Today I’m discussing three stocks I believe offer spectacular investment potential.
Ad ace
Advertising giant WPP (LSE: WPP) has a rich history of generating exceptional earnings growth. And I — like the City — don’t expect this trend to cease any time soon.
WPP announced last week that reported billings climbed 7.9% during January-April, to £16.2bn. The company continued to enjoy solid growth in all of its global markets, it advised, a factor that drove revenues at constant currencies 8.8% higher in the period, and 4.3% higher on a like-for-like basis.
Against this backcloth, the number crunchers expect earnings at WPP to head 10% higher in 2016, resulting in an attractive P/E rating of 14.6 times. And the multiple moves to just 13.5 times next year thanks to an estimated 8% bottom-line rise.
And the ad play’s excellent growth prospects are predicted to keep driving dividends too. Indeed, last year’s reward of 44.69p per share is expected to leap to 52.1p for this year and to 57p for 2017.
These predictions create yields of 3.4% and 3.7% for 2016 and 2017. And I expect such readouts to keep marching higher along with earnings.
Global goliath
With shares in insurance giant Aviva (LSE: AV) currently toiling at levels not seen since the start of the year, I reckon now is a great time to pile-in on the stock.
The terrific potential thrown up by its global presence is hard to overlook. New business values in the UK rose by almost a third last year, but Aviva also saw demand surge in Europe as well as the hot growth markets of Asia.
And with the fruits of massive restructuring also under its belt, Aviva is expected to emerge resoundingly from the bottom-line turbulence that has troubled it in recent years.
Indeed, earnings are predicted to more than double in 2016 before marching 8% higher next year. These projections leave Aviva dealing on delicious P/E ratings of 8.4 times and 7.8 times for these years.
And boosted by a vastly-improved balance sheet, Aviva is expected to raise the dividend from 20.8p per share in 2015 to 23.5p and 26p in 2016 and 2017. I reckon subsequent yields of 5.6% and 6.2% are hard to ignore.
Banking behemoth
At face value Barclays (LSE: BARC) may not appear to be an irresistible selection for stock hunters.
The massive pressure created by rising PPI bills forced the banking giant to slice its dividend policy earlier this year, the firm forecasting dividends of 3p per share in 2016 and 2017, payouts that yield just 1.8%.
Other concerns include Barclays’ decision to reduce its emerging market footprint by selling its stake in Barclays Africa Group. And of course the fallout of a potential leave vote in next week’s referendum could also hamper revenues expansion looking ahead.
However, I reckon there’s still plenty for investors to be excited about. Barclays’ decision to focus on the robust US and UK economies should still deliver strong earnings growth in the long term, as should a more measured approach at its Investment Bank. Furthermore, the results of its Transform cost-cutting plan is also bolstering the firm’s bottom-line prospects.
So while Barclays is expected to endure a 20% earnings slide in 2016, a 60% rebound is predicted for next year. And consequent P/E ratings of 13.9 times and 8 times for these years make the bank a great buy, in my opinion.
