Zacks.com highlights 5 value stocks as Fed debates next move

DaVita, Ford, Centerra, Southwest Airlines and Patria Investments identified as solid high-value picks with high earnings yields.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Zacks Equity Research has highlighted five value stocks - DaVita, Ford, Centerra Gold, Southwest Airlines, and Patria Investments - as solid high-value picks with high earnings yields, as the Federal Reserve debates its next interest rate move amid mixed economic signals.

Why it matters

With the S&P 500 index closing higher and investors trying to make sense of mixed signals from the Federal Reserve, value investing focused on strong fundamentals, reasonable valuations and long-term strength is seen as the need of the hour.

The details

The article notes that value investing, which involves buying stocks priced below their real worth, can be a smart strategy as markets often misprice stocks. The five highlighted companies all have high earnings yields, indicating they may be undervalued. The article provides the Zacks Consensus Estimate growth projections and Zacks Rank and Value Score for each company.

  • The S&P 500 index closed higher yesterday as investors tried to make sense of mixed signals from the Federal Reserve.
  • The Fed's next decision is due in mid-March.

The players

DaVita

A leading provider of dialysis services in the United States to patients suffering from chronic kidney failure.

Ford

One of the world's legacy automakers and the third-largest seller in the United States by sales volume.

Centerra Gold

A gold mining company, focused on operating, exploring and acquiring gold properties principally in North America, Asia and other markets.

Southwest Airlines

A passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States and 'ten near-international' markets.

Patria Investments

A private markets asset manager offering private equity, infrastructure, co-investments, real estate and credit strategies.

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The takeaway

With the Fed's next decision due in mid-March, value investing focused on strong fundamentals, reasonable valuations and long-term strength is seen as a prudent strategy as volatility may persist in the markets.