Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?
One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let’s put L Brands, Inc. stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:
PE Ratio
A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock’s current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.
On this front, L Brands has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 13.41, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 20.43. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, L Brands’ current PE level puts it below its midpoint over the past five years, with the number having falling over the past few months. Moreover, the current level is at the lower end and fairly below the highs for this stock, suggesting it might be a good entry point.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks classified Retail-Wholesale sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 24.97. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
However, we should point out that L Brands has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 15.68, so we might say that the forward earnings estimates indicate that the company’s share price will likely appreciate in the near future.
P/S Ratio
Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stock’s price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.
Right now, L Brands has a P/S ratio of about 1.16. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.10 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.
If anything, LB is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, L Brands currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of ‘B’, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes L Brands a solid choice for value investors.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though L Brands might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth grade of ‘D’ and a Momentum score of ‘A’. This gives LB a Zacks VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of ‘B’. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been trending lower. The current fiscal quarter has seen no estimates go higher in the past sixty days compared to seven lower, while the fiscal full year estimate has seen zero upward and thirteen downward revisions in the same time period.
This has also had an impact on the consensus estimate as the current quarter consensus estimate has decreased by 52.8% in the past two months, and the full year estimate has fallen by nearly 15%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
This bearish trend is why the stock has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and why we fear that the company might disappoint in the near term.
Bottom Line
L Brands is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, with a sluggish industry rank (among the bottom 12%) and a Zacks Rank #4, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Retail-Wholesale: Apparel and Shoes industry has clearly underperformed the broader market, as you can see below:
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates, analyst sentiment and broader factors to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>
Image: Bigstock
Is L Brands (LB) a Good Stock for Value Investors?
Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?
One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let’s put L Brands, Inc. stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:
PE Ratio
A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock’s current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.
On this front, L Brands has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 13.41, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 20.43. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, L Brands’ current PE level puts it below its midpoint over the past five years, with the number having falling over the past few months. Moreover, the current level is at the lower end and fairly below the highs for this stock, suggesting it might be a good entry point.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks classified Retail-Wholesale sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 24.97. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
However, we should point out that L Brands has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 15.68, so we might say that the forward earnings estimates indicate that the company’s share price will likely appreciate in the near future.
P/S Ratio
Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stock’s price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.
Right now, L Brands has a P/S ratio of about 1.16. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.10 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.
If anything, LB is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, L Brands currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of ‘B’, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes L Brands a solid choice for value investors.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though L Brands might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth grade of ‘D’ and a Momentum score of ‘A’. This gives LB a Zacks VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of ‘B’. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been trending lower. The current fiscal quarter has seen no estimates go higher in the past sixty days compared to seven lower, while the fiscal full year estimate has seen zero upward and thirteen downward revisions in the same time period.
This has also had an impact on the consensus estimate as the current quarter consensus estimate has decreased by 52.8% in the past two months, and the full year estimate has fallen by nearly 15%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
L Brands, Inc. Price and Consensus
L Brands, Inc. Price and Consensus | L Brands, Inc. Quote
This bearish trend is why the stock has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and why we fear that the company might disappoint in the near term.
Bottom Line
L Brands is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, with a sluggish industry rank (among the bottom 12%) and a Zacks Rank #4, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Retail-Wholesale: Apparel and Shoes industry has clearly underperformed the broader market, as you can see below:
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates, analyst sentiment and broader factors to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>