Unloved but promising stocks were just the ticket for Investment guru John Neff. While managing the Windsor Fund for more than 30 years, his conservative approach earned an average 13.7% annual return and beat the market by an average of 3.1% per year. In his article for TheStreet.com this week,  Validea CEO John Reese describes this Low P/E Investor’s philosophy and offers some fundamentally solid stock picks.

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) is a developer of lifestyle-oriented content for linear and interactive video platforms including television and internet brands. Our Neff-based strategy likes the company’s EPS growth of 9.7%, which is fueled by sales, and total return-to-PE of more than double the market average.

Unum Group (UNM) is a provider of disability insurance products in the U.S. and the U.K. Historical EPS growth of 12% and long-term projected EPS growth of 7.8% get high marks under the Neff-based methodology, and average sales growth of 15.1% is more than double the minimum requirement.

Signet Jewelers Ltd. (SIG) is a retailer of jewelry, watches and associated services in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Our Neff-based stock screen favors the company’s EPS growth rate of 14.3% and projected EPS growth of 40.4% for this year and 17% for the long term.

National General Holdings Corp. (NGHC) is a personal lines insurance holding company that offers products including auto, homeowners, and supplemental health. Sales growth of 41% and total return-to-PE ratio of 1.26 are strong fundamentals under our Neff-based strategy, and healthy free cash flow ($2.73 per share) is a plus.