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]

Core Insights - Wall Street experienced a rebound on November 21, 2025, with all three major stock indices rising nearly 1% due to investor optimism about a potential rate cut in December following dovish comments from John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York [1] Market Conditions - Despite the rebound, concerns over overvalued AI stocks persist, which could lead to a sell-off in the broader market at any time [2] Investment Strategy - In the current unstable environment, equity investors are advised to avoid high-priced stocks and consider dividend-growth stocks, as these companies typically exhibit strong financial health and provide a defensive hedge against economic uncertainty [3][5] - Dividend-growth stocks are characterized by a history of increasing dividends, which offers downside protection and potential for capital appreciation [5][6] Selected Dividend Growth Stocks - Five dividend growth stocks identified as solid choices include: - **Cardinal Health (CAH)**: Expected fiscal 2026 revenue growth of 16.2%, long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.98% [12][13] - **Barrick Mining (B)**: Projected 2025 revenue growth of 21.5%, long-term earnings growth rate of 38.4%, and an annual dividend yield of 1.64% [14] - **NetEase (NTES)**: Anticipated 2025 revenue growth of 10.4%, long-term earnings growth rate of 9.9%, and an annual dividend yield of 1.70% [15] - **Lam Research (LRCX)**: Expected fiscal 2026 revenue growth of 14.1%, long-term earnings growth rate of 20.3%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.73% [16] - **Enersys (ENS)**: Projected fiscal 2026 revenue growth of 4%, long-term earnings growth rate of 15%, and an annual dividend yield of 0.76% [17] Selection Criteria - The selection of these stocks is based on criteria such as multi-year growth in dividends, sales, earnings per share (EPS), and undervaluation metrics [10][11] - Stocks selected have shown historical growth in dividends, sales, and EPS, indicating strong fundamentals and potential for sustained dividend payments [8][9]

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].

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is experiencing a strong bull run, driven by economic resilience and increased CEO confidence, which reached an index of 60 in Q1 2025, indicating "confident optimism" [1] - The economy expanded by 2.8% in Q4 2024, supported by a robust labor market, while a 1% rate cut by the Federal Reserve has lowered borrowing costs, promoting business expansions and consumer spending [1] - Inflation is trending towards the Fed's 2% target, leading to optimism about further monetary easing in 2025 [1] Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to focus on relative price strength, identifying stocks that outperform their peers as market trends strengthen [2] - High-performing stocks with strong relative price momentum are seen as advantageous in navigating the ongoing bull market [2] Recommended Stocks - **Pitney Bowes (PBI)**: Expected earnings growth of 47.6% for 2025, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of approximately 96.6% and a share price increase of 177.4% over the past year [10][11] - **The Hanover Insurance Group (THG)**: Projected earnings growth of 7.7% for 2025, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of about 21.7% and a share price increase of 20.2% over the past year [12][13] - **EnerSys (ENS)**: Anticipated EPS growth rate of 19.8% for fiscal 2025, with a 12.8% share price increase over the past year [14][15] - **First Financial Corporation (THFF)**: Expected earnings growth of 39% for 2025, with a share price increase of 38.6% over the past year [16][17] Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on relative price changes over 12 weeks, 4 weeks, and 1 week, as well as positive current-quarter estimate revisions [8] - Only Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks that have historically outperformed the S&P 500 are considered, with a minimum price of $5 and adequate trading volume [9][10]