Fact based stock research
Sumitomo Bakelite (TSE:4203)

JP3409400003

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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.

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Sumitomo Bakelite stock research in summary

sumibe.co.jp

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 80 (better than 80% compared with investment alternatives), Sumitomo Bakelite (Specialty Chemicals, Japan) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Sumitomo Bakelite are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 25 (worse than 75% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 97) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 78, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 80, is a strong buy recommendation based on Sumitomo Bakelite's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Sumitomo Bakelite exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 25), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 97). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 78) 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


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	25
Growth Rank	97
Safety Rank	78
Combined Rank	80

Country	Japan
Industry	Specialty Chemicals
Index	Low Emissions
Size class	Medium

31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Research History: Sumitomo Bakelite

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	31	43	43	25
GROWTH
GROWTH	69	89	94	97
SAFETY
SAFETY	61	72	91	78
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	63	82	81	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	63	90	98	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 31-Jul-2025. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 31-Mar-2025. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Sumitomo Bakelite is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	31	43	43	25
GROWTH
GROWTH	69	89	94	97
SAFETY
SAFETY	61	72	91	78
COMBINED
COMBINED	57	82	93	80

Last update of combined financial performance: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Sumitomo Bakelite the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 25 (worse than 75% compared with alternatives), Sumitomo Bakelite shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Sumitomo Bakelite. Price-to-Sales is 22 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 78% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Sumitomo Bakelite's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 20, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Sumitomo Bakelite. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 42 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 58% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 25, is a hold recommendation based on Sumitomo Bakelite's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Sumitomo Bakelite? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Sumitomo Bakelite? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Sumitomo Bakelite may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. 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	2022	2023	2024	2025
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	39	36	31	22
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	35	64	71	42
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	51	37	28	20
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	46	28	45	42
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	31	43	43	25

Last update of Value Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Sumitomo Bakelite; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 97 (better than 97% compared with alternatives) for 2025, Sumitomo Bakelite 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 four indicators above average for Sumitomo Bakelite. Sales Growth has a value of 60, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 60% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 69 and for Capital Growth with 84. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 77, which means they have been higher than 77% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 97, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, Sumitomo Bakelite exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. 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. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	51	65	87	60
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	47	67	60	69
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	19	49	82	84
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	95	99	53	77
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	69	89	94	97

Last update of Growth Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Sumitomo Bakelite.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with alternatives) for 2025, the company Sumitomo Bakelite has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Sumitomo Bakelite 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 two out of three indicators above average for Sumitomo Bakelite. Leverage is at a rank of 84, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 84% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 86, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 86% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 41, 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 59% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 78 (better than 78% compared with alternatives), Sumitomo Bakelite has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for Sumitomo Bakelite. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with Sumitomo Bakelite and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	50	74	78	84
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	53	49	62	41
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	67	84	81	86
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	61	72	91	78

Last update of Safety Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Sumitomo Bakelite and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2022	2023	2024	2025
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	81	82	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	4	9	62	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	70	100	86	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	50	68	28	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	63	82	81	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Sumitomo Bakelite.
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