2 November 2023
Rob Burgeman, senior investment manager at wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin
Marks and Spencer – Not a turkey anymore
“Marks and Spencer (M&S) is a company we all associate with Christmas in one way or another. After years in the doldrums, its turnaround programme has at last begun to yield results with a bumper set of figures in its last market update.
“There have been plenty of false dawns in the past, but this time there is good reason to believe that M&S has turned a corner. Profitability is the highest it has been for some time, its once waning clothes and homeware divisions are on the up, and management feels confident enough in the medium-term outlook to restore a modest dividend.
“A storm in a teacup about its Christmas advert aside, M&S should be a festive winner as families dig deep to spend a bit more after a year characterised by the cost-of-living crisis, among other issues.”
ITV – Time to enjoy a Christmas show?
“ITV is a festive staple, with most families in the UK sitting down on the settee to watch a Christmas special or blockbuster film. But, shareholders will no doubt have hoped the last few years had been a bit less action packed.
“The shares have lost around half their value since February 2022, and have fallen even further on a five-year view. A weak advertising market, competition from streamers, and general worries about UK economic growth have weighed on ITV in recent times.
“That said, with a dividend yield of more than 8%¹ and potential growth coming from the likes of ITV Studios and ITVX, they may well prove a gift for someone next year if they are willing to take the risk.”
Diageo – Get out a festive tipple
“December is typically one of the booziest months of the year, between office Christmas parties, meeting up with friends, obligatory alcohol-themed gifts from distant relatives, and then New Year celebrations. What company is better placed to benefit than Diageo, one of the world’s largest products of spirits?
“Diageo’s stable of businesses is a veritable who’s who of premium alcohol brands. Among them are the likes of Guinness, Smirnoff vodka, Tanqueray gin, and Johnnie Walker whisky. The group is widely seen as a real bellwether of the world economy, given its vast geographic spread.
“The company recently issued a profits warning, which sent the share price tumbling – it is now below where it was in early 2020. While it is suffering now, the company is well managed and diversified – it could prove to be another gift that keeps on giving.”
JD Sports Fashion – Work off that festive feast
“We all like to enjoy ourselves at Christmas and, come January, many people find themselves taking on health-related New Year’s resolutions or signing up to their local gym to get back in shape.
“One beneficiary of that seasonal cycle tends to be JD Sports Fashion, better known simply as JD Sports, which has been a City favourite for several years now. JD Sports has a knack for pulling rabbits out of the hat and turning round the fortunes of seemingly beleaguered sportswear brands.
“The shares seemed to defy logic during the Covid-19 pandemic as many people splurged on tracksuits and athleisure wear while staying at home. The price has fallen considerably from its peak to what could be a relatively attractive entry point as UK consumer confidence suffers. They could have further to fall, but the company is well managed and should be posed to bounce back when the UK economy recovers.”
– ENDS –
Rob Burgeman and his fellow investment managers at RBC Brewin Dolphin put together bespoke investment portfolios for clients based on their long-term objectives and their attitude to risk. The portfolios will have a mixture of hand-picked holdings in them including third party funds and individual stocks that are researched and recommended by RBC Brewin Dolphin’s in-house research team.
Disclaimers
The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. We or a connected person may have positions in or options on the securities mentioned herein or may buy, sell or offer to make a purchase or sale of such securities from time to time. For further information, please refer to our conflicts policy which is available on request or can be accessed via our website at www.brewin.co.uk.
PRESS INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Peter McFarlane peter.mcfarlane@framecreates.co.uk / Tel: 07412 739 093
Richard Janes richard.janes@brewin.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0) 20 3201 3343
NOTES TO EDITORS
About RBC Brewin Dolphin
RBC Brewin Dolphin is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading wealth managers and traces its origins back to 1762. With £51.8* billion in assets under management, we offer award-winning, personalised wealth management services from bespoke, discretionary investment management to retirement planning and tax-efficient investing.
Our qualified investment managers and financial planners are based in 33 offices across the UK, Jersey and Republic of Ireland. They are committed to the most exacting standards of client service, with long-term thinking and absolute focus on our clients’ needs at the core.
As part of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), we are now able to draw on the strength of a global financial institution to continue to improve the service we provide to our clients and drive further innovation across our business.
*as at 31st October 2023.
Disclaimers
The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested.
RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Financial Services Commission. Registered Office: 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales company number: 2135876. VAT number: GB 365 3456 40.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 94,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
¹ Source: https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/i/itv-plc-ordinary-10p