Symal Group Limited
Industrials · Engineering & Construction
Updated 10 hours ago
$2.85
MARKET CAP
$681.56M
P/E RATIO
14.8
DIV. YIELD
2.9%
FRANKING
100%
Symal Group Limited provides contracting, plant and equipment hire, material sales, recycling, and remediation services in Australia. It operates through three segments: Contracting Services, Plant and Equipment, and Other segments.
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.
$0.56
Discounted cash flow estimate
Business quality and balance-sheet durability.
Profit generated per $1 of shareholder investment
Exceptional 30.7% ROE places this among elite companies. Strong competitive advantage evident.
Current Snapshot
10Y Avg
30.7%
Threshold
15.0%
Worst Year
20.3%
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 30.7%, meaning each $1 of shareholder equity generates $0.31 in annual profit. The threshold is 15%, and the worst single year was 20.3%.
How to Interpret
Higher and steadier ROE generally supports stronger long-term compounding. Large drawdowns in weak years can point to fragility.
At 30.7% ROE, every $1 retained by this company generates $0.31 in annual profit. This exceptional compounding power is what drives long-term wealth - and for dividend investors, it often translates to sustainable dividend growth without needing to borrow or dilute shareholders.
Sources
How much the company owes vs. what it owns
Acceptable. Debt level (0.91) is within this Buffett-inspired framework's limit of 1.
Current Snapshot
Current D/E
0.91x
Industry Limit
1.00x
Headroom
+0.09x
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 0.91, meaning it carries 91 cents of debt for every $1 of equity. The industrials & services limit is 1.00, leaving 0.09 of headroom.
How to Interpret
Lower values generally imply lower refinancing pressure and lower dividend stress in downturns.
Low debt means this company isn't at risk of cutting dividends to service loans during downturns. Your income stream is protected by a strong balance sheet.
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
$36M
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 $36M 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
Short-term assets vs. short-term debts
Current ratio of 1.29 is below ideal 1.5. Adequate but limited cushion for unexpected expenses.
Current Snapshot
Current Ratio
1.29x
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 1.29x — it has $1.29 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.
Limited liquidity increases the risk of dividend cuts if cash flow becomes stressed during a downturn. There's less buffer to absorb surprises.
Sources
Profit after production costs, before overhead
Worst year margin (16.0%) fell below 35% minimum. Volatility suggests weak pricing power or one-time issues.
Current Snapshot
10Y Avg
18.5%
Threshold
40%
Worst Year
16.0%
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 18.5% — it keeps 18 cents of every revenue dollar after production costs. The threshold is 40%, and the weakest year was 16.0%.
How to Interpret
Sustained high margins usually support durability. Sharp margin swings can signal weaker control or cyclical pressure.
Thin margins leave no cushion for unexpected costs. A small increase in expenses or drop in prices could squeeze profits and threaten the dividend.
Sources
Price versus estimated intrinsic value and required return thresholds.
What percentage of the stock price comes back as earnings each year
6.8% 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
6.8%
Required Yield
7.5%
Spread
-0.7pp
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 $0.19 and a share price of $2.85, earnings yield is 6.8%. 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
Stock is trading 627% ABOVE the fair-value threshold (includes 30% margin of safety) and above the estimated intrinsic value.
Current Snapshot
Current Margin
-408.9%
Industry Threshold
30%
Status
409% Overvalued
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 $0.56 per share, current price is $2.85, and margin of safety is -408.9%.
How to Interpret
Positive margin indicates price below modelled value; negative margin indicates price above modelled value. Compare against the industry's required buffer.
The market price is above both your required threshold and intrinsic value estimate. Under this methodology, there is no valuation buffer for estimate error or market volatility.
Sources
How efficiently the company turns money into profit
Exceptional 22.6% ROIC indicates a strong competitive advantage and efficient use of capital.
Current Snapshot
5Y Avg
22.6%
Threshold
11.0%
WACC Delta
+13.6pp
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 22.6%, with a cost of capital (WACC) of 9.0%. The +13.6pp 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.
Exceptional returns on capital mean every dollar reinvested creates significant value. This is the engine that can power both capital appreciation and growing dividends.
Sources
Consistency of profits over time
4/4 positive EPS years. Limited data - full evaluation requires 8+ years. Monitor closely for consistency.
Current Snapshot
Positive Years
4/4
Allowed Losses
0 (limited)
EPS CAGR
35.8%
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 4 of the last 4 years. With only 4 years of data, every year must be positive. EPS growth rate (CAGR) is 35.8%.
How to Interpret
Fewer loss years and stronger EPS continuity generally improve confidence in future dividend and valuation assumptions.
So far so good, but limited history means we haven't seen how this company handles a full economic cycle. Monitor closely for continued consistency.
Sources
Percentage of revenue that becomes profit after all expenses
3.9% net margin is below the 8% threshold. May reflect this sector's structural characteristics.
Current Snapshot
Current Margin
3.9%
Threshold
8.0%
Relative Position
-4.1%
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 3.9% — it keeps 4 cents of every revenue dollar as profit after all expenses. The industrials & services threshold is 8%, putting it 4.1% below the requirement.
How to Interpret
Margins that are both strong and stable can indicate competitive strength; persistent weakness may limit reinvestment and payout capacity.
Lower margins in this sector are common, but they leave less cushion if costs rise or revenue drops. Monitor whether margins are stable over time — consistency matters more than the absolute level.
Sources
How much earnings are consumed by capital expenditure
CapEx consumes 72% of cumulative earnings — above the 50% threshold. This business requires heavy reinvestment just to maintain operations.
Current Snapshot
10Y CapEx Intensity
72%
Threshold
50%
Buffer
-22%
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, 72% of this company's cumulative earnings were consumed by capital expenditure. The industrials & services threshold is 50%, leaving a buffer of -22% (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
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
+55.9%
Debt Change
-10.2%
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 +55.9% across the displayed period, while debt changed by -10.2%.
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
Annual dividends as percentage of stock price
Insufficient dividend history. Barsi methodology requires 6 years of data to calculate average yield.
Current Snapshot
6Y Avg Yield
N/A
6% Requirement
6.0%
Gross Yield
N/A
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
If annual dividends are $0.60 and the share price is $10, dividend yield is 6.0%.
How to Interpret
Higher sustainable yield improves upfront income, but unusually high yields may reflect elevated risk or weak coverage.
Without 6 years of dividend history, we can't assess whether the yield is sustainable or a one-time spike. More data is needed to evaluate income potential.
Sources
Track record of consistent dividend payments
Insufficient dividend history for estimation
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Gross | Franking | Net | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar 2026Interim | 2 Apr 2026 | $0.05 | 100% | $0.03 | $0.01 |
| 4 Sept 2025Final | 3 Oct 2025 | $0.08 | 100% | $0.06 | $0.03 |
Only 2 years of dividend history available. Barsi methodology requires 6+ years to evaluate consistency.
Current Snapshot
History
2yr
Predictability
N/A
Payout Health
N/A
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 2 years of dividend history (2025–2026). No suspensions detected — 2 consecutive years of payments. Predictability: N/A. Payout health: N/A. The minimum requirement is 6 years.
How to Interpret
Longer uninterrupted records generally signal stronger income reliability than high yield alone.
Without 6 years of history, we can't verify this company maintained dividends through economic cycles. Longer track records provide confidence your income will continue.
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
Engineering & Construction
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 Engineering & Construction (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 53% 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
53.5%
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
$0.06 dividend / $0.19 EPS equals 30.6% 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 53% 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
Symal Group Limited provides contracting, plant and equipment hire, material sales, recycling, and remediation services in Australia. It operates through three segments: Contracting Services, Plant and Equipment, and Other segments. The company offers electrical services, concrete construction, hard and soft landscaping, bridge and heavy civil structures construction, plumbing / drainage works, and managing subcontractors and suppliers, as well as manages small to large-scale complex projects in head contractor and subcontractor capacities. It also provides wet and dry plant hire, equipment hire, fleet logistics, engineering personnel hire, and in-house fleet maintenance and fabrication services; construction material sales through its three leased quarries; and repurposed construction materials.
In addition, the company offers recycling and repurposing, landfill and waste management, construction and demolition recycling, manufacturing of construction materials, materials transport, and skip bin hire and collection services. It serves transport; defence and security; power and renewables; ports; waste, recycling and resources; community infrastructure; land remediation; dams and water storage; subdivision; and quarries sectors. Symal Group Limited was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.
Who owns the company's shares and how much leadership has at stake
When leaders own 20%+, they win when you win and lose when you lose
Few fund managers own this — expect less research and analyst coverage
Shares freely traded on the ASX by individual investors like you
Leadership owns a solid 68.7% of the company, which is encouraging. However, professional fund managers aren’t heavily involved (6.2%), so there may be less analyst coverage and research available. This can mean the stock is overlooked — a potential opportunity if the fundamentals are strong.
Current Snapshot
Insider %
68.7%
Institutional %
6.2%
Float %
25.1%
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 68.7% and institutions own 6.2%, public float is 25.1%.
How to Interpret
Higher insider ownership can improve alignment of incentives, while dominant institutional concentration can amplify short-term price moves.
Leadership owns a solid 68.7% of the company, which is encouraging. However, professional fund managers aren’t heavily involved (6.2%), so there may be less analyst coverage and research available. This can mean the stock is overlooked — a potential opportunity if the fundamentals are strong.
Sources
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 2026 | Bartolo (Joe) Managing Director | Purchase at price 1.96 per share. | 3K | $6K |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Lockwood (Anne) Independent Non-Executive Director | Sale at price 1.55 per share. | 1K | $2K |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Bartolo (Joe) Managing Director | Sale at price 1.74 per share. | 9K | $16K |
| 20 Mar 2026 | Bartolo (Joe) Managing Director | Purchase at price 1.74 per share. | 8K | $14K |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Bartolo (Joe) Managing Director | Purchase at price 1.78 per share. | 20K | $36K |
Company insiders have been net buyers of shares over the past 12 months. This may indicate management confidence in future prospects.
Both value and dividend analyses 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 →
Civmec Limited
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited
Duratec Limited
Lycopodium Limited
Service Stream Limited
Scroll to see more