December 21, 2023
Top 10 Stock Sonic 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: Sonic – Top 10 Stock in Australian Securities Exchange Index ASX 100


sonichealthcare.com


Sonic is listed as a top 10 stock on December 21, 2023 in the market index ASX 100 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 where the risk of paying too much for the shares is low. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 72 (high 72% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Sonic on December 21, 2023.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country Australia
Industry Health Care Services
Index ASX 100, ASX 200, ASX 300, ASX 50, Human Rights
Size class X-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 Sonic Buy

360 METRICS December 21, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 72 (better than 72% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sonic are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Sonic. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 59, which means that the share price of Sonic 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 59% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 51, 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. In addition, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 82. But the company’s financing is risky with a Safety rank of 36. This means 64% of comparable companies have a safer financing structure than Sonic. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 72, Sonic is better positioned than 72% 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 59), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51), and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 82), 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 company financing structure is on the riskier side (Safety Rank of 36), but that would also mean better returns for shareholders if things work out well. Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. If they have been growing above average and are still a good value, it may indicate that this will not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Sonic is as difficult as the low price of the stock, despite good growth and positive professional investor sentiment, suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock is just not sufficiently visible right now, which may indicate good timing. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Sonic very positive

SENTIMENT METRICS December 21, 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 82 (better than 82% compared with alternatives) for 2023, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sonic is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Sonic. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 45 (worse than 55% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 16, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 98, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 98% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 83, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 83% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to Sonic and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 82 (more positive than 82% compared with investment alternatives), Sonic has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical, while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more



Value Strategy: Sonic Stock Price Value better than average

VALUE METRICS December 21, 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 59 (better than 59% compared with alternatives), Sonic shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where three out of four indicators are above average for Sonic. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 57 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 57% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Sonic's revenue size. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 51. Finally, compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Sonic are expected to be higher than for 80% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 80). The only low rank is for expected profits with a Price-to-Profit Rank of 48, indicating that the market expects the company's profit to be low despite a high dividend. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 59, is a buy recommendation based on Sonic's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. The low Profit Rank could result from a one-off charge, for instance, for an accident, a legal settlement, or a restructuring project. If the company keeps its dividends high, the low expected profit may be transitory. If that is the case, the three good value ranks for Sales, Capital, and Dividends are reliable indicators for good stock price value, a low stock price. ...read more



Growth Strategy: Sonic Growth Momentum good

GROWTH METRICS December 21, 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 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), Sonic 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 Sonic. Capital Growth has a rank of 83, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 27% of its competitors. Investors welcomed this, visible in the Stock Returns rank of 55 (above 55% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has only a rank of 34, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 66% of its competitors, and Profit Growth is also low at a rank of 27. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. This is an ambiguous picture. Revenue growth and capital growth are strong, but the growth in profit, which seems good, can also be an indication that growth momentum may be negative. The fact that stock returns have been above average doesn't help much, as stock returns are less reliable in showing a company’s future growth potential. Prices may perform well for the simple reason that investors were too pessimistic in the past and are now correcting their opinions and moving the stock price to a more reasonable level. As the growth picture is mixed for Sonic, investors may want to look at value and sentiment indicators for a well-rounded picture of this stock. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Sonic Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS December 21, 2023
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 36 (better than 36% compared with alternatives), the company Sonic 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 Sonic 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 Sonic. Liquidity is at 65, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 65% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 18, 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 82% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 36, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 64% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 36 (worse than 64% compared with alternatives), Sonic 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: Sonic Below-Average Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE December 21, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 39 (worse than 61% compared with investment alternatives), Sonic (Health Care Services, Australia) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Sonic are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 59 (better than 59% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 36), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 39, is a hold recommendation based on Sonic's financial characteristics. As the company Sonic's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 59) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 36) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. 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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