March 20, 2025
Top 10 Stock TOTAL 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: TOTAL – Top 10 Stock in Oil & Gas Mining and Production
TOTAL is listed as a top 10 stock on March 20, 2025 in the market index Oil & Gas because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, the professional market sentiment is positive and it may be a solid investment proposition, especially if a growth recovery is to be expected soon. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 57 (high 57% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for TOTAL on March 20, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | France |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Integrated |
| Index | EURO STOXX 50, CAC 40, CAC All, SBF 120, Low Emissions, Dividends Europe, Energy Efficient, Human Rights, Oil & Gas |
| Size class | XX-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 TOTAL Buy
| 360 METRICS | March 20, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 67 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 30 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 45 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 73 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 57 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 57 (better than 57% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock TOTAL are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for TOTAL. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 67, which means that the share price of TOTAL 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 67% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 73, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 73% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 30, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 45, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 55 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 57, TOTAL is better positioned than 57% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, but the other half are below market levels. The company enjoys a good value (Value Rank of 67) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 73), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 30) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 45). This combination is rather dangerous, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. The current low growth level may be temporary, because professionals are actually optimistic (positive 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. Companies with less growth typically have a lower price than fast-growing competitors. Even though professional investor sentiment is strong, we recommend further evaluating whether the future of TOTAL is as challenging as the stock's low price suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, the stock might just be going through a more challenging phase now, indicating that timing might be good now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for TOTAL positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 73 (better than 73% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock TOTAL is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all four indicators above average for TOTAL. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 51 (better than 51% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. Analyst Opinions Change is also positive with a rank of 53, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better and recommending investing in the company. They are getting more optimistic about stock investments in TOTAL. The Professional Investors rank is 51, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 51% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Finally, Market Pulse has a rank of 74 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 74% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 73 (more positive than 73% compared with investment alternatives), TOTAL has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. Since all market sentiment indicators are positive, the professional community highly recommends investment in the company. Does this mean TOTAL stocks are a safe investment? Far from it. Even professionals make mistakes. Especially in stock investing, there is a tendency to follow the leaders. Since trees don't grow to the heavens, such positive sentiment may also be interpreted as a danger sign. A lot of optimism can often be a sign of troubles to come, albeit unforeseen by most. ...read more
Value Strategy: TOTAL Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), TOTAL shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for TOTAL. Price-to-Sales is 60 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 60% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for TOTAL's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 74% 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 53. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of TOTAL are expected to be higher than for 53% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 53). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 67, is a buy recommendation based on TOTAL'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 TOTAL based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: TOTAL Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 30 (better than 30% compared with alternatives), TOTAL 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 TOTAL. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 55, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 33% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 30 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 70% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 33 and Stock Returns with a rank of 43 are also low (below 57% of alternative investments). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 30, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for TOTAL is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: TOTAL Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | March 20, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 57 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 24 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 63 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 45 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), the company TOTAL 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 TOTAL 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 two out of three indicators above average for TOTAL. Leverage is at a rank of 57, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 57% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 63, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 63% 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 24, 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 76% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with alternatives), TOTAL has a financing structure that is riskier 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 TOTAL. 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. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: TOTAL Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 20, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 67 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 30 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 63 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 42 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 42 (worse than 58% compared with investment alternatives), TOTAL (Oil & Gas Integrated, France) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of TOTAL are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 67 (better than 67% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 30), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 45), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 42, is a hold recommendation based on TOTAL's financial characteristics. As the company TOTAL's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 67) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 30) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 45), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 67% 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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