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Flex (FLEX) Predictability Rank


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What is Flex Predictability Rank?

4.5 (5)

Warren Buffett said many times that the companies he likes are:

1. Simple businesses that he understands
2. that have predictable and proven earnings and
3. with economic moat
4. those can be bought at a reasonable price.

It is hard to quantify "simple businesses that he (Buffett) understands", so we will focus on the other three characteristics instead. In GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank, we will show that the businesses that have predictable and proven earnings are usually also simple businesses that an average person could understand.

GuruFocus conducted a back test study of Warren Buffett's strategy of "buying good companies at fair prices" for the years from 1998-2008.


Flex Predictability Rank Calculation

In our database there are 2403 stocks that have been traded from Jan. 2, 1998 to Aug. 31, 2008. We have the complete 10-year financial data and trading prices of these companies for this period. We rank the predictability of these companies based on the consistency of their revenue per share and EBITDA (earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) per share over the past ten fiscal years, and study the correlation between the stock performances and the predictability of the business.

Our study may be subject to these biases and assumptions:

Dividend yields are not counted for investment returns
Effects of price changes due to spin-offs may not be fully adjusted
Study is subjected to survivorship bias due to de-listing, bankruptcy, LBO, M&A, etc.

The correlation between business predictability and investment returns of a company is showed below.

Correlation Between Business Predictability and Investment Returns

PredictablesNon-PredictableAll stocks
Total Number of stocks57018332403
Total Lost Money61830891
Total Lost More Than 50%18412430
Total Lost More Than 90%48690
Average Gain260.6%100.0%138.1%
Median Gain150.0%13.0%39.0%
Maximum Gain2852.0%11483.0%11483.0%
Maximum Loss-100.0%-100.0%-100.0%
Annualized Average Gain12.7%6.7%8.4%
Annualized Median Gain8.9%1.1%3.1%


















For the 570 predictable companies, we have seen strong correlation between the predictability of businesses and the stock performances over the past 10 years, regardless of the valuation of business at 1998. Accordingly, we have ranked the business predictability from 5-star to 1-star, as shown in this table.

Predictability Rank5-Star4.5-Star4-Star3.5-Star3-Star2.5-Star2-Star1-Star (non-predictable)Average among all
% Out of All 2403 Stocks 3.3% 2.9% 3.7% 3.3% 3.3% 3.7% 3.3% 76.3% 100%
% that are in Loss (10y) 3% 10% 8% 9% 11% 18% 16% 45% 37%
Average Gain (10y) 364.6% 330.9% 278.0% 235.1% 243.5% 227.8% 154.8% 100.0% 138.1%
Median Gain (10y) 238.5% 193.5% 171.0% 159.0% 132.5% 113.5% 87.0% 13.0% 39.0%
Maximum Gainer 2228.0% 2547.0% 2452.0% 2852.0% 2432.0% 1892.0% 1807.0% 11483.0% 11483.0%
Maximum Loser -82.0% -53.0% -67.0% -100.0% -83.0% -100.0% -78.0% -100.0% -100.0%
Annualized Average Gain 15.4% 14.6% 13.2% 12.0% 12.2% 11.7% 9.1% 6.7% 8.4%
Annualized Median Gain 12.1% 10.6% 9.8% 9.3% 8.2% 7.3% 6.0% 1.1% 3.1%
















For detailed information about each predictability rank, please go to GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank

Also read:

Part II: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part II: Role of Valuations
Part III: Intrinsic Value, Discounted Cash Flow and Margin of Safety

Flex Predictability Rank Related Terms

Thank you for viewing the detailed overview of Flex's Predictability Rank provided by GuruFocus.com. Please click on the following links to see related term pages.


Flex (FLEX) Business Description

Industry
Traded in Other Exchanges
Address
2 Changi South Lane, Singapore, SGP, 486123
Flex Ltd is a contract manufacturing company providing comprehensive electronics design, manufacturing, and product management services to global electronics and technology companies. The company's operating segments include Flex Agility Solutions (FAS), Flex Reliability Solutions (FRS), and Nextracker. Flex Agility Solutions segment includes markets such as Communications, Enterprise and Cloud; Lifestyle; and Consumer Devices. Flex Reliability Solutions segment includes markets such as Automotive, Health Solutions, and Industrial. The Nextracker segment provides solar tracker technologies that optimize and increase energy production. The company's geographical segments include China, Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Malaysia, Hungary, and Others.
Executives
Erin Mcsweeney director EMC CORPORATION, 176 SOUTH STREET, HOPKINTON MA 01748
David Scott Offer officer: EVP, General Counsel 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, SAN JOSE CA 95002
Paul Lundstrom officer: Chief Financial Officer 222 N. SEPULVEDA BLVD., SUITE 500, EL SEGUNDO CA 90245
Revathi Advaithi director, officer: Chief Executive Officer EATON HOUSE, 30 PEMBROKE ROAD, DUBLIN 4 L2 -
Kwang Hooi Tan officer: Group President 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, ATTN: LEGAL, SAN JOSE CA 95002
Michael P Hartung officer: President, Agility Solutions 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, SAN JOSE CA 95002
Daniel Wendler officer: Chief Accounting Officer 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, ATTN: LEGAL, SAN JOSE CA 95002
Rebecca Sidelinger officer: Group President 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, ATTN: LEGAL, SAN JOSE CA 95002
Stevens Charles K. Iii director 300 RENAISSANCE CENTER, M/C: 482-C25-A36, DETROIT MI 48265-3000
Maryrose Sylvester director C/O 3700 WEST JUNEAU AVENUE, MILWAUKEE WI 53208
Pat Ward director 500 JACKSON STREET, COLUMBUS IN 47201
Francois Barbier officer: President, Global Operations ONE MARINA BOULEVARD, #28-00, SINGAPORE U0 018989
David P Bennett officer: Chief Accounting Officer 3616 NICOLE AVE, PLEASANTON CA 94588
Todd Fruchterman officer: Pres, Reliability Solutions C/O BUTTERFLY NETWORK, INC., 530 OLD WHITFIELD STREET, GUILFORD CT 06437
John D Harris director C/O FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL USA, INC., 6201 AMERICA CENTER DRIVE, SAN JOSE CA 95002