There are a number of great companies in the market today. By using the ModernGraham Valuation Model, I've selected the 10 most undervalued companies reviewed by ModernGraham. Each company has been determined to be suitable for Defensive Investor according to the ModernGraham approach.
Defensive Investors are defined as investors who are not able or willing to do substantial research into individual investments, and therefore need to select only the companies that present the least amount of risk. Enterprising Investors, on the other hand, are able to do substantial research and can select companies that present a moderate (though still low) amount of risk. Each company suitable for the Defensive Investor is also suitable for Enterprising Investors.
Be sure to check out the history of this screen to find out which companies have been selected in the past!
Five most undervalued companies for the Defensive Investor
Graham Holdings Company
Graham Holdings Company (GHC, Financial) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and for the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor is only concerned with the inconsistent dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $18.06 in 2011 to an estimated $70.23 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 0.06% annual earnings loss over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation (FMC, Financial) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor's only initial concern is the low current ratio while the Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.80 in 2011 to an estimated $3.85 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 1.14% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
Yahoo! Inc.
Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO, Financial) qualifies for the more conservative Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor. Both investor types are only concerned by the lack of dividend payments. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.67 in 2011 to an estimated $2.92 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 1.96% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
CF Industries Holdings
CF Industries Holdings (CF, Financial) passes the initial requirements of both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor is only concerned with the low current ratio, while the Enterprising Investor's only concern is the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all value 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 $2.46 in 2011 to an estimated $4.82 for 2015. This is a fairly strong level of demonstrated growth and outpaces the market's implied estimate for annual earnings growth of only 2.33% over the next 7-10 years.
In recent years, the company's actual growth in EPSmg has averaged around 19.25% annually, and while the ModernGraham valuation model reduces the actual growth to a more conservative figure when making an estimate, the model still returns an estimate of intrinsic value well above the current price, indicating that CF Industries is significantly undervalued at the present time. (See the full valuation)
Fossil Group Inc.
Fossil Group Inc. (FOSL, Financial) performs well in the ModernGraham model and is suitable for both Defensive and Enterprising Investors. Both investor types are only initially concerned by the lack of dividend payments. As a result, all value 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 valuation, it is critical to consider the company's earnings history. In this case, the company has grown its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.68 in 2011 to an estimated $6.01 for 2015. This is a strong level of growth and is well above the market's implied estimate of only 1.68% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years.
Here, actual growth in EPSmg over the last several years has averaged nearly 16% annually, so the market is expecting a very significant drop in earnings growth. The ModernGraham valuation model reduces the historical growth to a more conservative figure, assuming that some slowdown will occur, but still estimates a growth figure much higher than the market's implied rate. Therefore, the model returns an estimate of intrinsic value well above the current price, indicating the company is significantly undervalued at the present time. (See the full valuation)
Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman Chemical Company (EMN, Financial) qualifies for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor is only initially concerned with the low current ratio, while the Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $2.88 in 2011 to an estimated $5.62 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 2% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value well above the price. (See the full valuation)
Qualcomm Inc.
Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM, Financial) passes the initial requirements of both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. In fact, neither investor type has any initial concerns, which is indicative of the company's strong financial position. As a result, all value 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 $1.94 in 2011 to an estimated $3.87 for 2015. This level of demonstrated growth outpaces the market's implied estimate for annual earnings growth of 3.69% over the next 7-10 years.
In recent years, the company's actual growth in EPSmg has averaged around 20% 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 Qualcomm is undervalued at the present time.(See the full valuation on GuruFocus)
Aflac Inc.
Aflac Inc. (AFL, Financial) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The company passes all of the requirements of both investor types, a rare accomplishment indicative of the company's strong fundamentals. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $3.92 in 2011 to an estimated $6.07 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 0.51% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
Travelers Companies
Travelers Companies (TRV, Financial) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The company passes all of the requirements of both investor types, an accomplishment indicative of the company's strong financial position. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $5.25 in 2011 to an estimated $8.88 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 1.81% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
Wells Fargo & Co.
Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC, Financial) qualifies for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor. The company passes all of the requirements of both investor types, a rare accomplishment indicative of the company's strong financial statements. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham's methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $2.13 in 2011 to an estimated $3.86 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 2.36% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)
Disclaimer
The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing those holdings within the next 72 hours. This article is not investment advice and all readers should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.
This article first appeared on ModernGraham.
