Here Are the 10 Cheapest Stocks in the S&P 500

The ten least costly firms embrace memory-chip makers

Micron Know-how

(ticker: MU) and

Western Digital

(WDC), chemical producer

LyondellBasell Industries

(LYB), and life insurer

Lincoln Nationwide

(LNC). 9 of the ten have P/E ratios beneath six. Lyondell has the very best a number of within the group, at 6.5 instances estimated 2022 earnings.

The opposite six shares are drugmakers

Viatris

(VTRS) and

Organon

(OGN); oil and gasoline producers

Diamondback Power

(FANG) and

APA

(APA), previously Apache; dwelling builder

PulteGroup

(PHM), and insurer

Unum

(UNM).

A number of of the shares have had massive positive aspects over the previous yr, together with Diamondback, Micron, and Lincoln Nationwide, however all stay low cost primarily based on earnings.

Firm / Ticker	Current Worth	Market Worth (bil)	1-Yr Worth Change	2022E* P/E Ratio
Viatris / VTRS	$14.82	$17.9	-10.8%	3.9
Unum Group / UNM	26.14	5.3	38.8	4.8
Diamondback Power / FANG	69.80	12.6	56.8	5.2
Western Digital / WDC	61.07	18.7	73.0	5.5
APA / APA	16.68	6.3	4.3	5.6
PulteGroup / PHM	52.43	13.6	12.1	5.6
Organon / OGN	33.61	8.5	N/A	5.7
Lincoln Nationwide / LNC	66.87	12.5	79.6	5.8
Micron Know-how / MU	70.60	79.5	59.6	5.9
LyondellBasell Industries / LYB	100.36	33.5	43.8	6.5

*P/E ratio primarily based on calendar 2022 estimates; E=estimate; N/A=not relevant

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Supply: FactSet

Why are the shares so cheap?

Some like Viatris and Organon have ample, however manageable debt. Buyers concern that income could also be peaking at firms like Micron, Lyondell, and

Western Digital.

These issues could possibly be creating alternatives for traders. Micron, whose shares commerce round $70, not too long ago initiated a small dividend leading to an 0.6% yield. J.P. Morgan analyst Harlan Sur wrote earlier this month that he anticipated Micron and its rivals to be “disciplined and prudent” about including provide within the face of robust demand. He has an Obese score and a $140 worth goal on the inventory.

Western Digital, at round $61, is a number one maker of flash reminiscence. Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore is upbeat on its prospects, giving the inventory an Obese score and a $88 worth goal. He thinks the inventory is simply too low cost given that he expects earnings of $10 a share subsequent yr.

Organon, a

Merck

(MRK) spinoff that has a portfolio of off-patent medicine and a girls’s well being enterprise, not too long ago reported better-than-expected earnings. It has set an $1.12 annual dividend, for a 3.3% yield at a latest worth of $33.50.

Joe Cornell, the writer of Spin-Off Analysis, has a Purchase score and a $45 worth goal on the inventory. Organon has a “peer-leading” yield, he not too long ago wrote, and potential “top-line progress and margin momentum over the medium-term.”

Viatris, a generic drugmaker spun off from

Pfizer

(PFE), has the bottom P/E within the S&P 500 at 3.9. Its shares not too long ago traded beneath $15.

J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Schott was inspired by the corporate’s second-quarter earnings report, however maintained a Impartial score as he awaits extra proof of bettering monetary efficiency after a troublesome 2020. The inventory has a 3% yield.

Power shares have skilled a pointy pullback since June 1 due to a drop in oil costs and a sentiment shift away from the sector.

Diamondback Power, a number one exploration and manufacturing firm within the Permian basin in Texas, has seen its shares drop to a latest $70 from $100. The corporate reported robust second-quarter outcomes and boosted its dividend by 12.5% to an annualized $1.80 a share. The inventory now yields about 2.6%.

Like many E&Ps, Diamondback has a excessive free-cash circulation yield. J.P. Morgan analyst Arun Jayaram is upbeat on Diamondback and not too long ago estimated its web asset worth at $126 a share. APA produces oil and gasoline within the U.S. and abroad and gives a play on a doubtlessly giant offshore oil discipline off Suriname in South America. Its shares commerce round $16.

Shares of PulteGroup, one of many largest U.S. dwelling builders, have pulled again about 20% from a spring peak, to a latest $52 amid issues about demand and pricing energy.

 Evercore ISI analyst Stephen Kim, probably the most bullish Wall Road analysts on the sector, sees rising profitability for Pulte and friends. He has an Outperform score on Pulte and a $93 worth goal. He sees about $8 a share in earnings this yr and an above-consensus estimate of roughly $12 subsequent yr.

Lyondell, the world’s third-largest impartial chemical firm, is a significant participant in plastics. Its shares not too long ago traded round $100. Its CEO, Bob Patel, not too long ago advised Barron’s Jack Hough: “Whether or not we’re at peak, and is there a moderation or a tough reset—that is on the coronary heart of the controversy as we speak with traders. I feel there may be robust demand in entrance of us.”

Lincoln Nationwide, which gives life insurance coverage, annuities, and different monetary merchandise, not too long ago traded round $67, lower than six instances projected 2022 earnings and beneath a conservative measure of guide worth of $75. J.P. Morgan analyst Jimmy Bhullar likes Lincoln Nationwide, not too long ago citing an “bettering enterprise combine” and “low cost valuation.” He has an Obese score and a $81 worth goal.

Unum, a supplier of life and incapacity insurance coverage, trades cheaply primarily based on earnings and guide worth. That displays partly issues about its long-term care insurance coverage reserves, which had been strengthened in 2020. The inventory, round $26, trades for about 5 instances projected 2022 earnings and for half of guide worth.

Write to Andrew Bary at andrew.bary@barrons.com