Down 42% this year! Is this now the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

This FTSE 100 stock’s share price growth lags that of its earnings per share. It’s undervalued to its peers, and is down 42% this year.

| 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.

Image source: NatWest Group plc

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.

Shares in ‘Big Four’ FTSE 100 bank NatWest (LSE: NWG) have dropped 42% from their 2 February high this year. I already hold the stock but am considering buying more now for three main reasons.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3NatWest Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL2 Jan 202330 Oct 2023Zoom ▾Feb '23Mar '23Apr '23May '23Jun '23Jul '23Aug '23Sep '23Oct '23Apr '23Apr '23Jul '23Jul '23Oct '23Oct '23www.fool.co.uk

Core business looks solid

NatWest’s shares fell over 11% on 27 October — the day of its Q3 results. This was partly due to revenues and earnings per share (EPS) missing analysts’ estimates by 3.3% and 3.8%, respectively.

It also resulted from downgrading its net interest margin (NIM) forecast for the year from 3.2% to 3.15%. This margin is the difference between earnings from loans and payouts for deposits. The downgrade is based on its belief that the Bank of England will hold interest rates stable for the rest of 2023.   

Passive income stocks: our picks

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

In my view, rising government debt in the G7 countries will continue to pull interest rates higher over the long term. This is already reflected in soaring government bond market yields.

There is a risk in the shares, of course, that interest rates start to fall earlier and faster than predicted. Another risk is a major financial crisis that will test liquidity across the banking sector.

That said, I saw many good things in the results too. Revenues were up by 9.3% compared to Q3 2022 — to £3.26bn. And EPS was up from 5.9p to 10p.

In fact, over the last three years on average, NatWest’s EPS has increased by 70% per year. But its share price has only increased by an average 11% per year over that period.

Undervalued to its peers

The bank looks significantly undervalued to its peers on the key metric of the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio.

NatWest’s is just 3.5, while Barclays’ is 3.6, Lloyds’ is 3.9, HSBC Holdings’ is 5.9, and Standard Chartered’s is 10.8. This gives a UK bank peer group average of 6.05.

It looks even more undervalued against the European bank peer group P/E average of 7.7.

To gauge the level of undervaluation, I use the discounted cash flow (DCF) method, using several analysts’ DCF valuations as well as my own.

The core assessments for NatWest are now between around 72% and 78% undervalued. The lowest of these would give a fair value per share of about £6.50 per share, compared to £1.82 now.

This does not necessarily mean that the stock will reach that point. It does underline to me, though, that it currently offers very good value.

Big passive income generator

In 2022, NatWest paid a Special Dividend of 16.8p, which gives a yield of 17% based on the current share price. Crucially though, even if this Special Dividend is not included in the calculation, the yield is still 7.4%.

So, a £10,000 investment would make another £7,400 in passive income over 10 years if the yield and the share price stayed the same (which is not guaranteed). This is over and above share price gains or losses and tax obligations incurred.

NatWest increased its 2023 interim payment by 57% — from 3.5p to 5.5p. If this was applied to this year’s final dividend, then the total would be 21.2p. This would give an 11.6% yield, with no Special Dividend included, based on the current share price.

Is this a top choice for growing wealth now?

Before deciding, we think this pick is another must-see.

Discover ‘One Top Growth Stock from The Motley Fool’ absolutely FREE.

Though past performance does not guarantee future results, over the past 5 years, it’s seen consistent double-digit revenue growth. ‘Return on capital’ - a key measure of business quality - is a colossal 57%. That’s almost 6 times higher than the UK average!

Best of all, it has a cult-like following. Customers who’re raving fans, potentially spending more money, more often - whatever the economy.

In our experience, discoveries like this are extremely rare.

So please, don’t leave without seeing, ‘One Top Growth Stock from The Motley Fool’, which includes both the Risks and opportunities.

Claim your FREE copy now

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.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Simon Watkins has positions in Lloyds Banking Group Plc and NatWest Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group Plc, and Standard Chartered 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 Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Just released: our 3 top small-cap stocks to consider buying in April [PREMIUM PICKS]

Small-cap shares tend to be more volatile than larger companies, so we suggest investors should look to build up a…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s why Tesla stock just rocketed 22.7%! Is it time to buy?

This writer wonders whether the news that sent Tesla stock soaring yesterday is a true gamechanger for the electric vehicle…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 quality UK stocks to consider buying as share prices rally

With UK stocks moving higher, it might look as though investors with cash on hand have missed their chance. But…

Read more »

Investing Articles

How much £10,000 invested in Lloyds shares is forecast to be worth in 12 months

Harvey Jones is looking past today's stock market volatility to see where Lloyds shares may stand in a year's time.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

How Warren Buffett stays ahead of the stock market

When share prices fall, everyone suddenly wants to be like Warren Buffett. But what’s the secret to the Berkshire Hathaway…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Cheap UK dividend shares to consider buying right now

We're only just past the first quarter of 2025, but it already looks like the year could be another good…

Read more »

Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

What the heck is going on with the Barclays share price now?

The Barclays share price surged 25% as the market open on 10 April. Once again, the volatility’s been driven by…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

What the devil’s going on with the HSBC share price?

The HSBC share price has actually been less volatile than some of its peers, despite its Chinese operations suggesting it’s…

Read more »