Investors interested in stocks from the Automotive - Original Equipment sector have probably already heard of Magna (MGA) and Spartan Motors (SPAR). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? 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 puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Right now, Magna is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Spartan Motors has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that MGA's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
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 Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
MGA currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.39, while SPAR has a forward P/E of 26.53. We also note that MGA has a PEG ratio of 1.10. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. SPAR currently has a PEG ratio of 1.77.
Another notable valuation metric for MGA is its P/B ratio of 1.93. 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, SPAR has a P/B of 3.41.
These metrics, and several others, help MGA earn a Value grade of A, while SPAR has been given a Value grade of D.
MGA 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 MGA is likely the superior value option right now.
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Magna International Inc. (MGA): Free Stock Analysis Report
Spartan Motors, Inc. (SPAR): Free Stock Analysis Report
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
