Why Stantec Inc. (TSE:STN) Could Be Worth Watching

Stantec Inc. (TSE:STN), is not the largest company out there, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the TSX, rising to highs of CA$121 and falling to the lows of CA$108. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Stantec's current trading price of CA$117 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at Stantec’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

View our latest analysis for Stantec

Is Stantec Still Cheap?

The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to our valuation model. It’s trading around 6.5% below our intrinsic value, which means if you buy Stantec today, you’d be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe the company’s true value is CA$124.78, then there isn’t much room for the share price grow beyond what it’s currently trading. What's more, Stantec’s share price may be more stable over time (relative to the market), as indicated by its low beta.

What kind of growth will Stantec generate?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 49% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Stantec. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? STN’s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping tabs on STN, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Stantec at this point in time. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Stantec you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Stantec, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com