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Should Value Investors Choose Israel Chemicals (ICL) Stock Now?
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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 Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL - 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, Israel Chemicals has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 14.1, 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 20.4. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Israel Chemicals’s current PE level puts it above its midpoint over the past three years.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 22.3. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that Israel Chemicals has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 12.6, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Israel Chemicals 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, Israel Chemicals has a P/S ratio of about 1. This is a bit lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.3x right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, Israel Chemicals currently has a Value Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Israel Chemicals a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.
For example, its P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 7.1, which is far better than the industry average of 11.5. Clearly, ICL is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though Israel Chemicals 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 Score of A and a Momentum Score of D. This gives ICL a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of A. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been pretty encouraging. The current year has seen one estimate to go higher in the past sixty days compared to none lower, raising the full year estimate by 3% over the same time frame. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
This bullish trend is why the stock has just a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and why we are looking for better performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
Israel Chemicals is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Moreover, a strong industry rank (Top 42% out of more than 250 industries) further strengthens its growth potential.
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.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
Image: Bigstock
Should Value Investors Choose Israel Chemicals (ICL) Stock Now?
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 Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL - 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, Israel Chemicals has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 14.1, 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 20.4. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Israel Chemicals’s current PE level puts it above its midpoint over the past three years.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 22.3. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that Israel Chemicals has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 12.6, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Israel Chemicals 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, Israel Chemicals has a P/S ratio of about 1. This is a bit lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.3x right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, Israel Chemicals currently has a Value Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Israel Chemicals a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.
For example, its P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 7.1, which is far better than the industry average of 11.5. Clearly, ICL is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though Israel Chemicals 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 Score of A and a Momentum Score of D. This gives ICL a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of A. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been pretty encouraging. The current year has seen one estimate to go higher in the past sixty days compared to none lower, raising the full year estimate by 3% over the same time frame. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Israel Chemicals Shs Price and Consensus
Israel Chemicals Shs Price and Consensus | Israel Chemicals Shs Quote
This bullish trend is why the stock has just a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and why we are looking for better performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
Israel Chemicals is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Moreover, a strong industry rank (Top 42% out of more than 250 industries) further strengthens its growth potential.
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.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>