We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become The Twelfth Magpie -- an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. This site is our new home, and there will be extra tweaks made across the coming few days as we settle in. So if anything looks a little off, please bear with us!

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Ted Baker plc, Dixons Carphone plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc are still sinking! When will they stop?

Royston Wild discusses the share price prospects of Ted Baker plc (LON: TED), Dixons Carphone plc (LON: DC) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON: RBS).

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Today I’m running the rule over three significant Footsie fallers.

Fashion faller

Despite its massive global presence, clothing giant Ted Baker (LSE: TED) has suffered the wrath of imploding investor confidence across the retail sector.

XXX

The designer’s share price has dived 23% since the results of the Brexit poll came in. And there’s plenty of reason to expect the share price to keep tumbling, as Britain’s retailers are likely furnish the market with gloomy outlooks and profit warnings in the weeks and months ahead.

Ted Baker itself sources around three-quarters of retail revenues from the UK, leaving it in danger of sliding shopper activity.

Still, I believe that surging demand for Ted Baker’s ‘urban chic’ fashion the world over should help the firm overcome the worst of these problems. Ted Baker is still rapidly expanding into new territories. For instance, it has opened new stores in US, China, Canada, Germany and Japan since January.

I reckon these factors make Ted Baker a terrific long-term growth selection. But a prospective P/E rating of 21.6 times leaves plenty of room for further stock price weakness, in my opinion.

In a spin

Like Ted Baker, white goods and gadgets flogger Dixons Carphone (LSE: DC) could also suffer from falling demand as shoppers digest the implications of Brexit Britain.

Indeed, YouGov head Stephen Harmston has warned that “in the coming months this is likely to filter through into a much weaker environment for retail sales and household spending — particularly on big ticket items.”

Like Ted Baker, Dixons Carphone generates the lion’s share of revenues from the UK with 65% of sales generated from its home market last year. And this has sent the share price skidding to record lows in the process, with Dixons Carphone dealing at a 34% discount since the polls closed.

However, a forward P/E rating of 10.2 times suggests that the risks facing Dixons Carphone could be priced-in at the present time. And with the retailer also bolstering its overseas footprint, I reckon now may prove to be a decent time for patient investors to pile-in.

Bank bombs

I’m not so bullish over the long-term prospects of Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS), however. Unlike its Footsie peers described above, RBS has scant exposure to foreign climes, leaving it in danger of prolonged revenues weakness should the British economy fall off a cliff.

On top of this, Royal Bank of Scotland has huge exposure to the commercial property market, leaving it in further peril. JP Morgan estimates that RBS has lent just over £25bn to the beleaguered sector, representing around 66% of the bank’s tangible net asset value. If this wasn’t bad enough, RBS is also likely to face a steady stream of earnings crushing, PPI-related penalties in the months and years ahead.

An 41% share price slide since polling booths were put back in storage leaves RBS dealing on a forward P/E rating of 11.9 times. But while decent on paper, I believe this reading still fails to reflect the colossal risks facing RBS, and I reckon investors should steer well clear.

Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Ted Baker plc. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Friends and sisters exploring the outdoors together in Cornwall. They are standing with their arms around each other at the coast.
Investing Articles

£503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years

This FTSE 250 stock has averaged a huge return for 15 years. At today's price, £503 buys 14 shares. But…

Read more »

Black woman using loudspeaker to be heard
Investing Articles

£1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years

This FTSE 100 mining stock has returned close to 30% a year for a decade. At 3,995p, £1,000 buys 25…

Read more »

Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?

With a £288m order book and a hidden pipeline of defence and nuclear contracts, is this growth stock now too…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026

A REIT backed by the NHS and another backed by Tesco and Sainsbury's with both yielding 7%+. Here's why I'm…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

A 5.7% yield, £238 in passive income from just 97 shares, and one of the most divisive dividend stocks on…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

£10,000 in an ISA generates a second income of…

The London Stock Exchange is home to some of the world's most generous dividends. But how big a second income…

Read more »

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Expert recommendations: 2 top income stocks yielding 7%+!

With yields of 7.2% and 7.8% respectively, these two income stocks are catching the eyes of institutional analysts. Should investors…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

3 top income-focused stocks to buy in May 2026, according to experts

Looking for a stock to buy for income in May 2026? Experts have flagged these three UK dividend shares as…

Read more »