Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) Piotroski F-Score: 8 (As of Jun. 28, 2026) — 33% Above Median


NAI:SCOM Safaricom PLC NAI:SCOM
100 GF Score
Price KES33.60
GF Value KES21.81
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Safaricom Piotroski F-Score?

Safaricom NAI:SCOM +1.97% 100 Piotroski F-Score is 8 as of Jun. 28, 2026, which is 33% above its 10-year median of 6.00. GuruFocus rates NAI:SCOM with a GF Score™ of 100/100 and a GF Value™ of KES21.81 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 359 Telecommunication Services companies, Safaricom ranks better than 97.21% on this metric.

Good Sign:

Piotroski F-Score is 8, indicates a very healthy situation.

The zones of discrimination were as such:

Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3

Safaricom has an F-score of 8. It is a good or high score, which usually indicates a very healthy situation.

The historical rank and industry rank for Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score or its related term are showing as below:

NAI:SCOM' s Piotroski F-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 4   Med: 6   Max: 9
Current: 8

During the past 13 years, the highest Piotroski F-Score of Safaricom was 9. The lowest was 4. And the median was 6.

Safaricom  (NAI:SCOM) Piotroski F-Score Explanation

The developer of the system is Joseph D. Piotroski is relatively unknown accounting professor who shuns publicity and rarely gives interviews.

He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in accounting in 1989, received an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1994. Five years later, in 1999, after earning a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Michigan, he became an associate professor of accounting at the University of Chicago.

In 2000, he wrote a research paper called "Value Investing: The Use of Historical Financial Statement Information to Separate Winners from Losers" (pdf).

He wanted to see if he can develop a system (using a simple nine-point scoring system) that can increase the returns of a strategy of investing in low price to book (referred to in the paper as high book to market) value companies.

What he found was something that exceeded his most optimistic expectations.

Buying only those companies that scored highest (8 or 9) on his nine-point scale, or F-Score as he called it, over the 20 year period from 1976 to 1996 led to an average out-performance over the market of 13.4%.

Even more impressive were the results of a strategy of investing in the highest F-Score companies (8 or 9) and shorting companies with the lowest F-Score (0 or 1).

Over the same period from 1976 to 1996 (20 years) this strategy led to an average yearly return of 23%, substantially outperforming the average S&P 500 index return of 15.83% over the same period.


Safaricom Piotroski F-Score Related Terms


Safaricom Piotroski F-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Safaricom Piotroski F-Score Chart

Safaricom Annual Data
Trend Mar17 Mar18 Mar19 Mar20 Mar21 Mar22 Mar23 Mar24 Mar25 Mar26
Piotroski F-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 4.00 6.00 5.00 6.00 8.00

Safaricom Semi-Annual Data
Sep16 Mar17 Sep17 Mar18 Sep18 Mar19 Sep19 Mar20 Sep20 Mar21 Sep21 Mar22 Sep22 Mar23 Sep23 Mar24 Sep24 Mar25 Sep25 Mar26
Piotroski F-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 5.00 0.00 6.00 0.00 8.00

NAI:SCOM vs TMUS, VZ, T: Piotroski F-Score Comparison

For the Telecom Services subindustry, Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Piotroski F-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Safaricom Piotroski F-Score vs Telecommunication Services Industry

For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score falls into.


NAI:SCOM
100GF Score
Safaricom PLC NAI:SCOM
Piotroski F-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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How is the Piotroski F-Score calculated?

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Mar26) TTM:Last Year (Mar25) TTM:
Net Income was KES95,609 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was KES169,908 Mil.
Revenue was KES420,992 Mil.
Gross Profit was KES316,573 Mil.
Average Total Assets from the begining of this year (Mar25)
to the end of this year (Mar26) was (515284.2 + 518045.4) / 2 = KES516664.8 Mil.
Total Assets at the begining of this year (Mar25) was KES515,284 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was KES132,400 Mil.
Total Current Assets was KES79,947 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was KES135,445 Mil.
Net Income was KES69,799 Mil.

Revenue was KES384,433 Mil.
Gross Profit was KES283,352 Mil.
Average Total Assets from the begining of last year (Mar24)
to the end of last year (Mar25) was (641164.3 + 515284.2) / 2 = KES578224.25 Mil.
Total Assets at the begining of last year (Mar24) was KES641,164 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was KES110,371 Mil.
Total Current Assets was KES84,049 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was KES155,032 Mil.

*Note: If the latest quarterly/semi-annual/annual total assets data is 0, then we will use previous quarterly/semi-annual/annual data for all the items in the balance sheet.

Profitability

Question 1. Return on Assets (ROA)

Net income before extraordinary items for the year divided by Total Assets at the beginning of the year.

Score 1 if positive, 0 if negative.

Safaricom's current Net Income (TTM) was 95,609. ==> Positive ==> Score 1.

Question 2. Cash Flow Return on Assets (CFROA)

Net cash flow from operating activities (operating cash flow) divided by Total Assets at the beginning of the year.

Score 1 if positive, 0 if negative.

Safaricom's current Cash Flow from Operations (TTM) was 169,908. ==> Positive ==> Score 1.

Question 3. Change in Return on Assets

Compare this year's return on assets (1) to last year's return on assets.

Score 1 if it's higher, 0 if it's lower.

ROA (This Year)=Net Income/Total Assets (Mar25)
=95608.6/515284.2
=0.18554537

ROA (Last Year)=Net Income/Total Assets (Mar24)
=69798.7/641164.3
=0.10886242

Safaricom's return on assets of this year was 0.18554537. Safaricom's return on assets of last year was 0.10886242. ==> This year is higher. ==> Score 1.

Question 4. Quality of Earnings (Accrual)

Compare Cash flow return on assets (2) to return on assets (1)

Score 1 if CFROA > ROA, 0 if CFROA <= ROA.

Safaricom's current Net Income (TTM) was 95,609. Safaricom's current Cash Flow from Operations (TTM) was 169,908. ==> 169,908 > 95,609 ==> CFROA > ROA ==> Score 1.

Funding

Question 5. Change in Gearing or Leverage

Compare this year's gearing (long-term debt divided by average total assets) to last year's gearing.

Score 0 if this year's gearing is higher, 1 otherwise.

Gearing (This Year: Mar26)=Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation/Average Total Assets from Mar25 to Mar26
=132400.3/516664.8
=0.25625957

Gearing (Last Year: Mar25)=Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation/Average Total Assets from Mar24 to Mar25
=110370.6/578224.25
=0.19087854

Safaricom's gearing of this year was 0.25625957. Safaricom's gearing of last year was 0.19087854. ==> Last year is lower than this year ==> Score 0.

Question 6. Change in Working Capital (Liquidity)

Compare this year's current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) to last year's current ratio.

Score 1 if this year's current ratio is higher, 0 if it's lower

Current Ratio (This Year: Mar26)=Total Current Assets/Total Current Liabilities
=79946.8/135444.7
=0.59025418

Current Ratio (Last Year: Mar25)=Total Current Assets/Total Current Liabilities
=84049.2/155032.3
=0.54213993

Safaricom's current ratio of this year was 0.59025418. Safaricom's current ratio of last year was 0.54213993. ==> This year's current ratio is higher. ==> Score 1.

Question 7. Change in Shares in Issue

Compare the number of shares in issue this year, to the number in issue last year.

Score 0 if there is larger number of shares in issue this year, 1 otherwise.

Safaricom's number of shares in issue this year was 39836.917. Safaricom's number of shares in issue last year was 40114.195. ==> There is smaller number of shares in issue this year, or the same. ==> Score 1.

Efficiency

Question 8. Change in Gross Margin

Compare this year's gross margin (Gross Profit divided by sales) to last year's.

Score 1 if this year's gross margin is higher, 0 if it's lower.

Gross Margin (This Year: TTM)=Gross Profit/Revenue
=316572.5/420992.1
=0.75196779

Gross Margin (Last Year: TTM)=Gross Profit/Revenue
=283352.1/384433.4
=0.73706421

Safaricom's gross margin of this year was 0.75196779. Safaricom's gross margin of last year was 0.73706421. ==> This year's gross margin is higher. ==> Score 1.

Question 9. Change in asset turnover

Compare this year's asset turnover (total sales for the year divided by total assets at the beginning of the year) to last year's asset turnover ratio.

Score 1 if this year's asset turnover ratio is higher, 0 if it's lower

Asset Turnover (This Year)=Revenue/Total Assets at the Beginning of This Year (Mar25)
=420992.1/515284.2
=0.81700953

Asset Turnover (Last Year)=Revenue/Total Assets at the Beginning of Last Year (Mar24)
=384433.4/641164.3
=0.59958641

Safaricom's asset turnover of this year was 0.81700953. Safaricom's asset turnover of last year was 0.59958641. ==> This year's asset turnover is higher. ==> Score 1.

Evaluation

Piotroski F-Score= Que. 1+ Que. 2+ Que. 3+Que. 4+Que. 5+Que. 6+Que. 7+Que. 8+Que. 9
=1+1+1+1+0+1+1+1+1
=8

Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3

Safaricom has an F-score of 8. It is a good or high score, which usually indicates a very healthy situation.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Piotroski F-Score →
What does a Piotroski F-Score of 8 mean?
Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) has a Piotroski F-Score of 8 as of Jun. 28, 2026. The Piotroski F-score grades a company's business operating strength from 0-9. View historical data on Safaricom and its competitors. This is 33% above median its historical median of 6.00. Over the past decade, Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 4.00 to 9.00. According to the industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #10 out of 359 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 2.8%.
Is Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score too high?
Safaricom's current Piotroski F-Score of 8 is 33% above median its 10-year median of 6.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 4.00 to a high of 9.00. The Telecommunication Services industry median Piotroski F-Score is 6.00. Safaricom's value of 8 is 33.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #10 out of 359 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Safaricom has a GF Score™ of 100/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Safaricom's Piotroski F-Score compare to TMUS and VZ?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #10 out of 359 companies for Piotroski F-Score. This places Safaricom in the top 3% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Piotroski F-Score is 6.00. Safaricom's value of 8 is 33.3% above this benchmark. Historically, Safaricom's own Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 4.00 to 9.00 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 6.00 vs. the industry median of 6.00, Safaricom has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Piotroski F-Score for a Telecommunication Services company?
The median Piotroski F-Score among Telecommunication Services companies is 6.00, based on 359 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Piotroski F-Score significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Piotroski F-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Safaricom's current Piotroski F-Score of 8 is 33.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Piotroski F-Score mean?
A high Piotroski F-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Piotroski F-score grades a company's business operating strength from 0-9. View historical data on Safaricom and its competitors. For the Telecommunication Services industry, the median Piotroski F-Score is 6.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Safaricom's current Piotroski F-Score is 8, which is 33% above median its own 10-year median of 6.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Safaricom stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is KES21.81, compared to a current price of KES33.60 — trading 54.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Piotroski F-Score is 8, which is 33% above median its 10-year median of 6.00 and 33.3% above the Telecommunication Services industry median of 6.00. Safaricom's overall GF Score™ is 100/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Piotroski F-Score calculated?
Piotroski F-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Safaricom (NAI:SCOM), the current Piotroski F-Score is 8 as of Jun. 28, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of KES33.60 is trading 54.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of KES21.81. GuruFocus considers Safaricom to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for NAI:SCOM:

  • Piotroski F-Score: 8 (33% above median its 10-year median of 6.00)
  • GF Value™: KES21.81 vs. price of KES33.60 (54.1% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 100/100 with 4 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 33.3% above the Telecommunication Services median (#10 of 359)

No single metric tells the full story. See the NAI:SCOM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Safaricom Business Description

Address Safaricom House, Waiyaki Way, P.O. Box 66827, Westlands, Nairobi, KEN, 00800
Safaricom PLC is a Kenya-based telecommunications company. The principal activities of the company are the provision of telecommunication services, providing a comprehensive range of integrated telecommunication services including voice and data both mobile and fixed, SMS, the internet, and m-pesa. The company also offers a wide range of devices such as Mobile handsets, mobile broadband modems, routers, tablets, and notebooks. The majority of its revenue comes from service revenues: Voice, m-pesa, mobile data, messaging, fixed data and other service revenue. The company serves both individual and corporate/enterprise customers.
100GF Score

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Piotroski F-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

KES33.60
Price
KES21.81
GF Value