HP INC (HPQ) Stock Analysis
HP INC (HPQ) Stock Analysis
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
View interactive company profile →
HP INC faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.
Key Metrics:
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 54.3% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 6.8% | Healthy cash flow |
| Debt/Equity | -10.7x | Conservative leverage |
Investment Thesis: Strong return on invested capital of 54.3% suggests durable competitive advantages and efficient capital allocation.
What is HP INC's Profitability and ROIC?
HP INC generates strong returns on invested capital at 54.3%, indicating efficient capital allocation and competitive advantages. Gross margin of 20.9% with operating margin at 5.9% reflects the company's moderate market position.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 54.3% | Excellent | Strong capital efficiency |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -219.2% | Red flag | Moderate equity returns |
| Gross Margin | 20.9% | Adequate | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | 5.9% | Adequate | Moderate operational efficiency |
How Strong is HP INC's Cash Flow Quality?
HP INC generated $3.7B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, representing a 6.8% margin. Cash earnings quality is strong, with operating cash flow exceeding net income by 1.4x.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 6.8% | Adequate | Healthy cash generation |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $3.7B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.4x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
What is HP INC's Financial Health?
HP INC's debt-to-equity ratio of -10.7x indicates conservative leverage.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | -10.7x | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
| Net Cash Position | $-6.7B | Warning | Net debt position |
Is HP INC Stock Overvalued or Undervalued?
HP INC trades at a P/E of 9.0x, representing a premium to the sector median of N/A.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 9.0x | Adequate | Reasonable valuation |
| EV/Sales | 0.7x | Excellent | Attractive revenue multiple |
| Dividend Yield | 9.1% | Good | Meaningful income |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 54.3% | Top 5% | 8.4x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 6.8% | Bottom 50% | 0.7x below |
| Gross Margin | 20.9% | Bottom 25% | 0.4x below |
| Operating Margin | 5.9% | Bottom 50% | 0.9x below |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -219.2% | Top 5% | -35.2x below |
| P/E Ratio | 9.0x | N/A | - |
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: 54.3% (Excellent - Top 5% 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: 6.8% (Adequate - 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: 20.9% (Adequate - Bottom 25% 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: -10.7x (Excellent)
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings)
Stock price divided by earnings per share. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation, while higher P/E suggests growth expectations.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 15x | Attractively valued, potential opportunity |
| Good | 15x - 25x | Fair value for quality company |
| Adequate | 25x - 35x | Growth premium, justify with earnings growth |
| Warning | 35x - 50x | High expectations priced in |
| Red flag | > 50x or negative | Speculative valuation or losses |
Current: 895.3% (Adequate)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is HP INC's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
HP INC (HPQ) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 54.3%. This compares above the sector median of 6.5%. An ROIC above 20% indicates exceptional capital efficiency and strong competitive advantages.
Q: What is HP INC's Free Cash Flow Margin?
HP INC (HPQ) has a free cash flow margin of 6.8%, generating $3.7 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A FCF margin between 5-10% is typical for capital-intensive businesses.
Q: Is HP INC stock overvalued or undervalued?
HP INC (HPQ) trades at a P/E ratio of 9.0x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 0.7x.
Q: Does HP INC pay a dividend?
HP INC (HPQ) currently pays a dividend yield of 9.1%. A yield above 4% is attractive for income investors, though sustainability should be verified through payout ratio analysis.
Q: Is HP INC buying back stock?
HP INC (HPQ) repurchased $1.3 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months.
Q: How does HP INC compare to competitors in Technology?
Compared to other companies in Technology, HP INC (HPQ) shows: ROIC of 54.3% is above the sector median of 6.5% (Top 0%). FCF margin of 6.8% trails the sector median of 10.0% (Bottom 41% of sector). Gross margin at 20.9% is 32 percentage points lower 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 HP INC?
HP INC (HPQ) shows no major financial warning signs based on current metrics. However, investors should always monitor: 1) Margin compression trends, 2) Cash flow consistency, 3) Debt levels relative to cash generation, and 4) Changes in competitive positioning.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-K filed 2025-12-10. TTM metrics as of Q3 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.