MERFTSE:3168 -2.04%52 Piotroski F-Score is 3 as of Jun. 29, 2026, which is 25% below its 10-year median of 4.00. GuruFocus rates TSE:3168 with a GF Score™ of 52/100 and a GF Value™ of 円576.65 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,508 Metals & Mining companies, MERF ranks better than 58.85% on this metric.
Warning Sign:
Piotroski F-Score of 3 is low, which usually implies poor business operation.
The zones of discrimination were as such:
Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3
MERF has an F-score of 3. It is a bad or low score, which usually implies poor business operation.
The historical rank and industry rank for MERF's Piotroski F-Score or its related term are showing as below:
TSE:3168'
s Piotroski F-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 2 Med: 4 Max: 7
Current: 3
During the past 13 years, the highest Piotroski F-Score of MERF was 7. The lowest was 2. And the median was 4.
MERF (TSE:3168) 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.
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.
MERF Piotroski F-Score Related Terms
MERF Piotroski F-Score Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for MERF'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.
For the Other Industrial Metals & Mining subindustry, MERF'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.
MERF Piotroski F-Score vs Metals & Mining Industry
For the Metals & Mining industry and Basic Materials sector, MERF's Piotroski F-Score distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where MERF's Piotroski F-Score falls into.
* 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.
*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.
MERF's current Net Income (TTM) was -203.
==> Negative ==> Score 0.
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.
MERF's current ratio of this year was 1.72055598. MERF's current ratio of last year was 1.57182293.
==> 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.
MERF's number of shares in issue this year was 14.132. MERF's number of shares in issue last year was 14.117.
==> There is larger number of shares in issue this year. ==> Score 0.
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.
MERF's gross margin of this year was 0.02829163. MERF's gross margin of last year was 0.03802361.
==> Last year's gross margin is higher ==> Score 0.
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
MERF's asset turnover of this year was 3.09876806. MERF's asset turnover of last year was 3.27395116.
==> Last year's asset turnover is higher ==> Score 0.
Evaluation
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Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3
MERF has an F-score of 3. It is a bad or low score, which usually implies poor business operation.
MERF (TSE:3168) has a Piotroski F-Score of 3 as of Jun. 29, 2026. The Piotroski F-score grades a company's business operating strength from 0-9. View historical data on MERF and its competitors. This is 25% below median its historical median of 4.00. Over the past decade, MERF's Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 2.00 to 7.00. According to the industry distribution chart, MERF ranks #1032 out of 2508 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, placing it in the top 41.1%.
Is MERF's Piotroski F-Score too high?
MERF's current Piotroski F-Score of 3 is 25% below median its 10-year median of 4.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 2.00 to a high of 7.00. The Metals & Mining industry median Piotroski F-Score is 3.00. MERF's value of 3 is 0% at this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, MERF ranks #1032 out of 2508 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, MERF has a GF Score™ of 52/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MERF's Piotroski F-Score compare to competitors?
According to the Metals & Mining industry distribution chart, MERF ranks #1032 out of 2508 companies for Piotroski F-Score. This puts MERF in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Piotroski F-Score is 3.00. MERF's value of 3 is 0% at this benchmark. Historically, MERF's own Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 2.00 to 7.00 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 4.00 vs. the industry median of 3.00, MERF has consistently been at 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 Metals & Mining company?
The median Piotroski F-Score among Metals & Mining companies is 3.00, based on 2,508 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. MERF's current Piotroski F-Score of 3 is 0% at 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 MERF and its competitors. For the Metals & Mining industry, the median Piotroski F-Score is 3.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. MERF's current Piotroski F-Score is 3, which is 25% below median its own 10-year median of 4.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is MERF stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MERF (TSE:3168) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is 円576.65, compared to a current price of 円1,202.00 — trading 108.4% above its estimated fair value. The current Piotroski F-Score is 3, which is 25% below median its 10-year median of 4.00 and 0% at the Metals & Mining industry median of 3.00. MERF's overall GF Score™ is 52/100 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 MERF (TSE:3168), the current Piotroski F-Score is 3 as of Jun. 29, 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 MERF (TSE:3168) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MERF stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of 円1,202.00 is trading 108.4% above its estimated GF Value™ of 円576.65.
GuruFocus considers MERF to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for TSE:3168:
Piotroski F-Score: 3 (25% below median its 10-year median of 4.00)
GF Value™: 円576.65 vs. price of 円1,202.00 (108.4% above fair value)
Industry Position: 0% at the Metals & Mining median (#1032 of 2508)
No single metric tells the full story. See the TSE:3168 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
MERF Inc is engaged in recycling non-ferrous metals, focusing on copper and copper alloys. Its business activities are divided into two main segments: the Ingot Business, which involves the manufacturing of copper alloy ingots, and the Metal Recycling Raw Materials Business, which is engaged in metal recycling. It is also involved in the manufacturing and selling of art and craft products segment.
52GF Score
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