5 Best Small-Cap Value Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

In this article, we will list the 5 Best Small-Cap Value Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. Please visit 8 Best Small-Cap Value Stocks to Buy According to Analysts if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

5. TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET)

Market Cap: $1.8 billion

Dividend Yield: 3.05%

Forward P/E: 8.17

Analysts upside: 40.10%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32

TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET) is among the best small-cap value stocks to buy according to analysts.

At the 2026 Transform conference on March 24, TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET) unveiled strategic expansions to its platform. Among other innovations, the company announced the addition of AI-power HR support. Called TriNet Assistant, this feature enables users to obtain personalized answers and complete tasks through a conversational experience. This tool is designed to handle repetitive and administrative work so HR professionals can focus on more important tasks.

The company has also introduced a global workforce management tool that it calls TriNet Global. This feature is designed to help companies hire and manage a global team without the usual complexities. At launch, this tool supports compliant hiring and payroll in more than 150 countries.

5 Best Small-Cap Value Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

Another addition to the TriNet platform is an AI-driven IT asset management tool. With this tool, companies can save on hardware costs, reduce IT workloads, and reduce security risks more easily.

These platform additions come as TriNet prepares to distribute a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share. The company announced on March 19 that it intended to pay out the dividend on April 27 to shareholders of record as of April 1. Last month, TriNet said it returned more than $200 million to shareholders in 2025 through a combination of dividends and share repurchases. As of February 6, the company had $400 million available under its existing share repurchase program.

California-based TriNet Group Inc (NYSE:TNET) is a leading provider of human resources solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Its solutions include administering payroll and health benefits as well as advising clients on employment laws. This way, TriNet enables clients to develop a top-tier workforce and grow their businesses.

4. Wolverine World Wide Inc (NYSE:WWW)

Market Cap: $1.28 billion

Dividend Yield: 2.53%

Forward P/E: 9.39

Analysts upside: 47.02%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31

Wolverine World Wide Inc (NYSE:WWW) is among the best small-cap value stocks to buy according to analysts.

On March 26, Needham initiated coverage of Wolverine World Wide Inc (NYSE:WWW) stock with a Buy rating and a price target of $21. For this bullish stance, Needham cited the strength of Wolverine’s Saucony running-sneaker brand. The firm identifies Saucony as a growth driver, pointing to its strength in the running category and growing brand awareness.

Saucony revenue rose more than 31% in 2025. Besides Saucony, Needham also sees continued strength in Wolverine’s outdoor brand Merrell. This brand has delivered consistently strong performance, and Needham expects it to keep it up with solid growth in 2026.

Previously, on March 14, the S&P Global Ratings upgraded Wolverine to B+ from B with a stable outlook. Pointing to the footwear company’s improved profitability and operating performance in 2025, the rating agency sees Wolverine maintaining leverage below 5x over the coming year.

The agency expects the company’s 2026 operating performance to be broadly similar to the 2025 level. It sees tariff costs and continued marketing spending on the Saucony brand offsetting growth in the company’s active group. Nevertheless, the S&P expects modestly lower tariff costs for Wolverine in the second half of 2026 due to recent changes to the US tariff policies.

Wolverine reported Q4 2025 adjusted diluted EPS of $0.45, which exceeded the anticipated $0.44. Revenue of $517.5 million rose 4.6% YoY and topped expectations of $508.46 million. The company closed 2025 with $206 million in cash. The company plans to distribute a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on May 1 to shareholders of record as of April 1.

Wolverine World Wide Inc (NYSE:WWW) is an American multinational footwear and apparel manufacturer. It makes shoes under brands such as Wolverine Boots and Shoes, Hush Puppies, Merrell, and Chaco. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Rockford, Michigan.

3. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD)

Market Cap: $1.47 billion

Dividend Yield: 6.32%

Forward P/E: 9.47

Analysts upside: 50.99%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) is among the best small-cap value stocks to buy according to analysts. On March 18, Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) announced that it had helped arrange a $350 million debt facility for a self-storage REIT platform. It said the financing was arranged with JPMorgan Chase Bank, and that the beneficiary self-storage platform is a joint venture of Centerbridge Partners and Reframe Holdings.

This joint venture intends to acquire and aggregate over $500 million of facilities in top metropolitan areas across the country. The debt financing is expected to give the joint venture capital flexibility to support its strategy.

Walker & Dunlop operates through three segments: capital markets, servicing and asset management, and corporate. Capital markets is the company’s largest business. In 2025, Walker & Dunlop sourced more than $22 billion from non-agency capital providers through its capital markets team. This amount included $15.9 billion for multifamily properties.

While discussing Q4 2025 results last month, Walker & Dunlop CEO Willy Walker said the company finished 2025 with strong momentum across its business. Walker added that Walker & Dunlop is well-positioned for growth in 2026 and beyond. The executive cited the company’s $144 billion servicing portfolio that generates recurring revenue, a solid capital markets pipeline, and improving economic conditions for commercial real estate.

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE:WD) is a leading real estate finance and advisory services firm based in Maryland. It originates and services a variety of financing products for owners and developers of commercial real estate, including multifamily properties. The company says its ideals and capital help create communities where people live, shop, work, and play.

2. Qfin Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:QFIN)

Market Cap: $1.42 billion

Dividend Yield: 12.06%

Forward P/E: 2.77

Analysts upside: 104.35%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16

Qfin Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:QFIN) is among the best small-cap value stocks to buy according to analysts. The Chinese credit facilitator reported its Q4 and full-year 2025 results on March 17. The company closed 2025 with 291.3 million potential borrowers on its platform, reflecting an increase of 11.5% from the previous year. Users with approved credit lines increased to 63.6 million from 56.9 million in 2024, an increase of 11.8%.

However, the management said the 2025 period was marred by various challenges, including macroeconomic and regulatory uncertainties. The company’s total net revenue rose to RMB19,205.1 million in 2025 from RMB17,165.7 million in 2024. But net income dipped to RMB5,975.6 million from RMB6,248.1 million in 2024.

According to Qfin Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:QFIN) CEO Haisheng Wu, they tightened risk standards and optimized the cost structure to mitigate the impact of the challenges they faced in 2025. The executive said they will maintain prudent business planning as the industry has yet to stabilize. This means the management stands ready to further streamline operations and optimize resource allocations.

Qfin Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:QFIN) plans to pay a half-year dividend of $0.78 per share on May 14 for shareholders of record as of April 22. In 2025, the company returned around $450 million to shareholders through share repurchases.

Qfin Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:QFIN) is a Chinese financial technology company. It primarily provides credit services through an AI-powered platform that matches borrowers with lenders. It helps with things like credit assessment, fund matching, and loan facilitation. Qfin Holdings serves consumers, small businesses, and financial institutions. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Shanghai, China.

1. Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO)

Market Cap: $1.31 billion

Dividend Yield: 12.17%

Forward P/E: 12.17

Analysts upside: 344.10%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) is among the best small-cap value stocks to buy according to analysts. On March 11, 2026, Perrigo Company PLC (NYSE: PRGO) presented at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference, where CEO Patrick Lockwood‑Taylor discussed the company’s strategy to focus on core businesses and strengthen retailer partnerships. Despite a soft market environment, Perrigo aims to improve financial performance through innovation, geographic expansion, and cost reductions, including a planned 7% global workforce cut.

Financially, Perrigo has already achieved $320 million in savings from Project Energize and supply chain improvements. A new two‑year program is expected to deliver $80–$100 million annually, with most benefits realized in 2026. The company reported strong U.S. store brand market share gains and expects earnings to be weighted toward the second half of the year.

Operationally, Perrigo has exited non‑core businesses like Rare Diseases and Dermacosmetics, while maintaining over 90% service levels in infant formula. Its innovation pipeline has tripled in value compared to last year, strengthening partnerships and boosting performance in Europe.

Looking ahead, Perrigo expects better results in the second half of 2026 and sees 2027 as a key year for strategic acceleration. The company remains focused on core categories, disciplined capital allocation, and maintaining a leverage ratio of 3 or below while continuing its dividend policy.

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) offers over‑the‑counter health and wellness products across the U.S., Europe, and other global markets. It operates through two main segments: Consumer Self‑Care Americas and Consumer Self‑Care International.

While we acknowledge the potential of PRGO to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PRGO and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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