While Graham Corporation (NYSE:GHM) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn’t had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 24% in the last quarter. But that doesn’t change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been very strong. Indeed, the share price is up a very strong 281% in that time. It’s not uncommon to see a share price retrace a bit, after a big gain. If the business can perform well for years to come, then the recent drop could be an opportunity.

So let’s investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business’ progress.

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Graham became profitable within the last three years. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here.

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

We know that Graham has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? This free interactive report on Graham’s balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

We’re pleased to report that Graham shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 15% over one year. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 22% a year, is even better. The pessimistic view would be that be that the stock has its best days behind it, but on the other hand the price might simply be moderating while the business itself continues to execute. Is Graham cheap compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.

But note: Graham may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

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.