Barclays PLC (ADR) (NYSE:BCS)

Continued economic improvement in Europe means this stock will continue to rise.

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Barclays has been lumped in with the rest of the financials as a risky bet. They've shorn up their balance sheet by selling divisions, they are not a member of the Eurozone (though they do have significant exposure there), and the bank is selling for .3x book value, 7.5x earnings, and comes with a 3.5% dividend. More upside than downside here.

Sold this the other day and tried to get back in, but wanted a price under $10.00.

I finally got it.

Have about 25% of what I want for the longer term and will look for market opportunities to lower my start price.

This, like lots of other banks, has been oversold and will pay off in the longer run for patient investors.

JMO and worth exactly what I am charging for it.

Short term pick, Greece is broke and Germany ain't happy taking the hit. Same goes for the other PIIGS though they are bit less obvious and down the line. Though having said that the market is in insanity mode right now so let's say if IMF bails out the PIIGS, I'll lose a ton of points on this pick. I mean the banks stocks were basically on life support today on "hopes" of bond buying from China hahahaha

Tremendous opportunity to buy a huge bank at an enormous discount. Trading at less than 7x earnings, has been oversold following an avalanche of bad news in Europe and general economic environment.
Unless the Eurozone collapses, this will turn a profit.

Financials to lead recovery

There's a lot of hate out there for the BCS because every year some random team like Boise State or Utah goes undefeated and doesn't get to play for the national championship. So everyone wants a playoff instead. Personally, I kind of like the BCS and don't think there should be a playoff. So that's why I think BCS is going to beat the market.
Seriously, though, I do like this stock. In the financial crisis of 2008, Barclays did pretty well. They were secure enough to make a bid for Lehman Brothers and then buy it out of bankruptcy. I think they know what they're doing and will be fine through the crisis. Honestly, I have no idea how to read a bank's balance sheet because everything is under Other Non-Current, but their debt, while it has increased a lot since 2008, is tiny compared to their massive assets, and they have less of it than similar banks. I also have no idea how a bank has a profit margin, but theirs is almost twice the industry average, which I like in most companies. And their CFO assured the Wall Street Journal that they're in good shape with liquidity, which is what did the banks in in 2008.

Here's the most compelling reason of all: let's say that some horrible calamity did befall the world economy (or even just Barclays) and they were forced to write down everything by half. Literally they just announced one day that they were worth half as much as they were yesterday. They would STILL be trading at less than book value. I don't think they will have to take a write-down like that, but it's nice to know that that's how little investors have valued this company. Eventually the panic will have to stop.

It has come down from mid-20 to $10. Its like a shirt is selling at half its original price. If you like the shirt then you can't pass this price. It can go further down, then I will buy more if I have capital.

down the rabbit hole you go!

Banks are cheap, and despite the drop in profits, Barclays still makes money hand over fist. There is a moral case that it owes some of these profits back to the public in return for fiscal easing and the austerity the public is going through as a result. But they won't be held to it, so I won't buy any, but I say outperform.

Tracker: good bank, punished ...

Barclays new management team have a lot to prove.Their success in building Barclays Capital over the past 10 years now must be translated into adding the same value for a universal bank.Look for for major changes as the Banks profile changes from a well diversified under performing firm to a tightly focussed firm delivering results that should move it to the top quartile of their peer group.Bob Diamond must make this happen over the next 12 months.
The team from 2010 is gone,the new team is in fact the old team from Barcap.I believe they will succeed.Expect BCS to reach $20-25 by Q1 2012.

good one to hold for 2-3 years

best long term play... in the financials good upside...

No brainer

cheap

Limited PIIGS exposure, will take ground compared to other UK banks given the pressure to split up Lloyds & RBS, as well as the significantly higher exposure to Ireland.

Near 52-week low, low P/E, low P/B.