As of 2025, I've got over 10 years of researching companies. In total, throughout my investing life, I estimate that I researched (in depth) well over 1000 companies, from commodities like oil, natural gas, gold and copper to tech like Google or Nokia and many emerging market stocks, which I believe could help me provide useful content for readers. After writing my own blog for about 3 years, I decided to switch to a value investing-focused YouTube channel, where I researched hundreds of different companies ...

Key Takeaways A December screen applies P/B, P/S, P/E and PEG to identify five value stocks above $5 with strong liquidity.StoneCo, General Motors, EnerSys, Deutsche Bank and Keros Therapeutics trade below industry P/B medians.The screen stresses comparing P/B within industries and pairing it with other valuation ratios.There are several different ways to find value stocks. Among these, the most popular are the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) and price-to-sales ratio (P/S). However, investors often overlook t ...

Core Insights - Fintech is fundamentally transforming the global financial landscape by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and inclusivity in financial services [1][4] Financial Inclusion - Fintech has significantly increased financial inclusion, enabling millions of unbanked and underbanked individuals, especially in emerging economies, to access financial services through mobile banking apps and digital wallets [2] Payment and Lending Transformation - The sector is revolutionizing payments and lending with real-time payments, contactless transactions, and blockchain solutions, which lower costs and improve transparency [3] - Alternative lending platforms utilize data analytics and AI for credit assessments, facilitating quicker loan approvals and broader credit access for small businesses and individuals [3] Wealth Management and Insurance Innovation - Fintech is driving innovation in wealth management through robo-advisors that offer low-cost, automated investment solutions, and in insurance via insurtech firms that provide personalized products based on data insights [3] Company Highlights: StoneCo - StoneCo is focusing on its core operations, targeting a total addressable market in payments, banking, and credit estimated at BRL 100 billion [6] - The company is enhancing profitability through a focused strategy, rising client engagement, and a growing banking ecosystem [7] - StoneCo's MSMB payments segment is expanding, supported by increased adoption of PIX QR Code transactions and card payments [8] - The banking ecosystem is gaining traction with a steady rise in active banking clients and deposits, providing a stable funding source [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo's 2026 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 2.6% and 17.1%, respectively [10] Company Highlights: Block - Block is building a comprehensive fintech ecosystem through Square and Cash App, delivering solutions across payments, commerce, banking, investing, and lending [11] - Square is experiencing strong growth in gross payment volume and profit, while introducing new capabilities like Square AI [12] - Cash App has evolved into an all-in-one financial platform, enhancing user engagement with features like group payments and buy-now-pay-later options [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Block's 2026 sales and EPS suggests year-over-year growth of 10.7% and 40.3%, respectively [14] Company Highlights: PayPal - PayPal is transitioning into a full-scale commerce platform, introducing tools like PayPal Ads Manager for small businesses [15] - The PayPal World platform unifies major payment systems, providing merchants access to a vast customer base [16] - PayPal is expanding into AI-driven commerce and deeper crypto integration, positioning itself as a core player in digital commerce [17] - Venmo is a key driver of growth for PayPal, particularly among younger users, with increasing usage of branded experiences and payments [18] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PayPal's 2026 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 5.2% and 9.7%, respectively [19]

Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) showcases a strong financial position with a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 14.58%, outperforming its Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of 11.56%.StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) leads in efficiency with an impressive ROIC of 38.53% against a WACC of 10.70%, indicating superior capital management.SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) and others show challenges in generating returns above their cost of capital, highlighting the competitive and varied landscape of digital banking platforms. ...

Key Takeaways Block shares are down 28.1% YTD amid intensifying competition across digital payments and consumer finance.Block faces macro pressures, rising wallet rivals and added volatility from its bitcoin-related strategy.Square posts steady GPV and gross profit gains while Cash App expands with new tools, services and features.Block (XYZ) shares have dropped 28.2% year to date, which can be attributed to intensifying competition in the fintech industry. XYZ stock has not only underperformed its peers, ...

Core Insights - Investors primarily utilize price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) ratios for stock evaluation, while the price-to-book (P/B) ratio serves as an additional metric for identifying undervalued stocks with growth potential [1][5][10] Group 1: P/B Ratio and Its Importance - The P/B ratio is defined as the ratio of stock price to book value, calculated as market capitalization divided by book value of equity [2] - A P/B ratio of less than one indicates that a stock is trading below its book value, suggesting it may be undervalued and a good buy [5] - Conversely, a P/B ratio greater than one suggests the stock may be overvalued [5][6] Group 2: Book Value Definition - 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, equating to common stockholders' equity on the balance sheet [4] Group 3: Limitations of P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is particularly useful for industries with tangible assets, such as finance and manufacturing, but may be misleading for companies with high R&D expenses or significant debt [8] - A low P/B ratio could indicate weak asset returns or overstated assets, while a high P/B may suggest a company is a takeover target [7] Group 4: Stocks with Low P/B Ratios - StoneCo (STNE) has a low P/B ratio with a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 30.3% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [9][15] - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) also features a low P/B ratio with a projected EPS growth rate of 12.0% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [9][16] - Keros Therapeutics (KROS) is highlighted with a projected EPS growth rate of 23.6% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [9][20] Group 5: Screening Parameters for Investment - Screening for stocks involves comparing P/B, P/S, and P/E ratios against industry medians to identify attractive investment opportunities [11][12][13] - A PEG ratio of less than 1 indicates undervaluation relative to future growth prospects [13] - Stocks should have a minimum trading price of $5 and a substantial average trading volume for liquidity [14]

Market Overview - Major U.S. indices rose before Thanksgiving, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 314.67 points to close at 47,427.12, the S&P 500 increasing by 46.73 points to settle at 6,812.61, and the Nasdaq Composite outperforming with a gain of 0.82% to finish at 23,214.69 [1] Federal Reserve Policy Impact - Market momentum was driven by shifting expectations regarding Federal Reserve policy, with growing confidence that interest rate cuts may occur as soon as next month, fostering optimism [2] - Easing concerns about an overvalued artificial intelligence sector contributed to improved market sentiment [2] Value Stocks Opportunity - Value stocks are seen as appealing due to the potential benefits of lower borrowing costs for companies with stable earnings and discounted valuations [2] - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is highlighted as an effective valuation metric for evaluating value stocks, indicating better value when lower [3][4] Financial Health Indicators - P/CF stands out because it reflects a company's financial health by adding back non-cash charges to net income, making it a more reliable measure than earnings, which can be subject to manipulation [4][5] - Positive cash flow indicates increased liquid assets, allowing companies to manage debt, expenses, and reinvestment, while negative cash flow suggests declining liquidity [6] Value Investing Strategy - A comprehensive investment strategy should include multiple metrics such as price-to-book, price-to-earnings, and price-to-sales ratios, along with a favorable Zacks Rank and Value Score to avoid value traps [7] - Parameters for selecting true-value stocks include a P/CF ratio less than or equal to the industry median, a minimum stock price of $5, and an average 20-day trading volume greater than 100,000 [8] Highlighted Value Stocks - Four value stocks with low P/CF ratios were identified: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), StoneCo Ltd. (STNE), PG&E Corporation (PCG), and EnerSys (ENS), all showing year-over-year sales and EPS growth projections [9] - Each of these stocks holds a Value Score of A or B and ranks in the top two Zacks Ranks, indicating strong potential [9] Company-Specific Insights - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 65.5% and is projected to see sales and EPS growth of 11.6% and 31%, respectively [12][13] - StoneCo (STNE) has a trailing earnings surprise of 9.1% and is expected to grow sales and EPS by 12.7% and 27.4%, respectively, with shares having rallied 68% in the past year [13][14] - PG&E Corporation (PCG) has a trailing earnings surprise of 0.5% and is projected for sales and EPS growth of 6.7% and 10.3%, respectively, although shares have declined 26% in the past year [14][15] - EnerSys (ENS) has a trailing earnings surprise of 4.9% and is expected to see sales and EPS growth of 4% and 1.3%, respectively, with shares surging 47.8% in the past year [15][16]

Core Insights - Docusign (DOCU) has transitioned from an e-signature product to an Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform, aiming to capture the entire lifecycle of agreements, with early financial metrics indicating success [1] Financial Performance - Docusign reported $800.6 million in revenue for Q2 fiscal 2026, marking a 9% year-over-year increase, while billings grew by 13% compared to the same quarter last year, driven by demand for the AI-driven IAM platform [2] - The dollar net retention rate increased to 102% in Q2 fiscal 2026 from 101% in the previous quarter, and up from 99% year-over-year, indicating strong customer inclination towards the IAM platform [3] - Gross margin and operating margin improved by 40 basis points and 20 basis points, respectively, with free cash flow rising to $217.6 million from $197.9 million in the same quarter last year, showcasing financial efficiency during the business model transformation [4] Market Performance - Docusign's stock has declined by 26% over the past six months, underperforming its industry, which saw a 3.7% dip, and also lagging behind competitors Appian (APPN) and StoneCo (STNE), which experienced growth of 27.6% and 8.6%, respectively [5] Valuation Metrics - Docusign trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.83, which is lower than the industry average of 4.61, but higher than Appian's 3.77 and StoneCo's 1.49 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOCU's fiscal 2026 EPS is $3.69, with a slight increase over the past 60 days, and for fiscal 2027, the estimate is $4.06, also reflecting a marginal rise [12]

Core Insights - Value investors traditionally use the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to identify value stocks, but for loss-making companies, the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is more relevant. The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is also a useful tool for identifying undervalued stocks with high return potential [1][5][9]. Valuation Ratios - 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][5]. - A P/B ratio of less than one indicates that a stock is trading below its book value, suggesting it may be undervalued, while a ratio above one may indicate overvaluation [5][6]. - The P/B ratio is particularly useful for industries with tangible assets, such as finance and manufacturing, but can be misleading for companies with high R&D expenses or significant debt [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, calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets [3][4]. Screening Parameters - Stocks with a P/B ratio lower than the industry median are considered to have potential for price appreciation [11]. - Additional screening criteria include a P/S ratio below the industry median, a P/E ratio below the industry median, a PEG ratio less than 1, a current price of at least $5, an average 20-day volume of at least 100,000, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 [12][13][14]. Selected Stocks - Five stocks identified with low P/B ratios and solid growth potential include: - **StoneCo (STNE)**: Financial technology solutions provider with a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 30.3% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [15]. - **Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD)**: Largest U.S. dredging services provider with a projected EPS growth rate of 12.0% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [16]. - **EnerSys (ENS)**: Manufacturer of industrial batteries with a projected EPS growth rate of 15.0% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [17]. - **MillerKnoll (MLKN)**: Design solutions provider with a projected EPS growth rate of 12.0% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [17]. - **Keros Therapeutics (KROS)**: Clinical-stage biotech with a projected EPS growth rate of 23.6% and a Zacks Rank of 1 [18].

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with strong momentum characteristics and a buy rank, including Interactive Brokers Group, NatWest Group, and StoneCo Ltd [1][2][3] Group 1: Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a 5.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Shares gained 40.1% over the last six months, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of 16.9% [1] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [1] Group 2: NatWest Group plc (NWG) - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a 13.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Shares gained 9.7% over the past three months, while the S&P 500 declined by 6.0% [2] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of B [2] Group 3: StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a 10.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - Shares gained 12.6% over the last three months, compared to the S&P 500's decline of 6.0% [3] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of A [3]