2 shockingly cheap growth shares

Royston Wild runs the rule over two of London’s hottest growth stocks.

| 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.

Today I’m looking at two stunning long-term growth shares that are trading far, far too cheaply.

Build a fortune

I’m convinced the underlying strength of the British housing market makes Redrow (LSE: RDW) one of the strongest growth picks out there.

While the explosive property price growth of previous years looks set to end in 2017 as homebuyer appetite cools, the huge gulf between housing supply and demand means that house prices are unlikely to fall off a cliff any time soon.

Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner commented this week that, despite fears over the impact of Brexit on the wider economy, “demand conditions have strengthened a little in recent months, reflecting the impact of solid labour market conditions and historically low borrowing costs.”

And despite concerns over the health London property market, Redrow is managing to overcome the worst of these troubles thanks to its limited exposure to high prices in the capital. Private reservations at the firm rose 6% during the 19 weeks to November 4, and the order book advanced 29% year-on-year to £941m, easing fears of a sharp demand slump.

And Redrow is expected to fare better than many of its rivals in the near term with modest earnings dips widely predicted across the sector. By comparison Redrow is predicted to punch a 3% earnings rise in the period to June 2017.

This forecast leaves Redrow dealing on a P/E ratio of 7.2 times, some way below the FTSE 100 forward average of 15 times. I reckon any risks to the construction specialist’s earnings outlook is more than priced in at these levels.

Take a sip

Coffee house and hotel giant Whitbread (LSE: WTB) has seen its share price tank again in recent months, a 20% fall since the start of September taking it to within a whisker of fresh multi-year lows just this week.

This weakness reflects to a large degree fears over the profitability of leisure stocks like Whitbread as Brexit-related turbulence hits the economy from next year and beyond. However, I believe the business has what it takes to navigate these waters by grabbing market share, and reckon now is a great time for value hunters to nip in.

The Premier Inn owner is well on track to meet its goal of 85,000 rooms by 2020, and it sees the potential for 100,000 of its low-price rooms in Britain beyond that. And Whitbread also has big plans for its Costa Coffee franchise, the company targeting 2,500 UK outlets by the close of the decade and 3,000 further out.

And Whitbread has eyed expansion in Germany and China for Premier Inn and Costa Coffee respectively to spearhead its international growth plan, steps that will also reduce the impact of a possible downturn in the domestic economy.

The number crunchers certainly expect earnings to keep rolling higher at Whitbread, and a predicted 1% bottom-line rise for the period to February 2017 is anticipated to speed to 6% in the following period.

These projections create very-decent P/E ratios of 14.1 times for this year and 13.3 times for fiscal 2018. I reckon this is a bargain for a firm with Whitbread’s electric growth potential.

Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Redrow. 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

Stack of one pound coins falling over
Investing Articles

Want to turn your ISA into a passive income machine? These 3 steps help

Christopher Ruane looks at a trio of factors he reckons could help an investor as they aim to earn passive…

Read more »

Investing For Beginners

2 FTSE shares that have been oversold in this stock market correction

Jon Smith reviews the recent market slump and points out a couple of FTSE shares he believes have been oversold…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

As the stock market moves down, I’m taking the Warren Buffett approach!

Rather than getting nervous as markets move around, our writer is looking to the career of Warren Buffett to see…

Read more »

Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Here’s how a stock market crash could be brilliant news for your retirement!

This writer isn't peering into a crystal ball trying to time the next stock market crash. Instead, he's making an…

Read more »

Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Down 93%, should I load up on this penny stock while it’s under 1p?

The small-cap company behind this penny stock is eyeing up a substantial global market opportunity. So why did it crash…

Read more »

Portrait of pensive bearded senior looking on screen of laptop sitting at table with coffee cup.
Investing Articles

Is Fundsmith Equity still worth holding in a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP in 2026?

The performance of the Fundsmith Equity fund has been shocking over the last two years. Is it still smart to…

Read more »

Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

5 smart moves to make before the 2025/2026 ISA deadline

Taking advantage of the annual allowance isn’t the only smart move to make before the upcoming ISA deadline, says Edward…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Here’s the dividend forecast for Lloyds shares through to 2028

Can dividend forecasts tell investors much about the outlook for banking shares? Stephen Wright sets out what investors really need…

Read more »