Should You Investigate Vesuvius plc (LON:VSVS) At UK£4.48?

While Vesuvius plc (LON:VSVS) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the LSE over the last few months. With many analysts covering the stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stock’s share price. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Vesuvius’s outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

View our latest analysis for Vesuvius

What Is Vesuvius Worth?

Great news for investors – Vesuvius is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is £6.40, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. However, given that Vesuvius’s share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of Vesuvius look like?

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. However, with a negative profit growth of -16% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn’t appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Vesuvius. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Although VSVS is currently undervalued, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to VSVS, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return.

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping an eye on VSVS for a while, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current undervaluation, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future.

If you'd like to know more about Vesuvius as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. When we did our research, we found 2 warning signs for Vesuvius (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

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

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

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.