4 Value Stocks to Buy as Markets Eye Earnings and Government Shutdown

Market Overview - The S&P 500 dropped 0.28% to 6,735.11, the Nasdaq slipped 0.08% to 23,024.63, and the Dow fell 243.36 points, or 0.52%, closing at 46,358.42 due to concerns over the ongoing U.S. government shutdown [1] - Investors are closely monitoring the potential impacts of the shutdown on economic activity and corporate results, leading to a cautious market sentiment [1] Value Investing Insights - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is highlighted as an effective valuation metric for assessing value stocks, with a lower P/CF indicating better value and strong cash generation potential [2][3] - Analysts emphasize that cash flow is a more reliable indicator of a company's financial health compared to earnings, which can be subject to manipulation [4] Selection Criteria for Value Stocks - Parameters for selecting true-value stocks include: - P/CF less than or equal to the industry median - Price greater than or equal to $5 - Average 20-Day Volume greater than 100,000 - P/E using (F1) less than or equal to the industry median [7][8] - Additional metrics include P/B, P/S, PEG ratios, and Zacks Rank to avoid value traps and identify stocks with strong upside potential [6][10] Featured Value Stocks - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.5% and a Value Score of B, with expected sales and EPS growth of 9.8% and 20% respectively [12][11] - Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.3% and a Value Score of B, with expected sales and EPS growth of 7.8% and 20.4% respectively [13][12] - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.4% and a Value Score of A, with expected sales and EPS growth of 8.5% and 23% respectively [15][14] - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.3% and a Value Score of A, with expected sales and EPS growth of 9% and 21.4% respectively [16][15]