December 26, 2024
Top 10 Stock Sasol 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: Sasol – Top 10 Stock in Low Emission Leaders


sasol.com


Sasol is listed as a top 10 stock on December 26, 2024 in the market index Low Emissions because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only the Obermatt Value Rank exhibits above-average performance, which means that the stock is seen as critical by the professional community and other financial facts are below average, conveying mixed investment signals. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 68 (high 68% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Sasol on December 26, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


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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 Sasol Buy

360 METRICS December 26, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 68 (better than 68% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sasol are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Sasol. Only the consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 100, which means that the share price of Sasol is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 100% of alternative stocks in the same industry. All other consolidated ranks are below average. The consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 35, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 49, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 51% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, professionals are more pessimistic about the stock than for 57% of alternative investment opportunities, reflected in the consolidated Sentiment Rank of 43. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 68, Sasol is better positioned than 68% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits above-average performance, namely the Value Rank at a level of 100. All other ranks are below average, so proceed with caution. The company has below-average growth expectations (Growth Rank of 35), a riskier financing structure than the competition (Safety Rank of 49), and the market sentiment in the professional investor community ranking at (Sentiment Rank of 43) is negative. This combination is sensitive to a crisis, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. It’s no wonder that the investor community indicators are skeptical (low sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Sasol is as challenging as the low price of the stock suggests. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you might need to worry about the future of Sasol. Only invest if you have solid reasons to believe that the low growth is temporary and the current market sentiment is an overreaction, possibly due to reputational issues in the past. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Sasol only reserved

SENTIMENT METRICS December 26, 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 43 (better than 43% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sasol is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for Sasol. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 81 (better than 81% 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 35, 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 Sasol. The Professional Investors rank is also low at 22, meaning that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 78% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. Even worse, Market Pulse has a low rank of 32, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are critical of this company (more negative news than for 68% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 43 (less encouraging than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Sasol has a reputation among professional investors that is 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: Sasol Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS December 26, 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 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Sasol shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for Sasol. Price-to-Sales is 93 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 93% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Sasol's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 100% 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 97. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Sasol are expected to be higher than for 94% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 94). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 100, is a buy recommendation based on Sasol'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 Sasol based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: Sasol Growth Momentum low

GROWTH METRICS December 26, 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 35 (better than 35% compared with alternatives), Sasol 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 Sasol. While Profit Growth has a good rank of 92, as professionals currently expect the company to grow its profits more than 92% of its competitors, all other growth indicators are below market averages. Sales Growth has a rank of 20, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 80% of its competitors, while Capital Growth has a rank of 45 and Stock Returns have been below market median, with a rank of 7 (93% of alternative investments were better). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 35, 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: Sasol Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS December 26, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 49 (better than 49% compared with alternatives), the company Sasol 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 Sasol 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 Sasol and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 100, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 100% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 14, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 86% 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 49 (worse than 51% compared with alternatives), Sasol has a financing structure that is riskier 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 Sasol 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: Sasol Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE December 26, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with investment alternatives), Sasol (Diversified Chemicals, South Africa) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Sasol are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 100 (better than 100% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 35), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 49), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 84, is a strong buy recommendation based on Sasol's financial characteristics. As the company Sasol's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 100) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 35) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 49), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 100% of comparable companies, may indicate 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. ...read more

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