U.S. Bancorp Quarterly Valuation – May 2015 $USB

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) presents an intriguing investment possibility for value investors, as the company has maintained very strong earnings growth over the last few years that may not be properly factored into the market price. Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, taught that looking at the price cannot be the sole factor in investment decisions, as the most important aspect to consider is whether the company is trading at a discount relative to its intrinsic value. It is through a thorough fundamental analysis that the investor is able to make a determination about a potential investment’s merits. Here is a look at how U.S. Bancorp fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

The model is inspired by the teachings of Benjamin Graham, and considers numerous metrics intended to help the investor reduce risk levels. The first part of the analysis is to determine whether the company is suitable for the very conservative Defensive Investor or the less conservative Enterprising Investor, who is willing to spend a greater amount of time conducting further research.

In addition, Graham strongly suggested that investors avoid speculation, in order to remove the subjective elements of emotion. This is best achieved by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another. By using theModernGraham method, one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.

USB data by YCharts

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Defensive Investor – Must pass all 6 of the following tests: Score = 6/6

1. Adequate Size of Enterprise – Market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
2. Earnings Stability – Positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – PASS
3. Dividend Record – Has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – PASS
4. Earnings Growth – Earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3rd over the last 10 years, using 3-year averages at the beginning and end of the period – PASS
5. Moderate PEmg (price over normalized earnings) Ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – PASS
6. Moderate Price-to-Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – PASS

Enterprising Investor – Must pass all 3 of the following tests or be suitable for a Defensive Investor: Score = 3/3

1. Earnings Stability – Positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
2. Dividend Record – Currently pays a dividend – PASS
3. Earnings Growth – EPSmg greater than that 5 years ago – PASS

Valuation Summary

Key Data

Balance Sheet – March 2015

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham

Dividend History

USB Dividend data by YCharts

Conclusion

U.S. Bancorp passes all of the initial requirements of both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor, which is a rare accomplishment indicative of the company’s strong financials. As a result, all value investors should feel very comfortable proceeding to the next part of the analysis, which is a determination of the company’s intrinsic value.

When it comes to that valuation, it is critical to consider the company’s earnings history. In this case, the company has grown its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.85 in 2011 to an estimated $3.01 for 2015. This is a very strong level of demonstrated growth, which is well above the market’s implied estimate for earnings growth of only 2.92% over the next 7-10 years. The ModernGraham valuation model returns an estimate of intrinsic value falling above the current price, indicating that U.S. Bancorp is undervalued at the present time.

Disclaimer: The author did not hold a position in any of the companies listed in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours. Logos taken from either the company website or Wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the companies in any manner.

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