There are a number of great companies in the market today. By using the ModernGraham Valuation Model, I’ve selected the five undervalued companies reviewed by ModernGraham trading closest to their 52 week low. Each of these companies has been determined to be suitable for the Enterprising Investor according to the ModernGraham approach.
Defensive Investors are defined as investors who are seeking to minimize risk to the fullest extent. Enterprising Investors, on the other hand, are able to do substantial research and can select companies that present a moderate (though still low) amount of risk. Learn more about the difference between Defensive Investors and Enterprising Investors.
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)
Applied Materials, Inc. is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.6 in 2014 to an estimated $2.7 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 5.88% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Applied Materials, Inc. revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $28.28. The company pays a dividend of $0.4 per share, for a yield of 0.7% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 20.27, which was below the industry average of 51.31, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $1.75. (See the full valuation).
