Should Value Investors Pick DST Systems (DST) Stock Now?

Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?

One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let’s put DST Systems, Inc. DST stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:

PE Ratio

A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock’s current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.

On this front, DST Systems has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 19.6, as you can see in the chart below:

This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 20.7. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, DST Systems’s current PE level puts it above its midpoint over the past five years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months.

Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Computer- Software industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 29.3. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.

We should also point out that DST Systems has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 19.7, which is roughly in line with the current level. Hence the forward earnings estimates are already incorporated in the company’s current share price.

P/S Ratio

Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stock’s price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.

Right now, DST Systems has a P/S ratio of about 1.8. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.4x right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.

If anything, DST is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.

Broad Value Outlook

In aggregate, DST Systems currently has a Value Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes DST Systems a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.

For example, the PEG ratio for DST Systems is just 1.9, a level that is bit lower than the industry average of 2.7. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Additionally, its P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 13.8, which is far better than the industry average of 22.2. Clearly, DST is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.

What About the Stock Overall?

Though DST Systems might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth Score of F and a Momentum Score of B. This gives DST a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)

Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been pretty encouraging. The current quarter has risen by 5% in the past sixty days, while the full year estimate has inched up 1.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:

DST Systems, Inc. Price and Consensus

DST Systems, Inc. Price and Consensus | DST Systems, Inc. Quote

Despite the bullish trend, the stock has just a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and that is why we are looking for better performance from the company in the near term.

Bottom Line

DST Systems is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Moreover, a strong industry rank (Top 32% out of more than 250 industries) further strengthens its growth potential. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Computer-Software industry has clearly outperformed the broader market, as you can see below:

So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiment to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.

So, it might pay for value investors to delve deeper into the company’s prospects, as fundamentals indicate that this stock could be a compelling pick.

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