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 Global Brass and Copper Holdings, 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, Global Brass and Copper Holdings has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 14.06, 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 20.19. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Global Brass and Copper Holdings’ current PE level puts it above its midpoint over the past few years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months.



Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks classified Metal Products - Procurement and Fabrication industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 24.35. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.

We should also point out that Global Brass and Copper Holdings has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 11.02, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Global Brass and Copper Holdings stock in the near term too.

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, Global Brass and Copper Holdings has a P/S ratio of about 0.48. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.12 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, this suggests some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.

Broad Value Outlook

In aggregate, Global Brass and Copper Holdings currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of ‘A’, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Global Brass and Copper Holdings a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.

For example, the PEG ratio for BRSS is just 1.10, a level that is slightly lower than the industry average of 1.13. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Clearly, BRSS is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.

What About the Stock Overall?

Though Global Brass and Copper Holdings 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 ‘B’ and a Momentum score of ‘A’. This gives BRSS a Zacks VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of ‘A’. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)

Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been encouraging. The current quarter and year has seen one upward estimate revision in the past sixty days compared to none downward.

As a result, the current quarter consensus estimate has moved up by 6.5% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has increased by 4.1%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:

Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc. Price and Consensus

Even though the company has better estimates trend, the stock has just a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). That is why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.

Bottom Line

Global Brass and Copper Holdings is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Furthermore, a robust industry rank (among the Top 32%) instills investor confidence. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Metal Products - Procurement and Fabrication industry has outperformed the broader market, as you can see below:



So, it might pay for value investors to delve deeper into the company’s prospects, as fundamentals indicate that this stock could be a compelling pick.

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