WSO Investment Analysis Report & Stock Research, Watsco, Inc.

Watsco, Inc. (WSO)

WSO Stock Report

2-Year Price History

View Larger WSO Chart
NYSE:WSO
$49.54
(2/9 2:58PM)
+0.0%
Open$49.97 Mkt Cap$1.4 Billion
High$50.12 52Wk High$57.63
Low$49.26 52Wk Low$30.89
Volume211,035 Avg Vol 10D281,700

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WSO Revenue

As a value investing shop, we are interested in seeing how WSO's revenues measure up against past performances. One easily understandable way of doing that is to compare Price to Sales per share levels over a given time frame. Assuming it is available, Ockham prefers to look at ten years of history (for this stock there are 10 years of history available) and we weigh recent years more heavily. This allows us to find weighted average historical high and low Price to Sales ratios, which give us a better idea of the stock's current underlying value. Using this method, we have established a high range for Price to Sales of 0.99x and the low end of the range at 0.53x.

With respect to these historically rational metrics, notice that the current Price to Sales per share ratio for WSO of 0.90x is significantly above its historical average. This places WSO at the upper end of its historical range relative to sales per share and makes it difficult to suggest an attractive price outlook. At current sales per share levels, we would need to see a decline in the Price to Sales ratio of 18% merely to return WSO to its historical average.

WSO Cash Earnings

Cash Earnings is always one of the most important factors to review for a company and, more importantly, an investment in a stock. WSO is significantly above its historical average multiple of Cash Earnings. Looking at the last 10 years we can get a good understanding of what investors have grown to expect from WSO. For example, WSO's Cash Earnings ratio per share has fluctuated between 14.70 and 27.49 over this historical timeframe. This range is based upon a proprietary weighted methodology at Ockham, but can clearly show an investor where WSO is with respect to prior business periods.

So what does this tell us about WSO in particular? Basically, we would value the current level of Cash Earnings per share (which is at 33.93) as significantly overvalued. Just by looking at the last closing price of WSO, which was $49.88, we can see that compared to the historical high Price to Cash Earnings levels we calculated, the market has already rewarded WSO with a higher stock price. So basically, we don't view this level of Cash Earnings or stock price as compatible with a long term value at this point. Just remember, that does not mean that WSO may not have other merits with which to find a good investment opportunity, it just means that we would prefer to see either an increase in Cash Earnings or a decrease in stock price before we would become bullish on this metric.

WSO Dividends

A strong dividend payment history is looked upon as a favorable characteristic on a company’s future and potentially can receive a positive Ockham rating. That being said, we don't require dividend payments for company's whose management has elected to forgo them entirely.

When reviewing dividend yields for WSO, we compare the historic high and low levels over the past, which is similar to our evaluation of Sales and Cash Earnings per share. Paying a dividend is not necessary for any company, but changes in dividend often can lend clues as to the health of the business. A rising dividend is a strong sign for an established company, as it reflects management's confidence in the company. WSO’s estimated annual dividend is $1.92 resulting in a current dividend yield of 3.85%. The highest dividend yield from WSO over recent history was 6.22% while the lowest dividend yield was 0.62%. WSO has shown confidence by hiking up the dividend yield to 12.57% above the historical median.

Peer Comparison

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Watsco, Inc. Industry Grouping

(2/8/2010)
Company Ticker Market Cap (Ml) Latest
Price
Price/Cash Earnings Price/Sales 5-Yr. Rev.
Growth Rate
5-Yr.
Avg. ROE.
Current 10-Yr. Range* Current 10-Yr. Range*
Peer Company Averages (not including WSO) 42.57 4.83 » 58.29 1.07 0.41 » 1.47 12.86% 27.95%
*10 year range does not include current year values
Vina Concha Y Toro S.A. ADR VCO $1.5 Billion $42.50 18.47 10.21 » 24.39 3.26 1.70 » 4.10 14.41% 12.66%
Watsco, Inc. WSO $1.4 Billion $49.52 33.93 7.49 » 39.20 0.90 0.22 » 1.14 6.64% 13.18%
Anixter International Inc. AXE $1.4 Billion $39.56 146.81 3.14 » 179.81 0.27 0.12 » 0.55 18.51% 17.44%
United Stationers, Inc. USTR $1.3 Billion $53.16 9.63 3.25 » 14.63 0.28 0.09 » 0.41 5.32% 15.52%
Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc. ANW $1.3 Billion $29.76 30.93 5.68 » 55.25 1.30 0.12 » 1.53 n/a 66.82%
Wesco International, Inc. WCC $1.2 Billion $27.76 7.01 1.88 » 17.38 0.26 0.04 » 0.75 13.21% 27.32%
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9:30A, May. 29,2009 WSO $49.01 Watsco, Inc.
Squawk On The Street

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Squawk On The Street

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

>> maybe a second late. >> once in a while they're a little late. >> they were one second late >> yeah, I guess so. >> here at the big board. WATSCO, ticker wso. Distributor of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment. Celebrating 15 years on the big at the nasdaq, the albanian

“… n the big at the nasdaq, the albanian …”

6:53P, May. 18,2009 WSO $50.60 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

Not that I expect highman roth to set and michael core loan to set up shop again. >> any time I try to buy something off cuba, I come back with the idea that unless it's like a WATSCO, which is an industrial play, stock hits 50, cramer upgrade at 42, nice call. The problem is these are all tertiary plays. I'm not going there. Too hard to make money.

“… call. The problem is these are all tertiary plays. I'm not going there. Too hard to make money. …”

6:25P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.82 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

I've tried to explain the way wall street works and not removeing it from the sell block. >> buy, buy, buy! Buy, buy, buy! Wso. >>> coming up, is skywork solutions the way to ride the tech turnaround? Jim goes head to head with the

“… I've tried to explain the way wall street works and not removeing it from the sell block. >> buy, buy, buy! Buy, buy, buy! Wso. >>> coming up, is skywork solutions the way to ride the tech turnaround? Jim goes head to head with the …”

6:22P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.55 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

Companies would you recommend with strong growth? >> I think one of the things that with infrastructure and construction, cnet's had a better balance sheet and i'd go with that and WATSCO is the pure play and it's the one they think is great. Wildly speculative is freeport, fcx. My charitable trust or I send

“… lative is freeport, fcx. My charitable trust or I send …”

6:22P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.55 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

Especially because it will be the next big thing when obama opens up cuba. You will be hearing a lot of guys on tv telling you to buy this or that when the cuban wall comes down. WATSCO will be a big one. Analysts will be too negative and they'll have the specific stocks. Their negativity is your opportunity and that's why we're busting WATSCO out of the sell block tonight. Joe in texas. >> hi, jim, this is joe from >> I had a feeling. >> boo-yah. >> how are you doing?

“… specific stocks. Their negativity is your opportunity and that's why we're busting WATSCO out of the sell block tonight. Joe in texas. >> hi, jim, this is joe from >> I had a feeling. >> boo-yah. >> how are you doing? …”

6:21P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.55 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

If there is an embargo and I realize that is a big if, the company is based if florida. Cuba desperately needs infrastructure and that includes WATSCO. Apparently it's the second largest holding in the hertzfield caribbean basis fund fund -- I wouldn't buy this stock from cuba alone, that's

“… y this stock from cuba alone, that's …”

6:20P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.80 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

Too expensive, but is the stock too pricey? 22 times earnings, that looks high, right? 12.5 long-term growth rate and that assumes the current earnings estimates are right. WATSCO is expensive if you don't believe the housing market will >> allowing this company to move a lot more merchandise. If you think like I do, it's the analysts and their hedge funds look at WATSCO's as a $43 stock, up 14 smackers from its low of 29. The guy who downgrade doesn't believe the valuation. WATSCO are a garden variety depression ended and not just because of the potential for the return in housing. I look at it differently. I see a stock that's down $18 from the september highs.

“… company to move a lot more merchandise. If you think like I do, it's the analysts and their hedge funds look at WATSCO's as a $43 stock, up 14 smackers from its low of 29. The guy who downgrade doesn't believe the valuation. WATSCO are a garden variety depression ended and not just because of the potential for the return in housing. I look at it differently. I see a stock that's down $18 from the september highs. …”

6:19P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.80 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

What happens if a piece of research comes out and you say I I have to sell it. I need you to know that thinking is pervaiz identify wall street. While wso shares should be a ben fishery of stabilizing in housing market conditions and we believe this recovery will be slow and the stock order reflects its potential. Translation, the market is too bullish about housing and given

“… ery will be slow and the stock order reflects its potential. Translation, the market is too bullish about housing and given …”

6:18P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.80 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

Look so bad with the averages. The instincts of the analysts are the same as those the hedge fund. The analyst that downgraded the stock is a great example. He's been right on WATSCO although his timing could have he upgraded to a buy on october 19th when it was at 37. He had a 16% gain by the time he

“… it was at 37. He had a 16% gain by the time he …”

6:17P, Apr. 30,2009 WSO $43.80 Watsco, Inc.
Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) Discussed on CNBC's Mad Money

Watsco, Inc. is in the news. Find out how this impacts WSO trading on Ockham Research.

For my autograph and picture because they saw me give melissa rivers a hard time on "celebrity i'm here to tell you that because of negative analysts you're getting this one, a steal in WATSCO. A company you probably never heard of until tonight. It could be an atm machine for you. That's right, spewing cash and also piper jaffray disagrees

“… be an atm machine for you. That's right, spewing cash and also piper jaffray disagrees …”

View All Watsco, Inc. Stock News

Key Fundamentals

WSO - Watsco, Inc. Fundamentals
Price (2/9 2:58PM) $49.54
Volume (2/9 2:58PM) 211,035
Last Close Price $49.52
10 Day Average Volume 281,700
13 Week Price Range $47.34 - $53.44
52 Week Price Range $30.89 - $57.63
LTM Revenue $1.8 Billion
 
Shares Outstanding (12/2008) 32.0 Million
Market Capitalization $1.4 Billion
Shares Held By Institutions 26.6 Million
Institutional Holders 189
% Shares Held By Institutions 95.50%
Earnings Per Share (EPS) $2.18
P/E Ratio 38.10
Book Value Per Share $23.29
 
Gross Margin 24.90%
Annual Dividend 1.92
Dividend Yield 3.90%
Beta 0.97
Fiscal Year Ends December

About Watsco, Inc.

Watsco, Inc. is considered to operate in the Services sector. They specifically operate in the Electronics Wholesale business segment contained within the Wholesale industry.

The Company is an independent distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment and related parts and supplies in the United States.