Fact based stock research
KakaoBank (KOSE:A323410)
KR7323410001
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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.
KakaoBank stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 40 (worse than 60% compared with investment alternatives), KakaoBank (Diversified Banks, South Korea) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of KakaoBank are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 1 (worse than 99% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 55) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 82, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 40, is a hold recommendation based on KakaoBank's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company KakaoBank exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 1), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 55). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 82) 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 Korea |
| Industry | Diversified Banks |
| Index | KOSPI |
| Size class | Medium |
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: KakaoBank
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | n/a |
|
96 |
|
97 |
|
55 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | n/a |
|
30 |
|
60 |
|
82 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
4 |
|
72 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
7 |
|
61 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 40 (worse than 60% compared with investment alternatives), KakaoBank (Diversified Banks, South Korea) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of KakaoBank are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 1 (worse than 99% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 55) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 82, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 40, is a hold recommendation based on KakaoBank's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company KakaoBank exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 1), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 55). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 82) 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 | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | n/a |
|
96 |
|
97 |
|
55 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | n/a |
|
30 |
|
60 |
|
82 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | n/a |
|
27 |
|
53 |
|
40 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 1 (worse than 99% compared with alternatives), KakaoBank shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for KakaoBank. Price-to-Sales is 1 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 99% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning KakaoBank's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 3, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of KakaoBank. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 1 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 99% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 1, is a sell recommendation based on KakaoBank's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for KakaoBank? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as KakaoBank? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. KakaoBank may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. 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) | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | n/a |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), KakaoBank 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 KakaoBank. Sales Growth has a rank of 88, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 88% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 78 is also above average. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 25, and Stock Returns with 7 are also below-average. Stock returns for KakaoBank have recently been below 93% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 55, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Are investors forecasting troubles based on the lack of operating investment activity at the company? This could be one explanation as to why stock returns are low. But stock returns can also be the result of correcting an error in the past, in this case, an overly optimistic outlook on the future, which is now more realistic. The Value Ranks may confirm such a picture. The more important growth indicators are revenues and profits, which are both above average for KakaoBank. This is a positive sign from the company's operational side and may give investors courage, despite the poor recent stock price performance. 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 the Obermatt 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 | n/a |
|
98 |
|
98 |
|
88 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | n/a |
|
100 |
|
78 |
|
78 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
100 |
|
83 |
|
25 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | n/a |
|
1 |
|
19 |
|
7 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | n/a |
|
96 |
|
97 |
|
55 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 82 (better than 82% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company KakaoBank has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of KakaoBank 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 two out of three indicators above average for KakaoBank. Leverage is at a rank of 62, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 62% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 100, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 100% 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 42, 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 58% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 82 (better than 82% compared with alternatives), KakaoBank has a financing structure that is significantly safer 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 KakaoBank. 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. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with KakaoBank 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 | n/a |
|
35 |
|
48 |
|
62 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | n/a |
|
1 |
|
30 |
|
42 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | n/a |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | n/a |
|
30 |
|
60 |
|
82 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
39 |
|
77 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
42 |
|
47 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
29 |
|
60 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
1 |
|
69 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
4 |
|
72 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for KakaoBank from December 19, 2024.
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