Lockheed Martin Corporation Annual Valuation – 2015 $LMT

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 Most Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor – January 2015.  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 Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company, which is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Company operates in five business segments based on the nature of the products and services offered, such as Aeronautics, Information Systems & Global Solutions, Missiles and Fire Control, Mission Systems and Training and Space Systems. The Company provides a range of management, engineering, technical, scientific, logistic, and information services. The Company`s main areas of focus are in defense, space, intelligence, homeland security, and information technology, including cyber security. The Company serves both domestic and international customers with products and services that have defense, civil, and commercial applications, with its principal customers being agencies of the United States Government.

Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 4/7

1. Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion - PASS
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 - FAIL
3. Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years - PASS
4. Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years - PASS
5. 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
6. Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 - FAIL
7. 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 = 3/5

1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 - FAIL
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 - FAIL
3. Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years - PASS
4. Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend - PASS
5. Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago - PASS

Valuation Summary

Key Data:

Balance Sheet – December 2014

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham

Dividend History

Conclusion:

Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is not suitable for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, and the high PEmg and PB ratios.  The Enterprising Investor is concerned with the level of debt relative to the current assets.  As a result, value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should explore other opportunities.  As for a valuation, the company appears to be overvalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $7.55 in 2010 to only an estimated $9.41 for 2014.  This level of growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 5.76% growth, leading the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value well below the price.

Be sure to check out previous ModernGraham valuations of Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) for greater 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 Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)?  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 Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) 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.