September 5, 2024
Top 10 Stock AJ Bell 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: AJ Bell – Top 10 Stock in FTSE 350 Index
AJ Bell is listed as a top 10 stock on September 05, 2024 in the market index FTSE 350 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Three consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. Only the Value Rank is below average. The investment rationale may be an investment in future growth, supported by professional market opinion. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 74 (high 74% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for AJ Bell on September 05, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Index | FTSE All Shares, FTSE 250, FTSE 350 |
| Size class | Medium |
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 AJ Bell Buy
| 360 METRICS | September 5, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 9 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 99 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 55 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 68 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 74 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 74 (better than 74% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock AJ Bell are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all but one indicator above average for AJ Bell. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 99, 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. This means that growth is higher than for 99% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Safety Rank at 55 means that the company has a financing structure that is safer than 55% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, the consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 68, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 68% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank is less desirable at 9, meaning that the share price of AJ Bell is on the higher side compared with indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is higher than for 91% of alternative stocks in the same industry. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 74, AJ Bell is better positioned than 74% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as above-average growth (Growth Rank of 99), a safe financing structure (Safety Rank of 55), and positive professional market sentiment (Sentiment Rank of 68), it is a solid stock investment where growth may be the strongest driver of the investment rationale, also reflected by institutional investors. It is typical for growth companies to have low value, as is the case here. Investors are willing to pay more for companies that outperform their competitors. So the question is, how much more do you pay for the stock of AJ Bell compared with alternatives? You can use the following rule of thumb: The growth rank measures the growth momentum of the company (99% better than peers). The value rank could be the reverse reflection of that (1%). A Value Rank below that level may be assessed as expensive, a rank above that is still good value. Sometimes market sentiment just reflects the past, sometimes the reality. You pay more than the market average for this stock, but it may be worth it. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for AJ Bell positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 68 (better than 68% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock AJ Bell is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for AJ Bell. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 42 (worse than 58% 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 AJ Bell. More encouragingly, the Professional Investors rank is 88, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 88% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. But Market Pulse is on the lower side with a rank of 46, 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 54% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 68 (more positive than 68% compared with investment alternatives), AJ Bell has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. The sentiment signals are mixed for AJ Bell. 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: AJ Bell Stock Price Value low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 9 (worse than 91% compared with alternatives), AJ Bell 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 AJ Bell. Price-to-Sales is 19 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 81% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning AJ Bell'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 AJ Bell. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 16 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 68% 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 9, is a sell recommendation based on AJ Bell's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for AJ Bell? 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 AJ Bell? 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. AJ Bell 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: AJ Bell Growth Momentum high
| GROWTH METRICS | September 5, 2024 | |||||||
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| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 75 |
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| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 74 |
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| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 86 |
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| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 83 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 99 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 99 (better than 99% compared with alternatives) for 2024, AJ Bell 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 AJ Bell. Sales Growth has a value of 75, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 75% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 74 and for Capital Growth with 86. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 83, which means they have been higher than 83% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 99, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, AJ Bell 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: AJ Bell Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | September 5, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 75 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 5 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 73 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 55 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), the company AJ Bell 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 AJ Bell 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 two out of three indicators above average for AJ Bell. Leverage is at a rank of 75, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 75% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 73, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 73% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 5, 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 95% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), AJ Bell has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for AJ Bell. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: AJ Bell Above-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | September 5, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 9 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 99 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 73 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 65 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with investment alternatives), AJ Bell (Investment Banking & Brokerage, United Kingdom) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of AJ Bell are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 9 (worse than 91% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 99) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 55, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 65, is a buy recommendation based on AJ Bell's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company AJ Bell exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 9), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 99). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 55) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). ...read more
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