Value Investing Set To Shine: 5 Top-Ranked ETFs & Stocks

Bouts of volatility is once again playing foul in Wall Street, blocking the path ahead for the decade-long bull market. This is because trade tensions have flared up as Trump threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese goods worth $200 billion to 25% from 10% at 12:01 a.m. on May 10. Trump also intends to impose another round of tariff of 25% on further $325 billion of Chinese goods shortly.

The trade war is aggravating as China has also announced its intention to retaliate if Trump puts into action his latest tariff threat. The escalation in trade spat has resulted in risk-off trade. However, bouts of latest upbeat data calls for a still strong economy that bodes well for the stock market.

The U.S. economy added jobs every month for 103 consecutive months, representing the longest-ever streak of job creation. The unemployment rate has dropped to 3.6% — the lowest in nearly 50 years — while wages rose at an annual rate of 3.2% in April, the ninth consecutive month of more than 3% growth (read: Solid US Labor Market Puts Focus on 3 Sector ETFs & Stocks).

Strong hiring and increasing wages will boost consumer spending and keep the economy on a solid growth path. Consumer confidence also rebounded in April. Further, the American economy expanded at a faster-than-expected rate of 3.2% in the first quarter of 2019, marking the best GDP growth to start the year since 2015. Additionally, a surge in oil price and the Fed’s decision of not raising interest rates this year after seven hikes over the past two years are also driving the bulls.

Given the trade spat but encouraging economic fundamentals, value investing seems appealing to investors at present.

Why Value?

Value stocks have strong fundamentals — earnings, dividends, book value and cash flow — that trade below their intrinsic value and are undervalued by the market. These seek to capitalize on inefficiencies in the market and have the potential to deliver higher returns with lower volatility compared with growth and blend counterparts. Additionally, value stocks are less susceptible to trending markets and their dividend payouts serve as safety in times of market turbulence.

Notably, these stocks outperform the growth ones across all asset classes when considered on a long-term investment horizon.

Given this, we have highlighted some ETFs & stocks that will likely outperform in the coming weeks, especially amid the current turmoil. All these products have a solid Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

Vanguard Value ETF (HN:VTV)

This fund seeks to track the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index, which measures the performance of the largest U.S. value stocks (read: Vanguard Takes ETF Fee War a Step Forward).

Zacks ETF Rank: #2
Expense Ratio: 0.04%
AUM: $47.2 billion

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF IWD

This ETF offers exposure to U.S. companies that are thought to be undervalued by the market relative to comparable companies by tracking the Russell 1000 Value Index.

Zacks ETF Rank: #1
Expense Ratio: 0.20%
AUM: $38.1 billion

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF IVE

This fund also offers exposure to large U.S. companies that are potentially undervalued but tracks the S&P 500(R) Value Index (read: Forget Growth, Bet on Value ETFs in 2019).

Zacks ETF Rank: #2
Expense Ratio: 0.18%
AUM: $15.3 billion

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (V:DIA)

This ETF follows the Dow Jones Industrial Average index, which is composed of 30 "blue-chip" U.S. stocks (read: 6 Stocks That Mainly Dragged Dow Jones ETFs on Tuesday.

Zacks ETF Rank: #1
Expense Ratio: 0.17%
AUM: $22 billion

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF SCHV

This fund tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Value Total Stock Market Index.

Zacks ETF Rank: #2
Expense Ratio: 0.04%
AUM: $5.7 billion

Tetra Tech Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEK)

This is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, program management, construction management, and technical service.

Zacks Rank: #2
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 3%
Market Cap: $3.71 billion
This Year Estimated Earnings Growth: 15.1%

Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC)

This is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals (read: Forget Trade Fears, Invest in Defensive Sector ETFs).

Zacks Rank: #2
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 4%
Market Cap: $23.4 billion
This Year Estimated Earnings Growth: 23.2%

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)

This is a global security and aerospace company principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Zacks Rank: #2
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 5%
Market Cap: $94.42 billion
This Year Estimated Earnings Growth: 15.3%

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC)

This is a world-leading supplier in the fast-growing and dynamic telecommunications and data communications industry, offering advanced communications solutions for mobile and fixed networks, as well as consumer products. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Zacks Rank: #1
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 16%
Market Cap: $31 billion
This Year Estimated Earnings Growth: 1133.3%

Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM)

This is a global leader in design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia.

Zacks Rank: #2
Zacks Industry Rank: Top 31%
Market Cap: $6.7 billion
This Year Estimated Earnings Growth: 13.5%

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