The December version of our Most Attractive Stocks report is now available. Note that Barron’s recently recognized our Most Attractive Stocks portfolio as #1 over the prior 12 months amongst
The December version of our Most Attractive Stocks and Most Dangerous Stocks reports are now available for purchase. Note that Barron's recently recognized our Most Attractive Stocks portfolio as #1 over the prior 12 months amongst the best of the Wall Street research firms.
Red Flags:
1. Misleading earnings: JDAS reported a $14.6mm increase in GAAP earnings while our model shows economic earnings declined by $12.9mm (a difference of $27.5mm or 155% of reported net income).
2. Very dangerous valuation: stock price of $27 implies JDAS must grow its NOPAT at over 20% compounded annually for 10 years. A 10-year growth appreciation period with a 20%+ compounding growth rate sets expectations for future cash flow performance quite high.
3. Free Cash Flow was -$203mm or -15% of the company’s enterprise value last year.
4. Asset write-offs of $21mm or 3% of net assets – this means that management has written off at least $0.03 of assets for every $1 on the current balance sheet. Writing off assets is the opposite of creating shareholder value as it reflects management’s inability to derive any profits for the investments it makes with shareholder funds.
5. Off-balance sheet debt of $40mm or 6% of net assets.
6. Outstanding stock option liability of $13mm or 1% of current market value.
HIDDEN GEMS:
1. About $29 million in non-operating expenses (after-tax) cause reported earnings to be understated.
2. Our dis¬counted cash flow analy¬sis shows that TRV’s cur¬rent val¬u¬a¬tion (stock price of $55.49) implies that the company’s profits will decline by 30% and never grow again.
3. The company grew its economic earn¬ings by $827mm during its last fiscal year.
HIDDEN GEM: Our detailed valuation model shows that WDC grew its “economic” profits by 226% while accounting profits grew 194% during its last fiscal year. Economic profits rose by $769mm while accounting profits rose by $912mm.
RED FLAGS:
1. Misleading Earnings: AKAM reported a $1mm increase in GAAP earnings while our model shows economic earnings declined by $10mm (a difference of $11mm or 7% of reported net income).
2. Very Dangerous Valuation: Stock price of $47 implies AKAM must grow its NOPAT at over 20% com¬pounded annu¬ally for 15 years. A 15-year growth appreciation period with a 20%+ compounding growth rate sets expectations for future cash flow performance quite high.
3. Asset write-offs of $2,000mm or 102% of Net Assets – this means that management has written off at least $1 of assets for every $1 on the current balance sheet. Writing off assets is the opposite of creating shareholder value as it reflects management’s inability to derive any profits for the investments it makes with shareholder funds.
4. Off-balance sheet debt of $128mm or 7% of Net Assets.
5. Outstanding Stock Option Liability of $212mm or 3% of current market value.
The Risk/Reward of the entire Russell 2000 gets our Dangerous Rating. Our recently published Index Benchmark report on the Russell 2000 offers unique insights into the underlying profitability and valuation of all the companies comprised by this index. It also offers benchmarks for (1) investors considering buying ETFs or Index Funds based on the Russell 2000 and for (2) comparing individual stocks to the Russell 2000.
HIDDEN GEMS:
1. About $250 million in non-operating expenses (after-tax) cause reported earnings to be understated during the last fiscal year.
2. Our discounted cash flow analysis shows that CL’s current valuation (stock price of $77.52) implies that the company’s profits will decline by 7% and never grow again.
3. The company grew its economic earnings by $229mm (14% increase) during its last fiscal year.
RED FLAGS:
1. Misleading Earnings: RAX reported a $30mm increase in GAAP earnings while our model shows economic earnings declined by $13mm (a difference of $43mm or 7% of revenue).
2. Very Dangerous Valuation: Stock price of $25.636 implies RAX must grow its NOPAT at 25% compounded annually for 17 years. A 17-year Growth Appreciation Period with a 25% compounding growth rate is quite a high standard to beat, as per my post on How To Make Money Picking Stocks.
3. Outstanding Stock Option Liability of $205mm or 6.5% of current market value
MSFT released better than expected earnings and is up 8.3% since it was named the Stock Pick of the Week on October 28, 2010. Overt the same time period, the S&P 500 is up only 3.6%.
HIDDEN GEMS:
1. Our discounted cash flow analysis shows that BMY’s current valuation (stock price of $27.16) implies that the company’s profits will decline by 35% and never grow again.
2. The company grew its economic earnings by $307.5mm (12% increase) during its last fiscal year.
3. The company has $9,507mm in Excess Cash, which we remove from our Invested Capital calculation. $9,507mm million is more than 20% of BMY’s market cap.
HIDDEN GEM: AAPL's economic earnings rose more than its accounting earnings during the last fiscal year. Economic earnings rose by $3,576 while accounting earnings rose by $2,401. And the company has $31,849mm in Excess Cash, a reflection of the strong profitability of the business.
RED FLAGS:
Misleading Earnings: CBG reported a $1,045mm increase in GAAP earnings while our model shows economic earnings declined by $358mm.
Very Dangerous Valuation: Stock price of $19.06 implies CBG must grow its NOPAT at 20% compounded annually for 15 years. Has any company ever done that, much less a commercial real estate company?
HIDDEN GEM: GOOG has over $24,100mm in Excess Cash, a reflection of the profitability of the business and a 64% deduction to Reported Net Assets for our Invested Capital calculation.
One of October's Most Attractive Stocks, Seagate Technology PLC (ticker - STX) is up over 15% today. STX was added to our list of Most Attractive Stocks in September, shortly after we reviewed the company's latest 10K and found HIDDEN GEMS.
HIDDEN GEMS:
1. Our discounted cash flow analysis shows that WNI’s current valuation (stock price of $7.89) implies that the company’s profits will decline by 25% and never grow again.
2. The company grew its economic earnings more than its reported earnings. Economic earnings rose by $9.1mm (506% increase) while Net Income rose by only $8.1mm (79% increase) during its last fiscal year.
3. The company has $42mm in Excess Cash, which we remove from our Invested Capital calculation. $42 million is 20% of WNI’s market cap.
Rite Aid Corp (RAD) gets a Dangerous Rating because of these RED FLAGs:
1. Very Expensive valuation: current stock price implies the company will grow revenues and NOPAT at 6% compounded annually for the next 15 years while also more than doubling ROIC from 6.1% to 13.7% within the same time frame.
2. Off Balance-Sheet debt: of $5,502mm or 93% of "Reported" Net Assets
3. Asset-write-offs: $3,417mm or 58% of "Reported" Net Assets
Main RED FLAG:
Very Dangerous Valuation: The current stock price of $36.89 implies VMC must grow its NOPAT at 12% compounded annually for 40 years.
The market has set expectations very high for this stock - leaving little upside potential and lots of downside risk, especially when considering the company's Misleading Earnings.
We reiterate our pick for last week's Stock Pick of the Week: Buy Microsoft Corp (MSFT) — Very Attractive Rating. We consider the recent downgrade from Goldman an investment-banking driven head fake. Because MSFT is not a good investment banking client (very little merger or stock offering activity), investment banks have little to lose by downgrading or putting a sell rating on the this stock.
David Trainer, Founder & CEO
