Why I’d dump these high-flying FTSE 250 stocks

G A Chester thinks these FTSE 250 (INDEXFTSE:MCX) stocks currently offer poor value for investors.

| 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.

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.

Distributor of building products SIG (LSE: SHI) released a half-year trading update at 07:00 today, stating revenue from continuing operations increased 8.1%, with acquisitions contributing 5.3% and currency 0.5%.

The shares climbed as much as 6.5% to a new 52-week high of 155.4p half an hour into trading but fell back a bit after management issued a correction at 08:37, saying it was currency that contributed the 5.3%, while acquisitions contributed 0.5%.

Encouraging progress

Aside from the gaffe, the update was encouraging. SIG — which suffered a £120m loss last year due to heavy writedowns of assets — reported an improved performance in the UK, as it successfully passed on increased supplier price inflation to customers. Over in Europe, it said it’s benefitting from a recovery in construction markets.

SIG had relatively high net debt of £260m at the last year-end but said it expects this to be lower at 30 June, although it didn’t put a number on it.

Fully valued

At a current share price of 152p, the company trades on a forecast price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.8. This looks a full valuation to me and seems to price-in a successful turnaround of the business. I suspect market optimism is down to a boardroom overhaul, which saw the arrival of Meinie Oldersma — a highly regarded sector veteran — as chief executive in April.

However, I see little margin of safety for investors if the turnaround doesn’t go entirely to plan and/or if there’s a less-than-favourable outcome to Brexit, which the company says could impact on its “ability to conduct its business, or make the conduct of such business more expensive.”

Furthermore, I don’t see distributors like SIG as particularly attractive for investors at the best of times. Even before last year’s annus horribilis, the company’s fundamentals left a lot to be desired. For example, there was another lossmaking year in the previous four. And in the three that were profitable, the statutory net margin ranged between 1% and 1.4%. On the company’s “adjusted” numbers — which increased cumulative net profit of £83m to £256m — the highest margin posted in any one year was a still-uninspiring 2.9%.

On a forward P/E of 15.8 and a running yield of 2.4% (after a dividend cut last year), I’d be looking to cash-out if I held this stock.

Pricey property

Shares of Shaftesbury (LSE: SHB) are not far off their recent all-time high. This owner of an exceptional portfolio of real estate in the heart of London’s West End released upbeat results in May. While acknowledging the risks of Brexit, it said: “We expect the West End, underpinned by its wide appeal and dynamic economy, will maintain its long record of resilience.”

West End resilience shouldn’t be confused with share price resilience, because Shaftesbury’s shares more than halved in value during the financial crisis. How much should we be willing to pay for them today?

A lot less than the current 970p, in my view. The forward P/E is 53.2, the running dividend yield is 1.6% and the shares trade at a 6.4% premium to EPRA net asset value (NAV). This compares with peers Land Securities (P/E 19.7, running yield 3.8%, discount to NAV 28.7%) and British Land (P/E 16.6, running yield 4.8%, discount to NAV 34.1%).

Purely on valuation grounds, Shaftesbury is another stock I would be cashing-out of if I held it.

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.

G A Chester has no position in any 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.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

£10 a day invested in UK shares could one day create a second income of over £3,000 a month!

Mark David Hartley outlines a strategy he’d use to aim for a second income that gets bigger over time, by…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn that into passive income of £903 a month

Our writer shares one approach to passive income investing, spotlighting a quality FTSE 100 stock he recently added to his…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Great dividend stocks! Here’s the forecast for Associated British Food shares to 2027

Associated British Foods' shares have dropped in value this year. Does this present a dip-buying opportunity for dividend investors to…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Should I sell my FTSE All-Share index fund and buy a S&P 500 tracker instead?

Harvey Jones is wondering whether now is a good time to invest more money in the S&P 500, after a…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Should I buy dirt-cheap BT shares after the recent pullback?

BT shares were on the up but now they're sliding again after the board trimmed full-year guidance. Now Harvey Jones…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Up 28%, can the easyJet share price keep rising?

The easyJet share price has gained altitude over one year but plunged over five. Is now an attractive time for…

Read more »

British Isles on nautical map
Investing Articles

Should I buy more BAE Systems shares at 1,350p?

BAE Systems shares have had a fantastic run since early 2022, yet still don't appear overvalued. Is it now time…

Read more »

Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

7% yield and a cheap valuation! Is this one of the best shares to buy this month?

Christopher Ruane has been looking for cheap shares to buy. This one has a 7% dividend yield, so is it…

Read more »