September 12, 2024
Top 10 Stock Asahi Kasei Strong 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: Asahi Kasei – Top 10 Stock in Nikkei 225 Index


asahi-kasei.co.jp


Asahi Kasei is listed as a top 10 stock on September 12, 2024 in the market index Nikkei 225 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As all consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, including positive market sentiment in the professional investor community, it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 92 (top 92% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Asahi Kasei on September 12, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country Japan
Industry Commodity Chemicals
Index TOPIX 100, Low Emissions, Energy Efficient, Nikkei 225
Size class XX-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 Asahi Kasei Strong Buy

360 METRICS September 12, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 92 (better than 92% compared with alternatives) for 2024, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Asahi Kasei are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all four indicators above average for Asahi Kasei. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 75, which means that the share price of Asahi Kasei 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 75% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 77, 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. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 65. Finally, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 77. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 92, Asahi Kasei is better positioned than 92% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As all consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Value Rank of 75), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 77), safe financing practices (Safety Rank of 65), and a positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 77), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited and disappointments are less likely to occur, unless information not publicly available. High-Value Ranks sometimes indicate that the company's future is challenging. If they are safely financed and have above average growth, and are still a good value, it may indicate that this will not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Asahi Kasei is as difficult as the stock’s low price, despite what good growth and safe financing practice suggest. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock is just not sufficiently visible, which may indicate good timing right now. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Asahi Kasei very positive

SENTIMENT METRICS September 12, 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 77 (better than 77% compared with alternatives) for 2024, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Asahi Kasei is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Asahi Kasei. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 48 (worse than 52% 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 89, 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 Asahi Kasei. More encouragingly, the Professional Investors rank is 85, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 85% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. But Market Pulse is on the lower side with a rank of 26, 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 74% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 77 (more positive than 77% compared with investment alternatives), Asahi Kasei has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. The sentiment signals are mixed for Asahi Kasei. 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: Asahi Kasei Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS September 12, 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 75 (better than 75% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Asahi Kasei shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for Asahi Kasei. Price-to-Sales is 59 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 59% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Asahi Kasei's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 68% 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 63. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Asahi Kasei are expected to be higher than for 66% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 66). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 75, is a buy recommendation based on Asahi Kasei'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 Asahi Kasei based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: Asahi Kasei Growth Momentum high

GROWTH METRICS September 12, 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 77 (better than 77% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Asahi Kasei 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 half of the indicators below and half above average for Asahi Kasei. Profit Growth has a rank of 80, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 80% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 89 (above 89% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 44, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 56% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 28. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 77, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for Asahi Kasei. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Asahi Kasei Debt Financing Safety above-average

SAFETY METRICS September 12, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), the company Asahi Kasei 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 Asahi Kasei 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 Asahi Kasei. Refinancing is at 59, meaning the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 59% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at 75, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 75% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. However, Leverage is rather large at 38, which means the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 62% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), Asahi Kasei has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. This is not bad if things go well. The higher debt level means better returns to shareholders if things go well. Many top-performing companies operate with higher debt levels, and Asahi Kasei could be in that group. But if you expect the environment to turn rougher, the higher leverage could become a problem. The same is valid if you expect interest rates to rise. That could squeeze shareholder returns, which so far have benefitted from better conditions. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Asahi Kasei Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE September 12, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 95 (better than 95% compared with investment alternatives), Asahi Kasei (Commodity Chemicals, Japan) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Asahi Kasei are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 75 (better than 75% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 77), and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 65), which means low debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 95, is a strong buy recommendation based on Asahi Kasei's financial characteristics. As the company Asahi Kasei's key financial metrics all exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 75), above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 77), and indicate that the company is safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 65), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the share is limited, unless the company has a bleak future. Such good financial performance can indicate that the company's future might actually be challenging, as it may be difficult to maintain the good performance. If they are safely financed and have been growing above average, and are still a good value, it means that the market is keeping prices low, for a reason which may become clearer over time. We recommend evaluating the future of Asahi Kasei. 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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