I've been thinking a lot about the proposed $4.1B purchase of Countrywide Financial Corp by Bank of America Corp and came to a simple but important conclusion today: the market is against it.
Here is my analysis, for what it is worth.
First, lets look at the facts:
- BofA offered the equivalent of $4.1B to purchase Countrywide (all stock purchase)
- Countrywide's 1-18-08 closing market capitalization (stock price * number of shares) was $2.9b
So why isn't the market valuing Countrywide at what BofA values them? If the sale goes through, owners of Countrywide stock stand to get the equivalent of $7.08 per share. However, the stock is trading at $4.96 per share. Anyone that thinks the BofA/Countrywide deal is a good one should run out and buy CFC shares! You'll make 43% on your investment!
But people aren't running out to buy the stock which contributes to the low price of $4.96 per share.
Now what does this tell us? Well, a few things:
1. Maybe investors don't think the sale will happen, and $2.9b is what they think Countrywide is worth on it's own (and that number declines everyday)
2. Investors probably think Bank of America over paid for Countrywide (the most obvious since current market cap is $1.2B less than the BofA offer)
3. Since the purchase will be made with BofA stock instead of cash, investors could be saying that BofA stock is trading higher than it is worth (overvalued)
4. And as part of #3 above, they could also be saying that Countrywide will make BofA less valuable after the acquisition
I am sure there is more, but I am no securities analyst. However I do know this: In theory the free market is the most efficient system for commerce. I also know that the stock market operates on free market principals. Therefore, it is safe to assume that stockholders are probably more accurate with their assessment of Countrywide (reflected in CFC stock price) than BofA.
So are you running out to buy CFC shares at a premium or are you sitting this one out? Food for thought....
-Jeff the Great
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