Sunday share tips: Empiric Student Property, Frasers Group

The Financial Mail on Sunday's Midas column recommended investors hold onto their shares in Empiric Student Property.

In particular, it highlighted the expected jump in the 18-25 year old population in the UK throughout the 2020s.

That should drive for university student accommodation, Midas said.

Furthermore, since the current chief executive officer, Duncan Garrood, came onboard in 2020, the share price had staged a partial recovery.

Garrood had 40 years' experience and was at the helm of Punch Taverns when it was bought out for £1.8bn in 2017.

Midas said the company's progress since had been "encouraging", that there was "more to come" and that the shares should respond.

"Midas recommended Empiric in 2014, when the shares floated on the stock market at £1. Early years were promising but the company then fell out of favour and the price slumped to 58p before Garrood came on board," the tipster said.

"The stock has since risen to 86p but remains undervalued. Existing shareholders should sit tight. Newcomers may also find the stock rewarding."

The Sunday Times's Lucy Tobin told readers to buy shares of Frasers Group, arguing that its Sports Direct chain was "flourishing", notwithstanding the cost of living crisis in the UK.

Not only had it spruced up its offering with more fashionable brands, the company had also expanded deeper into Europe with the purchase of German chain SportsScheck.

What was Fraser's ambition? To become Europe's largest sports retailer.

The retailer's shares had done well year-to-date, rising by 11% to around 800.0p, but remained well off the 940.0p highs reached last summer.

Its price-to-earnings multiple, at 9.9 for 2024, was also considerably lower than its historic level of 16.

Frasers Group's brands looked disparate, but they were bought on the cheap and the company had a strong balance sheet, while cash inflows were above £500 at the full-year stage this summer.

And further acquisitions were expected.

"The ride may be choppy, but Sports Direct should succeed where it expands. Buy Frasers."