Fact based stock research
APA (ASX:APA)
AU000000APA1
How to read the free 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.
APA stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 1 (worse than 99% compared with investment alternatives), APA (Gas Utilities, Australia) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of APA are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 18, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 1, is a sell recommendation based on APA's financial characteristics. As the company APA shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (83% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 51% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 51). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 18 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for APA, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
Latest Obermatt Ranks
Log in or sign up to see the new 360° View and Sentiment ranks.
360° ViewnewThis stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: APA
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 7 |
|
11 |
|
19 |
|
17 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 63 |
|
11 |
|
31 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 23 |
|
17 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 66 |
|
39 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 23 |
|
3 |
|
16 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 1 (worse than 99% compared with investment alternatives), APA (Gas Utilities, Australia) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of APA are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 18, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 1, is a sell recommendation based on APA's financial characteristics. As the company APA shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (83% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 51% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 51). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 18 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for APA, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 7 |
|
11 |
|
19 |
|
17 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 63 |
|
11 |
|
31 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 23 |
|
17 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 7 |
|
1 |
|
4 |
|
1 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with alternatives), APA shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for APA. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 100% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 15 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 85% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning APA's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 5 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 95% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 1 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 99% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 17, is a sell recommendation based on APA's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick APA? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose APA only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 9 |
|
13 |
|
22 |
|
15 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 16 |
|
3 |
|
8 |
|
5 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 5 |
|
1 |
|
7 |
|
1 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 75 |
|
99 |
|
98 |
|
100 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 7 |
|
11 |
|
19 |
|
17 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), APA shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for APA. Sales Growth has a rank of 94 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 94% of its competitors. Stock Returns are also above average with a rank of 61. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 10, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 90% of its competitors. Profit Growth is also low, with a rank of only 28, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits below average. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. This is a surprising picture, as the messages from the operating growth indicators of revenues, profits, and invested capital are mixed, while stock returns are above average. It may indicate new intellectual properties, such as brand improvement or a strong market position that shows in revenues but not in the capital. The low profit-growth rate may indicate an early phase where costs are still high, and revenues don't fully cover upfront investments or fixed costs. The positive investor outlook with a 61% peer outperformance is reaffirmed in this case which may be a good sign for an investment into a well-protected high-growth company. This fact needs to be confirmed by researching the company website and press. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 43 |
|
92 |
|
82 |
|
94 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 39 |
|
36 |
|
39 |
|
28 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 48 |
|
5 |
|
18 |
|
10 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 73 |
|
3 |
|
19 |
|
61 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 63 |
|
11 |
|
31 |
|
51 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 18 (better than 18% compared with alternatives), the company APA has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of APA 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 APA and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 51, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 51% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 2, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 98% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 10, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 90% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 18 (worse than 82% compared with alternatives), APA has a financing structure that is significantly 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 APA 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. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with APA and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 4 |
|
4 |
|
9 |
|
2 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 57 |
|
41 |
|
10 |
|
51 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 29 |
|
15 |
|
10 |
|
10 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 23 |
|
17 |
|
8 |
|
18 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
42 |
|
54 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 35 |
|
24 |
|
44 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 72 |
|
39 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 60 |
|
74 |
|
77 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 66 |
|
39 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for APA from July 31, 2025.
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our free research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.