While COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (HKG:1199) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it led the SEHK gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stock's share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at COSCO SHIPPING Ports's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if the opportunity still exists.

See our latest analysis for COSCO SHIPPING Ports

What Is COSCO SHIPPING Ports Worth?

COSCO SHIPPING Ports is currently expensive based on my price multiple model, where I look at the company's price-to-earnings ratio in comparison to the industry average. I've used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because there's not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stock's ratio of 9.12x is currently well-above the industry average of 6.89x, meaning that it is trading at a more expensive price relative to its peers. If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Given that COSCO SHIPPING Ports's share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of COSCO SHIPPING Ports look like?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. 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. However, with a relatively muted profit growth of 5.9% expected over the next couple of years, growth doesn't seem like a key driver for a buy decision for COSCO SHIPPING Ports, at least in the short term.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? 1199's future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above industry price multiples. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question – should I sell? If you believe 1199 should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping an eye on 1199 for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive growth outlook may mean it's worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

If you want to dive deeper into COSCO SHIPPING Ports, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of COSCO SHIPPING Ports.

If you are no longer interested in COSCO SHIPPING Ports, 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.