While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.
Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One company value investors might notice is Ashtead Group (LON:AHT) PLC (ASHTY). ASHTY is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and an A for Value. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 10.03, while its industry has an average P/E of 15. Over the last 12 months, ASHTY's Forward P/E has been as high as 17.22 and as low as 8.28, with a median of 13.34.
We also note that ASHTY holds a PEG ratio of 0.67. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. ASHTY's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 0.95. Within the past year, ASHTY's PEG has been as high as 1.15 and as low as 0.55, with a median of 0.87.
Investors should also recognize that ASHTY has a P/B ratio of 3.59. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 6.22. ASHTY's P/B has been as high as 5.45 and as low as 2.91, with a median of 4.30, over the past year.
Finally, we should also recognize that ASHTY has a P/CF ratio of 4.90. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 14.22. Over the past 52 weeks, ASHTY's P/CF has been as high as 15.66 and as low as 3.97, with a median of 6.67.
Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Ashtead Group PLC is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, ASHTY sticks out at as one of the market's strongest value stocks.
Ashtead Group PLC (ASHTY): Free Stock Analysis Report
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