Why I’d buy this turnaround stock after today’s 20% share price fall

This company appears to have turnaround potential despite releasing a disappointing update.

| 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.

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.

Buying shares in a company that has fallen 20% in one day inevitably means the risk of loss in the short term is high. A further decline in the company’s valuation could take place in the short run as the market absorbs the news flow which has pulled its share price lower.

However, in the long run such companies can deliver high returns for their investors. Sometimes, the stock market can overreact to negative news, and this can create a wider margin of safety for long-term investors to take advantage. With that in mind, here is one stock which could be worth buying for the long run after its slump on Monday.

Difficult period

The company in question is medical product and technology company Convatec (LSE: CTEC). The business reported supply issues in its Advanced Wound Care and Ostomy Care divisions, with the movement of manufacturing lines from Greensboro in the US to Haina in the Dominican Republic not progressing as planned.

The problems include a delay in obtaining regulatory certification and they are expected to result in the loss of the 40 basis points of margin benefit achieved as a result of the margin improvement programme in the first half of the year. They are also due to wipe out most of the 90 basis points margin benefit from 2016.

Clearly, this is hugely disappointing for the company and is a major setback. However, it expects to achieve progress on margin improvement once the supply issues in Haina are resolved. It has also been able to expand its product portfolio across products and geographies. This could allow it to deliver further growth in the long run.

With Convatec now trading on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of just 1, it appears to offer a wide margin of safety. Therefore, while its short-term share price movements may be volatile and its future is uncertain, it could post high investment returns in the long run.

Improving outlook

Also offering impressive investment prospects is industry peer Alliance Pharma (LSE: APH). The company’s financial performance continues to improve, with it forecast to post a rise in its bottom line of 14% in the next financial year. This puts it on a PEG ratio of just 1, which suggests that it also offers a wide margin of safety and could be worth buying right now.

Alliance Pharma may only yield 2.2% at the present time. However, with dividends covered 3.1 times by profit it could raise dividends at a rapid rate – especially since its bottom line growth outlook is highly positive.

As well as this, the company has low positive correlation with the wider economy due to the nature of its business. It could therefore offer defensive appeal should the outlook for the UK economy deteriorate in the medium term. If this occurs, Alliance Pharma’s international growth opportunities could also help it to outperform a number of its sector peers in the long run.

Peter Stephens owns shares in Alliance Pharma. 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

This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Investing Articles

As the FTSE indexes sink, these unique dividend shares are making investors money

These two dividend shares are in positive territory for the month and outperforming the major FTSE indexes by a significant…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Down 15% in days, are Rolls-Royce shares suddenly a bargain again?

Rolls-Royce shares have been heading south over the past couple of weeks. This writer thinks that makes sense -- but…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

What would a 40-year-old need to put into an empty SIPP to target monthly passive income of £1,000?

From a standing start at 40, how might someone target a four-figure monthly income stream from their SIPP? Christopher Ruane…

Read more »

British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

As the ISA deadline approaches, UK investors have the opportunity to buy cheap shares

In recent weeks, equity markets have fallen significantly due to the conflict in the Middle East. As a result, many…

Read more »

Array of piggy banks in saturated colours on high colour contrast background
Investing Articles

£5k left in a Stocks and Shares ISA? 2 top ETFs to consider buying in April

Ben McPoland highlights a pair of very different ETFs that he thinks could help generate long-term wealth inside an ISA…

Read more »

Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Investing Articles

Could a £20,000 ISA end up generating £20,000 of passive income each year?

Could a Stocks and Shares ISA ultimately cover its own cost each year with the passive income it produces? Christopher…

Read more »

A young black man makes the symbol of a peace sign with two fingers
Investing Articles

2 top stocks to consider buying after this week’s FTSE carnage

Investors looking for beaten-up stocks to buy for the long term have a lot of great options after the recent…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

A stock market crash could be a gift for long-term investors

A stock market crash could present some outstanding buying opportunities. But the key to taking advantage is knowing what to…

Read more »