May 2, 2024
Top 10 Stock Provident 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: Provident – Top 10 Stock in FTSE 250 Index


providentfinancial.com


Provident is listed as a top 10 stock on May 02, 2024 in the market index FTSE 250 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, it is a solid investment from a financial fact perspective where only investor sentiment is a reason for caution. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 84 (top 84% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Provident on May 02, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country United Kingdom
Industry Consumer Finance
Index FTSE All Shares, FTSE 250, FTSE 350
Size class Medium
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 Provident Strong Buy

360 METRICS May 2, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives) for 2024, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Provident are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for Provident. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 96, which means that the share price of Provident 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 96% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 74, 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. The company is also safely financed with a Safety Rank of 79. But the professional market sentiment is below average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of only 6. Professional investors are more confident in 94% other stocks. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 84, Provident is better positioned than 84% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Value Rank of 96), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 74), and safe financing practices (Safety Rank of 79), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely, unless information not publicly available. Only the professional market sentiment is on the riskier side (Sentiment Rank of 6), but that could also mean an overreaction to negative news in the past. Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. If they have been enjoying above average growth and are still a good value, this may not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Provident is as challenging as the low price of the stock despite good growth and safe financing practices suggest. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you may want to reflect these negative opinions in light of what you find reasonable to expect for the future. If you believe this pessimistic view is transitory, you have a solid investment case based on current financial factors. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Provident negative

SENTIMENT METRICS May 2, 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 6 (better than 6% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Provident 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 Provident. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 29 (worse than 71% 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 22 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 17, 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 83% of competitors). No wonder, the Professional Investors rank is only 23, which means that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 77% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to stay away from Provident, 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 6 (less encouraging than 94% compared with investment alternatives), Provident 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: Provident Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS May 2, 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 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Provident shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for Provident. Price-to-Sales is 97 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 97% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Provident's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 84% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 100. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Provident are expected to be higher than for 92% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 92). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 96, is a buy recommendation based on Provident's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in Provident based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: Provident Growth Momentum good

GROWTH METRICS May 2, 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 74 (better than 74% compared with alternatives), Provident 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 Provident. Profit Growth, with a rank of 95 (better than 95% of its competitors), and Capital Growth, with a rank of 100, are both positive, which is a healthy sign for positive development. But Sales Growth has only a rank of 48, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 52% of its competitors, and Stock Returns are at a rank of 1. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 74, 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. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Provident Debt Financing Safety very solid

SAFETY METRICS May 2, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company Provident has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Provident 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 Provident. Refinancing is at 69, meaning the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 69% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good 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. However, Leverage is rather large at 13, which means the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 87% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with alternatives), Provident has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. This is not bad if things go well. The higher debt level means better returns to shareholders if things go well. Many top-performing companies operate with higher debt levels, and Provident could be in that group. But if you expect the environment to turn rougher, the higher leverage could become a problem. The same is valid if you expect interest rates to rise. That could squeeze shareholder returns, which so far have benefitted from better conditions. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Provident Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE May 2, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 98 (better than 98% compared with investment alternatives), Provident (Consumer Finance, United Kingdom) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Provident are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 96 (better than 96% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 74), and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 79), which means low debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 98, is a strong buy recommendation based on Provident's financial characteristics. As the company Provident's key financial metrics all exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 96), above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 74), and indicate that the company is safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 79), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the share is limited, unless the company has a bleak future. Such good financial performance can indicate that the company's future might actually be challenging, as it may be difficult to maintain the good performance. If they are safely financed and have been growing above average, and are still a good value, it means that the market is keeping prices low, for a reason which may become clearer over time. We recommend evaluating the future of Provident. 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.