Looking for a Top Value Stock? 3 Reasons Why Wabash National (WNC) is an Excellent Choice – Tale of the Tape

This method discovered several great candidates for value-oriented investors, but today let’s focus on Wabash National Corp. (WNC) as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous reasons why this is the case, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for WNC’s status as a solid value stock below:

Price to Forward Sales for Wabash National

One of the most underrated ratios for value investors is the price/forward sales metric. This ratio shows investors how much they are paying for each dollar of revenues generated. In other words, a lower number is better here while a price to sales ratio of 1 means that you are paying one dollar for each dollar in sales.

With a P/S ratio of 0.51, WNC investors are paying 51 cents in stock price for each dollar of revenue generated by the company. Compare this to the industry average of 0.64, and it is safe to say that WNC is undervalued compared to many of its peers on this important metric.

Forward PE for Wabash National

Easily one of the most popular readings for value investors, the forward PE ratio shows us the current price of a stock divided by the full year earnings. Generally speaking, value investors like to see this ratio below 20, though it can vary by industry.

Right now, WNC has a forward PE of just 12.31, which means that investors are paying $12.31 for each dollar in expected Wabash National earnings this year. Compared to the industry at large this is pretty favorable as the overall space has an average PE of 14.09 in comparison.

WNC Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction

The solid value ratios outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, but we should also note that the earnings estimate revisions have been trending in a positive direction as well. Analysts who follow WNC stock have been raising their estimates for the company lately, meaning that the EPS picture is looking a bit more favorably for Wabash National now.

Over the past 60 days 2 earnings estimates have gone higher compared to none lower for the full year, while we are also seeing 2 upward revisions for the next year compared to none lower in the same time frame. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as 60 days ago WNC was expected to post earnings of $1.09 per share for the full year though today it looks to have EPS of $1.14 for the full year.

Bottom Line

For the reasons detailed above, investors shouldn’t be surprised to read that we have WNC as a stock with a Value Score of ‘A’ and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). So if you are a value investor, definitely keep WNC on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned for gains in the near term.

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