Although Australia's biggest companies – found in the S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) (^AXJO) – continue to push to new highs, there's a number of great blue-chip Aussie businesses which are likely to trend even higher in coming years.
The first of which is Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). Macquarie is Australia's leading investment bank with expertise in stock markets, the resources sector, currencies and financing. It is led by experienced management and continues to build its reputation worldwide.
Aided by growing confidence in global markets, in its 2014 results the bank announced a 49% growth in profit and 22% increase in operating income. Global sales accounted for 68% of income with North American markets leading the charge. In the coming year, management has forecast mildly positive earnings growth and is expected to pay a 5% dividend.
After missing an earnings guidance and being hammered by the media, Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) moved into the buy zone. Despite a reputation for consistent growth and one of the world's most powerful brands under its control, shares are still down over 24% in the past year.
The drop has provided savvy long-term investors with an opportunity to purchase shares while they're cheap. Although the headwinds which caused CCA's falling share price cannot be overlooked, they're likely to be short-term in nature. It's forecast to pay a 4.6% dividend in the coming year.
Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) is another company which has fallen from grace in the pasts 12 months, down 32%. Newcrest's drop can largely be attributed to the huge falls in the gold spot price and subsequent $6 billion writedown of its mines.
However with gold production forecast at 2.3 million ounces for FY14 and an All-in Sustaining Cost of $US925 per ounce in the most recent half-year, Newcrest is getting on with business by maintaining healthy profit margins.
