Blue-Chip Bargains: Is Now The Time To Buy Rio Tinto plc, Anglo American plc and Glencore PLC?

Royston Wild explains how Rio Tinto plc (LON: RIO), Anglo American plc (LON: AAL) and Glencore PLC (LON: GLEN) could deliver bountiful returns for brave investors.

| 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.

The world’s major natural resources plays remain a lukewarm pick for stock investors, as fears over the state of the global economy — and consequently commodities demand — drag on.

But with production across key markets slowing due to persistently-weak prices, it could be argued that the risks oscillating across the mining sector are currently baked into the share prices of many of the top-notch earth diggers.

With this in mind, I am looking at whether diversified mining giants Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO), Anglo American (LSE: AAL) and Glencore (LSE: GLEN) may provide plenty of bang for your buck at current prices.   

Rio Tinto

At Rio Tinto, the effect of persistent commodity price weakness is expected to push earnings 12% lower this year, to 486.7 US cents per share, and a further 5% slide in 2015 to 462.4 cents.

Still, projections leave the business dealing on P/E ratings of 9.6 times and 10.1 times prospective earnings for 2014 and 2015 respectively — any reading of 10 times or below is widely considered stupendous value.

On top of this, Rio Tinto’s drive to develop only the most profitable assets, including shedding non-core projects and scaling back capital expenditure, is also allowing it to boost the balance sheet and reward shareholders through its progressive dividend policy.

Indeed, the firm is due to lift the full-year payout 9% to 209 US cents per share this year, and an extra 7% advance — to 223 cents — is anticipated for 2015. As a consequence Rio Tinto carries monster yields of 4.4% and 4.7% for 2014 and 2015 correspondingly, trashing a forward average of 3.2% for the complete mining sector.

Anglo American

Enduring revenues pressures at Anglo American are anticipated to result in a third successive annual earnings dip at the firm, with the mining colossus anticipated to punch a 20% decline to 167.2 US cents per share. However, the benefit of rising diamond prices, combined with a gradual production ramp-up at its Minas-Rio iron ore project, are expected to help push earnings 8% higher in 2015 to 180.6 cents.

Such forecasts leave Anglo American changing hands on an attractive P/E multiple of just 12.7 times for 2014, and which slips to 11.7 times for 2015.

And although Anglo American is widely expected to keep the full-year dividend on hold at around 85 cents per share this year and next, these figures produce a sector-smashing yield of 4%.

Glencore

Due to Glencore’s terrific diversification across a multitude of commodities markets, not to mention the breakneck progress of its asset-shedding programme, the City’s number crunchers expect the business to bounce back into the black from this year onwards.

Earnings at the company are predicted to edge 3% higher in the current 12-month period, to 34 US cents per share. And the bottom line is predicted to stampede higher in 2015, with a hefty 34% advance currently pencilled in to 45.6 cents.

Subsequently Glencore currently changes hands on a reasonable if unspectacular P/E rating of 15.3 times for 2014. However, next year’s stratospheric rise drives this to a lip-smacking 11.4 times.

In light of these spritely earnings projections, Glencore is expected to lift the full-year dividend 5% this year to 17.3 cents per share. And a further 12% increase, to 19.4 cents, is chalked in for 2015. Consequently a tasty 3.3% yield for 2014 surges to 3.7% for the forthcoming year.

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

Investing Articles

5 steps to start buying shares with under £500

Learn how this writer would start buying shares with a few hundred pounds in a handful of steps, if he…

Read more »

Young happy white woman loading groceries into the back of her car
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 offers some great bargains. Is this one?

Our writer digs into one FTSE 100 share that has had a rough 2024 to date, ahead of its interim…

Read more »

Smiling white woman holding iPhone with Airpods in ear
Investing Articles

£9,000 of savings? Here’s my 3-step approach to aim for £1,794 in passive income

Christopher Ruane walks through the practical steps he would take to try and turn £9,000 into a sizeable passive income…

Read more »

Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

I’d buy 29,412 shares of this UK dividend stock for £150 a month in passive income

Insiders have been buying this dividend stock, which offers an 8.5% yield. Roland Head explains why he’d choose the shares…

Read more »

Red briefcase with the words Budget HM Treasury embossed in gold
Investing Articles

Could the new UK budget spell growth for these 6 FTSE stocks? I think so!

Mark David Hartley considers six UK stocks that could enjoy growth off the back of new measures announced in the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

With a 6.6% yield, is now the right time to add this income stock to my ISA?

Our writer’s looking to boost his Stocks and Shares ISA. With this in mind, he’s debating whether to buy a…

Read more »

Dividend Shares

This blue-chip FTSE stock just fell 12.5% in a day. Is it time to consider buying?

Smith & Nephew is a well-known, blue-chip FTSE stock with a decent dividend yield. And its share price just dropped…

Read more »

Investing Articles

At 72p, the Vodafone share price looks to be at least 33% undervalued to me

Our writer looks at a number of valuation measures to determine whether the Vodafone share price reflects the fair value…

Read more »