At fresh 52-week lows, is this the best value stock in the FTSE 250?

Jon Smith considers a value stock that’s currently at low levels due to recent news, but he feels it shouldn’t remain this low for long.

| 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.

Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table

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.

A value stock is a company where the share price has fallen below its long-term fair value. It’s not an exact science to find a value stock, as it can be subjective to say where a share price should be in coming years. However, I’ve spotted one company that just hit 52-week lows that I think could be a contender.

Reasons for the fall

The company I’m referring to is JD Wetherspoon (LSE:JDW). It hit lows below 600p yesterday (5 November), putting the stock down 12% over the past year.

Should you invest £1,000 in BHP 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 BHP made the list?

See the 6 stocks

One of the short-term factors at play was the recent UK Budget announcement. The rise in employer national insurance contributions, increase in the living wage and other measures will put up the cost base for the firm. Wetherspoons founder Sir Tim Martin said that the increase to the company would be substantial, with a figure of £60m being used as the potential added annual cost.

Of course, all businesses are impacted by this, but the hospitality sector is seen as one of the most negatively impacted.

Another concern is the debt levels, which rose from £1.06bn last year to £1.07bn in its annual results out last month. With a debt-to-equity level of 2.71, this is well above the figure of 1 that’s what most companies aim for.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3J D Wetherspoon Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Why I think it looks cheap

When you consider the financial results from the past year, it might seem odd that the share price is trading at such low levels. For example, in the latest trading update out today, it showed that sales for the first 14 weeks of the financial year were 5.9% higher than the same period last year.

Aside from a slight fall in hotel room sales, all areas of the business were up. This included bar sales increasing by 5.7%, food by 5.7% and slot machines by 13.5%. This shows a diversified income stream, rather than relying on one area to drive growth.

I also think it looks cheap when I consider the income potential going forward. The business recently reinstated the dividend. At 12p per share, it’s nothing to write home about right now. However, I expect this to increase in coming years in line with financials. So to have the potential to receive more generous dividends based on the current share price looks attractive to me.

Finding the value

I do think that the stock should bounce back over the coming year, based on investors looking past the Budget news and focusing on the core financials. However, I wouldn’t say it’s the best value stock in the index, given that the price-to-earnings ratio at 12.31 is around my fair value target already. Therefore, I’m thinking about allocating a small amount of money here, but not a lot.

But this isn’t the only opportunity that’s caught my attention this week. Here are:

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

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.

Jon Smith 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 For Beginners

Investing Articles

2 cheap FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares to consider for an ISA before 5 April!

These FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares are on sale today! Here's why long-term Stocks and Shares ISA investors should…

Read more »

Investing Articles

How I’m building a new second income for 2035

Millions of us invest for a second income. Here are the steps Dr James Fox is taking in order to…

Read more »

The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing For Beginners

Why FTSE 100 investors should pay attention to ‘Liberation Day’

Jon Smith explains why the upcoming tariff announcement from across the pond could have an impact on the FTSE 100,…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 100 shares to consider for a new ISA

The FTSE 100 is packed with top-notch companies that can form the building blocks of a quality Stocks and Shares…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is buying gold stocks the best way to capitalise on bullion’s bull run?

Forget about gold bars, coins, and funds for a moment. Here's why considering gold stocks could be the best option…

Read more »

Investing For Beginners

Want to invest in an ISA but scared of a stock market crash? Consider this

A stock market crash or dip can be a great time to buy FTSE 100 stocks at reduced prices. Harvey…

Read more »

Investing Articles

1 crucial thing to do as the 2024/25 ISA deadline approaches

This time of year is a great time to check your ISA strategy and make sure you’re positioned for long-term…

Read more »

Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

How much would an investor need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to generate £20k a year in passive income?

Edward Sheldon calculates how much one would need to generate a chunky annual passive income with dividend stocks. And it…

Read more »