August 1, 2024
Top 10 Stock Sappi 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: Sappi – Top 10 Stock in Wood & Timber Industry
Sappi is listed as a top 10 stock on August 01, 2024 in the market index Timber Industry 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 negative and growth performance is below market average, both a sign for caution. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 45 (45% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for Sappi on August 01, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | South Africa |
| Industry | Paper Products |
| Index | Energy Efficient, Good Governace Growth Markets, Human Rights, Independent Boards Growth Markets, Timber Industry, JSE All Shares |
| 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 Sappi Hold
| 360 METRICS | August 1, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 90 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 37 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 54 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 20 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 45 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sappi are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for Sappi. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 90, which means that the share price of Sappi 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 90% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 54. But the professional market sentiment is below average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 20. Professional investors are more confident in 80% other stocks. The consolidated Growth Rank also has a low rank of 37, which means that the company is below average in terms of growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. 63 of its competitors have better growth. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 45, Sappi is worse than 55% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. The picture is mixed here. The stock seems to be a good value (Value Rank of 90), and the financing structure is on the safer side (Safety Rank of 54). However, sentiment in the professional investor community is below-average (Sentiment Rank of 20), as is the growth momentum for the company (Growth Rank of 37). Since the company is good value and the share price low, it should attract investors, yet professionals are skeptical. Even though the financing structure is not as important as Value, Growth, and Sentiment, investors should still 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 Sappi negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 20 (better than 20% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sappi is critical, mostly below average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for Sappi. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 56 (better than 56% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. This is a good sign, were it not for Analyst Opinions Change with a low rank of 37, which means that currently, stock research experts are changing their opinions for the worse. In other words, they are getting more critical of a stock investment in Sappi. The Professional Investors rank is also low at 41, meaning that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 59% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. Even worse, Market Pulse has a low rank of 23, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are critical of this company (more negative news than for 77% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 20 (less encouraging than 80% compared with investment alternatives), Sappi has a reputation among professional investors that is far below that of its competitors. There are several negative sentiment signals, with only the Analyst Opinions Rank above average. This could be a stock with a long reputation for being positive but where things are worsening. Most analysts may not see it yet, but some have, and the professionals are already quite pessimistic. Proceed with caution when investing in this stock. ...read more
Value Strategy: Sappi Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 90 (better than 90% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Sappi shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for Sappi. Price-to-Sales is 89 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 89% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Sappi's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 86% 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 94. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Sappi are expected to be higher than for 82% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 82). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 90, is a buy recommendation based on Sappi'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 Sappi based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: Sappi Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 37 (better than 37% compared with alternatives), Sappi shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Sappi. Sales Growth has a below market rank of 42, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 58% of its competitors. The same is valid for Capital Growth, with a rank of 26, and Profit Growth, with a rank of 13. Currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 87% of its competitors). Only shareholders are optimistic. Stock Returns are above average at a rank of 88, which means that the stock returns have recently been above 88% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 37, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That picture may be the result for a company that has reached the bottom. All went south for Sappi, 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: Sappi Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | August 1, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 28 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 79 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 49 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 54 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 54 (better than 54% compared with alternatives), the company Sappi 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 Sappi 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 Sappi and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 79, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 79% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 28, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 72% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 49, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 51% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 54 (better than 54% compared with alternatives), Sappi 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 Sappi 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. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: Sappi Top Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | August 1, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 90 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 37 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 49 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 79 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 79 (better than 79% compared with investment alternatives), Sappi (Paper Products, South Africa) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Sappi are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 90 (better than 90% of alternatives), are safely financed (Safety Rank of 54, which means low debt burdens), but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 37). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 79, is a strong buy recommendation based on Sappi's financial characteristics. As the company Sappi's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 90) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 37) while being safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 54), it may be a safer investment because companies with low debt can better withstand times of crises. Yet the good value, better than 90% of comparable companies, may also indicate that the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity and the downside is limited due to below-average financing risks. ...read more
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