LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (has been recovering a bit of late, but it is still a long way from hitting its 52-week high, reached on July 7 last year. Back then, the index of top U.K. shares reached 6,055 points, but at 5,668 today, it is down 6.4% from those lofty heights.
But there are companies doing their best to push the FTSE indexes back up to new highs, and we look at three reaching for the sky today.
Smoking is good for you!
Well, it is if you invest in tobacco companies; British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS.L) hit another 52-week high after gaining almost 1% to reach 3,325 pence. Over the year, that's a gain of 571 pence, or 21%.
And that comes after several years of steady rises. At its low point in 2009, the price stood at 1,495 pence, so it has now increased by 225%.
Does that mean the steam has run out and the shares are highly valued now? Not really. Forecasts for the full year suggest a price-to-earnings ratio of 15, which is around the long-term FTSE average, dropping to 14 next year. And there are dividends of 4% and 4.5% forecast, respectively.
Drinking, too!
Greene King (LSE: GNK.L), the brewer and pub operator, also hit its 52-week high today, rising 1.3% on the day to 561 pence. The price has put on 17% in the past month after earlier falls. Over the year, Greene King has rewarded its shareholders with a 12.6% rise.
Expectations for the next couple of years are looking good, too, with the shares on a forward P/E for April 2013 of 10.4, with a forecast dividend of 4.5%.
Others in the sector have had a good year as well, with Whitbread shares up 25% on the year to reach a 52-week high. But some have failed to deliver, including JD Wetherspoon, down 5%.
If these two sectors don't suit you -- if you don't like the uncertainty, or perhaps if you have ethical objections to investing in booze and tobacco -- then there are others that you might prefer. In fact, analysts at The Motley Fool have put together a free report -- "Top Sectors for 2012" -- just for you.
Recovering aerospace
Aerospace and defense contractor QinetiQ (LSE: QQ.L) has enjoyed a pretty strong recovery this year, and it hit its 52-week high of 160 pence today. That's only 0.2% up on the day, but it represents a nice 24% rise for the year.
QinetiQ shares had slumped as the global crisis led to cutbacks and severely hit its profits, but there's been a return to form with strong profit forecasts for 2013 and 2014. The shares are currently on a forward P/E of 11. The dividend is creeping back, too, even if only a modest 2.2% is expected in 2013.
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