Cohu, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU), is not the largest company out there, but it saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of US$36.38 and falling to the lows of US$31.02. 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 Cohu's current trading price of US$32.47 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at Cohu's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

What's The Opportunity In Cohu?

Cohu appears to be overvalued by 26% at the moment, based on our discounted cash flow valuation. The stock is currently priced at US$32.47 on the market compared to our intrinsic value of $25.83. Not the best news for investors looking to buy! But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that Cohu'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.

Can we expect growth from Cohu?

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 -4.0% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn't appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Cohu. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? If you believe COHU is currently trading above its value, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. Given the uncertainty from negative growth in the future, this could be the right time to de-risk your portfolio. 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 COHU for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. Its price has risen beyond its true value, on top of a negative future outlook. However, there are also other important factors which we haven't considered today, such as the track record of its management. Should the price fall in the future, will you be well-informed enough to buy?

In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Cohu (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be familiar with.

If you are no longer interested in Cohu, 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.