January 4, 2024
Top 10 Stock LPLIH 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: LPLIH – Top 10 Stock in Dow Jones U.S. Investment Services Index
LPLIH is listed as a top 10 stock on January 04, 2024 in the market index D.J. US Investing because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Two consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. The company is growing above average and professional investor sentiment is positive. Both are encouraging signals for a stock purchase decision, albeit at an above-average share price. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 60 (high 60% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for LPLIH on January 04, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Index | Employee Focus US, Diversity USA, SDG 10, SDG 16, SDG 5, SDG 8, NASDAQ, D.J. US Investing |
| Size class | X-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 LPLIH Buy
| 360 METRICS | January 4, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 37 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 73 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 35 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 69 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 60 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 60 (better than 60% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock LPLIH are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for LPLIH. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 73, which means that the company experiences above-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. This means that growth is higher than for 73% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a good rank of 69, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 69% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 37, which means that the share price of LPLIH is on the higher side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is higher than for 63% of alternative stocks in the same industry. Finally, the consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 35, which means that the company has a financing structure that is riskier than those of 65% 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 60, LPLIH is better positioned than 60% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, so one needs to take a close look. Growth is above-average (Growth Rank of 73), and professional market sentiment is positive (Sentiment Rank of 69), but value and safety are below average. The Safety Rank is the least significant of the four consolidated ranks, because it only reflects financing practices. In the case of high growth, aggressive financing is a good thing. So the question is: How to assess below-average value against above-average growth and sentiment? Growth may be the strongest driver of the investment rationale in this case, which is reflected in institutional investors' opinions. It is typical for growth companies to have low value, as is the case here. Investors are willing to pay more for companies that outperform their competitors. So the question is, how much do you sacrifice value for growth? You can use the following rule of thumb: If you take 100 minus the growth rank, you arrive at a possibly minimum level for the value rank. For example, if the growth rank is at 75, and the value rank is at 5, you should tread carefully. If the value rank is at 40, it still might be a good value if the growth rank is above 60. Sometimes market sentiment just extrapolates the past, but sometimes it reflects reality. You pay more than the market average for this stock, but it may be worth it. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for LPLIH positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 69 (better than 69% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock LPLIH is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators where all but one are above average for LPLIH. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 74 (better than 74% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. The Professional Investors rank is also good at 50, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 50% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 68 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 68% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change has a below-average rank of 43, which means that stock research experts are currently changing their opinions for the worse when it comes to recommending this stock. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in LPLIH. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 69 (more positive than 69% compared with investment alternatives), LPLIH has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an early sign of caution, even if the stock has significantly appreciated. If analysts change their opinions, the stock may become too expensive. If the price is on the way down, the trend may continue. This may be a stock with a good reputation and history, but it may have reached its breaking point by now. Investors should look at the Value Ranks as well. If they indicate trouble, it might just materialize in the future. ...read more
Value Strategy: LPLIH Stock Price Value below-average critical
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 37 (worse than 63% compared with alternatives), LPLIH shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half are above average for LPLIH. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 89, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 89% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning LPLIH's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 52% of alternatives. It is also positive for expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 14 (dividends are expected to be higher than for 14% of other stocks). But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is higher than average, making the stock more expensive. Only 86% of all competitors have an even higher price compared with book capital which puts the Price-to-Capital Rank for LPLIH to 14. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 37, is a hold recommendation based on LPLIH's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. A low level of book capital means that the company has a business that is leaner on assets than its competitors. For instance, the company could be leasing its production facilities, or be more focussed on intellectual property, such as its brand and software, which is less visible in its book capital. If that is the case, the low Dividend Yield is also explained as such companies tend to invest their income into market development. The other good value ranks for Sales and Profits are encouraging indicators for the stock price value. ...read more
Growth Strategy: LPLIH Growth Momentum good
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 73 (better than 73% compared with alternatives), LPLIH 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 LPLIH. Sales Growth has a rank of 64, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 64% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 88 is also above average. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 44, and Stock Returns with 35 are also below-average. Stock returns for LPLIH have recently been below 65% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 73, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Are investors forecasting troubles based on the lack of operating investment activity at the company? This could be one explanation as to why stock returns are low. But stock returns can also be the result of correcting an error in the past, in this case, an overly optimistic outlook on the future, which is now more realistic. The Value Ranks may confirm such a picture. The more important growth indicators are revenues and profits, which are both above average for LPLIH. This is a positive sign from the company's operational side and may give investors courage, despite the poor recent stock price performance. ...read more
Safety Strategy: LPLIH Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | January 4, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 31 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 41 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 55 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 35 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 35 (better than 35% compared with alternatives), the company LPLIH 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 LPLIH 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 LPLIH. Liquidity is at 55, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 55% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 41, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 59% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 31, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 69% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 35 (worse than 65% compared with alternatives), LPLIH has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: LPLIH Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | January 4, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 37 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 73 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 55 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 44 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with investment alternatives), LPLIH (Investment Banking & Brokerage, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of LPLIH are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 37 (worse than 63% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 35, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 73). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 44, is a hold recommendation based on LPLIH's financial characteristics. As the company LPLIH shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 37 (63% 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 73% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 73). 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 35 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 LPLIH, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more
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