Numbers can lie -- but they're the best first step in determining whether a stock is a buy. In this series, we use some carefully chosen metrics to size up a stock's true value based on the following clues:
- The current price multiples
- The consistency of past earnings and cash flow
- How much growth we can expect
Let's see what those numbers can tell us about how expensive or cheap Under Armour (NYSE: UA ) might be.
The current price multiples
First, we'll look at most investors' favorite metric: the P/E ratio. It divides the company's share price by its earnings per share -- the lower, the better.
Then, we'll take things up a notch with a more advanced metric: enterprise value to unlevered free cash flow. This divides the company's enterprise value (basically, its market cap plus its debt, minus its cash) by its unlevered free cash flow (its free cash flow, adding back the interest payments on its debt). Like the P/E, the lower this number is, the better.
Analysts argue about which is more important -- earnings or cash flow. Who cares? A good buy ideally has low multiples on both.
Under Armour has a P/E ratio of 41.0 and a negative EV/FCF ratio over the trailing 12 months. If we stretch and compare current valuations to the five-year averages for earnings and free cash flow, Under Armour has a P/E ratio of 65.6 and a five-year EV/FCF ratio of 440.3.
A positive one-year ratio under 10 for both metrics is ideal (at least in my opinion). For a five-year metric, under 20 is ideal.
Under Armour is zero for four on hitting the ideal targets, but let's see how it compares against some competitors and industry-mates.�
| Company | 1-Year P/E 1-Year EV/FCF | 5-Year P/E | 5-Year EV/FCF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under Armour | 41.0 | NM | 65.6 | 440.3 |
| Nike (NYSE: NKE ) | 21.0 | 34.2 | 25.2 | 25.6 |
| Gildan Activewear | 11.1 | 117.9 | 16.5 | 31.7 |
| Columbia Sportswear | 17.2 | NM | 16.4 | 20.8 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. NM = not meaningful due to losses.
Numerically, we've seen how Under Armour's valuation rates on both an absolute and relative basis. Next, let's examine...
The consistency of past earnings and cash flow
An ideal company will be consistently strong in its earnings and cash flow generation.
In the past five years, Under Armour's net income margin has ranged from 5.3% to 8.7%. In that same time frame, unlevered free cash flow margin has ranged from -7.9% to 11.8%.
How do those figures compare with those of the company's peers? See for yourself:
Source: S&P Capital IQ; margin ranges are combined.
Additionally, over the last five years, Under Armour has tallied up five years of positive earnings and three years of positive free cash flow.
Next, let's figure out...
How much growth we can expect
Analysts tend to comically overstate their five-year growth estimates. If you accept them at face value, you will overpay for stocks. But while you! should definitely take the analysts' prognostications with a grain of salt, they can still provide a useful starting point when compared to similar numbers from a company's closest rivals.
Let's start by seeing what this company's done over the past five years. In that time period, Under Armour has put up past EPS growth rates of 18.6%. Meanwhile, Wall Street's analysts expect future growth rates of 23%.
Here's how Under Armour compares to its peers for trailing five-year growth:
Source: S&P Capital IQ; EPS growth shown.
And here's how it measures up with regard to the growth analysts expect over the next five years:
Source: S&P Capital IQ; estimates for EPS growth.
The bottom line
The pile of numbers we've plowed through has shown us the price multiples shares of Under Armour�are trading at, the volatility of its operational performance, and what kind of growth profile it has -- both on an absolute and a relative basis.
The more consistent a company's performance has been and the more growth we can expect, the more we should be willing to pay. We've gone well beyond looking at a 41.0 P/E ratio and we see that Under Armour's free cash flows don't keep up with its earnings. This is to be expected, as the youngish company spends on capital expenditures to fuel future growth.
We do see positive earnings throughout the period, but one thing to note is that its earnings growth hasn't been that much greater than Nike's over the past five years. I point that out because Under Armour trades at even higher multiples than the premium-priced Nike, which is the dominator in the athletic apparel space. To buy Under Armour, you must believe! that it s future growth justifies the high multiples.
Our CAPS community rates it four stars out of five, but this is just a start. If you find Under Armour's numbers or story compelling, don't stop. Continue your due diligence process until you're confident one way or the other. As a start, add it to My Watchlist to find all of our Foolish analysis.
I wrote about a stock that's flying under the radar in our brand-new free report: "The Stocks Only the Smartest Investors Are Buying." I invite you to take a free copy to find out the name of the company I believe Warren Buffett would be interested in if he could still invest in small companies.
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