If you are looking for investment ideas to take you into 2014 and beyond, then I have four stocks that might be just what you are looking for.
These companies have set a hot pace in business and have catalysts in place that can take them further. All four are up more than 15% in share price over the last two months and they have the potential to continue.
The employment website company SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK) had smashing results for the first half. Underlying net profit climbed 29% and interim dividend rose 40% from 10 cents per share to 14 cps on 1H 2013.
Its share price gapped up in mid-February and is now up about 41% in the past two months. The earnings boost was accompanied by news of its overseas acquisition of JobStreet, an employment website based in Malaysia.
Following the rise in housing construction, Boral Limited (ASX: BLD), the building materials producer, is seeing better market conditions and higher sales volumes for such items as bricks and wood materials.
It has climbed 20% in share price to $5.70 in two months. It has recovered well since 2012 and the catalyst of the growing property market spurs on demand in construction.
Carsales.com Limited (ASX: CRZ) raced across the interim results finish line, wowing shareholders with a 17% rise in net profit after tax on the previous corresponding period. It followed that with two announcements about investments in iCar Asia Ltd (ASX: ICQ), an auto sales website business that covers several Asian countries, and SK Encar, Korea's leading car sales website.
The international expansion story is getting interesting and investors appear to like it. The company's share price is up about 19% since the start of February. For a company that listed in 2009 during the GFC, it has zoomed into first position for online car sales and plans to hold the lead.
And not to leave out the resources industry investors, Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT) is approaching new-high territory, thanks to raising its half-year oil production and growing sales revenue 65% on the first half of FY2013.
Its share price is up 18.4% in the past two months. Successful drilling in its Western Flank area within the Cooper Basin in SA is adding more oil reserves. In March it reported a new oil discovery within the area in conjunction with Drillsearch Energy Limited (ASX: DLS).
Foolish takeaway
I can't predict the future, yet looking at recent performance over several years, I would prefer Seek because of the strong profit growth and international expansion it has underway. It follows the "winners keep on winning" thinking. Market leadership and solid profits allow it hold its position and develop even more business opportunities.
