TE Connectivity Ltd (TEL) Quarterly Valuation – May 2014
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing 5 Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor Near 52 Week Lows. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a specific look at how TE Connectivity (TEL) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): TE Connectivity Ltd. (TE Connectivity), formerly Tyco Electronics Ltd., designs and manufactures over 500,000 products that connect and protect the flow of power and data inside a number of products used by consumers and industries. The Company operates through three segments: Transportation Solutions, which is a supplier of electronic components, including connectors, relays, circuit protection devices, wire and cable, heat shrink tubing, and sensors, as well as application tooling and custom-engineered solutions for the automotive and aerospace, defense, and marine markets; Communications and Industrial Solutions, which is a supplier of electronic components, including connectors, relays, touch screens, circuit protection devices, antennas, and heat shrink tubing, and Network Solutions, which is a supplier of infrastructure components and systems for the telecommunications and energy markets. In April 2012, the Company acquired Deutsch Group SAS.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 2/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – FAIL
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – PASS
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – FAIL
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 5/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $58.83 |
| MG Value | $120.35 |
| MG Opinion | Undervalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $45.33 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $26.57 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 5.16% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$8.97 |
| PEmg | 18.82 |
| Current Ratio | 1.61 |
| PB Ratio | 2.87 |
Balance Sheet – 3/28/2014
| Current Assets | $6,566,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $4,087,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $2,370,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $18,628,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $5,552,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $10,235,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 409,250,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2014 (estimate) | $3.75 |
| 2013 | $3.02 |
| 2012 | $2.70 |
| 2011 | $2.82 |
| 2010 | $2.32 |
| 2009 | -$6.75 |
| 2008 | $3.28 |
| 2007 | -$0.29 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2014 (estimate) | $3.13 |
| 2013 | $2.15 |
| 2012 | $1.43 |
| 2011 | $0.63 |
| 2010 | -$0.41 |
| 2009 | -$1.43 |
Dividend History
TEL Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
TE Connectivity is suitable for Enterprising Investors but not for Defensive Investors.  The company’s operating history as a stand-alone entity is not long enough to satisfy the requirements of Defensive Investors, but the company passes all of the requirements of the Enterprising Investor.  As a result, Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel very comfortable proceeding with further research into the company and its competitors through a review of 5 Low PEmg Companies for the Enterprising Investor.  From a valuation side of things, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from -$0.41 in 2010 to an estimated $3.13 for 2014.  This strong level of growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 5.16% earnings growth and leads the ModernGraham valuation model to return an estimate of intrinsic value that is well above the market price.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on TE Connectivity (TEL)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
If you like our valuations, why not check out ModernGraham Stocks & Screens?  It’s a great way to review the valuations while screening for things like low PE ratio, undervalued companies, etc.!
Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a long position in TE Connectivity (TEL) or any other company mentioned in the article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Logo taken from wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
