There are so many great companies in the market today, but there are also many overvalued companies. By using the ModernGraham Valuation Model, I’ve selected five overvalued Dow Components reviewed by ModernGraham according to the ModernGraham approach.

Defensive Investors are defined as investors who need to select only the companies that present the least amount of risk. Enterprising Investors, on the other hand, are able to do substantial research and can select companies that present a moderate (though still low) amount of risk. Each company suitable for the Defensive Investor is also suitable for Enterprising Investors. Only speculators should pursue companies not suitable for either the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor.

Chevron Corp (CVX)

Chevron Corporation does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg ratio. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings stability or growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $11.43 in 2014 to an estimated $5.06 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 7.57% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Chevron Corporation revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $121.52. The company pays a dividend of $4.32 per share, for a yield of 3.6%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 23.64, which was below the industry average of 60.49, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-34.6.

Chevron Corporation performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B-. (Read the full valuation)

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM)

Exxon Mobil Corporation does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $7.98 in 2014 to an estimated $4.14 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 5.28% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Exxon Mobil Corporation revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $67.18. The company pays a dividend of $3.06 per share, for a yield of 3.9%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 19.07, which was below the industry average of 50.98, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-24.31.

Exxon Mobil Corporation scores quite poorly in the ModernGraham grading system, with an overall grade of D+. (Read the full valuation)

The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

The Coca-Cola Co does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $1.85 in 2014 to an estimated $1.36 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 14.04% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into The Coca-Cola Co revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $13.29. The company pays a dividend of $1.48 per share, for a yield of 3%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 36.58, which was above the industry average of 25.8. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-7.75.

The Coca-Cola Co receives an average overall rating in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a C-. (Read the full valuation)

Merck & Co (MRK)

Merck & Co., Inc. does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $2.44 in 2014 to an estimated $1.86 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 16.16% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Merck & Co., Inc. revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $27.34. The company pays a dividend of $1.89 per share, for a yield of 2.5%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 40.82, which was above the industry average of 36.89. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-9.57.

Merck & Co., Inc. scores quite poorly in the ModernGraham grading system, with an overall grade of D. (Read the full valuation)

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of earnings stability or growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $5.79 in 2014 to an estimated $4.86 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth does not support the market’s implied estimate of 8.81% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Caterpillar Inc. revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $75.93. The company pays a dividend of $3.1 per share, for a yield of 2.4%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 26.12, which was below the industry average of 31.29, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-39.81.

Caterpillar Inc. scores quite poorly in the ModernGraham grading system, with an overall grade of D+. (Read the full valuation)