KBSTF (Kobe Steel) Beneish M-Score: -2.55 (As of Jun. 24, 2026)


KBSTF Kobe Steel Ltd KBSTF
74 GF Score
Price $12.32
GF Value $10.59
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 3 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Kobe Steel Beneish M-Score?

Kobe Steel KBSTF -7.05% 74 Beneish M-Score is -2.55 as of Jun. 24, 2026. GuruFocus rates KBSTF with a GF Score™ of 74/100 and a GF Value™ of $10.59 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 593 Steel companies, Kobe Steel ranks better than 53.79% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -2.55 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

KBSTF' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -2.86   Med: -2.6   Max: -2.31
Current: -2.55

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Kobe Steel was -2.31. The lowest was -2.86. And the median was -2.60.


Kobe Steel Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Kobe Steel's Beneish M-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.

Kobe Steel Beneish M-Score Chart

Kobe Steel Annual Data
Trend Mar17 Mar18 Mar19 Mar20 Mar21 Mar22 Mar23 Mar24 Mar25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.57 -2.31 -2.76 -2.48 -2.55

Kobe Steel Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Beneish M-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 -2.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.55

KBSTF vs NUE, STLD, RS: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Steel subindustry, Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-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.


Kobe Steel Beneish M-Score vs Steel Industry

For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score falls into.


KBSTF
74GF Score
Kobe Steel Ltd KBSTF
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Kobe Steel Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of Kobe Steel for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.1219+0.528 * 1.0009+0.404 * 1.0801+0.892 * 0.8958+0.115 * 0.967
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.0882+4.679 * -0.037682-0.327 * 0.938
=-2.60

* 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:
Total Receivables was $2,727 Mil.
Revenue was $15,355 Mil.
Gross Profit was $2,541 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $8,737 Mil.
Total Assets was $18,056 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $6,434 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $781 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $407 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $5,362 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $3,682 Mil.
Net Income was $591 Mil.
Gross Profit was $0 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was $1,271 Mil.
Total Receivables was $2,713 Mil.
Revenue was $17,141 Mil.
Gross Profit was $2,839 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $9,501 Mil.
Total Assets was $19,396 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $7,025 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $821 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $418 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $6,136 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $4,221 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(2726.718 / 15355.051) / (2713.253 / 17141.233)
=0.177578 / 0.158288
=1.1219

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(2839.292 / 17141.233) / (2541.071 / 15355.051)
=0.165641 / 0.165488
=1.0009

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (8737.392 + 6433.6) / 18056.058) / (1 - (9501.401 + 7024.982) / 19395.542)
=0.159784 / 0.147929
=1.0801

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=15355.051 / 17141.233
=0.8958

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(821.421 / (821.421 + 7024.982)) / (781.106 / (781.106 + 6433.6))
=0.104688 / 0.108266
=0.967

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(407.259 / 15355.051) / (417.792 / 17141.233)
=0.026523 / 0.024374
=1.0882

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((3681.63 + 5361.977) / 18056.058) / ((4220.905 + 6135.554) / 19395.542)
=0.500863 / 0.533961
=0.938

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(590.594 - 0 - 1270.983) / 18056.058
=-0.037682

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Kobe Steel has a M-score of -2.60 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -2.55 mean?
Kobe Steel (KBSTF) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.55 as of Jun. 24, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Kobe Steel and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Kobe Steel ranks #274 out of 593 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 46.2%.
Is Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score too high?
Kobe Steel's current Beneish M-Score is -2.55. Based on the distribution chart, Kobe Steel ranks #274 out of 593 companies in the Steel industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Kobe Steel has a GF Score™ of 74/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Kobe Steel's Beneish M-Score compare to NUE and STLD?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, Kobe Steel ranks #274 out of 593 companies for Beneish M-Score. This puts Kobe Steel in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Steel company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Steel industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Kobe Steel and its competitors. Kobe Steel's current Beneish M-Score is -2.55. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Kobe Steel stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kobe Steel (KBSTF) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $10.59, compared to a current price of $12.32 — trading 16.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.55. Kobe Steel's overall GF Score™ is 74/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Kobe Steel (KBSTF), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.55 as of Jun. 24, 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 Kobe Steel (KBSTF) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kobe Steel stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $12.32 is trading 16.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $10.59. GuruFocus considers Kobe Steel to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for KBSTF:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.55
  • GF Value™: $10.59 vs. price of $12.32 (16.3% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 74/100 with 3 warning signs

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


Kobe Steel Business Description

Other Exchanges 5406:JapanKST:Germany
Address 2-2-4 Wakihama Kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe, JPN, 651-8585
Kobe Steel Ltd engages in the manufacture, production, and sale of iron and steel. The company operates through seven segments. The Construction Machinery segment offers excavators, cranes, loaders, and workboats. Electric Power supplies electricity through group companies. Engineering handles plants for steel, petrochemicals, nuclear, water, and waste treatment, along with civil engineering and transport systems. Machinery provides compressors, engines, refrigeration, heat pumps, chemical and rubber machinery, and specialty materials. Materials include steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, and forged products. Steel & Aluminum delivers rolled products, plates, wires, and special steels, while Welding covers electrodes, flux, robots, power sources, and related services.
74GF Score

Get the complete analysis for KBSTF

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

$12.32
Price
$10.59
GF Value