Today I’m running the rule over two of the FTSE 100’s January risers.
A mobile master
Despite rising fears of worsening macroeconomic turbulence, telecoms giant Vodafone (LSE: VOD) enjoyed a mild 1.3% share price bump during the course of January.
To some extent this move can be explained — the essential nature of mobile phone ownership nowadays does provide the likes of Vodafone with certain defensive qualities. And as market jitters remain at elevated levels, this factor could provide the London firm’s stock value with further support in the weeks and months ahead.
But regardless of Vodafone’s near-term fortunes, I believe the fruits of the firm’s multi-billion pound Project Spring organic investment scheme should blast global demand for its services to the stars, and with it the firm’s share price.
Vodafone announced in November that European organic revenues fell 1% between July and September, a marked improvement from the 1.5% decline punched in the prior quarter. Meanwhile sales growth from the lucrative Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (or AMAP) region accelerated to 6.7% in the period, the company noted, up from 6.1% in April to June.
And I reckon Vodafone’s share price could receive further fuel should its next set of results (due on Thursday 4 February) reveal a sixth successive quarterly improvement in total organic service revenues.
The City certainly expects earnings at Vodafone to chug higher again in the near future following sustained pressure — indeed, the business is expected to flip from a 12% bottom-line dip in the year to March 2016 with a 19% advance in the following period.
While a subsequent P/E rating of 38.7 times may be too rich for many investors, I reckon Vodafone’s terrific dividend projections make up any value shortfall. The mobile operator is expected to chuck out dividends of 11.5p in 2016 and 2017, respectively, figures that create a market-busting yield of 5.3%.
Build up a fortune
Housebuilding goliath Persimmon (LSE: PSN) also received a modest demand boost from defensive-minded investors in January, the stock gaining 0.4% in value during the month.
The release of further positive data from across the housing sector last month went some way to pushing the company higher. Indeed, Persimmon itself noted last month that home completions leapt 8% in 2015, to 14,572 units, while forward sales jumped 13% to £1.1bn. Investors should keep a close eye on the firm’s preliminary results due on Tuesday 23 February for fresh news on current sales rates.
The number crunchers certainly see plenty of room for growth in the near term and beyond, and I for one agree. Persimmon is anticipated to have seen earnings rise 28% last year, and a further 10% advance is chalked-in for 2016. This projection creates a terrific P/E rating of 11.3 times.
And like Vodafone, Persimmon is also a terrific selection for those seeking smashing dividends, in my opinion. The construction play is expected to raise an expected payout of 100.7p per share for 2015 to a whopping 105.1p in 2016, driving the yield to an eye-popping 5.4%.
