3 reasons to buy – and not buy – BT Group shares

The BT Group share price has a rock-bottom valuation right now. Is this a red flag or does it make the FTSE 100 firm too cheap to miss?

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

The BT Group (LSE: BT-A) share price proved ultra-resilient during the market volatility of last week.

In fact the FTSE 100 stock remains higher than it was at the start of the year. It is up 5.3% in 2022 while the broader Footsie has fallen half a percent.

Yet on paper, BT’s share price still looks ultra cheap. The telecoms giant trades on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.5 times, comfortably inside bargain territory of 10 times and less. Meanwhile BT’s dividend yield sits at a healthy 4.4% for 2022.

Reasons to be cheerful

Some stocks command ultra-low valuations because of their weak earnings prospects. However, there are reasons why BT (and by extension its share price) could have a very bright future. These include:

#1: EE rebranding. BT is taking steps to rejuvenate its disappointing consumer division by rebadging products there under its EE mobile brand. This could be a masterstroke given the popularity and acclaim that EE commands. It won the uSwitch award for ‘fastest mobile network’ for the third year running in 2022.

#2: An improved sports product. Last week BT sealed the deal on a 50:50 joint venture with broadcasting colossus Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal will create a pay-TV sport powerhouse, adding events like the Olympics to BT’s portfolio that might significantly boost subscriptions.

#3: Huge infrastructure investment. BT’s heavy investment infrastructure could pay off handsomely as Britain digitises its economy. The FTSE 100 firm is spending £15bn to roll its fibre network out to 25m homes by 2025, up from a prior target of 20m. It is also taking steps to roll out 5G across the whole of the UK by 2028.

Why I worry for BT’s share price

But right now these factors aren’t enough to tempt me to buy BT shares. I’m still worried about the company and its share price for several reasons, including:

#1: The impact of Britain’s cooling economy. BT’s revenues are highly sensitive to broader economic conditions. It therefore faces extreme near-term pressure as consumer spending declines and businesses struggle to make ends meet. Britain’s economy contracted 0.1% in March after flatlining in February and rising 0.7% in January.

#2: Colossal competition. The cost of living crisis is made even worse for BT given the massive competition it faces. Customers are likely to be increasingly shopping around for a better deal in the months ahead. What’s more, BT’s Openreach division faces a fight to fend off Virgin Media O2’s entry into the infrastructure business.

#3: Massive debt levels. There’s also no getting away from the fact that BT’s balance sheet remains pretty unnerving. Net debt continues to rise and it breached £18bn in the first quarter of 2022. This casts a shadow over the company’s growth plans and its ability to keep paying big dividends to its shareholders.

For these reasons I’m happy to look past BT’s cheap share price and buy other UK shares.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Could the JD Sports Fashion share price double in the next five years?

The JD Sports Fashion share price has nearly halved in the past five years. Our writer thinks a proven business…

Read more »

Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

If interest rate cuts are coming, I think these UK growth stocks could soar!

Falling interest could be great news for UK growth stocks, especially those that have been under the cosh recently. Paul…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Are these the best stocks to buy on the FTSE right now?

With the UK stock market on the way to hitting new highs, this Fool is considering which are the best…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Can the Centrica dividend keep on growing?

Christopher Ruane considers some positive factors that might see continued growth in the Centrica dividend -- as well as some…

Read more »

Smiling family of four enjoying breakfast at sunrise while camping
Investing Articles

How I’d turn my £12,000 of savings into passive income of £1,275 a month

This Fool is considering a strategy that he believes can help him achieve a stable passive income stream with a…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

2 top FTSE 250 investment trusts trading at attractive discounts!

This pair of discounted FTSE 250 trusts appear to be on sale right now. Here's why I'd scoop up their…

Read more »

Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

3 things that could push the Lloyds share price to 60p and beyond

The Lloyds share price has broken through 50p. Next step 60p? And then what? Here are some thoughts on what…

Read more »

Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

£1,000 in Rolls-Royce shares a year ago would be worth this much now

Rolls-Royce shares have posted one of the best stock market gains of the past 12 months. But what might the…

Read more »