I’ve been bullish on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL ) (NASDAQ: GOOG ) a number of years, but I’ve been somewhat on the fence the last year or so, concerned about the potential disruption toEarly 30s 'buy and hold' investor trying to achieve financial freedom to the greatest extent possible. Main focus within dividend growth investing & value. I've been investing for 10+ years and worked across several industries including finance, logistics, oil and pharma. Holding a Graduate Diploma within Accounting and MSc ...

Group 1: Edenred SE (EDNMY) - Edenred is a digital platform for services and payments for companies, employees, and merchants [1] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of B [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 2.9% over the last 60 days [1] - Edenred has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 11.12, significantly lower than the industry average of 32.80 [1] Group 2: Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) - Tenet Healthcare is a diversified healthcare services company [2] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased nearly 3% over the last 60 days [2] - Tenet Healthcare has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 12.11, compared to 23.85 for the S&P 500 [2] Group 3: Mercantile Bank Corporation (MBWM) - Mercantile Bank is a bank holding company for Mercantile Bank of Michigan [3] - The company carries a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of B [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 2.9% over the last 60 days [3] - Mercantile Bank has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.81, which is lower than the S&P 500 average of 23.85 [3]

A low valuation doesn't inherently mean a stock is worth buying, but it certainly doesn't hurt the bullish case.How much does a stock's valuation matter? Most investors will at least look at the metric. By and large, however, most investors also know there's not much correlation between a stock's price (relative to earnings) and that ticker's performance. Expensive stocks can and do continue to rally, while cheap stocks are often cheap for good reason.Sometimes, though, a bargain is too good to ignore -- ev ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway from a struggling textiles company into a holding company managing a $292 billion portfolio of stocks and securities [1] - Buffett's largest investment is in Apple, totaling approximately $38 billion from 2016 to 2023, indicating a strong preference for the tech giant [2] - Despite significant investments in Apple, Buffett has invested over $77.8 billion in share buybacks since 2018, showcasing his strategy of returning value to shareholders [9] Investment Strategy - Buffett favors companies with steady growth, reliable profits, and strong management, particularly those with shareholder-friendly initiatives like dividends and buybacks [5] - The Coca-Cola investment exemplifies Buffett's strategy, with an initial investment of $1.3 billion now valued at $27.8 billion, alongside $776 million in dividends received in 2024 [6] - Berkshire's investment in Apple has yielded substantial profits, with the initial $38 billion investment now worth over $170 billion, representing half of Berkshire's total stock portfolio [7] Share Buybacks - Buffett has authorized $77.8 billion in buybacks since 2018, which is his preferred method of returning capital to shareholders [9] - No buybacks have occurred in the last three quarters, possibly due to Berkshire's stock reaching new highs, with a current price-to-sales ratio of 2.47, a 22% premium over its 10-year average [10] - Berkshire maintains $347 billion in liquidity, allowing for potential future buybacks when deemed appropriate [12] Future Outlook - Buffett announced plans to step down as CEO by the end of 2025, leaving significant decisions to his successor, Greg Abel, while continuing as chairman [13] - The impressive 4,470,000% gain in Berkshire stock from 1965 to 2024 translates to a compound annual return of 19.9%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 10.4% [14] - The substantial cash reserves position Berkshire for continued market outperformance under future leadership [15]

For in-depth and deep dive research on the casino and gmaing sector, subscribe to The House Edge . New: Free excerpts from our book in progress "The Smartest ever Guide to Gaming Stocks" - free to existing members and new subscribers.Howard Jay Klein has 30 years of experience as an executive and consultant in major casino operations. His background includes: Ballys, Trump Taj Mahal, Mohegan Sun, and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He is a value investor first, using management quality to inform his investment ...

Company Overview - Coca-Cola FEMSA is the largest Coca-Cola system bottler in the world by volume [1] - The company operates in 10 countries across Latin America [1] - It has more than 2 million sales outlets and offers leading brands in all its operating geographies [1]

Core Insights - Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV (GBOOY) is currently viewed as a more attractive investment option compared to Blackstone Inc. (BX) for value investors due to its stronger earnings outlook and better valuation metrics [3][7]. Valuation Metrics - GBOOY has a forward P/E ratio of 7.81, significantly lower than BX's forward P/E of 35.89, indicating that GBOOY is potentially undervalued [5]. - The PEG ratio for GBOOY is 0.91, while BX has a PEG ratio of 1.55, suggesting that GBOOY offers better value relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - GBOOY's P/B ratio stands at 1.84, compared to BX's P/B of 6.79, further highlighting GBOOY's favorable valuation [6]. Investment Grades - GBOOY has received a Value grade of A, while BX has been assigned a Value grade of D, reflecting the relative attractiveness of their valuations [6].

Core Insights - Investors in the Banks - Foreign sector may consider Banco Santander-Brazil (BSBR) or Erste Group Bank AG (EBKDY) as potential value opportunities [1] Valuation Metrics - Both BSBR and EBKDY hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and improving earnings outlooks [3] - BSBR has a forward P/E ratio of 6.71, while EBKDY has a forward P/E of 10.71, suggesting BSBR is more attractively priced [5] - BSBR's PEG ratio is 0.61, compared to EBKDY's PEG ratio of 0.90, indicating BSBR may offer better value relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - BSBR has a P/B ratio of 0.87, while EBKDY's P/B ratio is 1.16, further supporting BSBR's valuation advantage [6] - Based on these metrics, BSBR is rated with a Value grade of B, while EBKDY has a Value grade of D, highlighting BSBR as the superior value option [6]

Core Insights - Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (ELAN) is currently positioned as a more attractive investment compared to U.S. Physical Therapy (USPH) based on Zacks Rank and valuation metrics [3][7] Valuation Metrics - ELAN has a forward P/E ratio of 17.91, significantly lower than USPH's forward P/E of 30.39 [5] - The PEG ratio for ELAN is 2.93, while USPH's PEG ratio stands at 3.66, indicating ELAN's better valuation relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - ELAN's P/B ratio is 1.17, compared to USPH's P/B of 2.3, further supporting ELAN's superior valuation metrics [6] Earnings Outlook - ELAN has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting positive revisions in earnings estimates, while USPH has a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), indicating a less favorable earnings outlook [3][7] - The improving earnings outlook for ELAN is a critical factor for value investors [3]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, can identify opportunities with strong upside potential, especially for unprofitable or early-stage companies [1][2][3] Valuation Metrics - The P/S ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its revenues, providing a clearer picture of value when earnings are minimal or volatile [2][5] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue generated [6] - The P/S ratio is often preferred over the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio due to the difficulty of manipulating sales figures compared to earnings [7][10] Investment Opportunities - Companies with low P/S ratios, such as Affiliated Managers Group (AMG), The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX), Signet Jewelers (SIG), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), and PagSeguro Digital (PAGS), may offer compelling growth opportunities [4][10] - AMG is positioned for growth through partnerships and a robust balance sheet, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 and a Value Score of A [12][13] - GBX benefits from a strong market position and ongoing success in its leasing business, also holding a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - SIG demonstrates strength in key jewelry segments and has implemented cost-saving initiatives, maintaining a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [16][17] - CTSH is experiencing robust organic growth, particularly in Health Sciences and Financial Services, with a Value Score of B and Zacks Rank 2 [18][20] - PAGS is expanding its digital banking platform and adjusting credit offerings, well-positioned for long-term opportunities in Brazil's digital finance space, holding a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [21][22]