Standex has had an impressive run over the past six months as its shares have beaten the S&P 500 by 11.9%. The stock now trades at $186.01, marking a 18.2% gain. This run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.

Is now the time to buy Standex, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, it’s free.

Despite the momentum, we're swiping left on Standex for now. Here are two reasons why we avoid SXI and a stock we'd rather own.

Why Is Standex Not Exciting?

Holding over 500 patents globally, Standex (NYSE:SXI) is a manufacturer and distributor of industrial components for various sectors.

1. Long-Term Revenue Growth Disappoints

Reviewing a company’s long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can have short-term success, but a top-tier one grows for years. Unfortunately, Standex’s 3.2% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was sluggish. This fell short of our benchmark for the industrials sector.

2. Recent EPS Growth Below Our Standards

Although long-term earnings trends give us the big picture, we like to analyze EPS over a shorter period to see if we are missing a change in the business.

Standex’s EPS grew at an unimpressive 6.9% compounded annual growth rate over the last two years. On the bright side, this performance was higher than its 2.3% annualized revenue declines and tells us management adapted its cost structure in response to a challenging demand environment.

Final Judgment

Standex’s business quality ultimately falls short of our standards. With its shares outperforming the market lately, the stock trades at 24.1× forward price-to-earnings (or $186.01 per share). This multiple tells us a lot of good news is priced in - you can find better investment opportunities elsewhere. We’d recommend looking at KLA Corporation, a picks and shovels play for semiconductor manufacturing.

Stocks We Would Buy Instead of Standex

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