What Does Acuity Brands, Inc.'s (NYSE:AYI) Share Price Indicate?

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI), is not the largest company out there, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$192 and falling to the lows of US$151. 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 Acuity Brands' current trading price of US$165 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 Acuity Brands’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Acuity Brands

Is Acuity Brands Still Cheap?

Great news for investors – Acuity Brands is still trading at a fairly cheap price. According to my valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $219.96, but it is currently trading at US$165 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Acuity Brands’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

Can we expect growth from Acuity Brands?

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 -0.5% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn’t appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Acuity Brands. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Although AYI is currently undervalued, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. I recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to AYI, 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 AYI for a while, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you research further 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.

It can be quite valuable to consider what analysts expect for Acuity Brands from their most recent forecasts. At Simply Wall St, we have the analysts estimates which you can view by clicking here.

If you are no longer interested in Acuity Brands, 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.