In my hunt for bargains, today Im looking at Unilever (LSE: ULVR), Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF) and Devro (LSE: DVO).
Doing many things right
Unilevers doing many things right. Despite facing weak markets just like other firms operating abroad, the firms third-quarter results are encouraging. For the nine months of the year so far, underlying sales grew of 3.8% and volumes are up 2.1%. City analysts following the firm expect this progress to boost earnings by 8% for the full year with a further 6% uplift during 2016.
The chief executive puts the current success down to a long-term view whereby the company attacks costs and keeps up sustained investment in brands, infrastructure and people. He does sound something of a warning, though, saying the firm continues to see soft global markets with no immediate sign of getting help from an improving global economy.
Lots of companies, and fund managers such as Neil Woodford, have been saying similar things about the global economy. That does make me wonder whether the next move in the global economy might be down if it cant improve now, when will it? Perhaps the recovery for this macro-cycle is already in the bag. If so, treading water can only be kept up for so long before exhaustion sets in.
Whether or not the economy worsens from here, Unilever will be capable of falling back on its cash-generating defensive characteristics to provide some support for portfolios containing the firms shares, I reckon. At todays 2890p share price, the forward price-to-earnings ratio (PER) runs just below 21 and the forward dividend yield at 3.2%. Forward earnings will likely cover the dividend payout 1.5 times. Unilevers not cheap, but sometimes its worth paying a little more for something better.
Highly valued
Perhaps an unexpected jewel in the crown of food producer Associated British Foods is its ownership of the fast-growing discount-clothing store chain Primark. The retail operation through Primark delivers around 50% of the firms profits, and growing.
Since 2012, the shares have shot up and now the valuation is high. At todays 3296p, the forward PER sits at around 32 for 2016, but City analysts following the firm only expect earnings to lift about 4% that year. Whether its the well-known nature of the Primark store estate or some other factor causing this investor exuberance, I dont know. However, at this level, Im not interested, because a lot of future growth seems already priced-in to the shares.
In demand
Sausage skin manufacturer Devro isnt a whizzy dizzy business but it does provide a product with high demand. The firm also enjoys something of a tailwind as the trend to replace animal intestine sausage coverings with collagen plays out. The firm is expanding in China, too, so doesnt seem short of growth potential.
Back in August, the chief executive told us that sales volumes are growing in several important markets and prices remain firm. Thats a reassuring message. The firm is making progress transforming its manufacturing facilities to support future growth and to help manage costs.
We can get hold of the companys shares for a forward PER of 18 at todays share price of 297p. For that, well get a forward dividend yield of 3.1% with forward earnings likely to cover the payout around 1.8 times during 2016. City analysts following the firm expect earnings to rise 15% this year with a further 5% uplift next year.
I like Devros set-up but remain cautious because the shares traded at lower ratings than this in the past. In fact, the shares have been quite volatile in recent years and shall probably remain so, which raises the possibility of a better-value entry point down the road.
Devro is tempting, but Unilever features in a document prepared by our investment team as one of five superior large-cap firms, each of which has a healthy balance sheet, a dominant market position, reliable cash flows, wide exposure to global markets and decent growth prospects.
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Kevin Godbold has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Devro and Unilever. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
