While the broader market has struggled with the S&P 500 down 1.6% since October 2024, Rollins has surged ahead as its stock price has climbed by 8.4% to $54.59 per share. This performance may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Is now still a good time to buy ROL? Or are investors being too optimistic? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Why Is Rollins a Good Business?
Operating under multiple brands like Orkin and HomeTeam Pest Defense, Rollins (NYSE: ROL) provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers.
1. Skyrocketing Revenue Shows Strong Momentum
Examining a company’s long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can experience short-term success, but top-performing ones enjoy sustained growth for years. Luckily, Rollins’s sales grew at an impressive 11% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. Its growth surpassed the average industrials company and shows its offerings resonate with customers. 
2. Elite Gross Margin Powers Best-In-Class Business Model
All else equal, we prefer higher gross margins because they make it easier to generate more operating profits and indicate that a company commands pricing power by offering more differentiated products.
Rollins has best-in-class unit economics for an industrials company, enabling it to invest in areas such as research and development. Its margin also signals it sells differentiated products, not commodities. As you can see below, it averaged an elite 52% gross margin over the last five years. That means Rollins only paid its suppliers $47.97 for every $100 in revenue. 
3. Excellent Free Cash Flow Margin Boosts Reinvestment Potential
Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king.
Rollins has shown terrific cash profitability, putting it in an advantageous position to invest in new products, return capital to investors, and consolidate the market during industry downturns. The company’s free cash flow margin was among the best in the industrials sector, averaging 16.7% over the last five years.
Final Judgment
These are just a few reasons why we think Rollins is a great business, and with its shares beating the market recently, the stock trades at 48.9× forward price-to-earnings (or $54.59 per share). Is now a good time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More Than Rollins
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.
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Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
