NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Average weekly trading volume of approximately 580,845 sharesFund's adviser has more than 50 years of small- and micro-cap investment experienceCLOSING PRICES AS OF 08/31/25NAV11.54MKT10.17AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF 08/31/25NAV (%)MKT (%)One-Month*7.257.39Year to Date*9.648.81One-Year12.7412.85Three-Year13.8213.45Five-Year12.7013.6910-Year11.3511.81*Not AnnualizedImportant Performance and Expense InformationAll performance information reflects past performance ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Â CLOSING PRICES AS OF 08/31/25 | NAV | 11.54 | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | MKT | 10.17 | | | | | AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF 08/31/25 | NAV (%) | MKT (%) | | One-Month* | | 7.25 | 7.39 | | Year to Date* | | 9.64 | 8.81 | | One-Year | | 12.74 | 12.85 | | Three-Year | | 13.82 | 13.45 | | Five-Year | | 12.70 | 13.69 | | 10-Year | | 11.35 | 11.81 | *Not Annualized Important Performance and Expense Information All performan ...

NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --  Average weekly trading volume of approximately 660,208 shares Fund's adviser has more than 50 years of small- and micro-cap investment experience CLOSING PRICES AS OF 07/31/25 NAV 10.76 MKT 9.47 AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF 07/31/25 NAV (%) MKT (%) One-Month* 1.89 2.38 Year to Date* 2.23 1.32 One-Year 4.46 3.60 Three-Year 10.51 9.98 Five-Year 12.47 13.60 10-Year 10.08 10.33 *Not Annualized Important Perfor ...

Core Insights - RLI Corp. shares have decreased by 9.6% over the past year, underperforming compared to the Finance sector and the S&P 500, which returned 16% and 14.3% respectively [1] - The stock is currently trading at $68.40, approximately 25% below its 52-week high of $91.14, and below both the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages [1] Valuation - RLI's forward 12-month price-to-book ratio stands at 3.62X, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.53X [2] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 7.3% year-over-year increase in RLI's earnings per share for 2025, with revenues expected to reach $1.77 billion, reflecting a 6.3% improvement [3] - For 2026, revenue estimates indicate a further increase of 3.4% compared to 2025 [3] Return on Capital - RLI's return on equity (ROE) has improved to 15.8%, well above the industry average of 7.6%, indicating effective utilization of shareholders' funds [4] Price Target and Upside Potential - The average price target for RLI, based on short-term estimates from three analysts, is $74 per share, suggesting an 8.9% upside from the last closing price [5] Business Strengths - RLI has maintained 29 consecutive years of underwriting profitability, showcasing its operational strength [7][10] - The company has a strong dividend history, having raised regular dividends for 50 years and paid special dividends since 2011, making it appealing to yield-seeking investors [11] Strategic Initiatives - RLI is focused on product diversification, introducing new products, and expanding distribution, which positions the company for improved top-line growth [9] - A conservative underwriting and reserving policy allows RLI to achieve favorable reserve releases despite incurring catastrophe losses [10] Financial Health - RLI is enhancing its balance sheet by improving liquidity and leverage, which supports its long-term operational capabilities and book value growth [12] Conclusion - RLI is recognized as one of the most profitable property and casualty writers in the industry, with a strong local branch network and a focus on specialty insurance lines contributing to its profitability [13]

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of the price-to-book (P/B) ratio in value investing, highlighting its utility in identifying undervalued stocks with strong growth potential [1][2]. Group 1: Understanding P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is calculated by dividing the current stock price by the book value per share, indicating how much investors pay for each dollar of book value [2][6]. - A P/B ratio of less than one suggests that a stock is undervalued, while a ratio greater than one indicates it may be overvalued [6][7]. - 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 expenses or negative earnings [9][10]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - Five stocks identified as having low P/B ratios include StoneCo (STNE), CVS Health (CVS), KT Corporation (KT), KB Financial Group (KB), and USANA Health Sciences (USNA) [11][16]. - These stocks have Zacks Rank 1 or 2 and Value Scores of A or B, with projected EPS growth rates ranging from 11.9% to 49.9%, indicating strong potential [11][17][19][20][21]. Group 3: Screening Parameters - Screening parameters for identifying attractive stocks include P/B ratio less than the industry median, P/S ratio less than the industry median, and P/E ratio less than the industry median [12][13]. - A PEG ratio of less than 1 indicates undervaluation relative to future growth prospects, while a minimum stock price of $5 and an average trading volume of at least 100,000 are also considered [14][15].

Core Insights - The Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio is a valuation metric that compares a company's market capitalization to its book value, helping investors identify undervalued stocks with strong fundamentals [1][2][6] - The P/B ratio is particularly useful in value investing, where investors seek stocks that are cheap yet fundamentally strong [1][10] - 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 [6][8] Understanding Book Value - Book value represents the total value remaining for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities [4][5] - It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets, often equating to common stockholders' equity [5] P/B Ratio Analysis - The P/B ratio is calculated as market capitalization divided by book value of equity, providing insight into whether a stock is under- or overvalued [2][6] - Stocks with low P/B ratios and strong projected earnings growth are considered attractive investment opportunities [10][16] Screening Parameters for Investment - Stocks should have a P/B ratio lower than the industry median, a P/S ratio below the industry average, and a P/E ratio using F(1) estimates that is also lower than the industry median [12][13] - A PEG ratio of less than 1 indicates that a stock is undervalued relative to its growth prospects, while a minimum trading price of $5 and a substantial average trading volume are also recommended [14][15] Notable Stocks with Low P/B Ratios - CVS Health (CVS) has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.4% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [16] - Signet Jewelers (SIG) has a projected EPS growth rate of 12.2% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [17] - KB Financial Group (KB) has a projected EPS growth rate of 12.33% and a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of B [18] - Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) has a projected EPS growth rate of 14.2% and a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [19] - PagSeguro Digital (PAGS) has a projected EPS growth rate of 11.3% and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 with a Value Score of A [21]

Core Viewpoint - Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF) is currently experiencing a short-term bullish trend, trading above its 200-day simple moving average, with a share price of $146.09 as of July 8, 2025, which is down 9.6% from its 52-week high of $161.75 [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - CINF has a market capitalization of $22.83 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [3]. - The company’s shares have gained 22.7% over the past year, outperforming the Finance sector and the S&P 500, which returned 19.1% and 10.2% respectively [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CINF's 2025 revenues is $11.14 billion, indicating an 11.9% year-over-year improvement [9]. - Earnings have grown 15.8% over the past five years, with CINF beating earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, averaging a surprise of 39.04% [9]. Group 2: Growth and Valuation - CINF is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-book ratio of 1.67X, above the industry average of 1.53X [10]. - The consensus estimates for 2026 earnings per share and revenues indicate increases of 55% and 8.1% respectively from the 2025 estimates [9]. - The average price target from six analysts for CINF is $152.83 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 45% from the last closing price [12]. Group 3: Dividend and Capital Management - CINF has a strong history of returning capital to shareholders, with 65 consecutive years of dividend increases and a current yield of 2.3%, which is above the industry average of 0.2% [17]. - The company’s free cash flow conversion has remained above 150% over the last few quarters, reflecting solid earnings [16]. Group 4: Strategic Advantages - CINF benefits from prudent pricing, an agent-centric model, and disciplined growth in Cincinnati Re, which supports premium growth [8][14]. - The Excess and Surplus line has performed well, benefiting from new business premiums and higher renewal pricing [15]. - The company is leveraging technology and data to identify new exposures in emerging businesses, which should enhance its growth prospects [15].

Core Insights - American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) has underperformed compared to its industry and broader market indices over the past year, with a share price increase of 6.5% versus 16.9% for the Finance sector and 21.1% for the Zacks S&P 500 composite [1] - AFG's current market capitalization stands at $10.64 billion, with a recent share price of $127.43, which is 15.1% lower than its 52-week high of $150.19 [2] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-book ratio of 2.43X, significantly above the industry average of 1.55X, indicating an expensive valuation [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects AFG's revenues for 2025 to be $8.21 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 2.1% [4] - AFG has maintained a combined ratio better than the industry average for over 20 years, with a target of 92.5% for 2025 [7] - The company has a strong dividend history, with 18 consecutive years of increases and a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% [16][17] - Analysts have shown bearish sentiment, with three out of four lowering their earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 over the past 60 days [8] - The average price target from analysts suggests a potential upside of 5.5% from the last closing price, with a target of $132.20 per share [9] - AFG's return on equity (ROE) has improved, currently at 18.3%, compared to the industry average of 7.8% [11] - The company is well-positioned for growth due to new business opportunities, a favorable renewal rate environment, and strategic acquisitions [12][19]

Core Concept - The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is a key metric for value investors to identify undervalued stocks with potential for exceptional returns, calculated as market price per share divided by book value per share [1][5] Understanding Book Value - 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] P/B Ratio Insights - A P/B ratio under 1.0 indicates a potentially undervalued stock, while a ratio above 1.0 suggests overvaluation [5][6] - Stocks with low P/B ratios can indicate strong growth prospects, but a low ratio may also reflect weak asset returns or overstated assets [7][8] Screening Parameters for Value Stocks - Stocks should have a P/B ratio lower than the industry median, a P/S ratio below the industry median, and a P/E ratio using F(1) estimates lower than the industry median [11][12] - A PEG ratio under 1 indicates undervaluation relative to growth prospects, and stocks must trade at a minimum price of $5 [13] - High trading volume and favorable Zacks Rank (1 or 2) are also important criteria for screening [14] Identified Low P/B Stocks - Centene Corporation (CNC) has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 11.5% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [16] - CVS Health (CVS) has a projected EPS growth rate of 11.4% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of A [16] - The ODP Corporation (ODP) has a projected EPS growth rate of 14% and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 with a Value Score of A [17] - StoneCo (STNE) has a projected EPS growth rate of 25.3% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 with a Value Score of B [18] - Paysafe Limited (PSFE) has a projected EPS growth rate of 17.9% and holds a Zacks Rank of 1 with a Value Score of A [19]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) ratios, is a strategic approach to identify potential investment opportunities [1][3] - The P/S ratio is especially useful for evaluating unprofitable companies or those in early growth stages, as it reflects the value of revenue generated [3][9] Price-to-Sales Ratio - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates that investors are paying less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue, making it a favorable investment [4] - The P/S ratio is preferred over the P/E ratio because sales figures are less susceptible to manipulation compared to earnings [5] - It is important to analyze the P/S ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics such as P/E, price-to-book, and debt-to-equity ratios before making investment decisions [6] Screening Parameters - Companies with a P/S ratio less than the median for their industry are considered better investments [7] - Additional screening parameters include a P/E ratio below the industry median, a price-to-book ratio below the industry median, and a debt-to-equity ratio below the industry median [8] Company Highlights - **JAKKS Pacific (JAKK)**: A multi-brand company benefiting from acquisitions and a strong international presence, focusing on online retailing and digital experiences. It has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [10][11] - **Green Dot (GDOT)**: A leader in prepaid cards and Banking-as-a-Service, with a strong balance sheet and low debt. It has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [12][13] - **Signet Jewelers (SIG)**: A leading retailer of diamond jewelry, demonstrating strength in bridal and fashion segments, with effective inventory management and cost-saving initiatives. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [14][15] - **Gibraltar Industries (ROCK)**: Focused on operational improvements and benefiting from high demand in agricultural facilities. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [16][17] - **Pfizer (PFE)**: A major pharmaceutical company expecting growth in non-COVID operational revenue driven by new product launches and acquisitions. It has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Value Score of A [18][19]