Fact based stock research
Sage (LSE:SGE)

GB00B8C3BL03

How to read the free 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.

Sage stock research in summary

sage.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 9 (worse than 91% compared with investment alternatives), Sage (Application Software, United Kingdom) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Sage are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 31 (worse than 69% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 34), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 11), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 9, is a sell recommendation based on Sage's financial characteristics. As the company Sage's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 31), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 34), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 11), 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

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	31
Growth Rank	34
Safety Rank	11
Combined Rank	9

Country	United Kingdom
Industry	Application Software
Index	FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, Dividends Europe, Employee Focus EU, Human Rights, SDG 10, SDG 13, SDG 16, SDG 5, SDG 8
Size class	X-Large

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

24-Apr-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

Multiple opinions. One number.

Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.

Why popular stocks have low ratings

It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.

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

Research History: Sage

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	73	50	31	31
GROWTH
GROWTH	73	83	43	34
SAFETY
SAFETY	8	25	25	11
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	43	98	85	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	53	78	34	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 24-Apr-2025. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Sage is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	73	50	31	31
GROWTH
GROWTH	73	83	43	34
SAFETY
SAFETY	8	25	25	11
COMBINED
COMBINED	54	51	14	9

Last update of combined financial performance: 24-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Sage the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 31 (worse than 69% compared with alternatives), Sage 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 Sage. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 76% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 25 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 75% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Sage's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 28 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 72% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 15 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 85% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 31, is a hold recommendation based on Sage's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Sage? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose Sage only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. 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	2022	2023	2024	2025
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	51	27	26	25
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	50	31	29	28
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	31	28	10	15
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	88	79	74	76
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	73	50	31	31

Last update of Value Rank: 24-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Sage; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 34 (better than 34% compared with alternatives), Sage 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 Sage. Sales Growth has a rank of 61 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 61% of its competitors. Stock Returns are also above average with a rank of 63. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 4, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 96% of its competitors. Profit Growth is also low, with a rank of only 39, 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 34, 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 63% 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	2022	2023	2024	2025
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	21	55	59	61
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	46	56	54	39
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	87	70	23	4
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	77	79	57	63
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	73	83	43	34

Last update of Growth Rank: 24-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Sage.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 11 (better than 11% compared with alternatives), the company Sage 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 Sage 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 Sage. Liquidity is at 51, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 51% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 14, 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 86% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 14, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 86% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 11 (worse than 89% compared with alternatives), Sage has a financing structure that is significantly 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. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	21	21	15	14
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	7	21	18	14
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	50	52	63	51
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	8	25	25	11

Last update of Safety Rank: 24-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Sage and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2022	2023	2024	2025
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	31	38	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	26	97	67	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	80	96	99	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	78	78	85	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	43	98	85	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 24-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Sage.
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