10 Most Undervalued Companies For The Defensive Investor

There are a number of great companies in the market today. By using the ModernGraham Valuation Model, I’ve selected the ten most undervalued companies reviewed by ModernGraham. Each company has been determined to be suitable for Defensive Investor according to the ModernGraham approach.

Defensive Investors are defined as investors who are not able or willing to do substantial research into individual investments, and therefore need to select only the companies that present the least amount of risk. Enterprising Investors, on the other hand, are able to do substantial research and can select companies that present a moderate (though still low) amount of risk. Each company suitable for the Defensive Investor is also suitable for Enterprising Investors.

Be sure to check out the history of this screen to find out which companies have been selected in the past.

5 Most Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor

Graham Holdings Company (GHC)

Graham Holdings Company qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and for the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor is only concerned with the inconsistent dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $18.06 in 2011 to an estimated $70.23 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 0.06% annual earnings loss over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)

FMC Corporation (FMC)

FMC Corporation qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor’s only initial concern is the low current ratio while the Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.80 in 2011 to an estimated $3.85 for 2015. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 1.14% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price. (See the full valuation)