As calendar year 2014 draws to a close and with the S&P/ASX 100 (Index: ^AXTO) (ASX: XTO) set to finish very close to flat, it can certainly be said that it was a stock pickers' market; index hugging just didn't cut it!
Add in the index's dividend yield for FY 2014 of approximately 4.8% and things certainly look a little brighter but considering the risks, the rewards have simply not been good enough.
Of course for most individual companies within the Top 100 they have either fared significantly better or significantly worse than the average – hence why it's still been a good year for successful stock pickers.
What's your 2015 portfolio looking like?
Without a crystal ball it's impossible to know whether 2015 will finish with the S&P/ASX 100 higher or lower than where it begins. One thing that's for sure is that successful stock picking can produce gains in any market environment.
One group of stocks which could be set to have a good 2015 are the laggards of 2014 – in other words a contrarian strategy could pay off. Here are four stocks which could be set to bounce back next year…
- Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) share price is down nearly 25%. Strategies to get the company back on track in Australia coupled with a new agreement with its parent company to drive growth in its Indonesian market could see the stock once again find favour with investors in 2015.
- Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) shares have sunk over 26% year-to-date. With much of James Packer's wealth tied up in the company, investors know that Packer will be watching the casino group closely and driving the company to perform in 2015.
- Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price has fallen just over 24%. It's a significant turnaround for the stock which initially rose to a new record high in March. The travel agent will continue to expand its global reach in 2015 which could see the company continue to break new records.
- Navitas Limited (ASX: NVT) suffered a sudden de-rating in its share price in July which was a shock for shareholders in the previous high flying company. The shares have since steadied around the $5 mark and with news that the education provider is successfully filling the revenue hole left by one of its departing clients there is every chance the market could fall back in love with this stock again.
