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Is Hoegh LNG Partners (HMLP) a Great Value Stock Right Now?

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The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One stock to keep an eye on is Hoegh LNG Partners . HMLP is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 4.14. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 4.17. Over the past 52 weeks, HMLP's Forward P/E has been as high as 11.13 and as low as 2.71, with a median of 3.35.

We also note that HMLP holds a PEG ratio of 0.47. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. HMLP's industry has an average PEG of 0.48 right now. HMLP's PEG has been as high as 1.75 and as low as 0.43, with a median of 0.56, all within the past year.

Investors should also recognize that HMLP has a P/B ratio of 0.65. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.10. Within the past 52 weeks, HMLP's P/B has been as high as 1.86 and as low as 0.39, with a median of 0.48.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that HMLP has a P/CF ratio of 2.78. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. HMLP's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 3.79. HMLP's P/CF has been as high as 6.16 and as low as 1.46, with a median of 1.85, all within the past year.

Safe Bulkers (SB - Free Report) may be another strong Transportation - Shipping stock to add to your shortlist. SB is a # 2 (Buy) stock with a Value grade of A.

Safe Bulkers also has a P/B ratio of 0.69 compared to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 1.10. Over the past year, its P/B ratio has been as high as 1.12, as low as 0.46, with a median of 0.77.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Hoegh LNG Partners and Safe Bulkers are likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, HMLP and SB feels like a great value stock at the moment.


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