Why New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU) Could Be Worth Watching

While New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$2.50 and falling to the lows of US$1.37. 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 New Oriental Education & Technology Group's current trading price of US$1.37 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 New Oriental Education & Technology Group’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 New Oriental Education & Technology Group

What's the opportunity in New Oriental Education & Technology Group?

Good news, investors! New Oriental Education & Technology Group is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, I’ve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock’s cash flows. I find that New Oriental Education & Technology Group’s ratio of 6.95x is below its peer average of 16.72x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the Consumer Services industry. Another thing to keep in mind is that New Oriental Education & Technology Group’s share price is quite stable relative to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. This means that if you believe the current share price should move towards its industry peers, a low beta could suggest it is not likely to reach that level anytime soon, and once it’s there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range again.

What kind of growth will New Oriental Education & Technology Group 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. However, with an extremely negative double-digit change in profit expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth is certainly not a driver of a buy decision. It seems like high uncertainty is on the cards for New Oriental Education & Technology Group, at least in the near future.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Although EDU is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to EDU, 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 EDU for a while, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future.

With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. Be aware that New Oriental Education & Technology Group is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those is concerning...

If you are no longer interested in New Oriental Education & Technology Group, 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.