These FTSE plays are making headlines today! Should you buy?

Royston Wild looks at the investment case of three Monday newsmakers.

| 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.

Storage giant Lok’NStore Group (LSE: LOK) touched fresh two-month highs in start-of-week business after releasing solid financials.

The company announced that revenues at its core self-storage business rose 5.2% during the 12 months to July, with self-store unit occupancy advancing 2% in the period.

The space provider’s document storage unit also enjoyed a massive bump in fiscal 2016. Revenues galloped 11.1% higher from the prior year, with the number of stored boxes and tapes rising 8.7% and 14.2% respectively.

And Lok’NStore is confident that its busy acquisition programme should keep revenues rolling. The company described trading at its new outlets like Maidenhead, Reading, Aldershot and Chichester as “excellent,” and the firm is due to open owned stores in Wellingborough and Gillingham, as well as managed stores in Hemel Hempstead and Broadstairs by the end of 2017.

A predicted 34% earnings rise leaves Lok’NStore on an elevated forward P/E rating of 23.3 times. But I believe the company’s brilliant bottom-line momentum merits such a premium.

Pollster set to surge

Research specialist YouGov (LSE: YOU) also bounced higher following decent financials of its own on Momday. Indeed, the stock was last changing hands at record peaks above 190p.

YouGov advised that trading for the 12 months to July 2016 is expected to top previous expectations, the firm enjoying “another year of double-digit revenue growth well ahead of the global market research sector with the proportion of revenue derived from data products and data services continuing.”

The business added that sales in the US and the Middle East had expanded strongly, while it had also benefitted from sterling weakness during the past year.

I believe YouGov’s rising success in international markets should keep its terrific growth story rolling, and I also believe a forward P/E rating of 23.8 times — created by a predicted 14% earnings rise — is fair value.

Secure a fortune

Support services group Interserve (LSE: IRV) completed the set on Monday, the shares recently 3% higher on the day and dealing at levels not seen since early June.

Interserve announced it had secured an extension to its existing two-year contract with the BBC for the provision of security services. The company’s First Security division has provided the Beeb’s muscle across the country since April 2014, and the extension will come into play from 2017.

Naturally, as with many other firms, Britain’s decision to exit the EU in June has cast something of a pall over Interserve’s long-term outlook.

Still, I believe the stock’s diversification across a wide range of industries, allied with its ability to keep grinding out high-level contracts, makes it an attractive investment destination. And it’s particularly so at current share prices — at the moment Interserve deals on a meagre forward P/E rating of 4.8 times, and carries a market-beating 8.1% dividend yield.

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 shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

A front-view shot of a multi-ethnic family with two children walking down a city street on a cold December night.
Investing Articles

Want to make your grandchildren rich? Consider buying these UK stocks

Four Fool UK writers share the stocks that they believe have a lot of runway to grow over the long…

Read more »

Investing Articles

1 penny stock with the potential to change the way the world works forever!

Sumayya Mansoor breaks down this potentially exciting penny stock and explains how it could impact food consumption.

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying for powerful passive income

Our writer explains why investors should be looking at these two FTSE 250 picks for juicy dividends and growth.

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Growth Shares

This forgotten FTSE 100 stock is up 25% in a year

Jon Smith outlines one FTSE 100 stock that doubled in value back in 2020 but that has since fallen out…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

2 dividend shares I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole in today’s stock market

The stock market is full of fantastic dividend shares that can deliver rising passive income over time. But I don't…

Read more »

Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Investing Articles

Use £20K to earn a £2K annual second income within 2 years? Here’s how!

Christopher Ruane outlines how he'd target a second income of several thousand pounds annually by investing in a Stocks and…

Read more »

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

Here’s what a FTSE 100 exit could mean for the Shell share price

As the oil major suggests quitting London for New York, Charlie Carman considers what impact such a move could have…

Read more »

Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Shell hints at UK exit: will the BP share price take a hit?

I’m checking the pulse of the BP share price after UK markets reeled recently at the mere thought of FTSE…

Read more »