We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Affordable Stocks To Buy Right Now. In this article, we will look at where WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) ranks among the best affordable stocks to buy right now.
The stock market appears to be at a turning point. While major indexes are still hovering near record levels, there’s been increased volatility this earnings season. Stocks tied to artificial intelligence and semiconductors, once investor darlings, have seen significant sell-offs. With the approaching presidential election, and shifting Federal Reserve policies, uncertainty might be the central theme this autumn.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a key report from the Labor Department, revealed that job openings dropped to 7.67 million in July, a decrease of 237,000 from June’s revised figure and the lowest since January 2021. This decline reduced the ratio of job openings per available worker to just under 1.1, a significant drop from its peak of over 2-to-1 in early 2022. The data is expected to support the Federal Reserve’s anticipated move to begin lowering interest rates at their upcoming September 17-18 meeting.
Michael Yoshikami, CEO of Destination Wealth Management, believes the U.S. Federal Reserve could make a significant 50 basis point rate cut without unsettling the markets. His comments align with Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, who recently suggested the Fed should consider a half-point cut, arguing that the central bank’s prior tightening moves were excessive. While Yoshikami acknowledged that such a large cut might fuel recession fears, he emphasized that concerns are exaggerated. He also noted that the recent market sell-off, which marked the S&P 500’s worst week since March 2023, followed a period of “massive profits” in the prior month. Despite a turbulent start, August saw gains across major indexes, and September is typically a slower trading period.
Thanos Papasavvas, founder and chief investment officer of ABP Invest, acknowledged growing concerns about a potential economic downturn. ABP recently raised its recession probability for the U.S. to 30%, up from 25% in June, though Papasavvas described the risk as “relatively contained.” He emphasized that key economic indicators, such as manufacturing and unemployment rates, remain “resilient.”
On another front, U.S. factories continued to experience a slowdown in August, raising concerns about the direction of the economy. The Institute for Supply Management’s monthly survey of purchasing managers showed that only 47.2% reported growth for the month, falling below the 50% threshold that signals expansion. Although this was slightly higher than July’s 46.8%, it missed the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 47.9%.
Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee stated:
“While still in contraction territory, U.S. manufacturing activity contracted slower compared to last month. Demand continues to be weak, output declined, and inputs stayed accommodative.”
Despite the index indicating contraction in manufacturing, Fiore noted that a reading above 42.5% typically suggests overall economic expansion. Last month’s weaker-than-expected report triggered a sharp market downturn, leading to an 8.5% drop in the S&P 500 before a partial recovery. Following the latest ISM data release on September 3, stocks continued to fall, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 500 points.
Our Methodology
To create our list of the best affordable stocks to buy, we used stock screeners to identify undervalued stocks with forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios below 15 as of September 16, all of which are also favored by analysts. This selection is based on the popularity of these stocks among the 912 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey. The list is arranged in ascending order, according to the number of hedge funds holding each stock.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with 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).
WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC)
Forward P/E Ratio as of September 16: 10.92
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) provides B2B distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions, operating through its Electrical & Electronic Solutions, Communications & Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS) segments.
In Q2 2024, WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) reported earnings that missed expectations, with an operating shortfall of $0.36 per share, or 7%. Additionally, the company lowered its full-year 2024 earnings per share forecast by 12% below consensus estimates. The weaker performance in Q2 was driven by soft demand in short-cycle sectors, including utility, construction/solar, and broadband. In particular, the utility sector struggled due to delayed government funding, regulatory uncertainties, and inventory issues that affected demand.
Following these results, Loop Capital adjusted its price target for WCC, lowering it from $200 to $190 while maintaining a Buy rating. The firm noted that limited growth in certain segments failed to create the expected operating leverage, and project delays continue to weigh on the utility business within WESCO’s UBS segment. Despite these challenges, the outlook for the second half of the year is only slightly below seasonal norms, with margins remaining stable. Loop Capital expressed optimism about WESCO’s future, citing potential recovery in utility and broadband investments and secular growth trends. The firm’s confidence also stems from WESCO’s capital deployment strategy, including the redemption of preferred shares, which is expected to boost EPS growth.
In the second quarter, 51 hedge funds held positions in the stock, totaling $1.79 billion. Leonard Green & Partners emerged as the top investor, with a position valued at $562.2 million.
Diamond Hill Mid Cap Strategy stated the following regarding WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“Other bottom contributors included Parker-Hannifin, WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) and Regal Rexnord. Shares of leading industrial distributor WESCO (WCC) and electric motors and power transmission components manufacturer Regal Rexnord (RRX) were pressured against a backdrop of macroeconomic concerns which are seemingly making investors hesitant to own leveraged cyclical companies like WCC and RRX. However, we believe WCC remains well-positioned to capitalize on several secular tailwinds and to leverage its significant scale advantage to take market share and improve margins.”
Overall WCC ranks 9th on our list of the best affordable stocks to buy. While we recognize the potential of WCC as an investment, we believe certain deeply undervalued AI stocks offer greater prospects for higher returns in a shorter period. If you’re seeking an AI stock with even more promise than WCC and trading at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey.
