EMC Corp. (NYSE:EMC)

The analysis of the financial data reveals several notable trends in the company's performance and market valuation over the examined periods.

Share Price Trend

The share price exhibited fluctuations with an overall upward movement from 2006 to 2016. Initially, the share price slightly decreased from $14.14 in 2006 to $13.75 in 2007, followed by a moderate increase reaching $15.54 in 2008. A significant decline occurred in 2009, dropping to $10.14, likely reflecting adverse market or company-specific events. Subsequent years showed a recovery and growth trend, peaking at $28.94 in 2015, before experiencing a decline to $25.93 in 2016.

Operating Profit per Share (OPPS)

The operating profit per share demonstrated a positive growth trajectory over the period. Starting from $0.62 in 2006, OPPS experienced minor fluctuations in the initial years but generally rose, peaking at $2.05 in 2014. This upward trend signals improving operational efficiency or increased profitability. Notably, there was a decline in OPPS to $1.46 by 2016, indicating a possible reduction in operating profit or increased share count affecting per-share values.

Price to Operating Profit Ratio (P/OP)

The P/OP ratio, representing the market's valuation of operating profit, showed considerable variation across the years. The ratio started high at 22.7 in 2006, indicating a relatively high market price compared with operating profits. It decreased to a low of 12.36 in 2013, suggesting improving operating profitability relative to share price or market revaluation. However, the ratio rose again in subsequent years, reaching 17.77 in 2016, implying that share price increased relative to operating profits or that profitability hampered the ratio improvement.

Overall Observations

The data suggests the company experienced volatility in share price, with a notable drop around 2009, which could relate to broader economic conditions. Operating profit per share improved consistently until mid-decade before declining slightly. Market valuation, as indicated by P/OP, reflects changing investor perceptions, fluctuating between optimism and cautious valuation of the company's earnings capability. The rise in share price alongside increasing operating profits until around 2014 indicates positive market sentiment, although the subsequent profit per share decline and rising P/OP ratio by 2016 may warrant further inquiry into operational challenges or market dynamics.