Fact based stock research
Kakao (KOSE:A035720)
KR7035720002
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.
Kakao stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with investment alternatives), Kakao (Interactive Media & Services, South Korea) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Kakao are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 31, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 61). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 44, is a hold recommendation based on Kakao's financial characteristics. As the company Kakao shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (53% 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 61% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 61). 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 31 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 Kakao, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. 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
Log in or sign up to see the new 360° View and Sentiment ranks.
360° Viewnew| Country | South Korea |
| Industry | Interactive Media & Services |
| Index | KOSPI |
| Size class | X-Large |
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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.
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: Kakao
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 30 |
|
29 |
|
31 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 80 |
|
93 |
|
23 |
|
61 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 83 |
|
37 |
|
31 |
|
31 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
93 |
|
75 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
83 |
|
24 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with investment alternatives), Kakao (Interactive Media & Services, South Korea) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Kakao are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 31, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 61). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 44, is a hold recommendation based on Kakao's financial characteristics. As the company Kakao shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (53% 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 61% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 61). 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 31 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 Kakao, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. 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 | 30 |
|
29 |
|
31 |
|
47 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 80 |
|
93 |
|
23 |
|
61 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 83 |
|
37 |
|
31 |
|
31 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 93 |
|
56 |
|
8 |
|
44 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% compared with alternatives), Kakao shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for Kakao. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 54, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 54% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Kakao's revenue size. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio), which is more favorable than for 71% of alternatives (29% of peers have a higher ratio). But expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 30 are lower than average (dividends are expected to be lower than 70% of other stocks) while the Price to Profit ratio (or Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio) is higher than average with a Price-to-Profit Rank of 21, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation based on Kakao's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Low profits and low dividends as seen here for Kakao may indicate a restructuring phase. This could be transitory, making the company a good value when profits recover and dividends return to higher levels. If the stock price is compared with the size indicators for revenue and invested capital, it is on the lower side, making this stock a good value investment (apart from current profit and dividend expectations). We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 27 |
|
30 |
|
38 |
|
54 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 42 |
|
26 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 10 |
|
36 |
|
52 |
|
71 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 60 |
|
32 |
|
27 |
|
30 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 30 |
|
29 |
|
31 |
|
47 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 61 (better than 61% compared with alternatives), Kakao 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, where half of the indicators are below and half above average for Kakao. Profit Growth, with a rank of 92 (better than 92% of its competitors), and Capital Growth, with a rank of 67, are both positive, which is a healthy sign for positive development. But Sales Growth has only a rank of 29, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 71% of its competitors, and Stock Returns are at a rank of 15. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 61, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Stock returns that are a thing of the past can be less of a problem. Below-average revenue growth may be caused by divestments of underperforming businesses. If that is the case, then the positive developments of profit and capital growth are signs of a company with growth potential. If these are the reasons, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. 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 | 45 |
|
77 |
|
68 |
|
29 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 25 |
|
98 |
|
6 |
|
92 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
70 |
|
24 |
|
67 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 91 |
|
63 |
|
37 |
|
15 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 80 |
|
93 |
|
23 |
|
61 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 31 (better than 31% compared with alternatives), the company Kakao 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 Kakao 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 Kakao and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 68, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 68% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 34, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 66% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 20, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 80% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 31 (worse than 69% compared with alternatives), Kakao has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Kakao are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with Kakao 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 | 55 |
|
51 |
|
36 |
|
34 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 33 |
|
44 |
|
42 |
|
68 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 100 |
|
34 |
|
28 |
|
20 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 83 |
|
37 |
|
31 |
|
31 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
80 |
|
87 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
49 |
|
31 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
67 |
|
39 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
85 |
|
85 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
93 |
|
75 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Kakao from November 14, 2024.
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our free research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.