Fact based stock research
FirstRand (JSE:FSR)
ZAE000066304
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.
FirstRand stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 89 (better than 89% compared with investment alternatives), FirstRand (Other Financial Services, South Africa) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of FirstRand are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 71) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 65, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 89, is a strong buy recommendation based on FirstRand's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company FirstRand exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 71). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 65) 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). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | South Africa |
| Industry | Other Financial Services |
| Index | Good Governace Growth Markets, JSE All Shares |
| Size class | X-Large |
19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: FirstRand
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 19 |
|
43 |
|
49 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 72 |
|
77 |
|
25 |
|
71 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 48 |
|
41 |
|
43 |
|
65 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
3 |
|
17 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
25 |
|
7 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 89 (better than 89% compared with investment alternatives), FirstRand (Other Financial Services, South Africa) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of FirstRand are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 71) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 65, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 89, is a strong buy recommendation based on FirstRand's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company FirstRand exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 71). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 65) 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). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 19 |
|
43 |
|
49 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 72 |
|
77 |
|
25 |
|
71 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 48 |
|
41 |
|
43 |
|
65 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 54 |
|
63 |
|
15 |
|
89 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% compared with alternatives), FirstRand 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 FirstRand. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 70% 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 48 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 52% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning FirstRand's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 42 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 58% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 26 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 74% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation based on FirstRand's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick FirstRand? 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 FirstRand 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) | 53 |
|
39 |
|
50 |
|
48 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 53 |
|
46 |
|
43 |
|
42 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 16 |
|
25 |
|
28 |
|
26 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 78 |
|
74 |
|
76 |
|
70 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 19 |
|
43 |
|
49 |
|
47 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 71 (better than 71% compared with alternatives), FirstRand shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for FirstRand. Capital Growth has a rank of 89, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 45% of its competitors. Investors welcomed this, visible in the Stock Returns rank of 63 (above 63% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has only a rank of 42, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 58% of its competitors, and Profit Growth is also low at a rank of 45. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 71, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. This is an ambiguous picture. Revenue growth and capital growth are strong, but the growth in profit, which seems good, can also be an indication that growth momentum may be negative. The fact that stock returns have been above average doesn't help much, as stock returns are less reliable in showing a company’s future growth potential. Prices may perform well for the simple reason that investors were too pessimistic in the past and are now correcting their opinions and moving the stock price to a more reasonable level. As the growth picture is mixed for FirstRand, investors may want to look at value and sentiment indicators for a well-rounded picture of this stock. 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 | 54 |
|
56 |
|
52 |
|
42 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 67 |
|
20 |
|
28 |
|
45 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
93 |
|
5 |
|
89 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 62 |
|
75 |
|
65 |
|
63 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 72 |
|
77 |
|
25 |
|
71 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), the company FirstRand 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 FirstRand 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 just one indicator above average for FirstRand and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 92 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 92% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 42, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 58% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 37, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 63% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), FirstRand has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of FirstRand are on the safer side. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge and liquidity issues with FirstRand and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 46 |
|
76 |
|
84 |
|
92 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 36 |
|
39 |
|
33 |
|
42 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 96 |
|
23 |
|
26 |
|
37 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 48 |
|
41 |
|
43 |
|
65 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
30 |
|
36 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
35 |
|
16 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
45 |
|
72 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
10 |
|
22 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
3 |
|
17 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for FirstRand from December 19, 2024.
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