I’m searching for the best growth shares to buy when I next have spare cash to invest. And I think the following two contenders could be too cheap for me to miss.
Babcock International
UK defence shares are packed with significant long-term potential. But following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, many of these companies now look quite expensive compared with previous levels.
This is not the case with Babcock International Group (LSE:BAB). With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.4 times, it trades at a healthy discount to many of its industry peers. This includes FTSE 100-listed BAE Systems, and US stocks Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation.
Their earnings multiples are shown in the table below.
Company
Prospective P/E ratio
BAE Systems
18.8 times
Northrop Grumman
17.6 times
Lockheed Martin
17.7 times
RTX Corporation
18.7 times
Like those businesses, Babcock is enjoying a steady increase in orders and sales as Western nations rebuild their arsenals. Despite recent disposals, revenues improved around 2% year on year to £2.2bn in the six months to September, while its contract backlog remained strong at £9.6bn (versus £9.9bn a year earlier).
Babcock’s expected to release more good news when it reports full-year results this month. As a result, City analysts expect earnings to rise 13% in the current financial period (to March 2025). Growth is tipped to improve to 14% in fiscal 2026 too.
Lumpy contract timings are a constant threat to earnings forecasts for defence companies. Any such scenario could pull Babcock’s shares lower again.
But on balance, I still find its investment case very attractive. And what’s more, the cheapness of its shares could help limit any price falls if news flow disappoints.
Centamin
I’m also considering adding mining company Centamin (LSE:CEY) shares to my portfolio. Gold prices have soared in recent months, and in the current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment they look like they could have much further to go.
I can capitalise on a rising metal price by buying an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks price movements. But I can also receive a passive income by buying a dividend-paying share instead.
This is where Centamin comes in. Dividends are never guaranteed, of course. But based on current payout forecasts, the firm yields a healthy 3.1%. This is roughly in line with the FTSE 250 average.
Commodities values can be extremely volatile. So I wouldn’t just buy the African miner for the short term, as its share price could collapse if gold reverses.
This is why I’m also considering buying it to diversify my portfolio, and protect it if economic conditions worsen and broader financial markets sink. Safe-haven demand for precious metals tends to spike in such circumstances.
And at current prices Centamin looks like a bargain. City analysts think earnings will soar 229% in 2024, leaving its shares on a price-to-earnings (PEG) ratio of below 0.1.
Any reading below 1 suggests that a share is undervalued.
The post 2 dirt cheap growth shares I’d buy to hold for AT LEAST 5 years! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Should you buy Babcock now?
Don’t make any big decisions yet.
Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — has revealed 5 Shares for the Future of Energy.
And he believes they could bring spectacular returns over the next decade.
Since the war in Ukraine, nations everywhere are scrambling for energy independence, he says. Meanwhile, they’re hellbent on achieving net zero emissions. No guarantees, but history shows…
When such enormous changes hit a big industry, informed investors can potentially get rich.
So, with his new report, Mark’s aiming to put more investors in this enviable position.
Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!
Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now
More reading
4 UK shares outperforming their US rivals
2 dirt-cheap growth shares I might buy in July!
Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. 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.