Top FTSE Stocks To Watch Out This Year – POLY, DGE and MNDI

Polymetal International Plc

Polymetal International Plc (POLY) is a Cyprus based company and a global leader in precious metal mining. The company is currently operating nine gold and silver producing projects as well as three greenfield and brownfield exploration programmes across Nezhda, which is located near North East Yakutia in Russia and is an open pit + underground programme, Prognoz, located near Verkhoyansk in Russia and is an Open-Pit programme for the first 5-8 years following which it will be an underground project and Viksha, which is located near the Republic of Karelia near Russia and is a completely open pit project.

POLY Financial Performance (Half-year report for the period ended 30th June 2019)

On 27^th August 2019, the company announced its half-year report for the six months ended 30^th June 2019. The company reported Gold Equivalent production increase of 22 per cent year on year during the period, which was a major reason why the revenue went up by 20 per cent year on year from US $789 million in H1 2018 to US $946 million in H1 2019. There was also a sharp growth of 34 per cent in Adjusted EBITDA to US $403 million in H1 2019. As a reflection of this performance, the company proposed a dividend of US $0.20 per share for the period.

POLY Share Performance

On 11^th October 2019, at 08:04 AM GMT, at the time of writing, POLY stock traded at GBX 1163.00 per share, up by 0.30 per cent or GBX 3.50 per share as compared with the previous day’s closing price at GBX 1159.5 per share. While writing, Polymetal International Plc traded 4.22 per cent below its 52-week high price of GBX 1214.19, set on September 04, 2019. The company’s Market Capitalisation was around £5.451 billion.

Diageo Plc

Diageo Plc (DGE) is an alcoholic beverage company based in London, the United Kingdom. Diageo is one of the leading alcoholic beverages company with a collection of over 200 most sought after brands across spirits and beers. The company’s products are sold across 180 countries in the world with its geographic divisions including North America, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific. The company partners with various brands, for selling and marketing all alcoholic products like scotch whisky, Bourbon, Tequila, Vodka and Beer. The company’s brands include the likes of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys and Guinness. The company operates from various locations globally like United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy and Turkey in Europe, United States of America, Canada and Mexico in North America, Brazil in South America and Australia, Singapore and India in the Asia Pacific regions.

DGE Financial Performance (Preliminary results for the year ended 30 June 2019)

As per the press release on 25^th July 2019, made by the company for its preliminary results for the year ended 30^th June 2019, the net sales jumped rose by 5.8 per cent year on year to £12.87 billion in 2019 from £12.16 billion in 2018. The company also reported the operating profit at £4.0 billion in 2019, increasing by 9.5 per cent year on year from £3.69 billion in 2018. This was reportedly driven by organic growth and by improved price and productivity benefits from everyday cost efficiencies, offset by cost inflation and higher marketing investment to a certain degree. The company reported that all its regional divisions contributed to the net sales growth performance. Cash flow from operating activities was reported at £3.2 billion in the period, a year on year increase of £164 million and free cash flow generated in the period was £2.6 billion. Basic Earnings per share (BEPS) of GBX 130.7 in 2019 increased by 7.4 per cent year on year from BEPS of 121.7 per share in 2018. EPS before the effect of exceptional items grew 10.3 per cent year on year to GBX 130.8 per share, because of higher operating profit and lesser finance charges.

DGE Share Performance

On 11^th October 2019, at 08:10 AM GMT, at the time of writing, DGE stock traded at GBX 3262.00 per share, down by 1.79 per cent or GBX 59.50 per share as compared with the previous day’s closing price of GBX 3321.50 per share. At the current price, Diageo Plc traded 10.22 per cent below its 52-week high price of GBX 3633.50, set on September 04, 2019. The company’s Market Capitalisation was around £78.307 billion.

Mondi Plc

Mondi plc (MNDI) is a UK based Paper and Packaging company. The company engages in the production of various types of Paper like, speciality Kraft and Printing as well as in various types of packaging solutions used in approximately 13 industries globally, across both large and small business extending from agriculture to Automotive and food and beverages.

MNDI Trading Update

On 10^th October 2019, the company announced a trading update for the third quarter ended 30^th September 2019. The company reported that the demand for the company’s products during the period was low and the prices for important paper grades were lower as compared to the first half of the year.  As per the company, this implied to a decrease in the underlying EBITDA for the period by 18 per cent year on year and 9 per cent Quarter on Quarter for Q3 2019 at €383 million.

MNDI Share Performance

On 11^th October 2019, at 08:20 AM GMT, at the time of writing, MNDI stock traded at GBX 1565.00 per share, down by 0.76 per cent or GBX 12.00 per share as compared with the previous day’s closing price of GBX 1577.00 per share. While writing, Mondi Plc traded 5.46 per cent above its 52-week low price of GBX 1484.00, set on September 25, 2019. The company’s Market Capitalisation was around £7.657 billion.