Markets may be choppy, but this week delivered plenty of headlines worth trading on after value stocks found their way back into the spotlight.
And for the patient crowd, a few beaten-down laggards are setting up as future comeback stories.
Here’s the full rundown of who made noise, who kept winning, and who might be next.
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Financials
First Financial Bancorp: Earnings Momentum and a Resilient Midwest Banking Franchise
First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC) isn’t a name that usually dominates headlines, but it’s making waves this week after delivering stronger-than-expected results and catching the attention of analysts.
Shares look inexpensive at just 9.5x forward earnings, well below the banking industry’s 11.3x average, giving investors a clear value setup.
The story here is execution.
Management has doubled down on capital discipline, deposit growth, and revenue diversification — an approach that’s helping FFBC hold its ground while many regional peers struggle with margin pressure.
That strategy has reinforced its reputation as a top-tier performer in the Midwest, where its 128 branches give it sticky customer relationships and a resilient deposit base.
What’s pushing it into the news cycle is the growing recognition that this is a well-run regional bank trading at a discount.
Analysts are now calling for shares to reach $31, which would mean double-digit upside from current levels.
Technical strength and steady sentiment are also helping fuel momentum, a rare combination in a sector still viewed cautiously.
FFBC isn’t flashy, but its ability to turn conservative banking practices into consistent returns is exactly why it’s starting to get noticed.
Materials
CF Industries Fertilizer Pricing and Demand Trends Put Stock Back in Play
CF Industries (NYSE: CF) is making headlines after earnings forecasts across the Street moved sharply higher.
Analysts have bumped their 2025 profit outlook by nearly 20% over the past two months, giving fresh life to a stock that’s been trading sideways for much of the year.
Shares are sitting near $85, with consensus targets pointing closer to $95, suggesting modest upside as the narrative shifts.
The spotlight is on nitrogen. CF remains the dominant U.S. player in nitrogen-based fertilizers, a core input for global crop production.
While commodity names have struggled with price volatility, nitrogen demand has held steadier, giving CF a more predictable earnings profile.
That stability — paired with a lean valuation at just 10.7x forward earnings, slightly below the industry average — has value investors paying attention.
What’s driving the news is the disconnect: the stock still trades like a cyclical commodity play, but its fundamentals are behaving more like a defensive staple.
With margin strength intact and agriculture supply chains leaning on nitrogen, CF is positioned better than its price suggests.
Investors are watching closely to see if this quiet fertilizer giant finally breaks out of its holding pattern.
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Financials
Green Dot Breakout Strength Sparks Re-Rating Debate
Green Dot (NYSE: GDOT) is another surprise mover in financials this month.
The bank holding company and fintech hybrid has seen earnings revisions trend sharply higher, and at just 10x forward earnings versus 17x for the industry, the stock looks undervalued on paper.
Investors are starting to notice the gap, and momentum is picking up fast. What’s fueling the headlines is growth.
Last quarter, Green Dot posted a 60% earnings jump on 24% revenue growth, proving its platform still has room to scale even in a crowded payments landscape.
The stock recently broke out above $11.83 with strong relative strength, putting it in the same technical conversation as larger, more established names like PayPal or Block.
That breakout has pushed GDOT into the top tier of fintech momentum plays, an unusual spot for a company that usually flies under the radar.
There are still risks, as the stock is extended from its base and could face volatility if momentum slows.
But with accelerating fundamentals and a valuation that still looks discounted, GDOT is making headlines as the underdog fintech suddenly punching above its weight.
Actionable Picks This Week
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) finally showed some spark this week. Shares climbed on the back of a dividend hike to $0.6775, locking in a juicy 6.1% yield without stretching the payout ratio.
Free cash flow is pacing toward $20 billion, giving Verizon breathing room to chip away at debt while still rewarding shareholders.
The real kicker is broadband momentum: fixed wireless subs are already at 5.1 million, with management eyeing nearly double that by 2028.
With the Frontier fiber deal looming, Verizon looks less stuck and more like a quiet winner this week.
My read? The market’s still treating Verizon like dead money, but the broadband push makes this look more like a slow-burn growth story hiding inside a dividend play.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) continues to stand out as one of the strongest value names in finance.
The stock tacked on fresh gains, closing at $296.24 and outpacing all three major indexes. Consensus earnings estimates are still drifting higher, with Wall Street looking for a 7% bump in Q2 EPS.
Even after the run, JPM trades at just 15x forward earnings, cheaper than peers.
This week reminded investors why JPM remains the house banker: scale, execution, and upside are all working together.
I think investors still underestimate how much JPM can surprise. When the rest of the sector feels heavy, it’s often the one name that keeps pushing higher.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) showed again that steady doesn’t mean stagnant. Shares climbed after another earnings beat, driven by strong oncology performance that helped offset pressure from legacy drugs.
Erleada sales jumped 18% last quarter and are pacing toward long-term franchise status. Institutions are starting to lean back in — Sector Gamma boosted its position by 25% in Q1.
The stock still trades at a reasonable multiple, and JNJ’s wide healthcare moat looked especially durable this week.
It’s the kind of name that slips off radars until the next earnings beat puts it right back on.
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Fast Movers to Watch
Merck (NYSE: MRK) is steering aggressively toward a comeback after announcing a $3 billion cost-cutting initiative by 2027, with all savings earmarked for its pipeline and key relaunches.
The Keytruda patent cliff isn’t the end; it's a recalibration. With a new injectable version launching this fall and biosimilar price negotiations delayed, there's real upside before any steep revenue drop.
If execution holds, this is a value name with pipeline leverage and capital discipline ready to re-rate when investor confidence returns.Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) has been beaten into the ground, sitting near $29 after a regulatory mess that shredded investor confidence.
But that cleanup may be paving the way for a sharp reversal. As it works to refile 2026 rates in response to higher morbidity, it quietly reshapes its fundamentals.
Once the guidance reset is behind it and clarity returns, this underestimated insurer could reprice sharply higher. I definitely see a scenario where Centene becomes one of the moonshot value plays in healthcare.Altria Group’s (NYSE: MO) dividend reliability continues to stand tall, boasting a yield north of 6.7%, and it looks like smart money is noticing again.
Buybacks and pricing strength in key tobacco brands are underpinning margins. Add in a disciplined pivot toward next-gen products and the stock’s case
strengthens—not just as a slow-cash play, but a strategic turnaround.
For investors who value capital return and optional upside, Altria may be the classic sleeper that wakes with a re-rate, not a rewrite.
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Everything Else
Xylem shares rose after analysts raised earnings estimates, signaling renewed confidence in the water technology company’s growth prospects. If this momentum continues, Xylem’s value case could strengthen for long-term investors.
VF Corp (VFC) shares jumped 3% after its late-July earnings beat expectations, driving analysts to rethink the stock’s valuation.
Pre-market earnings surprises sparked noticeable moves, giving several stocks short-term momentum. For traders and value investors alike, these early signals can highlight under-the-radar opportunities before the broader market reacts.
That's our coverage for today; thanks for reading! Reply to this email with feedback or any value names you'd like us to dig into.
Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Undervalued Edge
