We're definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. Anyone who held La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ:LJPC) for five years would be nursing their metaphorical wounds since the share price dropped 79% in that time.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

Check out our latest analysis for La Jolla Pharmaceutical

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect 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.

During five years of share price growth, La Jolla Pharmaceutical moved from a loss to profitability. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics may better explain the share price move.

Revenue is actually up 69% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We know that La Jolla Pharmaceutical has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at La Jolla Pharmaceutical's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 32% in the last year, La Jolla Pharmaceutical shareholders lost 5.9%. 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. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 12% doled out over the last five years. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with La Jolla Pharmaceutical (at least 2 which make us uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.