A Blue-Chip Starter Portfolio: GlaxoSmithKline plc, Royal Dutch Shell Plc And BHP Billiton plc

How do GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON:GSK), Royal Dutch Shell Plc (LON:RDSB), BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT) and the UK’s other seven industry giants shape up as a starter portfolio?

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Every quarter I take a look at the largest FTSE 100 companies in each of the index’s 10 industries to see how they shape up as a potential “starter” portfolio.

The table below shows the 10 industry heavyweights and their current valuations based on forecast 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios and dividend yields.

Company Industry Recent share price (p) P/E Yield (%)
ARM Holdings Technology 1,037 29.9 0.9
BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) Basic Materials 1,249 18.8 6.4
British American Tobacco Consumer Goods 3,415 15.6 4.7
GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) (NYSE: GSK.US) Health Care 1,322 15.7 6.1
HSBC Holdings Financials 570 10.5 5.9
National Grid Utilities 817 13.8 5.4
Rolls-Royce Industrials 870 14.3 2.9
Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSB) (NYSE: RDS-B.US) Oil & Gas 1,807 12.2 6.6
Vodafone Telecommunications 230 39.7 5.1
WPP Consumer Services 1,426 14.4 3.2

Historically, to get a feel for overall value, I’ve tracked the average P/E and yield of the “portfolio”, but excluding ARM with its typically lofty technology-sector valuation. However, for the past 18 months — since its mega-sale of Verizon Wireless — Vodafone’s valuation has also been anomalously high.

The table below shows the average portfolio P/E and yield at my quarterly review dates, including Vodafone (columns two and three) and excluding Vodafone (columns four and five).

  P/E Yield (%) P/E Yield (%)
July 2015 17.2 5.1 14.4 5.2
April 2015 17.2 4.9 14.9 4.8
January 2015 15.8 4.8 13.5 4.8
October 2014 15.0 4.7 13.1 4.6
July 2014 14.8 4.7 13.2 4.5
April 2014 13.6 4.6 12.8 4.6
January 2014 13.6 4.5 12.7 4.5
October 2013 12.2 4.7 12.1 4.7
July 2013 11.8 4.7 11.9 4.6
April 2013 12.3 4.6 12.4 4.4
January 2013 11.4 4.9 11.7 4.6
October 2012 11.1 5.0 11.1 4.7
July 2012 10.7 5.0 10.7 4.7
October 2011 9.8 5.2 9.8 5.0

My rule of thumb for the group of companies is that an average P/E below 10 is bargain territory, 10-14 is decent value, while above 14 starts to move towards expensive.

Last quarter I highlighted the growing disconnect between P/E and yield, suggesting:

“It may be that we’ll see a period of little or no dividend growth among the heavyweights (or even a rebasing of some dividends) to bring the yield down to a level that better reflects the high P/E and a low interest-rate environment in which other assets are yielding very little”.

This is starting to happen, although the average yield currently remains high. Since my April review, GlaxoSmithKline has announced it is pegging its dividend at an unchanged 80p a share for the next three years, while Shell has suggested its dividend may be flat at $1.88 for the next two years.

Nevertheless, I’d say the visibility these two companies have given us on their dividends and their high yields (Glaxo, 6.1% and Shell 6.6%) make them attractive for long-term investors at current price levels. Glaxo expects to return to earnings growth in 2016, guiding on annual growth for the period 2016-20 of mid-to-high single digits. Shell’s in-progress acquisition of BG Group should also drive earnings growth further down the line.

Miner BHP Billiton is another company where the short-term outlook is uninspiring, but the longer-term prospects much brighter. Billiton’s P/E of 18.8 is high, but, counterintuitively, high P/Es for miners can signal good times ahead for the share price and low P/Es the reverse. Three years ago, Billiton’s P/E was just 7.6 at a share price of 1,806p; the shares are now trading at 1,249p. Billiton’s current yield of 6.4% is also attractive, although the dividend may be vulnerable to the same lack of near-term growth as Glaxo and Shell, or even a re-basing.

Elsewhere, ARM, National Grid and HSBC, which I highlighted for you last quarter, continue to look attractive. ARM’s current P/E has dipped below 30 for the first time since I’ve been tracking the shares. National Grid’s P/E and yield are at value levels not seen since my October 2013 review. HSBC continues to have the lowest P/E of all 10 companies and a well-above-average yield.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

G A Chester has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC and ARM Holdings. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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