December 12, 2024
Top 10 Stock Victrex 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: Victrex – Top 10 Stock in FTSE 250 Index
Victrex is listed as a top 10 stock on December 12, 2024 in the market index FTSE 250 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Two consolidated Obermatt Ranks are above-average. The company is safely financed and the 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 65 (high 65% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for Victrex on December 12, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals |
| Index | FTSE All Shares, FTSE 250, FTSE 350 |
| Size class | Medium |
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 Victrex Buy
| 360 METRICS | December 12, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 34 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 47 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 100 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 57 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 65 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Victrex are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half below and half above average for Victrex. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 57, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 57% of alternative investment opportunities. It also rates well regarding its financing structure, with the consolidated Safety Rank at 100 or better than 100% of its peers when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. But the stock is expensive and expects low growth. The consolidated Value Rank is only 34, meaning that the share price of Victrex is on the high side, compared with indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. The company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth,and stock returns, with its Growth Rank at 47. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 65, Victrex is better positioned than 65% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, namely the positive professional market sentiment (Sentiment Rank of 57) and safe financing practices (Safety Rank of 100), the case for investing in this stock needs further thought. The Value and the Safety Ranks are below average. The Safety Rank is the least critical of the four consolidated ranks, because it only reflects financing practices. So the question is: How to assess below-average value against above-average sentiment? This may be a case where growth is in the future, not yet reflected in current performance. Companies that might fall into this category are those with intellectual property, such as technology and pharmaceutical companies. In early phases, they are expensive relative to their size and have a lot of capital on their books, as is the case here. Investors expect a better future and are willing to pay a higher price than is warranted by the current company size. These higher prices drive stock price value down in the short term. In this case, future growth may be the strongest driver of the investment case, reflected by institutional investors' opinions. With a weak Value Rank, the question is how much to sacrifice value at the cost of positive sentiment. Sometimes market sentiment is just hype, but sometimes it is right. You pay more than market-average for this stock, but it may be worth it, if the future of Victrex̣ is bright. Prudent investors may only want to invest a smaller portion of their wealth in such situations. Young investors can carry more risk but should still thrive for sufficient diversification. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Victrex positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Victrex is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Victrex. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 49 (worse than 51% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 14, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 71, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 71% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 72, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 72% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to Victrex and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 57 (more positive than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Victrex has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical, while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more
Value Strategy: Victrex Stock Price Value below-average critical
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 34 (worse than 66% compared with alternatives), Victrex 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 Victrex. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 90% 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 Victrex's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 42 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 58% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 36 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 64% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 34, is a hold recommendation based on Victrex's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick Victrex? 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 Victrex only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Victrex Growth Momentum low
| GROWTH METRICS | December 12, 2024 | |||||||
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| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 64 |
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| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 66 |
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| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 45 |
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| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 18 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 47 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 47 (better than 47% compared with alternatives), Victrex 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 half of the indicators below and half above average for Victrex. Sales Growth has a rank of 64, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 64% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 66 is also above average. But Capital Growth has only a rank of 45, and Stock Returns with 18 are also below-average. Stock returns for Victrex have recently been below 82% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Are investors forecasting troubles based on the lack of operating investment activity at the company? This could be one explanation as to why stock returns are low. But stock returns can also be the result of correcting an error in the past, in this case, an overly optimistic outlook on the future, which is now more realistic. The Value Ranks may confirm such a picture. The more important growth indicators are revenues and profits, which are both above average for Victrex. This is a positive sign from the company's operational side and may give investors courage, despite the poor recent stock price performance. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Victrex Debt Financing Safety very solid
| SAFETY METRICS | December 12, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 91 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 48 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 73 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 100 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company Victrex has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Victrex 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 Victrex. Leverage is at a rank of 91, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 91% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 73, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 73% 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 48, 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 52% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives), Victrex 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 Victrex. 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: Victrex Above-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | December 12, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 34 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 47 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 73 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 65 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with investment alternatives), Victrex (Specialty Chemicals, United Kingdom) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Victrex are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 34 (worse than 66% of alternatives) and show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 47) but are safely financed (Safety Rank of 100), which means low debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 65, is a buy recommendation based on Victrex's financial characteristics. As the company Victrex's critical financial metrics exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 34) and low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 47), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. In this case, good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 100) are a positive sign, because it may allow the company to weather challenging times until the hoped-for cash flows materialize. This may be true for high-tech or biotechnology companies with enough cash to sustain prolonged business development. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and unattractive today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value, as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts lie all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that account for a small fraction of a safe portfolio. ...read more
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