Today I’m looking at four FTSE 100 plays offering irresistible value for money.
Out of Africa
I’m convinced financial giant Old Mutual’s (LSE: OML) emphasis on the hot growth markets of Africa should produce eye-popping earnings growth in the years ahead.
The company caused shockwaves in March by announcing plans to split into four separate units, steps that will be completed by 2018. While some teething problems can of course be expected, this doesn’t undermine the huge potential thrown up by Old Mutual’s growth regions — indeed, funds under management galloped 6% higher in 2015, to £303.8bn.
The City expects Old Mutual to endure a 7% earnings dip in 2016, although this still creates a P/E rating of just 10.9 times. I reckon this is a great level to get in on the firm’s stunning growth potential. And a monster dividend yield of 4.1% sweetens the investment case.
Take a pill
With medicines demand galloping higher across the globe, I expect pharmaceuticals giant Shire (LSE: SHP) to deliver resplendent returns in the coming years.
The company’s bubbly pipeline has more than a dozen products around the Phase III testing phase, while the $32bn acquisition of Baxalta boosts Shire’s revenues outlook still further, more specifically in the fast-growing rare diseases market.
The number crunchers expect Shire to punch a 12% earnings advance in 2016, leaving the drugs giant trading on a decent P/E ratio of 14.5 times. Although a dividend of 0.5% is far from remarkable, Shire’s exceptional growth prospects make it a steal at current prices.
Gadgets guru
Supported by robust economic conditions in the UK and on the continent, I fully expect sales of Dixons Carphone’s (LSE: DC) ‘big ticket’ items to keep surging.
The company saw like-for-like sales leap 5% in the 10 weeks to 9 January, and I expect ongoing restructuring (from merging PC World, Currys and Carphone Warehouse under one roof, to expanding in the US through local operator Sprint) to keep sales moving higher.
The City expects Dixons Carphone to deliver a 12% earnings improvement in the 12 months to April 2017, resulting in a very-attractive P/E rating of 13.3 times. And the dividend yield for the incoming year clocks in at a handy-if-unspectacular 2.7%.
Firing higher
I believe that robust economic conditions in the West — combined with a steady rise in geopolitical volatility across the world — should underpin solid long-term earnings growth at BAE Systems (LSE: BA).
The business has long been a favoured supplier to the US and UK armed forces, and its broad range of products from fighter jets and amphibious vehicles to intelligence systems provide the company with additional strength through diversification.
Current bumpiness in contract timings is expected to result in a 4% earnings dip in 2016, but a solid bounceback is predicted thereafter. And this year’s forecast leaves BAE Systems dealing on a mega-cheap P/E rating of 12.4 times. Meanwhile, income chasers should be pleased by a stonking 4.4% dividend yield.
