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Regardless of its surge to file highs, the FTSE 100 stays jam-packed with good cut price shares. Listed below are two I believe demand severe consideration from worth traders.
Going for gold
Uneven gold costs have brought on traders to reevaluate the funding potential of valuable metals shares. Bullion values are nonetheless up 73% on a 12-month foundation. However they may drop sharply once more if revenue taking resumes, driving gold shares decrease once more.
On steadiness, although, I’m optimistic the yellow metallic’s multi-year bull run stays intact. In consequence, I believe miners like Fresnillo (LSE:FRES) will carry on climbing.
Analysis late final week from the World Gold Council (WGC) have fed my optimism. It confirmed international gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) appeal to inflows of $19bn in January, the best month-to-month complete in historical past.
Whereas spectacular, that wasn’t my key takeaway. I used to be extra inspired by the WGC’s feedback that “even with the recent price decline, all regions except Europe saw net inflows on both 30 January and 2 February, as investors appeared to take advantage of the dip to add exposure to gold.”
This displays the energy of underlying demand for the yellow metallic. I’m anticipating key drivers like a declining US greenback, falling rates of interest, rising geopolitical tensions, and rising worries over an AI bubble to maintain feeding demand for the safe-haven asset.
Investing in mining shares over gold itself carries greater danger, reflecting the unpredictable nature of metallic excavation. However it may well additionally result in far higher rewards — Fresnillo’s share value is up 387% over the past yr, comfortably outpacing the gold value.
But Fresnillo shares nonetheless look low cost at £36.94. Metropolis analysts assume earnings will soar 75% in 2026, leaving it buying and selling on a price-to-earnings (PEG) ratio of 0.2. Any studying under one signifies a share buying and selling under worth. I believe it’s a high share to contemplate following current value volatility.
One other FTSE 100 cut price
Prudential (LSE:PRU) shares have risen much more sharply than the FTSE 100 in current instances. Up 73% since this time final yr, they’ve comfortably outpaced the broader Footsie‘s 18% rise.
But years of underperformance previous to 2025 imply the life insurer nonetheless seems very low cost on paper. Metropolis analysts assume The Pru’s earnings will soar 14% this calendar yr. This go away it on a ahead PEG ratio of 0.9.
That’s not all — a predicted 15% bottom-line rise in 15% in 2027 leaves a PEG of 0.8 for subsequent yr.
Why is Prudential’s share value surging proper now, although? It basically comes right down to enhancing investor sentiment in the direction of Asian economies, which are actually starting to choose up after a post-Covid droop.
Prudential’s a serious participant throughout Asia Pacific, and has a presence within the area’s financial hotspots like China, Hong Kong and Singapore. It faces important aggressive pressures, however the alternatives for it to supercharge income are enormous
Deloitte predicts Asia’s life insurance coverage market to develop a wholesome 5.3% a yr to 2053, pushed by exploding wealth ranges and inhabitants sizes. Newest financials confirmed Prudential grew new enterprise income 13% in Q3. I count on the FTSE agency to maintain delivering, helped by its sturdy model and operational enlargement.
