With the April 15 tax deadline just around the corner, it's time to fund that all-important Roth IRA. Here's why this IRA is so essential in saving for your retirement, along with three great value stocks to consider for your Roth.
See you later, Uncle Sam
A Roth IRA is one of the best ways to secure your financial future. It allows after-tax contributions in exchange for tax- and penalty-free income in retirement, so long as you've owned the Roth IRA for at least five years and reached age 59-1/2. You have until the April 15 tax-filing deadline to open and fund a Roth IRA for 2013. Before contributing, acquaint yourself with Roth IRA rules and eligibility requirements to make sure it's right for you.
Stocks for the value investor
For investors looking for good value, here are three stocks currently exhibiting price-to-earnings ratios below their five-year averages, indicating upside potential for their share prices.
Coach (NYSE: COH)
Coach's "accessible luxury" products allow the company to capture a piece of luxury spending while maintaining a broader consumer base than its high-end competitor brands. So far, Coach has successfully managed this accessibility without degrading its brand image. And as global demand for luxury goods increases, the company's loyal customers enable profitable expansion into new markets . The most compelling growth opportunity for Coach centers around the emerging markets of Asia, specifically China. China sales currently represent about 6% of company sales but are growing rapidly.
The handbag and accessories maker's revenue and earnings have both averaged 7% annual growth over the past three years. The company's recent P/E ratio is around 14, while its five-year average P/E is just shy of 18. But its forward-looking P/E is less than 14.
Valmont Industries (NYSE: VMI)
Valmont Industries is a manufacturer of engineered steel structures, including farm irrigation equipment, communications towers, and substations and poles for electric utilities. By owning a diversified group of businesses, the Nebraska-based company has the potential to grow despite weakness in certain areas of the business. Both the higher global demand for farm irrigation equipment and the upgrade of our aging domestic electric grid are drivers for Valmont's future growth. Valmont currently holds significantly more market share than its competitors in the global irrigation market. The drivers for irrigation include growing populations, a limited supply of land and fresh water, and higher-protein diets worldwide. North America's recent drought has also increased awareness of water scarcity, boosting demand for mechanized irrigation products. Sales of Valmont's irrigation products have reached record highs for the third year in the row.
Over the past three years, Valmont's revenue has averaged annual growth of 18%, while earnings have averaged 39%. Its recent P/E ratio has been less than 14, while its five-year average P/E is closer to 16. Its forward-looking P/E is currently around 12.
Apple (AAPL +0.30%)
Boasting an iconic brand and an almost cult-like customer base, Apple has successfully managed a decade of dazzling growth. Even though the device maker remains a leading innovator and maintains an impressive position in growing categories such as smartphones and tablets, its market share declined last year. The company also faces increasing competition from Samsung and Asian vendors. Going forward, Apple must increasingly rely on innovative new products and categories such as wearables and TVs, as well as alliances like its recent China Mobile deal, to reignite revenue growth and improve profitability. China, the world's largest smartphone market, is becoming a bigger part of Apple's growth story. Sales to China made up about 15% of company sales in fiscal 2013, up from less than 7% in 2009. First-quarter sales to China grew nearly 30% from the prior-year quarter.
Over the past three years, Apple's revenue has averaged annual growth of 27%, while earnings have also averaged 27%. Apple's recent P/E ratio has been around 13, while its five-year average P/E is just over 15. Its forward-looking P/E is roughly 11.
Take action today
Don't let the upcoming Roth IRA deadline sneak past you. Take the time to fund a Roth IRA today. By doing so, you'll be one step closer to securing your financial future.
