Is Bausch Health Companies (BHC) the Ridiculously Cheap Stock to Invest in?
April 19, 2025
We recently published a list of 11 Ridiculously Cheap Stocks to Invest in. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) stands against other ridiculously cheap stocks to invest in.
Just as we hunt for bargains in the commodity market—comparing relative prices, identifying discounted products, and getting the product most valued for our money—investing in the financial market isn’t any different. In both investments, price matters.
In a world of overpriced stocks, spotting the hidden gem is what differentiates a smart investor from an impulsive investor. One who realizes that value isn’t just about what you buy rather it’s more about what you pay, is the one who is likely to identify an overlooked but full of value stock.
Let’s first understand what a cheap stock actually implies. There are two most common interpretations of such a stock. First, a stock may be regarded as a cheap stock if it has a low share price. Second, an undervalued stock is more commonly known as a cheap stock. Our analysis resonates with the second interpretation, that a cheap stock is a stock that is trading below its intrinsic value based on factors like earnings, revenue, or assets. Thus, in the market, investors say it’s “cheap” relative to its true potential, making it a compelling investment.
One such measure to spot a cheap stock is through the forward price-to-earnings ratio. This is a measure used by investors to actually see how much they are paying for each dollar of a company’s earnings. A low P/E can signal an undervalued stock when compared to its competitors, historical average, and broader market average.
A report by Hoover Capital Management (HCM) analyzes the historical performance of value versus growth stocks through the French High Minus Low (HML) factor. The results from 97 years of data, from July 1926 to December 2023, strongly support value investing. The cumulative return of value stocks surpassed growth stocks by an impressive 3,000%. In other words, value investing has delivered a 30 times higher return on growth than growth investing. It can be further reinforced through the research by Economist Victoria Galsband, according to which cheap stocks outperformed growth stocks from 1975 to 2010 in every single G7 country, including Canada, the U.S., Japan, and the leading European countries.
Another report that analyzed the impact of additions or removals of companies from the S&P index on their valuations indicated that, as removals are associated with the undervaluation of the stock and vice versa, many companies removed from the index outperformed the market. A study by Research Affiliates highlighted that stocks taken out of the S&P between 1990 and 2022 outperformed those that were added by more than 5% annually. This provides a compelling case for our view that undervalued stocks, translated to cheap stocks, have a greater probability of yielding higher returns.
We have compiled a list of 11 ridiculously cheap stocks through the Finviz screener. In doing so, stocks have been selected that have a lower than 5 price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. These stocks cover a range of industries, from consumer products to natural resources exploration. These companies are then listed according to their P/E ratios, from highest to lowest.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. 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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A series of pharmaceutical and medical products in a warehouse, displaying the range of products available.
Forward P/E as of April 17: 1.04
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) is a pharmaceutical and medical device company that develops and markets a range of products in the areas of gastroenterology (GI), hepatology, neurology, and dermatology, among others. The core segments of the company include Salix, Solta Medical, Diversified, and Bausch + Lomb. Headquartered in Laval, Canada, the company is dedicated to becoming a globally integrated healthcare company that is trusted and valued by patients, investors, and employees.
In a world where one in eight population and one in five U.S. adults fight an invisible battle, the need for mental healthcare solutions is quite evident. Having said that, research co-led by Harvard Medical School and the University of Queensland shows that around 50% of the global population will win the battle against mental health challenges. Over some years, mental health-related solutions have gained significant popularity, and Bausch Health Companies (NYSE:BHC) is one of the few pharma companies facing an unprecedented market opportunity to shift the treatment paradigm for TRD (treatment-resistant depression), which is a $3 billion market in itself.
Although the company is under heavy debt and has a record of financial woes, the repositioning of Aplenzin for treating TRD can prove to have both clinical and financial opportunities. This reposition allows Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) to not only enhance the value of the drug and address an acute unmet need but also elevate revenues.
On that note, the management has expressed optimism regarding the future of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC), with a revenue guidance between $4.95 billion and $5.1 billion. The company is heavily focusing on growth through innovation, driven by its RED-C program and the potential success surrounding the Next Generation Fraxel device. Thus, for BHC, it is not the time to be on the sidelines of this ridiculously cheap stock.
Overall, BHC ranks 1st on our list of ridiculously cheap stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of cheap stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BHC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
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