Best Buy Stock Analysis – 2015 Annual Update $BBY
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 – May 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 Best Buy stock analysis showing a specific look at how Best Buy Company (BBY) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Best Buy Co., Inc. is a multinational, multichannel retailer of technology products, including tablets and computers, televisions, mobile phones, large and small appliances, entertainment products, digital imaging and related accessories. The Company also offers technology services including technical support, repair and installation under the Geek Squad brand. The Company operates e-commerce operations, retail stores and call centers and conduct operations under a variety of names, such as Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca), Best Buy Mobile, Five Star, Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video and Pacific Sales. The Company operates in two segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment consisted of the operations in all states, districts and territories of the United States. The International segment is consisted of all operations outside the United States and its territories.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 3/7
- 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 FAIL
- 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 4Â of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 3/5
- 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 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years -Â FAIL
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend -Â PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago -Â FAIL
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $34.53 |
| MG Value | $0.00 |
| MG Opinion | Overvalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $16.37 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $9.59 |
| Market-Implied Growth Rate | 11.05% |
| NCAV | $4.11 |
| PEmg | 30.59 |
| Current Ratio | 1.51 |
| PB Ratio | 2.47 |
Balance Sheet – January 2015
| Current Assets | $11,729,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $7,777,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $1,580,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $15,256,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $482,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $10,261,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 356,900,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2015 | $3.49 |
| 2014 | $1.53 |
| 2013 | -$1.31 |
| 2012 | -$2.89 |
| 2011 | $3.07 |
| 2010 | $3.08 |
| 2009 | $2.37 |
| 2008 | $3.12 |
| 2007 | $2.79 |
| 2006 | $2.27 |
| 2005 | $1.86 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2015 | $1.13 |
| 2014 | $0.20 |
| 2013 | -$0.02 |
| 2012 | $1.00 |
| 2011 | $2.92 |
| 2010 | $2.81 |
Dividend History
Conclusion:
As this Best Buy stock analysis shows, the company is not suitable for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, the insufficient earnings growth or stability over the last ten years, and the high PEmg ratio.  The Enterprising Investor is concerned with the the lack of earnings growth or stability over the last five years.  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 seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) drop from $2.92 in 2011 to only an estimated $1.13 for 2015.  This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 11.05% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value well 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 Best Buy Company (BBY)?  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 any 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.
