Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Should Value Investors Consider M.D.C. Holdings a Great Stock?

Read MoreHide Full Article

Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?

One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let’s put M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC - Free Report) stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:

PE Ratio

A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock’s current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.

On this front, M.D.C. Holdings has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 16.5, as you can see in the chart below:

This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 19.9. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, the current level puts M.D.C. Holding’s current PE ratio just above its midpoint. Moreover, the current level is fairly below the highs for this stock, suggesting that the stock is undervalued compared to its historical levels.

However, the stock’s PE ratio does not compare favorably with the Zacks Categorized Construction-Building Services industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands below the M.D.C. Holding’s PE at 13.9.

We should also point out that M.D.C. Holdings has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 10.54, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for M.D. C. Holdings’ stock in the near term too.

P/S Ratio

Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stock’s price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.

Right now, M.D.C. Holdings has a P/S ratio of about 0.7. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.0 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is comparatively below the highs for this stock in particular over the past five years.

If anything, MDC is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.

Broad Value Outlook

In aggregate, M.D.C. Holdings currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of ‘B’, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes M.D.C. Holdings a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too. 

For example, the PEG ratio for M.D.C. Holdings is just 0.59, a level that is fairly lower than the industry average of 0.82. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Clearly, MDC is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.

What About the Stock Overall?

Though M.D.C. Holdings might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth grade of ‘C’ and a Momentum score of ‘C’. This gives MDC a Zacks VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of ‘B’. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)

Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been mixed at best. Both the current quarter and the current year have seen one estimate go higher in the past thirty days compared to none lower in the same time period. This has had a mixed impact on the consensus estimate as the current quarter consensus estimate remained static at 68 cents in the past one month, while the full year estimate has increased by 1.1%.

This mixed trend indicates that while the stock’s growth story is intact over the medium term, analysts have some apprehensions about the stock in the immediate future.

Also consider the fact that the company boasts a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which indicates robust fundamentals and expectations of outperformance in the near term. Thus, we can say that while investors may expect slight short-term pain, M.D.C. Holdings remains a formidable value proposition, with strong supporting growth prospects.

Bottom Line

M.D.C. Holdings is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front.  

Boasting a good industry rank (top 32%) and a solid Zacks Rank, the company deserves attention right now. So, it might pay for value investors to delve deeper into the company’s prospects, as fundamentals indicate that this stock could be a compelling pick. 

Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit

How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find today’s most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >>


Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker


Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time


M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC) - $25 value - yours FREE >>

Published in