In this article, we’re going to talk about the 10 most undervalued large-cap stocks to invest in.
Are Cyclical Stocks The New Investment Strategy?
As significant gains are already being realized after the Fed’s aggressive September interest rate decision, historical trends suggest that markets typically remain flat or slightly up in the 30 to 60 days following the first rate cut. Positive factors contributing to the current rally include a strong internal market dynamic, with a large portion of the S&P 500 trading above their 200-day moving averages, and optimism surrounding the stimulus measures from China.
At such a time, investors are cautioned against assuming certainty in market outcomes. They are advised to consider protective strategies, such as exploring shorter-duration bonds as a hedge against potential rapid rate cuts by the Fed. Overall, focusing on sectors with strong fundamentals while remaining adaptable can help investors navigate economic uncertainties. Liz Young Thomas, SoFi’s head of investment strategy, holds a similar sentiment. We covered her opinion in our article about the 8 Most Active US Stocks To Buy Now, here’s an excerpt from it:
“When discussing valuation concerns, Young agreed that while US market multiples are relatively high, hovering around 21 to 22, this is not unprecedented when compared to historical standards. She pointed out that current valuations are above both the 5-year and 10-year averages but not at overbought levels… Young expressed a desire for the market to shift towards trading based on fundamentals rather than multiple expansions. She noted that while earnings stability is crucial, there are signs of strength in sectors outside of technology, particularly in industrial stocks… As for identifying sectors with potential for faster earnings growth, Young emphasized the importance of thorough research and analysis rather than relying solely on top-down market movements… she advised investors to remain vigilant and consider protective strategies. She suggested exploring opportunities across the Treasury curve, particularly in shorter-duration bonds, as a hedge against potential faster-than-expected rate cuts by the Fed. ”
Scott Chronert, Citi US equity strategist, joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ on October 2 to discuss his assessment of the major averages and stocks to end the year and how investors should lean into growth and cyclicals to manage potential market choppiness.
Scott Chronert set a target for the S&P 500 at 5,600. As the market entered October, significant global events have unfolded, including stimulus measures from China and ongoing geopolitical tensions marked by strikes in the Middle East. Chronert acknowledged that while these developments are crucial, translating them into actionable investment strategies has proven challenging, particularly in light of the ongoing conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, and Israel.
Addressing the geopolitical landscape, he noted that the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable and continues to be a wild card. This uncertainty has prompted a tactical shift towards an overweight position in energy stocks as they enter the fourth quarter, suggesting that rising tensions could benefit this sector. However, he characterized this move as somewhat contrarian given the current market climate.
When discussing monetary policy, Chronert indicated that the Fed is still in a less restrictive mode and has not yet reached a point where it can be considered fully accommodative. The focus is on balancing growth while adopting a defensive stance as the year concludes. This approach includes an overweight position in financials while avoiding more defensive sectors that are historically viewed as expensive. He pointed out that healthcare is somewhat of an exception to this trend, but overall, there is no urgency to invest heavily in traditionally defensive sectors.
The conversation also touched on the Fed’s role in achieving a soft landing for the economy. Chronert believes that if the Fed continues to lower interest rates, as indicated by market expectations of potential cuts totaling up to 200 basis points, it could create a favorable environment for equities. However, he acknowledged that markets have misjudged Fed actions in the past.
The discussion raised concerns about potential risks facing both monetary policy and economic performance. Chronert emphasized that the greater risk lies in the Fed needing to stay ahead of economic narratives rather than falling behind. A deterioration in labor conditions could lead to further rate cuts; however, he cautioned against viewing this solely as negative for equities. Instead, he sees potential risks related to inflation stemming from rising commodity prices due to geopolitical tensions.
Looking ahead to 2025, he expressed concerns about how ongoing discussions regarding deficit financing might impact markets, particularly regarding bond market dynamics and potential pressures from bond vigilantes. He noted that while immediate risks may seem manageable, longer-term implications could arise from political developments surrounding US elections.
Additionally, he suggested that markets could see supportive conditions with expectations of rate cuts, potentially 50 basis points in November while expressing contentment with either 25 or 50 basis points as long as the overall trajectory remains constructive.
Analysts are increasingly optimistic about large-cap stocks, viewing them as a strong investment choice amid current market volatility. Scott Chronert’s assessment aligns with this perspective, as he suggests that leaning into growth and cyclicals could be beneficial for investors navigating the choppy end-of-year conditions. With their stability and potential for steady dividends, large-cap companies are well-positioned to weather economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, making them a reliable option for those looking to maintain a balanced portfolio. With that context, we’re here with a list of the 10 most undervalued large-cap stocks to invest in.
Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to compile a list of 25 stocks trading over $20 billion, that’s our definition of large-cap stocks. We then selected stocks with a forward P/E ratio under of 15 and made a list of 10 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q2 2024.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Most Undervalued Large Cap Stocks To Invest In
10. CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS)
Forward Price-to-Earnings Ratio: 8.47
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS) is the world’s second-largest healthcare company that operates a network of retail pharmacies, offers pharmacy benefit management services, and provides healthcare services through its MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics. It also owns and operates the health insurance company Aetna, and is committed to providing accessible, affordable healthcare solutions to individuals and communities across the US.
The company is doing well because it’s becoming a more integrated healthcare provider. It’s expanding its MinuteClinics and improving its telehealth services to offer more convenient care, attracting new customers. It also bought Aetna, which allows it to offer more complete care solutions. This is in line with the trend in healthcare towards value-based care, which focuses on better patient outcomes and long-term growth.
The company serves almost 187 million people. More people are using Aetna medical plans through CVS pharmacies, and Caremark now covers 13.8 million Aetna members. It lowered its earnings forecast for the whole year because of challenges in its insurance division, Aetna, making this the second time they’ve lowered the forecast for 2024. However, the company’s revenue still grew by 2.6% in Q2 2024, partly attributed to the successful launch of CVS CostVantage.
Management expects to improve its profit margin in the Medicare Advantage segment by about 110 basis points in 2025. This is within its goal of 100 to 200 basis points. The company also expects a 5% decrease in Medicare Advantage members and $500 million in cost savings.
CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS) is doing well because of its new ideas and how it combines different healthcare services. It’s growing faster by using transparent payment models, using more biosimilars, and improving patient care through its connected healthcare assets.
Coho Relative Value Equity Strategy stated the following regarding CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“While we believe each of those companies is performing in line with or better than our expectations and that the moves lower are unjustified, both CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) and Nike reported disappointing performance in recent results. In CVS’ case, management gave an optimistic outlook to 2024 at its December Investor Day, which we believed was consistent with our expectations. Unfortunately, management misestimated its medical loss ratio and the anticipated profitability in its book for Medicare Advantaged lives. This triggered a position paper violation, as the company’s financial flexibility now looks constrained in both 2024 and 2025.”
9. Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
Forward Price-to-Earnings Ratio: 9.04
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61
Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is the fourth-largest broadcasting and cable television company worldwide by revenue. It’s a multinational mass media and technology conglomerate that provides cable television, high-speed internet, telephone services, and theme parks. Its major subsidiaries include Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky, and it is known for its extensive cable television network, popular entertainment channels, and its role in the film and television industry.
The company has around 32 million broadband customers, making it the biggest broadband provider in the US. In Q2 2024, it added 322,000 new wireless customers, which means that 12% of its broadband customers are also using wireless services. Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:CMCSA) has been able to keep its average revenue per user between 3% and 4% over a long time.
While revenue fell slightly by 2.7% to $29.69 billion in Q2 2024, the company earned more per share than expected, beating the consensus by 9%. The broadband business grew by 3%, even with lost subscribers. This is because of the increased average price per user by 3.6%. The wireless business revenue grew by 17% year-over-year. This business has grown by 20% for several years.
The Content & Experiences segment had revenue fall by 7.5% due to fewer people visiting theme parks, but the streaming service, Peacock, grew by 28% year-over-year. Mostly, there were difficulties in the Studios and Theme Parks division, with declines of 27% and 10.6%, respectively.
It’s facing competition from satellite internet providers like Starlink and fixed wireless companies, which could make it harder to keep customers. If the company starts to lose customers, its stock price could go down. Despite this competition, Comcast Corp.’s (NASDAQ:CMCSA) strong market position, diversified revenue streams, and focus on innovation suggest a promising outlook.
ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy made the following comment about Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:
“Long-term holdings Charter and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) delivered strong second-quarter results relative to expectations; their stable recurring revenue streams and undemanding valuations were rewarded in the current environment. Cable multiples compressed over the past 24 months on fears of heightened competition in their core broadband business from fixed wireless and fiber providers. While fiber remains a competitive alternative to cable broadband over the long term, high upfront investments and a materially higher cost of capital are resulting in slower buildouts than previously expected. Fixed wireless also continues to gain traction, particularly in rural markets, but share gains also appear to be moderating. At the same time, both Comcast and Charter are expanding their footprints into rural and adjacent markets while gaining wireless market share, leveraging their mobile virtual network operator agreements with Verizon. We think both cable companies are well-positioned to continue to grow while generating substantial free cash flows. We added to Comcast during the quarter.”
