December 21, 2023
Top 10 Stock Wolters Kluwer 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: Wolters Kluwer – Top 10 Stock in AEX Index


wolterskluwer.nl


Wolters Kluwer is listed as a top 10 stock on December 21, 2023 in the market index AEX because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only one consolidated Obermatt Rank is above-average. The company is growing above average, but all other facts speak against a stock purchase, especially the low market sentiment by professional investors. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 50 (high 50% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Wolters Kluwer on December 21, 2023.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country Netherlands
Industry Research & Consulting
Index AEX, Employee Focus EU, Human Rights, SDG 16, SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 9
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 Wolters Kluwer 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 50 (better than 50% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Wolters Kluwer are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Wolters Kluwer. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 89, 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. It ranks higher than 89% of competitors in the same industry. The other indicators are below average, namely the Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks.The Value Rank at 1 means that the share price of Wolters Kluwer is on the high side compared with its peers regarding revenues, profits, and invested capital. The stock price is higher than for 99% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 49, which means that the company has a riskier financing structure than 51% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a low rank of 45, indicating professional investors are more pessimistic about the stock than for 55% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 50, Wolters Kluwer is better positioned than 50% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits excellent performance, namely the above-average growth (Growth Rank of 89), it is a riskier stock investment proposition. Aside from the critical professional market sentiment (Sentiment Rank of 45), the company is rather risky when it comes to financing (Safety Rank of 49). The negative market view on Wolters Kluwer may be due to the high stock price (low value). A growth company like this may get too expensive at one point in time. If too many investors are desperate to join the party, they may drive stock prices above reasonable levels. While it is typical for growth companies to have low value, because investors are willing to pay more for companies that are expected to have high growth, the crucial question is: how much more do you pay for the stock of Wolters Kluwer compared with alternatives? You can use the following rule of thumb: The value rank shouldn’t be lower than one minus the growth 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 (even though it is lower than 50). As market sentiment is critical, you should be careful with paying more than market-average for this stock and conduct further research into the company's future growth potential. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Wolters Kluwer only reserved

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 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Wolters Kluwer 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 Wolters Kluwer. 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. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 29, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 76, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 76% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 61, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 61% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to Wolters Kluwer and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 45 (less encouraging than 55% compared with investment alternatives), Wolters Kluwer has a reputation among professional investors that is below 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: Wolters Kluwer Stock Price Value low

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 1 (worse than 99% compared with alternatives), Wolters Kluwer 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 Wolters Kluwer. Price-to-Sales is 5 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 95% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Wolters Kluwer's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 3, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Wolters Kluwer. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 5 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 81% 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 1, is a sell recommendation based on Wolters Kluwer's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Wolters Kluwer? 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 Wolters Kluwer? 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. Wolters Kluwer 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: Wolters Kluwer Growth Momentum high

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 89 (better than 89% compared with alternatives) for 2023, Wolters Kluwer 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 Wolters Kluwer. Sales Growth has a value of 78, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 78% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 58 and for Capital Growth with 67. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 85, which means they have been higher than 85% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 89, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, Wolters Kluwer 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: Wolters Kluwer 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 49 (better than 49% compared with alternatives), the company Wolters Kluwer 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 Wolters Kluwer 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 Wolters Kluwer. Liquidity is at 70, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 70% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 30, 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 70% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 24, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 76% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 49 (worse than 51% compared with alternatives), Wolters Kluwer 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: Wolters Kluwer Below-Average Financial Performance

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

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 43 (worse than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Wolters Kluwer (Research & Consulting, Netherlands) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Wolters Kluwer are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 1 (worse than 99% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 49, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 89). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 43, is a hold recommendation based on Wolters Kluwer's financial characteristics. As the company Wolters Kluwer shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 1 (99% 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 89% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 89). 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 49 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 Wolters Kluwer, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more

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