October 24, 2024
Top 10 Stock Vector 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: Vector – Top 10 Stock in New Zealand Stock Exchange Index NZSX 50


vector.co.nz


Vector is listed as a top 10 stock on October 24, 2024 in the market index NZSX 50 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Two consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. The company is growing above average and professional investor sentiment is positive. Both are encouraging signals for a stock purchase decision, albeit at an above-average share price. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 62 (high 62% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Vector on October 24, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country New Zealand
Industry Multi-Utilities
Index NZSX 50
Size class Large
Latest Research


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 Vector Buy

360 METRICS October 24, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 62 (better than 62% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Vector are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Vector. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 97, which means that the company experiences above-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. This means that growth is higher than for 97% of competitors in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a good rank of 70, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 70% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Value Rank has a less desirable rank of 27, which means that the share price of Vector is on the higher side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is higher than for 73% of alternative stocks in the same industry. Finally, the consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 26, which means that the company has a financing structure that is riskier than those of 74% 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 62, Vector is better positioned than 62% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, so one needs to take a close look. Growth is above-average (Growth Rank of 97), and professional market sentiment is positive (Sentiment Rank of 70), but value and safety are below average. The Safety Rank is the least significant of the four consolidated ranks, because it only reflects financing practices. In the case of high growth, aggressive financing is a good thing. So the question is: How to assess below-average value against above-average growth and sentiment? Growth may be the strongest driver of the investment rationale in this case, which is reflected in institutional investors' opinions. It is typical for growth companies to have low value, as is the case here. Investors are willing to pay more for companies that outperform their competitors. So the question is, how much do you sacrifice value for growth? You can use the following rule of thumb: If you take 100 minus the growth rank, you arrive at a possibly minimum level for the value rank. For example, if the growth rank is at 75, and the value rank is at 5, you should tread carefully. If the value rank is at 40, it still might be a good value if the growth rank is above 60. Sometimes market sentiment just extrapolates the past, but sometimes it reflects reality. You pay more than the market average for this stock, but it may be worth it. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Vector positive

SENTIMENT METRICS October 24, 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 70 (better than 70% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Vector is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Vector. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 39 (worse than 61% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. But they are changing their opinions! Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 50, which indicates a shift in stock research experts opinions for the better. In other words, they are getting more optimistic about stock investments in Vector. Even better, the Professional Investors rank is 73, meaning that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 73% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Furthermore, Market Pulse has a rank of 74, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are upbeat when discussing this company (more positive news than for 74% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 70 (more positive than 70% compared with investment alternatives), Vector has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. While analysts are still critical of the company, some are changing their minds. In addition, the professional news channels are optimistic, and many institutional investors have already bought stock in the company. These are encouraging signals, despite the still lower level of analyst recommendations. They may be due to a problematic past, and about to change. The positive sentiment signals are stronger than the negative. ...read more



Value Strategy: Vector Stock Price Value below-average critical

VALUE METRICS October 24, 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 27 (worse than 73% compared with alternatives), Vector shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Vector. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 79% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 9 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 91% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Vector's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 27 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 73% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 48 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 52% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 27, is a hold recommendation based on Vector's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Vector? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose Vector only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more



Growth Strategy: Vector Growth Momentum high

GROWTH METRICS October 24, 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 97 (better than 97% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Vector 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 but one indicator above average for Vector. Sales Growth has a value of 92 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 92% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a value of 73 and Capital Growth with a rank of 92 means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow both profits and invested capital more than of its competitors. But Stock Returns has only a rank of 29, which means that stock returns have recently been below 71% of alternative investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 97, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Vector has only one below-average growth indicator, the stock returns. This is probably the least reliable growth indicator, because it measures company and investor expectations at the same time. The three other growth indicators, which are all positive for Vector, are more reliable measures of growth momentum. For this reason, the company seems to be on a good trajectory, unless you think the current period is not representative, because of unique events that will not be repeated in the future. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Vector Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS October 24, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 26 (better than 26% compared with alternatives), the company Vector 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 Vector 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 Vector and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 52 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 52% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 21, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 79% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 34, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 66% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 26 (worse than 74% compared with alternatives), Vector has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of Vector are on the safer side. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Vector Below-Average Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE October 24, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 44 (worse than 56% compared with investment alternatives), Vector (Multi-Utilities, New Zealand) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Vector are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 27 (worse than 73% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 26, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 97). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 44, is a hold recommendation based on Vector's financial characteristics. As the company Vector shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 27 (73% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 97% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 97). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 26 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for Vector, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more

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