We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Is Heidrick & Struggles (HSII) a Good Value Investor Pick?
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 Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII - 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, Heidrick & Struggles has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 11.08, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 18.04. If we focus on the long- term PE trend, Heidrick & Struggles’ current PE level puts it way below its midpoint of 23.15 over the past five years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months. However, the current level stands below the highs for the stock, suggesting that it can be a solid entry point.
However, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Business Services Market sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 29.25. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that Heidrick & Struggles has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 11.33, so it is fair to expect an increase in the company’s share price in the near future.
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, Heidrick & Struggles has a P/S ratio of about 0.76. This is much lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.26 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.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, Heidrick & Struggles currently has a Value Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Heidrick & Struggles a solid choice for value investors.
For example, the PEG ratio for Heidrick & Struggles is just 0.84, a level that is lower than the industry average of 1.42. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Clearly, HSII is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though Heidrick & Struggles 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 D and Momentum Score of C. This gives HSII a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been discouraging. The current year has seen one upward revision compared to two downward revisions in the past sixty days, whereas the next year estimate has seen no upward revision compared to two downward revision in the same time period.
As a result, the current year consensus estimate declined 1.15 % in the past two months, whereas the next year estimate declined 2.97%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Price and Consensus
Owing to such mixed estimate trends, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which is why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
Heidrick & Struggles is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, the company carries an unfavorable industry rank (bottom 20% out of more than 250 Zacks industries), which makes us cautious about the broader factors. Moreover, with a Zacks Rank #3 it is hard to get too excited about this company overall.
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
Will you retire a millionaire?
One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”
Image: Bigstock
Is Heidrick & Struggles (HSII) a Good Value Investor Pick?
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 Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII - 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, Heidrick & Struggles has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 11.08, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 18.04. If we focus on the long- term PE trend, Heidrick & Struggles’ current PE level puts it way below its midpoint of 23.15 over the past five years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months. However, the current level stands below the highs for the stock, suggesting that it can be a solid entry point.
However, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Business Services Market sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 29.25. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that Heidrick & Struggles has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 11.33, so it is fair to expect an increase in the company’s share price in the near future.
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, Heidrick & Struggles has a P/S ratio of about 0.76. This is much lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.26 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.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, Heidrick & Struggles currently has a Value Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Heidrick & Struggles a solid choice for value investors.
For example, the PEG ratio for Heidrick & Struggles is just 0.84, a level that is lower than the industry average of 1.42. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Clearly, HSII is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though Heidrick & Struggles 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 D and Momentum Score of C. This gives HSII a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been discouraging. The current year has seen one upward revision compared to two downward revisions in the past sixty days, whereas the next year estimate has seen no upward revision compared to two downward revision in the same time period.
As a result, the current year consensus estimate declined 1.15 % in the past two months, whereas the next year estimate declined 2.97%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Price and Consensus
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Quote
Owing to such mixed estimate trends, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which is why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
Heidrick & Struggles is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, the company carries an unfavorable industry rank (bottom 20% out of more than 250 Zacks industries), which makes us cautious about the broader factors. Moreover, with a Zacks Rank #3 it is hard to get too excited about this company overall.
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
Will you retire a millionaire?
One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, “7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire.”
Click to get it free >>