Avista

Avista Corp is assigned a 4-star quantitative star rating, reflecting our opinion that this share class offers a somewhat attractive opportunity for investors. The stock currently trades at a 11% discount to our quantitative fair value estimate of $39.66 per share, which is reinforced by this estimate's low uncertainty rating.

The company's valuation metrics bolster our estimated fair value. A company's valuation metrics provide insights into the market's expectations for its future growth and profitability. For example, the firm's book value yield of 95.4% falls in the top 30% compared with peers globally. The market price is low relative to the book (accounting) value of the company's equity, which contributes to our view that shares are undervalued.

The firm's profitability is an additional encouraging factor. Highly profitable companies are often more resilient in recessions and are likely to generate stronger future cash flows for shareholders. The firm's earnings yield of 8.0%, for example, falls in the top 30% compared with global peers. This suggests that it is generating substantial earnings relative to its share price, which further promotes our favorable price/fair value ratio.

In addition to the aforementioned drivers, our model considers momentum as part of its comprehensive analysis. This share class has outperformed the broader universe over the past year. While we believe the stock is undervalued, this outperformance had a negative impact on our valuation estimate.

With its quantitative economic moat rating of none, this business is unlikely to consistently outearn its cost of capital without structural protection from competition. Additionally, the firm's moderate financial health score suggests it is acceptably positioned against adverse economic circumstances.