Are these the best small-cap shares for growth investors?

Royston Wild discusses the earnings outlook of two small-cap stars.

| 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.

Arrow Global Group (LSE: ARW) remains on course to break November’s record tops above 300p per share as deleveraging by European banks continues to drive business volumes sky high.

Arrow Global announced in November that total revenues detonated 37% during January-September, to £164.4m. And market appetite for the firm continues to fizzle as it follows through on its aim of “becoming Europe’s leading purchaser and manager of debt” — just last month the business entered the Italian market with the acquisition of Zenith for an enterprise value of €17m.

Against this backcloth the City expects the debt collector to keep punching explosive earnings growth for the foreseeable future, and predicts a 31% advance in 2016 to be followed by a 28% rise in the current period.

Consequently Arrow Global deals on a P/E ratio of nine times for the current period, falling below the bargain-basement benchmark of 10 times. Furthermore, a sub-1 PEG readout of 0.3 underlines the company’s exceptional value credentials.

Constructing corking growth

I also believe a healthy US construction market should help deliver resplendent earnings expansion at Tyman (LSE: TYMN) long into the future.

The number crunchers certainly expect the bottom line to keep swelling in the medium term, and have forecast a 15% rise for 2017, following on from an anticipated 12% rise last year. This results in a P/E ratio of just 11.5 times for the current year, as well as a PEG readout of 0.8.

And there’s good cause for such optimism. Latest construction data from across the Pond showed project spending up 0.9% in November, to $1.18trn, the highest since April 2006. And the strong industry upswing is expected to persist through 2017 at least as the US economic revival continues.

But the US isn’t the only bright spot for door-and-window-parts-builder Tyman, the company noting in November that “encouraging growth has continued in European markets and volumes have held up in UK and Irish markets.”

Build a fortune

And I reckon Tyman’s construction counterpart Severfield (LSE: SFR) is on course to deliver solid earnings growth too.

Despite concerns over the impact of Brexit on the construction sector, Severfield continues to rack up new business at an impressive rate. Indeed, Severfield’s order book clocked in at six-year peaks as of November, at £315m, providing the firm with terrific earnings visibility.

And Severfield’s presence in India also provides plenty of revenue opportunities. The company’s JSW Severfield Structures joint venture secured £29m worth of contracts just last month to build a variety of commercial and industrial structures. And the amount of business is likely to keep rising as the Indian economy booms.

The City has pencilled-in a 35% earnings advance at Severfield for the year to March 2017, creating a very-appealing P/E ratio of 15 times. And an anticipated 16% bottom-line charge in fiscal 2018 drives the multiple to a much-improved 12.9 times.

Moreover, PEG numbers of 0.4 and 0.8 for 2017 and 2018 highlight its exceptional value relative to its likely growth trajectory.

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

Investing Articles

Up 50% in a year! Now check out the intriguing BP share price forecast for the next 12 months

The BP share price is up one day, down the next, as geopolitical uncertainty rattles the FTSE 100. Harvey Jones…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is now the perfect time to buy high-yield FTSE 100 dividend shares? 

Harvey Jones says UK dividend shares have a brilliant track record of delivering income and growth, and he can see…

Read more »

Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

At 7,000 points, the S&P 500 looks bloated. How should investors navigate this market?

AI-hype may have ballooned the S&P 500 into the mother of all bubbles – but only time will tell. For…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

How £100 can start a portfolio of UK stocks

Whether it’s building wealth or earning passive income, UK investors might be surprised at what £100 a month in stocks…

Read more »

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

How £16,000 can generate a second income in a Stocks and Shares ISA

Stephen Wright explains how UK investors can target an immediate £1,224 annual second income from UK dividend shares with a…

Read more »

Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

This crazy growth stock is up 97% inside 2 months in my ISA!

Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) is both an exciting and incredibly volatile growth stock. What on earth has sent it…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

How to target a million-pound SIPP by investing in UK shares

Harvey Jones shows how investors could target a SIPP worth a life-changing seven-figure sum, by investing in FTSE 100 dividend…

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

Buying £20k of BAE Systems shares could give me a £360 income this year!

Looking for the best dividend stocks out there? Royston Wild explains why BAE Systems shares are worth considering.

Read more »