European stocks were average to poor performers last year.However they can be good bets for this year for many reasons including upcoming elections in countries such as Greece, Ireland, Spain and the UK and more importantly yesterday’s major announcement from European Central Bank.
From a Bloomberg article:
Mario Draghi led the European Central Bank into a new era, committing to a quantitative easing program worth at least 1.1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) to counter the threat of a deflationary spiral.
The ECB president shrugged off determined opposition led by German officials with a pledge to buy 60 billion euros every month through September next year in a once-and-for-all push to put more cash into circulation and revive inflation. To assuage critics, the region’s 19 national central banks will make 80 percent of the purchases and take on any risk they carry.
A near-stagnant economy and outright declines in consumer prices forced Draghi’s hand six years after the Federal Reserve took a similar step — and three months after the U.S. central bank ended its purchases. The 67-year-old Italian’s gamble is that the benefits of QE — should it work — outweigh the threat of a backlash in Germany.
Source: Draghi Commits ECB to Trillion-Euro Asset-Purchase Plan to Fight Deflation, Jan 22, 2015, Bloomberg
Indeed by any measure 1.1 Trillion Euros is a ton of money that is bound to have a major impact on asset prices especially equities. Even before this bold move by the ECB, European equity indices were up nicely so far this year. The returns of the major European benchmark indices as of Jan 21, 2015 are listed below:
- UK’s FTSE 100: 2.5%
- France’s CAC 40: 5.0%
- Germany’s DAX: 5.0%
- Spain’s IBEX35: 0.5%
On the other hand the S&P 500 was down by 1.3% year-to-date.
Investors holding cash to invest can take advantage of the attractive prices of many European stocks. Ten stocks from Euro-zone are listed below with their current dividend yields for potential investments:
1.Company: ING Groep NV (ING)
Current Dividend Yield: Not paid
Sector: Banking
Country: The Netherlands
ING recently paid off the loan it took from the Dutch state and is on track to start dividend payments this year that has been suspended since the global financial crisis.
3.Company: Banco Santander SA (SAN)
Current Dividend Yield: $0.26
Sector: Banking
Country: Spain
Santander raised more than a billion dollar in new capital a few weeks ago but has cut its dividend by two-thirds. The fall in stock price presents an excellent opportunity for long-term investors.
3.Company: Siemens AG (SIEGY)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.57%
Sector:Industrial Conglomerates
Country: Germany
4.Company:Edp Energias De Portugal SA (EDPFY)
Current Dividend Yield: 6.25%
Sector: Electric Utilities
Country: Portugal
5.Company:Air Liquide (AIQUY)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.58%
Sector: Chemicals
Country: France
6.Company: Total SA (TOT)
Current Dividend Yield: 6.12%
Sector:Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
Country: France
7.Company: Allianz SE (AZSEY)
Current Dividend Yield: 4.40%
Sector:Insurance
Country: Germany
8.Company: AXA Group (AXAHY)
Current Dividend Yield: 4.79%
Sector: Insurance
Country: France
9.Company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.75%
Sector: Beverages
Country: Belgium
10.Company: Technip SA (FTI)
Current Dividend Yield: 4.44%
Sector: Energy Equipment & Services
Country: France
Note: Dividend yields noted above are as of Jan 22, 2015. Data is known to be accurate from sources used.Please use your own due diligence before making any investment decisions.
Disclosure: Long FTI, SAN, ING, AXAHY
