A Quality Exec Comp Plan Lowers The Risk Of Investing In Commercial Metals Company

Recap From February’s Picks

The Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio (-6.6%) underperformed the S&P 500 (-5.3%) from February 11, 2022, through March 14, 2022. The best performing stock in the portfolio was up 15%. Overall, seven out of the 15 Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Stocks outperformed the S&P 500 from February 11, 2022, through March 14, 2022.

This Model Portfolio only includes stocks that earn an attractive or very attractive rating and align executive compensation with improving ROIC. I think this combination provides a uniquely well-screened list of long ideas because return on invested capital (ROIC) is the primary driver of shareholder value creation.

New Stock Feature for March: Commercial Metals Company

Commercial Metals Company (CMC) is the featured stock in March’s Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio.

Commercial Metals Company has grown revenue and net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) by 8% and 31% compounded annually, respectively, over the past five years, per Figure 1. The company’s NOPAT margin rose from 3% in fiscal 2016 (FYE is 8/31) to 8% over the trailing twelve months (TTM), while invested capital turns improved from 1.5 to 1.8 over the same time. Rising NOPAT margins and invested capital turns drove the company’s ROIC from 4% in fiscal 2016 to 15% TTM.

Figure 1: Commercial Metals Company’s NOPAT & Revenue Growth: Fiscal 2016 – TTM

Executive Compensation Properly Aligns Executive Incentives

Commercial Metals Company’s executive compensation plan aligns executives’ interests with shareholders’ interests by tying its annual cash bonus to the achievement of a target ROIC. Furthermore, 75% of executives’ performance share units (PSUs) are tied to the achievement of a positive three-year ROIC.

Commercial Metals Company’s inclusion of ROIC as a performance goal has helped create shareholder value through rising ROIC and economic earnings. Commercial Metals Company’s ROIC improved from 4% in fiscal 2016 to 15% TTM, and the company’s economic earnings grew from -$45 million to $376 million over the same period.

Figure 2: Commercial Metals Company’s ROIC: Fiscal 2016 – TTM

Commercial Metals Company Is Undervalued

At its current price of $41/share, CMC has a price-to-economic book value (PEBV) ratio of 0.6. This ratio means the market expects Commercial Metals Company’s NOPAT to permanently decline by 40%. This expectation seems overly pessimistic for a company that has grown NOPAT by 5% compounded annually over the past two decades.

If Commercial Metals Company’s NOPAT margin falls to 7% (equal to fiscal 2021 vs. 8% TTM) and the company’s NOPAT grows by just 3% compounded annually over the next 10 years, the stock is worth $59/share today – a 44% upside. See the math behind this reverse DCF scenario. Should the company’s NOPAT grow more in line with historical growth rates, the stock has even more upside.

Critical Details Found in Financial Filings by My Firm’s Robo-Analyst Technology

Below are specifics on the adjustments I make based on Robo-Analyst findings in Commercial Metals Company’s 10-Q’s and 10-K:

Income Statement: I made $111 million in adjustments, with a net effect of removing $50 million in non-operating expenses (1% of revenue).

Balance Sheet: I made $1.3 billion in adjustments to calculate invested capital with a net increase of $264 million. One of the largest adjustments was $540 million (15% of reported net assets) in asset write-downs.

Valuation: I made $1.4 billion in adjustments with a net effect of decreasing shareholder value by $1.2 billion. Apart from total debt, the most notable adjustment to shareholder value was $85 million in deferred tax liabilities. This adjustment represents 2% of Commercial Metals Company’s market cap.

Disclosure: David Trainer, Kyle Guske II, and Matt Shuler receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, style, or theme.