The Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE: RR.) share price has soared beyond my wildest dreams. In late 2022, the shares were down around 70p. As I write, we’re looking at 460p. That’s more than a sixfold rise.
And to think, I feared the company might even go bust during the stock market crash.
More growth
Well, that’s it, a nice recovery and we’ll see something steady from here… that’s what I thought going into 2024.
Wrong! This year alone, the price has climbed more than 50%. That’s a cracking run on its own, even without the big climb that came before it.
Have things really gone crazy? Part of me thinks yes. It’s not the first time I’ve seen investors pile into a growth stock and push it way up. I’ve seen it lots of times.
What can then happen is like a game of chicken. Everyone hangs on as long as they can until it all comes crashing down.
Strong outlook
But I’ve also looked at forecasts and valuations. And that makes part of me think Rolls-Royce shares might still be a good long-term buy. And maybe the market hasn’t lost its marbles after all.
Forecasts put the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio as high as 32 for the current year. But analysts see earnings rising fast, to pull the P/E down to 23 by 2026.
That’s still way above, say, the P/E of 6.5 at Barclays. But 23’s by no means outrageous for a growth stock.
I know it’s not quite in the same league, but Tesla is on a P/E of 81.
Company optimism
The Rolls board seems to be full of good cheer too. With May’s update, CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç brimmed with enthusiasm. He spoke of “a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing business,” of growth, contractual improvements, improved margins, efficiencies, value…
And he thinks the firm “will continue to drive growth and create value for all our stakeholders in the mid-term and beyond.”
Now, when I see that kind of bullish mood in a CEO, I like it. But I also hear alarm bells.
Optimism vs risk
The problem is, it can sometimes push the optimism a bit too far. It can set up lofty expectations. And if every one of them is met, then all might be just fine.
But if just one target, one hope, fails to be met, even by only a little, that can prick the bubble. And it can be hard to get people back on board after a short-term slump.
And that’s another thing I’ve seen more often than I’d like. I’ve seen good long-term growth stocks slammed due to a short-term disappointment, when it’s just not deserved.
Verdict
My verdict? If Rolls-Royce can live up to the level of optimism I see built into its share price, we could see sustainable rewards.
But if it should fall short by even a tiny margin, well… that might mean better buy prices ahead. And I’ll probably miss them. Just like I missed all the past ones.
The post Has the Rolls-Royce share price gone crazy? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
5 stocks for trying to build wealth after 50
Inflation recently hit 40-year highs… the ‘cost of living crisis’ rumbles on… the prospect of a new Cold War with Russia and China looms large, while the global economy could be teetering on the brink of recession.
Whether you’re a newbie investor or a seasoned pro, deciding which stocks to add to your shopping list can be a daunting prospect during such unprecedented times. Yet despite the stock market’s recent gains, we think many shares still trade at a discount to their true value.
Fortunately, The Motley Fool UK analyst team have short-listed five companies that they believe STILL boast significant long-term growth prospects despite the global upheaval…
We’re sharing the names in a special FREE investing report that you can download today. We believe these stocks could be a great fit for any well-diversified portfolio with the goal of building wealth in your 50’s.
Claim your free copy now
More reading
Is the Rolls-Royce share price overvalued? Here’s what the charts say!
Why’s the Rolls-Royce share price getting so expensive?
Nearing £5, could the Rolls-Royce share price hit £6?
Should I buy more Rolls-Royce shares near 500p?
Will going nuclear drive the Rolls-Royce share price even higher?
Alan Oscroft has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc, Rolls-Royce Plc, and Tesla. 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.