The Lenta (LON:LNTA) share price is currently trading at 3.335. But given the uncertain economic outlook, the question now is what the future holds for it.
To try and predict where the Lenta price will head next, it's worth knowing its strengths and potential weaknesses. The promising news is that it appears to stack up well against some important financial and technical measures...
Specifically, it's a mid-cap share with exposure to two influential drivers of investment returns in the stock market: high quality and strong momentum.
Quality and momentum are highly prized among investors. Good quality stocks are more likely to be resilient, cash-generating businesses that can compound investment returns over time. Strong momentum in price and earnings is a pointer to stocks with positive trends with the potential to continue.
To understand why quality and momentum are so important in a share like Lenta, here's a close-up view:
Why quality matters...
When it comes to stock analysis, company quality tends to show up in high profitability and strong industry-leading margins. These kinds of firms are stable, growing and often have accelerating sales and earnings. They also have strong and improving financial histories with no signs of accountancy or bankruptcy risk.
One of the quality metrics for Lenta is its 5-year Return on Capital Employed, which is 14.3%. Good, double-digit ROCEs can be a pointer to companies that can grow very profitably.
...and why momentum is so powerful
Positive momentum trends show up in share prices and earnings growth. You can find the clues in stocks that are trading close to their 52 week high prices and outperforming the market. They’ll often be beating broker estimates and getting forecast upgrades and recommendation changes.
This is appears to be the case at Lenta, where the share price has seen a 29.4% return relative to the market over the past 12 months. Market volatility and economic uncertainty can be a major drag on momentum, but previously strong stocks can be quick to recover when confidence returns.
In summary, good quality and momentum are pointers to some of the best stocks on the strongest uptrends. This combination of factors can be a clue to finding shares that can compound investment returns over many years.
In good times, these shares can become expensive to buy. But in volatile markets, there may be chances to buy them at cheaper prices.
What does this mean for potential investors?
Finding good quality stocks with strong momentum behind them is a strategy used by some of the world's most successful investors. But be warned: these factors don't guarantee future returns and we've identified some areas of concern with Lenta.
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for information purposes only. The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. The author has no position in the stocks mentioned, unless otherwise stated.