1 cheap FTSE 100 stock to buy for growth and returns

Sumayya Mansoor examines a FTSE 100 stock she believes could be a great addition to her holdings for growth and passive income.

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One FTSE 100 stock that I currently like the look of is Mondi (LSE: MNDI). Let’s take a closer look at it to help me decide if it is one to add to my holdings or not.

Paper and packaging

As an introduction, Mondi is an international packaging and paper business. In simple terms, it provides effective and sustainable packaging and paper solutions to businesses that require them.

So what’s happening with Mondi shares currently? Well, as I write, they’re trading for 1,322. At this time last year, they were trading for 1,437p, which is an 8% drop over a 12-month period.

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It is worth noting that many FTSE 100 stocks have fallen recently due to market volatility caused by soaring inflation and a cost of living crisis.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Mondi Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Pros and cons to consider

Starting from a bullish perspective, I believe Mondi is in an excellent position to capitalise on changing shopping habits. Online shopping has exploded in recent years and I would even argue it has become the new norm. The pandemic exacerbated this too as lockdowns caused many of us to turn to online channels to procure both our everyday and non-essential items. More companies now sell online, compared to years gone by, and therefore require packaging solutions to send their products to consumers. This boom could translate into performance growth and increased shareholder returns.

Moving on to returns, Mondi currently possesses a dividend yield of 4.7%. This is higher than the FTSE 100 average of 3%-4%. It is worth remembering that dividends are never guaranteed. They can be cancelled at the discretion of the business at any time.

Next, I can see that Mondi has a good track record of past performance. It has increased revenue in three of its past four fiscal years. In addition to this, it has seen profits grow in the past two years. I do understand that past performance is not an indicator of the future.

Finally, I believe Mondi shares are currently cheap. At present, they’re trading on a price-to-earnings ratio of just five.

From a bearish perspective, Mondi is at the mercy of any economic downturn. Demand for its products is cyclical. In times of economic uncertainty, like now, there may be less spending on non-essential items so companies may not require as much packaging and paper solutions. This could hurt performance and returns.

Finally, Mondi could be adversely impacted by soaring prices of wood. This is a key component in its packaging. The higher cost for raw materials could impact its profitability and investor returns.

A FTSE 100 stock I would buy

To summarise, I believe Mondi is an excellent value stock, trading cheaply, and offering a good passive income opportunity. There are external factors that could impact returns but overall I’m not worried about them due to its excellent standing, position in its respective market, and the general overall demand for its products.

I would buy Mondi shares for my holdings if I had the spare cash to do so.

Like buying £1 for 31p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this Share Advisor pick has a price/book ratio of 0.31. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 31p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 10%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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.

Sumayya Mansoor 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.

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