2 dirt cheap value stocks I’m buying

These two FTSE 350 value stocks have performed miserably in 2023. However, Andrew Mackie expects their fortunes to turn in 2024.

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To me, investing in value stocks doesn’t mean just searching for companies that trade at rock-bottom price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples. Of equal importance are the long-term prospects for the business, both in terms of growth and cash generation.

Both Glencore (LSE: GLEN) and Centamin (LSE: CEY),have had a disappointing 2023. The share prices of these two commodities businesses are down 17% and 20%, respectively. But with tremendous growth potential, I recently added both to my portfolio.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Glencore Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Cash generation machine

On the face of it, first half-results at Glencore looked disappointing. Both adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and operating cash flow dropped 50% compared to 2022.

Should you invest £1,000 in Centamin right now?

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2022 was an exceptional year. High commodity prices and huge volatility presented it with significant arbitrage opportunities. If one removes this year, 2023 is the best first half it has had in the last decade.

It generated nearly $8.5bn in operating cash flow in H1.  This allowed for ‘top-up’ returns of $2.2bn to shareholders, in the form of dividends and buybacks. Total returns for 2023 are expected to be $9.3bn.

Today’s and tomorrow’s energy needs

Glencore mines and markets many of the critical metals needed to make the energy transition a reality. This includes copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and alumina. It also has a growing recycling business, promoting circularity.

Ore grades of these critical metals continue to decline. As decarbonisation accelerates, shortages are, I believe, inevitable. What reserves it does have, it intends to hold back until prices begin to reflect this reality.

The business continues to be heavily reliant on coal. This produces both opportunity and risk.

As it begins to wind down its coal operations in the future, this will lead to a gaping hole in revenues, which its metals business will need to fill. But on a medium-term basis, the world continues to need energy in order to drive economic prosperity.

A new gold cycle

Gold prices have been hovering around the $2,000 an ounce mark for some time now. Despite this, the Centamin share price continues to struggle.

The reason why gold prices have been holding up so well is because central banks across the world have been buying gold hand over fist. This is unsurprising given the level of public debt across major Western economies.

As the largest gold producer in Egypt, I think the Centamin share price could explode as the next gold cycle begins to take off.

Looking at its production estimates at its Sukari mine reinforces my conviction for its prospects. Over the next 10 years, annual production is expected to average 506koz. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) over that time frame will average $922. AISC today is over £1,200.

Precious metals shares can be very volatile. This has been particularly evident with Centamin over the past few years. In 2020, its price doubled in just a few short months, before losing all those gains over a similar time frame. That remains a risk.

However, this time I believe share price gains will be more long-lasting. Gold’s unique position as a safe-haven asset, could see investor interest in the yellow metal grow exponentially into the future.


Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Andrew Mackie has positions in Glencore and Centamin. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Like buying £1 for 51p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 8.5%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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