While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.
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.
Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today.
Perdoceo Education (PRDO) is a stock many investors are watching right now. PRDO is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value.
We should also highlight that PRDO has a P/B ratio of 2.3. 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. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 3.70. Over the past year, PRDO's P/B has been as high as 2.35 and as low as 1.45, with a median of 1.90.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that PRDO has a P/CF ratio of 12.58. This figure highlights a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find firms that are undervalued when considering their impressive cash outlook. PRDO's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 24.38. Over the past 52 weeks, PRDO's P/CF has been as high as 13.01 and as low as 9.25, with a median of 11.47.
Another great Schools stock you could consider is Strategic Education (STRA), which is a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) stock with a Value Score of A.
Shares of Strategic Education are currently trading at a forward earnings multiple of 13.07 and a PEG ratio of 0.87 compared to its industry's P/E and PEG ratios of 11.75 and 0.81, respectively.
STRA's Forward P/E has been as high as 19.49 and as low as 11.79, with a median of 14.61. During the same time period, its PEG ratio has been as high as 1.30, as low as 0.79, with a median of 0.97.
Strategic Education sports a P/B ratio of 1.18 as well; this compares to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 3.70. In the past 52 weeks, STRA's P/B has been as high as 1.53, as low as 1.06, with a median of 1.26.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Perdoceo Education and Strategic Education are likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, PRDO and STRA feels like a great value stock at the moment.
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Perdoceo Education Corporation (PRDO): Free Stock Analysis Report
Strategic Education Inc. (STRA): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).