Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a double-digit share price rise of over 10% in the past couple of months on the NASDAQGS. With many analysts covering the stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stock's share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Let's examine Star Bulk Carriers's valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if there's still a bargain opportunity.
View our latest analysis for Star Bulk Carriers
What Is Star Bulk Carriers Worth?
Star Bulk Carriers appears to be expensive according to my price multiple model, which makes a comparison between the company's price-to-earnings ratio and the industry average. I've used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because there's not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stock's ratio of 6.76x is currently well-above the industry average of 3.23x, meaning that it is trading at a more expensive price relative to its peers. Another thing to keep in mind is that Star Bulk Carriers's share price is quite stable relative to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. This means that if you believe the current share price should move towards the levels of its industry peers over time, a low beta could suggest it is not likely to reach that level anytime soon, and once it's there, it may be hard for it to fall back down into an attractive buying range again.
What does the future of Star Bulk Carriers look like?
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let's also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of Star Bulk Carriers, it is expected to deliver a negative earnings growth of -5.3%, which doesn't help build up its investment thesis. It appears that risk of future uncertainty is high, at least in the near term.
What This Means For You
Are you a shareholder? If you believe SBLK should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. Given the uncertainty from negative growth in the future, this could be the right time to reduce your total portfolio risk. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.
Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping an eye on SBLK for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. Its price has risen beyond its industry peers, on top of a negative future outlook. However, there are also other important factors which we haven't considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Should the price fall in the future, will you be well-informed enough to buy?
So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Star Bulk Carriers at this point in time. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Star Bulk Carriers (1 is significant) you should be familiar with.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.