Value stocks typically trade at discounts to the broader market, offering patient investors the opportunity to buy businesses when they’re out of favor. The key risk, however, is that these stocks are usually cheap for a reason – five cents for a piece of fruit may seem like a great deal until you find out it’s rotten.
Identifying genuine bargains from value traps is something many investors struggle with, which is why we started StockStory - to help you find the best companies. Keeping that in mind, here is one value stock offering a compelling risk-reward profile and two best left ignored.
Two Value Stocks to Sell:
BD (BDX)
Forward P/E Ratio: 12x
With a history dating back to 1897 and a presence in virtually every hospital around the globe, Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) develops and manufactures medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions and professionals worldwide.
Why Does BDX Give Us Pause?
- Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 4.1% over the last five years was below our standards for the healthcare sector
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 10.5 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
- Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities
BD’s stock price of $180.90 implies a valuation ratio of 12x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with BDX, check out our full research report (it’s free).
ManpowerGroup (MAN)
Forward P/E Ratio: 12.5x
Founded during the post-World War II economic boom when businesses needed temporary workers, ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) connects millions of people to employment opportunities through its global network of staffing, recruitment, and workforce management services.
Why Are We Out on MAN?
- Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
- Sales were less profitable over the last five years as its earnings per share fell by 16% annually, worse than its revenue declines
- Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results
ManpowerGroup is trading at $43.25 per share, or 12.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MAN doesn’t pass our bar.
One Value Stock to Watch:
LegalZoom (LZ)
Forward EV/EBITDA Ratio: 9.3x
Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses.
Why Are We Fans of LZ?
- Subscription Units are rising, meaning the company can increase revenue without incurring additional customer acquisition costs if it can cross-sell additional products and features
- Performance over the past three years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
- Free cash flow margin increased by 13.1 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders
At $8.85 per share, LegalZoom trades at 9.3x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Donald Trump’s April 2024 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
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Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
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