We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Zacks.com featured highlights include Universal Health Services, Carriage Services, AXIS Capital and EnerSys
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 24, 2024 – Stocks in this week’s article are Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS - Free Report) , Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV - Free Report) , AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. (AXS - Free Report) and EnerSys (ENS - Free Report) .
4 Top Stocks to Buy for Value Investing After Fed Rate Cut
The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up higher on Friday, setting a new record after a strong week, driven by the Federal Reserve's first rate cut in four years. The Dow rose by 38.16 points, or 0.09%, to close at 42,063.36. In contrast, the S&P 500 slipped 0.19% to 5,702.55, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.36% to finish at 17,948.32. This movement came after a midweek rally, during which the Dow surpassed the 42,000 mark and the S&P 500 hit a key milestone above 5,700. Despite Friday's slight pullbacks, all three major indexes posted weekly gains.
The Fed's decision to lower interest rates by 50 basis points spurred a buying spree on Thursday. However, markets steadied on Friday as investors stepped back from the prior day's surge. Going forward, the market will engage with a blend of economic indicators, including key releases, political developments and corporate earnings reports, all of which could trigger volatility. In this environment, value stocks stand out as a compelling investment option. Typically trading below their intrinsic value, these stocks offer a margin of safety during market fluctuations.
When evaluating value stocks, one of the most effective valuation metrics is the Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio. This metric measures the market price of a stock relative to the cash flow the company generates on a per-share basis. A lower P/CF ratio indicates that the stock is trading at a better value, offering strong cash generation potential relative to its price. Here are four companies — Universal Health Services, Inc., Carriage Services, Inc., AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. and EnerSys — that boast low P/CF ratios, making them strong contenders for value-seeking investors.
Price to Cash Flow Ratio Reveals Financial Health
Questions may arise as to why we are considering the P/CF valuation metric when the most widely used metric is Price/Earnings (or P/E). Well, what makes P/CF stand out is that operating cash flow adds back non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization to net income, truly reflecting the financial health of a company.
Analysts caution that a company's earnings are subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. However, cash flow is reliable. It is net cash flow that reveals how much money a company is actually generating and how effectively management is putting the same to use.
A positive cash flow indicates an increase in the company's liquid assets. This gives the company the means to settle debt, shell out for its expenses, reinvest in its business, endure downturns, and finally pay back its shareholders. Then again, a negative cash flow implies a decline in the company's liquidity, which in turn lowers its flexibility to support these moves.
Here are four of the 11 low P/CF stocks that qualified the screening:
Universal Health Services, one of the nation's largest hospital companies, operating through its subsidiaries, acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.6%, on average. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Universal Health Services' current financial year sales and earnings per share (EPS) suggests growth of 9.8% and 51%, respectively, from the year-ago period. Universal Health Services has a Value Score of A. Shares of UHS have rallied 85.8% in the past year.
Carriage Services, a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States, carries a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carriage Services' current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 3.7% and 6.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period. CSV has a Value Score of B. Shares of CSV have risen 11.5% in the past year.
AXIS Capital Holdings, a global specialty underwriter and provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 94.6%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXIS Capital's current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 7.2% and 8.7%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AXS has a Value Score of A. Shares of AXS have advanced 34.4% in the past year.
EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EnerSys' current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 4.7% and 7.1%, respectively, from the year-ago period. ENS has a Value Score of A. Shares of ENS have increased 6.3% in the past year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and backtest them first before taking the investment plunge.
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.
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: https://www.twitter.com/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.
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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Shutterstock
Zacks.com featured highlights include Universal Health Services, Carriage Services, AXIS Capital and EnerSys
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 24, 2024 – Stocks in this week’s article are Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS - Free Report) , Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV - Free Report) , AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. (AXS - Free Report) and EnerSys (ENS - Free Report) .
4 Top Stocks to Buy for Value Investing After Fed Rate Cut
The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up higher on Friday, setting a new record after a strong week, driven by the Federal Reserve's first rate cut in four years. The Dow rose by 38.16 points, or 0.09%, to close at 42,063.36. In contrast, the S&P 500 slipped 0.19% to 5,702.55, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.36% to finish at 17,948.32. This movement came after a midweek rally, during which the Dow surpassed the 42,000 mark and the S&P 500 hit a key milestone above 5,700. Despite Friday's slight pullbacks, all three major indexes posted weekly gains.
The Fed's decision to lower interest rates by 50 basis points spurred a buying spree on Thursday. However, markets steadied on Friday as investors stepped back from the prior day's surge. Going forward, the market will engage with a blend of economic indicators, including key releases, political developments and corporate earnings reports, all of which could trigger volatility. In this environment, value stocks stand out as a compelling investment option. Typically trading below their intrinsic value, these stocks offer a margin of safety during market fluctuations.
When evaluating value stocks, one of the most effective valuation metrics is the Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio. This metric measures the market price of a stock relative to the cash flow the company generates on a per-share basis. A lower P/CF ratio indicates that the stock is trading at a better value, offering strong cash generation potential relative to its price. Here are four companies — Universal Health Services, Inc., Carriage Services, Inc., AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. and EnerSys — that boast low P/CF ratios, making them strong contenders for value-seeking investors.
Price to Cash Flow Ratio Reveals Financial Health
Questions may arise as to why we are considering the P/CF valuation metric when the most widely used metric is Price/Earnings (or P/E). Well, what makes P/CF stand out is that operating cash flow adds back non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization to net income, truly reflecting the financial health of a company.
Analysts caution that a company's earnings are subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. However, cash flow is reliable. It is net cash flow that reveals how much money a company is actually generating and how effectively management is putting the same to use.
A positive cash flow indicates an increase in the company's liquid assets. This gives the company the means to settle debt, shell out for its expenses, reinvest in its business, endure downturns, and finally pay back its shareholders. Then again, a negative cash flow implies a decline in the company's liquidity, which in turn lowers its flexibility to support these moves.
Here are four of the 11 low P/CF stocks that qualified the screening:
Universal Health Services, one of the nation's largest hospital companies, operating through its subsidiaries, acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.6%, on average. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Universal Health Services' current financial year sales and earnings per share (EPS) suggests growth of 9.8% and 51%, respectively, from the year-ago period. Universal Health Services has a Value Score of A. Shares of UHS have rallied 85.8% in the past year.
Carriage Services, a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States, carries a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carriage Services' current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 3.7% and 6.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period. CSV has a Value Score of B. Shares of CSV have risen 11.5% in the past year.
AXIS Capital Holdings, a global specialty underwriter and provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 94.6%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXIS Capital's current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 7.2% and 8.7%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AXS has a Value Score of A. Shares of AXS have advanced 34.4% in the past year.
EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EnerSys' current financial year sales and EPS suggests growth of 4.7% and 7.1%, respectively, from the year-ago period. ENS has a Value Score of A. Shares of ENS have increased 6.3% in the past year.
You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and backtest them first before taking the investment plunge.
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/2340101/4-top-stocks-to-buy-for-value-investing-after-fed-rate-cut
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: https://www.twitter.com/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: pr@zacks.com
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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.