As we near the end of 2014, Aussie investors will most likely reflect that the year has been one of disappointment. Indeed, after rising by 14% in 2013, the ASX has gained just 3% since the start of this year.
However, a challenging 2014 doesn't necessarily mean that 2015 will prove to be 'more of the same'.
In fact, there are a number of top quality stocks trading at super-low prices on the ASX. Here are three such examples that could boost your returns in 2015 and may be worth adding to your portfolio right now!
Oil Search Limited
Buying opportunities come in various guises, but a clear example is where a company's bottom line is suffering from external factors that are unlikely to persist in the long run. That's the current situation at Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH), where a declining oil price has caused sentiment to weaken and shares in the company to drop by 9% in the last three months.
Despite this, Oil Search still trades on a P/E ratio of 24.1 and is also expected to grow its bottom line at a staggering rate over the next two years. Indeed, annualised earnings growth of 86% is pencilled in for the period and this means that with a PEG ratio of just 0.3, Oil Search could prove to be a superb buying opportunity at the present time.
QBE Insurance Group Ltd
Buying opportunities can also present themselves when a company has recently experienced a challenging period, but is now making encouraging progress. For example, QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) made a loss last year, but is en route to returning to the black this year. Furthermore, the insurance major is expected to increase its bottom line at a rapid rate next year, too.
Despite this, sentiment in QBE has remained rather subdued. For example, while shares in the company trade on a P/E ratio of 18.4, when the stunning growth forecasts for next year are taken into account, the PEG ratio of 0.1 seems highly enticing. As a result, QBE could prove to be a super performer in 2015.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd
Unlike QBE, sentiment in Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) has not been subdued in 2014, with shares in the blue-chip stock climbing by 12% year-to-date. This rate of increase could, however, continue into 2015 as shares in the company still trade on a relatively enticing valuation multiple.
For example, IAG has a P/E ratio of just 12, which is considerably lower than the ASX's P/E ratio of 15.6 and shows that there is scope for a further upwards rerating. With a fat, fully franked yield of 6%, investor demand could have considerable scope to increase – especially if (as expected) interest rates stay low throughout 2015.
