A big stock that will break the ceiling rather than the floor
It’s one of the 20 largest companies in America and overseas investing expert Rodney Hobson believes there’s great likelihood of further upside. He also updates his view on three previous share tips.
1st May 2024 09:02
by Rodney Hobson from interactive investor
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Sales are flat but profits are up at consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) in the latest quarter. At least that is the right way round, and a big improvement on the previous quarter.
Net income rose 10% to nearly $3.8 billion in the three months to 31 March, although sales edged up only 1% to $20.2 billion. Higher prices have been passed on to consumers in North America, Latin America and Europe, such is the strength of the P&G brands, so margins improved despite the difficult economic circumstances that prevailed in many markets. Slightly more favourable commodity prices helped, but the main improvement came from higher productivity.
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Three months ago, P&G lowered its guidance for the year to the end of June, saying sales would be flat or even lower. This time it raised its forecast for earnings per share by two percentage points, while indicating that sales growth would be 2-4%, despite the strong US dollar taking a similar percentage off the conversion rate. In constant currencies, sales will be up 4-5%.
Sales volumes are in fact up 2-3% in most parts of the group, not great but a solid performance after a tough time last year. The future is looking much brighter as consumer spending patterns return to pre-pandemic levels and P&G continues to gain market share.
P&G shares have quite rightly held up well. They are bumping up against what has been a solid ceiling just over $160, where the price/earnings (PE) ratio is challenging at 26 and the yield is reasonable if unexciting at 2.4%. However, shareholders have been enjoying a dividend increase of 7% introduced in January – an upgrade for the 68th year in a row – and the prospect of continuing higher payouts year by year is very real.
The group has an excellent cash flow, prompting management to propose to return $15 billion to investors this year, including $6 billion worth of stock repurchases but most of the cash going into dividends.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Hobson’s choice: While the shares will have difficulty breaking higher, there is a potential floor at $156. In my view they will break the ceiling rather than the floor. Hold for the moment but be prepared to buy on any weakness.
Updates: Revenue was down and there was another massive, albeit reduced, loss at Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) in the latest quarter. The shares have fallen again, dropping below $170. I rated the shares a sell in February at $204 even though there seemed to be a floor at $200, and again in March at $190, warning that the floor at $180 might not be as solid as it looked then. There is simply no attraction here and the next floor looks to be as low as $120. Sell before it is too late.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) disappointed markets when revenue from its blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelara was flat at $2.45 billion in the first quarter. Total revenue, however, was only just shy of analysts’ expectations at just under $21.4 billion. J&J raised its dividend and upgraded its full-year projections. The shares have slipped a little since I recommended them as a buy for ISA portfolios last month, making them even more of a buy now.
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Better news from Heineken (EURONEXT:HEIA), where revenue rose 7.2% to €8.2 billion in the first quarter. Early worries that price rises were discouraging drinkers have been assuaged by news that it is the premium brands that are outperforming. Investors should bear in mind my earlier warning that Heineken has struggled to turn higher sales into higher profits, but at €91 the shares merit a hold, with the advice to buy below €90 still standing.
Rodney Hobson is a freelance contributor and not a direct employee of interactive investor.
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