Oracle Corporation (ORCL, Financial) has shown some earnings growth over the last few years and has a healthy dividend, factors which may garner some attention from prospective investors; however, Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, taught that the most important aspect to consider is whether the company is trading at a discount relative to its intrinsic value. It is through a thorough fundamental analysis that the investor is able to make a determination about a potential investment's merits.
The model is inspired by the teachings of Benjamin Graham and considers numerous metrics intended to help the investor reduce risk levels. The first part of the analysis is to determine whether the company is suitable for the very conservative defensive investor or the less conservative enterprising investor, who is willing to spend a greater amount of time conducting further research.
In addition, Graham strongly suggested that investors avoid speculation in order to remove the subjective elements of emotion. This is best achieved by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another. By using the ModernGraham method, one can review a company's historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.
Defensive Investor β Must pass at least six of the following seven tests: Score = 5/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise β Market capitalization of at least $2 billion βΓ PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition β Current ratio greater than 2 βΓ PASS
- Earnings Stability β Positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years βΓ PASS
- Dividend Record β Has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years βΓ FAIL
- Earnings Growth β Earnings per share has increased by at least one-third over the last 10 years, using three-year averages at the beginning and end of the period βΓ PASS
- Moderate PEmg (price over normalized earnings) Ratio β PEmg is less than 20 βΓ PASS
- Moderate Price-to-Assets β PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 βΓ FAIL
Enterprising Investor β Must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests to be suitable for a Defensive Investor: Score = 5/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 β Current ratio greater than 1.5 βΓ PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 β Debt-to-Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 βΓ PASS
- Earnings Stability β Positive earnings per share for at least 5 years βΓ PASS
- Dividend Record β Currently pays a dividend βΓ PASS
- Earnings Growth β EPSmg greater than that 5 years ago βΓ PASS
Valuation summary
Key data
| Recent Price | $40.42 |
| MG Value | $64.70 |
| MG Opinion | Undervalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $31.84 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $18.67 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 4.95% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$0.24 |
| PEmg | 18.41 |
| Current Ratio | 4.00 |
| PB Ratio | 3.71 |
Balance Sheet - March 2015
| Current Assets | $61,183,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $15,291,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $39,959,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $110,903,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $40,493,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $62,240,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 4,464,000,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2015 | $2.21 |
| 2014 | $2.38 |
| 2013 | $2.26 |
| 2012 | $1.96 |
| 2011 | $1.67 |
| 2010 | $1.21 |
| 2009 | $1.09 |
| 2008 | $1.06 |
| 2007 | $0.81 |
| 2006 | $0.64 |
| 2005 | $0.55 |
Earnings Per Share - ModernGraham
| 2015 | $2.20 |
| 2014 | $2.09 |
| 2013 | $1.84 |
| 2012 | $1.56 |
| 2011 | $1.29 |
| 2010 | $1.06 |
Dividend History
Conclusion
Oracle Corporation passes the initial requirements of the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the lack of dividends, and the high PB ratio. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors should feel very comfortable proceeding to the next part of the analysis, which is a determination of the company's intrinsic value.
When it comes to that valuation, it is critical to consider the company's earnings history. In this case, it has grown its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.29 in 2011 to $2.20 for 2015. This level of demonstrated growth outpaces the market's implied estimate for annual earnings growth of 4.95% over the next 7-10 years.
In recent years, the company's actual growth in EPSmg has averaged around 14% annually. The ModernGraham valuation model reduces the actual growth to a more conservative figure when making an estimate, but still returns an estimate of intrinsic value well above the current price, indicating that Oracle Corporation is undervalued at the present time.
