ConsumerWatch – At least someone loves me

The consumer sectors are looking for love following a challenging CY23 from the perspective of profit expectations (down overall) and share price performance (most underperformed). There is much to love in the consumer sectors. Many companies are looking good value versus their own historical multiples, and economic forecasters are predicting we are past the worst with respect to economic growth, inflation and interest rates. However, the improvements are expected to be second half weighted. Let’s hope they are right. Some have been willing to bet on this already – note the high level of corporate and private equity activity that began in the UK towards the end of Q323 and has continued into Q124. What is there not to love about the sectors? Mainly, the not-unexpected negative trends in earnings estimates and the more recent reversion to overall net downgrades. An improvement in momentum in profit expectations would be helpful for the sectors to find additional suitors and prevent them disappearing from our screens.

There is a good level of optimism for the sectors as the majority of consumer companies are expected to increase profit in CY24. Read our report to find out which companies are trading at the greatest discount to their own historic valuations.