Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 5 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Food Processing industry. Those looking for value stocks to add to their portfolio may want to use this list as a starting point for further investment research.

Why Focus on Undervalued Food Processing Stocks?

Value investors seek to buy stocks at a discount to their intrinsic value. Long-term returns show that such strategies are advantageous. Value stocks, as a group, tend to outperform growth stocks over extended periods of time. Typically, value investors perform financial analysis of numerous metrics, don’t follow the herd and are long-term investors.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade is derived from a stock’s Value Score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

What Goes Into AAII’s Value Grade?

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data as well as the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movement. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors with that task.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A–F grades for more than just value. It is possible for a stock to appear cheap based on one valuation metric but appear expensive on another. It is also possible for one valuation ratio to be associated with outperforming stocks during certain periods of time but not others. Some stocks may even have null values for certain metrics like the price-earnings ratio or the price-to-book ratio but not others. An example of this would be a company with losses instead of profits or a negative book value because of heavy borrowing. Negative earnings or book value result in non-meaningful ratios that are left blank or null.

Click the button below to learn more about A+ Investor and subscribe today.

5 Undervalued Food Processing Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 5 undervalued stocks in the Food Processing industry for Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Food Processing industry median.

The Value Grade is assigned based on how each stock’s composite valuation compares to all other stocks.

The process for assigning grades starts with each variable for a given stock. The percentile rankings for all valid ratios that a stock has are calculated. So, for instance, a stock could have a price-to-book ranking in the 43rd percentile, a price-earnings ranking in the 67th percentile, a price-to-sales ranking in the 23rd percentile, etc. Then, those rankings are averaged for each stock. (A minimum of two valid variables are required, though all six will be used if available.)

Once the average of the individual variables is calculated, that average is ranked against all stocks. Put another way, each stock’s composite valuation is compared to all other stocks. These ranks are then sorted into quintiles from the cheapest 20% (a grade of A) to the most expensive 20% (a grade of F).

As always, we recommend that you conduct proper due diligence and research before investing in any security. We also suggest that investors utilize numerous grades, not just value, when it comes to deciding whether a company is a good fit for their allocation needs.

B&G; Foods Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

B&G; Foods, Inc. manufactures, sells and distributes branded shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Its products include frozen and canned vegetables, vegetable, canola and other cooking oils, vegetable shortening, cooking sprays, oatmeal and other hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, wine vinegar, and other specialty products. It operates in four segments: Specialty, Meals, Frozen & Vegetables and Spices & Flavor Solutions. Its products are marketed under various brands, including Ac'cent, B&G;, B&M;, Baker's Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary's, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Davis, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Grandma's Molasses, Green Giant, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald's, Mama Mary's, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann's, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Polaner, and Wright's.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

B&G; Foods Inc has a Value Score of 78, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at B&G; Foods Inc’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.37 compared to the industry median at 0.92, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make B&G; Foods Inc’s stock more attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess B&G; Foods Inc’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 10.3, when compared to the industry median of 11.4, the company may be considered undervalued in relation to its peers. Value investors could use the enterprise multiple to identify stocks that are considered overvalued or undervalued relative to their industry.

Shareholder yield is the sum of a stock’s dividend yield (paid over previous 12 months minus special dividends) and the percentage of net share buybacks over the previous 12 months. B&G; Foods Inc’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 0.00%. Value investors may look for an attractive shareholder yield because it can be a powerful tool for identifying if the company has a good management team.

As one of the most common value metrics, the price-to-book ratio evaluates a company’s current market price relative to its book value. B&G; Foods Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 2.05. This could make B&G; Foods Inc more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at B&G; Foods Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. B&G; Foods Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 20.58. This could make B&G; Foods Inc more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that B&G; Foods Inc is undervalued. The P/FCF ratio metric can also be viewed over a long-term time frame to see if the company's cash flow to share price value is generally improving or worsening.

Farmer Bros Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Farmer Bros. Co. is a coffee roaster, wholesaler and distributor of coffee, tea and culinary products. It serves a range of customers, including small independent restaurants, foodservice operators and large institutional buyers, such as restaurants, department and convenience store chains, hotels, casinos, healthcare facilities and gourmet coffee houses, as well as grocery chains with private brand and consumer-branded coffee and tea products, and foodservice distributors. It offers a robust product line, including organic, Direct Trade, Project D.I.R.E.C.T. and other sustainably produced coffees, iced and hot teas, cappuccino, spices, and baking/biscuit mixes, among others. It also offers value-added services, such as market insight, beverage planning, and equipment placement and service. Its owned brand products are sold primarily into the foodservice channel. Its brands include Farmer Brothers, Artisan Collection by Farmer Brothers, Superior, Metropolitan, China Mist and Boyds.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Farmer Bros Co has a Value Score of 62, which is considered to be undervalued.

Farmer Bros Co’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Farmer Bros Co less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 2.05.

You can read more about Farmer Bros Co’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Hain Celestial Group Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. is a global health and wellness company. The Company operates through two segments: North America Segment, and International Segment. The Company’s North America Segment includes the United States and Canada. The Company’s International Segment includes the United Kingdom, and Europe. The Company's brands include Garden Veggie Snacks, Terra chips, Garden of Eatin snacks, Earths Best and Ellas Kitchen baby and toddler foods, Celestial Seasonings teas, Joya and Natumi plant-based beverages, Greek Gods yogurt, Yorkshire Provender, Cully & Sully and Covent Garden soups, Yves and Linda McCartneys (under license) meat-free, Alba Botanica natural sun care, and Live Clean personal care products, among others. The Company sells its products through specialty and natural food distributors, supermarkets, natural food stores, mass-market and e-commerce retailers, food service channels and club, drug and convenience stores worldwide.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Hain Celestial Group Inc has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

Hain Celestial Group Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Hain Celestial Group Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 2.05.

You can read more about Hain Celestial Group Inc’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Herbalife Ltd’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Herbalife Ltd. is a global nutrition company. The Company sells weight management; targeted nutrition; energy, sports and fitness; and other nutrition products to and through a network of independent members (Members). Its products include meal replacements, protein shakes, teas, aloes, high-protein snacks, vitamins and supplements, sports nutrition and outer nutrition products. The Company offers a range of meal replacement products, such as protein shakes, bars and soups. Its snack portfolio includes a variety of sweet, savory and creamy options, such as high protein iced coffee, protein bars, snack shakes, soups, baking mixes and others. Its Herbal Aloe Concentrate is a beverage formulated with aloe vera, which can be mixed with water, tea or protein shake. It has also developed a portfolio of dietary supplements, encompassing solutions for heart health, digestive health, immunity and others. It sells products in 95 markets across the world.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Herbalife Ltd has a Value Score of 93, which is considered to be undervalued.

Herbalife Ltd’s price-earnings ratio is 7.9 compared to the industry median at 17.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Herbalife Ltd more attractive for value investors.

You can read more about Herbalife Ltd’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Kraft Heinz Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

The Kraft Heinz Company is a global food and beverage company. The Company manufactures (and contract for the manufacture of) its products from a variety of raw materials. It purchases and uses commodities, including dairy products, meat products, tomato products, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, coffee beans, wheat and processed grains, eggs, and other fruits and vegetables to manufacture its products. In addition, the Company purchases and uses significant quantities of resins, fiberboard, metals and cardboard to package its products. The Company's geographic segments include North America and International. Its North America segment offers various brands, which include Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Ore-Ida, Capri Sun, Maxwell House, Kool-Aid and Jell-O. Its International segment offers various brands, such as Heinz, ABC, Master, Quero, Kraft, Golden Circle, Wattie’s, Pudliszki and Plasmon.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Kraft Heinz Co has a Value Score of 63, which is considered to be undervalued.

Kraft Heinz Co’s price-earnings ratio is 15.3 compared to the industry median at 17.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Kraft Heinz Co more attractive for value investors.

Kraft Heinz Co’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Kraft Heinz Co less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 2.05.

You can read more about Kraft Heinz Co’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Other Food Processing Stock Grades

Value is just one of the five Stock Grades included in our A+ Investor service. AAII members can see the top-graded stocks—those with grades of A or B for value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality—on the A+ Stock Grades Screener.

Also, if you want full access to all of AAII’s premium services, you can subscribe to one convenient bundled plan called AAII Platinum where you can try out A+ Investor, AAII Dividend Investing, the Stock Superstars Report, Growth Investing and VMQ Stocks. With the other premium services, you can dive deep into additional metrics, portfolios, commentary and information about Food Processing stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 5 Best Food Processing Stocks Is Right for You

Choosing which value stocks to invest in will ultimately depend on your individual goals and allocation; however, comparing similar value stocks in the same industry can help you analyze which might be better investments for you in the long run. So, let’s take a look at the Value Grade for all of our stocks.

• B&G; Foods Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Farmer Bros Co stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Hain Celestial Group Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Herbalife Ltd stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Kraft Heinz Co stock has a Value Grade of B.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 5 undervalued stocks in the Food Processing industry as well as their overall grades, it’s time for you to conduct additional research to see if these could fit your portfolio needs based on your goals and risk tolerance. AAII can help you figure out both and identify which investments align with what works best for you.

We do so through a program of education that teaches you to invest for yourself and become an effective manager of your own wealth—no more relying on others for your financial independence. You can rely on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis that makes you a better investor.

A+ Investor adds to that qualitative teaching by giving you a powerful data suite that helps you whittle down investment decisions to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

Additional Resources About Food Processing Stocks

Want to learn more about Food Processing stocks to see if they could be the right investment for you? Check out some additional resources and articles to help you on your financial journey.

• 5 Undervalued Food Processing Stocks for Wednesday, May 29
• 3 Undervalued Food Processing Stocks for Tuesday, May 28
• Why BRC Inc’s (BRCC) Stock Is Up 6.13%
• Why Medifast Inc’s (MED) Stock Is Up 8.63%

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.