We're heading firmly into interim reporting season next week, with a number of FTSE 100 (UKX) companies, among others, providing us with figures. And there will be a small number of full-year results, too.
Today, we're going to take a look at five companies reporting next week that look like they could be nice bargains -- you might want to do some of your own research over the weekend to get yourself ready.
GlaxoSmithKline
FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline
It's one of Neil Woodford's largest holdings, and he's soundly beaten the FTSE over the past five, 10 and 15 years, so I was in good company when I chose Glaxo for the Motley Fool's educational Beginners' Portfolio in June.
Forecasts are good, with a dividend yield of around 5% on the 1,486 pence shares expected, with a prospective price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of under 12. On Wednesday, we should be looking for interim dividend news and checking the strength of underlying cash flow.
Another of Woodford's holdings, AstraZeneca, will give us its interim figures the following day, and it will be good to compare the two.
For a closer examination of these and more of Neil Woodford's investments, the free Motley Fool report "8 Shares Held by Britain's Super Investor" is the place to look. Click here to get your personal copy while it's still available.
ARM
Interim figures from ARM Holdings
They've floundered a little since then, falling back to 497 pence today. But there are hints that the company's intellectual property should set it up for a fresh growth phase, as the boom in mobile computing is really still only in its infancy. OK, the shares are on a prospective P/E of 36 for the year to December, but they've been much more highly rated in the past and have still gone on to greater things.
British American Tobacco
Wednesday is going to be a busy day, with half-time figures from British American Tobacco
But what of the future? As wealth improves in the developing world, demand for increasingly affordable tobacco is growing strongly. And while that might be bad news for the world's health (and you might have ethical objections to profiting from it), it's good news for shareholders. Forecasts remain strong, and with the price standing at 3,393 pence, there's a prospective dividend yield of 4% pencilled in for this year and 4.4% next.
Anglo American
One investing strategy that I'm a pretty keen follower of is looking for sectors when they're unfairly marked down -- over the long term, there's no need for Foolish investors to pay any attention to short-term cycles other than to buy at bargain prices.
With that in mind, I'm keenly awaiting interim figures from Anglo American
If a sector-led approach to investment suits you, I'd recommend the Motley Fool report "Top Sectors of 2012," which examines mining and two further sectors that look cheap now. You can get your copy by clicking here.
Man Group
Tuesday will bring us interim figures from hedge fund manager Man Group
Wait, am I really flagging this one up as an investment opportunity? Well, it's a big risk, but it surely will bottom out and head upwards again at some time -- with a market cap of 1.3 billion pounds, and with 38 billion pounds under management, it's not going to just disappear. And forecasts for 2013 are actually positive -- even if the currently mooted 20% dividend is perhaps not sustainable.
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