The 10 Cheapest Large-Cap Stocks This Week
Sunday, October 18, 2026 · Johnny Hopkins
This week’s Acquirer’s Multiple® Large-Cap screen highlights attractive valuations across energy, financials, materials, technology and healthcare.
Energy remains particularly prominent, accounting for five of the 10 cheapest stocks. However, Synchrony Financial (SYF) remains the cheapest company overall, trading at an Acquirer’s Multiple of just 2.5x.
The Acquirer’s Multiple® compares enterprise value with operating earnings.
Here are the 10 cheapest large-cap stocks this week:
1\. Synchrony Financial (SYF) — 2.5x
Synchrony remains the cheapest stock in this week’s screen. The specialty-finance company also has a 40.4% free-cash-flow yield, 15.1% shareholder yield and 13.0% buyback yield.
2\. Equinor (EQNR) — 3.6x
Norwegian energy producer Equinor ranks second, with an 8.7% free-cash-flow yield, 8.3% shareholder yield and 3.4% dividend yield.
3\. APA Corporation (APA) — 6.0x
APA Corporation enters the top 10 at third place. The US oil and gas producer has a 12.1% free-cash-flow yield, 3.4% shareholder yield and 2.1% dividend yield. Its valuation remains sensitive to commodity prices and production performance.
4\. Petrobras (PBR) — 6.1x
Petrobras trades at 6.1x, with an 11.4% free-cash-flow yield and 4.6% dividend yield. Investors must also consider its exposure to commodity prices and Brazilian government policy.
5\. CF Industries (CF) — 7.0x
CF Industries remains the leading materials company in this week’s top 10. The fertiliser producer has a 10.4% free-cash-flow yield, 7.0% shareholder yield and a five-year average return on assets of 21%.
6\. YPF (YPF) — 7.3x
Argentine energy producer YPF trades at 7.3x, with an 8.9% free-cash-flow yield. Its valuation should be considered alongside the political, economic and currency risks associated with investing in Argentina.
7\. SK Hynix (SKHY) — 7.5x
SK Hynix enters the top 10, bringing semiconductor exposure to the cheapest end of the screen. The South Korean memory-chip manufacturer has an 8.9% free-cash-flow yield and a five-year average return on assets of 39%. Investors should consider the cyclical nature of memory-chip demand and the sustainability of earnings growth driven by AI infrastructure investment.
8\. BP (BP) — 7.7x
BP offers a 12.3% free-cash-flow yield, 7.3% shareholder yield and 3.9% dividend yield. Commodity prices, capital allocation and the company’s energy-transition strategy remain important considerations.
9\. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) — 7.8x
Chilean lithium and specialty-chemicals producer SQM enters the top 10, trading at 7.8x. The company has an 11.4% free-cash-flow yield, 2.0% dividend yield and a five-year average return on assets of 16%. Lithium prices and global battery demand remain important factors influencing its outlook.
10\. Novo Nordisk (NVO) — 8.1x
Novo Nordisk rounds out the top 10, providing healthcare exposure. The biopharmaceutical company has a 4.3% free-cash-flow yield, 5.3% shareholder yield and a five-year average return on assets of 26%. Competition in the obesity and diabetes treatment markets remains an important consideration.
Bottom Line
Energy has strengthened its representation at the cheapest end of the large-cap screen, accounting for five of the 10 cheapest stocks, up from four last week. However, the top 10 also includes companies across financials, materials, technology and healthcare.
Synchrony Financial remains the standout on valuation at just 2.5x, while Equinor retains second place at 3.6x.
The most notable changes this week are the arrival of APA Corporation at 6.0x, SK Hynix at 7.5x and SQM at 7.8x. Meanwhile, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Sanofi and Fox Corporation have moved outside the top 10.
CF Industries slips from fourth to fifth place, while Novo Nordisk moves from seventh to tenth.
The screen continues to provide value investors with a diversified starting point for further research. However, the prominence of energy and cyclical businesses reinforces the importance of assessing earnings sustainability, financial strength and industry-specific risks alongside headline valuations.