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Our monthly Ice Best Buys Now are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of income-focused Ice recommendations, to help Fools build out their portfolios.
“Best Buys Now” Pick #1:
A G Barr (LSE: BAG)
- Part-family-owned soft drinks business that has an attractive brands portfolio.
- In its first half, sales grew by 33%, representing 10% like-for-like growth, driven by higher prices and volume growth. Profits are expected to arrive “marginally above the top end of analyst expectations” for the full year.
- While its operating margin is under pressure from cost inflation, the company reckons it can rebuild margins over the medium-term, helped by supply chain optimisation, cost management, and developing its brand portfolio.
- While long time CEO Roger White is stepping down at “a mutually agreed date in the next 12 months”, the company continues to look attractive, thanks to attractive brands, a strong balance sheet, and an excellent long-term record of dividends, profit growth and high ROCE.
- It’s currently trading at just over 15x forecast earnings, a discount to the three-year average of closer to 19.5x.