Looking ahead, Michael Page is expected to deliver a rise in earnings of 11% this year and further growth of 19% next year. These are impressive figures and the company’s valuation indicates that its share price could rapidly rise, with Michael Page having a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of only 0.8. As such, and with the company having a very well-diversified operation across the world and the potential to benefit from a sustained global recovery, now seems to be a good time to buy it.

Growth ahead

Also reporting today was marketing company Next Fifteen (LSE: NFC). It’s also geographically well-diversified and its revenue growth of 18.9% for the full-year shows that it’s performing exceptionally well. Furthermore, Next Fifteen was able to improve its operating margin by 100 basis points, with it now being 12.7% and this helped it to grow earnings by 28% versus the prior year. And with Next Fifteen having built a portfolio of modern, technology-driven businesses, it seems to be well-placed to deliver further growth over the medium-to-long term.

In fact, over the next two years Next Fifteen is expected to grow its earnings by 20% and 9%, respectively. This rate of growth could help to boost investor sentiment in the stock and with Next Fifteen trading on a PEG ratio of just 1.3, there seems to be significant scope for major capital growth in the coming years. Therefore, even after its share price rise of 45% in the last year, Next Fifteen seems to make sense as an investment right now.

Buy for the long term

Meanwhile, Santander (LSE: BNC) remains a hugely well-diversified global bank, even though it has been hurt by the disappointing performance of the Brazilian economy. Brazil is a key market for Santander and even though other markets in which it operates have been able to offset the worse-than-expected performance experienced by the bank there, the company’s forecasts have still been downgraded in recent months.

The effect of this has been to hurt Santander’s share price and with its bottom line due to fall by 4% this year, investor sentiment could deteriorate further following Santander’s share price fall of 41% in the last year. However, with the bank now trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 8.5 and forecast to return to growth next year, now could be an opportune moment to buy for the long term.

The post Are Banco Santander SA, Michael Page International plc And Next Fifteen Communications Group plc The Best Global Growth Plays? appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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Peter Stephens owns shares of Next Fifteen Communications. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Growth in travel

Shares in Go-Ahead Group (LSE: GOG) have actually fallen by 17% since their December peak, but interim results released Thursday gave them a 6% boost back up to 2,380p. Go-Ahead operates bus and commuter train services, and provides ground handling services for the aviation industry too, which might perhaps not sound all that glamorous.

But a 25% rise in EPS forecast for the year to June 2016 puts the shares on a lowly PEG ratio of 0.5 — the PEG compares the firm’s P/E (currently 12.2 for Go-Ahead) with its earnings growth, and anything under 0.7 tends to get growth investors salivating.

The first-half figures suggested everything is on track, with the firm’s full-year expectations unchanged. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 25%, bang on the full-year forecast target, and the interim dividend was lifted by 6.5% to 28.33p per share, nicely ahead of inflation.

Recruitment strength

Michael Page International (LSE: MPI) has seen its shares lose 24% in the past 12 months after a depressing fall since the turn of the year to 377p. That’s despite the global recruitment specialist having put in two years of healthy EPS growth, and despite a Q4 update telling us of a 9.2% rise in gross profit to a record £555.9m. Fourth quarter conditions did apparently deteriorate a little, and the fear might now be that EPS growth could come in below the tipsters’ forecast of 11% — results are due on 10 March.

But the 23% EPS growth currently forecast for 2016 keeps the P/E down to a modest 15 and gives the shares a PEG of 0.7. There’s a 3.2% dividend yield predicted too, which is around the FTSE average and better than a bank savings account. So could we be looking at a great growth opportunity with a decent dividend thrown in for good measure? The City seems to think so, offering a healthy buy consensus.

Bricks and mortar

My third growth candidate is FTSE 250 housebuilder Crest Nicholson (LSE: CRST), whose shares are up 27% in the past 12 months to 572p, and by 110% in five years.

For the year ended October 2015, Crest Nicholson reported an 8% rise in completed homes, and a 32% boost in pre-tax profit to £154m from revenue of £805m, and lifted its dividend by 38%. The whole sector has been enjoying a very rosy spell of late with massive profits for those who invested in the downturn, and the thing is there’s no sign of it stopping.

With a strong forward sales book, Crest reckons it’s on target for £1bn in revenue in 2016, and is aiming for £1.4bn by 2019. Analysts are forecasting a further 20% rise in EPS this year, and that puts Crest Nicholson shares on a very low P/E of 9.5 and a PEG of just 0.5. Oh, and there’s a 4.9% dividend predicted too.

The post 3 Great Growth Picks For 2016: Go-Ahead Group plc, Michael Page International plc, Crest Nicholson Holdings PLC? appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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Alan Oscroft has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Running out of power

Energy giant Centrica’s (LSE: CNA) position as a dependable dividend stock has taken a whack in recent times as problems across both its upstream and downstream operations have mounted. The London firm has seen its shares tank by a fifth during the past 12 months alone, and values stuck their cheapest since early 2004 just this week.

And I do not expect Centrica’s value to improve any time soon as market conditions remain difficult. Subscriber numbers at British Gas continue to erode as householders switch to the growing number of promotion-heavy independent suppliers. And the collapsing crude price bodes ill for the company’s Centrica Energy division, too.

Given this backdrop the City expects Centrica to cut the full-year dividend for the second year running in 2015, to 12p per share. And although forecasts suggest a payout recovery in the current period, to 12.4p — a figure that yields a stunning 5.9% — I believe investors should give this estimate short shrift given the company’s worsening earnings outlook and hulking debt pile.

Safe as houses

I am far more optimistic concerning the dividend picture over at housebuilding giant Persimmon (LSE: PSN), however. Despite recent government plans to embark on a massive housebuilding scheme, Britain’s shocking housing crisis is not likely to ease any time soon as rampant demand looks sure to keep outpacing supply.

The number crunchers expect Persimmon to lift a projected dividend of 100.7p per share for 2015 to 105.1p in the current year, creating a smashing yield of 5.4%. The construction play has a terrific record of generating double-digit earnings growth, and as home values continue their relentless march higher I expect shareholder rewards at Persimmon to follow suit.

Recruit a dividend star

At face value recruitment specialists Michael Page (LSE: MPI) may not be the most exciting dividend selection out there. A projected payment of 16p per share for 2016 creates a chunky yield of 3.2%, although this figure lags the FTSE 100 average around 3.5% by some distance.

But long-term investors should take note of Michael Page’s ultra-progressive dividend policy, in my opinion. If realised, this year’s projection would mark a solid upgrade from last year’s predicted 11.9p per share reward. Indeed, the prospect of further terrific earnings growth certainly bodes well for storming dividend expansion in the years ahead.

Michael Page announced today that gross profit for 2015 rose 4.2% to £532.8m, shrugging off the impact of unfavourable currency movements and slowing recruitment activity in the UK more recently.

The latter is to be expected as the EU referendum looms and macroeconomic jitters weigh, of course, and I believe Michael Page’s strong global reach should help it to ride out these troubles to post stellar returns in 2016 and beyond.

The post Should You Pile Into Dividend Picks Centrica PLC, Persimmon plc & Michael Page International plc? appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Centrica. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Ophir’s production is currently running at 14,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), which has prompted the firm to increase full-year guidance to 11,000-12,500 boepd. This production helped generate revenue of $86.5m and cash flow from operations of $69.4m.

Net cash was $392m at the end of June. The firm its oil production is currently breaking even at an average of $15 per barrel, excluding interest costs. Looking ahead, Ophir is continuing to work towards the development of its major gas assets, and expects to make a final investment decision on the Fortuna Floating LNG development in Equatorial Guinea in mid-2016.

At close to 100p per share, Ophir trades 30% below its book value of around 150p per share. The company has a strong balance sheet and very attractive long-term gas assets. In my view, Ophir could be worth a closer look.

Michael Page International

Shares in recruiter Michael Page International (LSE: MPI) have already risen by 33% this year. This has left them quite ambitiously valued on a 2015 forecast P/E of 26 and with a prospective yield of 2.6%.

The firm is at a good point in the economic cycle, however, and earnings per share are expected to rise by another 27% in 2016, making the firm’s valuation look more reasonable.

Today’s interim results appear to confirm this positive outlook. Earnings per share for the first half of the year rose by 20% to 9.0p, compared to 7.5p for the same period last year. The operating margin rose from 7.0% to 7.6%.

Shareholders are being looked after as well. The interim dividend rose by 5.3% to 3.6p, and shareholders will also be rewarded with a one-off special dividend of 16p per share as the firm has decided to return £50m of surplus capital to shareholders.

This bumper payout means that shareholders could enjoy a total yield of 5.7% this year, based on current forecasts.

Meanwhile, the firm’s international footprint means it is able to prioritise markets with maximum potential. Although the shares aren’t cheap, I believe they could have further to go.

Coca Cola HBC

Coke bottling firm Coca Cola HBC (LSE: CCH) was one of this morning’s biggest risers, up almost 10% to 1,452p at the time of writing.

The firm announced a 3.8% rise in bottling volumes during the first half, although this fell to 1.8% if the contribution from four extra selling days was stripped out. However, volumes rose by 6.2% in the firm’s developing market segment, suggesting that the group’s turnaround plan is bearing fruit.

Although net revenue fell by 1% due to the weakness of the euro, Coca-Cola HBC’s operating profit rose by 21% to €199m and the firm’s operating margin improved from 5.2% to 6.3%, which seems a strong performance.

However, the firm may face renewed pressure on margins following the recent merger of several other Coca-Cola bottling companies.

Today’s adjusted earnings per share of €0.389 appear to be in-line with consensus forecasts of €0.79 for the full year, leaving the shares on a forecast P/E of 23. In my view, that’s probably high enough for now.

The post Are Ophir Energy Plc, Michael Page International plc And Coca Cola HBC AG A Buy After Today’s Updates? appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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Roland Head has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.