Fact based stock research
Ricardo (LSE:RCDO)
GB0007370074
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.
Ricardo stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with investment alternatives), Ricardo (Research & Consulting, United Kingdom) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Ricardo are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 81) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 55, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation based on Ricardo's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Ricardo exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 17), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 81). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 55) 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
Latest Obermatt Ranks
Log in or sign up to see the new 360° View and Sentiment ranks.
360° Viewnew| Country | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Research & Consulting |
| Index | FTSE All Shares |
| Size class | Medium |
19-Dec-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: Ricardo
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 38 |
|
44 |
|
37 |
|
17 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 88 |
|
8 |
|
54 |
|
81 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 35 |
|
62 |
|
48 |
|
55 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
50 |
|
26 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
28 |
|
30 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with investment alternatives), Ricardo (Research & Consulting, United Kingdom) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Ricardo are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 81) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 55, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation based on Ricardo's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Ricardo exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 17), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 81). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 55) 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 | 38 |
|
44 |
|
37 |
|
17 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 88 |
|
8 |
|
54 |
|
81 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 35 |
|
62 |
|
48 |
|
55 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 20 |
|
24 |
|
39 |
|
45 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with alternatives), Ricardo shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators where three out of four are below average for Ricardo. Only the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) indicates good stock value with a Price-to-Book Rank of 50, which means that the stock price is lower compared with invested capital than for 50% of comparable investments. All other value indicators are below the market median. Price-to-Sales is 42 which means the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 58% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Ricardo's revenue levels. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 50 and for the dividend yields rank which is lower than for 57% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to with the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 17, is a sell recommendation based on Ricardo's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Why are market participants paying such a high price for Ricardo, where three out of four value indicators are below par? One reason could be that the company is well financed, indicated by the high book capital level, and has a promising future that is not yet visible in reported revenues and profits. That would also explain the low dividend yield because the company needs the cash to invest in its future. If investors can verify a picture in this sense, the stock may still be a good investment, even though current company-reported financials don't fully explain current stock prices. 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) | 69 |
|
45 |
|
47 |
|
42 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 24 |
|
62 |
|
37 |
|
38 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 76 |
|
73 |
|
67 |
|
50 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 54 |
|
32 |
|
44 |
|
43 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 38 |
|
44 |
|
37 |
|
17 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 81 (better than 81% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Ricardo 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 half of the indicators below and half above average for Ricardo. Sales Growth has a rank of 83 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 83% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 37% of competitors with a rank of 98. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 37, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 63% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 35. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 81, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise 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 | 54 |
|
43 |
|
64 |
|
83 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 20 |
|
20 |
|
26 |
|
37 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
16 |
|
59 |
|
98 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 76 |
|
50 |
|
36 |
|
35 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 88 |
|
8 |
|
54 |
|
81 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), the company Ricardo 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 Ricardo 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 Ricardo and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 87, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 87% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 44, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 56% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 32, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 68% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), Ricardo has a financing structure that is safer 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 Ricardo 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 Ricardo 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 | 24 |
|
57 |
|
43 |
|
44 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 76 |
|
84 |
|
82 |
|
87 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 45 |
|
24 |
|
16 |
|
32 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 35 |
|
62 |
|
48 |
|
55 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
69 |
|
59 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
50 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
18 |
|
14 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
61 |
|
34 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
50 |
|
26 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Ricardo from December 19, 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.