Fact based stock research
Bunzl (LSE:BNZL)
GB00B0744B38
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.
Bunzl stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 8 (worse than 92% compared with investment alternatives), Bunzl (Trading & Distribution, United Kingdom) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Bunzl are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 23 (worse than 77% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 31), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 30), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 8, is a sell recommendation based on Bunzl's financial characteristics. As the company Bunzl's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 23), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 31), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 30), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. 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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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Bunzl
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 32 |
|
33 |
|
21 |
|
23 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 22 |
|
5 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 17 |
|
31 |
|
22 |
|
30 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
81 |
|
69 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
19 |
|
20 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 8 (worse than 92% compared with investment alternatives), Bunzl (Trading & Distribution, United Kingdom) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Bunzl are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 23 (worse than 77% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 31), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 30), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 8, is a sell recommendation based on Bunzl's financial characteristics. As the company Bunzl's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 23), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 31), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 30), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. 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 | 32 |
|
33 |
|
21 |
|
23 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 22 |
|
5 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 17 |
|
31 |
|
22 |
|
30 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 9 |
|
7 |
|
4 |
|
8 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 23 (worse than 77% compared with alternatives), Bunzl shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Bunzl. Price-to-Sales is 40 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 60% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Bunzl's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 27, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Bunzl. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 33 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 61% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 23, is a sell recommendation based on Bunzl's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Bunzl? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Bunzl? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Bunzl may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. 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) | 27 |
|
45 |
|
42 |
|
40 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 40 |
|
47 |
|
24 |
|
33 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 8 |
|
42 |
|
21 |
|
27 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 44 |
|
32 |
|
34 |
|
39 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 32 |
|
33 |
|
21 |
|
23 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 31 (better than 31% compared with alternatives), Bunzl 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 all four metrics below average for Bunzl. Sales Growth has a rank of 19, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 81% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth, with a rank of 26, and Capital Growth with 40. In addition, Stock Returns have a below market rank of 47, which means that the stock returns have recently been below 53% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 31, is a hold 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. 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 low here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 21 |
|
27 |
|
25 |
|
19 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 56 |
|
15 |
|
32 |
|
26 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
40 |
|
58 |
|
40 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 60 |
|
27 |
|
67 |
|
47 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 22 |
|
5 |
|
45 |
|
31 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 30 (better than 30% compared with alternatives), the company Bunzl 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 Bunzl 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 all three metrics below average for Bunzl. Liquidity is at 47, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 53% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 28, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 72% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 38 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 62% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 30 (worse than 70% compared with alternatives), Bunzl has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing. Investors should look at Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks to confirm a very positive outlook or be careful with investing in stocks of Bunzl because it may suffer significantly in case of future difficulties. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 36 |
|
24 |
|
22 |
|
28 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 15 |
|
43 |
|
36 |
|
38 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 46 |
|
55 |
|
43 |
|
47 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 17 |
|
31 |
|
22 |
|
30 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
24 |
|
9 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
98 |
|
97 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
32 |
|
76 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
94 |
|
53 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
81 |
|
69 |
|
new |
|
Stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Bunzl from April 25, 2024.
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