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Should Value Investors Buy Select Medical (SEM) Stock?

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The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One company value investors might notice is Select Medical (SEM - Free Report) . SEM is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A.

Investors will also notice that SEM has a PEG ratio of 0.71. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. SEM's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 0.98. Within the past year, SEM's PEG has been as high as 2.22 and as low as 0.38, with a median of 0.76.

Investors should also recognize that SEM has a P/B ratio of 0.93. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 1.68. Over the past year, SEM's P/B has been as high as 3.03 and as low as 0.89, with a median of 1.18.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that SEM has a P/CF ratio of 5.16. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 7.06. Within the past 12 months, SEM's P/CF has been as high as 10.57 and as low as 4.63, with a median of 5.52.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Select Medical is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, SEM feels like a great value stock at the moment.


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