Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) Stock Analysis
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) Stock Analysis
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.
Key Metrics:
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 0.3% | Below expectations |
| FCF Margin | 1.8% | Cash flow pressure |
| Debt/Equity | 0.9x | Moderate leverage |
Investment Thesis: Financial metrics indicate concerning business quality with areas requiring attention.
What is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's Profitability and ROIC?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's return on invested capital of 0.3% is below the typical cost of capital. Gross margin of 100.0% with operating margin at -1.3% reflects the company's strong market position.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 0.3% | Red flag | Below cost of capital |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -0.2% | Red flag | Moderate equity returns |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | Excellent | Strong pricing power |
| Operating Margin | -1.3% | Warning | Moderate operational efficiency |
How Strong is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's Cash Flow Quality?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co generated $627.0M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, representing a 1.8% margin. FCF was positive in N/A of the last 8 quarters, indicating variable cash generation.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 1.8% | Warning | Thin cash margins |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $627.0M | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | -49.5x | Warning | Potential accrual concerns |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
What is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's Financial Health?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.9x indicates moderate leverage.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 0.9x | Adequate | Moderate leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-16.5B | Warning | Net debt position |
Is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co Stock Overvalued or Undervalued?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co trades at a P/E of -610.5x, representing a premium to the sector median of N/A. Free cash flow yield of 1.9% reflects market expectations for growth.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | -610.5x | Red flag | Reasonable valuation |
| EV/Sales | 1.0x | Excellent | Attractive revenue multiple |
| FCF Yield | 1.9% | Warning | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 2.1% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 0.3% | Bottom 50% | 0.0x below |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 1.8% | Bottom 50% | 0.2x below |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | Top 10% | 1.9x above |
| Operating Margin | -1.3% | Bottom 50% | -0.2x below |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -0.2% | Bottom 50% | -0.0x below |
Rating Thresholds
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
Measures how efficiently a company uses its debt and equity capital to generate profits. ROIC above 15% typically indicates a competitive moat.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Exceptional capital efficiency, strong competitive moat |
| Good | 12% - 20% | Above-average returns, sustainable competitive position |
| Adequate | 8% - 12% | Around cost of capital, moderate competitive position |
| Warning | 4% - 8% | Below cost of capital, value may be eroding |
| Red flag | < 4% | Significant capital destruction, fundamental issues |
Current: 0.3% (Red flag - Bottom 50% of sector (median: 6.5%))
Free Cash Flow Margin
The percentage of revenue converted to free cash flow. Higher margins indicate stronger cash generation and business quality.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Strong cash generation, high-quality business |
| Good | 10% - 20% | Healthy cash conversion |
| Adequate | 5% - 10% | Moderate cash generation |
| Warning | 0% - 5% | Thin cash margins, capital intensive |
| Red flag | < 0% | Cash burn, potential liquidity concerns |
Current: 1.8% (Warning - Bottom 50% of sector (median: 10.0%))
Gross Margin
Revenue minus cost of goods sold as a percentage. Higher gross margins indicate pricing power and competitive advantage.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 50% | Strong pricing power and competitive moat |
| Good | 30% - 50% | Healthy margins, differentiated product |
| Adequate | 20% - 30% | Moderate margins, competitive industry |
| Warning | 10% - 20% | Thin margins, commodity-like business |
| Red flag | < 10% | Very thin margins, structural challenges |
Current: 100.0% (Excellent - Top 10% of sector (median: 52.9%))
Debt to Equity Ratio
Total debt divided by shareholders' equity. Lower ratios indicate more conservative financing and reduced financial risk.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 0.3x | Conservative leverage, strong balance sheet |
| Good | 0.3x - 0.7x | Moderate leverage, healthy financial position |
| Adequate | 0.7x - 1.5x | Elevated leverage, monitor closely |
| Warning | 1.5x - 3.0x | High leverage, increased financial risk |
| Red flag | > 3.0x | Excessive leverage, potential distress risk |
Current: 90.6% (Adequate)
Free Cash Flow Yield
Free cash flow per share divided by stock price. Higher FCF yield indicates better cash return relative to valuation.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 8% | High cash return, potential value opportunity |
| Good | 5% - 8% | Solid cash yield |
| Adequate | 3% - 5% | Moderate cash return |
| Warning | 1% - 3% | Low cash yield, growth expectations |
| Red flag | < 1% | Minimal cash return to shareholders |
Current: 1.9% (Warning)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 0.3%. This compares below the sector median of 6.5%. An ROIC below 8% suggests the company may be destroying shareholder value.
Q: What is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's Free Cash Flow Margin?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) has a free cash flow margin of 1.8%, generating $627.0 million in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A thin FCF margin may indicate heavy reinvestment or operational challenges.
Q: Is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co stock overvalued or undervalued?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) trades at a P/E ratio of -610.5x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 1.0x. Free cash flow yield is 1.9%, reflecting growth expectations priced into the stock.
Q: Does Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co pay a dividend?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.1%. Including share buybacks, the total shareholder yield is 2.8%. This yield is moderate, suggesting a balance between income and growth reinvestment.
Q: How much debt does Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co have?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.9x with total debt of $22.4 billion. Net debt position is $16.5 billion.
Q: What is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co's revenue and earnings growth?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) grew revenue by 13.8% year-over-year. Solid growth above 10% suggests healthy business momentum.
Q: Is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co buying back stock?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) repurchased $202.0 million of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 0.6%.
Q: How does Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co compare to competitors in Technology?
Compared to other companies in Technology, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) shows: ROIC of 0.3% is below the sector median of 6.5% (Bottom 34%). FCF margin of 1.8% trails the sector median of 10.0% (Bottom 29% of sector). Gross margin at 100.0% is 47.1 percentage points higher than sector peers. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Technology companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co?
Investors in Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) should monitor these potential warning signs: 1) FCF margin is thin at 1.8%, leaving limited buffer for economic downturns. 2) ROIC has been declining, potentially signaling deteriorating competitive position. Regular monitoring of SEC filings and quarterly trends is recommended.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-K filed 2025-12-18. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.