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When looking for stocks with the best value, we all need to do our own research. Our knowledge, goals, risk taking, and all sorts of individual circumstances will be different.
But to start, I would say we really need to take note of what the experts say. I still do it now, even with decades of experience in the stock market.
It doesn't mean we should look for people to tell us what to buy and then just do what they tell us. No, but I like to hear as many opinions as I can as it really helps me make my own decisions.
Here are some ideas from some of the experts and how they fit with my thinking.
what they are seeing
The IG spread betting platform has Marks and Spencer as an action to take into account in 2024.
I agree and I'm glad the high street giant is back on the market. FTSE 100. He wasn't sure he would ever see that happening, as the company seemed to keep repeating the same old failures.
Even after the success of 2023, the stock has forecast price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios of 10-11 in the coming years. The retail sector is still very uncertain, but I think I see good value here.
IG also likes the look of Central, whom I confess I had taken out his eye. But after recovering from a pretty bad 2022, the stock now has a modest valuation. However, we have a drop in profits for 2024.
Yum Yum
People often say that we should buy what we know. and I'm in Greggs enough times each week to surely have some idea about it.
Fidelity considers him a possible pick for 2024. And the bakery chain has weathered the last few tough years quite well.
Inflation is falling, but it remains a risk. And with a P/E of around 19, the stock isn't obviously cheap. Still, cheap and good are not always the same.
Property
right movement It's also on Fidelity's list and is one I've been keeping an eye on as well. The weakness of the real estate market must be the biggest risk. But that could change when interest rates start to fall.
The interactive investor has discovered Tritax Large Box as a possible winner. It is a real estate investment trust (REIT), focused on logistics facilities.
The stock is up a bit, but the forecast makes it look like a good value to me. Commercial property still looks a bit risky, but there could be decent dividends here too.
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Small cap
Finally, in an interview, small-cap expert Simon Thompson estimated that smaller stocks could have a good year.
He offered Billington Holdings as a candidate. It's a structural steel manufacturer with a market capitalization of just £58m, and there could be a bit of volatility there. However, the valuation is not exaggerated and could do well when the construction industry recovers.
My New Year's Resolution: Spend more time researching small cap stocks,
