In this article, we will look at the 7 Cheap Reliable Stocks to Invest in. Let’s look at where Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) stands against other cheap reliable stocks.
Overview of the American Retail Segment
Retail sales in the United States rose unexpectedly in August. According to a report by the Commerce Department, retail sales rose considerably faster than analysts’ estimates from July. They increased 2.1% year-over-year in August, with online sales rising 1.4% after falling 0.4% in July. In addition, gasoline station sales fell by 1.2%, reflecting lower pump prices. When combined with a decreased unemployment rate, this retail landscape caused the Federal Reserve to issue a half-percentage-point interest rate cut.
While auto dealerships experienced a decline in receipts, strength in online purchases balanced the level, suggesting a solid footing for the economy through the most part of Q3 2024. After the data, the Atlanta Fed raised the Q3 2024 GDP growth estimate from 2.5% to 3.0% annualized rate estimate. The economy grew at 3.0% in Q2.
Holiday Outlook For US Retailers
Sales in the holiday season typically account for more than half of the annual revenue of US retailers. According to estimates by the Boston Consulting Group, US retailers will likely see a “measured” holiday cheer in the upcoming holiday season. Although signs like cooling inflation point to strong consumer spending, several other factors are likely to take a toll on overall spending.
According to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report, US retailers are likely to hire fewer holiday workers this holiday season compared to 2023. A softer labor market and uncertain consumer spending trends are the primary drivers behind this trend. In addition, a Deloitte forecast revealed that US holiday sales will likely grow at their slowest rate in six years. Depleting savings is making shoppers more conscious this holiday season.
The 2024 Holiday Outlook Survey by Boston Consulting Group shows that while 28% of consumers plan to increase their spending compared to 2023, 27% plan to decrease it. 45% plan to spend the same amount. There are reasons behind these split trends. Real consumption has continued to increase post-pandemic, with household incomes and balance sheets getting strong in American households. In spite of these positive growth indicators, global military conflicts, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and the upcoming 2024 presidential elections are painting an environment of split attention for consumers.
Despite its recent cooling, inflation has resulted in high consumer staple prices, restricting budgets for holiday shoppers. These trends are also leading to increased inclination towards deal-seeking and intentional channel selection.
Our Methodology
We first consulted stock screeners from Finviz and Yahoo Finance, along with online rankings, to create an initial list of 15 publicly traded retail companies with a forward P/E ratios of less than 23 (the broader market is trading at a forward P/E of 23, as per data from WSJ). From this list, we selected the 7 stocks with the highest number of hedge funds holders as of Q2 2024, and used that as our ranking metric.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
7 Cheap Reliable Stocks to Invest In
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)
Forward P/E: 7.79
Analysts’ Upside Potential: 30.22%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
Albertsons (NYSE:ACI) is a food and drug retailer in the US that operates retail stores selling general merchandise, grocery items, health and beauty care products, fuel, pharmacy, and other items and services through its brick-and-mortar stores and digital channels. It operates around 2,269 stores across 34 stores in the US under 20 banners. These include Albertsons, Vons, Randalls, Carrs, Acme, Star Market, Market Street, Kings Food Markets, Haggen, and others.
In addition, the company operates 1,336 in-store branded coffee shops, 1,725 pharmacies, 402 fuel centers, 19 manufacturing facilities, and several other digital platforms. Its brand portfolio includes Open Nature, Signature Care, Signature SELECT, Primo Tabglio, Signature Cafe, Signature Reserve, and others.
Albertsons (NYSE:ACI) ranks on our list of 7 cheap reliable stocks to invest in because of its several strategic initiatives in response to negative market conditions, highlighting its resilience. The company is looking to reinvigorate its growth metrics, and is increasingly investing in its Customers for Life Strategy. The Customer for Life strategy places customers at the center of all its operations, driving growth in loyalty members by launching its simplified “for U” loyalty program. It is also investing in its omnichannel and digital capabilities to drive continuous year-over-year growth.
The company is making substantial progress in its online presence, with digital sales growing by 23%. It is improving its liquidity and financials, with cash growing to $291.1 million and dwindling debt. Albertsons (NYSE:ACI) is also focusing attention on CAPEX, investing $543 million for the purpose. It opened a new location and remodeled 17 store locations in the process, ensuring increased customer engagement.
In the second quarter of 2024, 59 hedge funds had stakes in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI). As of Q2 2024, Stephen Feinberg’s Cerberus Capital Management is the company’s top shareholder and has a position worth $3 billion, as per our database.
Overall, ACI ranks 2nd among the cheap reliable stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of ACI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.