Fundamental analysis includes the study of:
Definition
Fundamental analysis
– the study of a company’s capital value
(on the balance sheet) and profit or loss (on the income statement) to determine its overall viability as an investment; to identify financial trends; and to decide whether the current price is reasonable based on trends in revenue and profit.
‐ the balance sheet, the value of assets, liabilities and net worth as of the end of the quarter or year.
‐ the income statement, a summary of revenues, costs, expenses and profits during a quarter or full year.
‐ other financial attributes including the earnings per share, competitive position within the industry, and dividend history.
An investor may use any number of fundamental indicators, but six are essential for everyone.
These are:
1.
growth in revenues
2.
growth in earnings
3.
price/earnings ratio (P/E)
4.
dividend yield
5.
dividend growth
6.
debt ratio
1.
growth in revenues
What should you expect to see?
The trend and how it changes
The tendency for trends to level out
Revenues are tied to earnings
Revenue dollar values should grow
Earnings percentage should be consistent
Revenues trend erratically
Revenues grow while earnings do not
Revenues remain level or begin to slide
2.
growth in earnings
Net return should remain consistent or rise
The net dollar value should grow as well
Seek consistent earnings trends
The net return declines even if dollar amount grows
Revenues outpace the net return
Revenues grow while earnings move to negative
You can only tell how a trend is evolving by studying a long ‐ term trend
A 10 ‐ year trend is excellent because it reveals how trends move through time
Track revenues and earnings together to get the full picture
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
(In millions) .
Revenue Earnings
$10,506 $ 917
11,070
11,244
11,640
12,442
13,652
1,055
1,240
1,090
1,144
1,295
14,691
14,797
14,880
16,658
1,304
1,531
1,804
1,567
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
(In millions) .
Revenue Earnings
$20,152 $ 798
22,763
30,251
36,339
41,517
44,958
1,099
2,035
2,854
3,537
3,541
51,324
32,396
42,588
60,138
3,557
895
2,700
4,928
‐
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
(In millions) .
Revenue Earnings
$244,524 $ 8,039
256,329
285,222
312,427
348,650
378,799
8,861
10,267
11,231
12,178
12,884
405,607
408,214
421,849
446,950
13,254
14,414
15,355
15,766
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
(In millions) .
Revenue Earnings
$30,762 $ ‐ 3,262
17,072
19,701
49,124
53,012
50,703
248
1,106
948
1,490
826
46,770
44,043
43,326
41,567
53
235
150
‐ 3,113
3.
price/earnings ratio (P/E)
The price/earnings ratio (P/E) is a summary of the relationship between the current price per share, and latest reported earnings per share
(EPS)
To compute, divide price per share by earnings per share.
The P/E compares a current technical indicator
(price) to an outdated fundamental indicator
(earnings).
The P/E multiplier is a reflection of how many years' earnings are in the current price.
The higher the P/E, the more expensive the stock
The P/E cannot be reliably used as a singular value at the moment.
However, volatility of the stock can be judged by a review of the range of annual P/E and its trend.
A consistent level of P/E in a narrow range is a positive indicator.
For example, General Mills has reported a narrow P/E over many years.
Generally, a P/E between 10 and 25 is a positive signal.
However, the trend is as important as where P/E is today.
Irregular and volatile P/E is a sign of volatility in the stock and in the fundamentals.
For example, Caterpillar has reported very erratic P/E range over recent years.
4.
dividend yield
The meaning of dividend yield
Definition
Dividend yield
– the percentage yield based on dividend declared and paid per share.
To determine, divide dividend per share, by the current price per share.
Example:
a company currently pays $0.44
(forty ‐ four cents) per share.
The price per share is $20.00.
Dividend yield is:
0.44
÷ 20.00
= 2.2%
Price is changing constantly, but the dividend declared per share does not change.
As a result, dividend yield changes every day.
The lower the price, the higher the yield.
Examples:
0.44
0.44
0.44
÷ 20.00
÷ 18.00
÷ 16.00
=
=
=
2.2%
2.4%
2.8%
To evaluate dividend yield, remember:
‐ Your dividend yield is always based on the price you paid per share.
‐ To judge a company’s value, review dividend yield over many years, and not just what is paid today.
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Compare two companies to see how dividend yield works.
Both yielded
3.43% as of December 11, 2012:
0.96
1.16
1.28
0.80
0.54
0.80
dividend per share
Johnson
Pfizer
0.52
0.60
0.68
0.76
& Johnson
0.80
0.93
1.10
1.28
1.46
1.62
1.80
1.93
2.11
2.25
In this comparison, Pfizer’s dividend over 10 years was lower than Johnson & Johnson’s.
More significantly, Pfizer reduced its dividend per share over several year, while JNJ increased its payment every year.
5.
dividend growth
The meaning of dividend growth
Definition
Dividend growth –
the percentage of increase each year in dividends per share, over payments in the previous year.
Dividend growth may be more revealing than dividend yield.
The rate of growth is a significant factor as a long ‐ term trend.
The change from year to year in the dividend per share is a significant factor.
Although a company may increase its annual dividend per share, if growth is declining, that has to be taken into account as well.
Evaluating dividends should be a combination of dividend yield and dividend growth.
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Compare two companies to see how dividend yield works.
Both yielded 3.43% as of December
11, 2012: dividend per share
Johnson
Pfizer
0.52
0.60
& Johnson
0.80
0.93
0.68
0.76
0.96
1.16
1.28
0.80
0.54
0.80
dividend
Pfizer
1.10
1.28
1.46
1.62
15%
13
12
1.80
1.93
2.11
‐ 68
2.25
48
26
21
10
‐ 38
growth
Johnson
& Johnson
16%
18
16
14
11
11
7
9
7
These results tell the story of dividend growth.
Although Pfizer’s yield was erratic, the growth during positive years was impressive
In comparison, Johnson & Johnson increased its dividend yield each year, but growth diminished.
6.
debt ratio
The debt ratio is a test of how well management plans and controls its cash flow.
The debt ratio is the percentage of total capitalization represented by long ‐ term debt.
“Total capitalization” is the combination of long ‐ term debt and stockholders’ equity.
The meaning of debt ratio
Definition
Debt ratio–
the percentage of total capitalization represented by long ‐ term debt.
Total Capitalization
– the combination of long ‐ term debt and stockholders’ equity.
Example: long ‐ term debt = $62.7
billion stockholders’ equity = 82.1
billion total capitalization =
$62.7
+ $82.1
= $144.8
billion debt ratio =
$62.7
÷ $144.8
= 43.3
Debt ratio is the percentage of total capitalization represented by long ‐ term debt.
It is always expressed as a number without percentage signs.
A debt ratio of 43.3
means that long ‐ term debt is 43.3% of total capitalization.
When debt ratio is steady or falling, it is positive.
When debt ratio is rising, it is negative.
The meaning of debt ratio
For example, Eastman Kodak was for many years considered one of the strongest and best capitalized blue chip companies in the market.
However, EK did not keep up with changing markets and when the digital camera boom arrived, they lost market share.
In 2007, EK’s debt ratio was about 30 – but by the end of
2010, it was above 160.
When debt ratio is over 100, it means debt has entirely absorbed equity.
The company’s stock is worthless.
Fundamental analysis is nothing more than the study of financial conditions and trends.
It is imperative to analyze trend direction and strength over time.
The fundamentals identify the value of companies and levels of competitive strength.