Why UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) Could Be Worth Watching

While UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it saw a double-digit share price rise of over 10% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. As a mid-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the company’s outlook is already priced into the stock. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Today I will analyse the most recent data on UniFirst’s outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

See our latest analysis for UniFirst

What Is UniFirst Worth?

According to my valuation model, UniFirst seems to be fairly priced at around 12.84% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy UniFirst today, you’d be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $152.45, then there isn’t really any room for the share price grow beyond what it’s currently trading. What's more, UniFirst’s share price may be more stable over time (relative to the market), as indicated by its low beta.

What does the future of UniFirst look like?

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. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. UniFirst's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 39%, 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 UNF’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 financial strength of the company. 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 tabs on UNF, 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 further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

It can be quite valuable to consider what analysts expect for UniFirst from their most recent forecasts. So feel free to check out our free graph representing analyst forecasts.

If you are no longer interested in UniFirst, 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.