The share price movements of Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) over the past three years have been truly awesome. Respectively, they're up 78.5% and 61% not including dividends.
Including dividends however, the total shareholder return grows to around 106% and 88% respectively. That compares to the 23% return from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) (INDEX: ^AXJO).
With such tremendous gains, its understandable shareholders could be considering walking away from the table with their profits. Fair enough.
Yes. The shares may not scream "bargain" to new investors but both companies still offer the prospect of increased dividends and earnings per share. Both companies have an ambitious Asian strategy which appears promising, yet continue to grow domestically.
Buy, Hold or Sell?
I'd rate ANZ as a 'Hold' and Telstra as a good, not great, 'Buy' at current prices. I believe both companies are worthy of holding long-term positions in current shareholders' portfolios.
