EnPro Industries' Shares Surged: What You Need to Know

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of industrial engineering specialist EnPro Industries (NYS: NPO) blinded Mr. Market with science today, jumping as much as 12.1% according to some market trackers but only 8% according to others. Either way, trading volumes were high and the jump still impressive.

So what:EnPro insiders have been buying the stock over the summer, and now we know why: The third-quarter report trounced analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines. The fourth-quarter outlook also blasted Wall Street's expectations out of the water.

Now what: Whichever of the reported jump levels you look at, EnPro deserved every bit of it and then some. The company's operating margins are much stronger than those of rivals Federal-Mogul (NAS: FDML) and Meritor (NYS: MTOR) , and fully in class with industry giant Caterpillar (NYS: CAT) . Shares trade at a premium to the rest of the industry, but sometimes you get exactly what you pay for: The bottom-line growth in spite of the very mature industry is out of control.

Interested in more info about EnPro Industries? Add it to My Watchlist.

At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributorAnders Bylundholds no position in any of the companies mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinion, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Check outAnders' holdings and bio, or follow him onTwitterandGoogle+. We have adisclosure policy.

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