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.

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.

Comcast (CMCSA)

Forward P/E Ratio: 8x

Formerly known as American Cable Systems, Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is a multinational telecommunications company offering a wide range of services.

Why Are We Out on CMCSA?

1. Performance surrounding its domestic broadband customers has lagged its peers
2. Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 4.8 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors
3. Returns on capital are increasing as management makes relatively better investment decisions

Comcast’s stock price of $28.08 implies a valuation ratio of 8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CMCSA, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Janus (JBI)

Forward P/E Ratio: 8x

Standing out with its digital keyless entry into self-storage room technology, Janus (NYSE: JBI) is a provider of easily accessible self-storage solutions.

Why Does JBI Fall Short?

1. Annual sales declines of 8.9% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Earnings per share have dipped by 23.2% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Janus is trading at $5.05 per share, or 8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why JBI doesn’t pass our bar.

Hillman (HLMN)

Forward P/E Ratio: 14.4x

Established when Max Hillman purchased a franchise operation, Hillman (NASDAQ: HLMN) designs, manufactures, and sells industrial equipment and systems for various sectors.

Why Does HLMN Give Us Pause?

1. Muted 2.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
2. Poor free cash flow margin of 2.6% for the last five years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

At $8.25 per share, Hillman trades at 14.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HLMN.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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