The Best Companies Of The Banking Industry – October 2015

While ModernGraham supports the bottom-up approach to investing, many investors do utilize the top-down method, whereby an industry is selected before the company itself.  With that in mind, this article will take a brief look at the best companies of the banking industry, selecting the most promising investment opportunities within the industry, and giving a broad look into the industry as a whole.

Out of the more than 560 companies reviewed by ModernGraham, 19 were identified as being closely related to the banking industry.  Of those, five are suitable for the Defensive Investor, nine are suitable for the Enterprising Investor, and the remaining five are considered speculative at this time.  Excluding any extreme outliers, the average company was rated as being priced at 47.85% to its MG Value (estimated intrinsic value), with an average PEmg ratio of 18.5.  The industry as a whole, therefore would appear to be undervalued, particularly in comparison to the market (see Mr. Market’s Mental State).

The Elite

The following companies have been rated as undervalued and suitable for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor:

BB&T Corporation (BBT)

BB&T Corporation qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years, while 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 the next stage of the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.72 in 2011 to an estimated $2.48 for 2015.  This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 3.80% 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)
 

Citigroup Inc (C)

Citigroup Inc. qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, as well as the inconsistent dividend record.  The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns  As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from a loss of $6.47 in 2011 to an estimated gain of $3.80 for 2015.  This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 2.43% 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)
 

Comerica Incorporated (CMA)

Comerica Inc. qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor has concerns regarding the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years while the Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns.  As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.24 in 2011 to an estimated $2.60 for 2015.  This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 3.94% 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)
 

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB)

Fifth Third Bancorp qualifies for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor.  The Defensive Investor has concerns regarding the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years while the Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns.  As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with the next stage of the analysis.