5 Low Price-to-Book Stocks That Are Worth Watching in February

Core Insights - Identifying true value stocks requires thorough fundamental analysis beyond just key financial indicators like earnings per share and sales growth [1] Valuation Metrics - Investors often use valuation measures such as price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) ratios, but the price-to-book (P/B) ratio is also a valuable tool for spotting attractively priced stocks with growth potential [2] - The P/B ratio is calculated as market capitalization divided by book value of equity, helping to identify low-priced stocks with high-growth prospects [2][6] - 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 [6][8] Book Value Definition - Book value represents the total value remaining for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities [4] - It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets, often equating to common stockholders' equity [5] Limitations of P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is particularly useful for industries like finance and manufacturing but can be misleading for companies with significant R&D expenditures or high debt [9] - 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 [8][9] Screening Parameters - Stocks with a P/B ratio lower than the industry median are considered to have potential for price appreciation [12] - A lower P/S ratio compared to the industry average makes a stock more attractive [12] - A P/E ratio lower than the industry median is also a favorable indicator [13] - A PEG ratio of less than one indicates undervaluation with promising growth prospects [14] - Stocks should have a current price of at least $5 and a trading volume of over 100,000 for liquidity [15] Selected Low P/B Stocks - Invesco (IVZ) has a Zacks Rank of 1, a Value Score of B, and a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 20.9% [16] - Harmony Biosciences (HRMY) holds a Zacks Rank of 1, a Value Score of A, and a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 27.11% [17] - Concentrix (CNXC) has a Zacks Rank of 2, a Value Score of A, and a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 8.76% [17] - Patria Investments Limited (PAX) has a Zacks Rank of 1, a Value Score of A, and a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 15.39% [18] - Global Payments (GPN) has a Zacks Rank of 2, a Value Score of A, and a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.54% [19]