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.
Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. 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.
One company value investors might notice is Capital Bancorp (CBNK). CBNK is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 9.13, which compares to its industry's average of 9.87. Over the last 12 months, CBNK's Forward P/E has been as high as 12.04 and as low as 8.01, with a median of 9.16.
Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. CBNK has a P/S ratio of 1.63. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 2.05.
Finally, our model also underscores that CBNK has a P/CF ratio of 11.64. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 12.07. Over the past 52 weeks, CBNK's P/CF has been as high as 16.26 and as low as 10.12, with a median of 12.63.
If you're looking for another solid Banks - Northeast value stock, take a look at Citizens Financial Services (CZFS). CZFS is a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) stock with a Value score of A.
Citizens Financial Services sports a P/B ratio of 0.96 as well; this compares to its industry's price-to-book ratio of 1.21. In the past 52 weeks, CZFS's P/B has been as high as 1.17, as low as 0.80, with a median of 0.94.
These are just a handful of the figures considered in Capital Bancorp and Citizens Financial Services'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 CBNK and CZFS is an impressive value stock right now.
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Capital Bancorp, Inc. (CBNK): Free Stock Analysis Report
Citizens Financial Services Inc. (CZFS): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).