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JNPR vs. HRS: Which Stock Should Value Investors Buy Now?

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Investors looking for stocks in the Wireless Equipment sector might want to consider either Juniper Networks (JNPR - Free Report) or Harris . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Right now, Juniper Networks is sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Harris has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that JNPR is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.

Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

JNPR currently has a forward P/E ratio of 15.75, while HRS has a forward P/E of 20.55. We also note that JNPR has a PEG ratio of 2.96. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. HRS currently has a PEG ratio of 3.42.

Another notable valuation metric for JNPR is its P/B ratio of 2.12. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, HRS has a P/B of 5.76.

Based on these metrics and many more, JNPR holds a Value grade of B, while HRS has a Value grade of C.

JNPR is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that JNPR is likely the superior value option right now.


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