Why Rio Tinto plc, Britvic Plc and John Wood Group PLC Should Beat The FTSE 100 Today

Rio Tinto plc (LON: RIO), Britvic Plc (LON: BVIC) and John Wood Group PLC (LON: WG) are all rising.

| 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.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

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.

After gaining 75 points yesterday, the FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE) looks like it’s having a good time today too, up 67 points by late morning to 6,517. Last week’s US jobs data, coupled with indications that the UK economy is looking better, appear to be behind the positive sentiment. And perhaps surprisingly, the beleagured mining sector is figuring amongst the top gains so far today.

With the FTSE up around 1%, it’s perhaps hard to see which shares are likely to beat it today, but here are three from the various indices that are in with a good chance:

Rio Tinto

Amongst the big miners rising today, Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) (NYSE: RIO.US)  is the only one that has released any significant news, as the firm told us that it has received permission from the Mongolian government to commence copper concentrate shipments from Oyu Tolgoi, the country’s biggest copper mine. The mine is expected to produce around 430,000 tonnes of copper per year, plus about 425,000 ounces of gold.

The Rio Tinto price? It’s up 70p (2.6%) to 2,739p at the time of writing, which is a welcome bit of news for the Fool’s Beginners’ Portfolio, though it is largely due to the sector as a whole being on the up today. The share price has been in a bit of a slump since the start of the year, but it’s actually only 10% down over the past 12 months.

Britvic

Shares in soft drinks maker Britvic (LSE: BVIC) picked up 5.5p (1.1%) this morning to 526p, after the Competition Commission announced that it has formally approved a possible merger between Britvic and AG Barr — the Commission has come to the conclusion that a merger would not significantly damage competition.

Whether any merger will actually happen is an entirely different question, of course, as the original merger plan lapsed in February when it was referred to the Competition Commission. And chairman Gerald Corbett told us that although any new proposal would be considered, “Britvic is in a very different position to last summer when the merger was agreed” and that the firm’s “prospects as a stand-alone company are bright”.

John Wood

John Wood Group (LSE: WG) shares gained 12.5p (1.5%) to 877p after the company told us it has contracts in the Gulf of Mexico worth around $550m per year. The oil & gas services company is apparently supporting “almost 70 operators on around 1,400 manned and unmanned platforms”.

How does that translate into profits? Well, there’s a rise in earnings per share of more than 30% being forecast for the year ending December 2013, which would put the shares on a P/E of around 13. The share price hasn’t risen much over the past 12 months — it could be worth a closer look.

Finally, if you’re looking for investments that should take you all the way to a comfortable retirement, I recommend the Fool’s special new report detailing five blue-chip shares. They’ll be familiar names to many, and they’ve already provided investors with decades of profits.

But the report will only be available for a limited period, so click here to get your hands on these great ideas — they could set you on the road to long-term riches.

> Alan does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.

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.

More on Investing Articles

Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

£20k invested in Barclays shares 5 years ago is now worth…

Barclays shares looked like a great investment for growth and dividends. However, after the stock surged, the value proposition isn’t…

Read more »

One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

Should I avoid the FTSE 100 like the plague?

The FTSE 100 has enjoyed a stellar 2025 against a rocky economic backdrop. Is it time to get out of…

Read more »

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

£10,000 invested in Greggs shares 5 years ago is now worth…

Investors flocked to Greggs shares for an appealing mix of growth prospects and passive income following the pandemic. But things…

Read more »

Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

I’m getting nervous about the Lloyds share price

The Lloyds share price has soared by more than 50% over the past 12 month, easily beating the wider FTSE…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Meta stock is up 17 days in a row! Time to buy this record-setter?

Our writer wonders whether now is the time for him to add Meta stock to his ISA portfolio after its…

Read more »

Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

4 good reasons why I’m avoiding cheap Lloyds shares like the plague!

Lloyds shares look dirt cheap based on earnings, dividends, AND asset values. But is the FTSE 100 bank a risk…

Read more »

Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

31% revenue growth! This top growth stock just keeps powering on

Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) smashed it in the fourth quarter, wrapping up an outstanding 2024. But is this growth stock worth considering…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 23% in a year, is Frasers Group a FTSE 250 bargain?

Christopher Ruane explains why he is taking the Buffett approach by sticking to what he comfortably understands. That does not…

Read more »