Buying the Best Value Stocks as the Market Hits All-Time Highs

Market Overview - The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 reached new highs as Wall Street anticipates interest rate cuts following a cooler-than-expected July inflation report [1] - Total earnings for S&P 500 companies that have reported are up 11.6% year-over-year with a revenue growth of 5.9%, indicating a potential all-time quarterly record for aggregate S&P 500 earnings [1] Q3 Outlook - The outlook for Q3 and beyond has improved significantly after strong second-quarter results from major tech companies [2] - Investors are encouraged to seek stocks that combine impressive value with improving earnings outlooks despite the surge in tech stock prices [2] Value Stock Screening - A value-focused screening method is employed to identify top value stocks, utilizing Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buys) or 2 (Buys) [3][4] - The screening criteria include P/E ratios under the industry median and P/S ratios under the industry median to ensure relative value [4][8] SSR Mining Inc. (SSRM) Highlights - SSR Mining Inc. is highlighted as a top stock, with projected adjusted earnings growth of nearly 400% in 2025 and 53% next year [7][10] - The company reported a significant increase in Q2 results, with gold-equivalent production rising from 76,000 to 120,000 and revenue soaring 119%, leading to adjusted earnings of $0.51 per share, exceeding estimates by 122% [9] - SSRM's consensus earnings estimate has surged by 21% for FY25 and 13% for the following year, earning it a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [10] Stock Performance and Valuation - SSR Mining's stock has increased by 1,100% over the past 25 years, outperforming its sector and the S&P 500 [11] - Despite this growth, SSRM is trading 60% below its 2007 peaks and is currently at a low price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.4, indicating significant value [11] - On a forward earnings basis, SSRM trades at a 50% discount to its sector and 83% below its five-year highs [12]