Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ:BNFT), might not be a large cap stock, but it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NASDAQGM over the last few months, increasing to US$11.39 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$9.97. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Benefitfocus' current trading price of US$10.55 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Benefitfocus’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
View our latest analysis for Benefitfocus
Is Benefitfocus still cheap?
According to my valuation model, Benefitfocus seems to be fairly priced at around 8.06% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Benefitfocus today, you’d be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe the company’s true value is $9.76, there’s only an insignificant downside when the price falls to its real value. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Benefitfocus’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 an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.
What kind of growth will Benefitfocus generate?
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Benefitfocus' earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 24%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.
What this means for you:
Are you a shareholder? BNFT’s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?