Fact based stock research
ArcBest (NasdaqGS:ARCB)

US03937C1053

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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.

ArcBest stock research in summary

arcb.com


ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with investment alternatives), ArcBest (Trucking, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of ArcBest are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 48 (worse than 52% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 85) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 94, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more


RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 96, is a strong buy recommendation based on ArcBest's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company ArcBest exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 48), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 85). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 94) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more


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Country USA
Industry Trucking
Index Employee Focus US, NASDAQ
Size class X-Large

21-Mar-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.




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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: ArcBest

RESEARCH HISTORY 2021 2022 2023 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

Most recent update of the stock research: 21-Mar-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2023. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better ArcBest is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with investment alternatives), ArcBest (Trucking, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of ArcBest are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 48 (worse than 52% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 85) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 94, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 96, is a strong buy recommendation based on ArcBest's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company ArcBest exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 48), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 85). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 94) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). 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 2021 2022 2023 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

Last update of combined financial performance: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of ArcBest the better the performance.


Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 48 (worse than 52% compared with alternatives), ArcBest shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for ArcBest. Only Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) indicates good stock value with a rank of 72, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 72% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning ArcBest's profit levels. But Price-to-Sales is 49 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than for 51% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning ArcBest's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 45 and for dividend yield, which is lower than for 59% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 48, is a hold recommendation based on ArcBest's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Can we rely on only one good value indicator? Only if we know the company well. In this case, a high Price-to-Profit Rank, while Price-to-Sales and Price-to-Book are both below the market typical levels, means that the company can charge higher prices for its products and needs less capital to produce them. If this is sustainable, then ArcBest is a good investment because profits count most in enterprise valuations. The low dividend yield indicates that the company is confident it can do something with the generated cash that is more valuable than paying the profits out to the shareholders in the form of dividends. 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 2021 2022 2023 2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE

Last update of Value Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of ArcBest; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.


Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 85 (better than 85% compared with alternatives) for 2024, ArcBest shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for ArcBest. Sales Growth has a rank of 66 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 66% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 87, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 88, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 22, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 78% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 85, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. 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. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS 2021 2022 2023 2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

Last update of Growth Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of ArcBest.


Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 94 (better than 94% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company ArcBest has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of ArcBest is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, where all three are above average for ArcBest. Leverage is at 85, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 85% of its competitors. Refinancing is at a rank of 74, meaning that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 74% of its competitors. Finally, Liquidity is also good at a rank of 86, which means that the company generates more profit to service its debt than 86% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 94 (better than 94% compared with alternatives), ArcBest has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. These three positive financing indicators signal that the company is less likely to default on its debt obligations. However, it also means that its shareholder returns will be more modest if things go well. A low safety means fewer troubles in downtimes and less upside in good times. Investors may not have a debt issue with ArcBest but they should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS 2021 2022 2023 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

Last update of Safety Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of ArcBest and the more cash is available to service its debt.


Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT 2021 2022 2023 2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for ArcBest.
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Stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for ArcBest from March 21, 2024.

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