LONDON -- The FTSE 100
Meanwhile, individual companies in the various FTSE indexes have been reaching for the sky themselves. Here are three that have hit new 52-week highs today.
Beazley
Insurance underwriter Beazley
But even after that, forecasts still only put the shares on a prospective price-to-earnings ratio of 8.4 for the full year, with a 4.7% dividend forecast, improving to 8.2 and 5.1% for next year. It's perhaps a risky business, but that does not look like overvaluation.
Next
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The most recent surge, which has helped the shares gain 57% over the past 12 months, started on Aug. 1 with a 6.5% jump to 3,427 pence after the firm issued a trading update, lifting its guidance to between 575 million pounds and 620 million pounds in annual profits.
The latest forecasts suggest a dividend of 2.7% this year and 2.9% next year, which makes the shares look high enough to me.
WH Smith
WH Smith
Since then, the shares have gained 22%, but are still only on a modest forecast rating -- a P/E of 9.5 and a dividend yield of 4.5% for this year, with 8.6 and 5.1% penciled in for 2013.
Finally, if you want to find good dividend-paying shares like Beazley and WH Smith, the free Motley Fool report "8 Shares Held By Britain's Super Investor," which takes a look at some of ace investor Neil Woodford's major holdings, might be just what you need. Click here to get your free copy, while it's still available.
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