Is It Too Late To Consider Buying F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV)?

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV), which is in the communications business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $164.25 and falling to the lows of $132.08. 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 F5 Networks's current trading price of $144.76 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 F5 Networks’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Check out our latest analysis for F5 Networks

What is F5 Networks worth?

Great news for investors – F5 Networks is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $208.8, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because F5 Networks’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 F5 Networks?

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 a negative profit growth of -1.7% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn’t appear to be a driver for a buy decision for F5 Networks. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Although FFIV 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 FFIV, 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 FFIV 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.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on F5 Networks. You can find everything you need to know about F5 Networks in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in F5 Networks, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.