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5 Low Price-to-Sales Stocks Likely to Deliver Robust Value

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Investment in stocks made after an analysis of valuation metrics is usually considered one of the best practices. When considering valuation metrics, the price-to-earnings ratio has always been the obvious choice. This is because calculations based on earnings are easy and come in handy. However, price-to-sales has emerged as a convenient tool to determine the value of stocks incurring losses or are in an early cycle of development, generating meager or no profits.

While a loss-making company with a negative price-to-earnings ratio falls out of investor favor, its price-to-sales could indicate the hidden strength of the business. This underrated ratio is also used to identify a recovery situation or ensure that a company's growth is not overvalued.

A stock’s price-to-sales ratio reflects how much investors pay for each dollar of revenue generated by a company.

If the price-to-sales ratio is 1, investors are paying $1 for every $1 of revenues generated by the company. So, a stock with a price-to-sales below 1 is a good bargain as investors need to pay less than a dollar for a dollar’s worth.  

Thus, a stock with a lower price-to-sales ratio is a more suitable investment than a stock with a high price-to-sales ratio.

Skechers (SKX - Free Report) , Signet Jewelers (SIG - Free Report) , Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. , Schneider National (SNDR - Free Report) and Avnet (AVT - Free Report) are some stocks with a low price-to-sales ratio and the potential to offer higher returns.

The price-to-sales ratio is often preferred over price-to-earnings as companies can manipulate their earnings using various accounting measures. However, sales are harder to manipulate and are relatively reliable.

However, one should keep in mind that a company with high debt and a low price-to-sales ratio is not an ideal choice. The high debt level will have to be paid off at some point, leading to further share issuance, a rise in market cap, and ultimately a higher price-to-sales ratio.

In any case, the price-to-sales ratio used in isolation cannot do the trick. One should also analyze other ratios like Price/Earnings, Price/Book, and Debt/Equity before arriving at any investment decision.

Screening Parameters

Price to Sales less than Median Price to Sales for its Industry: The lower the price-to-sales ratio, the better.

Price to Earnings using F(1) estimate less than Median Price to Earnings for its Industry: The lower, the better.

Price to Book (common Equity) less than Median Price to Book for its Industry: This is another parameter to ensure the value feature of a stock.

Debt to Equity (Most Recent) less than Median Debt to Equity for its Industry: A company with less debt should have a stable price-to-sales ratio.

Current Price greater than or equal to $5: The stocks must be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to #2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.

Value Score less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a Value Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best opportunities in the value investing space.

Here are the five stocks of the 35 that qualified the screening:

Skechers develops and distributes footwear for men, women, and children in the United States and overseas under the SKECHERS name, as well as under several uniquely branded names. Skechers’ products are available in more than 170 countries and territories. There are more than 4,100 SKECHERS company-owned and third-party-owned retail stores.

Skechers offers casuals, dress casuals, comfort and lightweight, sandals, and casual fusion categories for men and women under the Skechers USA brand. It also features sports footwear for men and women, including men’s lifestyle athletic footwear, lightweight women’s sneakers, and sports sandals and boots under the Skechers Sport brand. It makes fusion and sport fusion sneakers for females of all ages under the Skechers Active brand; and vulcanized looks and at Home collection under the brand BOBS from Skechers. The stock currently has a Value Score of B and a Zacks Rank #2.

Signet Jewelers is a retailer of diamond jewelry, watches as well as other products. The company operates in the United States, Canada, the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, and the Channel Islands. Signet is often considered the leading retailer of diamond jewelry.

Signet’s Inspiring Brilliance strategy focuses on expanding big banners, boosting service revenues, broadening the Accessible Luxury and Value segments, and accelerating digital commerce. SIG currently has a Value Score of A and a Zacks Rank #1. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8%.

Preferred Apartment is a Maryland corporation formed primarily to own and operate multifamily properties. It also, to a lesser extent, owns and operates student housing properties, grocery-anchored shopping centers and strategically located, well-leased class A office buildings, all in select targeted markets throughout the United States.

Preferred Apartment currently has a Zacks Rank #1 and a Value Score of B. APTS has a 3–5 year EPS growth rate of 7%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Schneider National is a leading transportation and logistics services company. It offers a portfolio of premier truckload, intermodal and logistics solutions. Schneider operates one of the largest for-hire trucking fleets in North America.

Schneider’s offerings include dry van, bulk transport, intermodal and supply chain management.  The stock currently has a Value Score of B and a Zacks Rank #1. It has a 3–5 year EPS growth rate of 20.7%.

Phoenix, AZ-based Avnet is one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components and computer products. Avnet’s customer base includes original equipment manufacturers, electronic manufacturing services providers, original design manufacturers, and value-added resellers.

Avnet maintains an extensive inventory, including electronic products from more than 300 component and system manufacturers, which it distributes to customers worldwide. It distributes products for companies like International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. AVT currently has a Value Score of B and a Zacks Rank #1. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 27.7%

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your trial to the Research Wizard today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

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Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

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