North Chicago, Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories (ABT) discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare products. Valued at $232.4 billion by market cap, ABT is a global leader in the large and growing in-vitro diagnostic market, and its products include pharmaceuticals, nutritional, diagnostics, and vascular products. The medical device manufacturer is expected to announce its fiscal third-quarter earnings for 2025 before the market opens on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Ahead of the event, analysts expect ...

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 article discusses the importance of various valuation metrics, particularly focusing on the price-to-book (P/B) ratio as a tool for identifying undervalued stocks with high growth potential [1][5][9]. Valuation Metrics - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is often the first metric considered, but it becomes negative for loss-making companies, making the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio a more relevant indicator in such cases [1]. - The P/B ratio is calculated by dividing the current stock price by the book value per share, helping investors understand how much they pay for each dollar of book value [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 and a good buy [5][6]. Book Value - Book value represents the total value left for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities [3][4]. - It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets, and in some cases, intangible assets should also be deducted [4]. Stock Examples - StoneCo (STNE), CVS Health (CVS), KT Corporation (KT), KB Financial Group (KB), and USANA Health Sciences (USNA) are highlighted as stocks with low P/B ratios and strong growth potential [9][15][16][18][19]. - STNE has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 25.3% and a Zacks Rank of 1, while CVS has a projected EPS growth rate of 11.4% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [15][16]. Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on several parameters, including P/B, P/S, P/E ratios, PEG ratio, trading price, average volume, Zacks Rank, and Value Score [11][12][13][14]. - A PEG ratio of less than 1 indicates that a stock is undervalued relative to its growth prospects [13]. Limitations of P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is most useful for companies in finance, investments, and manufacturing with tangible assets, but may be misleading for firms with high R&D expenditures or significant debt [8].