Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued

GuruFocus.com
·4 min read

- By GF Value

The stock of Consolidated Water Co (NAS:CWCO, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be modestly undervalued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $12.47 per share and the market cap of $189.2 million, Consolidated Water Co stock is estimated to be modestly undervalued. GF Value for Consolidated Water Co is shown in the chart below.


Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued
Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued

Because Consolidated Water Co is relatively undervalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be higher than its business growth, which averaged 6.4% over the past three years and is estimated to grow 3.51% annually over the next three to five years.

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It is always important to check the financial strength of a company before buying its stock. Investing in companies with poor financial strength have a higher risk of permanent loss. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great way to understand the financial strength of a company. Consolidated Water Co has a cash-to-debt ratio of 27.27, which is better than 91% of the companies in the industry of Utilities - Regulated. The overall financial strength of Consolidated Water Co is 9 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Consolidated Water Co is strong. This is the debt and cash of Consolidated Water Co over the past years:

Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued
Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued

Investing in profitable companies carries less risk, especially in companies that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. Typically, a company with high profit margins offers better performance potential than a company with low profit margins. Consolidated Water Co has been profitable 10 years over the past 10 years. During the past 12 months, the company had revenues of $72.6 million and earnings of $0.24 a share. Its operating margin of 10.43% in the middle range of the companies in the industry of Utilities - Regulated. Overall, GuruFocus ranks Consolidated Water Co's profitability as fair. This is the revenue and net income of Consolidated Water Co over the past years:

Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued
Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued

Growth is probably one of the most important factors in the valuation of a company. GuruFocus' research has found that growth is closely correlated with the long-term performance of a company's stock. If a company's business is growing, the company usually creates value for its shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. Likewise, if a company's revenue and earnings are declining, the value of the company will decrease. Consolidated Water Co's 3-year average revenue growth rate is in the middle range of the companies in the industry of Utilities - Regulated. Consolidated Water Co's 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 14.4%, which ranks better than 75% of the companies in the industry of Utilities - Regulated.

One can also evaluate a company's profitability by comparing its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, Consolidated Water Co's ROIC is 5.30 while its WACC came in at 2.94. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Consolidated Water Co is shown below:

Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued
Consolidated Water Co Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Undervalued

Overall, the stock of Consolidated Water Co (NAS:CWCO, 30-year Financials) appears to be modestly undervalued. The company's financial condition is strong and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks better than 75% of the companies in the industry of Utilities - Regulated. To learn more about Consolidated Water Co stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.