Today I am looking at four London bruisers poised to deliver exceptional shareholder returns.
Diageo
Supported by recovering consumer spend in emerging markets, I reckon that dividends at drinks giant Diageo (LSE: DGE) should hot up significantly in the coming years. Not only are blue-chip labels like Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff helping to drive revenues in these territories, but the firm’s expanding global presence — from the acquisition of Tequila Don Julio in Mexico to United National Breweries in South Africa — is also bolstering its rosy sales outlook.
Previous sales troubles are expected to push earnings 5% lower in the year ending June 2015, but Diageo’s sunny long-term picture is expected to keep its progressive dividend policy trucking — a 53.9p per share payment is currently slated for 2015, up from 51.7p last year and yielding a handy 2.8%. And a projected 57.9p payment in 2016 pushes the yield to 3.1%. These numbers are far from spectacular, but I believe dividends should charge higher further down the road in line with electric earnings expansion.
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Bovis Homes Group
Make no mistake: Britain’s housing crisis is set to remain for some time to come, great news for the sector’s major players like Bovis Homes (LSE: BVS). The rate at which houses are being put up simply cannot meet demand, a situation not helped by home loans becoming more and more easily attainable for the average buyer. Consequently house prices continue to leap higher, and latest Rightmove stats showed values increase 3% month-on-month in June, to £294,351.
The City expects this backdrop to drive earnings 28% and 20% in 2015 and 2016 respectively, predictions that should keep the annual payout rattling higher. Indeed, last year’s 35p per share reward is anticipated to rise to 40.2p this year, yielding a decent 3.6%. And this figure jumps to 4% in 2016 amid expectations of a 45.2p payment.
TalkTalk Telecom Group
Like its heavyweight sector rivals like BT and Sky, entertainment provider TalkTalk Telecom (LSE: TALK) is embarking on a huge investment programme to copper-bottom its position in the ‘quad play’ market. While recent acquisitions and organic investment — such as its super-fast broadband drive in the North — are helping to bolster the quality of its bundles, the company is also enjoying solid customer take-up as it tries to smash its rivals in the value stakes.
These measures are already proving exceptionally successful for TalkTalk’s bottom line, and the London business is expected to clock up further growth of 90% for the year ending March 2016, and 50% the following year. Subsequently the telecoms giant is predicted to lift last year’s 13.8p dividend to 16.1p this year, resulting in a bumper yield of 4.1%. And a prospective reward of 17.9p for 2017 drives this readout number to a brilliant 4.6%.
Royal Mail
With extensive restructuring well underway, I believe that Royal Mail (LSE: RMG) is in terrific shape to hurdle the challenging conditions currently affecting the courier market, and effectively respond to the growing role of e-commerce — indeed, the Daily Mail recently reported that Royal Mail has inked an accord with a major retailer to send marketing material to online shoppers based on what people place in their ‘baskets.’
The rapid growth of online shopping, and consequent impact on parcel traffic, is expected to propel earnings 5% higher in the year concluding March 2017, recovering from a rare 19% predicted decline in the current period. And thanks to this bubbly long-term outlook Royal Mail is expected to fork out a 21.6p-per-share dividend in 2016, up from 21p last year and yielding 4.1%. And this rises to 4.3% for 2017 due to forecasts of a 22.6p payout.
