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 PennantPark Investment Corporation (PNNT - Free Report) 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, PennantPark Investment has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 9.34, 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 compares in at about 17.11. If we focus on the stock’s long-term PE trend, the current level puts PennantPark Investment’s current PE ratio slightly above its midpoint (which is 8.94) over the past five years.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Finance sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 13.75. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that PennantPark Investment has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 8.71, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for PennantPark Investment’s stock in the near term too.
PEG Ratio
While earnings are certainly important, it is essential to know how much you are paying for the growth of earnings as well. One can easily do that with the PEG ratio (ratio of the P/E to the expected future earnings growth rate). The PEG ratio gives a more complete picture of the valuation of a stock than the P/E ratio.
PennantPark Investment’s PEG ratio stands at just 4.21, compared with the Zacks Financial – SBIC & Commercial industry average of 3.67. This suggests an overvalued trading relative to its earnings growth potential right now.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, PennantPark Investment currently has a Value Style Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes PNNT a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.
For example, the P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 8.74, which is slightly better than the industry average of 9.54. Clearly, PNNT is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though PennantPark Investment 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 F and a Momentum score of B. This gives PNNT a VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been disappointing. The current quarter has seen one estimate go lower in the past sixty days compared to none higher, while the full year estimate has seen four downward and one upward revisions in the same time period.
This has had a noticeable impact on the consensus estimate, as the current quarter consensus estimate has fallen 5% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has slipped 1.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
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From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
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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 PennantPark Investment Corporation (PNNT - Free Report) 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, PennantPark Investment has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 9.34, 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 compares in at about 17.11. If we focus on the stock’s long-term PE trend, the current level puts PennantPark Investment’s current PE ratio slightly above its midpoint (which is 8.94) over the past five years.
Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Finance sector’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 13.75. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that PennantPark Investment has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 8.71, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for PennantPark Investment’s stock in the near term too.
PEG Ratio
While earnings are certainly important, it is essential to know how much you are paying for the growth of earnings as well. One can easily do that with the PEG ratio (ratio of the P/E to the expected future earnings growth rate). The PEG ratio gives a more complete picture of the valuation of a stock than the P/E ratio.
PennantPark Investment’s PEG ratio stands at just 4.21, compared with the Zacks Financial – SBIC & Commercial industry average of 3.67. This suggests an overvalued trading relative to its earnings growth potential right now.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, PennantPark Investment currently has a Value Style Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes PNNT a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.
For example, the P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 8.74, which is slightly better than the industry average of 9.54. Clearly, PNNT is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though PennantPark Investment 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 F and a Momentum score of B. This gives PNNT a VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been disappointing. The current quarter has seen one estimate go lower in the past sixty days compared to none higher, while the full year estimate has seen four downward and one upward revisions in the same time period.
This has had a noticeable impact on the consensus estimate, as the current quarter consensus estimate has fallen 5% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has slipped 1.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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