OLN or ALB: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
Investors looking for stocks in the Chemical - Diversified sector might want to consider either Olin (OLN) or Albemarle (ALB). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.
Currently, Olin has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Albemarle has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that OLN is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.
OLN currently has a forward P/E ratio of 40.43, while ALB has a forward P/E of 43.73. We also note that OLN has a PEG ratio of 1.19. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. ALB currently has a PEG ratio of 3.69.
Another notable valuation metric for OLN is its P/B ratio of 2.94. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, ALB has a P/B of 4.31.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to OLN's Value grade of B and ALB's Value grade of D.
OLN is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that OLN is likely the superior value option right now.
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Olin Corporation (OLN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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