December 28, 2023
Top 10 Stock SM Energy 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: SM Energy – Top 10 Stock in Oil & Gas Mining and Production
SM Energy is listed as a top 10 stock on December 28, 2023 in the market index Oil & Gas because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, it is a solid investment from a financial fact perspective where only investor sentiment is a reason for caution. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 71 (high 71% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for SM Energy on December 28, 2023.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Production |
| Index | Low Emissions, Oil & Gas |
| Size class | 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 SM Energy Buy
| 360 METRICS | December 28, 2023 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 65 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 79 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 60 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 31 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 71 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 71 (better than 71% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock SM Energy are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for SM Energy. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 65, which means that the share price of SM Energy is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 65% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 79, 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. The company is also safely financed with a Safety Rank of 60. But the professional market sentiment is below average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of only 31. Professional investors are more confident in 69% other stocks. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 71, SM Energy is better positioned than 71% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Value Rank of 65), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 79), and safe financing practices (Safety Rank of 60), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely, unless information not publicly available. Only the professional market sentiment is on the riskier side (Sentiment Rank of 31), but that could also mean an overreaction to negative news in the past. Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. If they have been enjoying above average growth and are still a good value, this may not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of SM Energy is as challenging as the low price of the stock despite good growth and safe financing practices suggest. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you may want to reflect these negative opinions in light of what you find reasonable to expect for the future. If you believe this pessimistic view is transitory, you have a solid investment case based on current financial factors. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for SM Energy only reserved
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 31 (better than 31% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock SM Energy is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for SM Energy. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. But they are changing their opinions! Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 50, which means that stock research experts are more positive in their investment recommendations in the company. In other words, they are getting more optimistic of stock investments in SM Energy. More encouragingly, the Professional Investors rank is 69, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 69% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. But Market Pulse is on the lower side with a rank of 23, 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 77% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 31 (less encouraging than 69% compared with investment alternatives), SM Energy has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. The sentiment signals are mixed for SM Energy. While analysts and the news channels are negative, there is a change in what analysts think. Above-average institutional investors in this company support them. Sentiment signals remain mixed with analysts and news channels pessimistic, though improving, and professional investors above average. ...read more
Value Strategy: SM Energy Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), SM Energy shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for SM Energy. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 53, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 53% of comparable companies, indicating a good value regarding SM Energy's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price to Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 78% of alternatives, and it's also true for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 57. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields are expected to be lower than average; only 42% of all competitors have even lower dividend yields than SM Energy (a Dividend Yield Rank of 42). 58% alternative investments in the same business provide a higher dividend yield. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 65, is a buy recommendation based on SM Energy's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. The below-average dividend yield may be a good sign, as it could mean the company has more attractive investment opportunities for the generated cash than to pay it out as dividends. A low dividend yield can also indicate a growth phase. ...read more
Growth Strategy: SM Energy Growth Momentum high
| GROWTH METRICS | December 28, 2023 | |||||||
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| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 56 |
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| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 77 |
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| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 57 |
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| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 73 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 79 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with alternatives) for 2023, SM Energy shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators above average for SM Energy. Sales Growth has a value of 56, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 56% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 77 and for Capital Growth with 57. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 73, which means they have been higher than 73% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 79, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, SM Energy exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. ...read more
Safety Strategy: SM Energy Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | December 28, 2023 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 38 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 84 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 43 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 60 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with alternatives), the company SM Energy has financing practices on the safer side, which mean that their overall debt burden is lower than average. This doesn't mean that the business of SM Energy is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for SM Energy and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 84, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 84% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 38, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 62% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 43, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with alternatives), SM Energy has a financing structure that is safer 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 SM Energy 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. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: SM Energy Top Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | December 28, 2023 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 65 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 79 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 43 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 90 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 90 (better than 90% compared with investment alternatives), SM Energy (Oil & Gas Production, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of SM Energy are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 65 (better than 65% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 79), and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 60), which means low debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 90, is a strong buy recommendation based on SM Energy's financial characteristics. As the company SM Energy's key financial metrics all exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 65), above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 79), and indicate that the company is safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 60), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the share is limited, unless the company has a bleak future. Such good financial performance can indicate that the company's future might actually be challenging, as it may be difficult to maintain the good performance. If they are safely financed and have been growing above average, and are still a good value, it means that the market is keeping prices low, for a reason which may become clearer over time. We recommend evaluating the future of SM Energy. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. ...read more
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