Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 4 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Banks 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 Banks 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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4 Undervalued Banks Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 4 undervalued stocks in the Banks industry for Thursday, August 17, 2023. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Banks 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.

Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Katahdin Bankshares Corp. is a bank holding company. The Company operates through its subsidiary, Katahdin Trust Company (the Bank), which is a commercial bank. The Bank conducts commercial and retail banking business that includes accepting deposits from the public and utilizing those funds to originate commercial loans, commercial and residential real estate loans, and consumer loans. Securities and insurance products are made available to the Bank's customers through Katahdin Financial Services, a service of Cetera Investment Service LLC, a registered broker-dealer and unaffiliated with the Bank. Maine Financial Group (MFG), an affiliate of the Bank, provides heavy equipment financing in the trucking, construction, forest products, and marine industries located around northern New England. It serves individuals and businesses throughout Maine and online at KatahdinTrust.com. The Bank operates various branches throughout northern Maine and the greater Bangor and Portland regions.

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.

Katahdin Bankshares Corp has a Value Score of 89, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s price-to-sales ratio at 1.67 compared to the industry median at 2.09, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s stock more attractive for value investors.

Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 6.50 compared to the industry median at 8.32. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Katahdin Bankshares Corp more attractive for value investors.

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. Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s shareholder yield is higher 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. Katahdin Bankshares Corp’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 0.92. This could make Katahdin Bankshares Corp more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Northrim BanCorp Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Northrim BanCorp, Inc. is a bank holding company. The Company is engaged in the business of personal banking services through its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Northrim Bank. It operates through two segments: Community Banking and Home Mortgage Lending. The Community Banking segment's principal business focuses on the offering of loan and deposit products to business and consumer customers in its primary market areas. The Home Mortgage lending segment's principal business focuses on the origination and sale of mortgage loans for one- to four-family residential properties. Its loan products include short and medium-term commercial loans, commercial credit lines, construction and real estate loans, and consumer loans. Its deposit services include business and personal noninterest-bearing checking accounts and interest-bearing time deposits, checking accounts, savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. It also offers mobile Web and text banking, and personal finance.

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.

Northrim BanCorp Inc has a Value Score of 80, which is considered to be undervalued.

Northrim BanCorp Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 8.8 compared to the industry median at 8.3. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Northrim BanCorp Inc less attractive for value investors.

Northrim BanCorp Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Northrim BanCorp Inc more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 0.92.

You can read more about Northrim BanCorp 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.

Bank Ozk’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Bank OZK (the Bank) is a regional bank that provides a range of financial solutions. The Bank offers a range of products, including checking, savings, loans, mortgages, treasury management, merchant services, trust and estate services, wealth, and credit cards, among others. Its savings products include certificate of deposits, money market accounts, and individual retirement accounts. Its personal lending options include home equity lines of credit, personal lines of credit and auto loans. It offers both a fixed rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage. Its online banking enables users to manage their accounts, pay bills, transfer funds, view electronic account statements and others. The Bank also provides individual consultation, financial planning, trust, and investment management services. The Bank conducts banking operations with over 240 offices in eight states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, New York, California, and Mississippi.

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.

Bank Ozk has a Value Score of 87, which is considered to be undervalued.

Bank Ozk’s price-earnings ratio is 7.7 compared to the industry median at 8.3. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Bank Ozk more attractive for value investors.

Bank Ozk’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Bank Ozk more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 0.92.

You can read more about Bank Ozk’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.

Wells Fargo & Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Wells Fargo & Company is a financial services company. The Company provides a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through banking locations and offices, the Internet (www.wellsfargo.com) and other distribution channels to individuals, businesses and institutions in states, the District of Columbia and in countries outside the United States. The Company provides consumer financial products and services, including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and auto, mortgage and home equity, and small business lending. In addition, the Company offers financial planning, private banking, investment management, and fiduciary services. The Company also provides financial solutions to businesses through products and services including traditional commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, trade financing, treasury management, and investment banking services.

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.

Wells Fargo & Co has a Value Score of 80, which is considered to be undervalued.

Wells Fargo & Co’s price-earnings ratio is 10.5 compared to the industry median at 8.3. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Wells Fargo & Co less attractive for value investors.

Wells Fargo & Co’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Wells Fargo & Co more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 0.92.

You can read more about Wells Fargo & 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 Banks 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 Banks stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 4 Best Banks 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.

• Katahdin Bankshares Corp stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Northrim BanCorp Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Bank Ozk stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Wells Fargo & Co stock has a Value Grade of B.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 4 undervalued stocks in the Banks 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 Banks Stocks

Want to learn more about Banks 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.

• 4 Undervalued Banks Stocks for Thursday, August 17
• 7 Undervalued Banks Stocks for Wednesday, August 16
• What You Need to Know About Credicorp Ltd. (USA)'s Q2 Earnings
• What You Need to Know About Nu Holdings Ltd's Q2 Earnings

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.