Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 3 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Trading Companies & Distributors 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 Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
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3 Undervalued Trading Companies & Distributors Stocks
Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 3 undervalued stocks in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry for Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Trading Companies & Distributors industry median.
| Company | Ticker | Price/Sales | Price/Earnings | EV/EBITDA | Shareholder Yield | Price/Book Value | Price/Free Cash Flow | Value Grade |
| Air Lease Corporation | AL | 2.40 | 7.0 | 16.6 | 1.0% | 0.86 | na | B |
| Hudson Technologies, Inc. | HDSN | 1.35 | 14.3 | 10.1 | 3.9% | 1.18 | 7.1 | A |
| Karat Packaging Inc. | KRT | 1.09 | 16.5 | 10.3 | 6.9% | 3.21 | na | B |
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.
Air Lease Corporation’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | AL | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 55 | 2.40 | 1.15 |
| Price/Earnings | 7 | 7.0 | 22.9 |
| EV/EBITDA | 66 | 16.6 | 13.9 |
| Shareholder Yield | 37 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Price/Book Value | 19 | 0.86 | 2.50 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | na | na | 27.0 |
Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines in the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central America, South America, the United States, and Canada. The company also sells aircraft to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. In addition, it provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios. As of December 31, 2025, it owned 490 aircraft; managed 45 aircraft; and 218 aircraft on order with aircraft manufacturers. Air Lease Corporation was incorporated in 2010 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
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.
Air Lease Corporation has a Value Score of 71, which is considered to be undervalued.
When you look at Air Lease Corporation’s price-to-sales ratio at 2.40 compared to the industry median at 1.15, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Air Lease Corporation’s stock less attractive for value investors.
Air Lease Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 7.00 compared to the industry median at 22.90. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Air Lease Corporation more attractive for value investors.
Now, let’s assess Air Lease Corporation’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 16.6, when compared to the industry median of 13.9, the company may be considered overvalued 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. Air Lease Corporation’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.25%. 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. Air Lease Corporation’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 2.50. This could make Air Lease Corporation more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.
Hudson Technologies, Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | HDSN | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 39 | 1.35 | 1.15 |
| Price/Earnings | 33 | 14.3 | 22.9 |
| EV/EBITDA | 35 | 10.1 | 13.9 |
| Shareholder Yield | 20 | 3.9% | 1.3% |
| Price/Book Value | 31 | 1.18 | 2.50 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | 16 | 7.1 | 27.0 |
Hudson Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiary, Hudson Technologies Company, provides solutions to recurring problems within the refrigeration industry in the United States. The company offers refrigerant and industrial gas; refrigerant management services consisting primarily of reclamation of refrigerants, laboratory testing through its laboratory, and banking storage services; and RefrigerantSide Services comprising system decontamination to remove moisture, oils, and other contaminants intended to restore systems to designed capacity. It also provides diagnostic services for use in the prediction of potential problems in air conditioning, process cooling, and refrigeration systems; Chiller Chemistry, which integrates several fluid tests of an operating system and the corresponding laboratory results into an engineering report; Fluid Chemistry for use in identification of systems that require further examination; and SmartEnergy OPS, a system for measuring, modifying, and improving the efficiency of energy systems, including air conditioning and refrigeration systems, in industrial and commercial applications. In addition, the company provides a snapshot of a packaged chiller’s operating efficiency and health through ChillSmart, a maintenance tool. Further, it is involved in the generation of carbon offset projects. The company serves commercial, industrial, and governmental customers, as well as refrigerant wholesalers, distributors, contractors, and refrigeration equipment manufacturers. Hudson Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
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.
Hudson Technologies, Inc. has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.
Hudson Technologies, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 14.3 compared to the industry median at 22.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Hudson Technologies, Inc. more attractive for value investors.
Hudson Technologies, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Hudson Technologies, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 2.50.
You can read more about Hudson Technologies, 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.
Karat Packaging Inc.’s Value Grade
Value Grade:
| Metric | Score | KRT | Industry Median |
| Price/Sales | 35 | 1.09 | 1.15 |
| Price/Earnings | 40 | 16.5 | 22.9 |
| EV/EBITDA | 36 | 10.3 | 13.9 |
| Shareholder Yield | 9 | 6.9% | 1.3% |
| Price/Book Value | 67 | 3.21 | 2.50 |
| Price/Free Cash Flow | na | na | 27.0 |
Karat Packaging Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and distribution of single-use disposable products in plastic, paper, biopolymer-based, and other compostable forms used in various restaurant and foodservice settings. It offers food and take-out containers, bags, boxes, tableware, cups, lids, cutlery, straws, specialty beverage ingredients, gloves, utensils, janitorial and warehouse supplies, and other products under the Karat Earth brand. The company also distributes food and beverage items, such as syrups, boba tea, and coffee drinks; and provides new product development, design, printing, and logistics services. It offers its products to national and regional distributors, restaurant chains, retail establishments, and online customers. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Chino, California.
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.
Karat Packaging Inc. has a Value Score of 70, which is considered to be undervalued.
Karat Packaging Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 16.5 compared to the industry median at 22.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Karat Packaging Inc. more attractive for value investors.
Karat Packaging Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Karat Packaging Inc. more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 2.50.
You can read more about Karat Packaging 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.
Other Trading Companies & Distributors 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 Trading Companies & Distributors stocks as well as other industrys.
Choosing Which of the 3 Best Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
- Air Lease Corporation stock has a Value Grade of B.
- Hudson Technologies, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
- Karat Packaging Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 3 undervalued stocks in the Trading Companies & Distributors 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 Trading Companies & Distributors Stocks
Want to learn more about Trading Companies & Distributors 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.
- 3 Undervalued Trading Companies & Distributors Stocks for Tuesday, February 24
- Why BlueLinx Holdings Inc.’s (BXC) Stock Is Down 5.88%
- Why Boise Cascade Company’s (BCC) Stock Is Down 5.15%
- Why EquipmentShare.com Inc.’s (EQPT) Stock Is Down 6.94%
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.
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