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                                <title>£3k to invest? I&#8217;d buy these 2 dividend growth stocks without delay</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/08/08/3k-to-invest-id-buy-these-2-dividend-growth-stocks-without-delay/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2019 08:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tritax Big Box REIT]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=131411</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>If it's income you're after, you should consider these two dividend champions writes Rupert Hargreaves. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/08/08/3k-to-invest-id-buy-these-2-dividend-growth-stocks-without-delay/">£3k to invest? I&#8217;d buy these 2 dividend growth stocks without delay</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you have £3k to invest in dividend stocks, then I highly recommend investing a portion of this money in lender <strong>S&amp;U</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/26/planning-a-1m-isa-these-two-7-yielders-could-help-you-get-there/">S&amp;U has been around for decades </a>and during this time it has built a leading motor finance and bridging loan business, which has generated tremendous returns for investors.</p>
<p>One of the reasons why I think the business has been able to outperform many of its peers in the industry is the fact that the group is still family-owned.</p>
<p>Research shows that family-owned businesses tend to perform better over the long term compared to non-family-owned because the family members make better long-term capital allocation decisions. In other words, they prioritise long-term investment over short-term profitability.</p>
<p>That certainly seems to be right with S&amp;U. Over the past six years, the company&#8217;s earnings per share have more than doubled, rising at a compound annual growth rate of around 16% since 2014. The per share dividend has been increased by 100% since 2014. And it doesn&#8217;t look as if the firm is going to slow down any time soon. </p>
<h2>Beating the market </h2>
<p>In a trading update published today ahead of S&amp;U&#8217;s half-year numbers, which will be released at the end of September, the company said: &#8220;<em>In contrast with the current low levels of consumer confidence in the UK, demand for Advantage&#8217;s motor finance is healthy and transactions are ahead of last year.</em>&#8220;</p>
<p>Customer numbers at Advantage, S&amp;U&#8217;s motor finance business, are up 7% year-on-year according to the report, and the rest of the business is trading in line with expectations.</p>
<p>Commenting on the outlook for the market, S&amp;U said that &#8220;<em>despite a recent downturn in the new car market, the used car market remains robust and is likely to continue to do so, even assuming a no-deal Brexit.</em>&#8220;</p>
<p>City analysts are currently expecting the company to report earnings per share growth around 7% this year, putting it on a forward P/E of 8.5. A full-year dividend of 124p is also expected to give a dividend yield of 5.9%.</p>
<h2>Opportunity to buy</h2>
<p>If S&amp;U is not for you, then <strong>Tritax Big Box Reit</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-bbox/">LSE: BBOX</a>) could also offer market-beating returns. This real estate investment trust invests in logistics facilities around the UK, and business is booming.</p>
<p>According to its results for the six months ending 30 June, Big Box&#8217;s portfolio value has increased by nearly 13% since the end of 2018, and the contracted rent roll is up almost 4%. On the back of this growth, management has decided to increase the firm&#8217;s interim dividend by 2.2%. </p>
<p>This is just the latest in a string of dividend increases from the company. The distribution has grown at a compound annual rate of around 8% since 2014 as Big Box&#8217;s book value has quadrupled. After this growth, the dividend yield currently stands at 4.7%, with further increases likely as the firm continues to invest in its portfolio. Rent increases should also help push earnings and the dividend higher. </p>
<p>After a recent pullback, shares in Big Box are currently changing hands at a forward P/E of 21 and book value per share of just 1.1 &#8212; one of the lowest multiples placed on the stock for some time. I think investors should make the most of this opportunity and snap up shares in this leading industrial property owner today.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/08/08/3k-to-invest-id-buy-these-2-dividend-growth-stocks-without-delay/">£3k to invest? I&#8217;d buy these 2 dividend growth stocks without delay</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended S &amp; U and Tritax Big Box REIT. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Why I think Barclays shares could be perfect for my 2019 ISA</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/31/why-i-think-barclays-shares-could-be-perfect-for-my-2019-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2019 13:15:04 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barclays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=125190</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Roland Head explains why he thinks Barclays plc (LON:BARC) shareholders could soon see gains.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/31/why-i-think-barclays-shares-could-be-perfect-for-my-2019-isa/">Why I think Barclays shares could be perfect for my 2019 ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <strong>Barclays </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-barc/">LSE: BARC</a>) share price has fallen by 25% over the last year. For shareholders it&#8217;s been disappointing, but I think it pays to look at the bigger picture.</p>
<p>The bank&#8217;s performance <em>is </em>improving. The share price doesn&#8217;t reflect this yet, in my view, but I think patient investors will be rewarded at some point.</p>
<p>As I&#8217;ll explain, I think Barclays could be a great choice if you&#8217;re looking for an ISA buy. I&#8217;ve also found a smaller financial stock that looks attractive to me after <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/26/planning-a-1m-isa-these-two-7-yielders-could-help-you-get-there/">recent news</a>.</p>
<h2>Things can only get better?</h2>
<p>Barclays&#8217; shareholders received another surprise last week when the head of the group&#8217;s investment banking division, Tim Throsby, left suddenly after just two years.</p>
<p>Chief executive Jes Staley will take direct charge of this division, where recent performance has been disappointing. Staley is facing calls from activist investor Edward Bramson to scale back investment banking, but the CEO has made the division a core part of his strategy for the bank&#8217;s turnaround.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m not too concerned by all of this. Big banks&#8217; internal workings are very difficult for ordinary investors to understand. What I can see is that the big picture is improving at Barclays.</p>
<h2>I&#8217;d buy these numbers</h2>
<p>Excluding the cost of legal settlements and other misconduct costs, pre-tax profit rose by 20% to £5.7bn in 2018. The bank&#8217;s underlying return on average tangible equity, a measure of profitability, rose from -1.2% to 8.5%.</p>
<p>The end result was that cash generation improved enough to allow Staley to increase the dividend from 3p to 6.5p, a level last seen in 2015. A further 16% increase to 7.6p is expected for 2019, giving the stock a forecast dividend yield of nearly 5%.</p>
<p>Barclays shares <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/16/this-is-why-i-think-the-barclays-share-price-could-be-worth-buying-right-now/">remain very cheap</a> on other measures too. Trading at about 155p, the bank&#8217;s stock sits at a discount of 41% to its tangible book value of 262p per share. That discount may have been justified when the bank was losing money. But if the Barclays&#8217; profitability continues to improve, I expect the shares to trade much closer to their book value.</p>
<p>In my view, Barclays offers real value and an attractive income at current levels. I rate them as a buy.</p>
<h2>A small-cap alternative</h2>
<p>Small-cap lender <strong>S &amp; U </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) specialises in non-prime car loans and property bridging finance. This £228m firm has been in business since 1938 and has traded on the London Stock Exchange since 1983. It&#8217;s small, but has a long history.</p>
<p>The company is still owned and managed by the founding Coombs family. This continuity has provided patient shareholders with big gains over the years. Since 1999, the group&#8217;s share price has risen by 720%. The dividend has risen by 490% over the same period and hasn&#8217;t been cut since 1993, the earliest date for which I could find records.</p>
<p>S&amp;U shares have fallen by 20% over the last year as the firm has warned of slowing growth and tightened its lending criteria. I don&#8217;t really have a problem with this &#8212; it suggests a prudent long-term view from experienced management.</p>
<p>Last week&#8217;s results showed the firm generate a return on equity of nearly 18% &#8212; an impressive figure. With the shares trading on 7 times forecast earnings and offering a 6.5% dividend yield, I rate S&amp;U as a buy.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/31/why-i-think-barclays-shares-could-be-perfect-for-my-2019-isa/">Why I think Barclays shares could be perfect for my 2019 ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/why-barclays-shares-could-have-a-huge-second-half-of-2026/">Why Barclays shares could have a huge second half of 2026</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/29/up-50-in-a-year-thats-not-the-only-reason-id-consider-buying-barclays-over-nvidia-stock-today/">Up 50% in a year! That’s not the only reason I’d consider buying Barclays over Nvidia stock today</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/28/barclays-shares-could-soon-soar-another-21-according-to-the-latest-price-target/">Barclays shares could soon soar another 21%, according to the latest price target</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/25/after-a-160-rally-major-brokers-still-see-more-gains-for-barclays-shares-heres-why/">After a 160% rally, major brokers still see more gains for Barclays shares. Here’s why</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/22/how-many-barclays-shares-do-i-need-to-buy-to-get-a-1000-passive-income/">How many Barclays shares do I need to buy to get a £1,000 passive income?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://boards.fool.com/profile/sopavest/info.aspx">Roland Head</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays and S &amp; U. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Planning a £1m ISA? These two 7%+ yielders could help you get there</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/26/planning-a-1m-isa-these-two-7-yielders-could-help-you-get-there/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2019 11:19:17 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U and I Group]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=124925</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These two stocks could give you an income for life and help you make a million, I believe. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/26/planning-a-1m-isa-these-two-7-yielders-could-help-you-get-there/">Planning a £1m ISA? These two 7%+ yielders could help you get there</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Building a £1m ISA pot might seem like an unrealistic prospect at first, but I believe lender <strong>S&amp;U</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) can help you get there. </p>
<p>This company, <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/02/09/boohoo-com-plc-isnt-the-only-growth-stock-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">which is still family operated</a>, has generated a tremendous amount of wealth for shareholders over the past 10 years. According to my research, the stock has produced a total return for investors of 23.9% per annum in the past decade, more than doubling the overall market return over the same time frame.</p>
<p>And I see no reason why S&amp;U cannot continue to beat the market over the next decade. Today, the group unveiled a record set of results and the 10th year of profitable growth. Overall profit before tax increased to 14% to £34.6m.</p>
<p>Advantage Finance, S&amp;U&#8217;s Grimsby-based motor finance business was the most significant contributor to the bottom line, reporting a profit before tax for the year of £33.6m &#8212; the 19th consecutive year of record profitability for this business division.</p>
<h2>Quality business </h2>
<p>Even though past results are never a guide to future performance, S&amp;U&#8217;s track record over the past two decades implies that the company is well prepared for whatever the world throws at it. The fact that the business was able to survive the financial crisis (and continue to produce record profits) when so many of its larger, more liquid peers collapsed, stands testament to management&#8217;s stewardship.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why I am recommending the company for an ISA today. As well as its impressive track record, the stock also yields 7% (although after jumping 12% following today&#8217;s record results the yield has dropped to 6%) and trades at a P/E of just 8. </p>
<p>According to my calculations, if the company continues to compound investor capital at 23.9% per annum, it will take just 17-and-a-half years to turn a £20,000 ISA investment into £1m.</p>
<h2>Bricks and mortar </h2>
<p>Another stock I believe has the potential to make you a million is property developer <strong>U and I Group</strong> (LSE: UAI).</p>
<p>U and I has an attractive business model. The company develops properties and returns the profits to investors while retaining a portion for further reinvestment. In this financial year, the business is targeting £45m to £50m in development and trading gains, similar to the goal laid out last year.</p>
<p>If the company meets its target, the City believes it could pay out 13.4p per share in dividends for 2019, giving a dividend yield on the current price of 7.2%. At the same time, it looks as if the stock is trading at a significant discount to the gross value of its development assets.</p>
<p>According to the group&#8217;s figures, at the end of August 2018, U and I&#8217;s net asset value per share was 284p. Even though this number is now a few months out of date, I think it is still relatively reliable and tells us that shares in the company are trading at a discount of nearly 30% to net asset value. </p>
<p>So, if you&#8217;re looking for a cheap property stock yielding more than double the market average, then I strongly recommend taking a closer look at U and I. When combined in a portfolio with S&amp;U, this property income play could also help you reach that £1m ISA target.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/03/26/planning-a-1m-isa-these-two-7-yielders-could-help-you-get-there/">Planning a £1m ISA? These two 7%+ yielders could help you get there</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended S &amp; U. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Don&#8217;t waste money on banking stocks. These dividend shares could smash the FTSE 100</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/09/25/dont-waste-money-on-banking-stocks-these-dividend-shares-could-smash-the-ftse-100/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:20:10 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMC Markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=117028</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Roland Head looks at two small-cap financial stocks he'd buy ahead of the big FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) banks.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/09/25/dont-waste-money-on-banking-stocks-these-dividend-shares-could-smash-the-ftse-100/">Don&#8217;t waste money on banking stocks. These dividend shares could smash the FTSE 100</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>More than 10 years after the failure of Lehman Brothers, several of the UK&#8217;s largest banks are still struggling to win back investor confidence. I&#8217;m starting to lose patience.</p>
<p>I still own a few banking shares, but I&#8217;m starting to look for financial stocks to replace them in my portfolio. Increasingly, I feel that more attractive long-term returns are available elsewhere in the financial sector.</p>
<h3>New rules hit revenue</h3>
<p>Shares of online trading firm <strong>CMC Markets </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cmcx/">LSE: CMCX</a>) were down by 9% at the time of writing, following a profit warning this morning.</p>
<p>The company says that new European regulations limiting the amount of leverage available to retailer traders means that full-year revenue is expected to fall by about 20%, below previous guidance of 10%-20%.</p>
<p>In turn, this means that profits for the year are also likely to be lower than expected.</p>
<h3>A buying opportunity?</h3>
<p>I suspect these new rules will turn out to be a short-term headwind to which the company and its customers will adapt.</p>
<p>For example, CMC is already generating more than 50% of its UK and European revenue from professional and institutional clients, who are exempt from the new rules. And like its larger rival <strong>IG Group</strong>, CMC is also using its trading infrastructure to expand into stockbroking, via a partnership with Australia&#8217;s ANZ Bank.</p>
<p>Chief executive Peter Cruddas still has a 63% shareholding in <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/06/07/why-id-shun-the-barclays-share-price-and-snap-up-this-financial-stock-instead/">this highly profitable business</a>, which he founded in 1989. In my view Mr Cruddas is likely to work through these latest challenges and return the business to growth.</p>
<p>After today&#8217;s fall, the shares trade on about 13 times forecast earnings and offer a yield of more than 5%. I think that&#8217;s too cheap for a business which generated an operating margin of 32% last year. I&#8217;ve added the stock to my <em>buy</em> list for further research.</p>
<h3>Expert management</h3>
<p>Another small financial stock which benefits from owner-management is car loan specialist <strong>S &amp; U </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>). Chairman and vice-chairman Anthony and Graham Coombs have a combined 24% stake in this firm, which was founded by relative Clifford Coombs in 1938.</p>
<p>The firm published its half-year results today, showing continued strong growth. Group revenue rose by 23% to £44.5m during the six months to 31 July, while pre-tax profit was 17% higher at £16.7m.</p>
<p>Group receivables &#8212; a measure of S &amp; U&#8217;s loan book &#8212; rose by 22% to £279.8m, including continued growth at the firm&#8217;s new property loan business, Aspen Bridging.</p>
<h3>What could go wrong?</h3>
<p>Bad debt levels at the firm&#8217;s Advantage car loan business averaged 24.7% over the 12 months to 31 July, compared to 21.9% at the end of January 2018.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/05/18/why-id-sell-this-small-cap-star-but-buy-this-ftse-100-stock/">These figures seem high</a> but appear to be fairly normal in the sub-prime sector, where borrowing costs are high to reflect the likelihood of default.</p>
<p>The company says that it&#8217;s tightened underwriting standards and is starting to see impairment rates fall back towards historical levels. It&#8217;s also worth noting that return on average capital employed remained high, at 15.4%, during the first half. That&#8217;s only slightly lower than the 16.4% seen last year.</p>
<p>The stock trades on just 10 times forecast earnings with a dividend yield of 4.7%. I&#8217;d be happy to buy the shares at this level.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/09/25/dont-waste-money-on-banking-stocks-these-dividend-shares-could-smash-the-ftse-100/">Don&#8217;t waste money on banking stocks. These dividend shares could smash the FTSE 100</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/04/ftse-250-stock-cmcs-shares-have-rocketed-51-whats-going-on/">FTSE 250 stock CMC&#8217;s shares have rocketed 51%! What&#8217;s going on?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/04/cmc-markets-a-ftse-dividend-star-worth-considering-for-an-isa-or-sipp/">CMC Markets: a FTSE dividend star worth considering for an ISA or SIPP?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/03/1000-buys-268-shares-in-this-dirt-cheap-dividend-stock-thats-on-fire-in-2026/">£1,000 buys 268 shares in this dirt-cheap dividend stock that’s on fire in 2026</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/sopavest/info.aspx">Roland Head</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended S &amp; U. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Why Provident Financial plc isn&#8217;t the only banking stock I&#8217;d buy for my ISA</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/03/17/why-provident-financial-plc-isnt-the-only-banking-stock-id-buy-for-my-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2018 11:30:56 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Provident Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=110642</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Provident Financial plc (LON:PFG) could be a long-term turnaround buy, says Roland Head.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/03/17/why-provident-financial-plc-isnt-the-only-banking-stock-id-buy-for-my-isa/">Why Provident Financial plc isn&#8217;t the only banking stock I&#8217;d buy for my ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The 5 April ISA deadline is now just three weeks away. If you&#8217;re keen to use some of this year&#8217;s allowance to increase your exposure to the banking sector, I think it might be worth looking beyond the usual high street names.</p>
<h3>One stock I&#8217;d consider</h3>
<p>Doorstep lender <strong>Provident Financial </strong>(LSE: PFG), was founded 138 years ago. The company made headlines for all the wrong reasons last year when its share price collapsed following a botched attempt to switch from self-employed loan agents to an in-house workforce.</p>
<p>Several profit warnings followed. The firm has also agreed a £172m settlement with the FCA relating to sales of a credit card payment protection plan. All of this has left the group slightly short of cash, so when Provident released its 2017 results in February, the firm also announced plans for a £300m rights issue.</p>
<p>Despite this surprise fundraising, its 2017 results were largely as expected. Indeed, the figures showed early progress with the group&#8217;s turnaround. I believe the new management has been open about the problems it faces and is working hard to fix them.</p>
<h3>The right time to buy?</h3>
<p>Its two largest shareholders are Woodford Investment Management and Invesco. Together, they control 48% of the stock. Both fund managers have indicated their support for the rights issue, so it seems fairly certain to succeed.</p>
<p>The deadline for taking part is the close of business on 19 March. But in my view a simpler approach to investing is to wait for the shares to go &#8216;ex-rights&#8217; on 22 March, when the share price will fall sharply.</p>
<p>I expect an &#8216;ex-rights&#8217; price of about 675p. By adjusting the current earnings forecasts to allow for the new shares, I estimate that at this level the shares will trade on a 2018 forecast P/E of around 12, falling to a 2019 P/E of around 9.</p>
<p>Although <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/01/20/can-you-triple-your-money-with-provident-financial-plc-in-2018/">it&#8217;s not without risk</a>, I believe Provident is likely to be a profitable turnaround buy at current levels, with attractive income potential.</p>
<h3>A family-run choice</h3>
<p>Family-owned firms often perform well over long periods. Owner-managers have a much stronger incentive to avoid risk and plan for long-term growth than the hired executives who run most big firms.</p>
<p>A good example of this is car loan firm <strong>S &amp; U </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>). Founded in 1938, this group used to be a doorstep lender, but this business was sold in 2015 and the firm is now a motor finance specialist.</p>
<p>Most borrowers have poor credit histories, so interest charges are high, as are default rates. But this is part of the group&#8217;s business model and the group&#8217;s return on equity &#8212; a key measure of profitability &#8212; has stayed level at 15%-16% since 2015.</p>
<h3>Sustainable growth?</h3>
<p>The group&#8217;s <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/02/09/boohoo-com-plc-isnt-the-only-growth-stock-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">February trading statement</a> reported <em>&#8220;record-breaking&#8221;</em> growth, with customer numbers up by 25% to 54,000 over the last year. Chairman and founding family member Anthony Coombs describes this growth as <em>&#8220;sustainable&#8221;</em> and confirmed plans for continued dividend growth.</p>
<p>Looking ahead to the current year, analysts have pencilled in a payout of 103p per share, which should be covered 1.95 times by forecast earnings of 200.6p per share. These figures give the stock a forecast P/E of 11.6 with a prospective yield of 4.4%. I&#8217;d rate the stock as a buy at these levels.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/03/17/why-provident-financial-plc-isnt-the-only-banking-stock-id-buy-for-my-isa/">Why Provident Financial plc isn&#8217;t the only banking stock I&#8217;d buy for my ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Roland Head has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended S &amp; U. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Boohoo.com plc isn&#8217;t the only growth stock that could make you a millionaire</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/09/boohoo-com-plc-isnt-the-only-growth-stock-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2018 13:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boohoo.com]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=108862</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This little-known growth stock makes Boohoo.com plc (LON: BOO) look bad. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/09/boohoo-com-plc-isnt-the-only-growth-stock-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">Boohoo.com plc isn&#8217;t the only growth stock that could make you a millionaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Over the past few years,<b> Boohoo.com</b> (LSE: BOO) has racked up a record as one of the UK&#8217;s top growth companies. The online clothing retailer has captured the imagination of investors and customers as its low-cost offering has disrupted the industry. </p>
<p>Earnings per share have risen 10-fold, and since its IPO, at the beginning of 2014, the stock has returned just under 230%. </p>
<p>However, despite Boohoo&#8217;s attractiveness, there&#8217;s one other company out there that looks to me to be a much better growth stock. </p>
<h3>Beating the market </h3>
<p><b>S&amp;U</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) is a motor finance business that is still majority owned by its founding family.</p>
<p>According to figures from Morningstar, £100 invested in S&amp;U&#8217;s stock at the beginning of <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/12/07/too-late-to-buy-this-stock-thats-turned-10000-into-80000/">2008 worth be worth £1,627 today</a> including reinvested dividends. On an annualised basis that&#8217;s a return of 36.3% per annum. An investment in Boohoo has yielded a similar performance since it came to the market at the beginning of 2014, but while shares in the fashion business currently trade at a forward P/E of 50, S&amp;U trades at a forward earnings multiple of just 9.3. </p>
<p>It would appear that the market is expecting big things from Boohoo, although the high multiple leaves plenty of room for disappointment if the predicted growth does not materialise. Meanwhile, S&amp;U&#8217;s discounted valuation offers plenty of room for upside if the company performs better than expected. </p>
<h3>Beating the market </h3>
<p>Recently, shares in S&amp;U have come under pressure due to concerns about rising default rates in the car finance sector. The company is not immune to these factors. It reported a slight uptake in impairments earlier this year. However, S&amp;U&#8217;s management has been in this business a long time (and owns the majority of the shares), so it is taking action to protect the business. </p>
<p>According to a year-end trading update published by the company today, S&amp;U has tightened its lending standards over the past few months, and a new software system is expected to &#8220;<i>lead to further growth in high-quality business, margin improvement and a gradual reversal in the recent, and historically small, uptick in impairment-to-revenue.</i>&#8221; Customer numbers for motor finance reached a record 54,000 last year, and the number of transactions grew by 22% so it would seem S&amp;U is not struggling for customers. </p>
<p>For the full year, City analysts are expecting the company to report earnings per share growth of 18.5%, followed by an increase of 16.4% next year. The shares also support a 5.3% dividend yield, which is expected to grow in line with earnings. </p>
<p>Overall, considering S&amp;U&#8217;s discount valuation and high teens growth rate, it looks to me as if the company is well placed to continue producing enormous returns for investors going forward. On the other hand, Boohoo is growing rapidly, but its high valuation does not leave much room for error. </p>
<p>Still, if it can continue to win over customers, then the sky is the limit for Boohoo. The firm recently raised its full-year sales forecast for the third time after <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/02/07/1-secret-small-cap-growth-stock-id-consider-with-boohoo-com-plc/">revenue doubled for the four months ended December</a> and with more than £100m of cash on the balance sheet, the group is well capitalised to fund growth. Analysts are expecting the company to report earnings per share growth of 34% for 2018, followed by an increase of 27% for 2019, although considering its record of beating City forecasts, I would not be surprised if these figures turn out to be conservative.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/09/boohoo-com-plc-isnt-the-only-growth-stock-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">Boohoo.com plc isn&#8217;t the only growth stock that could make you a millionaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/11/prediction-by-2027-this-battered-ftse-aim-stock-could-turn-3000-into/">Prediction: by 2027, this battered FTSE AIM stock could turn £3,000 into…</a></li></ul><p><em>Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended boohoo.com and S &amp; U. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>These 2 growth stocks are ridiculously cheap</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/21/these-2-growth-stocks-are-ridiculously-cheap/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[G A Chester]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Empresaria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=100181</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>G A Chester is struck by the cheap valuations of two impressive growth stocks.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/21/these-2-growth-stocks-are-ridiculously-cheap/">These 2 growth stocks are ridiculously cheap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Empresaria </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-emr/">LSE: EMR</a>) shares climbed over 5% to 154.5p in early trading today after the international specialist staffing group said it had delivered a record first-half performance.</p>
<p>The company reported net fee income (gross profit) 26% ahead of the same period last year, with the strongest trading being in the UK, Continental Europe and Asia Pacific regions. The board said: <em>&#8220;The group remains on course to meet market expectations for the full year.&#8221;</em></p>
<h3>Impressive growth</h3>
<p>Empresaria was founded in 1996 and floated on AIM in 2004 with 19.9m shares in issue. The share count has increased to 49m, as the company has had a number of placings over the years to fund its international expansion and widen its sector expertise.</p>
<p>Despite the share dilution, it&#8217;s delivered impressive earnings-per-share (EPS) growth. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since flotation has been 19.5% and over the last five years it&#8217;s notched up 23.3%.</p>
<h3>Ridiculously cheap</h3>
<p>The performance of Empresaria&#8217;s shares has been less impressive. The CAGR since its 65p IPO works out at just 5.2%.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s happened is that the shares have de-rated. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has fallen from 47 to 13.2. Furthermore, it drops to 10.8 on analysts&#8217; forecasts of 22.2% EPS growth for the current year. And with the price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.5 being well below the fair value marker of one, the shares appear ridiculously cheap.</p>
<p>The reason may be that analysts are forecasting EPS growth for 2018 to fall to less than 5%. I haven&#8217;t been able to get my hands on broker notes on the company and I&#8217;m at a loss to understand why such an abrupt deceleration of EPS growth is forecast. It&#8217;s not a sector-wide phenomenon.</p>
<p>The only thing I can think of is that Empresaria&#8217;s management has given cautious guidance to analysts on an under-promise-and-over-deliver basis. If so, the shares could be a snip at their current price. I tentatively rate them a &#8216;buy&#8217; but would suggest potential purchasers investigate further.</p>
<h3>Bargain basement buy</h3>
<p>FTSE SmallCap firm <strong>S &amp; U</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) is another stock that appears ridiculously cheap, given both a record of strong growth <em>and</em> forecasts for it to continue for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>In its latest results, the company reported a 17th successive year of record pre-tax profits at its Advantage Motor Finance business. The chairman of the sub-prime specialist commented: <em>&#8220;Brexit, Trump and another record set of results from S &amp; U, plus<b> </b>ça change.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>My immediate response to such smug trumpet blowing tends to be <em>&#8220;uh-oh, pride cometh before a fall,&#8221;</em> but in this case management&#8217;s confidence does appear to be justified.</p>
<p>However despite this, and City forecasts of mid-teens EPS growth this year and next, the shares are trading near a 52-week low at 1,931p. A P/E of 9.6 for the current year, falling to a mere 8.4 next year, PEG readouts of 0.6 for both years and a dividend yield of 5.4%, rising to 6%, combine to persuade me that the stock is a bargain-basement buy at the current price.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/21/these-2-growth-stocks-are-ridiculously-cheap/">These 2 growth stocks are ridiculously cheap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>G A Chester has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Why I&#8217;d buy these two rising financial firms</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/30/why-id-buy-these-two-rising-financial-firms/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 11:38:17 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-Standard Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=99330</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These finance companies look to be top income and growth plays. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/30/why-id-buy-these-two-rising-financial-firms/">Why I&#8217;d buy these two rising financial firms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>S&amp;U </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) flies under the radar of most investors, but that does not mean its returns are poor. In fact, shares in financial services company significantly outperformed all four of the UK’s large high street banks over the past five years, and it seems as if the group is only just getting started.</p>
<h3>Only just getting started </h3>
<p>Since mid-2012 shares in S&amp;U have risen by 142% excluding dividends. Over this period the company has returned 330p to shareholders via dividends, giving a total return of 179%. Since 2012, the company’s earnings per share have more than doubled from 92.6p to 200p as the group has benefitted from growth in the non-traditional finance market. </p>
<p>S&amp;U is focused on the specialist motor finance market, a market that has seen explosive growth in recent years. It has been active in this market since its founding in 1938, and while there are concerns about the level of lending to car owners since the financial crisis, with such a rich history behind it, it is likely S&amp;U is prepared for all eventualities.</p>
<p>And after doubling earnings in the past five years, City analysts are expecting the group’s growth to continue in the years ahead. Analysts have pencilled-in earnings per share growth of 17% for the fiscal year ending 31 Jan 2018, followed by growth of 15% for the next year, taking earnings per share to 231p. Based on this estimate, shares in the company are currently trading at a 2019 P/E of 8.7. </p>
<p>Analysts also believe management will increase the company’s dividend payout by 27% over the next two years, which should give a dividend yield of 5.8% by 2019. Based on these metrics, S&amp;U looks to be an incredibly attractive income and growth play.</p>
<h3>Cheap growth</h3>
<p><strong>Non-Standard Finance</strong> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/company/?ticker=lse-nsf">(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-nsf/">LSE: NSF</a>)</a> does not have the same extensive history as S&amp;U, but City analysts are still expecting explosive growth in the years ahead for the company. </p>
<p>After reporting losses for the past two years, for 2017 the company is projected to report a pre-tax profit of £22.8m and earnings per share of 5.3p. Next year pre-tax profit is expected to leap higher to £31m on revenue of £132m, which should translate into earnings per share of 7.9p, up 48% year-on-year. </p>
<p>Considering this explosive growth rate, it’s no surprise shares in the company have risen by 32% year-to-date, and there could be further gains ahead. Indeed, even after recent gains, shares in Non-Standard Finance only trade at a forward P/E of 13.6, falling to 9.2 for 2018, a valuation which looks remarkably cheap considering the company’s explosive earnings growth. </p>
<p>Further, city analysts have pencilled-in a dividend of 2.8p per share for this year and 3.9p for 2018, giving a forward dividend yield of 5.5% and plenty of room for further payout growth with a dividend cover of two. Once again, another non-traditional lender that looks to be a great income and growth play.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/30/why-id-buy-these-two-rising-financial-firms/">Why I&#8217;d buy these two rising financial firms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/RupertHargreav/info.aspx">Rupert Hargreaves</a> has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Is this company a better pick than Neil Woodford favourite Provident Financial plc?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/09/27/is-this-company-a-better-pick-than-neil-woodford-favourite-provident-financial-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2016 09:45:33 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[G A Chester]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Neil Woodford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Provident Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S & U]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=86754</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Could returns of Provident Financial plc (LON:PFG) be eclipsed by those of a smaller rival?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/09/27/is-this-company-a-better-pick-than-neil-woodford-favourite-provident-financial-plc/">Is this company a better pick than Neil Woodford favourite Provident Financial plc?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>S&amp;U</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sus/">LSE: SUS</a>) released strong half-year results this morning &#8212; as expected &#8212; and the shares are unchanged in early trading. At a price of 2,435p, this non-standard finance specialist is valued at £291m.</p>
<p>Could S&amp;U be a better buy than its £4.3bn <strong>FTSE 100</strong> peer <strong>Provident Financial</strong> (LSE: PFG)? The latter is Neil Woodford&#8217;s top pick in the financial sector, being the number five holding in his flagship equity income fund.</p>
<h3>Advantage</h3>
<p>S&amp;U today announced a 39% rise in revenue on the same period last year. Profit before tax and earnings per share came in 35% and 36% higher, respectively, and the board hiked the first interim dividend of the year by 20%.</p>
<p>The company, which was established in 1938 and continues to be carefully stewarded by the descendants of the founding family, sold its original home credit business last year for a profit of £50m, leaving Advantage Finance (motor finance) as its major operation. Today&#8217;s superb numbers and a strong balance sheet (record low gearing of 29%) vindicate management&#8217;s decision to dispose of the doorstep-lending business to focus on high-growth motor finance.</p>
<p>The proceeds from the disposal and a recent agreement with its lenders to increase committed funding facilities by £15m to £85m give S&amp;U substantial headroom to fund both future organic growth at Advantage and new initiatives. An example of the latter is a pilot property bridging finance business, where management sees <em>&#8220;significant potential.&#8221;</em></p>
<h3>Excellent time to buy</h3>
<p>Ahead of today&#8217;s interim numbers, analysts were forecasting earnings growth of 28% for the full year, followed by 20% next year, giving price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratios of 0.5 and 0.6, indicating that now could be an excellent time to buy this stock.</p>
<p>The appeal of S&amp;U is only increased by a prospective 3.6% dividend yield, rising to 4.3% next year, and by Advantage having continued to trade <em>&#8220;very well&#8221;</em> since the Brexit vote and, historically, having <em>&#8220;prospered through periods of both economic upturn and downturn.&#8221;</em></p>
<h3>Woodford&#8217;s favourite</h3>
<p>Emphasising the attractiveness of the non-standard motor finance market, Provident Financial, extended its operations of sub-prime banking, and home and online consumer credit with the acquisition of motor finance business Moneybarn two years ago.</p>
<p>In its most recent half-year results, Provident reported an 18% rise in group profit before tax, with Moneybarn being the smallest division but posting the highest growth at 45%.</p>
<p>Woodford has been buying more shares in Provident in recent months, having met with the group&#8217;s chief executive and senior management since the Brexit vote. Woodford and his team liked what they heard, and said the meeting <em>&#8220;strengthens our conviction in the company’s long-term prospects&#8221;</em>.</p>
<p>As a FTSE 100 company with diverse businesses, Provident&#8217;s valuation is somewhat higher than S&amp;U&#8217;s. Nevertheless, it&#8217;s delivered consistent annual double-digit earnings growth. And with a prospective dividend yield of 4.5%, rising to 4.9% next year, I also rate this stock a <em>buy</em> based on a current share price of 2,850p.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/09/27/is-this-company-a-better-pick-than-neil-woodford-favourite-provident-financial-plc/">Is this company a better pick than Neil Woodford favourite Provident Financial plc?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>G A Chester 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 <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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