These days it's easy to simply buy an index fund, and your returns should (roughly) match the market. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) share price is up 58% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market return of around 23% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. Zooming out, the stock is actually down 26% in the last three years.

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 1 year and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Burlington Stores was able to grow EPS by 58% in the last twelve months. This EPS growth is remarkably close to the 58% increase in the share price. This makes us think the market hasn't really changed its sentiment around the company, in the last year. It makes intuitive sense that the share price and EPS would grow at similar rates.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Burlington Stores has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? Check if analysts think Burlington Stores will grow revenue in the future.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Burlington Stores shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 58% over the last year. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 7% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Burlington Stores better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Burlington Stores .

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

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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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com