With the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) clawing its way back towards the 5,300 level, once again it's getting more difficult for investors to find value in the market.
With many stocks either looking fully priced or too risky to touch, the search for investment opportunities requires turning over more and more stones.
One helpful place for idea generation can be scanning a list of broker recommended stocks. Here are four companies which are currently in the buy zone according to a number of broking houses.
- ASG Group Limited (ASX: ASZ) – 3 brokers have recommended this information technology services firm as a "strong buy". According to consensus data provided by Bell Direct, the stock is trading on a financial year (FY) 2016 price-to-earnings (PE) multiple of around 17 times.
- Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) – 3 brokers rate this specialist corporate travel agency a "strong buy". With solid earnings per share growth forecast over the next few years the FY 2016 PE multiple of 37 times could arguably be appealing.
- IOOF Holdings Limited (ASX: IFL) – 2 brokers rate this diversified financial services group a "strong buy", while a third broker has a "buy" recommendation. IOOF is trading on a forecast PE multiple of 15 times which appears undemanding in my opinion.
- Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) – 2 brokers rate this investment bank as a "strong buy" with a further two brokers assigning a "buy" recommendation. Macquarie is trading on a FY 2016 consensus PE of just 11 times which certainly looks interesting considering the growth potential of the group.
