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 GP Strategies Corporation 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, GP Strategies has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 17.72, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 18.41. However, if we focus on the long-term PE trend, GP Strategies’ current PE level puts it below its midpoint of 20.04 over the past five years.
The stock’s PE compares quite favorably with the Consumer Discretionary Market’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 22.07. This indicates that the stock is undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
Meanwhile, GP Strategies has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 13.51, which is lower than the current level. So, it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for GP Strategies 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, GP Strategies has a P/S ratio of just 0.49. This is much lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.33x right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, GP Strategies currently has a Value Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes GP Strategies a solid choice for value investors.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though GP Strategies 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 Score of B and a Momentum Score of F. This gives GPX a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of D. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been mixed at best. The current quarter has seen one estimate go higher in the past sixty days compared to two downward revisions, while the next-quarter estimate has seen two up and one down in the same time period.
This has had a mixed effect on the consensus estimate. While the current-quarter consensus estimate plunged 21.2% over the past two months, the next-quarter estimate has increased 6.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Such mixed analyst sentiments is the reason why the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
GP Strategies is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Despite a strong industry rank (among Top 18% of more than 250 industries), with a Zacks Rank #3, it is hard to get too excited about the stock.
Also, over the past two years, the broader industry has clearly underperformed the market at large, as you can see below:
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So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiments to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
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Is GP Strategies (GPX) a Worthy Pick for Value Investors?
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 GP Strategies Corporation 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, GP Strategies has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 17.72, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 18.41. However, if we focus on the long-term PE trend, GP Strategies’ current PE level puts it below its midpoint of 20.04 over the past five years.
The stock’s PE compares quite favorably with the Consumer Discretionary Market’s trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 22.07. This indicates that the stock is undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
Meanwhile, GP Strategies has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year’s earnings) of 13.51, which is lower than the current level. So, it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for GP Strategies 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, GP Strategies has a P/S ratio of just 0.49. This is much lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.33x right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years.
Broad Value Outlook
In aggregate, GP Strategies currently has a Value Score of B, putting it into the top 40% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes GP Strategies a solid choice for value investors.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though GP Strategies 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 Score of B and a Momentum Score of F. This gives GPX a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of D. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company’s recent earnings estimates have been mixed at best. The current quarter has seen one estimate go higher in the past sixty days compared to two downward revisions, while the next-quarter estimate has seen two up and one down in the same time period.
This has had a mixed effect on the consensus estimate. While the current-quarter consensus estimate plunged 21.2% over the past two months, the next-quarter estimate has increased 6.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
GP Strategies Corporation Price and Consensus
GP Strategies Corporation price-consensus-chart | GP Strategies Corporation Quote
Such mixed analyst sentiments is the reason why the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.
Bottom Line
GP Strategies is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. Despite a strong industry rank (among Top 18% of more than 250 industries), with a Zacks Rank #3, it is hard to get too excited about the stock.
Also, over the past two years, the broader industry has clearly underperformed the market at large, as you can see below:
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiments to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>