Top Value Stocks Under $20

• (1:50) - Value Stock or Value Trap
• (3:45) - Top 3 Stock Picks
• (12:30) - Episode Roundup: Check out the best apparel retailers
• Podcast@Zacks.com

Welcome to Episode #43 of the Value Investor Podcast

Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio service, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.

Everyone loves a “cheap” stock right? They get all the love.

But “cheap” doesn’t mean it’s a “value.”

Value stocks can be $100 and expensive stocks can be $5. Investors need to keep an eye on actual earnings.

But there’s just something about buying a stock under $20 that’s fun.

Tracey ran a screen to find stocks under $20 with the best fundamentals. That’s the best of both worlds. She included a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy), which likely indicates rising earnings estimates, with P/Es under 15.

One hundred eleven stocks fit the bill including a lot of foreign companies and banks. But there were a handful of top companies among them that Tracey found intriguing.

3 Value Stocks Under $20

1. Autobytel (NASDAQ:ABTL) is a digital media company specializing in cars. It owns websites like car.com and usedcars.com. It had a record first quarter after posting a record 2016 as advertising and click revenue soared. ABTL has a forward P/E of just 13.2 and it’s trading about $13.

2. CAI International (NYSE:CAI) operates globally in containers, rail and logistics. While the container market is heating up in 2017, and the company expects an industrywide shortage by the end of the year, the rails business continues to be soft. As the global economy heats up, CAI is in the right kind of business. It’s cheap, with a forward P/E of 10.6 This was a little bit of a cheat, as it has just surged above $20, but it’s close enough.

3. Fogo de Chao (NASDAQ:FOGO) is a Brazilian steakhouse with a forward P/E of 14.9. Shares have sold off in May making it an attractive entry point. In the first quarter, same-store-sales in the US, it’s largest market, were up 0.9%. It also reaffirmed guidance. Shares are trading around $14. Is this one of the cheapest restaurant stocks out there?

There are also plenty of cheap apparel retailers, many of whom have value fundamentals. However, most don’t have Zacks Ranks of #1 or #2 given the challenges in the industry.

But if you like to bottom feed and you’re not afraid of retail, listen in on the Zacks Market Edge podcast. Tracey will fill you in on the best buys, and those you should keep on your watch list, in the apparel retailers.

What else should you know about these 3 value stocks?

Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.

Want more value investing insights from Tracey?

Check out her weekly Value Investor service to receive more in-depth analysis on value companies and see which stocks Tracey thinks are the best bargains now.

It holds between 20 and 25 value stocks for the long haul.

Click here to learn more.