Price/Sales ratio

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5 Stocks Brokers Adore Even as Economic Uncertainty Lingers
ZACKS· 2025-07-17 13:45
Market Overview - Volatility in the U.S. stock market is expected to continue due to uncertainty regarding interest rate cuts, new tariffs, and geopolitical tensions, complicating portfolio management for individual investors [1] Investment Strategy - Selecting inappropriate stocks can negatively affect returns, undermining investment goals; adhering to broker advice is suggested as brokers possess extensive knowledge of stocks and the broader economy [2] Recommended Stocks - Broker-friendly stocks identified for potential healthy returns include BrightSpring Health Services (BTSG), GXO Logistics (GXO), BrightView Holdings (BV), Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) [3][9] Screening Methodology - A screening strategy was developed to identify stocks based on improving broker recommendations and upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past four weeks, incorporating the price/sales ratio as a valuation metric [4] Screening Criteria - The screening criteria include: - Top 75 companies with net upgrades in broker ratings over the last four weeks [5] - Top 10 stocks with positive earnings estimate revisions for the upcoming quarter [5] - Bottom 10% of stocks based on price/sales ratio [5] - Stocks priced above $5 to attract investor interest [5] - Average daily volume exceeding 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days [6] - Top 3000 stocks by market capitalization [6] Company Highlights - **BrightSpring Health Services (BTSG)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 55.4% for 2025, with a projected revenue increase of 9.1% over 2024; currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [7][9] - **GXO Logistics (GXO)**: Benefits from increased e-commerce and cost-cutting efforts; projected revenue growth of 9.9% for 2025; currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [10][11] - **BrightView Holdings (BV)**: Largest commercial landscaper in the U.S., with expected earnings growth of 10.5% for 2025; currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 [12][13] - **Bloomin' Brands (BLMN)**: Performance driven by off-premise channels and technology upgrades; Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings revised upward by 1.7% [14][15] - **Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)**: Focus on flexitarian diets and sustainable materials; currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 [16][17]
NIO Trading Below 5-Year Average P/S: Time to Buy, Sell or Hold?
ZACKS· 2025-07-07 15:10
Core Viewpoint - NIO Inc. is currently undervalued with a forward price/sales ratio of 0.46X, significantly lower than its five-year average of 1.63X, and faces operational inefficiencies and high leverage that raise concerns about its future prospects [1][5][14]. Financial Performance - NIO's shares have underperformed over the past year, declining by 21.3%, while competitors XPeng and Li Auto have seen gains of 153% and 28.5%, respectively [3]. - The company's long-term debt to capital ratio is 0.76, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 0.28, indicating elevated leverage that limits financial flexibility [9]. Operational Challenges - NIO has expanded its vehicle lineup with the ONVO brand, but sales performance has not met expectations, leading to challenges in managing the product and vehicle margins [7]. - SG&A expenses increased by 46.8% year-over-year, contributing to operational inefficiencies and high operating costs that are expected to continue [8]. Growth Prospects - NIO forecasts Q2 deliveries of 72,000 to 75,000 vehicles, representing a year-over-year growth of 25.5% to 30.7%, supported by an expanding vehicle portfolio and strategic initiatives [11]. - Vehicle margins improved to 10.2% in Q1 2025 from 9.2% in Q1 2024, driven by lower material costs per unit, indicating a positive trend [11]. Product Launches - The launch of the NIO ET9, which surpassed competitors in sales during its initial months, along with new models like ES6 and EC6, is expected to enhance overall vehicle margins [10][12]. - The company aims to achieve breakeven by Q4 2025, which is viewed as a positive indicator for future performance [13][15].