Can you afford to ignore these small-cap growth greats?

Royston Wild takes a look at two FTSE small-caps with electrifying earnings potential.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Industrial bolts and fasteners expert Trifast (LSE: TRI) has made itself a critical component provider for the world’s blue chip manufacturers.

From computers and refrigerators through to automobiles, Trifast’s products can be found across a wide range of applications, providing the firm with terrific earnings visibility as it doesn’t suffer from moderating activity in one or two segments.

And the East Sussex company’s broad geographical presence — Trifast operates in 17 countries across Europe, North American and Asia — provides the bottom line with an extra layer of security. Indeed, Trifast’s growth model involves tracking key global OEMs around the globe and setting up operating centres to build strong client relationships and provide a very personalised service.

And the bolt builder remains busy on the organic expansion front, as well as making acquisitions like that of Germany’s Kuhlmann last year, to boost its global presence even further. Just this month Trifast opened a new distribution and technical hub in Barcelona to service the important auto industry in Spain.

City experts expect earnings at Trifast to slow from the double-digit earnings rises of recent years, with advances of 4% and 3% pencilled-in for the periods to March 2017 and 2018 respectively.

These figures result in P/E ratios of 16.2 times and 15.8 times, just above a bellwether reading of 15 times generally considered attractive value by stock investors. But I believe Trifast’s rising presence in developed and emerging economies alike makes the manufacturer one to watch.

Try this on for size

The stellar brand power of Jimmy Choo (LSE: CHOO) makes the shoe designer a splendid stock for those seeking explosive earnings expansion in the near term and beyond.

The City expects earnings to soar 28% in 2016, although this still results in a lofty P/E ratio of 21 times. However, this reading slips to 16.8 times for 2017 thanks to an anticipated 17% bottom-line bounce. And I expect the bottom line to keep soaring as Jimmy Choo’s expansion scheme clicks through the gears.

Jimmy Choo saw revenues shoot 9.2% higher during January-June, to £173.1m, led by further strong progress in Asia where sales — excluding Japan — shot 22.1% higher. And the shoemaker believes it remains “underpenetrated” in the continent, and plans to open further stores in the region. In total Jimmy Choo plans to have 200 directly-owned stores up and running worldwide, up from 147 at present.

The fashion star is also steadily building its network of franchise outlets, with new stores opened in Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Chile, Macau and South Korea in the first half.

On top of this, Jimmy Choo is also ramping up its presence in the men’s footwear segment. The company noted in August that this is its quickest-growing segment, and Jimy Choo expects that the division “will come to represent a proportion of our revenue well into double-digits,” up from 8% at present.

Like Trifast, I reckon there are plenty of catalysts to drive earnings at Jimmy Choo to the stars.

Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

British pound data
Investing Articles

Starting with nothing? Here’s why now is the perfect time to start building a passive income

Many are worried that 2026 might be a bad time to start investing in stocks and shares. Our Foolish author…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

Decided not to bother with a Stocks and Shares ISA? You might be missing these 3 things!

With a fresh annual allowance for contributing to a Stocks and Shares ISA upon us, what might people who don't…

Read more »

GSK scientist holding lab syringe
Investing Articles

Why is everyone buying GSK shares?

GSK shares have been outperforming the FTSE 100 in 2026. Paul Summers takes a closer look and asks whether this…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in easyJet shares at the start of 2026 is now worth…

Anyone buying easyJet shares will have endured a rough ride since January. Paul Summers wonders whether things could get even…

Read more »

Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

5 years ago, £5,000 bought 2,645 Barclays shares. But how many would it buy now?

Despite delivering an impressive return since April 2021, Barclays' shares have lagged the FTSE 100's other banks. James Beard considers…

Read more »

Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

5 years ago, £5,000 bought 354 Shell shares. But how many would it buy now?

When it comes to Shell’s numbers, most of them are impressive. And it’s no different when looking at the recent…

Read more »

A rear view of a female in a bright yellow coat walking along the historic street known as The Shambles in York, UK which is a popular tourist destination in this Yorkshire city.
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT if I should buy Aviva, Diageo or BAE Systems stock and it said…

Aviva, Diageo and BAE Systems shares are popular FTSE 100 picks. But which of the three does ChatGPT like the…

Read more »

Tesla car at super charger station
Investing Articles

SpaceX’s IPO threatens to leave the Tesla share price on the forecourt

As Elon Musk starts fuelling the engines for a SpaceX IPO, could the Tesla share price get left in the…

Read more »