Fact based stock research
Contact Energy (NZSE:CEN)

NZCENE0001S6

How to read the free 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.

Contact Energy stock research in summary

contact.co.nz

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 22 (worse than 78% compared with investment alternatives), Contact Energy (Electric Utilities, New Zealand) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Contact Energy are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 25 (worse than 75% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 33), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 42), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 22, is a sell recommendation based on Contact Energy's financial characteristics. As the company Contact Energy's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 25), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 33), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 42), 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. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	25
Growth Rank	33
Safety Rank	42
Combined Rank	22

Country	New Zealand
Industry	Electric Utilities
Index	NZSX 50
Size class	Large

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

Multiple opinions. One number.

Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.

Why popular stocks have low ratings

It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.

Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: Contact Energy

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	49	27	25	25
GROWTH
GROWTH	68	23	34	33
SAFETY
SAFETY	93	70	50	42
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	n/a	97	59	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	n/a	69	28	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 19-Dec-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Jun-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Contact Energy is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	49	27	25	25
GROWTH
GROWTH	68	23	34	33
SAFETY
SAFETY	93	70	50	42
COMBINED
COMBINED	100	26	18	22

Last update of combined financial performance: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Contact Energy the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 25 (worse than 75% compared with alternatives), Contact Energy 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 Contact Energy. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 59% 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 25 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 75% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Contact Energy's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 28 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 72% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 21 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 79% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 25, is a hold recommendation based on Contact Energy's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Contact Energy? 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 Contact Energy only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	42	25	25	25
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	39	18	25	28
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	35	27	21	21
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	78	69	69	59
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	49	27	25	25

Last update of Value Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Contact Energy; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 33 (better than 33% compared with alternatives), Contact Energy 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 half of the indicators below and half above average for Contact Energy. Profit Growth has a rank of 83, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 83% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 61 (above 61% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 10, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 90% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 17. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 33, is a hold 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 Contact Energy. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	64	12	18	10
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	4	40	80	83
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	n/a	59	28	17
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	26	23	41	61
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	68	23	34	33

Last update of Growth Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Contact Energy.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 42 (better than 42% compared with alternatives), the company Contact Energy 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 Contact Energy 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 Contact Energy. Liquidity is at 67, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 67% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 17, 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 83% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 44, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 56% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 42 (worse than 58% compared with alternatives), Contact Energy 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. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	88	82	58	44
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	31	33	19	17
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	88	60	67	67
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	93	70	50	42

Last update of Safety Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Contact Energy and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2021	2022	2023	2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	79	86	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	n/a	50	25	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	n/a	83	54	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	n/a	73	46	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	n/a	97	59	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Contact Energy.
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