On February 7, Richard Bernstein, the CEO of Richard Bernstein Advisors, joined ‘The Exchange’ on CNBC to discuss the current state of the equity markets and his firm’s macro-driven investment strategy. Bernstein emphasized that a broadening of the market, which had been occurring in fits and starts since the end of October, was an extraordinarily healthy development. He expressed surprise that the market remained narrow for so long, given the strength of the economy, and noted that nominal GDP last quarter exceeded 8%. He argued that the market is finally beginning to broaden as investors accept that corporate profits are stronger and more widespread than previously anticipated
On February 4, Stephen Parker, JPMorgan Private Bank co-head of global investment strategy, appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the latest market trends and the 2026 outlook. Parker argued that the current market action is very healthy, and specifically noted that the tech sector is currently the worst-performing sector in the S&P 500. This shift represents a broadening story where investors are rotating away from the tech concentration and anxiety of the last few years toward a broader recovery.
That being said, we’re here with a list of the 11 best value stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology
We used screeners to identify stocks that are trading below a forward P/E of 15, and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Note: All data was sourced on February 21.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
11 Best Value Stocks to Buy Now
11. Vale (NYSE:VALE)
Vale (NYSE:VALE) is one of the best value stocks to buy now. On February 12, Vale reported its full year 2025 financial and operational performance, exceeding production guidance across all key minerals. Iron ore production rose to 336 million tons, while copper and nickel production saw double-digit jumps of 10% and 11%, respectively. This operational surge translated into a 17% year-over-year increase in pro forma EBITDA for Q4, reaching $4.8 billion. Notably, the base metals division more than doubled its EBITDA contribution, signaling a strategic pivot toward energy-transition materials.
The company achieved major milestones in safety and sustainability, fulfilling its commitment to eliminate all high-risk emergency level 3 dams by the end of 2025. Financial discipline remained a core theme, as Vale reduced its net debt to $15.6 billion and achieved significant cost reductions; nickel all-in costs fell by 35%, and iron ore all-in costs were reduced to $54 per ton.
To unlock further value, Vale (NYSE:VALE) launched the Novo Carajás program to double copper output and continues to focus on operational reliability in its nickel business, aiming for cash flow neutrality by the end of 2026.
Vale (NYSE:VALE), together with its subsidiaries, produces iron ore and nickel in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials.
10. Equinor (NYSE:EQNR)
Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) is one of the best value stocks to buy now. On February 5, Equinor and Eneco entered into a five-year gas supply agreement, securing up to 0.5 billion cubic meters/bcm of natural gas per year for the Dutch market. Deliveries to the Netherlands’ gas grid commenced earlier on February 1. This partnership reinforces the long-standing relationship between the Norwegian energy giant and the Rotterdam-based utility provider, which serves over two million customers across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the UK.
The deal focuses on the sustainability quality of the gas, which boasts a greenhouse gas footprint lower than the European average. Because production and transport on the Norwegian continental shelf are highly optimized, Eneco expects to reduce its reported CO2 emissions by more than 10% through this contract. The agreement uses the Attributes SAS digital platform to provide independent, transparent tracking of emissions data, ensuring that the guarantees of origin are verified by Norwegian authorities.
The agreement is a balance between energy security and climate goals. The Eneco CEO noted that while natural gas remains a necessary bridge in the energy mix, sourcing the lowest-emission options available is critical to their One Planet goal of climate neutrality. Equinor’s (NYSE:EQNR) Senior Vice President added that this contract serves as a model for how European energy players can use Norwegian gas to meet both reliability and sustainability standards.
Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) is an energy company that explores, produces, transports, refines, and markets petroleum and other forms of energy in Norway and internationally.
