Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy in November 2026: 5 Names on the Watchlist
- November 4, 2026
- Posted by: Kunal Singla
- Category: Best Stocks
Union Bank Rs 183.20. Central Bank of India Rs 29.39. SCI Rs 259.03. CESC Rs 128.52. South Indian Bank Rs 53.96. NSE closing prices, 3 Nov 2026.
Quick Answer
Five low price to book value stocks to buy on the November 2026 watchlist are Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Shipping Corporation of India, CESC and South Indian Bank. All five grew revenue in their latest full year, and all five also grew net profit. Central Bank of India has the lowest P/E at 5.48, while Union Bank of India leads on return on equity at 16.05%. Check each valuation against your own risk appetite before acting.
The low price to book value stocks to buy in November 2026 start with five listed names: Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Shipping Corporation of India, CESC and South Indian Bank. Low price to book value stocks are companies whose share price is close to or only slightly above the value of their assets on the books, as measured by the P/B ratio.
This article ranks none of them as a sure thing. It lays out the numbers each company has reported, how the shares are priced today and what an investor should check before adding any of these low price to book value stocks to buy to a portfolio. All prices are NSE closing prices of 3 November 2026, and financials come from company filings.
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Which Are the Best Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy in November 2026?
The best low price to book value stocks to buy in November 2026 for a watchlist are Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Shipping Corporation of India, CESC and South Indian Bank. They were picked because each has complete reported financials, profit in the latest quarter and an NSE listing. The table puts their market data side by side.
| Company | CMP (Rs) | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Bank of India | 183.20 | Rs 1,42,100 crore | 6.46 | 16.05% | 2.69% |
| Central Bank of India | 29.39 | Rs 26,448 crore | 5.48 | 12.76% | 6.16% |
| Shipping Corporation of India | 259.03 | Rs 11,822 crore | 7.31 | 14.87% | 2.96% |
| CESC | 128.52 | Rs 16,981 crore | 10.41 | 12.31% | 4.71% |
| South Indian Bank | 53.96 | Rs 14,811 crore | 9.35 | 13.13% | 0.80% |
On valuation, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Shipping Corporation of India, CESC and South Indian Bank trade below the industry P/E. Valuation is the first filter for any low price to book value stocks to buy list, and it is covered again in the risk section.
Why These Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy Are in Focus
In this list, P/B ratios run from about 0.70 to 1.36, and return on equity ranges between roughly 12% and 16%. The list covers a large public sector bank, another public sector bank headquartered in Mumbai, a government-owned shipping company, a Kolkata power utility and a Kerala-based private bank. Investors comparing the best low price to book value stocks in India usually check asset quality, earnings growth and return on equity, because a low P/B alone does not make a stock attractive.
Union Bank of India: The Public Sector Lender Among Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
Union Bank of India is a large public sector bank with a pan-India branch network. Its market capitalisation is Rs 1,42,100 crore, the share price is Rs 183.20 and the P/E of 6.46 compares with an industry P/E of 11.45.
Over FY26, net profit rose 4.8% to Rs 18,781 crore on revenue of Rs 1,28,400 crore, which was up 0.2%. The latest quarter, the September 2026 quarter, brought revenue of Rs 33,471 crore, up 5.4% year on year, and net profit of Rs 5,570 crore, up 30.1%.
Return on equity is 16.05%, and the dividend yield is 2.69%. Promoters hold 74.76%, foreign institutions 9.40% and domestic institutions 11.64% as of September 2026. Foreign institutional holding has risen from 7.86% to 9.40% over the last year.
Central Bank of India: The Low-Priced Public Sector Bank Among Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
Central Bank of India is a public sector bank with a large branch network in central and eastern India. The stock trades at Rs 29.39 with a market capitalisation of Rs 26,448 crore and a P/E of 5.48, against an industry P/E of 11.45.
FY26 revenue rose 7.9% to Rs 42,583 crore and net profit rose 14.9% to Rs 4,531 crore. In the September 2026 quarter, revenue grew 14.9% year on year to Rs 11,774 crore, while net profit grew 21.0% to Rs 1,475 crore.
Return on equity is 12.76%, and the dividend yield is 6.16%. Promoters hold 81.19%, foreign institutions 1.29% and domestic institutions 10.62% as of September 2026. Domestic institutional holding has risen from 4.83% to 10.62% over the last year.
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Shipping Corporation of India: The Public Sector Shipper Among Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
Shipping Corporation of India is a government-owned shipping company. At Rs 259.03, the stock has a market capitalisation of Rs 11,822 crore and trades at 7.31 times earnings, while the industry P/E is 8.59.
Reported numbers show FY26 revenue of Rs 6,227 crore, up 7.4% year on year, with net profit at Rs 1,353 crore, up 60.4%. The June 2026 quarter added revenue of Rs 1,957 crore (up 33.8%) and net profit of Rs 619 crore (up 74.9%).
Return on equity is 14.87%, debt-to-equity is 0.29, and the dividend yield is 2.96%. Promoters hold 63.75%, foreign institutions 9.58% and domestic institutions 1.44% as of September 2026. Foreign institutional holding has risen from 6.49% to 9.58% over the last year.
CESC: The Kolkata Power Utility Among Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
CESC is a power utility with generation and distribution operations in Kolkata, part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Its market capitalisation is Rs 16,981 crore, the share price is Rs 128.52 and the P/E of 10.41 compares with an industry P/E of 19.93.
Over FY26, net profit rose 13.2% to Rs 1,618 crore on revenue of Rs 18,927 crore, which was up 8.9%. The latest quarter, the June 2026 quarter, brought revenue of Rs 5,559 crore, up 5.2% year on year, and net profit of Rs 419 crore, up 3.7%.
Return on equity is 12.31%, debt-to-equity is 1.73, and the dividend yield is 4.71%. Promoters hold 52.11%, foreign institutions 11.49% and domestic institutions 24.94% as of September 2026.
South Indian Bank: The Kerala-Based Private Bank Among Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
South Indian Bank is a Kerala-based private bank with a growing retail franchise. The stock trades at Rs 53.96 with a market capitalisation of Rs 14,811 crore and a P/E of 9.35, against an industry P/E of 11.45.
FY26 revenue rose 5.6% to Rs 11,855 crore and net profit rose 11.7% to Rs 1,456 crore. In the September 2026 quarter, revenue grew 11.7% year on year to Rs 3,264 crore, while net profit grew 21.3% to Rs 426 crore.
Return on equity is 13.13%, and the dividend yield is 0.80%. The company has no identified promoter, with foreign institutions holding 25.57% and domestic institutions 16.78% as of September 2026. Domestic institutional holding has risen from 11.92% to 16.78% over the last year.
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Growth Snapshot: Latest Full Year and Latest Quarter
The table compares year-on-year growth in revenue and net profit for all five low price to book value stocks, using filed results.
| Company | Full-Year Revenue Growth | Full-Year Profit Growth | Latest Quarter | Quarter Revenue Growth | Quarter Profit Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Bank of India | 0.2% | 4.8% | Sep 2026 | 5.4% | 30.1% |
| Central Bank of India | 7.9% | 14.9% | Sep 2026 | 14.9% | 21.0% |
| Shipping Corporation of India | 7.4% | 60.4% | Jun 2026 | 33.8% | 74.9% |
| CESC | 8.9% | 13.2% | Jun 2026 | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| South Indian Bank | 5.6% | 11.7% | Sep 2026 | 11.7% | 21.3% |
Factors That Move Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
Four factors tend to drive low price to book value stocks, and each one is worth checking before a purchase.
- Asset value: Book value shows what the balance sheet holds.
- Return on equity: Returns confirm the book is productive.
- Asset quality: Bad loans or weak assets can shrink book value.
- Earnings growth: Rising profit supports re-rating.
Risks to Keep in Mind Before Buying Low Price to Book Value Stocks
The first risk is that a low P/B can persist if returns or asset quality weaken. The second is that banks and shipping carry sector-specific risks, including loan quality and freight cycles. Review results every quarter.
On the numbers, CESC trades at the highest P/E on this list at 10.41, so its earnings need to keep growing to support the price. Low Price to Book Value stocks to buy can still fall when markets turn weak, and a staggered entry has historically suited investors better than a lump-sum purchase.
How to Choose Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
- Check ROE: A low P/B needs decent returns.
- Review asset quality: Look at bad loans for banks.
- Study growth: Earnings should be rising.
- Compare with peers: Use P/B against similar companies.
How to Invest in Low Price to Book Value Stocks
- Shortlist two or three companies from this list that match your risk appetite.
- Open the Univest Screener and compare P/E, ROE and debt for each stock.
- Check the latest quarterly results and shareholding pattern on NSE or BSE.
- Decide an amount you can hold for three to five years and split it into two or three purchases.
- Review the holding after every quarterly result instead of reacting to daily price moves.
Conclusion
Central Bank of India offers the lowest P/E on this list at 5.48, Union Bank of India has the highest return on equity at 16.05%, and Shipping Corporation of India posted the fastest net profit growth in its latest full year at 60.4%. Among the best low price to book value stocks in India, these five give investors a spread of size, valuation and growth, so the right pick depends on risk appetite and holding period. Spread the entry, keep position sizes sensible and consult a SEBI-registered advisor before investing in any of these low price to book value stocks to buy.
Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).
Frequently Asked Questions on Low Price to Book Value Stocks to Buy
Which are the best low price to book value stocks to buy in November 2026?
Ans. The five low price to book value stocks on the November 2026 watchlist are Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Shipping Corporation of India, CESC and South Indian Bank. Central Bank of India has the lowest P/E at 5.48, Union Bank of India has the highest ROE at 16.05%, and Shipping Corporation of India grew net profit 60.4% in its latest full year. This is educational content, not investment advice, so please consult a SEBI-registered advisor.
Is Union Bank of India a good stock to buy from this Low Price to Book Value list?
Ans. Union Bank of India is the largest company on this list with a market capitalisation of Rs 1,42,100 crore and a P/E of 6.46 against an industry P/E of 11.45. Its FY26 revenue rose 0.2% and net profit rose 4.8%, with return on equity at 16.05%. Whether it suits you depends on your risk appetite and holding period, so please consult a SEBI-registered advisor before investing.
Are these low price to book value stocks expensive right now?
Ans. Valuations vary across the group. Union Bank of India trades at a P/E of 6.46, Central Bank of India trades at a P/E of 5.48, Shipping Corporation of India trades at a P/E of 7.31, CESC trades at a P/E of 10.41, South Indian Bank trades at a P/E of 9.35, against industry multiples ranging from 8.59 to 19.93. Higher multiples reflect faster growth but also leave less room for earnings misses, so entry price deserves attention.
Which of these low price to book value stocks pay a dividend?
Ans. Dividend yields on this list are Union Bank of India 2.69%, Central Bank of India 6.16%, Shipping Corporation of India 2.96%, CESC 4.71%, South Indian Bank 0.80%. Yields differ widely across the group, so check payout history and earnings cover before relying on any of them for income, since payouts can change with company profits.
Which stock on this list has the highest return on equity?
Ans. Union Bank of India has the highest ROE on this list at 16.05%, followed by Shipping Corporation of India at 14.87% and South Indian Bank at 13.13%. A higher ROE shows a company earns more profit on shareholder capital, but it should be read alongside valuation and debt.
What are the risks of investing in low price to book value stocks?
Ans. The main risks are asset quality in banks, freight cycles in shipping and a low P/B that can persist. On this list, CESC trades at the highest P/E of 10.41, which leaves less room for earnings disappointments. Staggered buying and a long holding period can help manage these risks.
How can I invest in low price to book value stocks in India?
Ans. You can buy these stocks directly on NSE or BSE through a demat account, and compare them first on the Univest Screener using P/E, ROE and debt. Many investors split the amount across two or three purchases and review the holding after each quarterly result. Sector-themed mutual funds and ETFs are another route for investors who prefer diversification.
