March 14, 2024
Top 10 Stock Meridian Energy Sell 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: Meridian Energy – Top 10 Stock in New Zealand Stock Exchange Index NZSX 50
Meridian Energy is listed as a top 10 stock on March 14, 2024 in the market index NZSX 50 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only one consolidated Obermatt Rank is above-average. The company is safely financed, but all other facts speak against a stock purchase, especially the low market sentiment by professional investors. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 8 (8% performer), Obermatt issues an overall sell recommendation for Meridian Energy on March 14, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
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 Meridian Energy Sell
| 360 METRICS | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 7 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 22 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 67 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 37 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 8 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 8 (better than 8% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Meridian Energy are critical, mostly below average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for Meridian Energy. The only rank that is above average is the consolidated Safety Rank at 67, which means that the company has a financing structure that is safer than those of 67% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. But the Value, Growth and Sentiment Ranks are all below average. The consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 7, which means that the share price of Meridian Energy is on the high side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. The consolidated Growth Rank also has a low rank of 22, which implies that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. Finally, the consolidated Sentiment Rank is also low at a rank of 37, which means that professional investors are more pessimistic about the stock than for 63% of alternative investment opportunities. While Safety is strong, it’s not the most critical indicator, so we suggest proceeding with caution if you are considering this stock. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 8, Meridian Energy is worse than 92% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. This means that Meridian Energy shares are on the riskier side for investors. As only the financing structure, namely the Safety Rank, is on the safer side and all other consolidated Obermatt Ranks are below-average, this is a riskier stock investment proposition. This is especially the case, since professional investor sentiment, the consolidated Obermatt Sentiment Rank, is also low at 37. The negative market view on Meridian Energy may be the high stock price (low value) or the low level of growth. This is a problem. As the Safety Rank is the least significant of the four consolidated Obermatt Ranks, we cannot identify enough positive facts that are visible today to make a case for this stock investment. The company may have a strong future which would justify the high stock price, but this is not visible from investor behavior today. As market sentiment is critical, you should be careful with paying more than market-average for this stock, and conduct further research into the company's future growth potential. Prudent investors may only want to invest a smaller portion of their wealth in such situations. Young investors can carry more risk but should still thrive for sufficient diversification. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Meridian Energy only reserved
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 37 (better than 37% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Meridian Energy is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half the indicators below and half above average for Meridian Energy. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 28 (worse than 72% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 35, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. In addition, the Professional Investors rank is 39, which means that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 61% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. The only positive sentiment indicator for Meridian Energy is Market Pulse, with a rank of 65, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 65% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 37 (less encouraging than 63% compared with investment alternatives), Meridian Energy has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more
Value Strategy: Meridian Energy Stock Price Value low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 7 (worse than 93% compared with alternatives), Meridian Energy shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Meridian Energy. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 53% 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 14 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 86% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Meridian Energy's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 7 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 93% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 17 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 83% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 7, is a sell recommendation based on Meridian Energy's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Meridian 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 Meridian Energy only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Meridian Energy Growth Momentum negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 22 (better than 22% compared with alternatives), Meridian Energy shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Meridian Energy. Sales Growth has a below market rank of 38, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 62% of its competitors. The same is valid for Capital Growth, with a rank of 12, and Profit Growth, with a rank of 49. Currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 51% of its competitors). Only shareholders are optimistic. Stock Returns are above average at a rank of 57, which means that the stock returns have recently been above 57% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 22, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That picture may be the result for a company that has reached the bottom. All went south for Meridian Energy, and it still looks bad, but some investors already see light at the end of the tunnel, rewarding the stock with recent above-market stock returns. It could also mean that investors are correcting an overreaction to negative news. If that were the case, the positive stock returns are not yet a sign of recovery. Investors should look closely at the Value and Sentiment indicators before they make a stock purchasing decision, because growth is unlikely to be the driving argument behind this investment. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Meridian Energy Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 81 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 30 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 39 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 67 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), the company Meridian Energy 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 Meridian Energy 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 Meridian Energy and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 81 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 81% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 30, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 70% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 39, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 61% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), Meridian Energy 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 Meridian Energy are on the safer side. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: Meridian Energy Lowest Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 7 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 22 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 15 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 15 (worse than 85% compared with investment alternatives), Meridian Energy (Renewable Electricity, New Zealand) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Meridian Energy are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 7 (worse than 93% of alternatives) and show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 22) but are safely financed (Safety Rank of 67), which means low debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 15, is a sell recommendation based on Meridian Energy's financial characteristics. As the company Meridian Energy's critical financial metrics exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 7) and low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 22), 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. In this case, good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 67) are a positive sign, because it may allow the company to weather challenging times until the hoped-for cash flows materialize. This may be true for high-tech or biotechnology companies with enough cash to sustain prolonged business development. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and unattractive today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value, as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts lie all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that account for a small fraction of a safe portfolio. ...read more
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