Two new shares join star mid-cap portfolio

This month, the FTSE 250 index made a record high, hitting 20,300 for the first time. It's up over 11% in 2017 so far, more than twice as much as the FTSE 100 and its pack of international heavyweights. But there are plenty of great mid-cap companies that could go onto better things.

That's the view of broker UBS, which has just named its latest UK Mid-Cap Top Picks - it's First XI - which features high-conviction ideas from across its UK research team.

Since inception in December, the list is up 17.3% versus 14.9% for the FTSE 250, aided by gains of 50% for Bellway and 40% for Greggs. They, along with SThree, are among the star performers since the last update in August, all up over 8%. Positive results have Ladbrokes, Cairn Energy and Ashmore up over 5%.

There have been a couple of changes at this latest review. Outsourcer Serco and pumps and valves engineer Rotork replace mobile handsets and electricals chain Dixons Carphone and turnaround specialist Melrose.

Dixons gets the chop after a 22% plunge during the period following profits warnings, while evidence of weakness at one of its smaller businesses is enough to lose Melrose its place in the elite squad.

There's excitement around Serco at UBS, which sees an inflection point in earnings momentum in 2018 as the company shifts into sustainable organic growth and margin improvement.

"After underperforming by c80% since 2012, we see the next 12 months to bring evidence of structural growth in outsourcing, improved sales effectiveness, and better pricing of contract risk," says analyst Rory McKenzie.

"We forecast >20% [operating profit] compound annual growth rate FY17-21e, but also see improving earnings quality and lower volatility ahead. We see an attractive entry point with Serco back to near-max pessimism on 0.45x enterprise value/sales."

Rotork is one of the UK's premier engineers, noted for its resilience through economic cycles. However, it has struggled because of exposure to the oil & gas sector, with organic sales down between 2014 and 2016.

"A change of CEO (with an interim phase of executive chairman Martin Lamb in the breach) can be a positive catalyst in our view for a return to operating margins of c25% and improved growth," writes analyst Mark Fielding.

"Our detailed cost base analysis shows significant cost creep since 2011 and we see this as creating an opportunity to improve profitability regardless of the end market backdrop. Combined with a valuation that has moved in line with the sector relative to its 10-year average premium rating of c30%, this supports our 'buy' case."

After the October rejig, the overall First XI now looks like this: Ashmore, Bellway, Cairn Energy, Elementis, Greggs, Howden Joinery, Ladbrokes, Rotork, Serco, SThree and Vesuvius.

It's also worth reminding ourselves of UBS's recent FTSE 100 most/least favoured names, when B&Q-owner Kingfisher replaced software giant Sage in the least-favoured list, joining Ashtead, InterContinental Hotels Group, Johnson Matthey and Legal & General.

Most favoured at UBS are Burberry, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Dutch Shell, Vodafone, WPP.

This article is for information and discussion purposes only and does not form a recommendation to invest or otherwise. The value of an investment may fall. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser.