For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 30, 2022 – Stocks in this week’s article are Celestica
CLS
, ASE Technology Holding
ASX
, Harley-Davidson
HOG
, Teck Resources Ltd.
TECK
and Hillenbrand
HI
.
Buy These 5 Low Price-to-Book-Value Stocks for Solid Returns
Value investors prefer price to earnings (P/E) and price to sales (P/S) ratios for identifying low-priced stocks with exceptional returns. However, the underrated price-to-book ratio (P/B ratio) is also an easy-to-use valuation tool for the purpose. The ratio is used to compare a stock’s market value/price to its book value.
The P/B ratio is calculated as below:
P/B ratio = market price per share/book value of equity per share
P/B ratio reflects how many times book value investors are ready to pay for a share. So, if the share price is $10 and book value of equity is $5, investors are ready to pay two times the book value. Ideally, a P/B value under 1.0 is considered good, indicating a potentially undervalued stock. However, value investors often consider stocks with a P/B value under 3.0.
The P/B ratio helps to identify low-priced stocks that have high growth prospects.
Celestica
,
ASE Technology Holding
,
Harley-Davidson
,
Teck Resources Ltd.
and
Hillenbrand
are some such picks.
Now let us understand the concept of book value.
What’s Book Val
ue?
There are several ways by which book value can be defined. Book value is the total value that would be left over, according to the company’s balance sheet, if it goes bankrupt immediately. In other words, this is what shareholders would theoretically receive if a company liquidates all its assets after paying off all its liabilities.
It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from the total assets of a company. In most cases, this equates to common stockholders’ equity on the balance sheet. However, depending on the company’s balance sheet, intangible assets should also be subtracted from total assets to determine book value.
Understanding P/B Ratio
By comparing the book value of equity to its market price, we get an idea of whether a company is under-or overpriced. However, like P/E or P/S ratio, it is always better to compare P/B ratios within industries.
A P/B ratio of less than one means that the stock is trading at less than its book value, or the stock is undervalued and therefore a good buy. Conversely, a stock with a ratio greater than one can be interpreted as being overvalued or relatively expensive.
For example, a stock with a P/B ratio of 2 means that we pay $2 for every $1 of book value. Thus, the higher the P/B, the more expensive the stock.
But there is a caveat. A P/B ratio less than one can also mean that the company is earning weak or even negative returns on its assets or that the assets are overstated, in which case the stock should be shunned because it may be destroying shareholder value. Conversely, the stock’s price may be significantly high — thereby pushing the P/B ratio to more than one — in the likely case that it has become a takeover target, a good enough reason to own the stock.
Moreover, the P/B ratio isn’t without limitations. It is useful for businesses — like finance, investments, insurance, and banking or manufacturing companies — with many liquid/tangible assets on the books. However, it can be misleading for firms with significant R&D expenditure, high debt, service companies, or those with negative earnings.
In any case, the ratio is not particularly relevant as a standalone number. One should analyze other ratios like P/E, P/S, and debt to equity before arriving at a reasonable investment decision.
Here are our five picks out of the 18 stocks that qualified the screening:
Celestica
is one of the largest electronics manufacturing services companies in the world, serving the computer and communications sectors.
Celestica has a Zacks Rank #1 and a Value Score of A. Celestica has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 14.5%.
You can see
the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
ASE Technology Holding
is a provider of semiconductor manufacturing services in assembly and testing.
ASE Technology Holding has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 26.9%. ASE Technology Holding currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Value Score of A.
Teck Resources Limited
is a diversified resource company committed to mining and mineral development with business units focused on steelmaking coal, copper, zinc and energy.
Teck Resources has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 38.7%. TECK currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Value Score of A.
Harley-Davidson
is one of the leading motorcycle makers in the world. It is the parent entity of company groups doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
Harley-Davidson has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 46.4%. TECK currently has a Zacks Rank #1 and a Value Score of A.
Hillenbrand
is a global diversified industrial company with multiple market-leading brands that serve a wide variety of industries across the globe. Hillenbrand’s portfolio comprises two business segments: the Process Equipment Group and Batesville.
Hillenbrand has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 12%. Hillenbrand currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Value Score of A.
Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back testing software.
The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It’s easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it’s very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today
.
For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at:
https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/1888921/buy-these-5-low-price-to-book-value-stocks-for-solid-returns
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
About Screen of the Week
Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the “#1 site for screening stocks” by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They’re virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today’s 220 Zacks Rank #1 “Strong Buys” were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year.
See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Follow us on Twitter:
Tweets by ZacksResearch
Join us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Contact: Jim Giaquinto
Company: Zacks.com
Phone: 312-265-9268
Email:
[email protected]
Visit:
https://www.zacks.com/
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks “Terms and Conditions of Service” disclaimer.
www.zacks.com/disclaimer
.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit
https://www.zacks.com/performance
for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2022
In addition to the investment ideas discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2022?
From inception in 2012 through 2021, the
Zacks Top 10 Stocks
portfolios gained an impressive +1,001.2% versus the S&P 500’s +348.7%. Now our Director of Research has combed through 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and has handpicked the best 10 tickers to buy and hold. Don’t miss your chance to get in…because the sooner you do, the more upside you stand to grab.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
Click to get this free report