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ALS Limited
Industrials · Consulting Services
Updated just now
$20.95
ALS Limited engages in the provision of professional technical services primarily in the areas of testing, measurement, and inspection in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States.
View full descriptionThe Warsi Rating combines two proven approaches: value investing principles and dividend strategy. A stock must score 70+ on both to be rated Solid or higher.
MARKET CAP
$10.63B
P/E RATIO
39.8
DIV. YIELD
1.8%
FRANKING
37%
$23.78
Discounted cash flow estimate
$5.53
For 6% dividend yield
Business quality and balance-sheet durability.
Profit after production costs, before overhead
Annual dividends as percentage of stock price
ALS Limited engages in the provision of professional technical services primarily in the areas of testing, measurement, and inspection in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States. It operates in two segments, Commodities and Life Sciences. The Commodities segment offers assaying and analytical testing, and metallurgical services for the mining and mineral exploration companies. Its testing and consulting services cover the resource life cycle, including exploration, feasibility, optimization, production, design, development, trade, and rehabilitation.
This segment also provides coal sampling, analysis and certification, formation evaluation services, tribology testing services, and related analytical testing. The Life Sciences segment offers analytical testing and sampling, and remote monitoring services for the environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and consumer products markets; and microbiological, physical, and chemical testing services. This segment provides analytical testing data to assist consulting and engineering firms, industries, and governments. ALS Limited was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.
Who owns the company's shares and how much leadership has at stake
Leadership holds a small personal stake
Professional fund managers have done their homework and chosen to own this
Shares freely traded on the ASX by individual investors like you
Insiders hold 2.0% — some skin in the game, but not a major commitment. Institutions hold 40.0%. Overall a typical ownership structure for a mid-to-large company. Neither a red flag nor a strong positive signal.
Current Snapshot
Insider %
2.0%
Institutional %
40.0%
Float %
58.0%
Why It Matters
Ownership mix affects governance incentives, liquidity, and share-price behaviour under large portfolio rebalancing flows.
Formula
Public Float (%) = 100 - Insider Ownership (%) - Institutional Ownership (%)Method
Use reported ownership percentages, convert to percentage terms, and compute remaining public float as the residual.
Worked Example
If insiders own 2.0% and institutions own 40.0%, public float is 58.0%.
How to Interpret
Higher insider ownership can improve alignment of incentives, while dominant institutional concentration can amplify short-term price moves.
Insiders hold 2.0% — some skin in the game, but not a major commitment. Institutions hold 40.0%. Overall a typical ownership structure for a mid-to-large company. Neither a red flag nor a strong positive signal.
Sources
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 2025 | Deane (Malcolm) Chief Executive Officer | Sale at price 14.39 per share. | 7K | $106K |
| 26 Aug 2025 | Kadia (Siddhartha) Independent Non-Executive Director | Purchase at price 7.83 per share. | 5K | $38K |
| 14 Aug 2025 | Garrard (Nigel David) Director (Non-Executive) | Purchase at price 12.20 per share. | 1K | $16K |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Mann (Erica) Director (Non-Executive) | Purchase at price 11.88 per share. | 6K | $70K |
| 30 July 2025 | Deane (Malcolm) Chief Executive Officer | Unknown | 2K | — |
Company insiders have been net buyers of shares over the past 12 months. This may indicate management confidence in future prospects.
Value analysis may be affected by missing data.
Market data sourced from third-party financial data providers. Analysis generated using Warsi Criteria — proprietary scoring algorithms for value investing and dividend income analysis. Not financial advice. Learn how we analyse stocks →
Exceptional 89.3% margins indicate strong pricing power and brand value.
Current Snapshot
10Y Avg
89.3%
Threshold
40%
Worst Year
88.9%
Why It Matters
Gross margin indicates how much room a business has to absorb costs and still generate profit.
Formula
(Revenue - Cost of Goods Sold) / Revenue x 100Method
Assess both the long-term average and the weakest year. The framework checks for both level and consistency.
Worked Example
This company's 4-year average gross margin is 89.3% — it keeps 89 cents of every revenue dollar after production costs. The threshold is 40%, and the weakest year was 88.9%.
How to Interpret
Sustained high margins usually support durability. Sharp margin swings can signal weaker control or cyclical pressure.
Exceptional margins mean the company has strong pricing power - customers pay premium prices even when cheaper alternatives exist. This buffer protects profits (and dividends) even if costs rise.
Sources
Short-term assets vs. short-term debts
Adequate liquidity. 1.53 ratio meets Buffett's 1.5 target.
Current Snapshot
Current Ratio
1.53x
Warning Floor
1.00x
Target
1.50x
Why It Matters
Liquidity supports operational stability. Companies with weak liquidity can face pressure even when long-term fundamentals are sound.
Formula
Current Assets / Current LiabilitiesMethod
Compare the current ratio to the warning floor and target level used in the framework.
Worked Example
This company's current ratio is 1.53x — it has $1.53 in short-term assets for every $1 of short-term liabilities. The target is 1.5x, with a warning floor at 1.0x.
How to Interpret
Ratios above the target suggest healthier short-term resilience; ratios below 1.0x can indicate immediate funding risk.
Ample cash reserves mean the company can pay dividends even during temporary revenue drops. Your income has a buffer against short-term disruptions.
Sources
Real cash left after running the business
Positive cash generation. Company produces real cash after capital expenditures - can fund dividends, buybacks, or growth.
Current Snapshot
Current FCF
$245M
Pass Rule
> $0
Status
Positive
Why It Matters
Free cash flow is the cash available after core operating and capital needs. It is central to dividend capacity.
Formula
Operating Cash Flow - Capital ExpendituresMethod
Review whether free cash flow is consistently positive and whether it is sufficient relative to dividends and debt needs.
Worked Example
This company generated $245M in free cash flow — cash left after operating costs and capital expenditure. Positive FCF means dividends are funded by real cash generation.
How to Interpret
Persistently negative free cash flow can force reliance on borrowing or equity issuance to maintain payouts.
Positive cash flow means dividends are funded by actual money, not accounting profits. As Buffett says, "Cash is fact, profit is opinion." Your income is backed by real cash generation.
Sources
Profit generated per $1 of shareholder investment
13.9% average is below the 15% threshold. This suggests the business may lack a durable competitive advantage.
Current Snapshot
10Y Avg
13.9%
Threshold
15.0%
Worst Year
1.1%
Why It Matters
ROE shows how effectively management turns shareholder capital into profit. High and stable ROE can signal pricing power, cost discipline, or both.
Formula
Net Income / Shareholders' Equity x 100Method
Use the 10-year average ROE and review the weakest year to check whether returns stayed resilient across cycles.
Worked Example
This company's 10-year average ROE is 13.9%, meaning each $1 of shareholder equity generates $0.14 in annual profit. The threshold is 15%, and the worst single year was 1.1%.
How to Interpret
Higher and steadier ROE generally supports stronger long-term compounding. Large drawdowns in weak years can point to fragility.
Lower ROE means your investment compounds more slowly. At 13.9%, this business needs more capital to generate the same returns as competitors. Consider whether other strengths (yield, stability) compensate for weaker profitability.
Sources
How much the company owes vs. what it owns
Debt-to-equity of 1.64 is 1.6x over Buffett's limit. High leverage increases risk during downturns.
Current Snapshot
Current D/E
1.64x
Industry Limit
1.00x
Headroom
-0.64x
Why It Matters
Debt-to-equity shows balance-sheet risk. Lower leverage usually means more flexibility when earnings soften.
Formula
Total Debt / Shareholders' EquityMethod
Compare current D/E against the industry threshold used in the scoring framework, then assess remaining headroom.
Worked Example
This company's D/E is 1.64, meaning it carries 164 cents of debt for every $1 of equity. The industrials & services limit is 1.00, leaving it 0.64 over the limit.
How to Interpret
Lower values generally imply lower refinancing pressure and lower dividend stress in downturns.
High debt means interest payments come before dividends. During recessions, heavily indebted companies often cut dividends first to preserve cash. This adds risk to your income stream.
Sources
Price versus estimated intrinsic value and required return thresholds.
What percentage of the stock price comes back as earnings each year
2.5% earnings yield is below the 7.5% threshold. You'd earn nearly as much from safer government bonds, which means the extra risk of owning shares isn't being compensated.
Current Snapshot
Current Yield
2.5%
Required Yield
7.5%
Spread
-5.0pp
Why It Matters
Earnings yield reframes valuation as return on price paid. It helps compare equity earnings power against lower-risk alternatives.
Formula
(Earnings per Share / Stock Price) x 100Method
Calculate current earnings yield, then compare it to the required yield for the stock's industry setting.
Worked Example
With EPS of $0.53 and a share price of $20.95, earnings yield is 2.5%. The required yield for this industry is 7.5% (based on 4.5% government bond rate plus a risk premium).
How to Interpret
A yield above the required level suggests better valuation support; below it indicates thinner compensation for equity risk.
Returns don't justify the added risk compared to safe bonds. Consider whether the dividend yield alone compensates, or wait for a better price.
Sources
How current price compares with estimated intrinsic value
How efficiently the company turns money into profit
11.4% ROIC clears the 11.0% threshold, but the spread over the 9.0% cost of capital is narrow. A small decline could eliminate the value-creation margin.
Current Snapshot
5Y Avg
11.4%
Threshold
11.0%
WACC Delta
+2.4pp
Why It Matters
ROIC measures capital efficiency. Businesses that repeatedly earn above their funding cost can compound value more effectively.
Formula
After-Tax Operating Profit / Invested Capital x 100Method
Use the 5-year average ROIC and compare it with industry WACC plus the required spread in this framework.
Worked Example
This company's 5-year average ROIC is 11.4%, with a cost of capital (WACC) of 9.0%. The +2.4pp spread above WACC suggests it creates value on each dollar invested.
How to Interpret
A healthy spread above WACC suggests value creation; a narrow or negative spread points to weaker capital efficiency.
Returns exceed capital costs but the margin is thin. Monitor for consistency — if ROIC dips or borrowing costs rise, this company could shift from value creator to value destroyer.
Sources
Percentage of revenue that becomes profit after all expenses
Consistency of profits over time
How much earnings are consumed by capital expenditure
Years of earnings needed to retire all long-term debt
Is the business growing — and is debt being managed responsibly?
Revenue growing with stable debt levels — a positive sign of organic growth that supports future dividends.
Current Snapshot
Revenue Change
+42.3%
Debt Change
+9.5%
Trend State
Improving
Why It Matters
Revenue trend shows whether the business is expanding or contracting. Debt trend adds context on whether growth is being funded conservatively.
Formula
Revenue Change (%) = (Latest Revenue - Earliest Revenue) / |Earliest Revenue| x 100; Debt Change (%) = (Latest Debt - Earliest Debt) / |Earliest Debt| x 100Method
Map annual revenue history and, where relevant, annual debt history. For financial companies, debt is excluded because deposits and reserves distort this signal.
Worked Example
Revenue changed by +42.3% across the displayed period, while debt changed by +9.5%.
How to Interpret
Rising revenue with stable or falling debt is typically stronger than rising revenue funded by rapidly rising leverage.
Revenue growing with stable debt levels — a positive sign of organic growth that supports future dividends.
Sources
1.58% yield is well below the 6% target. Not suitable for Barsi's income strategy.
Current Snapshot
6Y Avg Yield
1.6%
6% Requirement
6.0%
Gross Yield
1.8%
Why It Matters
Yield translates dividend income into a percentage of the price paid, which is central to income-first screening.
Formula
Annual Dividends per Share / Stock Price x 100Method
Use the 6-year average annual dividend for consistency and compare the result with the 6% framework requirement.
Worked Example
With a 6-year average annual dividend of $0.33 and a share price of $20.95, the Barsi yield is 1.6%. The minimum requirement is 6%. Including franking credits, the gross yield is 1.8%.
How to Interpret
Higher sustainable yield improves upfront income, but unusually high yields may reflect elevated risk or weak coverage.
Low yield means you need significant capital to generate meaningful income. Barsi's strategy focuses on stocks that provide substantial cash flow from day one.
Sources
Track record of consistent dividend payments
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Gross | Franking | Net | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~25 May 2026Est | ~10 July 2026 | ~$0.19 | 30% | ~$0.17 | $0.02 |
| ~23 Nov 2026Est | ~17 Dec 2026 | ~$0.19 | 30% | ~$0.17 | $0.02 |
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Gross | Franking | Net | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 2025Final | 17 Dec 2025 | $0.22 | 29.9% | $0.19 | $0.02 |
| 3 July 2025Final | 31 July 2025 | $0.20 | 0% | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| 27 Nov 2024Final | 25 Dec 2024 | $0.19 | 0% | $0.19 | $0.00 |
| 12 June 2024Final | 10 July 2024 | $0.20 | 0% | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| 23 Nov 2023Final | 21 Dec 2023 | $0.20 | 0% | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| 9 June 2023Final | 7 July 2023 | $0.19 | 0% | $0.19 | $0.00 |
| 24 Nov 2022Final | 22 Dec 2022 | $0.20 | 0% | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| 6 June 2022Final | 4 July 2022 | $0.17 | 0% | $0.17 | $0.00 |
| 2 Dec 2021Interim | 30 Dec 2021 | $0.16 | 0% | $0.16 | $0.00 |
| 7 June 2021Final | 5 July 2021 | $0.15 | 0% | $0.15 | $0.00 |
Excellent track record. 10 years of consistent dividends through multiple market cycles.
Current Snapshot
History
10yr
Predictability
Moderate
Payout Health
One-off event
Why It Matters
Payment consistency is a direct test of dividend reliability. Large cuts or skips often appear before confidence recovers.
Formula
Consecutive Years = count of years with dividend payments and no disqualifying skip/cut eventsMethod
Require at least 6 years of history, then check for skipped years and large cuts, allowing approved systemic-event exceptions.
Worked Example
This company has 10 years of dividend history (2016–2025). No suspensions detected — 10 consecutive years of payments. Predictability: Moderate. Payout health: One-off event. The minimum requirement is 6 years.
How to Interpret
Longer uninterrupted records generally signal stronger income reliability than high yield alone.
A 10-year track record through multiple economic cycles gives confidence your income will continue. This company has proven it prioritises shareholder returns.
Sources
Highest price to lock in 6% yield
Current price ($20.95) is 279% above the ceiling. Wait for a drop to lock in 6% yield.
Current Snapshot
Current Price
$20.95
Max Buy Price
$5.53
Delta
-278.8%
Why It Matters
The price ceiling links valuation discipline to income targets by defining the price that aligns with a 6% yield target.
Formula
6-Year Average Annual Dividend / 0.06Method
Use the 6-year average dividend (not one year) and divide by 0.06 to estimate the maximum entry price for target yield.
Worked Example
With a current price of $20.95 and a ceiling of $5.53, the entry is 278.8% above the ceiling.
How to Interpret
Prices below the ceiling imply a historical yield above 6%; prices above it imply a lower historical yield at entry.
At this price, you won't achieve Barsi's target 6% yield. Consider waiting for a pullback — market volatility often creates more favourable valuations for patient investors.
Sources
Industry category of the business
Industrials is not a BESST sector. Non-BESST stocks receive a lower base score but can still qualify with exceptional dividend metrics.
Current Snapshot
Industry
Consulting Services
BESST Match
No
Score Impact
No bonus
Why It Matters
Sector classification helps contextualise risk and demand durability, which can materially affect dividend stability.
Formula
BESST Match = Sector in {Banks, Energy, Sanitation, Insurance, Telecom}Method
Match company sector or industry against BESST categories. A match adds scoring support but does not replace core dividend checks.
Worked Example
This company operates in Consulting Services (Industrials sector). It does not match a BESST sector, so it receives the standard base score. Non-BESST stocks can still qualify with strong dividend metrics.
How to Interpret
BESST alignment is a positive context signal. Non-BESST stocks can still qualify with strong yield and dividend consistency.
Non-essential businesses face demand drops during recessions — discretionary spending is first to be cut. This increases cyclical risk for dividends, but companies with decades of consistent payments can still demonstrate durability.
Sources
How much of a company's earnings are paid out as dividends
A 71% payout is in the sustainable range (30–75%) — the company balances rewarding shareholders with reinvesting for growth. This gives the price ceiling calculation a stable base, which is a healthy sign for long-term dividend investors.
Current Snapshot
Latest Ratio
70.6%
Healthy Range
30%-75%
Zone
Healthy
Why It Matters
Payout ratio links dividends to earnings capacity and helps evaluate whether current distributions are likely to remain supportable.
Formula
Payout Ratio (%) = (Annual Dividend per Share / Earnings per Share) x 100Method
Calculate year-by-year payout ratios where EPS is positive, classify each year by sustainability zone, and compare with the current TTM ratio.
Worked Example
$0.39 dividend / $0.53 EPS equals 74.5% payout ratio.
How to Interpret
Ratios in the middle range are usually more sustainable than very high ratios. Values above 100% indicate dividends exceeded earnings in that period.
A 71% payout is in the sustainable range (30–75%) — the company balances rewarding shareholders with reinvesting for growth. This gives the price ceiling calculation a stable base, which is a healthy sign for long-term dividend investors.
Sources
Stock is trading 26% ABOVE the fair-value threshold (includes 30% margin of safety), but still below the estimated intrinsic value.
Current Snapshot
Current Margin
11.9%
Industry Threshold
30%
Status
26% Above Fair Value
Why It Matters
Margin of safety provides a valuation buffer against modelling uncertainty and adverse business outcomes.
Formula
(Estimated Intrinsic Value per Share - Current Price) / Estimated Intrinsic Value per Share x 100Method
Estimate intrinsic value using a two-stage DCF (10-year projection plus terminal value), then compare with current price.
Worked Example
For this stock now: intrinsic value is $23.78 per share, current price is $20.95, and margin of safety is 11.9%.
How to Interpret
Positive margin indicates price below modelled value; negative margin indicates price above modelled value. Compare against the industry's required buffer.
Price remains below the intrinsic value estimate but above your required threshold. Under this methodology, the valuation buffer is thinner, so estimate error and volatility have a larger impact.
Sources
8.5% net margin meets the 8% threshold but with limited buffer. A small cost increase could push it below.
Current Snapshot
Current Margin
8.5%
Threshold
8.0%
Relative Position
+0.5%
Why It Matters
Net income margin shows how much profit the business keeps from each dollar of revenue after all costs.
Formula
Net Income / Total Revenue x 100Method
Compare current margin with the industry-specific threshold to avoid cross-sector distortions.
Worked Example
This company's net income margin is 8.5% — it keeps 9 cents of every revenue dollar as profit after all expenses. The industrials & services threshold is 8%, putting it 0.5% above the requirement.
How to Interpret
Margins that are both strong and stable can indicate competitive strength; persistent weakness may limit reinvestment and payout capacity.
Margins clear the threshold but are on the lower end. Monitor for consistency — if costs rise or revenue softens, profitability could dip below acceptable levels.
Sources
1 loss year(s) found with only 4 years of data. Limited data requires 100% positive EPS - industry exemptions don't apply.
Current Snapshot
Positive Years
9/4
Allowed Losses
0 (limited)
EPS CAGR
15.9%
Why It Matters
Consistency in EPS helps distinguish resilient earnings power from one-off performance spikes.
Formula
Positive EPS Years / Available EPS YearsMethod
For 8+ years of data, apply industry-specific loss tolerance. For limited data, every available year must be positive.
Worked Example
This company reported positive earnings in 9 of the last 4 years, with 1 loss year. With only 4 years of data, every year must be positive. EPS growth rate (CAGR) is 15.9%.
How to Interpret
Fewer loss years and stronger EPS continuity generally improve confidence in future dividend and valuation assumptions.
Loss years signal unpredictable earnings. During loss periods, companies often cut dividends to preserve cash. Your income could be at risk in the next downturn.
Sources
CapEx consumes 78% of cumulative earnings — above the 50% threshold. This business requires heavy reinvestment just to maintain operations.
Current Snapshot
10Y CapEx Intensity
78%
Threshold
50%
Buffer
-28%
Why It Matters
CapEx intensity estimates how much of earnings must be reinvested just to sustain operations.
Formula
Cumulative CapEx (10yr) / Cumulative Net Income (10yr) x 100Method
Aggregate 10-year CapEx and net income, then compare the ratio with the sector threshold in the framework.
Worked Example
Over 10 years, 78% of this company's cumulative earnings were consumed by capital expenditure. The industrials & services threshold is 50%, leaving a buffer of -28% (over threshold).
How to Interpret
Lower ratios usually indicate better cash conversion. Higher ratios can reduce room for dividends and buybacks.
High capital intensity means most earnings go back into equipment and infrastructure rather than dividends or growth. Buffett prefers businesses like See's Candies that generate cash without needing much reinvestment.
Sources
Would take 8.7 years of earnings to pay off long-term debt — above the 5-year threshold. Heavy debt relative to earnings.
Current Snapshot
Payoff Years
8.7yr
Target Years
5yr
Gap
-3.7yr
Why It Matters
Debt payoff years converts leverage into an intuitive time measure, making debt burden easier to compare across stocks.
Formula
Long-Term Debt / Average Net Income (3yr)Method
Use current long-term debt and the 3-year average net income to smooth one-off profit noise.
Worked Example
With $1.6B in long-term debt and $187M in average annual earnings (3yr), it would take 8.7 years of earnings to pay off all debt. The industrials & services threshold is 5 years.
How to Interpret
Lower values generally indicate stronger debt capacity. Very high values can constrain dividend resilience.
High debt relative to earnings means interest payments compete with dividends for available cash. If earnings dip, the dividend is at risk because debt must be serviced first.
Sources
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