Two new stocks make April’s Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio, available to members as of April 12, 2019.
The success of this Model Portfolio highlights the value of our Robo-Analyst technology[1], which scales our forensic accounting expertise (featured in Barron’s) across thousands of stocks.
This Model Portfolio only includes stocks that earn an Attractive or Very Attractive rating and align executive compensation with improving ROIC. We 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.[2]
New Stock Feature for April: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc
Cracker Barrel (CBRL) is the featured stock in April’s Exec Comp Aligned with ROIC Model Portfolio. We previously highlighted CBRL in our November 2018 report and made it a Long Idea in March 2017. This position was closed in June 2018. However, CBRL is underperforming the S&P 500 (-3% vs. S&P 16%) this year and looks undervalued again.
Over the past decade, CBRL has grown revenue by 3% compounded annually and after-tax operating profit (NOPAT) by 7% compounded annually. CBRL has grown profits faster than revenue by improving its NOPAT margin from 5% in 2009 to 8% in the trailing twelve months (TTM). Further highlighting the strength of its business, CBRL has generated cumulative free cash flow (FCF) of $752 million (20% of market cap) over the past five years.
Figure 1: CBRL’s Revenue & NOPAT Since 2009
Image Source: New Constructs, LLC
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
Executive Compensation Plan Helps Drive Shareholder Value Creation
CBRL has included ROIC as a performance metric in its executive compensation plan since 2011. Last year, 50% of CBRL’s long-term performance incentive program was tied to the achievement of a target ROIC.
The focus on return on invested capital helps ensure intelligent capital allocation. Since adding ROIC to its compensation plan in 2011, CBRL has improved ROIC from 9% to 14% TTM. CBRL’s executive compensation plan lowers the risk of investing in the company’s stock because we know executives’ interests are tied to shareholders’ interests.
CBRL Provides Significant Upside Potential
At its current price of $155/share, CBRL has a price-to-economic book value (PEBV) ratio of 0.9. This ratio means the market expects CBRL’s NOPAT to permanently decline by 10%. This expectation seems pessimistic given that CBRL has grown NOPAT by 7% compounded annually since 2009.
If CBRL can maintain TTM NOPAT margins (8%) and grow NOPAT by just 4% compounded annually, the stock is worth $234/share today – a 53% upside. See the math behind this dynamic DCF scenario.
Critical Details Found in Financial Filings by Our Robo-Analyst Technology
As investors focus more on fundamental research, research automation technology is needed to analyze all the critical financial details in financial filings. Below are specifics on the adjustments we make based on Robo-Analyst findings in CBRL’s 2018 10-K:
Income Statement: we made $97 million of adjustments, with a net effect of removing $7 million in non-operating income (<1% of revenue). You can see all the adjustments made to CBRL’s income statement here.
Balance Sheet: we made $584 million of adjustments to calculate invested capital with a net increase of $482 million. One of the largest adjustments was $451 million in to operating leases. This adjustment represented 39% of reported net assets. You can see all the adjustments made to CBRL’s balance sheet here.
Valuation: we made $918 million of adjustments with a net effect of decreasing shareholder value by $886 million. Apart from total debt, which includes the operating leases noted above, one of the largest adjustments to shareholder value was $51 million in net deferred tax liability. This tax adjustment represents 1% of CBRL’s market cap. See all adjustments to CBRL’s valuation here.
This article originally published on April 17, 2019.
Disclosure: David Trainer, Kyle Guske II, Sam McBride, and Andrew Gallagher receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, style, or theme.
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[1] Harvard Business School features the powerful impact of our research automation technology in the case New Constructs: Disrupting Fundamental Analysis with Robo-Analysts.
[2] Ernst & Young’s recent white paper “Getting ROIC Right” demonstrates the superiority of our stock research and analytics.
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