Presumably my favorite FTSE 100 share of all is one I’ve by no means really purchased. So how come?

We’ve an advanced historical past. It goes again to Christmas 2022 once I named Intermediate Capital Group (LSE:ICP) my prime passive earnings and progress inventory decide for 2023. It’s among the best calls I’ve made.

The personal fairness specialist was languishing in FTSE 250 obscurity on the time, however not for for much longer.

Intermediate Capital Group supplies capital for acquisitions, pre-IPO financing and administration buy-outs (and buy-ins). But after a tough 2022 for the inventory market on the whole and danger shares particularly, it seemed like an excellent shopping for alternative.

On the time I highlighted the chance. Its shares have been buying and selling at 6.4 occasions earnings and yielding 6.5% a yr, lined 2.4 occasions by earnings. Administration boasted a strong monitor document of accelerating shareholder payouts, with the dividend greater than doubling from 30p a share to 76p in simply 4 years. Plus it had liquidity of £1.3bn.

I swore that “when I have some cash to spare after Christmas, I will buy it”. Then my fickle coronary heart forgot all about it.

Subsequent time I checked out the inventory at Christmas 2023, I found it had smashed its method into the FTSE 100 after rocketing 53.35% in a yr. By then, it was too late. I felt I’d missed my probability.

I used to be mistaken. The shares have skyrocketed one other 59.79% up to now 12 months. Speak concerning the one which acquired away!

Right this moment, Intermediate Capital Group isn’t as low cost because it was, buying and selling at 12.39 occasions earnings. That’s nonetheless beneath the common FTSE 100 price-to-earnings ratio of 15.4 although.

It’s nonetheless a prime dividend progress inventory

The three.71% dividend yield isn’t as excessive because it was both, though it’s fractionally above the index common at 3.5%. 

First-quarter outcomes, revealed on 16 July, have been fairly upbeat. Property beneath administration jumped 23.7% year-on-year to $101bn, beating consensus estimates of $97.82bn. Nonetheless, solely $70bn was payment incomes, barely lower than hoped.

The group deployed $3.9bn of funds in Q1 and achieved realisations of $2.5bn, up from $1bn and $600m year-on-year, amid “elevated” transaction exercise. But its shares are flat for 3 months, and dipped 8.39% within the final month. Is that this lastly my second?

I feel it’s. As a substitute of moaning about misplaced alternatives, it’s time I grabbed this one. I’d wait till after subsequent week’s price range, amid rumours that the federal government might goal personal fairness. After that, I’ve acquired no excuse.

I settle for future returns could also be bumpy, as they have an inclination to leap up and down relying on disposals. But one of these inventory that might fly when rates of interest dip (assuming they do) and investor sentiment picks up.

I’m crossing my fingers for a Santa Rally and plan to purchase Intermediate Capital Group earlier than then, to get pleasure from some Christmas cheer. I’ve waited lengthy sufficient.