Over the past six months, Vishay Intertechnology’s shares (currently trading at $17.15) have posted a disappointing 7.2% loss while the S&P 500 was down 1.4%. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and might have investors contemplating their next move.

Is now the time to buy Vishay Intertechnology, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, it’s free.

Even though the stock has become cheaper, we're cautious about Vishay Intertechnology. Here are three reasons why we avoid VSH and a stock we'd rather own.

Why Do We Think Vishay Intertechnology Will Underperform?

Named after the founder's ancestral village in present-day Lithuania, Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH) manufactures simple chips and electronic components that are building blocks of virtually all types of electronic devices.

1. Long-Term Revenue Growth Disappoints

Examining a company’s long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. Over the last five years, Vishay Intertechnology grew its sales at a sluggish 1.9% compounded annual growth rate. This was below our standards. Semiconductors are a cyclical industry, and long-term investors should be prepared for periods of high growth followed by periods of revenue contractions.

2. Low Gross Margin Reveals Weak Structural Profitability

In the semiconductor industry, a company’s gross profit margin is a critical metric to track because it sheds light on its pricing power, complexity of products, and ability to procure raw materials, equipment, and labor.

Vishay Intertechnology’s gross margin is one of the worst in the semiconductor industry, signaling it operates in a competitive market and lacks pricing power. As you can see below, it averaged a 25.3% gross margin over the last two years. Said differently, Vishay Intertechnology had to pay a chunky $74.75 to its suppliers for every $100 in revenue.

3. Free Cash Flow Margin Dropping

Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king.

As you can see below, Vishay Intertechnology’s margin dropped by 12.5 percentage points over the last five years. Almost any movement in the wrong direction is undesirable because it is already burning cash. If the trend continues, it could signal it’s becoming a more capital-intensive business. Vishay Intertechnology’s free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was negative 4.9%.

Final Judgment

Vishay Intertechnology falls short of our quality standards. Following the recent decline, the stock trades at 21.7× forward price-to-earnings (or $17.15 per share). This valuation tells us a lot of optimism is priced in - we think there are better stocks to buy right now. Let us point you toward the Amazon and PayPal of Latin America.

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