Despite a lacklustre start to the calendar year which has seen the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) unable to keep its head above water – it's down 0.55% – some firms have not only seen their share prices increase but they have also registered new highs.
Here are four stocks which have just touched new 52-week highs and also have the potential to trade higher.
1) Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF) operates 122 KFC outlets in Queensland and 27 Sizzler restaurants around Australia. The stock has gained nearly 13% so far in January and given it trades at a discount to many of its peers it could be set to trade even higher.
2) CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) has been a market darling for many years thanks to its solid revenue and profit growth. Despite guidance for profit growth being somewhat subdued given the high multiple the stock trades on, CSL is still expected to post a double-digit gain in earnings. The market appears comfortable with the company's long-term growth outlook with the stock price continuing to climb higher, albeit at a more restrained pace.
3) iProperty Group Ltd (ASX: IPP) has been a terrific investment for shareholders in the past 12 months, with the stock rising from 90 cents to $2.25. Shareholders are hoping that IPP can have similar success to REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) but in the markets of Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. If IPP can ultimately replicate REA then its share price is likely to steam far higher.
4) Platinum Capital Limited (ASX: PMC) is the listed investment company managed by Platinum Asset Management Limited (ASX: PTM). The pre-tax performance of the portfolio for the 2013 calendar year was 50.12%, which has no doubt provided the impetus for the share price to rally to a multi-year high.
Foolish takeaway
Value investors often prefer to focus their attention on beaten down stocks – and with good reason. However it's important not to be blind to the opportunities which are apparent when successful companies are recognised by the market sending them to new highs.
