Today I’m revealing a cluster of FTSE 250 (INDEXFTSE: MCX) heavyweights waiting to deliver spectacular returns.
Construction colossus
Despite rising concerns over the UK construction sector, I reckon Kier Group’s (LSE: KIE) proven ability to grind out contract wins — combined with its focus on the robust infrastructure and housing markets — makes it a terrific stock selection.
The City expects Kier to deliver a 9% earnings advance in the period to June 2016, resulting in a very-attractive P/E rating of 11.1 times. And the multiple slips to an unmissable 9.5 times for next year thanks to predictions of an additional 16% rise.
Meanwhile, income investors can’t fail to be impressed by chunky dividend yields of 5.5% and 6.1% for 2016 and 2017.
Animal magic
I reckon Pets At Home (LSE: PETS) is also on course to deliver resplendent returns as Britons lavish more and more money on their moggies and mutts.
The number crunchers have pencilled-in a 3% earnings advance for the period to March 2017, resulting in a reasonable P/E rating of 15.6 times. And a predicted 7% rise for 2018 nudges the multiple to 14.7 times.
Near-term dividend yields may not be anything to shout about — Pets At Home yields 2.6% and 2.7% per share for 2017 and 2018, respectively. But I expect the company’s robust growth prospects to thrust yields comfortably higher further down the line.
Hospital hero
I’m convinced a solid influx of both private and NHS patients should send revenues at Spire Healthcare (LSE: SPI) rocketing higher in the coming years.
The City expects earnings at Spire to flatline in 2016 however, before bouncing 10% higher next year. Consequent P/E multiples of 18.8 times for this year and 17 times for 2017 are hardly anything to get excited about. And neither are dividend yields of 1% and 1.1% for this year and next.
Still, I reckon Spire is in great shape to deliver resplendent returns over the longer term as healthcare demand rises, and the company’s hospital building programme allows it to reap the rewards of rising patient numbers.
A tasty treat
With its store revamp scheme still clicking through the gears, and the introduction of new product ranges going down a storm with punters, I reckon the top line at Greggs (LSE: GRG) should keep on exploding.
This isn’t expected to result in chunky earnings growth in the current period however, as the colossal costs of Greggs’ investment programme weighs. Indeed, the bottom line is expected to dip 6% in the current period.
However, an 8% snapback is predicted for 2017, pushing this year’s earnings multiple of 18.6 times to just 17.2 times. And I expect the ratio to keep on falling as hungry customers continue to knock on Greggs’ doors.
On top of this, decent dividend yields of 2.7% and 3% for 2016 and 2017, respectively, provide an extra sweetener.
