Today we're going to take a look at the well-established Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM). The company's stock saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$620 and falling to the lows of US$519. 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 Martin Marietta Materials' current trading price of US$529 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at Martin Marietta Materials's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Is Martin Marietta Materials Still Cheap?

Good news, investors! Martin Marietta Materials is still a bargain right now. According to our valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $677.91, but it is currently trading at US$529 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Another thing to keep in mind is that Martin Marietta Materials's share price may be 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 intrinsic value over time, 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 does the future of Martin Marietta Materials 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. 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. Though in the case of Martin Marietta Materials, it is expected to deliver a highly negative earnings growth in the next few years, which doesn't help build up its investment thesis. It appears that risk of future uncertainty is high, at least in the near term.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Although MLM is currently undervalued, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. We recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to MLM, 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 tabs on MLM for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, we 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.

With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, Martin Marietta Materials has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Martin Marietta Materials, 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.