Many companies in the FTSE 250 mid-cap index have growth potential. But Iâd focus on two for deeper research with a view to holding for five years, or longer. Although I donât have any spare cash to invest right now.
The first is Coats (LSE: COA), the industrial threads company. This monthâs full-year results report trumpeted: â10% organic revenue growth, 22% organic adjusted operating profit growth and strong free cash flowâ.
Enhanced forward prospects
Chief executive Rajiv Sharma said the company made âexcellentâ progress transforming its business during 2022. And the acquisitions of Texon and Rhenoflex in the period have strengthened the firmâs position in the attractive footwear market. Sharma reckons the moves increased the medium-term organic growth and margin potential of the business.
And thatâs the kind of catalyst I aim to find when choosing investments â something that may drive higher earnings ahead. But on top of that, Coats has been working to improve the efficiency of its operations. And the directors are also focused on bearing down on costs.
Sharma is enthusiastic about the companyâs future. He said Coats is well-positioned in its markets with a focus on growing brands. And thereâs a pipeline of promising products to keep the pot boiling with growth. So Sharma is âexcitedâ about the firmâs expansion and profit margin opportunities over the medium term.
However, itâs worth noting the stock has made zero overall progress for more than five years. And that could happen into the future if the companyâs growth plans stall because of operational challenges.
Nevertheless, City analysts expect earnings to grow by around 5% this year and 20% in 2024. And with the share price near 77p, the forward-looking earnings multiple for next year is around nine. And I see that valuation as fair.
Turning itself around
Meanwhile, the second stock on my list is PZ Cussons (LSE: PZC), the fast-moving consumer goods supplier. The company delivered a steady set of half-year results in February, despite the ongoing challenging general economic environment.
Chief executive Jonathan Myers said the company has more work to do with its transformation programme. And there are some near-term headwinds to navigate in some of firmâs markets. But the directors are âconfidentâ about the opportunities ahead. And the ongoing plan is to build a higher growth, higher margin, simpler and more sustainable business.
City analysts predict a 17% uplift in earnings in 2024 after a decline of about 10% in 2023. And set against those expectations, the forward-looking earnings multiple is running just below 14 with todayâs share price near 183p.
That valuation looks fair to me. Although itâs worth being aware that the business has a patchy multi-year earnings record. And earnings may not grow as expected if conditions remain tough.
However, thereâs a decent-looking dividend yielding well above 3% to keep shareholders company while they are waiting for growth to materialise.
The post 2 top FTSE 250 stocks on my ‘best shares to buy now’ list appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Pound coins for sale — 51 pence?
This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p 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 8.5%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?
setButtonColorDefaults(“#5FA85D”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43A24A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#FFFFFF”, ‘color’, ‘#FFFFFF’);
})()
More reading
Kevin Godbold has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Coats Group Plc and PZ Cussons. 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.
