Sanford (NZSE:SAN) Beneish M-Score: -3.08 (As of Jun. 24, 2026)


NZSE:SAN Sanford Ltd NZSE:SAN
75 GF Score
Price NZ$7.12
GF Value NZ$4.35
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 5 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Sanford Beneish M-Score?

Sanford NZSE:SAN -0.42% 75 Beneish M-Score is -3.08 as of Jun. 24, 2026. GuruFocus rates NZSE:SAN with a GF Score™ of 75/100 and a GF Value™ of NZ$4.35 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,849 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Sanford ranks better than 86.1% 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 -3.08 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

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

NZSE:SAN' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.08   Med: -2.65   Max: -2.21
Current: -3.08

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Sanford was -2.21. The lowest was -3.08. And the median was -2.65.


Sanford Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Sanford'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.

Sanford Beneish M-Score Chart

Sanford Annual Data
Trend Sep16 Sep17 Sep18 Sep19 Sep20 Sep21 Sep22 Sep23 Sep24 Sep25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.30 -2.51 -2.66 -2.95 -3.08

Sanford Semi-Annual Data
Sep16 Mar17 Sep17 Mar18 Sep18 Mar19 Sep19 Mar20 Sep20 Mar21 Sep21 Mar22 Sep22 Mar23 Sep23 Mar24 Sep24 Mar25 Sep25 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 0.00 -2.95 0.00 -3.08 0.00

NZSE:SAN vs ADM, BG, TSN: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Farm Products subindustry, Sanford'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.


Sanford Beneish M-Score vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Sanford's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

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


NZSE:SAN
75GF Score
Sanford Ltd NZSE:SAN
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Sanford 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 Sanford 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 * 0.7594+0.528 * 0.817+0.404 * 1.0234+0.892 * 1.0021+0.115 * 0.8027
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.9026+4.679 * -0.078539-0.327 * 0.7642
=-3.08

* 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 (Sep25) TTM:Last Year (Sep24) TTM:
Total Receivables was NZ$65.5 Mil.
Revenue was NZ$584.1 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$154.8 Mil.
Total Current Assets was NZ$233.9 Mil.
Total Assets was NZ$1,006.7 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was NZ$250.0 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was NZ$44.3 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was NZ$42.9 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was NZ$124.7 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was NZ$91.8 Mil.
Net Income was NZ$63.7 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$7.4 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was NZ$135.3 Mil.
Total Receivables was NZ$86.1 Mil.
Revenue was NZ$582.9 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$126.2 Mil.
Total Current Assets was NZ$264.9 Mil.
Total Assets was NZ$1,046.4 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was NZ$250.6 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was NZ$34.4 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was NZ$47.4 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was NZ$74.0 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was NZ$220.4 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)
=(65.512 / 584.109) / (86.092 / 582.913)
=0.112157 / 0.147693
=0.7594

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)
=(126.187 / 582.913) / (154.766 / 584.109)
=0.216477 / 0.264961
=0.817

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 - (233.941 + 250.009) / 1006.736) / (1 - (264.909 + 250.57) / 1046.43)
=0.519288 / 0.507393
=1.0234

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
=584.109 / 582.913
=1.0021

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))
=(34.442 / (34.442 + 250.57)) / (44.31 / (44.31 + 250.009))
=0.120844 / 0.150551
=0.8027

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)
=(42.878 / 584.109) / (47.408 / 582.913)
=0.073408 / 0.081329
=0.9026

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)
=((91.799 + 124.708) / 1006.736) / ((220.442 + 74.048) / 1046.43)
=0.215058 / 0.281424
=0.7642

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
=(63.69 - 7.416 - 135.342) / 1006.736
=-0.078539

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.

Sanford has a M-score of -3.08 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 -3.08 mean?
Sanford (NZSE:SAN) has a Beneish M-Score of -3.08 as of Jun. 24, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Sanford and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Sanford ranks #257 out of 1849 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 13.9%.
Is Sanford's Beneish M-Score too high?
Sanford's current Beneish M-Score is -3.08. Based on the distribution chart, Sanford ranks #257 out of 1849 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Sanford has a GF Score™ of 75/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Sanford's Beneish M-Score compare to ADM and BG?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Sanford ranks #257 out of 1849 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Sanford in the top 14% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. 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 Consumer Packaged Goods company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Consumer Packaged Goods 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 Sanford and its competitors. Sanford's current Beneish M-Score is -3.08. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Sanford stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sanford (NZSE:SAN) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is NZ$4.35, compared to a current price of NZ$7.12 — trading 63.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -3.08. Sanford's overall GF Score™ is 75/100 with 5 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 Sanford (NZSE:SAN), the current Beneish M-Score is -3.08 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 Sanford (NZSE:SAN) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sanford stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of NZ$7.12 is trading 63.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of NZ$4.35. GuruFocus considers Sanford to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for NZSE:SAN:

  • Beneish M-Score: -3.08
  • GF Value™: NZ$4.35 vs. price of NZ$7.12 (63.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 75/100 with 5 warning signs

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


Sanford Business Description

Other Exchanges SARDY:USA
Address 22 Jellicoe Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland, NTL, NZL, 1010
Sanford Ltd is a seafood company principally engaged in the fishing and aquaculture farming business. The company's activities include farming, harvesting, processing, storage, and marketing of seafood products, as well as investments in related activities. The group's operating divisions are Wildcatch and Aquaculture. Its Wildcatch segment involves catching and processing inshore and deepwater fish species, whereas the Aquaculture segment involves farming, harvesting, and processing of mussels and salmon. Some of the company's seafood products include Antarctic toothfish, Arrow squid, Gemfish, Scampi, Snapper, King Salmon, Jack mackerel, Ling, and others. Geographically, it derives the majority of its revenue from New Zealand.
75GF Score

Get the complete analysis for NZSE:SAN

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

NZ$7.12
Price
NZ$4.35
GF Value