Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?

One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let’s put Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:

PE Ratio

A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock’s current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.

On this front, Computer Programs and Systems has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 14.3, as you can see in the chart below:



This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 16.1. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Computer Programs and Systems’ current PE level puts it below its midpoint over the past five years. Moreover, the current level is fairly below the highs for this stock, suggesting it might be a good entry point.



Further, the stock’s PE also compares favorably with the industry’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 39.7. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.




We should also point out that Computer Programs and Systems has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of just 11.2, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Computer Programs and Systems stock in the near term too.

P/S Ratio

Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stock’s price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.

Right now, Computer Programs and Systems has a P/S ratio of about 1.2. This is lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 2.9 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is well below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.




If anything, CPSI is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued trading—at least compared to historical norms.

Broad Value Outlook

In aggregate, Computer Programs and Systems currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Computer Programs and Systems a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too.

For example, the PEG ratio for Computer Programs and Systems is 1.1, a level that is lower than the industry average of 1.9. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stock’s earnings growth rate. Additionally, its P/CF ratio (another great indicator of value) comes in at 6.0, which is far better than the industry average of 12.2. Clearly, CPSI is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.

What About the Stock Overall?

Though Computer Programs and Systems might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth grade of A and a Momentum score of D. This gives CPSI a Zacks VGM score—or its overarching fundamental grade—of A. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)

Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been mostly trending higher. The current quarter has seen five estimates go higher in the past sixty days compared to three lower, while the full year estimate has seen ten upward and zero downward revisions in the same time period.

As a result, the current quarter consensus estimate has risen by 11.5% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has increased 16.7%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:

This positive trend is why the stock has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and why we are looking for outperformance from the company in the near term.

Bottom Line

Computer Programs and Systems is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Furthermore, a robust industry rank (among the Top 31%) and a solid Zacks Rank instills investor confidence.

However, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall as over the past two years, the industry has underperformed the broader market, as you can see below:




Despite the poor past performance of the industry, a good industry rank signals that the stock is likely to benefit from favorable broader factors in the immediate future. Add to this the positive estimate revisions and robust value metrics, and we believe that we have a strong value contender in Computer Programs and Systems.

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With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.

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