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Are Investors Undervaluing Central Garden & Pet (CENT) 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, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

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 company value investors might notice is Central Garden & Pet (CENT - Free Report) . CENT is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 12.91. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 16.25. Over the past 52 weeks, CENT's Forward P/E has been as high as 19.24 and as low as 12.63, with a median of 14.87.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that CENT has a P/CF ratio of 9.07. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 15.64. CENT's P/CF has been as high as 13.47 and as low as 8.76, with a median of 10.38, all within the past year.

If you're looking for another solid Consumer Products - Discretionary value stock, take a look at Lifetime Brands (LCUT - Free Report) . LCUT is a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Value score of A.

Lifetime Brands is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 12.21 at the moment, with a PEG ratio of 0.87. This compares to its industry's average P/E of 16.25 and average PEG ratio of 1.41.

Over the past year, LCUT's P/E has been as high as 16.61, as low as 4.25, with a median of 7.87; its PEG ratio has been as high as 1.19, as low as 0.30, with a median of 0.56 during the same time period.

Lifetime Brands also has a P/B ratio of 0.46 compared to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 17.92. Over the past year, its P/B ratio has been as high as 0.69, as low as 0.30, with a median of 0.52.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Central Garden & Pet and Lifetime Brands's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that CENT and LCUT is an impressive value stock right now.

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