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At UVstocks.io we’ve been primarily focused on long-term value investing over growth investing. However, our algorithms a times surface undervalued stocks that could be categorized as growth stocks. This week we’ll cover the differences in how they’re classified based on key metrics and highlight a few examples from within the S&P 500.


Using valuation, earnings, cash flow, and a variety of balance sheet metrics, we’ve classified each company into one of three buckets: Value, Growth, or Blend. Here’s the breakdown as of market close on September 12, 2025.


Distribution of Styles

  • Value: 272 stocks

  • Growth: 154 stocks

  • Blend: 77 stocks

How We Classified Growth vs. Value

Each metric adds points to either a Value Score or a Growth Score. Whichever is higher determines the label. Ties are Blend.


Value Score (max 8 points)

  1. Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E) – low multiples (<15)

  2. Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B) – low multiples (<2)

  3. Intrinsic Valuation – flagged as Undervalued based on DCF and relative valuation

  4. Dividend Policy – pays a regular dividend

  5. Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S) – low multiples (<2)

  6. Debt-to-Equity Ratio (D/E) – conservative balance sheet (<1)

  7. Free Cash Flow (FCF) – positive cash generation

  8. Free Cash Flow Growth % (FCF Growth) – negative trend = Value tilt


Growth Score (max 8 points)

  1. PEG Ratio (Price/Earnings-to-Growth) – PEG < 1.5

  2. Earnings per Share (EPS) – above-median profitability

  3. Dividend Policy – no regular dividend (reinvestment)

  4. Forward vs. Trailing P/E – forward multiple signals earnings expectations

  5. Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S) – high multiples (>5)

  6. Debt-to-Equity Ratio (D/E) – higher leverage expansion (>2)

  7. Free Cash Flow (FCF) – negative cash flow (reinvesting for growth)

  8. Free Cash Flow Growth % (FCF Growth) – strongly positive trend


Top 5 in Each Category


Value (top 5 by score tilt):

  • Conagra Brands (CAG) – $19.17 — Value 8 vs Growth 1

  • LKQ Corporation (LKQ) – $32.30 — Value 8 vs Growth 1

  • Paramount Skydance (PSKY) – $18.79 — Value 7 vs Growth 0

  • Molson Coors (TAP) – $48.42 — Value 8 vs Growth 1

  • Devon Energy (DVN) – $34.77 — Value 8 vs Growth 1


Growth (top 5 by score tilt):

  • Deckers Outdoor (DECK) – $118.50 — Value 0 vs Growth 5

  • Waters Corp (WAT) – $295.39 — Value 1 vs Growth 6

  • First Solar (FSLR) – $201.70 — Value 2 vs Growth 7

  • Tyler Technologies (TYL) – $544.99 — Value 1 vs Growth 5

  • Clorox (CLX) – $123.51 — Value 2 vs Growth 6


Blend (top 5 balanced):

  • Las Vegas Sands (LVS) – $53.50 — Value 3 vs Growth 3

  • Home Depot (HD) – $422.69 — Value 3 vs Growth 3

  • Ecolab (ECL) – $272.62 — Value 3 vs Growth 3

  • JPMorgan Chase (JPM) – $306.91 — Value 2 vs Growth 2

  • Norfolk Southern (NSC) – $274.72 — Value 3 vs Growth 3


"Growth and value are part of the same equation."— Warren Buffet

Takeaway

This framework highlights where undervaluation and cash flow stability create strong Value plays, and where market optimism and reinvestment tilt companies toward Growth. Many blue chips land in the Blend category—balancing traits from both sides.


If you’d like the deeper view, reply to this email to get a copy of this report only available through our Professional subscription tier that includes all detailed metrics tied to growth, value and blend categories.  It’s the baseline report used to conduct the analysis above.


Not sure where to start or know someone that could use the help? Help them decipher between growth vs. value stocks by sending them this article and the UVstocks.io link.


P.S. I'm sharing some investment information, but it's important to remember that what I'm providing is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.


Happy Investing,

John


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