The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being under ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of value investing and highlights Vontier (VNT) as a strong candidate for value investors due to its attractive valuation metrics and earnings outlook [2][4][7] Company Analysis - Vontier (VNT) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and an A grade for Value, indicating strong potential for value investors [4] - The Forward P/E ratio of VNT is 10.95, significantly lower than the industry average of 22.79, suggesting it is undervalued [4] - Over the past 12 months, VNT's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 8.65 and 12.96, with a median of 11.28 [4] - VNT's P/B ratio stands at 4.75, compared to the industry's average P/B of 6.65, further indicating its attractiveness [5] - The P/B ratio for VNT has ranged from 3.75 to 6.21 in the past 52 weeks, with a median of 5.12 [5] - VNT has a P/S ratio of 1.78, which is lower than the industry's average P/S of 1.9, reinforcing its undervalued status [6] Industry Context - The article discusses the broader trend of value investing, which focuses on identifying undervalued companies through traditional valuation metrics [2][3] - The Zacks Style Scores system is mentioned as a tool to identify stocks with specific traits, particularly in the Value category [3]

Core Insights - Kingstone Companies (KINS) shares have declined 2.7% year-to-date, underperforming the industry increase of 6.6% and trading at a discount to its 52-week high [1][8] - The company is the 12th largest homeowner insurer in New York with a market share of 2.1% and a market capitalization of $210 million [3] - KINS shares are trading at a premium to the industry with a price-to-book value of 2.45X compared to the industry average of 1.56X [6] Financial Performance - The 2025 EPS outlook is projected between $1.75 and $2.15, reflecting growth driven by rising premiums and strict underwriting [8][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $1.90, indicating a 31% increase on revenues of $214 million, with 2026 earnings expected to be $2.45, a 29% increase on revenues of $238.4 million [10] - Kingstone returned to profitability in 2024 with a projected combined ratio of 81%-85% in 2025, showing significant improvement in net margins [15] Market Position and Strategy - Kingstone is positioned to benefit from favorable industry trends, particularly with the Northeastern U.S. commercial insurance market expected to grow by 12.3% through 2025 [12] - The company is executing a focused growth strategy by concentrating on its core business and divesting from non-core segments [13] - Kingstone has realigned its pricing strategy in response to inflation, projecting a 15% to 25% increase in direct written premiums for its core business in 2025 [14] Efficiency and Returns - The return on equity (ROE) for Kingstone in the trailing 12 months was 31.9%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.8% [16] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 29.4%, also above the industry average of 5.9%, indicating effective utilization of funds [18] Growth Potential - Kingstone's focus on improving pricing, combined ratio, and expanding margins is expected to drive strong earnings growth [19] - The average target price for KINS shares is $19, reflecting a 26.7% upside potential from its last closing price [19]

Core Insights - Investors in the Medical - Instruments sector may consider Fresenius (FMS) or RxSight, Inc. (RXST) as potential undervalued stocks [1] Valuation Metrics - Fresenius has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while RxSight, Inc. has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3] - FMS has a forward P/E ratio of 12.19, significantly lower than RXST's forward P/E of 2,025.00, suggesting FMS is more attractively priced [5] - The PEG ratio for FMS is 1.09, while RXST's PEG ratio is 53.43, indicating FMS has a better growth outlook relative to its valuation [5] - FMS has a P/B ratio of 0.97, compared to RXST's P/B of 1.96, further supporting FMS as the more undervalued option [6] - Based on these valuation metrics, FMS holds a Value grade of B, while RXST has a Value grade of F, reinforcing FMS as the superior value option [6]

Group 1 - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within a 30-day timeframe, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum [2][9] - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors seeking undervalued opportunities [3] - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected earnings and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4] - The Momentum Score leverages trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to identify favorable times for investment in high-momentum stocks [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investment strategies [6] Group 2 - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that uses earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, ensuring higher potential for success [9] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial when selecting stocks, as a stock with a lower rank may still decline despite having good Style Scores [10] Group 3 - Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) is a company that designs and markets high-performance power solutions, focusing on analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits [11] - MPWR currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, indicating moderate potential [11] - The company is projected to experience year-over-year earnings growth of 21% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions from analysts [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MPWR has increased by $0.11 to $17.08 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 2.2%, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [12]

Market Overview - The stock market is experiencing a new wave of uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and weaker-than-expected economic data, particularly in U.S. retail sales for May [1][2] - The Israel-Iran conflict has escalated, contributing to investor unease [1] - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is a focal point, with expectations that weak economic data may lead to a more dovish stance from policymakers [2] Investment Strategy - In the current volatile market environment, a value investing approach focusing on fundamentally strong companies with reasonable prices is recommended [3] - Companies with high earnings yields are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [3] Earnings Yield Insights - Earnings yield is a key metric for assessing potential returns, calculated by dividing earnings per share by stock price [4] - A higher earnings yield may indicate undervaluation, while a lower yield could suggest overvaluation [5] - Comparing earnings yield to the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds can help determine investment worthiness [5] Screening Criteria - The primary screening criterion is an earnings yield greater than 10% [6] - Additional parameters include estimated EPS growth exceeding the S&P 500 and an average daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares [7][6] - Stocks must also have a current price of $5 or more [8] Selected Stocks - Five stocks with earnings yields above 10% and strong growth potential have been identified: - **Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN)**: Expected earnings growth of 226% and 81% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [10] - **Quanex Building Products Corporation (NX)**: Projected earnings growth of 19.6% and 14% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, also with a Zacks Rank 1 [11] - **Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 62% and 13% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [12] - **Popular, Inc. (BPOP)**: Expected earnings growth of 17% and 20% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [13] - **Priority Technology Holdings Inc. (PRTH)**: Projected earnings growth of 108% and 34% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [14]

Company Overview - Ecopetrol is a Colombian-integrated oil company involved in exploration, production, transportation, and refining of fossil fuels [1] - The company's primary operating basins are located in Colombia and Ecuador, with additional interests in Brazil and the United States [1] Investment Focus - The company is characterized by sustained free cash flows, low levels of leverage, and sustainable debt over time [1] - It targets companies in distress with high recovery potential, particularly in the oil & gas, metals, and mining sectors [1] - The focus is on emerging markets that exhibit high margins and present good medium to long-term investment opportunities [1] Shareholder Value - The company maintains a solid pro-shareholder attitude, with ongoing buyback programs and dividend distributions [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of utilizing Zacks Premium for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence in investing [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [3][4] - Each stock is rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses stocks based on projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find those with sustainable growth potential [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score evaluates stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, aiding investors in timing their purchases of high-momentum stocks [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive rating that highlights stocks with attractive value, strong growth forecasts, and promising momentum [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9] Stock Selection Strategy - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize potential success [10][11] Company Spotlight: PayPal (PYPL) - PayPal Holdings, Inc. is recognized as a leading online payment solutions provider, benefiting from a robust product portfolio and a secure transaction platform [12] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A, PayPal has a Momentum Style Score of A, and its shares have increased by 0.1% over the past four weeks [12][13] - Recent earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.10 to $5.08 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of 14% [13]

Core Insights - Value investing provides an opportunity to acquire overlooked stocks that are trading at low multiples, particularly using the price-to-book (P/B) ratio as a metric for identifying potential bargains with high-growth prospects [1][2] Understanding P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is calculated as market capitalization divided by book value of equity, helping to identify low-priced stocks with high growth potential [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] - The P/B ratio is particularly relevant for industries with tangible assets, such as finance and manufacturing, but may be misleading for companies with high R&D expenditures or significant debt [8] Screening Parameters - Stocks were screened based on several criteria, including a P/B ratio less than the industry median, a P/S ratio lower than the industry average, and a PEG ratio of less than 1, indicating undervaluation relative to growth prospects [11][12][13] - Additional criteria included a minimum current price of $5, an average 20-day trading volume of at least 100,000, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2, which indicates strong buy potential [14] Selected Stocks - Five stocks identified with low P/B ratios and strong projected EPS growth include: - **USANA Health Sciences (USNA)**: Projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 12.0%, Zacks Rank 2, Value Score A [15] - **CVS Health (CVS)**: Projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.4%, Zacks Rank 2, Value Score A [16] - **Pfizer (PFE)**: Projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 9.0%, Zacks Rank 2, Value Score A [17] - **StoneCo (STNE)**: Highest projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate at 26.3%, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [10][18] - **Paysafe Limited (PSFE)**: Projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 17.9%, Zacks Rank 2, Value Score A [19]

Core Insights - Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (BXSL) is highlighted as a recommended Business Development Company (BDC) during the market dip in April 2025, attributed to the impact of Trump's international trade policies on U.S.-China relations [1] Company Overview - The company focuses on dividend investing as a means to achieve financial freedom, emphasizing its accessibility for investors [1] - The analyst has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and business valuation, which informs their investment strategies [1] Investment Strategy - The investment approach includes financial modeling, commercial and financial due diligence, and negotiation of deal terms, indicating a thorough analysis of potential investments [1] - The sectors of focus include technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples, which form the core of the analyst's portfolio [1] Community Engagement - The motivation for sharing insights on platforms like Seeking Alpha is to enhance personal knowledge and assist others in their investment journeys, particularly in dividend investing [1]