GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (GSK) & Three FTSE 100 Shares for the Week Ahead

LONDON — Next week is a busy week for news from  FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) companies as first-quarter results time for those whose years end in December approaches — and it comes after many of our biggest companies enjoyed a strong 2012. Here are three top firms reporting next week.

Associated British Foods
Tuesday will bring us interim results from Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF), and according to February’s pre-close update, operating profit will be up on last year thanks to a strong performance from Primark. First-half earnings per share should be “substantially ahead,” though full-year expectations were unchanged at the time. Current forecasts suggest a rise in adjusted EPS of about 10%, and that is expected to be weighted toward the first half.

The Associated British Foods share price has had a great year, gaining 50% over the past 12 months to 1,829 pence — though it has been even higher, touching 1,943 pence a couple of weeks ago. After that climb, the shares are on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 19.

ARM
We should have first-quarter figures from ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) the same day. ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) shares have been on a bullish run since last summer but have dropped back a little over the past couple of months. Since peaking at 985 pence on March 6,  the price has slipped to 879 pence — but that’s still a rise of about 80% since June.

Full-year results for 2012 brought a 20% rise in normalized pre-tax profit to 276.5 million pounds, with EPS up 18% to 14.7 pence. The latest forecasts suggest earnings of about 19 pence per share this year, which would be a 30% rise. High-growth shares like this, of course, usually attain high P/E multiples, and ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) is no exception: The forward P/E for 2013 estimates is about 45.

For the full year, City analysts are forecasting EPS growth of more than 20% and are expecting a dividend yield of about 5%. That would put the shares on a forward P/E of about 14, which is close to the FTSE long-term average — but with a better-than-average dividend.

The article 3 FTSE 100 Shares for the Week Ahead: Associated British Foods, ARM Holdings, and GlaxoSmithKline originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Alan Oscroft .

Alan Oscroft has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Associated British Foods and GlaxoSmithKline.

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