Motorola Solutions Inc. Quarterly Stock Valuation – October 2014 $MSI
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 Highest Dividend Yields Among Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor – 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 Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Motorola Solutions, Inc. (Motorola Solutions) provides communication infrastructure, devices, software and services. The Company provides these products and services for enterprise and government customers worldwide. The Company operates in two segments: Government and Enterprise. The Government segment includes sales of public safety communications systems, commercial two-way radio systems and devices, software and services. The Enterprise segment includes sales of rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computers and tablets, laser/imaging/RFID-based data capture products, wireless local area network (WLAN) and integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN) infrastructure, software and services. In January 2014, the Company announced that it has acquired Twisted Pair Solutions, a provider of push-to-talk over broadband applications for secure, real-time communication anywhere, on any device.
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 -Â 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 FAIL
- 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 -Â FAIL
- 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 = 5/5
- 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 – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago -Â PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $61.30 |
| MG Value | $104.95 |
| MG Opinion | Undervalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $39.53 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $23.17 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 6.99% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$2.64 |
| PEmg | 22.49 |
| Current Ratio | 2.42 |
| PB Ratio | 3.72 |
Balance Sheet – 6/28/2014
| Current Assets | $7,066,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $2,924,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $2,446,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $11,868,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $407,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $7,729,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 250,900,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2014 (estimate) | $2.14 |
| 2013 | $4.06 |
| 2012 | $2.95 |
| 2011 | $2.20 |
| 2010 | $0.70 |
| 2009 | -$0.35 |
| 2008 | -$13.09 |
| 2007 | -$0.35 |
| 2006 | $9.10 |
| 2005 | $12.74 |
| 2004 | $6.30 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2014 (estimate) | $2.73 |
| 2013 | $2.65 |
| 2012 | $0.79 |
| 2011 | -$0.92 |
| 2010 | -$1.92 |
| 2009 | -$1.61 |
Dividend History
MSI Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
Motorola Solutions Inc. is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor has numerous concerns regarding the lack of earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, the unstable dividend history, and the high PEmg and PB ratios.  The company passes all of the Enterprising Investor’s requirements, though.  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 side of things, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from a loss of $1.92 in 2010 to an estimated gain of $2.73 for 2014.  This level of demonstrated growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 6.99% earnings growth and leads the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
Be sure to check out the previous ModernGraham valuations of Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) 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 Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI)?  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 Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) 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.
