Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

FTSE 100 rally: Here’s why I think easyJet and IAG are still bargain buys

Published 06/06/2020, 10:59
Updated 06/06/2020, 11:10
FTSE 100 rally: Here’s why I think easyJet and IAG are still bargain buys

FTSE 100 rally: Here’s why I think easyJet and IAG are still bargain buys

Share prices of FTSE 100 aviation stocks easyJet (LSE: LON:EZJ) and International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:ICAG) (LSE: IAG) have been among the worst hit in the stock market crash. It’s obvious why. The lockdown brought their operations to a standstill. But as lockdowns are eased and news of flights resuming trickles in, their share prices have picked up. It helps that the FTSE 100 rally is underway as well.

As a long-term investor, I’m now interested in knowing this: How much of the improvement in share prices is driven by momentum provided by the FTSE 100 rally and how much is because of a change in outlook for their business? I want to know this because momentum can carry stock prices forward only so much. A single shock to the index could result in another crash in these shares prices.

Share prices rise on FTSE 100 rally Going by the sharp gains in their share prices since the last week of May, in sync with the FTSE 100 rally, it’s clear as daylight that at least some of their performance is driven by momentum. However, I think that only accounts for some of the improvement. A few days ago, the rating agency Moody’s downgraded its credit ratings for both companies. This suggests that at least in the agency’s assessment, the companies’ debt is now poorer quality than earlier.

Share prices of both EZJ and IAG reacted negatively to the news, resulting in sharp falls. EZJ’s share price fell by 8%, while IAG’s fell by 7%. However, investors appear to have decided to brush off the news. Both shares have resumed their sharp upward journeys since. This, suggests to me that there’s genuine value percieved in the stocks.

Room for optimism I for one, was (cautiously) bullish on the easyJet stock even before the FTSE 100 rally started. Its prickliest issues seem to be getting resolved, slowly but surely. Its financial health is still a big question mark, of course. I reckon that even with restrictions lifted, the number of people travelling will still remain relatively low. It’s only once the danger of contracting Covid-19 has all but passed and the recession is over, that the world really return to normal. Some say it could take up to a year to do so. But, over the longer term, I reckon that odds are more in its favour than not.

I think a similar story will play out for IAG, the owner of British Airways. In fact, I would say that at least from the share price perspective, it has more potential for an increase. EZJ’s share price is still 42% below the highest levels seen in 2020. But, for IAG the number is a higher 53%. It may take some time before the shares reach these levels. It might even take a long time. But I’m optimistic, FTSE 100 rally or not.

The post FTSE 100 rally: Here’s why I think easyJet and IAG are still bargain buys appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Manika Premsingh has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Motley Fool UK 2020

First published on The Motley Fool

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.