A bargain FTSE 100 share I’d buy without hesitation!

This FTSE 100 share produces huge cash flows, earnings and well-covered dividends. Yet it’s down 8% in five years. I think that’s set to change.

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To date, 2023 has not been a terrific year for FTSE 100 shares and investors in British blue-chip businesses.

As I write, the index stands at 7,395.58 points, leaving it down 2.7% over one month. It’s also lost 4.9% of its value over six months and has dropped 0.7% since 30 December. Thus, the index has been a laggard this calendar year, trailing well behind other major market indices.

Many shares look cheap

Despite the Footsie’s poor performance, I see deep value lurking within individual shares. For example, here’s one mega-cap stock I’d gladly buy in a heartbeat (if I had any investable cash to spare, that is).

Should you invest £1,000 in BP right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if BP made the list?

See the 6 stocks

My beautiful blue-chip bargain is BP

For the record, my wife and I bought BP (LSE: BP) shares in August, paying 484.1p a share. This mega-cap stock then took off, closing at 558p on 18 October, following the Hamas attack on Israel.

But this early gain failed to hold. As the oil price has fallen back, so too has BP’s stock. Coincidentally, as I write it stands at exactly the price we paid for it around three months ago.

That said, we bought into BP for two good reasons. First, as a hedge against our ever-rising energy bills. Second, because it pays generous, well-covered cash dividends to patient shareholders like us.

Ignoring dividends, BP shares are up 1% over one year, but have lost 7.6% over five years. With the Covid-19 crisis now behind us, I’m expecting the next half-decade to be a much happier one for BP shareholders.

It seems undervalued to me

Given current levels of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, I’m surprised that the oil price — and also BP’s share price — is so low. Right now, the shares trade on a depressed multiple of 4.2 times earnings, delivering a bumper earnings yield of 23.8%.

What’s more, these shares offer a dividend yield of 4.7% a year, beating the wider index’s cash yield of 4% a year. Even better, BP’s payout is covered an impressive 5.1 times by earnings. To me, this flood of cash looks as ‘safe as houses’ for now.

Then again, history has taught me that both the oil price and energy stocks can be highly volatile. In addition, a big fall in the price of Brent Crude could hit BP’s future earnings, cash flow and dividends hard.

Another issue is that as an oil & gas supermajor, BP is one of our planet’s biggest polluters. Hence, its shares have fallen out of favour with ESG (environmental, social and governance) investors. As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, this boycott could prove more troubling for BP.

Nevertheless, I’m delighted to be a BP owner today. Indeed, I’d happily buy more stock as and when the chance presents itself. And if the share price were to continue sliding, then I might bet big on this cheap share!

Pound coins for sale — 31 pence?

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.

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.

Pound coins for sale — 51 pence?

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p 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 8.5%, 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

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