Valuation is an imperfect science, but as important a concept to fantasy football players as it is to investors. Ask anyone who drafted Cadillac Williams in the late rounds. Williams routinely beat Cowboys defenders in week one, picking up 97 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries.

Value is value, whether you're assembling a fantasy team or a stock portfolio. But don't take my word for it. "Before you make any decision -- who to draft, trade, start, and sit -- make sure you are following that basic principle; how risky is this move, does it give me the best chance to win?" writes ESPN fantasy analyst Matthew Berry in his annual manifesto.

See the parallels here? Winning fantasy players pick up unloved players for less than market value, and market-beating investors buy oversold stocks for $0.50 on the dollar.

Waiver-wire heroes, unloved stocks ready to rise
Similarly, these are the investors who knew that last November's panic sellers were valuing Marvel Entertainment (NYSE:MVL) as if its studio was worth less than zero. Those Fools have since been rewarded.

More bargains are out there. For this weekly column -- and to borrow a line from Berry, because I'm a company man -- let's use the Motley Fool CAPS screener to find the stock market's version of waiver-wire heroes like Bush. Here's what we're looking for:

  • A minimum $250 million market cap, because we don't draft unsigned free agents.
  • A price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 12, because we're not interested in players that everyone else loves.
  • A 10% or better return on equity (ROE), because we want proof that this stock can play at the level we need it to.
  • A 20% or worse haircut in price over the past year, because we're bargain hunters.

Today's screen returned 183 candidates that could be worthy of filling roster spots in your portfolio. These six possess a track record of superior returns on shareholder equity:

Company

52-Week Price Change

P/E Ratio

ROE

Life Partners Holdings (NASDAQ:LPHI)

(32.4%)

9.8

60.0%

Eagle Rock Energy Partners (NASDAQ:EROC)

(69.3%)

2.1

42.7%

Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE:CBI)

(27.6%)

10.1

23.7%

Energizer Holdings (NYSE:ENR)

(25.4%)

11.2

20.3%

ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT)

(35.4%)

6.2

17.0%

Boots & Coots (NYSE:WEL)

(27.8%)

9.8

12.6%

Source: Motley Fool CAPS screen data.

Of these, I'd pick up Energizer Holdings -- and not just because of the bunny in the hip shades. I want to own a stock that just keeps going, and going, and going, and going. There's reason to believe Energizer can do that for investors. Several reasons, in fact, according to CAPS All-Star BoiseKen:

The fundamentals are working for me along with the positive cash flow. I really like the diversification into other disposable-consumable brands like Playtex. Some people fear that they will fail to keep up with battery trends, but I think the risk-reward scenario from a low P/E stock with 15% or so growth rate combined with other growing product lines makes this a safe bet for new money in this frothy market.

I agree, but I'm also just one Fool. What do you think? Would you give Energizer a spot on your portfolio roster? Let us know by signing up for CAPS today. It's 100% free to participate.

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