Is It Time To Consider Buying Yellow Pages Limited (TSE:Y)?
While Yellow Pages Limited (TSE:Y) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the TSX over the last few months, increasing to CA$14.46 at one point, and dropping to the lows of CA$12.80. 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 Yellow Pages' current trading price of CA$13.70 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 Yellow Pages’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.
See our latest analysis for Yellow Pages
What's the opportunity in Yellow Pages?
Good news, investors! Yellow Pages is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to 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 5.06x is currently well-below the industry average of 34.27x, meaning that it is trading at a cheaper price relative to its peers. Another thing to keep in mind is that Yellow Pages’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 its industry peers, a low beta could suggest it is not likely to reach that level anytime soon, and once it’s there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range again.
What kind of growth will Yellow Pages generate?
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. 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 expected decline of -18% in revenues over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn’t appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Yellow Pages. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.
What this means for you:
Are you a shareholder? Although Y is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to Y, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return.
Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping tabs on Y for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you research further into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future.
With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example - Yellow Pages has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.
If you are no longer interested in Yellow Pages, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
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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.
