December 12, 2024
Top 10 Stock Anthem Strong Buy Recommendation



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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: Anthem – Top 10 Stock in Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Providers Index


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Anthem is listed as a top 10 stock on December 12, 2024 in the market index D.J. US Health Care 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 88 (top 88% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Anthem on December 12, 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 Anthem Strong Buy

360 METRICS December 12, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 88 (better than 88% compared with alternatives) for 2022, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Anthem are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for Anthem. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 87, which means that the share price of Anthem 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 87% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 71, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 71% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 33, 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 41, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 59 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 88, Anthem is better positioned than 88% 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 87) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 71), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 33) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 41). 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 Anthem 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 Anthem positive

SENTIMENT METRICS December 12, 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 71 (better than 71% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Anthem is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators where all but one are above average for Anthem. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 56 (better than 56% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. The Professional Investors rank is also good at 61, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 61% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 88 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 88% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change has a below-average rank of 42, which means that stock research experts are currently changing their opinions for the worse when it comes to recommending this stock. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in Anthem. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 71 (more positive than 71% compared with investment alternatives), Anthem has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an early sign of caution, even if the stock has significantly appreciated. If analysts change their opinions, the stock may become too expensive. If the price is on the way down, the trend may continue. This may be a stock with a good reputation and history, but it may have reached its breaking point by now. Investors should look at the Value Ranks as well. If they indicate trouble, it might just materialize in the future. ...read more



Value Strategy: Anthem Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS December 12, 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 87 (better than 87% compared with alternatives) for 2022, Anthem shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for Anthem. Price-to-Sales is 68 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 68% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Anthem's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 77% 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 Anthem are expected to be higher than for 85% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 85). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 87, is a buy recommendation based on Anthem'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 Anthem based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: Anthem Growth Momentum low

GROWTH METRICS December 12, 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 33 (better than 33% compared with alternatives), Anthem 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 Anthem. Sales Growth has a rank of 62 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 62% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 26% of competitors with a rank of 51. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 26, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 74% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 27. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 33, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise investors. ...read more



Safety Strategy: Anthem Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS December 12, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 41 (better than 41% compared with alternatives), the company Anthem 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 Anthem 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, where all three are above average for Anthem. Leverage is at 56, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 56% of its competitors. Refinancing is at a rank of 64, meaning that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 64% of its competitors. Finally, Liquidity is also good at a rank of 76, which means that the company generates more profit to service its debt than 76% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 41 (worse than 59% compared with alternatives), Anthem has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. These three positive financing indicators signal that the company is less likely to default on its debt obligations. However, it also means that its shareholder returns will be more modest if things go well. A low safety means fewer troubles in downtimes and less upside in good times. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: Anthem Top Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE December 12, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with investment alternatives), Anthem (Health Care Managed, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Anthem are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 87 (better than 87% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 33), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 41), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 96, is a strong buy recommendation based on Anthem's financial characteristics. As the company Anthem's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 87) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 33) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 41), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 87% 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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