It's never enjoyable to see the value of your investments fall especially when markets are so volatile and the only certainty is uncertainty.
The recent market sell-off will also be confusing to many investors who would have expected the sharemarket to be rising on the back of record-low interest rates.
Investors are now asking "Weren't dividend stocks supposed to go up considering interest rates are down?".
Instead, investors are seeing the traditional dividend stocks like the banks getting absolutely hammered. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) has been the worst hit with its share price falling by more than 38% since reaching its 52-week high of $37.25 back in March 2015. Although there is a good possibility of its dividend being cut, it is now trading on a historical fully franked dividend yield of 7.9%. That's a whopping 11.3% grossed up!
The dilemma investors now face is whether or not share prices have further to fall or whether or not the worst is over.
Believe it or not, there is a silver lining to the recent plunge in markets – shares that you thought were overpriced just a few months ago, are probably now significantly cheaper and are now much better value propositions. While some businesses, such as fund managers, will be directly affected by recent moves in the markets, many will be unaffected and for them, it will be business as usual.
With that in mind, here are four stocks that have been heavily sold off in recent weeks that look far more attractive now:
1. Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) shares have dropped nearly 17% since the start of 2016 and are now trading at $56.90. The private hospital operator is facing some pressure domestically from health insurers but is rapidly expanding its footprint in overseas markets. Along with further acquisitions in France, Ramsay is also now looking to enter the Chinese market which is rapidly increasing its spending on healthcare. Investors should expect Ramsay to deliver Core NPAT and Core EPS growth of 12%-14% for FY16.
2. Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) shares reached a high of $13.67 last December following the announcement it was acquiring a Californian based travel company for $47.6 million. The company also upgraded its earnings guidance at the same time thanks to strong trading conditions and the additional contribution from the new acquisition. Since then, the share price has fallen nearly 18% and is now approaching value territory in my opinion.
3. InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC) shares are being punished today and are now trading close to their 52-week low of $10.69. The funeral and cemetery operator is generally viewed as a highly defensive and predictable stock but its recent expansion into the US market has seen this reputation come under pressure. Larger than expected losses in this market have weighed on InvoCare's share price despite continued growth in the domestic market. Although there could be further short-term pain to come, the long-term demographic fundamentals should support a higher share price in the future and investors should watch this stock closely.
4. Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR) shares have lost nearly 17% of their value in the space of eight trading sessions and are now trading at $4.24 per share and a price to earnings ratio of less than 13. This appears quite attractive as the regulatory inquiry in relation to aquaculture has concluded, new supply agreements with major supermarkets are in place and the benefits from its acquisition of De Costi seafood are yet to be realised. Add to this growing demand for healthier food options like salmon and seafood and the growth outlook for Tassal is promising. Investors will also benefit from a growing dividend which is expected to yield around 3.8% in FY16.
