The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE) broke its four-week losing streak last week, and is up 1 point to 6,533 this afternoon — but it looks unlikely to be testing the 13-year record level of 6,876 points set in May in the near future as fears of stimulus tapering still hang in the air. Still, barring a disaster, we look even less likely to revisit the FTSE’s 52-week low of 5,606 any time soon.
If the FTSE is not breaking new ground, some of its constituents are doing so on a regular basis. Here are three from the various indices achieving that feat:
Centrica
Centrica (LSE: CNA) (NASDAQOTH:CPYYY.US) reached a 52-week high of 398.2p on Friday, and has come within a fraction of that price again today. The energy supplier’s shares are now up around 18% over the past 12 months, just ahead of the FTSE . They also offer a dividend yield of around 4.5%, which is nicely ahead of the FTSE average of 3.2%.
After a good run, Centrica shares are still on a fairly modest forward P/E of 14, dropping to 13 based on 2014 forecasts. The company is still providing a pretty safe haven for income investors.
Burberry
Fashion is more fickle then electricity and gas, but that hasn’t stopped Burberry Group (LSE: BRBY) shares from gaining a similar 18% over the past year, to set a 52-week record of 1,644p today.
July’s first-quarter update gave the price a lift, telling us of an 18% rise in revenue for the period, with comparable store sales up 13%. The brand is increasingly popular in Asian countries, with the affluent of China being especially keen. And though there’s a flat year forecast for the year to March 2014, strengthening demand is expected to push up earnings for the following year.
Ocado
Ocado Group (LSE: OCDO) has been powering up of late, reaching a new record price of 349.5p today — and providing shareholders with a five-bagger in the past 12 months.
May’s announcement of a 25-year partnership with Wm Morrison Supermarkets to provide online shopping provided one big boost, as did the earlier opening of Ocado’s second warehouse and distribution centre.
Ocado is forecast to turn in its first profit in 2014.
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> Alan does not own any shares mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool has recommended shares in Burberry,