Is WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) Potentially Undervalued?

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$173 and falling to the lows of US$132. 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 WESCO International's current trading price of US$143 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 WESCO International’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 WESCO International

What's The Opportunity In WESCO International?

According to my valuation model, WESCO International seems to be fairly priced at around 4.06% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy WESCO International today, you’d be paying a relatively fair price for it. And if you believe the company’s true value is $137.37, there’s only an insignificant downside when the price falls to its real value. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because WESCO International’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.

What kind of growth will WESCO International generate?

Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. 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. WESCO International's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 21%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in WCC’s positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we haven’t considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value?

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping an eye on WCC, 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.

If you'd like to know more about WESCO International as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. Be aware that WESCO International is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us...

If you are no longer interested in WESCO International, 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.