Value
4.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 4.3 |
| P/S | 7.2 |
| EV/EBITDA | 0.0 |
| Fwd P/E | 5.5 |
| PEG | 4.0 |
| Analyst target | 3.0 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 23.1x
- ▸PEG: 2.51
HUBB · Why this verdict
Why Hubbell (HUBB) is rated SELL
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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VerdictSELL
Overall score5.3/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
Hubbell is a high-quality industrial franchise—wide economic moat, 26% return on equity, a 9-of-9 Piotroski score, and a four-quarter perfect earnings beat streak—but the stock is trading above its near-term $487 resistance target with an unfavorable risk/reward, making new positions unattractive at current prices despite the underlying business quality.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
The business earns a 26% return on equity, maintains 15% operating margins, and scores 9 out of 9 on the Piotroski financial health scale—attributes consistent with a franchise that has sustained superior returns through a wide competitive advantage. Quality breakdown | Return on equity remains above 20% and operating margins hold above 13% over the next four quarters, confirming the durability of the competitive advantage. | →Stable |
| CounterFree cash flow converts at only 60% of net income, indicating that reported earnings overstate actual cash generation—a gap that may signal capital demands that could compress returns over time. | ||
The company has beaten consensus earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.5%, indicating a disciplined track record of execution. Earnings | Earnings beats continue in the next two reported quarters, with the average surprise staying above 0%. | →Stable |
| CounterThe most recent quarter's beat of 1.7% is the thinnest in the streak—down from a 12.1% beat in the oldest of the four quarters—raising the possibility that the gap between guidance and delivery is narrowing toward a potential miss. | ||
The stock is currently above the near-term $487 resistance target, with the risk/reward sitting in unfavorable territory—any near-term downside pressure would not be offset by incremental upside at current prices. Price targets | Price pulls back to below $465, restoring meaningful upside to the $487 resistance level and improving the risk/reward profile for new capital. | →Stable |
| CounterStrong technical momentum—MACD bullish, rising on-balance volume, and price above the 200-day moving average—can keep a stock elevated above resistance for extended periods without an immediate catalyst to push it lower. | ||
The Utility Solutions segment represents 63% of total business, creating meaningful single-segment concentration; a sustained pullback in utility capital spending would disproportionately pressure consolidated revenue and earnings. Bear case | Utility Solutions revenue grows above 0% year-over-year over the next four quarters, confirming end-market resilience and reducing the effective weight of concentration risk. | →Stable |
| CounterHigh end-market concentration amplifies upside as well as downside—accelerating grid investment could drive above-consensus growth across the concentrated segment, making concentration a structural advantage rather than a vulnerability. | ||
The business earns a 26% return on equity, maintains 15% operating margins, and scores 9 out of 9 on the Piotroski financial health scale—attributes consistent with a franchise that has sustained superior returns through a wide competitive advantage.
→StableQuality breakdown
- Expectation
- Return on equity remains above 20% and operating margins hold above 13% over the next four quarters, confirming the durability of the competitive advantage.
CounterFree cash flow converts at only 60% of net income, indicating that reported earnings overstate actual cash generation—a gap that may signal capital demands that could compress returns over time.
The company has beaten consensus earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.5%, indicating a disciplined track record of execution.
→StableEarnings
- Expectation
- Earnings beats continue in the next two reported quarters, with the average surprise staying above 0%.
CounterThe most recent quarter's beat of 1.7% is the thinnest in the streak—down from a 12.1% beat in the oldest of the four quarters—raising the possibility that the gap between guidance and delivery is narrowing toward a potential miss.
The stock is currently above the near-term $487 resistance target, with the risk/reward sitting in unfavorable territory—any near-term downside pressure would not be offset by incremental upside at current prices.
→StablePrice targets
- Expectation
- Price pulls back to below $465, restoring meaningful upside to the $487 resistance level and improving the risk/reward profile for new capital.
CounterStrong technical momentum—MACD bullish, rising on-balance volume, and price above the 200-day moving average—can keep a stock elevated above resistance for extended periods without an immediate catalyst to push it lower.
The Utility Solutions segment represents 63% of total business, creating meaningful single-segment concentration; a sustained pullback in utility capital spending would disproportionately pressure consolidated revenue and earnings.
→StableBear case
- Expectation
- Utility Solutions revenue grows above 0% year-over-year over the next four quarters, confirming end-market resilience and reducing the effective weight of concentration risk.
CounterHigh end-market concentration amplifies upside as well as downside—accelerating grid investment could drive above-consensus growth across the concentrated segment, making concentration a structural advantage rather than a vulnerability.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
6.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 8.6 |
| ROA | 6.8 |
| Gross margin | 3.1 |
| Op margin | 7.1 |
| Net margin | 7.6 |
| Current ratio | 5.7 |
| FCF quality | 4.7 |
| Moat | 7.5 |
| Piotroski F | 10.0 |
- ▸Excellent ROE: 26%
- ▸Strong margins: 15%
- ▸Earnings quality warning: 60% FCF/NI
- ▸Wide economic moat
Growth
4.9/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 5.3 |
| EPS growth | 4.5 |
Momentum
6.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 5.0 |
| MACD | 10.0 |
| OBV | 10.0 |
| MA position | 9.0 |
| Volume | 0.0 |
- ▸Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
- ▸Above 200-day MA
Sentiment
5.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Analyst rating | 7.2 |
| Price target | 5.2 |
| erm sentiment | 5.0 |
Insider
5.0/10data confidence 50%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| materiality | 5.0 |
| holder change | 5.1 |
- ▸No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
Peer rank
4.0/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 5.3 |
| quality rank | 7.9 |
| growth rank | 2.8 |
- ▸Best-in-class margins
Technical
3.6/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 0.0 |
| support resistance | 0.2 |
| 52w position | 9.3 |
| gap | 5.0 |
Risk (lower is worse)
6.4/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| short interest | 7.0 |
| days to cover | 7.1 |
| volatility | 3.8 |
| put call | 10.0 |
| implied vol | 6.1 |
| max pain risk | 3.0 |
| beta | 7.5 |
| debt equity | 6.7 |
- ▸Above max pain $340
- ▸Concentration risks: 1 HIGH, 1 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)
Catalyst
6.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 5.0 |
| earnings history | 10.0 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 4.7 |
| dividend safety | 5.2 |
- ▸Perfect beat streak: 4Q
- ▸Dividend: 110.0%
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L4:PATH_F_SELLPassed (7)
- MOMENTUM:6.8>=5.5
- INSIDER:OK
- 8K:CLEAN
- NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:32d clear
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
- ASYMMETRY:-0.8=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)
none
Reward-to-Risk
-0.79
Upside
-11.9%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
AVOID
SetupBREAKOUT — Golden cross, above all MAs, RSI 67, MACD bullish
EdgeNO_EDGE — No clear edge identified
SuitabilityMODERATE — Balanced profile
Investment implication
The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 5.3 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Quality at 6.8) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( ASYMMETRY:-0.8=NEGATIVE) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is -0.79 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.
The strongest dimensions are Quality at 6.8, Momentum at 6.8, and Risk (lower is worse) at 6.4; the weakest are Technical at 3.6, Peer rank at 4.0, and Value at 4.0. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.79 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1The business earns a 26% return on equity, maintains 15% operating margins, and scores 9 out of 9 on the Piotroski financial health scale—attributes consistent with a franchise that has sustained superior returns through a wide competitive advantage.
Trip ifReturn on equity falls below 20% or operating margin compresses below 13% for 2 consecutive quarters.
- P2The company has beaten consensus earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.5%, indicating a disciplined track record of execution.
Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% for 2 consecutive quarters.
- P3The stock is currently above the near-term $487 resistance target, with the risk/reward sitting in unfavorable territory—any near-term downside pressure would not be offset by incremental upside at current prices.
Trip ifPrice retraces to below $465, creating at least 5% upside to the $487 resistance target and restoring a favorable risk/reward.
- P4The Utility Solutions segment represents 63% of total business, creating meaningful single-segment concentration; a sustained pullback in utility capital spending would disproportionately pressure consolidated revenue and earnings.
Trip ifUtility Solutions segment revenue grows more than 15% YoY for 2 consecutive quarters, demonstrating end-market demand strong enough to make concentration non-threatening.