The latest 1,000 point drop in the Dow after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady has put value stocks back under the spotlight. With inflation still above target and U.S. oil prices near US$85 per barrel, many investors are taking a fresh look at large U.S. companies that already trade on lower price ratios and have some dividend history. This article focuses on three U.S. Large Cap Value Stocks from our screener that appear more directly exposed to the current rate and oil backdrop. You will see how the recent news could potentially help or hurt each stock’s risk and return profile.

Newmont (NEM)

Overview: Newmont is a large global miner focused primarily on producing gold, with additional exposure to copper, silver, lead, zinc and other metals across operations in North and South America, Africa, Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The company has been operating for more than a century and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Operations: Newmont generates most of its revenue from a diversified portfolio of mining assets, led by the NGM joint venture at about US$4.4b, Peñasquito at about US$3.7b, Boddington at about US$2.5b, Yanacocha at about US$2.3b, Cadia and Lihir at about US$2.3b and US$2.2b respectively, plus several other mines each contributing over US$1b.

Market Cap: US$96.4b

Newmont stands out in this volatile, rate sensitive market because it combines classic value traits with exposure to gold, which some investors treat as a hedge when inflation stays above target. The company is generating strong cash flows, runs a diversified set of large mines and is actively returning capital through share buybacks, while still investing in long life projects. At the same time, you need to weigh real risks, including higher sustaining and development spending, lower grade ore at some key assets and execution risk around integrating recently acquired operations and leadership changes. The recent Fed driven pullback has pushed attention back to defensive large caps such as Newmont, but the full story goes well beyond that headline.

Newmont’s mix of cash generation, gold exposure and buybacks often looks simple at a glance. Yet the real trade off sits under the surface. Get the full picture in the analysis report for Newmont

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)

Overview: International Flavors & Fragrances develops ingredients and solutions that give foods, drinks, personal care products and household items their taste, smell and functional benefits, serving consumer brands across the globe.

Operations: International Flavors & Fragrances generates about US$2.5b from Scent, US$2.5b from Taste, US$3.3b from Food Ingredients and US$2.3b from Health & Biosciences, with a smaller segment adjustment of roughly US$100m.

Market Cap: US$20.2b

International Flavors & Fragrances stands out in this rate shock driven pullback because it combines a diversified portfolio across food, health and fragrance with a large cap profile and a valuation that many analysts view as discounted. The company is refocusing on higher margin areas through asset sales such as the Food Ingredients deal and the SuanNutra transaction, using proceeds to reduce debt and fund targeted share buybacks. At the same time, you need to factor in softer demand, flat revenue guidance and pressure in more commodity like product lines. For investors looking at defensively tilted value stocks as the Dow slides over 1,000 points, the key question is whether this reset in IFF sets up a cleaner, better quality earnings base over the next few years.

International Flavors & Fragrances looks like a reset story hiding in plain sight, with asset sales and refocusing potentially masking what really matters in the numbers. Get the full picture in the analysis report for International Flavors & Fragrances

CRH (CRH)

Overview: CRH is a global building materials company that supplies aggregates, cement, asphalt, ready mixed concrete, and a wide range of infrastructure and building products used in roads, utilities, commercial projects and residential construction, with a strong presence in North America and Europe.

Operations: CRH generates about US$17.5b from Americas Materials Solutions, US$7.1b from Americas Building Solutions and US$13.4b from International Solutions.

Market Cap: US$69.1b

CRH attracts attention when markets sell off because it sits at the intersection of public infrastructure, data centers and energy projects, which can support more stable demand even as rates stay elevated and oil trades near US$85. The company reports high quality earnings, steady profit margins around 9.6% and exposure to U.S. federal infrastructure funding, while the planned Arcosa acquisition and focus on sustainable materials could add scale and new revenue streams. On the flip side, high debt levels, reliance on publicly funded projects and a relatively new management team leave less room for error if funding priorities or costs move against it. What investors miss at first glance is how these strengths and risks interact with valuation, cash flows and the current rate backdrop.

CRH’s mix of infrastructure projects, data center build out and steady margins has investors guessing where the real earnings power sits. See how the current backdrop lines up with the analyst forecasts for CRH

The three stocks in this article are only a starting point, since the full U.S. Large Cap Value Stocks screen on Simply Wall St surfaced 17 more companies with equally compelling narratives in the U.S. Large Cap Value Stocks screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, balance sheet traits and dividend profiles that matter most to you, so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas from this broader value list.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If International Flavors & Fragrances or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.