Elementis (LSE: ELM) has a consensus price target of 265.41 by the analysts following it, but the companys shares have recently been dealt heavy blows from both oil prices and the dollar, which is putting immense pressure on this target price.
The largest US producer of chromic acid warnedlast week that a strong dollar will hurt its 2016 export potential, and that slowing oil prospecting in the US means it can sell less of its product, which is used in the oil extraction as well as in the personal care industry.
It wont get any easier
This situation wont turn around any time soon, because oil is likely to remain a problem area, as isthe US dollar. These are two very significant factors undermining the potential of this otherwise great company, which was originally part of the Harrisons & Crossfield commodities trading group.
It seems to me that Elementis will not recoverany time soon, but might see marginal improvement initsshare price, which hit a new 52-week low (207.30) last Thursday (7th January), if the dollar happens to play in its favour. And that is a big if.
Massive export risks
A strengthening dollar is a more likely possibility in 2016, and with up to 40% of Elementis US output being earmarked for export, FX risks are considerable, as is testified by producers from Russia and Kazachstan alreadymaking inroads into Elementis markets.
In recent months, most analysts have revised downward their target price for the stock, as the company first warned of problems last June. It is easy to believe that these revisions reflect the problems already, but the market is telling us another story. At the current P/E of only around 9.8, the company might offer long-term potential; however, time is not on the side of Elementis the longer these external factors impact the company, the less competitive it will ultimately become.
Hill & Smith Holdings
A better pick in my opinion is Hill & Smith Holdings (LSE: HILS). Recent developments in global stock markets combined with the floods in North England warrant a re-examination ofthis stock.The road building company, which manufactures and supplies infrastructure products for utilities and roads and offers galvanizing services, will benefit from the repairwork that inevitably will emerge soon.
Flood repairs
Flood repairs are estimated to amount to 2.3 billion. Hill & Smiths infrastructure products road segment is especially likely to benefit from this, as it is involved in supplying temporary and permanent safety products to customers involved in the construction or maintenance of national roads infrastructure.
UK to invest 80 billion in infrastructure
This comes on top of the planned re-launch of the powerful Road Fund by Chancellor Osborne, who has said he will scrap green car subsidies and put this money into UK roads. Earlier this week, Reuters quoted analysts as saying that the amount of the UKs total infrastructure investments up to 2020 is 80 billion.
Outperformer
Hill & Smith Holdings trades at a P/E of 29 and, even though this is high, it reflects a strong trading year in 2015 and sound fundamentals. There is little doubt to me that the company is on track to meet or surpass its full-year expectations.The industrials sector company has seen its share price rise by around 21% over the past year alone. I believe it is a solid defensive play as well as an excellent growth opportunity.
Given the volatility in Asia currently, the UK stock market offers excellent opportunities for growth investors this year.
Recently, we published a report entitled A Top Growth Share, which deals in-depth with another UK growth company trading at roughly 30 times its expected earnings and which has confounded value investors for years by consistently exceeding the growth priced into the shares.
Mark Rogers, one of our top investors, is convinced this particular company is barely scratching the surface of its international potential.
Click here to find out which stock we are referring to! It’s completely free and there’s no further obligation.
Angelique van Engelen owns shares in Elementis.The Motley Fool UK has recommended Elementis. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.