3 Reasons to Sell MATX and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

Shareholders of Matson would probably like to forget the past six months even happened. The stock dropped 24.5% and now trades at $100.66. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

Is there a buying opportunity in Matson, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, it’s free.

Even with the cheaper entry price, we don't have much confidence in Matson. Here are three reasons why MATX doesn't excite us and a stock we'd rather own.

Why Is Matson Not Exciting?

Founded by a Swedish orphan, Matson (NYSE:MATX) is a provider of ocean transportation and logistics services.

1. Revenue Tumbling Downwards

Long-term growth is the most important, but within industrials, a stretched historical view may miss new industry trends or demand cycles. Matson’s recent performance marks a sharp pivot from its five-year trend as its revenue has shown annualized declines of 11.2% over the last two years. Matson isn’t alone in its struggles as the Marine Transportation industry experienced a cyclical downturn, with many similar businesses observing lower sales at this time.

2. EPS Took a Dip Over the Last Two Years

While long-term earnings trends give us the big picture, we also track EPS over a shorter period because it can provide insight into an emerging theme or development for the business.

Sadly for Matson, its EPS declined by more than its revenue over the last two years, dropping 27.5%. This tells us the company struggled to adjust to shrinking demand.

3. New Investments Fail to Bear Fruit as ROIC Declines

A company’s ROIC, or return on invested capital, shows how much operating profit it makes compared to the money it has raised (debt and equity).

We like to invest in businesses with high returns, but the trend in a company’s ROIC is what often surprises the market and moves the stock price. Unfortunately, Matson’s ROIC has decreased significantly over the last few years. We like what management has done in the past, but its declining returns are perhaps a symptom of fewer profitable growth opportunities.

Final Judgment

Matson isn’t a terrible business, but it isn’t one of our picks. Following the recent decline, the stock trades at 9.9× forward price-to-earnings (or $100.66 per share). While this valuation is fair, the upside isn’t great compared to the potential downside. We're fairly confident there are better stocks to buy right now. We’d suggest looking at a safe-and-steady industrials business benefiting from an upgrade cycle.

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