Back to top

Image: Bigstock

MMM or HON: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?

Read MoreHide Full Article

Investors interested in stocks from the Diversified Operations sector have probably already heard of 3M (MMM - Free Report) and Honeywell International Inc. (HON - Free Report) . But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.

Right now, 3M is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Honeywell International Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that MMM's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.

MMM currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.29, while HON has a forward P/E of 20.92. We also note that MMM has a PEG ratio of 1.57. 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. HON currently has a PEG ratio of 2.33.

Another notable valuation metric for MMM is its P/B ratio of 7.10. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, HON has a P/B of 7.11.

These metrics, and several others, help MMM earn a Value grade of B, while HON has been given a Value grade of D.

MMM stands above HON thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that MMM is the superior value option right now.


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


Honeywell International Inc. (HON) - free report >>

3M Company (MMM) - free report >>

Published in