Powell Max Ltd
PMAXAbout the company
Powell Max Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides financial communications services in Hong Kong. The company offers financial printing; corporate reporting; and communications and language support services, including typesetting, proofreading, translation, design, printing, electronic reporting, and newspaper placement and distribution, as well as production and maintenance services.
Investment snapshot
Positive
0
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
2 / 14
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
—
No comparable estimates
Models with upside
0 / 17
Positive margin of safety
Key risk
No clean pass — all 16 investors flag at least one profitability criterion
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Greenblatt Magic Formula | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | Not ranked | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | |||||||||||||||||
| Analysis | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… |
| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Margin of Safety | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2024 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2025-04-28 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
Where It Falls Short
- Profitability0% pass✓ 1✗ 34▾
No clean pass — all 16 investors flag at least one profitability criterion
Positive EPS (10 years)1/4 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)1/4 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-85.0%✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy✗BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE-85.0%✗Lynch> 15%EBIT / Enterprise ValueN/A (EV <= 0)✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=N/A (EV <= 0), ROC=N/A (invested capital <= 0)✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Net Income / Total Assets-28.89%✗PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY30.79% -> -28.89% (delta: -59.68%)✗PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-18.24%, ROA=-28.89%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAGross Margin Change YoY48.6% -> 39.4%✗PiotroskiImproved YoYPre-Tax Income / Revenue-49.6%✗Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-85.0%✗Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/B=3.1x✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity-85.0% (3-yr avg)✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency1/3 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue-44.0%✗Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity-85.0%✗Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend1.6% (2022) -> -44.0% (2024)✗TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 41.2% -> 39.4%, operating margin 1.6% -> -44.0%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingNet income / market capitalization-99.29%; #5388/6340 (top 85.0%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionGross profit / total assets+22.98%; #1854/3702 (top 50.1%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity-84.98%; #4503/5226 (top 86.2%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Valuation0% pass✓ 1✗ 27▾
No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion
Price / 3-yr avg EPS✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio3.1x✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)EBIT / Enterprise ValueN/A (EV <= 0)✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=N/A (EV <= 0), ROC=N/A (invested capital <= 0)✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Price / EPS✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)✗Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per Share3.1x✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation Reasonableness✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-70.9%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=3.1x✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)✗Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low140% of trailing low ($0.46)✗Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Net income / market capitalization-99.29%; #5388/6340 (top 85.0%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive book equity / market capitalization+1.1683; #1247/6449 (top 19.3%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per Share3.08x✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+2.0030; #1086/5247 (top 20.7%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-70.88%; #3970/4519 (top 87.9%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-69.95%; #5658/6202 (top 91.2%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Growth0% pass✓ 1✗ 12▾
No clean pass — all 8 investors flag at least one growth criterion
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passInventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthN/A (no inventory)✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growthEPS Growth Direction$-0.00 (2022) -> $-0.18 (2024)✗DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR✗Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency1/3 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth2.2%✗Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency1/2 years with positive EPS growth✗AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 41.2% -> 39.4%, operating margin 1.6% -> -44.0%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR✗SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Efficiency0% pass✓ 1✗ 10▾
No clean pass — all 8 investors flag at least one efficiency criterion
Current Ratio1.45✗Graham>= 2.0ROIC (3-5 yr avg)✗Buffett> 10%ROIC - WACC✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)N/A (invested capital <= 0)✗Greenblatt> 25%Current Ratio Change YoY0.46 -> 1.45✓PiotroskiIncreased YoYRevenue / Total Assets Change YoY2.14x -> 0.58x✗PiotroskiImproved YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities1.45✗Dreman> 1.5Return on Invested Capital-55.9%✗Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2022: ROIC=unavailable; FY2023: ROIC=179.1%; FY2024: ROIC=-55.9%✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROICN/A (non-positive net income)✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)1/2 years above 12% (latest -55.9%)✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years - Verdicts0% pass✗ 14▾
Split decision: 14 FAIL · 2 NEUTRAL
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (0/9)✗BuffettFAIL (0/9)✗LynchFAIL (2/7)•GreenblattNot ranked✗PiotroskiFAIL (F-Score 3)✗DremanFAIL (1/11)✗MungerFAIL (1/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (2/6)✗MarksFAIL (1/5)✗AckmanFAIL (1/9)✗TempletonFAIL (2/8)✗SleepFAIL (1/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (0/6)✗SchlossFAIL (1/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked) - Cash Flow10% pass✓ 2✗ 10▾
9 of 10 flag PMAX's cash flow — Buffett, Lynch, Piotroski +6 more
Free Cash Flow Proxy✗BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$-1.7M✗LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$-1.5M✗PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-18.24%, ROA=-28.89%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)✗Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-70.9%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive2/3 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap-19.7%✗Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)✗Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency2/3 years positive✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$-1.7M✗Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-70.88%; #3970/4519 (top 87.9%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Debt & Leverage50% pass✓ 9✗ 6▾
6 of 12 pass — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +3 more object
LT Debt vs Net Current Assets✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current AssetsDebt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 0.07, IC: -8.0x✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / Equity0.07✓Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt✗LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change0.00% -> 0.00%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities1.45✗Dreman> 1.5✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity0.07✓Dreman< 0.8✓Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✓SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt Levels0.07✓MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✓AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=-8.0x, D/EBITDA=N/A (D&A unavailable)✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity0.07✓Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-0.0671; #1115/4210 (top 26.5%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2024. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2024
Issued 5.4% of shares last year, 5.4% issued over two.
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
| Metric | FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $2.3Mcurrent | $419.0Mest. | -- | -- |
| Revenue | $4.7M↓25% | $6.3M↑30% | $4.8M | -- |
| Operating Income | -$2.1M↓312% | $976.7K↑1186% | $75.9K | -- |
| Net Income | -$2.3M↓357% | $906.2K↑7264% | -$12.7K | -- |
| EPS (Diluted) | $-0.18↓346% | $0.07↑5688% | $-0.00 | -- |
| Gross Margin | 39.4%↓19% | 48.6%↑18% | 41.2% | — |
| Operating Margin | -44.0%↓384% | 15.5%↑891% | 1.6% | — |
| ROE | -85.0%↓84% | -46.2%↓10576% | 0.4% | — |
| Total Debt | $183.8K↓92% | $2.4M | -- | -- |
| Shareholders' Equity | $2.7M↑240% | -$2.0M↑32% | -$2.9M | -$2.9M |
| Current Ratio | 1.45↑213% | 0.46 | — | — |
| Debt / Equity | 0.07↑105% | -1.22 | — | — |
| Operating Cash Flow | -$1.5M↓261% | $910.5K↑30% | $702.2K | -- |
| Free Cash Flow | -$1.7M↓290% | $873.7K↑36% | $642.3K | -- |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Business Services
PMAX vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Greenblatt | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INCADP | $122.3B | $309.93 | $21.9B | $4.4B | 73.2% | 0.82 | 24.2% | 1.05 | 4/9 | 5/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 5/11 |
| ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.EA | $52.9B | $209.70 | $7.5B | $887.0M | 13.1% | 0.22 | 15.4% | 1.05 | 1/9 | 4/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 6/11 |
| Rubrik, Inc.RBRK | $22.6B | $109.88 | $1.3B | $348.8M | 67.1% | — | -26.2% | 1.69 | 1/9 | 0/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 2/11 |
| AECOMACM | $9.1B | $70.50 | $16.1B | $561.8M | 22.5% | 1.09 | 6.4% | 1.14 | 1/9 | 3/9 | 3/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 8 | 2/11 |
| COMMVAULT SYSTEMS INCCVLT | $6.2B | $152.07 | $1.2B | $70.7M | 942.8% | — | 6.3% | 1.95 | 1/9 | 2/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 6/11 |
| WPP plcWPP | $6.0B | $27.79 | $18.2B | $289.5M | -8.5% | 1.94 | 2.8% | 0.89 | 1/9 | 2/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 3 | 2/11 |
| VARONIS SYSTEMS INCVRNS | $5.6B | $48.94 | $623.5M | $129.3M | -21.6% | 0.76 | -23.5% | 1.97 | 1/9 | 0/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 1/11 |
| ROBERT HALF INC.RHI | $4.3B | $42.00 | $5.4B | $133.0M | 10.4% | — | 1.4% | 1.53 | 2/9 | 5/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 2/11 |