Fact based stock research
Cogent Communications (NasdaqGS:CCOI)

US19239V3024

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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.

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Cogent Communications stock research in summary

cogentco.com


ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with investment alternatives), Cogent Communications (Alternative Carriers, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Cogent Communications are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 27), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 20), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more


RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 6, is a sell recommendation based on Cogent Communications's financial characteristics. As the company Cogent Communications's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 43), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 27), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 20), 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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Country USA
Industry Alternative Carriers
Index NASDAQ, D.J. US Telecom
Size class Medium

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

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




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Research History: Cogent Communications

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: 14-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 Cogent Communications is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with investment alternatives), Cogent Communications (Alternative Carriers, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Cogent Communications are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 27), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 20), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 6, is a sell recommendation based on Cogent Communications's financial characteristics. As the company Cogent Communications's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 43), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 27), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 20), 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
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

Last update of combined financial performance: 14-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Cogent Communications the better the performance.


Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 43 (worse than 57% compared with alternatives), Cogent Communications shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Cogent Communications. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) is 100 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 100% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Cogent Communications'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 1, which means that the stock price is lower as regards to invested capital than for 1% of comparable investments. On the other hand, Price-to-Sales is less favorable than 93% of alternatives (only 7% of peers have an even less favorable ratio). The same is valid for dividend yield, which is lower than 14% 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 43, is a hold recommendation based on Cogent Communications's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a puzzling picture, because it means that profits are high while dividends are low. Since the stock price is low compared with invested capital but high in respect to expected revenues, it means that the company has more invested capital than peers for generating the same amount of revenue. Since profits are higher, it could be a "cash cow" situation (using the classic Boston Consulting BCG matrix naming convention) where the company is on a downward trend, still living from the profits of past products. As the company pays low dividends, it may harbor the opinion that a turnaround is possible, and it rather invests the cash than pay it out to shareholders, thus sealing the company's fate early. Any investment optimism should only be a buy trigger once thorough research is completed. 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 especially important 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: 14-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Cogent Communications; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.


Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 27 (better than 27% compared with alternatives), Cogent Communications 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 Cogent Communications. Sales Growth has a rank of 74 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 74% of its competitors. Stock Returns are also above average with a rank of 77. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 12, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 88% of its competitors. Profit Growth is also low, with a rank of only 8, 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 27, is a hold 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 77% 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 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: 14-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Cogent Communications.


Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 20 (better than 20% compared with alternatives), the company Cogent Communications 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 Cogent Communications 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 Cogent Communications and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 72, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 72% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 16, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 84% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 6, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 94% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 20 (worse than 80% compared with alternatives), Cogent Communications 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 Cogent Communications 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 Cogent Communications and 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: 14-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Cogent Communications 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: 14-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Cogent Communications.
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Stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Cogent Communications from March 14, 2024.

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