3 FTSE 100 Shares Hitting New Highs: Hargreaves Lansdown PLC, Sports Direct International Plc and Stagecoach Group plc

Hargreaves Lansdown PLC (LON: HL), Sports Direct International Plc (LON: SPD) and Stagecoach Group plc (LON: SGC) climb higher.

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The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE) looks like it’s stumbling along to another unexciting week — it’s up 24 points on the day to 6,678, but that’s a rise of only 4 points on the week so far. We’re running out of time if the index of top UK shares is going to beat the 13-year record of 6,876 points set in May by the end of the year.

But there are individual companies setting their own records nearly every day. Here are three:

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown (LSE: HL) shares hit a record 52-week close yesterday of 1,222p, having been as high as 1,226p during the day — today the price is unchanged from that close at 1,222p.

That takes the shares up approximately 60% over the past 12 months, well ahead of a FTSE that has managed only 14%. And if we look further back, the Hargreaves Lansdown price has more than seven-bagged over the past five years.

Looking forward, it’s perhaps not surprising to see the shares on a P/E of 33 based on 2014 forecasts. But there is a further 15% rise in earnings per share predicted, although that is below the 28% average rise per year over the previous five years.

Sports Direct International

Sports Direct International (LSE: SPD) shares have nearly doubled over the past 12 months, closing on a new high yesterday of 743p — the price fell back a little from that to 740p by mid-afternoon today.

The sports clothing firm has had a remarkable run of earnings growth over the past four years after a slight dip in 2009, and City analysts are currently forecasting rises of 29% and 21% for the next two years. That puts the shares on a higher-than-average P/E of 23 for 2014, falling to 18 on 2015 predictions. There’s no meaningful dividend yet.

Stagecoach

Stagecoach Group (LSE: SGC) is our third to have had a great five years, with its shares up three-and-a-half-fold since their 2009 low, to 369.8p today — and that’s a 52-week record, after a strong surge since the summer.

Unlike the other two above, Stagecoach shares are not really pushing it on the P/E front — even after such a rise, they’re still on a forward P/E for 2014 of just 14.5, dropping to 13.5 based on 2015 forecasts. And there’s a reasonable, if a little below average, dividend of 2.6% predicted for next year. And Stagecoach has a good record of dividend rises.

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.

> Alan does not own any shares mentioned in this article.

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