November 14, 2024
Top 10 Stock AstraZeneca Sell 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: AstraZeneca – Top 10 Stock in Optionsmäklarna Stockholm Stock Exchange Stockholm Index OMX 30


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AstraZeneca is listed as a top 10 stock on November 14, 2024 in the market index OMX 30 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. All consolidated Obermatt Ranks are below-average. Based on the Obermatt Method, an investment in the company is not advisable today. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 10 (10% performer), Obermatt issues an overall sell recommendation for AstraZeneca on November 14, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country United Kingdom
Industry Pharmaceuticals
Index FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, Employee Focus EU, Diversity Europe, Human Rights, Renewables Users, NASDAQ, OMX 30
Size class XX-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 AstraZeneca Sell

360 METRICS November 14, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 10 (better than 10% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock AstraZeneca are critical, mostly below average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all four indicators below average for AstraZeneca. The consolidated Value Rank has a low rank of 44 which means that the share price of AstraZeneca is on the higher side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is higher than for 56% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank also has a low rank of 29, which means that the company exhibits below-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 lower than for 29% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 6, which means that the company has a riskier financing structure than 94% 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 low rank of 46, which means that professional investors are more pessimistic about the stock than for 54% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 10, AstraZeneca is worse than 90% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. This means that AstraZeneca shares are on the riskier side for investors. As all consolidated Obermatt Ranks are below-average, this is a risky stock investment proposition, especially since professional investor sentiment, the consolidated Obermatt Sentiment Rank, is also low at 46. The negative market view on AstraZeneca may stem from the high stock price (low value), the low level of growth, or the risky financing structures. That's several problems with no good news anywhere. Based on the current information, we don’t see any compelling arguments to make a case for this stock investment. The company may have a strong future which would justify the high stock price, but this is not confirmed by investor behavior today. While AstraZeneca may have a bright future, it is reflected in neither the financial indicators nor the market sentiment. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for AstraZeneca only reserved

SENTIMENT METRICS November 14, 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 46 (better than 46% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock AstraZeneca is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all four indicators above average for AstraZeneca. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 58 (better than 58% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. Analyst Opinions Change is also positive with a rank of 55, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better and recommending investing in the company. They are getting more optimistic about stock investments in AstraZeneca. The Professional Investors rank is 62, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 62% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Finally, Market Pulse has a rank of 53 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 53% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 46 (less encouraging than 54% compared with investment alternatives), AstraZeneca has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. Since all market sentiment indicators are positive, the professional community highly recommends investment in the company. Does this mean AstraZeneca stocks are a safe investment? Far from it. Even professionals make mistakes. Especially in stock investing, there is a tendency to follow the leaders. Since trees don't grow to the heavens, such positive sentiment may also be interpreted as a danger sign. A lot of optimism can often be a sign of troubles to come, albeit unforeseen by most. ...read more



Value Strategy: AstraZeneca Stock Price Value below-average critical

VALUE METRICS November 14, 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 44 (worse than 56% compared with alternatives), AstraZeneca shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for AstraZeneca. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) is 53 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 53% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning AstraZeneca's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 18, which means that the stock price is lower as regards to invested capital than for 18% of comparable investments. On the other hand, Price-to-Sales is less favorable than 71% of alternatives (only 29% of peers have an even less favorable ratio). The same is valid for dividend yield, which is lower than 26% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 44, is a hold recommendation based on AstraZeneca's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a puzzling picture, because it means that profits are high while dividends are low. Since the stock price is low compared with invested capital but high in respect to expected revenues, it means that the company has more invested capital than peers for generating the same amount of revenue. Since profits are higher, it could be a "cash cow" situation (using the classic Boston Consulting BCG matrix naming convention) where the company is on a downward trend, still living from the profits of past products. As the company pays low dividends, it may harbor the opinion that a turnaround is possible, and it rather invests the cash than pay it out to shareholders, thus sealing the company's fate early. Any investment optimism should only be a buy trigger once thorough research is completed. ...read more



Growth Strategy: AstraZeneca Growth Momentum low

GROWTH METRICS November 14, 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 29 (better than 29% compared with alternatives), AstraZeneca shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below-average for AstraZeneca. While Sales Growth ranks at 64, professionals currently expect the company to grow more than 64% of its competitors, while all other growth ranks are below the market median. Profit Growth has a rank of 36, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 64% of its competitors, and Capital Growth has a low rank of 43. Historic stock returns were also below average with a current Stock Returns rank of 31 which means that the stock returns have recently been below 69% of alternative investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 29, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. If revenues are expected to increase, but all other growth indicators are negative, the company may be investing in future growth through means not visible in the balance sheet and thus not reflected in capital growth. The fact that Stock Returns have been below market doesn't mean that much, as it may be due to overly optimistic investor behavior in the past, which has been corrected to a more reasonable level recently. If that were the case, a positive Value Rank would be a reason to invest because the company is still expected to grow, while stock prices are now at a more reasonable level. ...read more



Safety Strategy: AstraZeneca Debt Financing Safety risky

SAFETY METRICS November 14, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 6 (better than 6% compared with alternatives), the company AstraZeneca has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of AstraZeneca 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 all three metrics below average for AstraZeneca. Liquidity is at 43, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 19, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 81% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 4 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 96% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with alternatives), AstraZeneca has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing.



Combined financial peformance: AstraZeneca Lowest Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE November 14, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 1 (worse than 99% compared with investment alternatives), AstraZeneca (Pharmaceuticals, United Kingdom) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of AstraZeneca are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 44 (worse than 56% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 29), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 6), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 1, is a sell recommendation based on AstraZeneca's financial characteristics. As the company AstraZeneca's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 44), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 29), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 6), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. ...read more

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