The stock of ASX (OTCPK:ASXFF, 30-year Financials) appears to be fairly valued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $57.2 per share and the market cap of $11.2 billion, ASX stock gives every indication of being fairly valued. GF Value for ASX is shown in the chart below.
Because ASX is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth, which averaged 7.4% over the past three years and is estimated to grow 2.66% annually over the next three to five years.
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Investing in companies with poor financial strength has a higher risk of permanent loss of capital. Thus, it is important to carefully review the financial strength of a company before deciding whether to buy its stock. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great starting point for understanding the financial strength of a company. ASX has a cash-to-debt ratio of 141.65, which is better than 76% of the companies in Capital Markets industry. GuruFocus ranks the overall financial strength of ASX at 6 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of ASX is fair. This is the debt and cash of ASX over the past years:
Investing in profitable companies carries less risk, especially in companies that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. Typically, a company with high profit margins offers better performance potential than a company with low profit margins. ASX has been profitable 10 years over the past 10 years. During the past 12 months, the company had revenues of $694 million and earnings of $1.826 a share. Its operating margin of 68.54% better than 89% of the companies in Capital Markets industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks ASX’s profitability as fair. This is the revenue and net income of ASX over the past years:
Growth is probably one of the most important factors in the valuation of a company. GuruFocus’ research has found that growth is closely correlated with the long-term performance of a company’s stock. If a company’s business is growing, the company usually creates value for its shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. Likewise, if a company's revenue and earnings are declining, the value of the company will decrease. ASX’s 3-year average revenue growth rate is in the middle range of the companies in Capital Markets industry. ASX’s 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 4.1%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Capital Markets industry.
One can also evaluate a company’s profitability by comparing its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, ASX’s ROIC is 3.10 while its WACC came in at 4.19. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of ASX is shown below:
In conclusion, the stock of ASX (OTCPK:ASXFF, 30-year Financials) gives every indication of being fairly valued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in Capital Markets industry. To learn more about ASX stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.
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