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Zacks.com featured highlights include Avnet, Healthcare Services, PG&E and Nexa
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 24, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are , Avnet, Inc. (AVT - Free Report) , AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN - Free Report) , PG&E Corp. (PCG - Free Report) and Nexa Resources S.A. (NEXA - Free Report) .
4 Value Stocks to Buy Now as Volatility Grips U.S. Stock Market
The Middle East war has introduced significant volatility into the U.S. stock market, largely driven by fears of oil supply disruptions at key chokepoints, such as the Strait of Hormuz. Despite sharp initial declines, markets at times showed resilience amid hopes for a swift resolution under President Trump. Ongoing uncertainty into April has kept energy costs elevated, weighing on growth sectors and complicating Federal Reserve policy.
Against this backdrop, value stocks may offer a more disciplined path to returns. Often trading below their intrinsic value, these stocks provide a margin of safety that is especially appealing during periods of market uncertainty. When evaluating value stocks, one of the most effective valuation metrics is the Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio.
Companies like Avnet, Inc., AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. , PG&E Corp. and Nexa Resources S.A. boast a low P/CF ratio. The P/CF ratio evaluates the market price of a stock relative to the amount of cash flow that the company is generating on a per-share basis — the lower the number, the better.
Price to Cash Flow Reflects Financial Health
Value investing is considered one of the best practices when it comes to picking stocks. It is essentially about selecting stocks that are fundamentally sound but have been beaten down by some external factors. Such stocks are poised to bounce back as and when investors recognize the inherent value of companies. Certainly, the value investment strategy best suits investors with a long-term horizon.
There are different valuation metrics to determine a stock’s inherent strength. Still, a random selection of a ratio cannot serve your purpose if you want a realistic assessment of a company’s financial position. For this, the Price to Cash Flow ratio is one of the key metrics.
Price-to-Cash-Flow metric evaluates the market price of a stock relative to the amount of cash flow that the company is generating on a per-share basis — the lower the number, the better. One of the important factors that makes P/CF a highly dependable metric is that operating cash flow adds back non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization to net income, truly diagnosing a company's financial health.
Analysts caution that a company’s earnings are subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. However, cash flow is reliable. Net cash flow unveils how much money a company is actually generating and how effectively management is deploying the same.
Positive cash flow indicates an increase in a company’s liquid assets. It gives the company the means to settle debt, meet its expenses, reinvest in its business, endure downturns and finally pay back its shareholders. Negative cash flow implies a decline in the company’s liquidity, which in turn lowers its flexibility to support these moves.
What’s the Best Value Investing Strategy?
An investment decision based solely on the P/CF metric may not yield the desired results. To identify stocks that are trading at a discount, you should expand your search criteria and also consider the price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio. Adding a favorable Zacks Rank and a Value Score of A or B to your search criteria should lead to even better results as these eliminate the chance of falling into a value trap.
Here are four of the 11 value stocks that qualified the screening:
Avnet, a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.9%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avnet’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 11.2% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AVT has a Value Score of B. Shares of AVT have rallied 46.3% over the past year.
AMN Healthcare Services, which provides technology-enabled healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 79.6%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMN Healthcare Services’ current financial-year sales and EPS calls for growth of 15.1% and 41.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AMN has a Value Score of A. Shares of AMN have risen 12.5% over the past year.
PG&E Corporation, through its subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Company, engages in the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PG&E Corporation’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 5.8% and 10%, respectively, from the year-ago period. PCG has a Value Score of A. Shares of PCG have declined 2.9% over the past year.
Nexa Resources, a large-scale, low-cost, integrated polymetallic producer, carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 76%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nexa Resources’ current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 8.1% and 123.5%, respectively, from the year-ago period. NEXA has a Value Score of A. Shares of NEXA have surged 146.6% over the past year.
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks.com featured highlights include Avnet, Healthcare Services, PG&E and Nexa
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 24, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are , Avnet, Inc. (AVT - Free Report) , AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN - Free Report) , PG&E Corp. (PCG - Free Report) and Nexa Resources S.A. (NEXA - Free Report) .
4 Value Stocks to Buy Now as Volatility Grips U.S. Stock Market
The Middle East war has introduced significant volatility into the U.S. stock market, largely driven by fears of oil supply disruptions at key chokepoints, such as the Strait of Hormuz. Despite sharp initial declines, markets at times showed resilience amid hopes for a swift resolution under President Trump. Ongoing uncertainty into April has kept energy costs elevated, weighing on growth sectors and complicating Federal Reserve policy.
Against this backdrop, value stocks may offer a more disciplined path to returns. Often trading below their intrinsic value, these stocks provide a margin of safety that is especially appealing during periods of market uncertainty. When evaluating value stocks, one of the most effective valuation metrics is the Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio.
Companies like Avnet, Inc., AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. , PG&E Corp. and Nexa Resources S.A. boast a low P/CF ratio. The P/CF ratio evaluates the market price of a stock relative to the amount of cash flow that the company is generating on a per-share basis — the lower the number, the better.
Price to Cash Flow Reflects Financial Health
Value investing is considered one of the best practices when it comes to picking stocks. It is essentially about selecting stocks that are fundamentally sound but have been beaten down by some external factors. Such stocks are poised to bounce back as and when investors recognize the inherent value of companies. Certainly, the value investment strategy best suits investors with a long-term horizon.
There are different valuation metrics to determine a stock’s inherent strength. Still, a random selection of a ratio cannot serve your purpose if you want a realistic assessment of a company’s financial position. For this, the Price to Cash Flow ratio is one of the key metrics.
Price-to-Cash-Flow metric evaluates the market price of a stock relative to the amount of cash flow that the company is generating on a per-share basis — the lower the number, the better. One of the important factors that makes P/CF a highly dependable metric is that operating cash flow adds back non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization to net income, truly diagnosing a company's financial health.
Analysts caution that a company’s earnings are subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. However, cash flow is reliable. Net cash flow unveils how much money a company is actually generating and how effectively management is deploying the same.
Positive cash flow indicates an increase in a company’s liquid assets. It gives the company the means to settle debt, meet its expenses, reinvest in its business, endure downturns and finally pay back its shareholders. Negative cash flow implies a decline in the company’s liquidity, which in turn lowers its flexibility to support these moves.
What’s the Best Value Investing Strategy?
An investment decision based solely on the P/CF metric may not yield the desired results. To identify stocks that are trading at a discount, you should expand your search criteria and also consider the price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio. Adding a favorable Zacks Rank and a Value Score of A or B to your search criteria should lead to even better results as these eliminate the chance of falling into a value trap.
Here are four of the 11 value stocks that qualified the screening:
Avnet, a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.9%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avnet’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 11.2% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AVT has a Value Score of B. Shares of AVT have rallied 46.3% over the past year.
AMN Healthcare Services, which provides technology-enabled healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 79.6%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMN Healthcare Services’ current financial-year sales and EPS calls for growth of 15.1% and 41.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period. AMN has a Value Score of A. Shares of AMN have risen 12.5% over the past year.
PG&E Corporation, through its subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Company, engages in the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PG&E Corporation’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 5.8% and 10%, respectively, from the year-ago period. PCG has a Value Score of A. Shares of PCG have declined 2.9% over the past year.
Nexa Resources, a large-scale, low-cost, integrated polymetallic producer, carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 76%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nexa Resources’ current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 8.1% and 123.5%, respectively, from the year-ago period. NEXA has a Value Score of A. Shares of NEXA have surged 146.6% over the past year.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
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For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2906578/4-value-stocks-to-buy-now-as-volatility-grips-us-stock-market
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.