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.

This distinction between true value and value traps can challenge even the most skilled investors. Luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you uncover exceptional companies. That said, here are three value stocks with little support and some other investments you should consider instead.

Kimberly-Clark (KMB)

Forward P/E Ratio: 13.2x

Originally founded as a Wisconsin paper mill in 1872, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is now a household products powerhouse known for personal care and tissue products.

Why Does KMB Worry Us?

1. Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 2.1%
3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 5 percentage points

Kimberly-Clark is trading at $98.40 per share, or 13.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering KMB for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Carnival (CCL)

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.2x

Boasting outrageous amenities like a planetarium on board its ships, Carnival (NYSE: CCL) is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies and a prominent player in the cruise industry.

Why Are We Out on CCL?

1. Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of passenger cruise days has underwhelmed
2. Poor free cash flow margin of 7.6% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
3. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction

Carnival’s stock price of $24.14 implies a valuation ratio of 10.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CCL, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Farmer Mac (AGM)

Forward P/E Ratio: 7.8x

Created by Congress in 1987 to build a bridge between Wall Street and rural America, Farmer Mac (NYSE: AGM) provides a secondary market for agricultural and rural loans, helping lenders increase their liquidity and lending capacity to serve rural America.

Why Are We Wary of AGM?

1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 3.7% annual growth was below the typical financials company
2. Earnings growth over the last two years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 3.3% annually

At $140.99 per share, Farmer Mac trades at 7.8x forward P/E. If you’re considering AGM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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