Google Inc. Quarterly Stock Valuation – September 2014 $GOOGL
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 the 5 Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor Near 52 Week Lows – September 2014. 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 Google Inc. (GOOGL) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Google Inc. (Google), is a global technology company. The Company’s business is primarily focused around key areas, such as search, advertising, operating systems and platforms, enterprise and hardware products. The Company generates revenue primarily by delivering online advertising. The Company also generates revenues from Motorola by selling hardware products. In June 2014, Google Inc acquired mDialog Corp. Effective June 25, 2014, Google Inc acquired Appurify Inc, a San Francisco-based developer of mobile bugging application software. Effective 23, July, 2014, Google Inc acquired drawElements Oy, a Helsinki-based developer of 3D graphics software. Effective August 6, 2014, Google Inc acquired Tinker Square Inc. Effective August 22, 2014, Google Inc acquired Gecko Design Inc. Effective August 26, 2014, Google Inc acquired Zync Inc. Effective September 10, 2014, Google Inc acquired Lynx Design Inc. Effective September 11, 2014, Google Inc acquired Input Factory Inc.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 4/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 -Â PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years -Â PASS
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years -Â 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 -PASS
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 -Â FAIL
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 -Â FAIL
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 4/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 -Â PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 -Â PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend -Â FAIL
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago -Â PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $584.90 |
| MG Value | $690.33 |
| MG Opinion | Fairly Valued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $263.22 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $154.30 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 11.86% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | $77.00 |
| PEmg | 32.22 |
| Current Ratio | 4.56 |
| PB Ratio | 4.13 |
Balance Sheet – 6/30/2014
| Current Assets | $77,905,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $17,097,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $3,232,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $121,608,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $19,820,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $25,859,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 675,910,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2014 (estimate) | $21.40 |
| 2013 | $18.04 |
| 2012 | $16.73 |
| 2011 | $14.89 |
| 2010 | $13.17 |
| 2009 | $8.28 |
| 2008 | $6.66 |
| 2007 | $6.65 |
| 2006 | $4.98 |
| 2005 | $2.51 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2014 (estimate) | $18.15 |
| 2013 | $15.76 |
| 2012 | $13.73 |
| 2011 | $11.46 |
| 2010 | $9.15 |
| 2009 | $6.70 |
Dividend History
Google does not pay a dividend.
Conclusion:
Google Inc. qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the short dividend history as well as the high PEmg and PB ratios.  The Enterprising Investor’s only initial concern is the lack of dividend payments.  As a result, Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with research into the company and comparing it to other opportunities.  From a valuation perspective, the company appears to be fairly valued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $9.15 in 2010 to an estimated $18.15 for 2014.  This level of demonstrated growth supports the market’s implied estimate of 11.86% earnings growth and leads the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value within a margin of safety relative to the price.
Be sure to check out the previous ModernGraham valuations of Google Inc. (GOOGL) for more perspective!
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 Google Inc. (GOOGL)?  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.
Disclaimer:  The author did not hold a position in Google Inc. (GOOGL) or in any other company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  Logo taken from Wikipedia for the sole purpose of identifying the company; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
