April 11, 2024
Top 10 Stock AECI 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: AECI – Top 10 Stock in Johannesburg Securities Exchange All Shares Index JSE All Shares


aeciworld.com


AECI is listed as a top 10 stock on April 11, 2024 in the market index JSE All Shares because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While half the consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average, investor sentiment is below average and thus a signal for caution. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 60 (high 60% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for AECI on April 11, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country South Africa
Industry Specialty Chemicals
Index Low Emissions, Energy Efficient, Good Governace Growth Markets, Independent Boards Growth Markets, JSE All Shares
Size class Large
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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 AECI Buy

360 METRICS April 11, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 60 (better than 60% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock AECI are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for AECI. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 100, which means that the share price of AECI 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 100% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 55, 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. But the professional market sentiment is below average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 20. Professional investors are more confident in 80% other stocks. Worryingly, the company has risky financing, with a Safety rank of 41. This means 59% of comparable companies have a safer financing structure than AECI. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 60, AECI is better positioned than 60% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Even though half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average, namely the Value Rank at 100 and the Growth Rank above-average at 55, the picture is still mixed. The professional investor community is skeptical, with the Sentiment Rank below-average at 20. In addition, the company financing structure is on the riskier side (Safety Rank of 41). Since the company is good value and the share price low, it should attract investors, yet professionals are skeptical. One may be tempted by above-average growth, but that could also change quickly, as past performance is not a good indicator of future performance. Since the financing structure is on the risky side, investors should be careful with this decision and conduct further research if they are serious about investing in this company. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for AECI negative

SENTIMENT METRICS April 11, 2024
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 20 (better than 20% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock AECI is critical, mostly below average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for AECI. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 100 (better than 100% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. This is a good sign, were it not for Analyst Opinions Change with a low rank of 8, which means that currently, stock research experts are changing their opinions for the worse. In other words, they are getting more critical of a stock investment in AECI. The Professional Investors rank is also low at 33, meaning that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 67% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. Even worse, Market Pulse has a low rank of 1, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are critical of this company (more negative news than for 99% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 20 (less encouraging than 80% compared with investment alternatives), AECI has a reputation among professional investors that is far below that of its competitors. There are several negative sentiment signals, with only the Analyst Opinions Rank above average. This could be a stock with a long reputation for being positive but where things are worsening. Most analysts may not see it yet, but some have, and the professionals are already quite pessimistic. Proceed with caution when investing in this stock. ...read more



Value Strategy: AECI Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS April 11, 2024
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 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2024, AECI shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for AECI. Price-to-Sales is 100 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 100% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for AECI's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 97% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 97. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of AECI are expected to be higher than for 96% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 96). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 100, is a buy recommendation based on AECI's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in AECI based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: AECI Growth Momentum good

GROWTH METRICS April 11, 2024
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 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), AECI 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, where half of the indicators are below and half above average for AECI. Profit Growth, with a rank of 79 (better than 79% of its competitors), and Capital Growth, with a rank of 68, are both positive, which is a healthy sign for positive development. But Sales Growth has only a rank of 20, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 80% of its competitors, and Stock Returns are at a rank of 39. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 55, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Stock returns that are a thing of the past can be less of a problem. Below-average revenue growth may be caused by divestments of underperforming businesses. If that is the case, then the positive developments of profit and capital growth are signs of a company with growth potential. If these are the reasons, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. ...read more



Safety Strategy: AECI Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS April 11, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 41 (better than 41% compared with alternatives), the company AECI 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 AECI 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 AECI and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 100, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 100% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 24, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 76% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 20, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 80% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 41 (worse than 59% compared with alternatives), AECI has a financing structure that is riskier 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 AECI 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: AECI Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE April 11, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 94 (better than 94% compared with investment alternatives), AECI (Specialty Chemicals, South Africa) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of AECI are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 100 (better than 100% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 55) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 41), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 94, is a strong buy recommendation based on AECI's financial characteristics. As the company AECI's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 100) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 55), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 41) 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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