Starwood Property Trust Inc. Analysis – Initial Coverage $STWD

In the wake of the great financial crisis it can sometimes be difficult for Intelligent Investors to find a solid financial company in which to invest, because they require specific achievements over the historical period.  Many investors may simply decide to throw out the worst years with the rationale that they are outliers that shouldn’t be considered when evaluating the company’s prospects, but doing so would involve speculation.  We don’t know whether the financial crisis will happen again, but we do know that if it does, we can expect to see similar results as we did before.  By continuing to require the same standards for the historical period, Intelligent Investors are able to whittle down banks to only those with the best financial position, and then they are able to determine an intrinsic value to get a sense of whether the company is a good investment.  In addition, a company must have strong financial statements to prove that it is stable enough for Intelligent Investors.  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.  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 Starwood Property Trust Inc. (STWD) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Starwood Property Trust, Inc. is a holding company that operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, through its subsidiaries, focuses on originating, acquiring, financing and managing commercial mortgage loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States and Europe. The Company operates through two segments: Lending Segment, and Investing and Servicing Segment. The Company’s Lending Segment represents investments in real estate-related loans and securities that are held-for-investment. The Investing and Servicing Segment includes servicing businesses in the United States and Europe, an investment business that acquires and manages real estate finance investments, and a mortgage loan business. The Company is externally managed and advised by SPT Management, LLC, an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group.

Defensive Investor – must pass all 6 of the following tests: Score = 3/6

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 - FAIL
3. Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years - FAIL
4. 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 - FAIL
5. Moderate PEmg 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 5 years ago – PASS

Valuation Summary

Key Data:

Balance Sheet - March 2015

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham 

Dividend History

Conclusion

Starwood Property Trust Inc. qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned by the short history as a publicly traded company, while the company passes all of the Enterprising Investor’s requirements.  As a result, Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company and comparing it to other opportunities.  As for a valuation, the company appears undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.76 in 2011 to an estimated $1.98 for 2015.  This level of demonstrated growth is greater than the market’s implied estimate of 1.18% earnings growth and leads the ModernGraham valuation model, which is based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value above the market 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 Starwood Property Trust Inc. (STWD)?  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 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.  Logo taken from the Wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.