[ad_1]
Known to be the most volatile month for stocks, September is when many investors rebalance their portfolios to include less risky assets such as equities that provide exposure to essential healthcare services.
One such candidate is DaVita DVA, the leading provider of kidney care services in the United States. With its growth prospects cemented on critical dialysis and lab-related services, DaVita’s stock covets a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and lands the Bull of the Day.
DaVita Has Remnants of a Growth Stock
As a medical stock that can potentially provide defensive safety DaVita also has the remnants of a growth stock, on top of having the value and essential services investors seek amid heightened market volatility.
Over the last five years, DaVita’s EPS growth rate of 15.5% has easily trumped its industry average of 4.2% and the S&P 500’s 8.1% average. The impressive trend looks set to continue with DaVita’s bottom line expected to expand roughly 18% in fiscal 2024 with FY25 EPS projected to increase another 14% to $11.42 per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Estimate Revisions
Suggesting more short-term upside in DaVita’s stock is that earnings estimate revisions for FY24 and FY25 have remained noticeably higher over the last 30 days. Correlating with such, it’s noteworthy that DaVita’s Medical-Outpatient and Home Healthcare Industry is currently in the top 19% of over 250 Zacks industries.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Top Line Expansion
DaVita’s top line has increased by a modest 6% in the last five years with sales at $12.14 billion in 2023 compared to $11.38 billion in 2019. Still, DaVita’s sales have been on a steady ascension over the last two decades and are forecasted to increase more than 3% in FY24 and FY25 with projections edging north of $13 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Defensive Safety & Value
Seeing as DaVita’s growth is also crucial to societal health, its valuation is very intriguing. Trading just under $150, DVA is at a very reasonable 15.6X forward earnings multiple. This is a pleasant discount to its industry average of 23.3X forward earnings and the S&P 500’s 23.2X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Low Beta
With Beta being a measure of risk commonly used to compare the volatility of stocks among other securities, it’s important to point out that DaVita’s calculated beta value is at the preferred level of less than 1.0.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
While low beta stocks may tend to have a tight nit 52-week range, DaVita’s expansion has catapulted its price performance despite being a less volatile investment in regards to downside risk.
Hovering near its 52-week high, DVA has soared 108% from a low of $71 a share over the last year and is sitting on +40% gains year to date.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bottom Line
DaVita’s appealing growth prospects and attractive valuation suggests that now is an ideal time to invest considering its crucial healtchare services. Furthermore, DVA may be a viable defensive hedge regarding the unfavorable seasonality of the “September Effect” on the broader market.
Only $1 to See All Zacks’ Buys and Sells
We’re not kidding.
Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent.
Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not – they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators,and more, that closed 228 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2023 alone.
DaVita Inc. (DVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
[ad_2]
Source link
Leave a Reply