I evaluated 39 different companies this week to determine whether they are suitable for Defensive Investors, those unwilling to do substantial research, or Enterprising Investors, those who are willing to do such research. I also put each company through the ModernGraham valuation model based on Benjamin Graham’s value investing formulas in order to determine an intrinsic value for each. Out of those 39 companies, only 12 were found to be undervalued or fairly valued and suitable for either Defensive or Enterprising Investors.  Therefore, these companies are the best undervalued stocks of the week.

The Elite

The following companies were found to be suitable for either the Defensive Investor or Enterprising Investor and undervalued:

CNO Financial Group Inc 

CNO Financial Group Inc (CNO) is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, and the poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.43 in 2012 to an estimated $1.1 for 2016. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 4.55% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into CNO Financial Group Inc revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $24.73. The company pays a dividend of $0.3 per share, for a yield of 1.6% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 17.6, which was below the industry average of 18.78, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.  (See the full valuation)

Discover Financial Services 

Discover Financial Services (DFS) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. In fact, the company meets all of the requirements of both investor types, a rare accomplishment indicative of the company’s strong financial position . The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $3.98 in 2013 to an estimated $5.5 for 2017. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 2.03% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Discover Financial Services revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $62.08. The company pays a dividend of $1.16 per share, for a yield of 1.7% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 12.56, which was below the industry average of 23.3, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.  (See the full valuation)

Gap Inc

Gap Inc (GPS) qualifies for both the Defensive Investor and the Enterprising Investor. The Defensive Investor is only initially concerned with the low current ratio. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $1.87 in 2013 to an estimated $2.21 for 2017. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 0.94% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Gap Inc revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $15.43. The company pays a dividend of $0.92 per share, for a yield of 4%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 10.37, which was below the industry average of 22.16, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-1.53.  (See the full valuation)