We recently published a list of 8 Most Undervalued Small-Cap Stocks To Buy According To Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bath & Body Works Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) stands against the other most undervalued small-cap stocks to buy according to analysts.
Is a Multi-Year Small-Cap Cycle Ahead?
The landscape for small and mid-cap companies is becoming increasingly exciting in light of the Fed’s recent rate cuts, which could unlock significant investment opportunities. While the Russell 2000 index has lagged behind larger averages, analysts are optimistic about the growth potential of these stocks as market conditions improve.
Many small and mid-cap companies are well-positioned to capitalize on the favorable economic environment, with innovative strategies and strong fundamentals that can drive demand and market share. As interest rates stabilize and investor confidence grows, these companies are likely to attract renewed attention from investors seeking high-growth opportunities.
With the current environment ripe for exploration, there has never been a better time for investors to consider small and mid-cap stocks. Such was the sentiment of Curtis Nagel, senior US SMid cap internet analyst at BofA Securities, who spoke on this market scenario on CNBC earlier. We covered his opinion in another one of our articles, 7 Best Small Company Stocks To Invest In. Here’s an excerpt from it:
“…he believes this could spell big opportunities for SMID-cap stocks across various sectors, including home furnishings and subscription services.
Nagel specifically pointed out Restoration Hardware, noting that it is a household name that often flies under the radar… Nagel’s overall thesis focuses on updating price targets for companies with high sensitivity to interest rates and strong prospects for revenue and earnings growth in a soft landing scenario. ACV Auctions was highlighted as an intriguing opportunity. Nagel described it as a digital marketplace for wholesale vehicles where dealerships trade cars. He noted that this market has not been fully digitized yet, placing the company at the forefront of this transition. Although the wholesale vehicle market has faced challenges, down about 25% relative to historic averages, Nagel theorized that as interest rates improve and car affordability increases, the company could see a market rebound. He views this stock as potentially overlooked but having significant upside.”
In an interview on CNBC on September 30, Nancy Prial, Co-CEO & Senior Portfolio Manager at Essex Investment Management, expressed that she expects small-cap stocks to grow, driven by rate cuts and stock-picking opportunities.
Prial noted that small caps have been outperforming in the third quarter, largely driven by expectations of rate cuts, with a 50 basis point reduction being more significant than previously anticipated. She expressed optimism that small caps have substantial room to grow, emphasizing that this could mark the beginning of a multi-year cycle for these stocks. Currently, small-cap stocks are underrepresented in the market, comprising just under 5% of the total equity market, which is at record lows. This low ownership level presents an attractive opportunity for investors.
She pointed out that small-cap stocks remain significantly undervalued compared to their larger counterparts. Prial argued that for small caps to gain traction, several conditions must be met: the continuation of rate cuts, confidence in navigating a soft landing rather than a recession and expanding relative earnings growth. She noted that relative earnings growth for small caps is starting to improve and is expected to surpass that of large caps by the end of the year.
When asked about overall market estimates, Prial acknowledged that while the S&P 500 is projected to see earnings growth of 13% in the fourth quarter and 15% in 2025, she believes small caps could exceed these figures. Despite a slight slowdown in economic growth, she maintained that small-cap stocks could achieve earnings growth rates between 15% and 20% next year. She cautioned, however, that overall indices might not reflect this growth as estimates often start high before being revised downward.
Prial also discussed her investment picks related to infrastructure and near-shoring, specifically mentioning Clean Harbors. While acknowledging its strong performance in Q3, she clarified that they do not expect new legislation from Washington to drive further gains. Instead, she believes companies like this will benefit from existing bills that are now being implemented. Additionally, she highlighted Arcosa as a “picks and shovels” play within the sector, emphasizing its role in supporting the build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure and digitalization efforts across various industries.
Her insights reflect a bullish outlook on small-cap stocks amid changing economic conditions and anticipated monetary policy shifts. By focusing on strategic stock selection and recognizing the potential for earnings growth within this sector, investors may find compelling opportunities as they navigate the evolving market landscape.
Methodology
We used stock screeners to look for companies trading between $1 billion and $10 billion, that’s our definition of small-cap stocks. We then found 25 stocks with a forward price-to-earnings ratio under 15, and an upside potential of over 20%. We then selected the 8 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their analysts’ upside potential.
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).
A female customer browsing a variety of body care products in a retail store.
Bath & Body Works Inc. (NYSE:BBWI)
Forward Price-to-Earnings Ratio: 7.99
Average Upside Potential: 38.65%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Bath & Body Works Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) is an American specialty retail company that specializes in selling personal care products, including soaps, body lotions, fragrances, and candles, known for its wide variety of scents and seasonal collections. It has a strong presence in shopping malls and often offers promotions and discounts to attract customers.
The company is actively pursuing growth strategies. It’s focusing on strengthening its core portfolio, exploring new market opportunities, adapting to changing market dynamics, improving profitability, and reducing costs. Despite such strides, there was a 2.12% decline in FQ2 2025 revenue, as compared to the year-ago period. Performance was impacted by the semiannual sales mostly, which fell short of expectations. Without this impact, revenue would’ve only been down 1%. Its loyalty program has 37 million+ active members accounting for 80% of US sales.
It’s focusing on growth in adjacent categories like men’s, hair, lip, and laundry, targeting both existing and new customers. The company is launching new products and campaigns in the second half of the year to increase awareness. Its real estate portfolio is strong, with ~55% of North American stores now in off-mall locations. International system-wide retail sales grew double digits in the second quarter in unaffected areas.
Bath & Body Works Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) is enhancing its mobile app with new features like app for all, frictionless ordering, and geotargeting, and is launching a TikTok shop to attract younger customers and introducing a GenAI fragrance finder, Gingham Genius, to provide a personalized fragrance-finding experience.
The company is focused on growth, investing in customer engagement, expansion, operational efficiency, product innovation, and omnichannel experiences. It’s making progress in these areas, leveraging its competitive advantages, such as a diverse product range and strong brand loyalty. These factors together position Bath & Body Works Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) for long-term success.
Third Point made the following comment about Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) in its Q4 2022 investor letter:
“We initiated a position in Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) earlier in the year that we added to significantly in the Fourth Quarter. The company, which sells personal care and home fragrance products, separated from Victoria’s Secret in late 2021 and has struggled to find its footing in the public markets. Bath & Body Works was challenged by the normalization of trends following the pandemic, but also suffered from execution hiccups that made matters worse. On the operations front, the company spent much of 2022 without a permanent CEO, cut guidance multiple times given inventory and cost pressures, and did a poor job communicating meaningful increases in the company’s cost structure as a standalone business. On the capital allocation front, the execution of an accelerated share repurchase program was sloppy at best.
Despite these recent struggles, we believe BBWI can change its equity story, improve its earnings power, and earn a more premium valuation. The recent appointment of a new CEO, Gina Boswell from Unilever, is an encouraging first step…”
Overall BBWI ranks 5th on our list of most undervalued small-cap stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the growth potential of BBWI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BBWI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
