According to the most optimistic analyst share price targets, the share prices of FTSE 100 members Polymetal International (LSE: POLY), Melrose Industries (LSE: MRO) and HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA) could more than double over the next 12 months. Polymetal, a precious metals and copper miner, has been forecast to rise 204% over the next year. One analyst thinks that Melrose, an industrial conglomerate focusing on aerospace, will see its share price rise 170% over 12 months. Finally, shares in banking giant HSBC are forecast to rise 167% in the same time frame.
Analyst price targets
These are the most optimistic 12-month price forecasts for the three FTSE 100 stocks. But, I want to see what more pessimistic analysts think too. That means checking the average and low-end estimates. For example, if one analyst thinks a stock will double, but another thinks the same share price will halve, I am likely to move on. But if the low estimate is at least above the price staying flat, I remain interested.
Analyst 12-month percentage price change estimates for Polymetal, Melrose, and HSBC:
| High | Mean | Median | Low | |
| Polymetal International | 204% | 66% | 55% | 8% |
| Melrose Industries | 170% | 85% | 84% | 10% |
| HSBC Holdings | 167% | 60% | 55% | 24% |
Source: Financial Times Markets Data
Polymetal, Melrose and HSBC are all expected to have positive returns by the most pessimistic analysts. And, the average estimates are also impressive. So, these three FTSE 100 stocks look like potential winners. But I would not buy just based on an analyst price target looking good.
Could these FTSE 100 stocks double?
I do find looking at analyst estimates useful. There are 100 or so stocks in the FTSE 100 to consider. Stepping into the FTSE All-Share and AIM market means I am dealing with thousands of stocks. Analyst price targets can help cut this list down to size.
But before rushing in to buy, I would want to see how the analysts were justifying their share price targets. Unfortunately, while aggregate share price targets and recommendations are relatively inexpensive or free to obtain, the actual analyst reports are not easy to come by. So, without the benefit of reading the equity research reports to see if I agree with an analyst’s investment thesis, I will have to do my own homework around these three FTSE 100 stocks.
I already own shares in Polymetal. I bought these early in 2021. My thinking was that industrial demand for its copper, silver and gold would grow as the world opened up and the pandemic abated. Inflation is also expected to tick up this year, which is good for the prices of the metals that Polymetal mines. With analysts positive about the stock, that is encouraging, and I will not be selling my Polymetal shares any time soon.
I am not as familiar with Melrose and HSBC. Both shares slumped last year and have still not recovered their pre-pandemic highs. Just getting back to where they were in early 2020 would be a significant gain, and that could perhaps be expected to follow from the world getting back to normal. For HSBC, interest rate rises would certainly help, and its pivot towards Asia could pay off handsomely in the future. For Melrose, a recovery of the civil aviation industry should help it get back on track. But, even though the analysts fancy HSBC and Melrose, there is still too much uncertainty for me, and I won’t be adding them to my Stocks and Shares ISA.
