Today I’m taking the time to run the rule over four London small caps with what I see as electrifying earnings prospects.
Tech treat
Thanks to its expertise across many tech areas, I reckon E2V Technologies (LSE: E2V) is in great shape to keep its earnings chugging higher in the near term and beyond. While the company still faces challenging conditions in some of its markets, E2V Technologies is bolstering its investment in core areas like semiconductor design to mitigate these problems and to win market share.
The City expects earnings at the company to nudge marginally higher in the year to March 2016 before gaining traction thereafter — good growth of 9% and 8% is chalked in for 2017 and 2018, respectively. Consequently E2V Technologies sports very attractive P/E ratings of 14.2 times and 13.4 times for these years.
Driving higher
I believe industrial chemicals maker Carclo (LSE: CAR) should also continue to print excellent profits growth as demand from the car sector explodes. The firm’s LED Technologies division builds lighting units for use in automobiles, and is rapidly expanding across Asia and the US to harness galloping demand for its products.
And helped by a steady stream of new product rollouts, the Square Mile expects Carclo to follow a 19% earnings explosion in the period to March 2016 with an even better 21% advance in both 2017 and 2018. I believe subsequent earnings multiples of 11.6 times and 9.6 times make Carclo a steal given the company’s rocketing momentum.
A financial favourite
Financial firm Arrow Global Group (LSE: ARW) — which buys and manages customer accounts from financial institutions — should also continue to enjoy strong earnings growth, in my opinion. The company is steadily diversifying across asset classes to provide its earnings outlook with that little bit of extra security. Meanwhile, acquisitions like that of Belgium’s InVesting BV for £78.5m this month are expanding Arrow Global’s exposure to lucrative foreign markets.
The number crunchers expect the business to follow last year’s 18% bottom-line leap with a 33% bounce in 2016, resulting in an ultra-low P/E readout of 10 times. And the multiple slips to just 8.3 times for next year thanks to predictions of an extra 21% earnings rise.
Bolts beauty
Industrial fastenings manufacturer Trifast (LSE: TRI) has a terrific record of delivering earnings growth year after year. The company’s wide product range makes it a favourite for blue-chip goods manufacturers the world over, and its bolts and screws can be found in everything from fridges and mobile phones to automobiles.
And surging demand for consumer goods should keep sales at Trifast trekking higher, in my opinion. Indeed, the City has forecast a 3% earnings advance in the year to March 2016, and 6% rises are estimated for both 2017 and 2018. I reckon subsequent P/E ratings of 13 times for this year and 12.3 times for 2017 represent terrific value for money.