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Is Now The Time To Look At Buying GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:GNC)?

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:GNC), which is in the specialty retail business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$2.99 and falling to the lows of US$1.65. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether GNC Holdings's current trading price of US$1.68 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at GNC Holdings’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Check out our latest analysis for GNC Holdings

Is GNC Holdings still cheap?

Good news, investors! GNC Holdings is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, I’ve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock’s cash flows. I find that GNC Holdings’s ratio of 3.3x is below its peer average of 14.9x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the Specialty Retail industry. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because GNC Holdings’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company’s shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

Can we expect growth from GNC Holdings?

NYSE:GNC Past and Future Earnings, March 2nd 2020
NYSE:GNC Past and Future Earnings, March 2nd 2020

Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. However, with a negative profit growth of -3.1% expected next year, near-term growth certainly doesn’t appear to be a driver for a buy decision for GNC Holdings. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Although GNC is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. I recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to GNC, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return.

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Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping tabs on GNC for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on GNC Holdings. You can find everything you need to know about GNC Holdings in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in GNC Holdings, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.