TECO Energy Inc. Annual Valuation – 2015 $TE
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 – March 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 TECO Energy Inc. (TE) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): TECO Energy, Inc. (TECO Energy), is a holding company for regulated utilities and other businesses. The Company owns no operating assets but holds all of the common stock of TEC and, through its subsidiary TECO Diversified, owns TECO Coal. TEC, a Florida corporation and TECO Energy’s largest subsidiary, has two business segments. Its Tampa Electric division provides retail electric service to almost 700,000 customers in West Central Florida with a net winter system generating capacity of 4,668 megawatts. Peoples Gas System (PGS), the gas division of TEC, is engaged in the purchase, distribution and sale of natural gas for residential, commercial, industrial and electric power generation customers in Florida. PGS has operations in Florida’s major metropolitan areas.
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 -Â PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 -Â FAIL
- 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 PASS
- 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 PASS
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 2/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 -Â FAIL
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 -Â FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years -Â PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend -Â PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago -Â FAIL
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $19.22 |
| MG Value | $1.60 |
| MG Opinion | Overvalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $12.76 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $7.48 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 6.67% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$23.22 |
| PEmg | 21.84 |
| Current Ratio | 0.69 |
| PB Ratio | 1.74 |
Balance Sheet – December 2014
| Current Assets | $756,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $1,098,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $3,354,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $8,726,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $408,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $6,152,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 232,400,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2014 | $0.58 |
| 2013 | $0.92 |
| 2012 | $0.99 |
| 2011 | $1.27 |
| 2010 | $1.11 |
| 2009 | $1.00 |
| 2008 | $0.77 |
| 2007 | $1.97 |
| 2006 | $1.18 |
| 2005 | $1.31 |
| 2004 | -$2.10 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2014 | $0.88 |
| 2013 | $1.04 |
| 2012 | $1.08 |
| 2011 | $1.15 |
| 2010 | $1.13 |
| 2009 | $1.18 |
Dividend History
Conclusion:
TECO Energy Inc. is not suitable for the Enterprising Investor or for the Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned by the low current ratio, insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg ratio. The Enterprising Investor is concerned by the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings growth over the last five years.  As a result, value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should explore other opportunities at this time.  From a valuation side of things, the company appears to be overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) drop from $1.13 in 2010 to $0.88 for 2014.  This lack of demonstrated growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 6.67% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years, leading the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value below the 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 TECO Energy Inc. (TE)?  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 TECO Energy Inc. (TE) 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.
