4 Value Stocks to Buy Now Amid Trump-Led Market Uncertainty: A Detailed 2026 Investor-Friendly Guide

Markets can feel jumpy when politics, tariffs, and global conflict start moving headlines and investor expectations at the same time. In mid-January 2026, commentary around President Trump’s renewed trade pressure and broader geopolitical risks has kept many investors cautious, even as some companies continue to post improving fundamentals. In that kind of backdrop, one classic approach often gets louder again: value investing—especially when you can find companies that look “cheap” relative to what they earn.

One screening lens discussed widely in value research is earnings yield (often written as E/P): earnings per share divided by the current stock price. It’s also the inverse of the P/E ratio, so higher earnings yield usually means a lower P/E (and potentially a cheaper valuation).

In this rewritten and expanded news-style explainer, we’ll walk through why earnings yield can matter in volatile markets, what “Trump-led market uncertainty” means in practical investing terms, and a closer look at four highlighted names: Centerra Gold (CGAU), Plains GP Holdings (PAGP), Angi (ANGI), and Skillsoft (SKIL). These were presented as high-earnings-yield value picks amid elevated political and geopolitical risk.

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Why “Trump-Led Market Uncertainty” Has Investors Re-Thinking Risk

When markets talk about “uncertainty,” they usually mean that the range of possible outcomes just widened. Instead of debating whether growth will be “good” or “great,” investors start debating whether it will be “fine” or “painful.” The January 2026 narrative described several uncertainty drivers at once: renewed tariff threats, heightened geopolitical tension, and the idea that markets can re-price quickly when a single event changes risk appetite.

Here’s why that matters for everyday investors:

• Tariffs and trade threats can change costs and sales outlooks for whole industries (energy logistics, consumer services, tech-enabled platforms, and more).
• Geopolitical shocks can cause fast “risk-off” moves, where investors temporarily prefer cash, defensive assets, or short-term bonds over stocks.
• Sentiment-driven volatility can push prices away from fundamentals—sometimes creating bargains, sometimes creating traps.

In volatile environments, many investors become more selective. They may look for companies with (1) improving earnings expectations, (2) liquidity and trading volume, and (3) valuations that already reflect a lot of bad news. That’s the basic logic behind earnings-yield screens used to identify “value” opportunities.

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Value Investing in 2026: Why Earnings Yield Is Back in the Spotlight

Earnings yield is straightforward: if a company earns $1 per share and trades at $10, its earnings yield is 10%. If the price rises to $20 (without earnings rising), the earnings yield falls to 5%. That “yield” idea helps investors compare stocks to other return options, like bonds—at least as a starting point.

Some market frameworks compare a broad stock index’s earnings yield to the 10-year Treasury yield (a concept often associated with the “Fed model”). It’s debated and shouldn’t be used as a magic market-timing switch, but it’s one reason investors keep talking about earnings yield when rates and volatility are high.

What earnings yield can do well:

• Quick valuation signal: It’s an intuitive “what do I get for what I pay?” snapshot.
• Comparable across sectors: You can compare companies using a consistent concept (earnings relative to price).
• Useful in high-rate environments: When Treasury yields are meaningful, investors often demand more valuation discipline in stocks.

What it cannot do alone:

• It can miss quality issues: A stock can be cheap because its business is deteriorating.
• Earnings can be cyclical: Commodity-linked earnings (like metals) may swing sharply.
• Accounting differences matter: One-time items can inflate or depress EPS.

That’s why many screens add extra filters such as trading liquidity, minimum price levels, and forward earnings growth expectations—so the list doesn’t become a “cheap for a reason” collection.

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The Screening Logic Behind These Four Picks

The four names highlighted in the widely circulated January 2026 write-up were framed as high-earnings-yield value opportunities. The selection approach described a primary earnings yield threshold (above 10%), then layered on additional criteria such as forward EPS growth, trading volume/liquidity, minimum share price, and buy-rated ranking signals.

To make the approach easier to digest, here’s a simplified summary:

Filter	Why It Matters
Earnings yield above a set threshold	Targets stocks that appear inexpensive relative to earnings
Forward EPS growth expectation	Aims to avoid “value traps” by requiring a growth outlook
Minimum trading volume	Helps ensure liquidity so investors can enter/exit more easily
Minimum share price (example: $5+)	Filters out many ultra-low priced stocks with added risk
Buy-rated style/rank filters	Seeks stronger momentum in analyst estimate revisions

Now, let’s break down each company in plain English—what it does, why it might fit a value screen, and what investors should watch closely.

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Stock #1: Centerra Gold (CGAU) — Value Exposure to Gold and Copper

What the company does

Centerra Gold explores, develops, and operates gold and copper assets across multiple regions. In a risk-sensitive market, gold-related companies often attract attention because gold can behave like a “fear trade” asset when uncertainty rises. At the same time, mining is not a calm, steady business—earnings can move sharply with commodity prices, costs, and production outcomes.

Why it showed up as a value idea

The January 2026 discussion emphasized two themes: (1) supportive metal pricing dynamics and (2) company execution and cost control efforts, alongside growth initiatives linked to the Mount Milligan operation and other development progress.

Separately, Centerra has discussed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Mount Milligan outlining a longer mine life extending to 2045, signaling a longer runway for production planning and cash-flow potential if the plan executes well.

What to watch (the practical checklist)

• Commodity price sensitivity: Gold and copper prices can lift or hurt earnings quickly.
• Operational execution: Mine plans are only as good as delivery—watch quarterly production and cost metrics.
• Balance sheet discipline: Mining projects can require capital; investors typically prefer careful spending and transparent timelines.

Investor takeaway: CGAU can fit a value conversation when earnings expectations rise and the stock price still reflects skepticism. But it remains a cyclical, execution-heavy business—so it may suit investors comfortable with commodity-linked volatility.

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Stock #2: Plains GP Holdings (PAGP) — Midstream Energy and Cash-Flow Focus

What the company does

Plains GP Holdings is tied to the midstream energy world—transportation, storage, terminalling, and marketing activities related to crude oil and refined products. Midstream businesses are often discussed as “toll road” style models because they can earn fees based on volumes moved and stored, rather than betting purely on oil prices (though energy cycles still matter).

Why it showed up as a value idea

The January 2026 write-up highlighted strategic moves described as portfolio reshaping—exiting certain business lines to become more focused and potentially improve cash-flow profile and flexibility. A tighter focus can matter in uncertain markets because investors often reward clarity and predictable cash generation.

What to watch

• Volume and utilization trends: Midstream is healthier when basins stay active and pipelines/storage remain used.
• Distribution and capital allocation: Investors often care about how cash is returned (distributions/buybacks) versus reinvested.
• Regulatory and political noise: Energy infrastructure can be influenced by permitting, policy, and trade flows.

Investor takeaway: In a “headline risk” year, midstream names can appeal when cash flows look steady and valuations look compressed. PAGP’s value appeal is often tied to whether the business can execute its strategy while maintaining a resilient financial profile.

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Stock #3: Angi (ANGI) — A Home Services Marketplace Trying to Re-Accelerate

What the company does

Angi operates a digital marketplace that connects homeowners with service professionals—think repairs, installations, and maintenance. It’s a “real-world” services platform rather than a purely digital product, which means user experience, professional quality, and efficient matching are critical.

Why it showed up as a value idea

The January 2026 discussion framed Angi as part of the broader gig-style services economy reaching essential home needs, while also pointing to the company’s push toward a more modern, potentially AI-first platform and operational efficiency improvements.

That matters because marketplaces can improve dramatically if they reduce friction: faster matching, better pricing clarity, more reliable pros, and higher repeat usage. If investors believe those improvements will raise profitability, but the stock still trades at a valuation that assumes mediocre outcomes, it may register as a value candidate.

What to watch

• Marketplace health: Are homeowners returning? Are pros staying active and satisfied?
• Unit economics: Customer acquisition costs vs. lifetime value is often the make-or-break story.
• AI features that truly help: Investors should look for measurable improvements, not just buzzwords.

Investor takeaway: ANGI is the “turnaround-style” flavor among these four. If execution improves and earnings expectations rise, earnings-yield screens can flag it early. But marketplace businesses can be competitive, so progress needs to show up in results, not just plans.

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Stock #4: Skillsoft (SKIL) — Digital Learning With an AI-Native Push

What the company does

Skillsoft provides digital learning, training, and talent development solutions to organizations. Corporate learning is often seen as a “must keep running” function—companies may slow hiring, but they still need compliance training, upskilling, leadership development, and performance support.

Why it showed up as a value idea

The January 2026 write-up emphasized that Skillsoft is placing AI at the center of its strategy, including traction from an AI-native learning platform (Percipio) and mentions of large enterprise wins, alongside discussion of reviewing a segment to sharpen focus on core offerings.

In other words, the value story is not “AI hype,” but a business trying to modernize product delivery and improve sales momentum while simplifying the company structure. If that improves margins and retention over time, valuations that look cheap relative to earnings can become more attractive.

What to watch

• Enterprise retention and renewal signals: Learning platforms win when customers renew and expand usage.
• AI adoption evidence: Watch whether AI features increase engagement or reduce content production costs.
• Strategic review outcomes: If the company exits or reshapes a segment, investors will look for cleaner reporting and improved focus.

Investor takeaway: SKIL’s appeal in a value screen depends on whether the AI-driven platform strategy translates into stronger fundamentals. It’s a “prove it” story, but one that can re-rate quickly if execution surprises to the upside.

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How to Use Earnings Yield Without Falling Into a Value Trap

It’s easy to see a high earnings yield and think, “Wow, this is cheap.” But a high earnings yield can happen for two totally different reasons:

• Good reason: The market is nervous and prices fell, but the company’s earnings outlook is improving.
• Bad reason: The company’s earnings are at risk, and the market is discounting future declines.

So here’s a safer, simple way to pressure-test an earnings-yield idea:

1) Check whether earnings expectations are rising

If analyst estimates are being revised upward, it can support the idea that fundamentals are strengthening. The January 2026 discussion around these four names explicitly referenced upward movements in earnings expectations as part of the reasoning.

2) Look for a clear “why now?” catalyst

Examples include: a mine-life extension plan (CGAU), portfolio optimization (PAGP), platform modernization (ANGI), or AI-driven product traction and strategic focus (SKIL).

3) Compare valuation to the business quality

Two companies can have the same earnings yield, but one might have steadier cash flow, better competitive defenses, or less cyclicality. That’s why value investing is partly math and partly judgment.

4) Don’t forget macro reality

In uncertainty cycles, interest rates and bond yields can influence how investors price stocks. Comparing earnings yields to Treasury yields is one reason the topic keeps resurfacing, even though the approach is debated and shouldn’t be treated as a crystal ball.

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Portfolio Positioning Ideas (Educational Examples, Not Advice)

If you’re learning how investors might think about these four stocks together, it helps to group them by “role” rather than by ticker:

• Defensive-tilt value via real assets: CGAU (commodity-linked, but often watched in risk-off phases)
• Cash-flow infrastructure exposure: PAGP (midstream/logistics, often evaluated on stability and distributions)
• Consumer services + platform execution: ANGI (turnaround potential, execution risk)
• Enterprise software/services + AI product evolution: SKIL (modernization + retention story)

A common approach in volatile markets is to size positions according to uncertainty: steadier cash-flow names may get larger weights, while turnaround or execution-heavy names may get smaller “prove it” allocations—depending on the investor’s risk tolerance.

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FAQs

1) What does “earnings yield” mean in simple terms?

Earnings yield is earnings per share divided by the stock price. It tells you how much earnings you’re getting for each dollar you pay for the stock. It’s also the inverse of the P/E ratio.

2) Why do value stocks matter more when markets are volatile?

During volatility, prices can swing faster than fundamentals. Value investors try to buy strong businesses when fear or uncertainty pushes prices down, aiming for long-term gains when markets calm.

3) Are high earnings yield stocks always “cheap”?

No. Sometimes a stock looks cheap because investors expect earnings to fall. That’s why it helps to check whether earnings estimates are rising and whether there’s a credible reason for improvement.

4) How does politics (like tariffs) affect stock prices?

Tariffs can raise costs, reduce demand, or disrupt supply chains. Even before changes happen, uncertainty alone can increase volatility and push investors to re-price risk quickly.

5) Why might Centerra Gold (CGAU) be interesting during uncertainty?

Gold-linked companies can attract attention when risk rises, and Centerra has discussed long-range operational planning such as extending mine life at Mount Milligan toward 2045, which investors may view as supportive for longer-term production potential.

6) What’s the biggest risk with Angi (ANGI) and Skillsoft (SKIL)?

Both depend heavily on execution: platform improvements, customer experience, retention, and turning strategy (including AI initiatives) into measurable results. If execution disappoints, “cheap” valuations can stay cheap—or get cheaper.

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Conclusion: A Value Playbook for Uncertain Markets

When headlines are noisy—tariff threats, geopolitical tension, and shifting political strategy—investors often seek tools that keep them grounded. Earnings yield is one of those tools because it forces a simple question: what am I paying for the earnings I’m getting?

That said, the smartest use of earnings yield is not as a stand-alone answer, but as a starting filter. From there, investors can look for improving earnings expectations, credible catalysts, and business quality. In the January 2026 discussion, Centerra Gold (CGAU), Plains GP Holdings (PAGP), Angi (ANGI), and Skillsoft (SKIL) were framed as four candidates that combine high earnings yield with supportive forward-looking signals—positioned as value picks for a jittery market environment.

If you’re building your own watchlist, consider using this kind of structure: start with valuation, confirm fundamentals, and then size risk appropriately. In uncertain markets, patience and process often beat prediction.

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