October 17, 2024
Top 10 Stock BCE Hold 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: BCE – Top 10 Stock in Toronto Stock Exchange Index TSX Composite


bce.ca


BCE is listed as a top 10 stock on October 17, 2024 in the market index TSX Composite 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 26 (26% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for BCE on October 17, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country Canada
Industry Integrated Telecommunication
Index Renewables Users, Recycling, Telecommunications, TSX Composite
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 BCE Hold

360 METRICS October 17, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 26 (better than 26% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock BCE are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all four indicators below average for BCE. The consolidated Value Rank has a low rank of 49 which means that the share price of BCE 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 51% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank also has a low rank of 21, 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 21% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 44, which means that the company has a riskier financing structure than 56% 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 29, which means that professional investors are more pessimistic about the stock than for 71% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 26, BCE is worse than 74% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. 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 29. The negative market view on BCE 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 BCE 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 BCE only reserved

SENTIMENT METRICS October 17, 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 29 (better than 29% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock BCE is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half the indicators below and half above average for BCE. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 15 (worse than 85% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 11, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. In addition, the Professional Investors rank is 45, which means that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 55% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. The only positive sentiment indicator for BCE is Market Pulse, with a rank of 62, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 62% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 29 (less encouraging than 71% compared with investment alternatives), BCE has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more



Value Strategy: BCE Stock Price Value below-average critical

VALUE METRICS October 17, 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 49 (worse than 51% compared with alternatives), BCE shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for BCE. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 100% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 27 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 73% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning BCE's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 43 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 57% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 34 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 66% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 49, is a hold recommendation based on BCE's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick BCE? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose BCE only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more



Growth Strategy: BCE Growth Momentum negative

GROWTH METRICS October 17, 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 21 (better than 21% compared with alternatives), BCE shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four metrics below average for BCE. Sales Growth has a rank of 43, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 57% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth, with a rank of 35, and Capital Growth with 24. In addition, Stock Returns have a below market rank of 41, which means that the stock returns have recently been below 59% of alternative investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 21, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. These are all bad growth momentum indicators. These are negative signals for investors interested in growth companies. Value is likely good for this company, as investors may have left this stock in the cold. If that is the case, investors should look at the company's outlook, especially Sentiment performance, because it may be a turnaround situation that could entail above-average stock returns in the future. But it remains a risky bet, as no growth signals are in the green zone yet. ...read more



Safety Strategy: BCE Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS October 17, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 44 (better than 44% compared with alternatives), the company BCE 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 BCE 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 BCE. Liquidity is at 72, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 72% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 27, 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 73% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 40, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 60% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with alternatives), BCE has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: BCE Below-Average Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE October 17, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 26 (worse than 74% compared with investment alternatives), BCE (Integrated Telecommunication, Canada) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of BCE are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 49 (worse than 51% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 21), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 44), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 26, is a hold recommendation based on BCE's financial characteristics. As the company BCE's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 49), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 21), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 44), 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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