to a targeted improvement in economic profit, which is similar to our calculation of economic earnings.
The company’s inclusion of economic profit as a performance goal has helped create shareholder value by driving higher ROIC and economic earnings. When we calculate ROIC using our superior fundamental data, we find that John B. Sanfilippo and Son’s ROIC has increased from 8% in fiscal 2013 to 18% in fiscal 2023. Economic earnings rose from $18 million to $44 million over the same time.
Figure 2: John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s ROIC: Fiscal 2013 – Fiscal 2023
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
JBSS Has Further Upside
At the current price of $102/share, JBSS has a price-to-economic book value (PEBV) ratio of 1.2. Though the company’s PEBV ratio is higher than other featured stocks, the stock still holds upside.
If we assume John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s NOPAT margin remains at 7% and the company grows revenue by 4% compounded annually (vs. 11% in fiscal 2022 and 5% in fiscal 2023) over the next decade, the stock would be worth $122/share today – a 20% upside. See the math behind this reverse DCF scenario. In this scenario, John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s NOPAT grows 4% compounded annually through 2033.
For reference, John B, Sanfilippo & Son has grown NOPAT by 10% compounded annually since 2013. Should the company grow NOPAT more in line with historical growth rates, the stock has even more upside.
Critical Details Found in Financial Filings by Our Robo-Analyst Technology
Below are specifics on the adjustments we made based on Robo-Analyst findings in John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s 10-K:
Income Statement: we made $7 million in adjustments with a net effect of removing $3 million in non-operating expenses (<1% of revenue). Clients can see all adjustments made to John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s income statement on the GAAP Reconciliation tab on the Ratings page on our website.
Balance Sheet: we made $32 million in adjustments to calculate invested capital with a net increase of $24 million. One of the largest adjustments was $9 million (3% of reported net assets) in asset write-downs. Clients can see all adjustments made to John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s balance sheet on the GAAP Reconciliation tab on the Ratings page on our website.
Valuation: we made $43 million in adjustments, all of which decreased shareholder value. The largest adjustment to shareholder value was $28 million in underfunded pensions. This adjustment represents 2% of John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s market value. Clients can see all adjustments to John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s valuation on the GAAP Reconciliation tab on the Ratings page on our website.
This article was originally published on September 18, 2023.
Disclosure: Kyle Guske II owns JBSS. David Trainer, Kyle Guske II, Italo Mendonca, and Hakan Salt receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, style, or theme.
Questions on this report or others? Join our Society of Intelligent Investors and connect with us directly.
[1] Our research utilizes our Core Earnings, a more reliable measure of profits, as proven in Core Earnings: New Data & Evidence, written by professors at Harvard Business School (HBS) & MIT Sloan and published in The Journal of Financial Economics.