July 4, 2024
Top 10 Stock Pennon Hold 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: Pennon – Top 10 Stock in FTSE All Share Index


pennon-group.co.uk


Pennon is listed as a top 10 stock on July 04, 2024 in the market index FTSE All Shares because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While half the consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average, investor sentiment is below average and thus a signal for caution. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 48 (48% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for Pennon on July 04, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country United Kingdom
Industry Water Utilities
Index FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, Customer Focus EU, Employee Focus EU, Diversity Europe, Low Waste, Recycling, Water Tech
Size class Large
Latest Research


Top 10 Stocks ≠ most popular stocks

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 Pennon Hold

360 METRICS July 4, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 48 (better than 48% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Pennon are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Pennon. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 56, which means that the share price of Pennon is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 56% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 95, 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. But the professional market sentiment is below average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 8. Professional investors are more confident in 92% other stocks. Worryingly, the company has risky financing, with a Safety rank of 44. This means 56% of comparable companies have a safer financing structure than Pennon. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 48, Pennon is worse than 52% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Even though half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average, namely the Value Rank at 56 and the Growth Rank above-average at 95, the picture is still mixed. The professional investor community is skeptical, with the Sentiment Rank below-average at 8. In addition, the company financing structure is on the riskier side (Safety Rank of 44). Since the company is good value and the share price low, it should attract investors, yet professionals are skeptical. One may be tempted by above-average growth, but that could also change quickly, as past performance is not a good indicator of future performance. Since the financing structure is on the risky side, investors should be careful with this decision and conduct further research if they are serious about investing in this company. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Pennon negative

SENTIMENT METRICS July 4, 2024
ANALYST OPINION
ANALYST OPINION
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 8 (better than 8% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Pennon is critical, mostly below average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Pennon. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 33 (worse than 67% 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 24 which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. It doesn't end with the analysts. Market Pulse is also low with a rank of 19, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the negative side when discussing this company (more negative news than for 81% of competitors). No wonder, the Professional Investors rank is only 10, which means that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 90% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to stay away from Pennon, which may be due to a small company size but just as likely because of its relatively low Sentiment Rank. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 8 (less encouraging than 92% compared with investment alternatives), Pennon has a reputation among professional investors that is far below that of its competitors. Investors should be careful with this stock right now. Further research is required if an investment is desired, because the facts found in the professional community are all negative. ...read more



Value Strategy: Pennon Stock Price Value better than average

VALUE METRICS July 4, 2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 56 (better than 56% compared with alternatives), Pennon shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for Pennon. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 52, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 52% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Pennon's revenue size. The same is valid for dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 94, which means that dividends are expected to be higher than for 94% of comparable investments. On the other hand, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is less favorable than for 52% of alternatives (only 48% of peers have an even higher ratio). The same is valid for the Price-to-Profit (or Price / Earnings, P/E) ratio, which is higher than for 84% of comparable companies, 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 56, is a buy recommendation based on Pennon's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a somewhat surprising picture, because it means that profits are low while dividends are high. One interpretation could be that profits are expected to increase, justifying the high dividend payments. But it could also mean that the company desperately keeps the high dividends to avoid a collapsing share price. This would be a rather dangerous constellation. ...read more



Growth Strategy: Pennon Growth Momentum high

GROWTH METRICS July 4, 2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 95 (better than 95% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Pennon shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Pennon. Sales Growth has a value of 98 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 98% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a value of 98 and Capital Growth with a rank of 98 means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow both profits and invested capital more than of its competitors. But Stock Returns has only a rank of 26, which means that stock returns have recently been below 74% of alternative investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 95, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Pennon has only one below-average growth indicator, the stock returns. This is probably the least reliable growth indicator, because it measures company and investor expectations at the same time. The three other growth indicators, which are all positive for Pennon, are more reliable measures of growth momentum. For this reason, the company seems to be on a good trajectory, unless you think the current period is not representative, because of unique events that will not be repeated in the future. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Pennon Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS July 4, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 44 (better than 44% compared with alternatives), the company Pennon 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 Pennon 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 Pennon. Liquidity is at 95, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 95% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 41, 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 59% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 6, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 94% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with alternatives), Pennon has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Pennon Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE July 4, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 90 (better than 90% compared with investment alternatives), Pennon (Water Utilities, United Kingdom) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Pennon are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 56 (better than 56% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 95) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 44), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 90, is a strong buy recommendation based on Pennon's financial characteristics. As the company Pennon's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 56) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 95), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 44) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. ...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.