February 13, 2025
Top 10 Stock Sappi 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: Sappi – Top 10 Stock in Energy Efficency Leaders
Sappi is listed as a top 10 stock on February 13, 2025 in the market index Energy Efficient 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 where the risk of paying too much for the shares is low, despite a currently slow growth momentum. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 80 (top 80% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Sappi on February 13, 2025.
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 Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | February 13, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 100 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 41 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 53 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 68 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 80 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 80 (better than 80% compared with alternatives) for 2025, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sappi are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Sappi. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 100, which means that the share price of Sappi is on the lower side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 100% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 53. In addition, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 68. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 41, which means that the company is below average in terms of growth and momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. 59 of its competitors have better growth. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 80, Sappi is better positioned than 80% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks show above-average performance. The stock has as good value (Value Rank of 100), secure financing practices (Safety Rank of 53), and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 68). It is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely to occur. The company’s growth expectations are below the industry average (Growth Rank of 41), but that could also be temporary since professional investors remain optimistic despite the low growth numbers. The low price as reflected in the good Value Rank could indicate that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this. Companies that grow less are typically cheaper than fast-growing competitors. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Sappi is as difficult as the stock’s low price suggests, despite the positive professional investor sentiment. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock may just go through a more challenging phase now, indicating good timing. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Sappi positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 68 (better than 68% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sappi is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators where all but one are above average for Sappi. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 53 (better than 53% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. The Professional Investors rank is also good at 78, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 78% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 64 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 64% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change has a below-average rank of 25, which means that stock research experts are currently changing their opinions for the worse when it comes to recommending this stock. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in Sappi. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 68 (more positive than 68% compared with investment alternatives), Sappi has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an early sign of caution, even if the stock has significantly appreciated. If analysts change their opinions, the stock may become too expensive. If the price is on the way down, the trend may continue. This may be a stock with a good reputation and history, but it may have reached its breaking point by now. Investors should look at the Value Ranks as well. If they indicate trouble, it might just materialize in the future. ...read more
Value Strategy: Sappi Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2025, 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 91 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 91% 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 97% 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 91. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Sappi are expected to be higher than for 91% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 91). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 100, 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
| GROWTH METRICS | February 13, 2025 | |||||||
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| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 39 |
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| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 75 |
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| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 19 |
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| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 45 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 41 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 41 (better than 41% 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 metrics below average for Sappi. While Profit Growth has a good rank of 75, as professionals currently expect the company to grow its profits more than 75% of its competitors, all other growth indicators are below market averages. Sales Growth has a rank of 39, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 61% of its competitors, while Capital Growth has a rank of 19 and Stock Returns have been below market median, with a rank of 45 (55% of alternative investments were better). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 41, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. While revenue growth and capital growth are good growth momentum indicators, profit is less reliable, because profits may increase due to cost-cutting measures which typically indicate negative growth momentum. "You can save a dollar only once" is the saying about such situations. Growth Investors should look at company priorities closely if they are interested in growth, because the increase in profits is not usually an indicator of growth, and stock prices have been below market, too. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Sappi Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | February 13, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 30 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 85 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 42 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 53 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 53 (better than 53% 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 85, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 85% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 30, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 70% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 42, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 58% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 53 (better than 53% 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 | February 13, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 100 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 41 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 42 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 81 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 81 (better than 81% 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 100 (better than 100% of alternatives), are safely financed (Safety Rank of 53, which means low debt burdens), but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 41). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 81, 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 100) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 41) while being safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 53), it may be a safer investment because companies with low debt can better withstand times of crises. Yet the good value, better than 100% 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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