The Master Investor Covid-19 Market Recovery Portfolio

On 24 March this year the market had been knocked for six – laid low by the dreaded virus.

At that time I recommended readers to not dump their stocks and suggested that obliterated share prices would see smart recoveries.

I had many calls and several messages asking what I would select for investing awaiting a good recovery bounce.

Accordingly, I selected ten stocks for a CV-19 Market Recovery Portfolio.

So how have the selections performed?

Overall, the Master Investor Covid-19 Market Recovery Portfolio is up over 67% in just nine months. On an annualised basis that would be over 89%.

The FTSE100 Index is up just over 20% in the same period of time.

Billington Holdings (LON:BILN) – designer, manufacturer and installer of structural steelwork, www.billington-holdings.plc.uk – @ 242p then, with a Target Price of 320p*, highest since 338p, now 324p, +34%

Comment: Getting back to better trading conditions after a disappointing first half year, the company has a strong order pipeline for 2021. Full year Trading Update must be due soon.

Capital Ltd (LON:CAPD) – drilling and mining services contractor mainly in Africa, www.capdrill.com – @ 34.5p, with a Target Price of 80p, highest since 80p, now 63.5p, +84%

Comment: Finals Trading Update due mid-January, a transformative contract announced early in December, recent £30m Placing helps to boost the group’s development plans.

T Clarke (LON:CTO) – electrical, mechanical and ICT services provider, www.tclarke.co.uk – @ 71p, with a Target Price of 120p, highest since 111.75p, now 98p, +38%

Comment: Winning new orders and showing a certain resilience, strong financially and operationally. Full year Trading Statement due at the end of January.

Finsbury Food (LON:FIF) – cakes, bread, bakery snacks manufacturer for multiples, www.finsburyfoods.co.uk – @ 55p, with a Target Price of 100p, highest since 75.5p, now 74.75p, +35%

Comment: Interims Trading Update due mid-January, further sales and profit growth expected.

Inland Homes (LON:INL) – residential and mixed developer of brownfield and strategic land, www.inlandhomes.co.uk – @ 41p, with a Target Price of 80p, highest since 64.8p, now 64p, +56%

Comment: The finals to end September last are due later in January. Company is cautiously optimistic for current year and is boasting a record land bank, buoyed by sustained demand.

MPAC Group (LON:MPAC) – packaging machines for FMCG, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, www.mpac-group.com – @ 185p, with a Target Price of 250p*, highest since 455p, now 427.5p, +131%

Comment: Finals Trading Update due within days, US acquisition of Switchback last September immediately earnings enhancing. Strong performance with good order book.

Ramsdens Holdings (LON:RFX) – foreign currency, pawnbroking, precious metals and retail jeweller, www.ramsdensplc.com – @ 85p, with a Target price of 120p*, highest since 169p, now 133.5p, +57%

Comment: Hoping for a positive Trading Update at the 10 February AGM.

Rank Group (LON:RNK) – operator of gaming services, Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca and Enracha, www.rank.com – @ 97p, with a Target Price of 150p*, highest since 174.5p, now 141.25p, +46%

Comment: Interims due later in January, the lockdowns have been very impactive on profits.

Strix Group (LON:KETL) – market leader in kettle safety controls and hot water on demand products, www.strixplc.com – @ 122p, with a Target Price of 160p*, highest since 260p, now 223p, +83%

Comment: Finals Trading Update due later in January, the group expects to double its revenues within next five years.

Sureserve Group (LON:SUR) – compliance, energy services, property services and construction, www.sureservegroup.co.uk – @ 31p, with a Target Price of 50p*, highest since 68p, now 65p, +110%

Comment: Finals due 2 February, continuing to show resilient growth in revenue, earnings and cash flow. Growing order books take it strongly into the current year.

(* denotes that Target Prices have been achieved subsequent to publication)