CPK

We rate CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP (CPK) as a Reduce with a composite score of 42.2/100 at a current price of $135.09. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (86th percentile) and momentum (36th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in value (27th percentile) and investment (28th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (35/100), Low uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; valuation compression risk if growth disappoints. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 42.2/100 places it at rank #3256 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $3.2B in market capitalization, CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP is a mid-cap player in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue is growing at 8%, though momentum at the 36th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 76% (+20.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 26% (+8.9pp vs sector) and net margins of 12.8%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 17%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $135.09, CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 27/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 28.4x (a 68% premium to the sector median of 16.9x), EV/EBITDA of 21.0x (at a premium), P/B of 2.1x, P/S of 3.8x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.07, and a stability factor in the 86th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: weak quality scores (32th percentile); low beta of 0.07 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 86th percentile and quality factor at the 32th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 76% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (86th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include suboptimal returns on capital. Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 42.2/100 (rank #3256 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (35/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 42/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, low uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.