March 7, 2024
Top 10 Stock IFC 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: IFC – Top 10 Stock in Toronto Stock Exchange Index TSX Composite
IFC is listed as a top 10 stock on March 07, 2024 in the market index TSX Composite because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Two consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. The company is growing above average and professional investor sentiment is positive. Both are encouraging signals for a stock purchase decision, albeit at an above-average share price. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 94 (top 94% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for IFC on March 07, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | Canada |
| Industry | Property & Casualty Insurance |
| Index | TSX Composite |
| Size class | XX-Large |
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 IFC Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | March 7, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 46 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 51 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 34 |
|
||||||
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 98 |
|
||||||
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 94 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 94 (better than 94% compared with alternatives) for 2022, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock IFC are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for IFC. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 51, 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. This means that growth is higher than for 51% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a good rank of 98, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 98% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 46, which means that the share price of IFC 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 54% of alternative stocks in the same industry. Finally, the consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 34, which means that the company has a financing structure that is riskier than those of 66% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 94, IFC is better positioned than 94% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, so one needs to take a close look. Growth is above-average (Growth Rank of 51), and professional market sentiment is positive (Sentiment Rank of 98), but value and safety are below average. The Safety Rank is the least significant of the four consolidated ranks, because it only reflects financing practices. In the case of high growth, aggressive financing is a good thing. So the question is: How to assess below-average value against above-average growth and sentiment? Growth may be the strongest driver of the investment rationale in this case, which is reflected in institutional investors' opinions. It is typical for growth companies to have low value, as is the case here. Investors are willing to pay more for companies that outperform their competitors. So the question is, how much do you sacrifice value for growth? You can use the following rule of thumb: If you take 100 minus the growth rank, you arrive at a possibly minimum level for the value rank. For example, if the growth rank is at 75, and the value rank is at 5, you should tread carefully. If the value rank is at 40, it still might be a good value if the growth rank is above 60. Sometimes market sentiment just extrapolates the past, but sometimes it reflects reality. You pay more than the market average for this stock, but it may be worth it. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for IFC very positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 98 (better than 98% compared with alternatives) for 2022, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock IFC is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all four indicators above average for IFC. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 71 (better than 71% 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 85, 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 IFC. The Professional Investors rank is 96, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 96% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Finally, Market Pulse has a rank of 89 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 89% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 98 (more positive than 98% compared with investment alternatives), IFC has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. Since all market sentiment indicators are positive, the professional community highly recommends investment in the company. Does this mean IFC 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: IFC Stock Price Value below-average critical
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 46 (worse than 54% compared with alternatives), IFC 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 IFC. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 64% 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 36 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 64% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning IFC's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 45 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 55% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 38 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 62% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 46, is a hold recommendation based on IFC's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick IFC? 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 IFC only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more
Growth Strategy: IFC Growth Momentum good
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), IFC 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 IFC. Profit Growth has a rank of 59, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 59% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 59 (above 59% 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 43. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, 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 IFC. ...read more
Safety Strategy: IFC Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | March 7, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 53 |
|
||||||
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 4 |
|
||||||
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 53 |
|
||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 34 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 34 (better than 34% compared with alternatives), the company IFC 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 IFC 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 two out of three indicators above average for IFC. Leverage is at a rank of 53, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 53% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 53, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 53% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 4, 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 96% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 34 (worse than 66% compared with alternatives), IFC has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for IFC. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: IFC Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 7, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 46 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 51 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 53 |
|
||||||
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 30 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 30 (worse than 70% compared with investment alternatives), IFC (Property & Casualty Insurance, Canada) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of IFC are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 46 (worse than 54% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 34, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 30, is a hold recommendation based on IFC's financial characteristics. As the company IFC shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 46 (54% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 51% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 51). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 34 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for IFC, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.