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H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES) Hits Fresh High: Is There Still Room to Run?

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Shares of H&E Equipment (HEES - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 17.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $57.09 in the previous session. H&E Equipment has gained 9% since the start of the year compared to the 3.4% move for the Zacks Industrial Products sector and the 9% return for the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on October 26, 2023, H&E Equipment reported EPS of $1.46 versus consensus estimate of $1.31.

For the current fiscal year, H&E Equipment is expected to post earnings of $4.87 per share on $1.46 billion in revenues. Meanwhile, for the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $4.58 per share on $1.59 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 8.3% and 8.57%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

H&E Equipment may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

H&E Equipment has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and F, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 11.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 10.9X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 4.7X versus its peer group's average of 7.4X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.87. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, H&E Equipment currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if H&E Equipment passes the test. Thus, it seems as though H&E Equipment shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.

How Does HEES Stack Up to the Competition?

Shares of HEES have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Komatsu Ltd. (KMTUY - Free Report) . KMTUY has a Zacks Rank of # 2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of A.

Earnings were strong last quarter. Komatsu Ltd. beat our consensus estimate by 31.03%, and for the current fiscal year, KMTUY is expected to post earnings of $2.79 per share on revenue of $25.93 billion.

Shares of Komatsu Ltd. have gained 8.9% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 10.17X and a P/CF of 8.01X.

The Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry is in the top 13% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for HEES and KMTUY, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.


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