Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of various valuation metrics, particularly focusing on the price-to-book (P/B) ratio as a tool for identifying undervalued stocks with high growth potential [1][5][9]. Valuation Metrics - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is often the first metric considered, but it becomes negative for loss-making companies, making the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio a more relevant indicator in such cases [1]. - The P/B ratio is calculated by dividing the current stock price by the book value per share, helping investors understand how much they pay for each dollar of book value [2][5]. - A P/B ratio of less than one indicates that a stock is trading below its book value, suggesting it may be undervalued and a good buy [5][6]. Book Value - Book value represents the total value left for shareholders if a company were to liquidate its assets after settling all liabilities [3][4]. - It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets, and in some cases, intangible assets should also be deducted [4]. Stock Examples - StoneCo (STNE), CVS Health (CVS), KT Corporation (KT), KB Financial Group (KB), and USANA Health Sciences (USNA) are highlighted as stocks with low P/B ratios and strong growth potential [9][15][16][18][19]. - STNE has a projected 3-5 year EPS growth rate of 25.3% and a Zacks Rank of 1, while CVS has a projected EPS growth rate of 11.4% and a Zacks Rank of 2 [15][16]. Screening Parameters - Stocks are screened based on several parameters, including P/B, P/S, P/E ratios, PEG ratio, trading price, average volume, Zacks Rank, and Value Score [11][12][13][14]. - A PEG ratio of less than 1 indicates that a stock is undervalued relative to its growth prospects [13]. Limitations of P/B Ratio - The P/B ratio is most useful for companies in finance, investments, and manufacturing with tangible assets, but may be misleading for firms with high R&D expenditures or significant debt [8].

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline due to escalating trade tensions and disappointing labor data, leading to a broad sell-off on Wall Street [1][10] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 542.40 points (1.23%) to close at 43,588.58, while the S&P 500 decreased by 1.60% to 6,238.01, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 2.24% to 20,650.13 [3] Employment Data - Nonfarm payrolls increased by only 73,000 in July, significantly below consensus expectations, and June's job creation was revised down from 147,000 to just 14,000, indicating a deeper slowdown in the labor market [2] - These labor market developments have raised the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September [2] Investment Opportunities - In the current market environment, value stocks are highlighted as attractive investment options due to their potential safety margin during periods of uncertainty [3][10] - Companies such as CVS Health Corporation (CVS), Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR), Associated Banc-Corp (ASB), and F.N.B. Corporation (FNB) are noted for their low Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratios, indicating strong financial health [4][10] Valuation Metrics - The P/CF ratio is emphasized as a reliable valuation metric, as it reflects a company's cash flow generation relative to its market price, providing a clearer picture of financial health compared to earnings metrics [5][6] - Positive cash flow is crucial for a company's liquidity, enabling it to manage debt, reinvest, and undertake shareholder-friendly actions [7] Stock Selection Criteria - A comprehensive approach to identifying value stocks includes considering multiple metrics such as price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio, alongside a favorable Zacks Rank and Value Score [8][11][12] - Specific parameters for selecting true-value stocks include a P/CF ratio less than or equal to the industry median, a minimum stock price of $5, and a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 [9][13] Company Highlights - CVS Health has a Zacks Rank of 2, with projected sales growth of 3.9% and EPS growth of 14.6% for the current financial year, and shares have increased by 8.1% over the past year [14] - Integer Holdings also holds a Zacks Rank of 2, with expected sales growth of 7.8% and EPS growth of 20.2%, although shares have decreased by 3.4% in the past year [15] - Associated Banc-Corp, with a Zacks Rank of 2, anticipates sales growth of 11.5% and EPS growth of 8.4%, with shares rising by 19.2% in the past year [16] - F.N.B. Corporation, also ranked 2, expects sales growth of 6.2% and EPS growth of 2.2%, with shares increasing by 9.6% over the past year [17]

Market Overview - The broader indexes have experienced a cooling off after a strong performance in July, with concerns over trade wars and a weaker-than-expected Jobs Report contributing to a pullback [1] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have risen over +10% in the last three months, prompting investors to consider defensive positions [2] CVS Health - CVS Health is undergoing a transformation into an innovative pharmacy company, resulting in strong earnings and raised guidance, leading to a stock surge of over +30% this year [3] - CVS stock trades at 10X forward earnings and offers a 4.28% annual dividend yield, indicating strong value [3] - The stock holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and an overall "A" VGM Zacks Style Scores grade for Value, Growth, and Momentum [4] Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson is recognized for its reasonable 15.1X forward earnings multiple and a 3.16% annual dividend yield, making it an attractive investment [5] - The company has shown steady growth despite a slowdown, with a diversified business model covering various medical fields [6] - Johnson & Johnson stock is up +15% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq [5] Tenet Healthcare - Tenet Healthcare is rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and is experiencing positive earnings estimate revisions, with expected annual earnings growth of 25% in fiscal 2025 [7][8] - The stock is up +25% year-to-date and trades at 10X forward earnings, indicating strong market performance [8] - FY26 EPS is projected to expand by another 4%, with estimates having increased by 14% in the last 60 days [9]

Core Insights - CVS is focusing on technology-led care, which is reflected in its solid Q2 earnings and an 8.4% revenue increase to nearly $99 billion [2] - The company's diversified business model is helping to mitigate fluctuations in medical costs, with retail pharmacy and consumer wellness units contributing significantly to sales [2] Financial Performance - CVS reported a revenue increase of 8.4%, reaching just under $99 billion, with retail pharmacy and consumer wellness units accounting for approximately one-third of total sales [2] - Same-store pharmacy sales surged by roughly 18% in the quarter, while prescription volumes rose by 6%, leading to a retail script share of 27.8% [5] Technology and Innovation - The company is investing $20 billion over the next decade to enhance technology in healthcare, aiming to transform the care journey significantly [4] - CVS is implementing digital solutions to address persistent healthcare issues, including a streamlined prior-authorization process for cancer therapies [3] Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - The rise in pharmacy sales is partly attributed to technology that redistributes tasks within CVS's 9,000 stores and increased traffic from Rite Aid store closures [5] - There is a notable increase in spending on GLP-1 medications, which have nearly doubled for employer clients over the last two years, now representing 15% of their pharmacy costs [6] Operational Challenges - CVS faced higher-than-expected medical ratios at its OakStreet Health clinics, leading to a $200 million reduction in full-year guidance for the Health Services segment [6] - The company is working to strengthen its value-based care unit through improved operations and new leadership [7]

Financial Performance - CVS Health's second-quarter results exceeded expectations [1] - The company raised its full-year adjusted profit forecast [1] Market Reaction - CVS Health shares experienced a jump following the announcement [1]

Financial Performance - CVS Health's earnings surpassed Wall Street's expectations [1] Business Outlook - CVS Health upgraded its projection for 2025 [1] Industry Dynamics - The health-insurance business of CVS Health showed signs of recovery [1]

Economic Indicators - The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report for June showed results warmer than expected, with year-over-year PCE reaching +2.6%, which is 10 basis points higher than anticipated [2][5] - Personal Income increased by +0.3%, exceeding expectations by 10 basis points, while Personal Spending fell to +0.3%, down 10 basis points from expectations [3][4] - The overall PCE Index month-over-month was in line with expectations at +0.3%, following an upwardly revised +0.2% the previous month [4] Job Market - Initial Jobless Claims rose slightly to 218K, marking the first increase in seven weeks, but still significantly lower than the 250K seen in early June [7] - Continuing Claims remained stable at 1.946 million, indicating a leveling off after a period of decline [8] - The upcoming Employment Situation report for July is expected to show 100K new jobs, which is a decrease of 47K from the previous month [9] Q2 Earnings Reports - AbbVie reported Q2 earnings of $2.97 per share, surpassing projections of $2.89, with a year-to-date increase of +6.5% [10] - CVS Health exceeded earnings estimates with $1.81 per share, resulting in an earnings beat of +23.13% and a year-to-date increase of +38.8% [10] - Mastercard's earnings of $4.15 per share beat expectations by 10 cents, with a year-to-date increase of +6% [10] - Bristol Myers-Squibb had a notable earnings beat at $1.46 per share, exceeding estimates by +36.45% [11] - International Paper reported a significant earnings drop to $0.20 per share, missing expectations by -47.37% [11] - Sirius XM missed estimates with earnings of 57 cents per share, resulting in a -27.85% earnings surprise [12] Market Outlook - The Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) report is expected after the market opens, with no further scheduled announcements [13] - Anticipation surrounds upcoming earnings reports from major companies such as Apple and Amazon, with expectations of modest gains for Apple and high-single-digit growth for Amazon [14]

Here is how CVS Health performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: View all Key Company Metrics for CVS Health here>>> Shares of CVS Health have returned -6.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term. Medical benefit ratio (MBR): 89.9% versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 9 ...

美国药局CVS Health(CVS.US)涨超7%，报66.73美元。消息面上，CVS Health第二季度营收同比增长 8.4%至989.2亿美元，高于市场预期的945.1亿美元；净利润同比下降42%至10.2亿美元，经调整每股盈 利1.81美元，高于市场预期的1.46美元。期内保险业务收入同比增长11%至362.6亿美元，高于预期的 345.9亿美元；药局和消费者保健部门收入同比12%至335.8亿美元，亦超预期。公司上调2025财年盈利 指引，目前预计调整后每股盈利将介于6.3至6.4美元之间，之前预期为6至6.2美元。(格隆汇) ...

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights CVS Health's financial performance, showing a revenue increase but a decline in net profit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 [1][2] - CVS Health reported total revenue of $193.5 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 7.7% [1] - The company's net profit attributable to shareholders was $2.8 billion, which is a decrease of 2.88% compared to the previous year [2] Group 2 - As of July 31, CVS Health's stock opened at $66.00 per share, with a trading volume of $87.77 million and a total market capitalization of $83.71 billion [1] - CVS Health is recognized as the largest pharmaceutical retailer in the United States, focusing on pharmaceutical innovation to improve health outcomes [2] - The company has established various innovative operational methods within its CVS pharmacy system, including its online pharmacy CVS.com and the dedicated pharmaceutical branch PharmaCare [2]