November 23, 2023
Top 10 Stock ACEA Sell Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: ACEA – Top 10 Stock in Energy Efficency Leaders
ACEA is listed as a top 10 stock on November 23, 2023 in the market index Energy Efficient because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only the Obermatt Value Rank exhibits above-average performance, which means that the stock is seen as critical by the professional community and other financial facts are below average, conveying mixed investment signals. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 22 (22% performer), Obermatt issues an overall sell recommendation for ACEA on November 23, 2023.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | Italy |
| Industry | Multi-Utilities |
| Index | MIB, Dividends Europe, Energy Efficient, Sound Pay Europe, Water Tech |
| Size class | X-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View ACEA Sell
| 360 METRICS | November 23, 2023 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 100 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 7 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 27 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 4 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 22 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 22 (better than 22% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock ACEA are critical, mostly below average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for ACEA. Only the consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 100, which means that the share price of ACEA is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 100% of alternative stocks in the same industry. All other consolidated ranks are below average. The consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 7, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 27, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 73% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, professionals are more pessimistic about the stock than for 96% of alternative investment opportunities, reflected in the consolidated Sentiment Rank of 4. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 22, ACEA is worse than 78% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. This means that ACEA shares are on the riskier side for investors. Only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits above-average performance, namely the Value Rank at a level of 100. All other ranks are below average, so proceed with caution. The company has below-average growth expectations (Growth Rank of 7), a riskier financing structure than the competition (Safety Rank of 27), and the market sentiment in the professional investor community ranking at (Sentiment Rank of 4) is negative. This combination is sensitive to a crisis, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. It’s no wonder that the investor community indicators are skeptical (low sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. We recommend evaluating whether the future of ACEA is as challenging as the low price of the stock suggests. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you might need to worry about the future of ACEA. Only invest if you have solid reasons to believe that the low growth is temporary and the current market sentiment is an overreaction, possibly due to reputational issues in the past. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for ACEA negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 4 (better than 4% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock ACEA is critical, mostly below average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for ACEA. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 23 (worse than 77% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 37 which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. It doesn't end with the analysts. Market Pulse is also low with a rank of 9, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the negative side when discussing this company (more negative news than for 91% of competitors). No wonder, the Professional Investors rank is only 20, which means that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 80% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to stay away from ACEA, which may be due to a small company size but just as likely because of its relatively low Sentiment Rank. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 4 (less encouraging than 96% compared with investment alternatives), ACEA has a reputation among professional investors that is far below that of its competitors. Investors should be careful with this stock right now. Further research is required if an investment is desired, because the facts found in the professional community are all negative. ...read more
Value Strategy: ACEA Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2023, ACEA shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for ACEA. Price-to-Sales is 72 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 72% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for ACEA's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 91% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 86. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of ACEA are expected to be higher than for 92% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 92). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 100, is a buy recommendation based on ACEA's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in ACEA based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: ACEA Growth Momentum negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 7 (better than 7% compared with alternatives), ACEA shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four metrics below average for ACEA. Sales Growth has a rank of 17, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 83% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth, with a rank of 45, and Capital Growth with 33. In addition, Stock Returns have a below market rank of 43, which means that the stock returns have recently been below 57% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 7, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. These are all bad growth momentum indicators. These are negative signals for investors interested in growth companies. Value is likely good for this company, as investors may have left this stock in the cold. If that is the case, investors should look at the company's outlook, especially Sentiment performance, because it may be a turnaround situation that could entail above-average stock returns in the future. But it remains a risky bet, as no growth signals are in the green zone yet. ...read more
Safety Strategy: ACEA Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | November 23, 2023 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 32 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 5 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 69 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 27 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 27 (better than 27% compared with alternatives), the company ACEA has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of ACEA is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for ACEA. Liquidity is at 69, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 69% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 5, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 95% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 32, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 68% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 27 (worse than 73% compared with alternatives), ACEA has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: ACEA Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | November 23, 2023 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 100 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 7 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 69 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 46 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 46 (worse than 54% compared with investment alternatives), ACEA (Multi-Utilities, Italy) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of ACEA are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 100 (better than 100% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 7), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 27), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 46, is a hold recommendation based on ACEA's financial characteristics. As the company ACEA's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 100) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 7) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 27), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 100% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
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