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Such Is Life: How Riverside Resources (CVE:RRI) Shareholders Saw Their Shares Drop 64%

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Riverside Resources Inc. (CVE:RRI) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 14% in the last month. But over the last three years we've seen a quite serious decline. Indeed, the share price is down a tragic 64% in the last three years. So the improvement may be a real relief to some. While many would remain nervous, there could be further gains if the business can put its best foot forward.

Check out our latest analysis for Riverside Resources

Riverside Resources didn't have any revenue in the last year, so it's fair to say it doesn't yet have a proven product (or at least not one people are paying for). You have to wonder why venture capitalists aren't funding it. As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. It seems likely some shareholders believe that Riverside Resources will find or develop a valuable new mine before too long.

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As a general rule, if a company doesn't have much revenue, and it loses money, then it is a high risk investment. There is usually a significant chance that they will need more money for business development, putting them at the mercy of capital markets. So the share price itself impacts the value of the shares (as it determines the cost of capital). While some companies like this go on to deliver on their plan, making good money for shareholders, many end in painful losses and eventual de-listing. Riverside Resources has already given some investors a taste of the bitter losses that high risk investing can cause.

When it last reported its balance sheet in March 2019, Riverside Resources could boast a strong position, with cash in excess of all liabilities of CA$5.1m. That allows management to focus on growing the business, and not worry too much about raising capital. But since the share price has dropped 29% per year, over 3 years, it seems like the market might have been over-excited previously. You can click on the image below to see (in greater detail) how Riverside Resources's cash levels have changed over time. The image below shows how Riverside Resources's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image.

TSXV:RRI Historical Debt, July 19th 2019
TSXV:RRI Historical Debt, July 19th 2019

It can be extremely risky to invest in a company that doesn't even have revenue. There's no way to know its value easily. Would it bother you if insiders were selling the stock? I would feel more nervous about the company if that were so. You can click here to see if there are insiders selling.

A Different Perspective

Riverside Resources shareholders are down 42% for the year, but the market itself is up 0.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 18% per year over five years. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. Most investors take the time to check the data on insider transactions. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

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 CA exchanges.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.