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. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ:IDXX). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.

Our free stock report includes 1 warning sign investors should be aware of before investing in IDEXX Laboratories. Read for free now.

How Quickly Is IDEXX Laboratories Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS) outcomes. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Over the last three years, IDEXX Laboratories has grown EPS by 7.8% per year. While that sort of growth rate isn't anything to write home about, it does show the business is growing.

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. EBIT margins for IDEXX Laboratories remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 6.5% to US$3.9b. That's a real positive.

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.

Check out our latest analysis for IDEXX Laboratories

Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of IDEXX Laboratories' future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.

Are IDEXX Laboratories Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Since IDEXX Laboratories has a market capitalisation of US$35b, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. Notably, they have an enviable stake in the company, worth US$342m. While that is a lot of skin in the game, we note this holding only totals to 1.0% of the business, which is a result of the company being so large. This still shows shareholders there is a degree of alignment between management and themselves.

Does IDEXX Laboratories Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

One positive for IDEXX Laboratories is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. For those who are looking for a little more than this, the high level of insider ownership enhances our enthusiasm for this growth. That combination is very appealing. So yes, we do think the stock is worth keeping an eye on. Before you take the next step you should know about the 1 warning sign for IDEXX Laboratories that we have uncovered.

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a tailored list of companies which have demonstrated growth backed by significant insider holdings.

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.