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KN or HLIT: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?

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Investors with an interest in Communication - Components stocks have likely encountered both Knowles (KN - Free Report) and Harmonic (HLIT - Free Report) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Right now, both Knowles and Harmonic are sporting a Zacks Rank of # 2 (Buy). This means that both companies have witnessed positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that both of these stocks have an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when 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.

KN currently has a forward P/E ratio of 14.26, while HLIT has a forward P/E of 44.08. We also note that KN has a PEG ratio of 1.43. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. HLIT currently has a PEG ratio of 5.04.

Another notable valuation metric for KN is its P/B ratio of 1.13. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, HLIT has a P/B of 2.27.

Based on these metrics and many more, KN holds a Value grade of B, while HLIT has a Value grade of D.

Both KN and HLIT are impressive stocks with solid earnings outlooks, but based on these valuation figures, we feel that KN is the superior value option right now.


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