5 Low Price-to-Book Stocks to Buy as 2025 Comes to a Close

Core Insights - Value investors often use the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to identify value stocks, but for loss-making companies with negative P/E ratios, the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is utilized to assess their true value [1] - The price-to-book (P/B) ratio, while less commonly used, serves as an effective tool for identifying low-priced stocks with high return potential [1] P/B Ratio Calculation - The P/B ratio is calculated as market capitalization divided by book value of equity, helping to identify low-priced stocks with promising growth prospects [2] - A P/B ratio of less than one indicates that a stock is undervalued, while a ratio greater than one suggests it may be overvalued [5][6] Understanding Book Value - Book value represents the total value remaining for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities [3] - It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets, often equating to common stockholders' equity [4] Limitations of P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is particularly relevant for industries like finance and manufacturing but can be misleading for companies with significant R&D expenses or high debt [8] - A P/B ratio of less than one may indicate weak returns on assets or overstated assets, while a ratio above one could suggest the stock is a takeover target [7] Screening Parameters for Low P/B Stocks - Stocks with a P/B ratio lower than the industry median are considered attractive for potential gains [11] - Additional screening includes P/S and P/E ratios below industry medians, a PEG ratio less than 1, and a minimum stock price of $5 [12][13][14] Recommended Low P/B Stocks - AES Corporation (AES) is a global power company with a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.2% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [15] - BorgWarner (BWA) specializes in clean technology for vehicles, with a projected EPS growth rate of 10.2% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [16] - EnerSys (ENS) manufactures industrial batteries, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 and a projected EPS growth rate of 15.0% [17] - PG&E Corporation (PCG) is California's largest utility, with a projected EPS growth rate of 15.9% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [18] - Keros Therapeutics (KROS) is a biotech firm with a projected EPS growth rate of 36.5% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [19]