Today I’m looking at four FTSE 100 stocks offering spectacular value for money.
Diversified darling
From a conventional standpoint, household goods leviathan Unilever (LSE: ULVR) may not appear to be an appealing stock selection.
City estimates for a 10% earnings uptick in 2016 are certainly impressive, but Unilever’s reading still creates a slightly-heady P/E rating of 21.7 times, way above the yardstick of 15 times that illustrates decent ‘paper’ value. And the reading stays high at 20.1 times for next year despite an anticipated 8% bottom-line rise.
Meanwhile, yields of 3.1% and 3.3% for this year and next lag the FTSE 100 average of 3.5% by a little distance.
Still, I believe Unilever fully merits such a premium. The stellar pricing power of brands from Dove soap to Walls ice cream has allowed the business to keep earnings heading higher in recent years despite the financial volatility whacking global consumer spending clout.
And I believe Unilever’s terrific emerging market exposure should deliver explosive sales growth looking further ahead as income levels surge in these regions. I reckon Unilever is a steal at current levels despite its heady ‘paper’ valuation.
Box up a bargain
I believe packaging play Mondi (LSE: MNDI) is a shrewd pick for stock hunters, the company’s steady global expansion supercharging sales of its essential products.
Mondi has a stunning record of delivering earnings growth year after year, and the City expects this to continue with advances of 7% and 4% for 2016 and 2017, respectively. These projections create ultra-low earnings multiples of 11.4 times and 10.9 times.
And these promising forecasts are expected to keep driving Mondi’s dividends higher, resulting in chunky yields of 3.4% for this year and 3.6% for 2017.
Poised to fly
Engineering play GKN (LSE: GKN) hasn’t enjoyed the best of times recently as concerns over cooling auto demand, falling civil aeroplane orders and declining agricultural equipment sales have dented investor sentiment. Still, I reckon the long-term outlook for these markets remain robust, a factor that should underpin a solid earnings bounceback.
So while GKN is expected to suffer a 1% earnings dip in 2016, the company still changes hands on a very-decent P/E multiple of 10.3 times. And this figure moves to 9.7 times for 2017 thanks to an anticipated 8% bottom-line rise.
I reckon this is a steal for a company of GKN’s calibre, a critical supplier to blue-chip car and aeroplane builders across the globe. And dividend yields of 3.1% and 3.3% for 2016 and 2017 provide a handy sweetener.
High street star
Although Marks and Spencer (LSE: MKS) continues to struggle in its quest to rejuvenate its flagging clothing lines, I reckon there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic over the company’s long-term outlook.
The company’s revamped M&S.com online portal is performing well; its premium food items continue to fly off the shelves; and aggressive international expansion in Asia promises to deliver sterling returns in the longer term.
The City shares my positive take, and M&S is predicted to see earnings rise 4% and 7% in the periods to March 2016 and 2017, respectively. These numbers produce perky P/E ratings of 12 times and 11.2 times.
Meanwhile, chunky dividend yields of 4.7% for this year and 5% for 2017 should grab the attention of income chasers.
