Today I am explaining why three recent FTSE 100 gainers have plenty more fuel in the tank.
Motoring higher
Insurance giant Admiral (LSE: ADM) has been one of the standout performers of the last three months, with improving market conditions propelling the stock 18% higher from mid-January.
The latest data from researcher Consumer Intelligence shows that the average motor insurance premium surged 13% year-on-year in February, rising to £683. Sure, a hike in the insurance premium tax (or IPT) may be somewhat to blame, but there is no doubt that price hikes from Admiral and other insurers are the chief driver behind these recent increases.
Indeed, Admiral commented in March that “improved retention and the impact of an increase in average premiums” helped push group turnover 8% higher in 2015, to £2.12bn.
And I believe investors should also be encouraged by Admiral’s rising success in overseas markets — total international revenues leapt 13% last year, to £232.4m — as well as resplendent growth in other segments like house insurance.
Despite recent price rises, I believe Admiral still offers plenty of bang for one’s buck. A P/E rating of 17.9 times for 2016 may be slightly heady on paper, but I believe this represents a great level to buy into the firm’s long-term growth story. And a blistering 5.8% dividend yield more than makes up for a middling earnings multiple.
Fashion star
Like Admiral, fashion house Burberry (LSE: BRBY) has enjoyed a bump higher during the past three months as trading conditions have improved. Indeed, the company’s share value has appreciated 14% since the middle of January.
Burberry has seen sales in Asia Pacific improve of late as demand for its high-priced togs in mainland China returned to growth. While its bases in Hong Kong and Macau remain troubled, the news clearly marks a step in the right direction.
Elsewhere, demand in Burberry’s other key territories remains strong, helping underlying revenues edge higher during October-December, to £603m. And I expect sales to keep moving skywards as the huge investment in its stores and online presence pays off.
Burberry’s P/E multiple of 17.7 times in the year to March 2017 may not be much to scream about, but I reckon the designer’s enduring global popularity merits such a premium.
Tobacco titan
Smoking giant British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) has also benefitted from bubbly buying activity in recent weeks, the share price advancing 12% since mid-January. And the cigarette giant could benefit from further inflows into the traditionally-defensive tobacco sector should concerns over the global economy continue to reverberate.
Stock pickers have been particularly buoyed by the continued strength of British American Tobacco’s stellar brands like Kent and Lucky Strike, labels which are hurdling falling industry volumes by aggressively grabbing market share. Indeed, volumes of these ‘Global Drive Brands’ leapt 8.5% in 2015.
While a P/E multiple of 18.9 times does not immediately suggest British American Tobacco is currently undervalued, I believe this represents great value given the firm’s excellent long-term growth prospects.
Regardless, a market-beating dividend yield of 3.9% provides plenty of scope for value hunters, in my opinion.
