Value stocks typically trade at discounts to the broader market, offering patient investors the opportunity to buy businesses when they’re out of favor.
The key risk, however, is that these stocks are usually cheap for a reason – five cents for a piece of fruit may seem like a great deal until you find out it’s rotten.
MAXIMUS (MMS) stock appears undervalued with a low P/E ratio, strong profitability, steady growth, and a reliable dividend, offering a potential margin of safety for value investors.
The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%.
But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.
Business services providers play a critical role for enterprises, assisting them with everything from new hardware integrations to consulting and marketing. Still, investors are uneasy as firms face challenges from AI-driven disruptors and tightening corporate budgets.
These doubts have certainly contributed to services stocks’ recent underperformance - over the past six months, the industry’s 9.1% gain has fallen behind the S&P 500’s 15.3% rise.
Rapid spending isn’t always a sign of progress.
Some cash-burning businesses fail to convert investments into meaningful competitive advantages, leaving them vulnerable.
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after comments from a key Federal Reserve official hinted at a potential interest rate cut in December. John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, signaled he was open to lowering the fed funds rate—the key interest rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans—to support the job market. Speaking at an event, Williams stated that he sees “room for a further adjustment” for interest rates, which immediately shifted market expectations. Following his remarks, the perceived likelihood of an interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve's December meeting flipped from unlikely to more likely than not. The prospect of lower borrowing costs sent a wave of optimism through the markets, leading to a rally in major indices like the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the Nasdaq Composite.
Government services provider Maximus (NYSE:MMS) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales flat year on year at $1.32 billion. The company’s full-year revenue guidance of $5.33 billion at the midpoint came in 4.5% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.62 per share was 3% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
A number of stocks jumped in the morning session after strong results from chipmaker Nvidia, eased lingering concerns about a potential bubble in the artificial intelligence sector.
Government services provider Maximus (NYSE:MMS) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales flat year on year at $1.32 billion. The company’s full-year revenue guidance of $5.33 billion at the midpoint came in 4.5% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.62 per share was 3% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
Maximus (MMS) reported mixed Q4 results, missing revenue estimates but providing strong FY2026 EPS guidance. The stock rose on optimism for future growth and margin expansion.
Discover MAXIMUS (MMS), a reliable dividend stock with a 10+ year payment history, a sustainable payout ratio, and a stable government-services business model.
While the S&P 500 is up 16.9% since May 2025, Maximus (currently trading at $83.08 per share) has lagged behind, posting a return of 8.2%. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets.
The stocks featured in this article have all approached their 52-week highs.
When these price levels hit, it typically signals strong business execution, positive market sentiment, or significant industry tailwinds.
Value investing has created more billionaires than any other strategy, like Warren Buffett, who built his fortune by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices.
But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after President Trump threatened a 'massive increase in tariffs' on Chinese imports, reigniting fears of a renewed US-China trade war.
