Down 73%, is this FTSE 250 growth stock a golden opportunity?

This FTSE 250 firm is a market leader in its niche. With trading now getting back on track, are the shares too cheap to ignore?

| 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.

Image source: Getty Images

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.

Shares in FTSE 250 retailer Watches of Switzerland Group (LSE: WOSG) boomed during the pandemic, as watch collectors snapped up luxury time pieces.

As one of the largest sellers of brands such as Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Breitling, the company was able to sell all the luxury watches it could get hold of.

The shares hit an all-time high of over 1,500p in January 2022, before going sharply into reverse as the watch market slowed.

Should you invest £1,000 in Bunzl Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Bunzl Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

As I write, Watches of Switzerland’s share price is 390p. That’s 73% lower than the record highs seen two-and-a-half years ago. Is this a buying opportunity? Here’s what I think.

A golden opportunity?

In my time as an investor, I’ve often seen share prices overshoot as investor sentiment swings out of control. First the shares go too high, and then they go too low. I think this could be one of those situations.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Watches Of Switzerland Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

While market conditions have certainly got tougher for Watches of Switzerland since 2022, the company hasn’t been standing still. It has continued to open new shops and remodel existing stores to improve sales.

Management have also made a big ($130m) acquisition of jewellery retailer Roberto Coin’s American oos, which is expected to boost profits.

It’s too soon to say if this deal will be successful. But what we do know is that Watches of Switzerland’s trading so far this year (May-August) is in line with broker forecasts.

Luxury watch and jewellery sales in the UK are said to be stabilising after a difficult period last year, when the company’s earnings fell by 28%.

“Demand for our key luxury brands” in the UK and US is still said to be “outstripping supply”.

The company is also continuing its expansion into the luxury jewellery market, which could help to expand its customer base.

What I’d do

The acquisition of Roberto Coin has left Watches of Switzerland with some debt. It’s also made the business more complicated, at least for a while. This could add to the risk of financial problems, if the integration of Roberto Coin doesn’t go as smoothly as planned.

Demand for luxury goods in other sectors of the market has also slowed, notably fashion. I guess there’s a risk that watches could see further weakness too.

However, on balance I think these risks are already priced into Watches of Switzerland’s £960m market cap.

I’m also excited by the growth potential the business has in the US. This is a much larger market than the UK.

At current levels the shares trade on a 2024/25 forecast price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of nine.

Profits are expected to continue rising next year too. Broker forecasts suggest the stock could be trading on just eight times 2025/26 forecast earnings.

That looks too cheap to me for a market-leading specialist retailer. If Watches of Switzerland can continue to deliver on forecasts, I reckon the shares could perform well from here and are worth considering.

But what does the head of The Motley Fool’s investing team think?

Should you invest £1,000 in Bunzl Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Bunzl Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

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.

Roland Head 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.

Our best passive income stock ideas

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

More on Investing Articles

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Dividend investors! Here’s what Warren Buffett says builds wealth in the stock market

Reinvesting dividends at yields of 8% or higher looks like a good way of building wealth. But Warren Buffett has…

Read more »

Calendar showing the date of 5th April on desk in a house
Investing Articles

Here’s my Stocks and Shares ISA plan for 2025-26

A Stocks and Shares ISA helps investors avoid taxes on dividends and capital gains. And Stephen Wright has a plan…

Read more »

Dividend Shares

Of the 20 highest-yielding FTSE 100 stocks, this is my top pick

This FTSE 100 stock currently offers a yield of 6.4%. But Edward Sheldon believes it’s capable of providing share price…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Could Tesla’s share price jump over the next 12 months? These analysts think so!

Tesla's share price has fallen by almost a third since 1 January. But optimism is high that Elon Musk's company…

Read more »

Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT where the FTSE 100 will be in 6 months: here’s what it said…

Let’s be realistic, ChatGPT can’t predict the future. But it did do a good job of compiling data from brokerages…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Could the Rolls-Royce share price hit £10?

The Rolls-Royce share price has taken most analysts by surprise with almost everything going right for the British engineering giant.

Read more »

Investing Articles

4 REITs Fools own for passive income

REITs often have higher-than-average dividend yields compared to other stocks, making them a solid choice to consider for passive income…

Read more »

artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

Up 272% in just a year, is Palantir stock just getting started?

This writer recognises that Palantir has grown its business very well -- but does the stock price offer him an…

Read more »