Wednesday tips round-up: Amec, Standard Life, Anglo American...

8th Dec 2010 07:02

Amec, once a workaday building contractor, has spent the past decade retooling itself as a consulting engineer and project manager. About 45% of the workload now comes from oil and gas, mining and nuclear.Amec shares do not come cheap on 17 times 2011 earnings, although this falls to less than 14 times if you strip out the cash. Worth considering long-term for a company with a strong global market share and ambitious plans, or a buy on any further weakness suggests the Times.Daisy Group is an odd business. Although its core activity is buying telephone capacity from big telecoms companies such as Cable & Wireless Worldwide and BT for resale to small business customers, its main occupation is buying up its smaller rivals. The shares are nothing more than a straight punt on the skills of chief executive Matthew Riley, an acolyte of Sir Philip Green. His track record is, admittedly, a good one says the Times.Van and car rental group Northgate shares are on less than ten times' this year's earnings. But the concerns remain over Northgate's exposure to Spain and its bombed-out building sector, to Ireland and over the looming need to reschedule its £500m-plus of debt. Another right issue seems unlikely. But no need to chase says the Times.Healthcare property investor Primary Heath Properties (PHP) recently confirmed that yields had stabilised and there was strong demand in its sector. The company, which owns modern GP surgeries and pharmacies around the UK on long leases, said that rent increases on leases reviewed in its third quarter were 3.23pc a year. Typically, rent reviews happen every three years and they have a relatively even distribution. The yield is 5.2% and the company has raised its dividend every single year since it was listed 13 years ago. Buy says the Telegraph.After several years of difficulties, Standard Life is in reasonably healthy shape corporately, but you sometimes wonder where it is going. The shares sit on a huge discount to Shore Capital's forecast of the company's 2010 net asset value per share - some 35%. The forecast yield is also more than generous at 6.3%. Management needs to come clean on its intentions and future strategy. If they won't, the shares aren't going to move much. Hold says the Independent.Andor Technology, which makes whizzy kit such as X-ray and time-resolved cameras for science labs. In a tough year, the group reported pre tax profits had risen 50% to £7.1m, with turnover up 29% to £42.7m. Andor trades at 17.3 times estimated 2011 earnings, according to brokers, who suggest the sahres could hit 450p. Buy says the Independent.First profits for the smartmeter specialist BGlobal lit a fire under the shares. But there is plenty more to come for the patient investor. With energy prices and environmental pressures, BGlobal is in a sweet spot. Like energy prices, the stock is only going one way. Buy says the Independent.Most of the bear points over Anglo American concern South Africa, which has problematic shortage of power. This means that prices are rising as the country's main power supplier, Eskom, tries to find a way out of the energy quagmire. On the bull side, the company is exposed to some exciting commodities and also has some expansion plans close to start-up with the first new mine coming into operation next month. The shares are trading on a December 2010 earnings multiple of 12 times, falling to 9 next year. The prospective yield is just 0.5%. Still a buy says the Telegraph.Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.