£2,000 to invest? This FTSE 250 stock has turned £2,000 into £11,000 in 10 years

Rupert Hargreaves looks at one FTSE 250 (INDEXFTSE: MCX) stock that has smashed the market every year for the past decade.

| 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.

Today, I’m looking at two companies that could be a great place to stash your cash.

First up, is pizza delivery business Domino’s (LSE: DOM). What I like about this company is that over the past decade, it has achieved outstanding returns for investors. £2,000 invested in the business 10 years ago, would be worth £11,300 today, that’s a compound annual return of 18.1%.

And I reckon the company’s best days are in front of it as it shifts more and more pizza around the UK. 

Earnings growth

For 2017, Domino’s reported revenues of £474m. Analysts expect sales to hit £564m in 2018 before rising to £611m in 2019. Over the same period, net profit and earnings per share (EPS) are expected to increase by 28% and 38% respectively.

However, despite this bright outlook. Shares in the pizza group have slumped over the past three months. From a high of just under 380p at the beginning of June, the stock is now changing hands for just under 280p. What’s interesting is that investors have been selling even though the City has turned more positive on the outlook for the business. The average analyst EPS estimate for 2018 has increased by around 3% since the beginning of the year, but it seems investors are not paying attention.

For savvy value hunters, this is good news. At the time of writing shares in Domino’s are trading at a forward P/E of just 17.1. This might seem expensive, but over the past five years, the stock has rarely changed hands for less than 20 times earnings.

So, right now it looks as if shares in Domino’s are at sale prices. Considering the company’s historical performance, and its future potential, I reckon it might be sensible to make the most of this opportunity. There is also a dividend yield of 3.5% on offer.

Bouncing back 

Greggs (LSE: GRG) is another market-beating FTSE 250 growth stock that has recently grabbed my attention. 

Over the past five years, shares in the high street bakery have returned more than 20% per annum. However, the company’s growth came to a shuddering halt earlier this year when management issued a profit warning following the bad weather in March and April. 

The good news is, a few months after issuing the warning, Greggs announced a 5% increase in sales for the first six months of 2018 and told investors that profits for the year would match 2017, a small improvement on the earlier forecast.

Still, while the company’s underlying performance has improved, investors have been slow to return. Year-to-date, the stock remains down around 22%.

Just like Domino’s, I believe now could be an excellent time to make the most of the market’s ambivalence towards the business and take a bite out of Greggs. 

Trading at a forward P/E of 17 the stock isn’t cheap, (even compared to its historic average) but when you take into account the group’s dominance of the UK high street, fat return on capital and plans to open another 600 shops over the next two years, I think this is a price worth paying. A dividend yield of 3.1% also sweetens the deal.

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.

Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Domino's Pizza. 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

Investing Articles

After it crashed 25%, should I buy this former stock market darling in my Stocks and Shares ISA?

Harvey Jones has a big hole in his Stocks and Shares ISA that he is keen to fill. Should he…

Read more »

happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

How’s the dividend forecast looking for Legal & General shares in 2025 and beyond?

As a shareholder, I like to keep track of the potential dividend returns I could make from my Legal &…

Read more »

artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

Could buying this stock with a $7bn market cap be like investing in Nvidia in 2010?

Where might the next Nvidia-type stock be lurking in today's market? Our writer takes a look at one candidate with…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is GSK a bargain now the share price is near 1,333p?

Biopharma company GSK looks like a decent stock to consider for the long term, so is today's lower share price…

Read more »

Snowing on Jubilee Gardens in London at dusk
Investing Articles

Could December be a great month to buy UK shares?

Christopher Ruane sees some possible reasons to look for shares to buy in December -- but he'll be using the…

Read more »

Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Sticking to FTSE shares, I’d still aim for a £1,000 monthly passive income like this!

By investing in blue-chip FTSE shares with proven business models, our writer hopes he can build sizeable passive income streams…

Read more »

Growth Shares

BT shares? I think there are much better UK stocks for the long term

Over the long term, many UK stocks have performed much better than BT. Here’s a look at two companies that…

Read more »

British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

After a 540% rise, could this penny share keep going?

This penny share has seen mixed fortunes in recent years. Our writer looks ahead to some potentially exciting developments in…

Read more »