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 Golar LNG Partners LP 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, Golar LNG has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 7.34, 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, Golar LNG’s current PE level puts it slightly above its midpoint over the past three years, with the number having risen over the past few months.



Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks classified Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing - Master Limited Partnerships industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 50.42. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is significantly undervalued right now, compared to its peers.



However, we should point out that Golar LNG has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 10.49, so on the ground of the forward earnings estimates, we might say that the company’s share price is likely to 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, Golar LNG has a P/S ratio of about 3.11. This is marginally lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.13 right now. As we can see in the chart below, this is below the highs for this stock, but above its median in particular over the past few years.



If anything, Golar LNG is towards the higher end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, which suggests that the company’s stock price has already appreciated to some degree, relative to its sales.

Broad Value Outlook

In aggregate, Golar LNG 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 Golar LNG a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.

For example, the PEG ratio for Golar LNG is 1.31, a level that is lower than the industry average of 2.47. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Additionally, its P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 3.14, which is far better than the industry average of 8.55. Clearly, GMLP is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.

What About the Stock Overall?

Though Golar LNG 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 ‘C’ and a Momentum score of ‘F’. This gives GMLP 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 mixed at best. The current quarter has seen one estimate go higher in the past sixty days compared to two lower, while the full year estimate has seen zero upward and four downward revisions in the same time period.

As a result, the current quarter consensus estimate has risen by 1.7% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has decreased 11.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:

This somewhat mixed trend is why the stock has just a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.

Bottom Line

Golar LNG 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 20%) and a Zacks Rank #3, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past three years, the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing - Master Limited Partnerships 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 >>