Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.
Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One company to watch right now is United Fire Group (UFCS). UFCS is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 11.08. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 26.33. UFCS's Forward P/E has been as high as 20.43 and as low as 9.98, with a median of 11.71, all within the past year.
Another notable valuation metric for UFCS is its P/B ratio of 0.9. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 1.50. UFCS's P/B has been as high as 1.02 and as low as 0.62, with a median of 0.86, over the past year.
Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. UFCS has a P/S ratio of 0.56. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.25.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that UFCS has a P/CF ratio of 9.98. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. UFCS's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 10.43. Within the past 12 months, UFCS's P/CF has been as high as 13.42 and as low as 8.19, with a median of 9.73.
These are only a few of the key metrics included in United Fire Group's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, UFCS looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.
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United Fire Group, Inc (UFCS): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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