Extreme market volatility means that lots of top-quality stocks are trading at rock-bottom prices. I myself have identified lots of great penny stocks now that are dealing on really low earnings multiples.
The full economic consequences of the tragic events in Ukraine will take some time to become apparent. And so the impact of the conflict on UK shares is difficult to accurately ascertain. But here are two top penny stocks whose recent share price falls could make them too cheap to miss.
Taking a close look
It’s quite possible that Lookers (LSE: LOOK) will find the going tough as the cost-of-living crisis worsens. Sellers of big-ticket items like cars are particularly vulnerable to falling consumer spending power, of course. So the company’s share price has slumped recently and it now trades on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.7 times.
I believe that this recent weakness represents a great dip buying opportunity. Sales of electric vehicles in the UK continue to rise strongly as concerns over the climate crisis intensify and people switch their old polluting vehicles for greener alternatives. That’s in spite of consumer price inflation currently rising at its fastest rate for three decades. Sales of battery-powered vehicles leapt almost 200% year-on-year in February, latest data shows.
Lookers sells vehicles across more than 30 brands, giving it solid exposure to the electric car revolution. And I think sales of its low-emissions vehicles could receive a further boost from soaring petrol and diesel prices. Average unleaded prices have just hit fresh record highs of 155p per share. They look set to keep climbing too as the war in Eastern Europe hits oil supplies, boosting demand for electric vehicles still further.
A tasty penny stock
When consumer spending comes under pressure, brand power is worth its weight in gold. This is why I think Premier Foods (LSE: PFD) could be one of the best penny stocks to buy today. The food manufacturer owns brands like Mr Kipling Cakes, Bisto gravy, and Homepride cooking sauces. Shoppers stay loyal to these decades-old brands even when economic conditions worsen.
The Premier Foods share price has plummeted, though, following the awful events in Ukraine. This is in large part due to fears of rising ingredients costs and what this could do to margins. For example, wheat — a critical ingredient in Premier Foods’ cakes — has soared to record highs in recent days. And they could of course keep climbing. Russia and Ukraine collectively account for more than 25% of global wheat exports.
Still, Premier Foods’ mega-popular brands should leave it better placed than most food producers to pass these increased costs on to its customers. I think this is something that recent heavy share price falls don’t reflect. Today Premier Foods changes hands on a forward P/E ratio of just 8.9 times. This looks like a bargain in my book.