Today I’m looking at three FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) superstars providing boatloads of investment potential.
Power up
The rampant risk-aversion washing across financial markets has even smacked power play National Grid (LSE: NG) in recent days, with widespread investor jitters sending the stock to six-week troughs.
In usual circumstances, this would come as something of a surprise, the defensive nature of electricity provision providing National Grid’s earnings outlook with a far more stable outlook than most of its FTSE 100 peers.
But this drop is also thanks in no small part to sizeable profit-taking after the stock hit record highs above £10 per share in late May.
Indeed, I expect National Grid to start moving higher again as a range of concerns — particularly rising panic over the impact of a potential Brexit — supports the buying of ‘safe-haven’ shares.
And current City projections certainly suggest National Grid is a great value pick at present prices. The network operator currently deals on P/E ratings of 15.6 times and 15.2 times for this year and next, around the benchmark that indicates reasonable value.
However, it’s in the dividend stakes where National Grid really shines — dividend yields of 4.6% for fiscal 2017 and 4.7% for next year smash the big-cap average of 3.5% by a long chalk.
I reckon now’s a great time to snap up National Grid.
Set to fire
Insipid buying activity has also weighed on defence giant BAE Systems (LSE: BA) this week, sending the stock to levels not visited since February.
Still, like National Grid, I believe now is a great time for long-term investors to pile into the boatbuilder. Indeed, BAE Systems currently deals on P/E ratios of 12.2 times and 11.5 times for 2016 and 2017, respectively.
And income-hunters should be impressed by dividend yields of 4.5% for this year and 4.7% for 2017.
The defence sector has also proven a popular hunting ground in times of severe macroeconomic volatility, a factor that could send BAE Systems’ share price rocketing in the weeks and months ahead too.
Regardless, I believe demand for BAE Systems’ cutting-edge hardware should continue to rise as Western militaries and security services battle the rising threat of terrorism at home and abroad, not to mention prepare for rising foreign expansionism from the likes of China and Russia.
A financial favourite
While insurance giant Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) can’t be considered a ‘defensive’ star like the aforementioned stocks, I reckon the financial giant is too good to pass up at today’s prices.
It currently deals on P/E ratings of just 10.9 times for 2016 and 10.1 times for next year.
And supported by predicted earnings rises of 8% and 7% for 2016 and 2017, respectively, not to mention a colossal cash pile, Legal & General is expected to keep hiking the dividend, resulting in monster yields of 6.5% and 6.9% for these years.
Sure, current macroeconomic volatility may hamper sales growth in the near term. But I reckon Legal & General’s improving footprint in fast-growing insurance segments across Europe, the US and Asia should deliver resplendent returns in the years ahead.
