August was an up-and-down month for the Nasdaq-100. At first, the tech-focused index continued its rising pattern from July earlier than peaking mid-month and ending at a decrease level than it began. Nonetheless, this was simply the composite index, not its particular person elements. Some had nice months, whereas others did not fare as nicely.
Which will get traders considering, “Are the worst-performing shares good buys in September?” Let’s dig in and see if these shares are price buying.
Match Group
Taking the prize for the worst-performing Nasdaq-100 inventory in August was Match Group (MTCH -0.49%). It misplaced practically 28% of its worth in August, which factors to some fairly excessive information.
Match Group is the mum or dad firm of many high relationship apps like Tinder, Match, and Hinge. It makes its cash by way of two strategies: subscriptions and ads. Anybody following the economic system is aware of promoting companies aren’t doing the most effective. Nonetheless, Match Group’s oblique income (advert income) rose 7% 12 months over 12 months in its second quarter. Total, income rose 12% 12 months over 12 months, with specific power within the Asia-Pacific area (which grew 32% 12 months over 12 months).
This enterprise efficiency did not cease the inventory from dropping practically 18% after it reported earnings — seemingly resulting from feedback concerning the acquisition of Hyperconnect (a video connection service) made final 12 months. CFO and COO Gary Swindler had this to say about Hyperconnect: “However there is not any denying that that acquisition of Hyperconnect has not labored out the way in which we had hoped, no less than within the first 12 months.”
That is not a reassuring remark, however administration has additionally dedicated to raised integrating this acquisition and realizing its full potential.
Within the meantime, Match Group’s profitability will take a success (it posted a detrimental working margin within the quarter resulting from $217 million in intangible bills from the Hyperconnect acquisition). Regardless of these bills, the inventory trades for 33 occasions free money movement, making it comparatively low cost whenever you think about Match Group’s present enterprise state of digesting an acquisition.
I believe traders can discover some worth in Match Group’s inventory, particularly after its horrible August efficiency.
Splunk
Transferring to the second-worst performer, Splunk (SPLK -1.23%) dropped 23% in August. For essentially the most half, Splunk’s August wasn’t horrible till it reported fiscal 12 months 2023 Q2 outcomes on Aug. 24.
At face worth, outcomes for Splunk appeared constructive. Its information processing platform that aids in enterprise choices noticed whole income rise 32% 12 months over 12 months to $799 million, and cloud income grew 59% to $346 million. However this quarter’s efficiency wasn’t the issue.
Traders took subject with Splunk’s steerage. It decreased its annual recurring income (ARR) and cloud ARR from $3.9 billion to $3.65 billion, and $2 billion to $1.8 billion. Lacking projections on the draw back is a surefire technique to generate detrimental sentiment, which is why the inventory fell practically 20% from when it reported earnings to the top of the month.
Nonetheless, with Splunk buying and selling at lower than 5 occasions gross sales, there’s little valuation danger. However with administration revising development estimates down, I am extra hesitant to present Splunk the inexperienced mild.
Greenback Tree
The worth retailer Greenback Tree (DLTR -0.58%) had the same expertise in August. Once more, it was easy crusing till it reported earnings, then all of it went downhill on Aug. 25, inflicting the inventory to slip practically 20%.
Whereas the general quarter was good, steerage was in charge for the inventory’s tumble. In Q2, earnings per share (EPS) was up 30.1% 12 months over 12 months in opposition to gross sales development of 6.7% — stable outcomes for the retailer.
As for steerage, administration acknowledged it’s dedicated to aggressive pricing and is investing in its merchandising and retailer requirements to realize this purpose. Due to this, administration lowered its EPS outlook — however to a stage that also signifies 25% year-over-year development.
At underneath 20 occasions earnings, Greenback Tree is cheaper than opponents Walmart (26 occasions earnings) and Greenback Normal (23 occasions earnings) regardless of rising sooner from an EPS perspective in Q2. As shoppers’ {dollars} are squeezed extra resulting from inflation, they might flip to worth shops to stretch their funds additional.
Due to that, I believe Greenback Tree could also be undervalued in comparison with its development and efficiency, and traders ought to take into account this inventory.
