Why this overlooked stock could help you secure financial independence faster than Purplebricks Group plc

Roland Head explains why future results from Purplebricks Group plc (LON:PURP) could be surprising.

| 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.

Hunting for overlooked growth and value stocks can be a profitable strategy. Today I’m going to compare a media stock you may not have heard of with growth star Purplebricks Group (LSE: PURP).

Which of these is more likely to help you achieve financial independence?

A hidden gem?

You probably haven’t heard of Wilmington (LSE: WIL). But it’s been listed on the LSE since 1995 and has a market cap of about £200m. The group’s business is centred on providing training and education services in growth areas such as financial risk and compliance.

Should you invest £1,000 in Purplebricks Group Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Purplebricks Group Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

The company published its financial results for the year ended 30 June this morning. Revenue for the year rose by 14% to £120.3m and the group’s adjusted pre-tax profit rose by 5% to £21.4m.

Adjusted earnings per share of 19.05p were in line with forecasts, as was the 5% increase in the total dividend for the year. But despite this apparently solid set of results, the group’s shares are down by around 7% at the time of writing.

What’s wrong?

The main risk seems to be that the firm’s profit margins will fall next year. Management expects the group’s operating costs to rise by a total of £1.65m this year. This is due to investment in new technology the greater cost of the group’s new, rented offices.

Analysts had been forecasting earnings growth of about 20% in 2017/18. I suspect that these forecasts will be reduced based on today’s cost guidance.

Strong cash generation

Wilmington’s profits are quite complex, with a lot of adjusting items. But what we really need to know is whether the business generates surplus cash reliably.

My calculations show that, excluding acquisitions and property sales, the firm generated free cash flow of about £14m last year. This covered last year’s dividend payout of £7.2m twice, leaving surplus cash to put towards acquisitions and debt repayments.

The risk is that the firm may be overspending on acquisitions. But with a trailing price/free cash flow ratio of 13.5 and a dividend yield of 4%, I think the shares look reasonable value.

What about Purplebricks?

Shares of online estate agent Purplebricks have risen by 196% so far this year. So the fact they’ve fallen by 20% from their August high of 514p isn’t that surprising.

However, what does worry me is that just when the group was due to start making a profit, management decided to splash £50m on an attempt to break into the US property market. This initial sum will be used to test the waters in California.

The group now has nearly 500 Local Property Experts in the UK and is now due to start recruiting “hundreds” in California. I expect costs to rise sharply, potentially swamping what little profit is being made in the UK.

The risk of a setback is higher because these shares are already eye-wateringly expensive. Purplebricks currently trades on a multiple of 23 times forecast sales, even though it’s expected to report a loss this year.

In my view this valuation doesn’t discount the many risks facing the firm, including more aggressive competition from traditional full-service estate agents. This one could go either way, in my view. That’s why these shares are too speculative for me.

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

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.

Roland Head has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Up 33%! Here’s why I’m not buying more Lloyds shares this month

Lloyds shares are on a tear in 2025, up almost a third since the year began. But Mark Hartley remains…

Read more »

Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

£3,000 in savings? Here’s how it could be used to start investing and earning a monthly passive income

Christopher Ruane outlines how someone could start investing today with a spare £3K to try and build passive income streams…

Read more »

Young Asian man drinking coffee at home and looking at his phone
Investing Articles

Tesco shares go ex-dividend on 15 May. Time to consider buying them?

Harvey Jones admires Tesco shares because they combine solid share price growth with a decent level of dividend income. The…

Read more »

Senior couple are walking their dog through a public park in Autumn.
Investing Articles

Is today’s market turmoil a brilliant opportunity to get a high second income from dividends?

Falling share prices drive up yields in a boost for those after a second income from dividends. Harvey Jones looks…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Outlook: in just 12 months the BP share price could turn £10,000 into…

Forecasters seem pretty optimistic about prospects for the BP share price, suggesting it could be in for a major rally.…

Read more »

Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Down 28%, is Nvidia stock a bargain – or a value trap?

Nvidia stock has crashed this year -- but it's still a star performer over the long term! So, is this…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10k invested in Barclays shares at the start of 2025 is now worth…

Harvey Jones says Barclays shares were unlikely to continue 2024's blistering run, given all the uncertainty out there. Yet long-term…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

Here’s how a first-time investor could start buying shares with £3k

Is it possible to start buying shares with £3K? Yes it is -- and here our writer goes into some…

Read more »