Rush on for CIC stock, but is the share overvalued?
Posted Sunday, September 18 2011 THE EAST AFRICAN
CIC INSURANCE’S share price has risen more than threefold since the beginning of the year as investors look forward to a share split that will see them gain 20 new shares for each one currently held.
Currently, the insurer’s shares are trading at US cents 84 per share while in January the shares were trading at US cents 26 on the over the counter (OTC) market.
Also, investors have another reason to be attracted to the stock; CIC plans to list on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2012. This will make it easier to trade their shares compared with the OTC market.
There has been a lot of interest in the counter, especially this month, since CIC’s books close at the end of September. Only those on CIC’s register when the books close will be eligible for the new shares when the shares are split.
However, as investors bid up the price in anticipation of the listing and the share split, there is a need for caution.
At a price of US cents 84, the stock is trading at twice its book value — which means investors are paying twice for CIC’s net assets. Other listed insurance firms at the NSE are trading at about 1.5 times their book value, yet they have a track record of consistent earnings.
It will be wise for the investors looking to buy into CIC before the end of September to lower their expectations of the counter. Right, now CIC’s shares look overvalued.