Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a decent share price growth of 16% on the NYSE over the last few months. The recent jump in the share price has meant that the company is trading around its 52-week high. 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? Today we will analyse the most recent data on Ingredion's outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

What Is Ingredion Worth?

Good news, investors! Ingredion is still a bargain right now according to our price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. We'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 11.97x is currently well-below the industry average of 15x, meaning that it is trading at a cheaper price relative to its peers. What's more interesting is that, Ingredion's share price is quite stable, which could mean two things: firstly, it may take the share price a while to move closer to its industry peers, and secondly, there may be less chances to buy low in the future once it reaches that value. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta.

Can we expect growth from Ingredion?

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 negative profit growth of -2.2% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesn't appear to be a driver for a buy decision for Ingredion. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Although INGR is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, 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 INGR, 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 INGR for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, we recommend you research further 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.

If you'd like to know more about Ingredion as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. For example - Ingredion has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you are no longer interested in Ingredion, 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.