Today I’m looking at two FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stars that should be attracting serious attention from bargain hunters.
Flying high
Sure, car and plane-part builder GKN (LSE: GKN) may have been swept higher by the buying frenzy engulfing London’s blue chips. But I reckon the business still provides stunning value at current share prices.
An expected 1% decline in 2016 leaves the business dealing on a P/E rating of just 11.1 times. And a predicted 11% bottom-line rebound in 2017 drives the multiple to a mere 10 times. By comparison, the historical FTSE 100 stands closer to 15 times.
On top of this, chunky dividends of 3% and 3.1% for 2016 and 2017 respectively provide a tasty sweetener for income seekers.
GKN’s share price is yet to fully recover after the Volkswagen scandal gripped the financial pages last year — the component builder is a major supplier to the German auto ace. And fears over a possible cooldown in Chinese car sales have also crimped investor appetites.
But I’m encouraged by the resilience of the firm’s Driveline division, and believe it has what it takes to navigate any road bumps. Organic sales growth of 5% during January-June outstripped current car building rates, helped by an increase in the amount of equipment GKN loads into its clients’ vehicles.
In addition, I’m convinced demand at the company’s Aerospace unit should explode in the years ahead as civil aircraft build rates rise. Indeed, last year’s acquisition of Dutch giant Fokker has significantly bolstered GKN’s status as a critical supplier to the world’s top plane-builders.
I reckon the Redditch firm is a great pick for those seeking electric earnings expansion in the years ahead.
Delicious value
Telecoms heavyweight BT Group’s (LSE: BT-A) terrific momentum in the fast-growing quad-play entertainment sector was confirmed in July’s quarterly update.
Helped by its acquisition of mobile giant EE in 2015, BT saw revenues at its Consumer division climb 9% in the three months to June, to reach £1.18bn.
The London firm advised that integration of its new mobile unit had “performed strongly, both financially and commercially,” while demand for its internet services also remains strong — BT accounted for 79% of net broadband additions during the quarter. And retail demand is likely to remain strong as its BT Sport channels drive demand for its television proposition, in my opinion.
BT’s long-running growth story is anticipated to screech to a halt in 2016, according to City forecasts, with a 10% earnings decline currently expected. But this figure still creates a big-cap-beating P/E rating of 13.6 times. And the multiple slips to 12.5 times for next year thanks to a projected 8% earnings recovery.
And BT’s splendid cash-generative qualities — allied with an expected decline in capex bills — are expected to keep the company’s progressive dividend policy in business. The telecoms play carries pumped-up yields of 3.8% for 2016 and 4.2% for next year.
I reckon BT’s upward momentum in a fast-growing marketplaces makes it a terrific selection for growth hunters.