Does Plus500 (LON:PLUS) have an economic moat?

Does Plus500 (LON:PLUS) have an economic moat?

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Given the current volatility investors face, it is more important than ever to identify high quality stocks over speculative ones with weak fundamentals. This means safe, profitable companies with strong balance sheets.

When it comes to investing, it pays over the long-term to buy and hold the best quality companies possible, because these elite stocks can resist competitive threats year-in, year-out, while competitors fail. This cycle of consistent outperformance and reinvestment can lead to incredible compounding returns.

In this article, I'm going to tell you what makes these stocks so special - let's take Plus500 (LON:PLUS) as an example. Plus500 is a speculative, mid cap in the Financial & Commodity Market Operators industry.

How to spot moat indicators

Moats are desirable because they often guarantee a sustainable competitive advantage. But there are several ways that companies can get them. For example, they might have:

  • Intangible Assets - Such as brands that customers love, valuable patents or regulatory approvals
  • Switching Costs - It might be too costly, complicated or unnecessary for customers to look elsewhere
  • Network Effects - When customers become part of a product it creates tremendously powerful businesses
  • Cost Advantages - Superior processes and unique locations and assets make it hard for others to compete
  • Great Scale - Large infrastructure and distribution networks are powerful barriers to entry in many industries

Has Plus500 (LON:PLUS) got a moat?

When it comes to searching for companies with moats, some of the biggest clues actually lie in their financial statements. By looking at a small number of important ratios you can get an idea about the competitive strength and profit power in a business.

Here's what they are and why they are important - and how Plus500 stacks up against them:

  1. High rates of Free Cash Flow - the measure of a thriving company.
    - A high ratio of free cash flow to sales can be a very positive sign. For Plus500, the figure is an impressive 35.9%.
  2. High Return on Capital Employed - the measure of a company growing efficiently and profitably.
    - A 5-year average ROCE of more than 12 percent is a pointer to strong efficiency. For Plus500, the figure is an eye-catching 116.7%.
  3. High Return on Equity (compared to peers) - the measure of a company making good profits from its assets.
    - Plus500 has a 5-year average ROE of 98.2%.
  4. High Operating Margins (compared to peers) - the measure of a company with pricing power
    - Plus500 has a 5-year average operating margin of 55.4%.

What does this mean for potential investors?

Some of the best quality stocks in the market have defensible models that can deliver high levels of shareholder returns over the long term. But there are no guarantees and it's important to do your own research. Indeed, we've identified some areas of concern with Plus500 that you can find out about here.


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