Although AMC Networks (currently trading at $7.56 per share) has gained 7.8% over the last six months, it has trailed the S&P 500’s 17.4% return during that period. This may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.

Is now the time to buy AMC Networks, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Dive into our full research report to see our analyst team’s opinion, it’s free.

Why Do We Think AMC Networks Will Underperform?

We're cautious about AMC Networks. Here are three reasons there are better opportunities than AMCX and a stock we'd rather own.

1. Revenue Spiraling Downwards

A company’s long-term sales performance can indicate its overall quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. AMC Networks struggled to consistently generate demand over the last five years as its sales dropped at a 4% annual rate. This was below our standards and signals it’s a low quality business.

2. EPS Trending Down

We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) because it highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable.

Sadly for AMC Networks, its EPS declined by 18.9% annually over the last five years, more than its revenue. This tells us the company struggled because its fixed cost base made it difficult to adjust to shrinking demand.

3. New Investments Fail to Bear Fruit as ROIC Declines

A company’s ROIC, or return on invested capital, shows how much operating profit it makes compared to the money it has raised (debt and equity).

We like to invest in businesses with high returns, but the trend in a company’s ROIC is what often surprises the market and moves the stock price. Over the last few years, AMC Networks’s ROIC has unfortunately decreased significantly. Paired with its already low returns, these declines suggest its profitable growth opportunities are few and far between.

Final Judgment

We see the value of companies helping consumers, but in the case of AMC Networks, we’re out. With its shares trailing the market in recent months, the stock trades at 2.5× forward P/E (or $7.56 per share). While this valuation is optically cheap, the potential downside is huge given its shaky fundamentals. There are better stocks to buy right now. Let us point you toward one of our top software and edge computing picks.

Stocks We Would Buy Instead of AMC Networks

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