It's been a cracking start to the week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Monday. At market close, the ASX 200 is up a pleasing 0.63% at just under 7,000 points. But it's been an even better day for the Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) share price.
Endeavour shares closed a little higher than the index, gaining a healthy 0.88% to $7.99 a share on Monday. Earlier today, this ASX 200 consumer staples share rose as high as $8.04. That's just a whisker off Endeavour's present 52-week (and record) high of $8.08 that we saw it hit only last month.
The Endeavour share price has been a pleasing ASX 200 performer in recent months. Over 2022 thus far, the company is now up 18.69%. It's also up more than 30% since making its ASX debut in June last year.
That was when Endeavour's old owner Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) pushed the company out of its nest to live ASX life on its own.
So with these pleasing gains under the belt, is it too late to buy Endeavour shares today?
Well, not according to more than one expert ASX investor.
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ASX experts: Why Endeavour shares are a buy today
As my Fool colleague Tony covered last month, Shaw and Partners portfolio manager James Gerrish named Endeavour as one of the ASX 200 shares best placed to withstand an economic downturn. Gerrish did note that the Endeavour share price could be "close to being fully priced" at its present levels.
However, he also argued that "margins are better and profitability is growing at a higher clip which could justify the premium multiple" that Endeavour shares are presently trading at.
But last month, we also heard from portfolio manager of the Redpoint Australian Equity Income Fund Max Cappetta. Noting that Endeavour has had a stellar year to date, here's some of what Cappetta added:
We still find it attractive. We think that the benefits of it now being a standalone entity enables management to clearly focus on converting really what is their absolute market-leading position into profit margin improvement in the years ahead.
So these two ASX expert investors clearly think there are far worse places to have one's money in than the Endeavour share price today. No doubt investors will find this assessment pleasing as the company approaches its all-time high share price.
The current Endeavour share price gives this ASX 200 consumer staples share a market capitalisation of $14.33 billion, with a dividend yield of 3.13%.
