A deeply misvalued FTSE 250 stock! Here’s what the charts say

Morgan Advanced Materials is a FTSE 250 global engineering company that trades at a significant discount to its peers. Dr James Fox finds out why.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Morgan Advanced Materials (LSE:MGAM) is an often overlooked FTSE 250 stock. However, it’s made headlines this year for the wrong reasons. That was after a cyber attack meant millions worth of damage and margin falls during the first half.

Despite this, the stock looks like great value. Currently, the stock trades at 7.5 times earnings, and 10 times forward earnings. This is a big discount versus the international industrials sector.

So let’s take a closer look at FTSE 250 stock.

Should you invest £1,000 in Morgan Advanced Materials Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Morgan Advanced Materials Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Morgan Advanced Materials Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

What it does

Morgan Advanced Materials is a maker of specialist products that use carbon, advanced ceramics and composites. Its products find applications in various industries, including aerospace, defence, energy, healthcare, electronics, and industrial sectors. Those products are designed for demanding environments and provide critical functionalities in a series of future-proof industries.

A slower year, but better medium term

MGAM revised its guidance for 2023 down following the cyber attack. The company now expects revenue to be between £1.65bn and £1.75bn, from £1.75bn-£1.85bn previously. Profit before tax is also expected to range £120m-£130m, down from £130m-£140m previously.

As previously announced, the cyber event we experienced at the start of the year has impacted sales, profitability and cash in the short term,” chief executive officer Pete Raby said in the H1 report.

Adjusted earnings per share fell 37.7% to 9.9p during the first half. But the FY guidance reflects revenue growth of 2-4%.

The compressed margins during the period aren’t expected to be sustained, with Barclays forecasting EBITDA margin to “to mid-teens and a new peak“.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that prominent clients of Morgan Advanced Materials, such as Airbus, Siemens energy, and Rolls-Royce, are currently benefiting from favourable market trends. This further contributes to the firm’s potential for an improved financial performance.

My belief is further supported by the firm’s position in end-user markets with high potential and price insensivity.

Valuation

As noted, Morgan Advanced Materials trades at 7.5 times earnings. This puts it at a significant discount to the FTSE 250 and its sector. Industrials have an average price-to-earnings (P/E) of 20.2, meaning Morgan Advanced Materials has a 38.6% discount. Here’s how the FTSE 250 stock compares to US firm Hexcel Corporation on TTM non-adjusted P/E.

Created at TradingView

The chart shows us it trades at a sizeable discount to its US advanced materials peer. We can also see this discount when using the EV-to-EBITDA ratio.

Created at TradingView

So what’s the upside?

Of course, like any investment opportunities, there are limits. Investors will be concerned to see net debt doubling, up by 100.5% to £257.7m over the first half. This in part is due to speed up investment in IT infrastructure after the cyber attack.

However, this is particularly enticing investment opportunity — I’ve added it to my own portfolio. Notably, Barclays has established price target of 365p — a 35% upside. However, it’s worth recognising that various analysts see the potential for even more upside.

This outlook stems from the company’s entrenched presence in burgeoning markets and its role in delivering specialised products tailored to industry-specific demands.

I think this compelling positioning and its ability to capitalise on evolving market dynamics makes the investment very attractive.

But this isn’t the only opportunity that’s caught my attention this week. Here are:

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

James Fox has positions in Barclays Plc, Morgan Advanced Materials Plc, and Rolls-Royce Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc and Morgan Advanced Materials Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Our best passive income stock ideas

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

More on Investing Articles

Front view of a young couple walking down terraced Street in Whitley Bay in the north-east of England they are heading into the town centre and deciding which shops to go to they are also holding hands and carrying bags over their shoulders.
Investing Articles

Up 15% in a month and still yielding 9.5% – this FTSE second income stock is on fire!

Harvey Jones says wealth manager M&G offers one of the most exciting second income streams on the entire FTSE 100.…

Read more »

Wall Street sign in New York City
Investing Articles

Looking for cheap stocks to buy? 2 reasons now might be the ideal moment!

Amid market turbulence, our writer has not been diving for cover, but actively on the hunt for stocks to buy…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE 250 stocks now yield more than 10% – is that income sustainable?

Harvey Jones is astonished to discover how much dividend income investors can get from FTSE 250 stocks. These two have…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

3 promising high-yield FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying right now!

When hunting for lucrative high-yield dividend shares, our writer heads straight for those smaller-caps found in the UK's secondary index,…

Read more »

Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

Are Tesla shares now a brilliant long-term opportunity?

Tesla shares have been pummelled by the markets so far this year. Our writer thinks they may have a lot…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Up 22% in a month, has the Rolls-Royce share price restarted its incredible rise?

Even after a storming few years, the Rolls-Royce share price has leapt over a fifth in just one month! Is…

Read more »

Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

I’ve been eyeing Nvidia stock, but I just bought this chip giant instead

After a recent fall in the price of Nvidia stock, this writer was considering it but decided to buy a…

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Why I don’t hold cash in my Stocks and Shares ISA

Stephen Wright explains why he’s fully invested in his Stocks and Shares ISA – and why he intends to keep…

Read more »