October 19, 2023
Top 10 Stock Prudential 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: Prudential – Top 10 Stock in SDG 1: No Poverty


prudentialplc.com


Prudential is listed as a top 10 stock on October 19, 2023 in the market index SDG 1 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 63 (high 63% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Prudential on October 19, 2023.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country United Kingdom
Industry Life & Health Insurance
Index FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, SDG 1, SDG 13, SDG 3, SDG 8
Size class XX-Large
Latest Research


Top 10 Stocks ≠ most popular stocks

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 Prudential Buy

360 METRICS October 19, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 63 (better than 63% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Prudential are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Prudential. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 61, 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 61% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a good rank of 63, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 63% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 17, which means that the share price of Prudential 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 83% of alternative stocks in the same industry. Finally, the consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 27, which means that the company has a financing structure that is riskier than those of 73% 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 63, Prudential is better positioned than 63% 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 61), and professional market sentiment is positive (Sentiment Rank of 63), 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 Prudential positive

SENTIMENT METRICS October 19, 2023
ANALYST OPINION
ANALYST OPINION
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 63 (better than 63% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Prudential is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the indicators below and the other half above average for Prudential. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 80 (better than 80% of alternative investments). Currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. There are also many institutional investors invested in the stock, represented by a Professional Investors rank of 52 which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 52% of alternative investment opportunities. But Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 49, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the worse in recommending investing in the company. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in Prudential. Furthermore, Market Pulse has a rank of 41, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the negative side when discussing this company (more negative news than for 59% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 63 (more positive than 63% compared with investment alternatives), Prudential has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. Three below-market sentiment indicators are a 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 may be around the corner. ...read more



Value Strategy: Prudential Stock Price Value low

VALUE METRICS October 19, 2023
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

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with alternatives), Prudential 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 Prudential. Price-to-Sales is 36 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 64% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Prudential's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 26, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Prudential. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 38 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 91% 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 17, is a sell recommendation based on Prudential's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Prudential? 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 Prudential? 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. Prudential 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. ...read more



Growth Strategy: Prudential Growth Momentum good

GROWTH METRICS October 19, 2023
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 61 (better than 61% compared with alternatives), Prudential 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 Prudential. Sales Growth has a rank of 96 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 96% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 19% of competitors with a rank of 95. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 19, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 81% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 23. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 61, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise investors. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Prudential Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS October 19, 2023
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 27 (better than 27% compared with alternatives), the company Prudential 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 Prudential 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 Prudential and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 72 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 72% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 20, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 80% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 16, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 84% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 27 (worse than 73% compared with alternatives), Prudential has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of Prudential are on the safer side. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Prudential Lowest Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE October 19, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 12 (worse than 88% compared with investment alternatives), Prudential (Life & Health Insurance, United Kingdom) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Prudential 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 27, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 61). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 12, is a sell recommendation based on Prudential's financial characteristics. As the company Prudential 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 61% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 61). 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 27 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 Prudential, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more

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