2 under the radar shares I’d rather buy than lottery tickets

Andy Ross believes that these 2 shares have share price growth potential and will keep raising their dividends to reward 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.

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.

These two easily overlooked shares offer serious investors a fantastic opportunity to build wealth, I think, from both share price growth and income from dividends.

A proud record of growth

DCC (LSE: DCC) is an international sales, marketing, and support services group, operating through four divisions: LPG, retail & oil, technology and healthcare.

Its results for the year ended 31 March show it is a business that is achieving considerable growth. In the 12-month period, revenue rose 16%, earnings per share by 12.8% and the dividend per share by 12.5%. The rise in the full-year dividend means that DCC has recorded 25 years of unbroken dividend growth since listing in 1994.

With dividend cover still over 2.5 times then there’s plenty of scope for the dividend to keep heading in the right direction. The strong financial performance of the group also should underpin the share price given the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is only 19.

In the markets it targets, DCC tends to be a market leader, so it is the number one health and beauty service provider in the UK, for example. This dominance in its markets creates a moat for the business that makes it harder for competitors to compete and I think that’s a major benefit for shareholders.

Overall it looks to me like the service provider has significant potential to keep delivering for shareholders and I think this potential has been overlooked by many investors.

A successfully adapted business model

Intercontinental Hotels (LSE: IHG) has transitioned away from owning hotels, which is capital-intensive, to managing hotels for landlords and franchising. This asset-light model helps improve profitability and cash conversion which should be good for shareholders.

The group owns well-recognised brands such as Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza. This helps it to attract customers and maximise the value of its relationships with franchisees. From both landlords and franchisees, IHG collects revenues from hotels without tying up money in actually owning the properties.

Added to the increased profitability of being capital-light is the efficiency savings management are concentrating on. The group is confident there will be around $125m per annum of efficiency improvements by the end of next year.

The big challenge for the group is maximising the revenue per available room, which has fallen in the US and China. It needs to also sensibly navigate potential disruptions in Hong Kong and any global economic downturn, which will hit the hospitality sector hard.

IHG looks like it is doing a lot of things right and I think there’s a lot of growth potential for investors still. The share price has fallen recently which may be a good buying point and the P/E ratio sits at just under 21.

Both these companies, in my opinion, have huge growth potential and represent a far more realistic way to get wealthy than by buying lottery tickets. DCC and Intercontinental Hotels both show signs that point to likely increased share price growth and rising dividends in the future.  

Andy Ross has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended InterContinental Hotels Group. 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

Trader on video call from his home office
Investing Articles

Down 19%! Here’s why Barclays shares look a serious bargain to me right now

Barclays shares have slumped recently, but a big gap between price and fair value has opened, offering nimble long-term investors…

Read more »

CEO Mark Zuckerberg at F8 2019 event
Investing Articles

Why Meta Platforms shares fell 12.5% in March

Historically, investors have done well by buying Meta Platforms shares when the price has fallen. But is the latest legal…

Read more »

Arrow symbol glowing amid black arrow symbols on black background.
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in BAE Systems shares 4 years ago is now worth…

BAE Systems' shares have soared since 2022, yet rising NATO budgets are just starting to feed through, so the real…

Read more »

This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Investing For Beginners

Aviva shares fell 12% in March! Here’s my outlook from here

Jon Smith explains why Aviva shares underperformed last month, but paints an upbeat picture for the stock when looking further…

Read more »

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

A 6.3% forecast yield! 1 bargain-basement FTSE passive income gem to buy today?  

This FTSE 100 passive income star has delivered consistently high dividends, with analysts forecasting more to come, and it looks…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

£100 invested in a Stocks and Shares ISA today could be worth…

A Stocks and Shares ISA is a proven way of building wealth. But how much could a smaller stake of…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

April opportunities: 2 heavily-discounted stocks to consider buying

Are under-the-radar growth stocks the best place to look for potential stocks to buy as investors look for certainty in…

Read more »

Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Why the BP share price *finally* surged 24.5% in March

Long-term owners of BP stock have had a frustrating few years, but is the share price rising 24.5% in March…

Read more »