Here’s why I think BP shares are too cheap to ignore

BP shares remain undervalued compared to its peers while paying out big rewards to investors. This Fool digs deeper and explains why he’s buying now.

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BP (LSE: BP) shares have continued to slide over the last 30 days. Down 12%, the stock is currently sitting at 478p. A big driver behind the recent poor performance was its Q3 results, which came in below analysts’ expectations.

However, I think this drop presents the perfect opportunity to buy some cheap shares for my portfolio.

Results in detail

In its Q3 results the oil giant booked $3.3bn in revenue. As mentioned, this was significantly below expectations of $4bn. It also came in well below the $8.2bn made in the same period in 2022.

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However, that figure was inflated by the huge oil and gas price surge after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was really a one-off. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenue actually increased by $700m.

In addition to this, UBS analysts upheld their ‘buy’ rating and 640p target price, emphasising that the lower-than-expected returns in gas trading had somewhat overshadowed the company’s fundamental improvements, such as year-on-year growth in cash flow and a decrease in net debt.

These contextual points help ease the blow of the ‘poor’ results and give me confidence in the stock’s future growth.

Exceptional value

BP stands out as a clear value player when compared to its peers. Trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 4.2, it sits well below the FTSE 100 average of 14. Competitors ShellChina Petroleum & Chemical, and TotalEnergies trade on P/E ratios of 7.5, 10.4, and 8.6 respectively. This gap has been exacerbated by the recent drop in BP’s share price, further tempting me to buy the stock right now.

BP has a healthy dividend yield of 4.77% too. This just tops the FTSE 100 average yield and could be a great passive income stream to add to my portfolio.

And importantly, it hasn’t just been using its cash to pay investors directly. In its Q3 results, the company confirmed the completion of its previously reported $1.5bn share buyback initiative. Additionally, it unveiled plans for another round of buybacks of equivalent scale within the next three months – a positive development for shareholders.

Despite all this, I see one big risk for the stock: the challenge of renewable energy. BP must pull off a big turnaround as the world transitions to net zero emissions. Current projects working towards this aim have struggled. In its Q3 results the group reported a pre-tax impairment charge of $540m on its New York offshore wind project. The group will need to start delivering positive results to prove to investors it’s capable of shifting its business.

The verdict

That said, BP shares seem too cheap to ignore at the moment. Yes, the company needs to prove it can successfully pivot to green energy and this does present some uncertainty. However, looking at the fundamentals, I see big ticks in terms of value, growth potential, and shareholder rewards. As such, I am seriously considering adding BP shares to my portfolio now.

But here’s another bargain investment that looks absurdly dirt-cheap:

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.

Dylan Hood 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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