December 7, 2023
Top 10 Stock AECI Strong Buy 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: AECI – Top 10 Stock in Independent Boards in Growth Markets
AECI is listed as a top 10 stock on December 07, 2023 in the market index Independent Boards Growth Markets because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, the professional market sentiment is positive and it may be a solid investment proposition, especially if a growth recovery is to be expected soon. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 84 (top 84% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for AECI on December 07, 2023.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | South Africa |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals |
| Index | Low Emissions, Energy Efficient, Good Governace Growth Markets, Independent Boards Growth Markets, JSE All Shares |
| Size class | 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 AECI Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | December 7, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 99 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 25 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 38 |
|
||||||
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 84 |
|
||||||
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 84 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives) for 2023, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock AECI are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for AECI. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 99, which means that the share price of AECI 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 99% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 84, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 84% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 25, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 38, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 62 comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 84, AECI is better positioned than 84% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, but the other half are below market levels. The company enjoys a good value (Value Rank of 99) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 84), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 25) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 38). This combination is rather dangerous, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. The current low growth level may be temporary, because professionals are actually optimistic (positive 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. Companies with less growth typically have a lower price than fast-growing competitors. Even though professional investor sentiment is strong, we recommend further evaluating whether the future of AECI is as challenging as the stock's low price suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, the stock might just be going through a more challenging phase now, indicating that timing might be good now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for AECI very positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives) for 2023, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock AECI is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all but one indicator above average for AECI. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 100 (better than 100% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. In addition, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 50, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better in recommending investing in the company. In other words, they are getting even more optimistic about investments in AECI. Finally, the Professional Investors rank is 81, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 81% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 84 (more positive than 84% compared with investment alternatives), AECI has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. But there is also a signal for caution. Market Pulse has a rank of 11, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be negative when discussing this company (more negative news than for 89% of competitors). This could mean future risks and should make investors careful. Attention to negative news for AECI is worthwhile because they may be early warning signals. Without those, all other professional signals are encouraging, especially since analysts are getting more optimistic. ...read more
Value Strategy: AECI Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 99 (better than 99% compared with alternatives) for 2023, AECI shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for AECI. Price-to-Sales is 97 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 97% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for AECI's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 97% 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 88. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of AECI 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 99, is a buy recommendation based on AECI'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 AECI based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: AECI Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 25 (better than 25% compared with alternatives), AECI shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for AECI. Profit Growth has a rank of 51, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 51% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 63 (above 63% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 4, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 96% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 38. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 25, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for AECI. ...read more
Safety Strategy: AECI Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | December 7, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 23 |
|
||||||
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 88 |
|
||||||
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 22 |
|
||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 38 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 38 (better than 38% compared with alternatives), the company AECI 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 AECI 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 AECI and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 88, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 88% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 23, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 77% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 22, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 78% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 38 (worse than 62% compared with alternatives), AECI has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for AECI are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: AECI Above-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | December 7, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 99 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 25 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 22 |
|
||||||
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 60 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with investment alternatives), AECI (Specialty Chemicals, South Africa) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of AECI are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 99 (better than 99% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 25), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 38), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 60, is a buy recommendation based on AECI's financial characteristics. As the company AECI's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 99) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 25) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 38), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 99% 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
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.