May 16, 2024
Top 10 Stock Sage 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: Sage – Top 10 Stock in SDG 10: Reduced Inequality
Sage is listed as a top 10 stock on May 16, 2024 in the market index SDG 10 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Two consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. The company is growing above average and professional investor sentiment is positive. Both are encouraging signals for a stock purchase decision, albeit at an above-average share price. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 58 (high 58% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Sage on May 16, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Application Software |
| Index | FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, Dividends Europe, Employee Focus EU, Human Rights, SDG 10, SDG 13, SDG 16, SDG 5, SDG 8 |
| Size class | X-Large |
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 Sage Buy
| 360 METRICS | May 16, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 45 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 91 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 26 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 66 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 58 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 58 (better than 58% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sage are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Sage. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 91, 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. This means that growth is higher than for 91% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a good rank of 66, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 66% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 45, which means that the share price of Sage is on the higher side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is higher than for 55% of alternative stocks in the same industry. Finally, the consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 26, which means that the company has a financing structure that is riskier than those of 74% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 58, Sage is better positioned than 58% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, so one needs to take a close look. Growth is above-average (Growth Rank of 91), and professional market sentiment is positive (Sentiment Rank of 66), but value and safety are below average. The Safety Rank is the least significant of the four consolidated ranks, because it only reflects financing practices. In the case of high growth, aggressive financing is a good thing. So the question is: How to assess below-average value against above-average growth and sentiment? Growth may be the strongest driver of the investment rationale in this case, which is reflected in institutional investors' opinions. It is typical for growth companies to have low value, as is the case here. Investors are willing to pay more for companies that outperform their competitors. So the question is, how much do you sacrifice value for growth? You can use the following rule of thumb: If you take 100 minus the growth rank, you arrive at a possibly minimum level for the value rank. For example, if the growth rank is at 75, and the value rank is at 5, you should tread carefully. If the value rank is at 40, it still might be a good value if the growth rank is above 60. Sometimes market sentiment just extrapolates the past, but sometimes it reflects reality. You pay more than the market average for this stock, but it may be worth it. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Sage positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 66 (better than 66% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sage is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Sage. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 17 (worse than 83% 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 49, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 96, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 96% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 78, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 78% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to Sage and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 66 (more positive than 66% compared with investment alternatives), Sage has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with 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: Sage Stock Price Value below-average critical
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with alternatives), Sage shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Sage. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 74% 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 25 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 75% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Sage's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 27 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 73% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 29 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 71% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation based on Sage's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Sage? 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 Sage only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Sage Growth Momentum high
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Sage 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 Sage. Sales Growth has a rank of 61 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 61% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 39% of competitors with a rank of 98, and Stock Returns with the rank of 88 is also an outperformance. Only Profit Growth is low with a rank of 39 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 61% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 91, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. All three operating growth indicators, namely revenue, profit, and capital growth, are showing improvements. This is a good indication of a company with a positive future. That might, at the same time, be the simple reason why profit growth is low. A growing company needs money and thus can't yet show high profit growth. Look out for signs in corporate communication about extra growth efforts costing time and money. If that is the case, Sage is a good growth stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Sage Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | May 16, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 21 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 19 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 53 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 26 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 26 (better than 26% compared with alternatives), the company Sage 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 Sage 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 Sage. Liquidity is at 53, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 53% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 19, 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 81% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 21, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 79% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 26 (worse than 74% compared with alternatives), Sage 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: Sage Above-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | May 16, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 45 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 91 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 53 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 58 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 58 (better than 58% compared with investment alternatives), Sage (Application Software, United Kingdom) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Sage are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 45 (worse than 55% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 26, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 91). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 58, is a buy recommendation based on Sage's financial characteristics. As the company Sage shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 45 (55% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 91% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 91). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 26 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for Sage, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more
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