It is the responsibility of company executives to plan for the future of the company. We often don't realize that companies are ultimately run by people. Because of this evaluation that "there are no bad companies, only bad managers", the quality of management is often overlooked.
On the other hand, management quality is not quantifiable, and unfortunately, we cannot judge each management level by internal interactions. But despite this, there are still quite a few factors that can help investors assess the quality of management. They are as follows:
The first step in assessing the quality of management is to understand the background of the top management. This will include their accomplishments, the performance of the companies under their name, and any other relevant information.
If they have achieved good and steady growth in their business over a considerable period of time (10 years), this could be a testament to their leadership skills. On the other hand, if we see negative news about management, it is best to stay away from individuals. Fortunately, thanks to the development of technology, this can be done simply by Googling the individual's name. This information can also be used to assess the competence of sponsors and managers.
It is also important to note the shares held by the promoter in the company. A promoter holding 50% or more of the company's shares is a good sign. On the other hand, if the promoter has a small stake in the company and there is news that they may continue to sell out**, this is a red flag. Another sign could be the holdings of institutional investors. You can find any public company held by the promoter on the Trade Brains Portal.
In order to analyze the management of any company that invests in it, it is very important to plan future plans, strategies, and goals. To do this, simply start with the company's vision, mission, and value statement.
Together, the mission and vision guide the development of the strategy, help communicate the company's purpose to shareholders, and inform the goals set to determine if the strategy is on track. Therefore, these future statements defined for the company can help investors decide whether to choose one to invest in India.
The remuneration paid to managers is published through the annual report. This parameter gives us an in-depth understanding of the manager's goals. One of the main factors to look for here is the proportion of management compensation growth compared to profits.
If the company is not doing well in terms of profits, but the CEO gets a raise, it is a sign of poor leadership. In addition, a percentage increase in compensation that is higher than a percentage increase in profit is another red flag. One can also compare the salaries of CEOs in the same industry to see the differences.
Also, investigate the benefits of your employees. If the company provides good benefits to its employees, then it is also a sign of good management. A company's performance is largely determined by the performance of its employees. Happy employees do their best. However, if there are ongoing strikes or demands for increased unions, then it means that the management is unable to meet the needs of its workers and employees. Such cases are a bad sign for the company's investors.
Communication and transparency are the most important factors in evaluation management. Integrity management is the key to the company's growth. It is the responsibility of management to provide "fair" quarterly and annual results to shareholders.
As the management proudly announces the company's good results;Similarly, when performance is poor, management should step up and explain the reasons to shareholders. Good management always maintains transparency in the organization.
In 2018, Elon Musk tweeted: "I'm considering taking Tesla private for $420. However, this was wrong, and Musk later had to live with the consequences of the regulators. This is an example of miscommunication.
As a senior member of the company, it is important that CEOs communicate information truthfully, do not hide or manipulate information, and do not do what is seen above.
It is also important to conduct background checks on other people in key positions. This includes the Board of Directors, Chairman, Independent Directors, etc. While they may bring significant administrative experience. This position is sometimes in exchange for other benefits like approvals, etc.
Usually the stock price is used to measure the success of the manager. While managers are expected to create wealth for investors, it is unwise for top management to make decisions based solely on share prices.
Top management's obsession with stock prices is a red flag. If there is an impact on shareholders in the short term, these managers may not make decisions that may be better in the long run. It is also important to note that a company's share price is a symbol of market power.
Another important part of the annual report is "related party transactions". This part represents the company's transactions with other entities of the promoter or the entities, joint ventures, etc. of its relatives. If the promoter profits from the company at the expense of other shareholders, the promoter's behavior is unethical.
The annual report also includes sections such as "Directors' Report" and "Management Discussion and Analysis". These reports show management's plans and outlook on the future of the business.
Capital allocation is the way management uses a company's free cash flow. These measures include reinvesting in businesses, paying dividends, holding in cash, etc. The CEO's skills also depend on how he manages cash to keep investors happy and the business growing.
Generally, a business's cash is generated through profits. But when receiving dividends, investors must also determine the amount of dividends**. In 2014, companies such as L&T and Hindalco paid dividends even as the ratio of the company's net debt to EBITDA increased.
The promoters of the company know the company's performance best. Management and upper echelons** can understand the future of the company, and they are mostly right if they believe that the company will perform well in the future. Therefore, the purchase and repurchase of the promoter is a signal that the owner retains confidence in the future of the company.
In addition, another case, in which the promoter or CEO **part of it**, is an independent activity and cannot be considered a bad signal. We can't judge the future of a company just because the promoters occasionally **minority**. Perhaps, the promoter needs funds to start another venture, buy a new house or enjoy a vacation. Everyone has the right to be the founder, when they need it most.
In short, the promoter's purchase and repurchase is a signal of a good company. However, the future of the company cannot be judged because of the promoter's **part**. "In any case, if the promoter sells heavily in succession without explaining the reason, then further investigation is needed.
In this article, we have discussed how to analyze the management of a company that invests in any**. The importance of the quality management team cannot be overstated. This is also an important part of qualitative analysis. Thinking only about financial results doesn't give us the full picture of our business. Using the above factors will give us a clearer picture of the business.
This article** is from Snow Beast Software.
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