Here are 2 dirt-cheap FTSE gems with P/E ratios below 6!

Jon Smith reveals two well-known FTSE names that he feels are undervalued when looking at their price-to-earnings ratios right now.

| 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.

Older couple walking in park

Image source: Getty Images

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.

The price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is a handy tool I use to get a feel for the relative value of a stock at a particular price. Usually, a high ratio means that a stock could be overvalued. The flipside is also true, that a low ratio could present me with an undervalued opportunity. With all of that in mind, here are two FTSE 100 stocks that have low ratios right now.

Banking on the basics

First up is Barclays (LSE:BARC) with a P/E of just 4.7. The share price has slumped in recent weeks following general banking sector concerns around stability. However, over a broader one-year period the stock is flat.

The fall of 16% in the past month pushed the share down to 52-week lows. But it appears that the worst of the selling has now finished.

To be clear, I don’t agree with the market-induced sell-off in big banks, particularly Barclays. The bank is diversified by generating revenue from a host of sources, ranging from retail customers to corporate clients and institutional funds. It has operations in 40 countries.

I’m very interested in picking up some Barclays shares over the coming month. I’m just waiting to see if there’s any further short-term weakness in the next week or so.

One risk I’m aware of is the trading division, which had a costly blunder worth several hundred million dollars in the last quarterly update. Senior leadership needs to get a grip on risk management when it comes to this area.

A surge in the energy space

With a P/E ratio of 5.12, Centrica (LSE:CNA) is also potentially undervalued. The stock has risen by 32% over the past year. In contrast to Barclays, Centrica shares recently touched 52-week highs.

Why has the business been doing so well? The company pointed to “strong gas production and energy generation against a backdrop of higher commodity prices and strong management of increased commodity volatility”.

To put this in perspective, the preliminary 2022 results showed an adjusted operating profit of £2,823m. This contrasts to the 2021 figure of £392m. The 2022 figure excludes the value of disposed Spirit Energy assets.

One concern I have is whether this kind of performance can be replicated going forward. I expect energy prices to come back under control, and could fall off sharply in certain situations (such as peace in Ukraine/easing tensions with Russia).

Yet given the performance last year, the company has good cash position that it can make use of for long-term growth via investments. This could provide a catalyst to grow market share in the future.

Ultimately, the stock does appear to be good value even with the recent jump. I’m considering adding it to my portfolio after Barclays when I have some more free cash.

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.

Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc. 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 Growth Shares

Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Growth Shares

3 mistakes I now avoid when choosing which growth stocks to buy

Jon Smith runs through some of the lessons he's learnt the hard way over the years about what to look…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Should I follow Warren Buffett and sell my favourite shares?

Billionaire US investor Warren Buffett has been selling tons of Apple shares and other stocks of businesses he thinks are…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

After rocketing 232% in a year can this red-hot FTSE 250 stock keep going gangbusters?

Harvey Jones says this FTSE 250 stock's on fire after smashing the index over the last year. It's cheaper than…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

At a bargain-basement price now, is it time for me to buy this 8%-yielding FTSE 250 media stock?

Shares in this FTSE 250 broadcasting firm continued their recent decline after the latest results release, leaving them looking an…

Read more »

British Isles on nautical map
Investing Articles

Should I buy more BAE Systems shares at 1,350p?

BAE Systems shares have had a fantastic run since early 2022, yet still don't appear overvalued. Is it now time…

Read more »

Blue NIO sports car in Oslo showroom
Investing Articles

Down 38% in weeks! Time to snap up NIO stock?

NIO stock's more than doubled in value over the past five years but has been on a wild ride lately.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Should I put money into index funds now the FTSE All-Share has paused?

The FTSE All-Share index has been treading water since May. Is it smart to put money into tracker funds now…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Growth Shares

1 FTSE 250 stock I’d love to snap up in the next stock market crash

Jon Smith reveals a FTSE 250 share on his watchlist that he thinks is a little overvalued right now but…

Read more »