Value investing has produced some of the world’s most famous investing billionaires, including Warren Buffett, David Einhorn, and Seth Klarman, who built their fortunes by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices. But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.

Separating the winners from the value traps is a tough challenge, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Our job is to find you high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here are three value stocks with poor fundamentals and some alternatives you should consider instead.

Taylor Morrison Home (TMHC)

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.4x

Named “America’s Most Trusted Home Builder” in 2019, Taylor Morrison Home (NYSE: TMHC) builds single family homes and communities across the United States.

Why Are We Hesitant About TMHC?

1. Sales pipeline suggests its future revenue growth won’t meet our standards as its backlog averaged 14.5% declines over the past two years
2. Sales are projected to tank by 14.7% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates
3. Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 2.6% annually

Taylor Morrison Home’s stock price of $62.17 implies a valuation ratio of 10.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than TMHC.

Pediatrix Medical Group (MD)

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.3x

With a network of approximately 2,620 affiliated physicians caring for some of the most vulnerable patients, Pediatrix Medical Group (NYSE: MD) provides specialized physician services focused on neonatal, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology and other pediatric subspecialty care across 37 states.

Why Does MD Give Us Pause?

1. Disappointing comparable store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its offerings and value proposition
2. Estimated sales growth of 1.1% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
3. Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value

Pediatrix Medical Group is trading at $21.54 per share, or 10.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with MD, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Penske Automotive Group (PAG)

Forward P/E Ratio: 12.1x

With a diverse global network spanning the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia, Penske Automotive Group (NYSE: PAG) operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships across the globe, selling new and used vehicles while providing service, parts, and financing options.

Why Are We Cautious About PAG?

1. Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
2. Gross margin of 16.5% is an output of its commoditized inventory
3. Earnings per share fell by 8.8% annually over the last three years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable

At $159.33 per share, Penske Automotive Group trades at 12.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PAG in your portfolio.

Stocks We Like More

If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.

Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 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.