In This Article:
Wharf Real Estate Investment Company Limited (HKG:1997) saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the SEHK over the last few months. As a large-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the company’s outlook is already priced into the stock. However, could the stock still be trading at a relatively cheap price? Let’s examine Wharf Real Estate Investment’s valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if there’s still a bargain opportunity.
See our latest analysis for Wharf Real Estate Investment
What's the opportunity in Wharf Real Estate Investment?
The stock is currently trading at HK$49.10 on the share market, which means it is overvalued by 29% compared to my intrinsic value of HK$38.16. This means that the buying opportunity has probably disappeared for now. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that Wharf Real Estate Investment’s share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.
Can we expect growth from Wharf Real Estate Investment?
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. However, with an extremely negative double-digit change in profit expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth is certainly not a driver of a buy decision. It seems like high uncertainty is on the cards for Wharf Real Estate Investment, at least in the near future.
What this means for you:
Are you a shareholder? If you believe 1997 should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. Given the uncertainty from negative growth in the future, this could be the right time to de-risk your portfolio. 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 1997 for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. Its price has risen beyond its true value, on top of a negative future outlook. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the track record of its management. Should the price fall in the future, will you be well-informed enough to buy?