A great way to look for investment opportunities is to scour the 52-week high list.
Stocks hitting their year-high usually report good news, such as positive earnings, higher dividends, or a promising acquisition.
Of course, investors need to assess if these businesses can continue to perform.
Here are four Singapore stocks that recently hit their year-highs that you may consider adding to your buy watchlist.
SBS Transit (SGX: S58)
SBS Transit is a leading bus and train operator with a fleet of more than 3,000 buses operating some 200 bus routes.
The group’s rail network spans 83 km across 79 stations.
SBS Transit is also a member of ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited (SGX: C52).
The land transport company saw its share price climb nearly 20% year-to-date and hit a 52-week high of S$2.91.
For 2024, SBS Transit saw revenue inch up 2.1% year on year to S$1.6 billion.
Net profit stood at S$70.3 million, up 1.8% year on year.
The group generated a positive free cash flow of S$21.5 million, though this was nearly 64% lower than the S$59.2 million churned out a year ago.
SBS Transit sharply increased its final dividend to S$0.1469 compared to the previous year’s S$0.0558.
In addition, the group also declared a special dividend of S$0.0841.
Combined with the interim dividend of S$0.0558, the total dividend for 2024 came up to S$0.2868, more than double the previous year’s S$0.1116.
The special dividend was paid out of the entire proceeds from the sale of the Soon Lee Bus Depot last year.
SBS Transit was awarded the contract for Seletar Bus Package and will continue to operate it for five years, with an option to extend it between two to five years.
Rail operations revenue is expected to grow marginally with higher ridership and fare adjustments that came into effect in December 2024.
Old Chang Kee (SGX: 5ML)
Old Chang Kee, or OCK, is a popular snack food chain best known for its curry puffs.
The group also sells other snacks such as chicken wings, spring rolls, and prawn nuggets and has more than 70 outlets across Singapore.
OCK saw its share price touch a 52-week high of S$0.85, up 4% year-to-date.
For the first half of fiscal 2025 (1H FY2025) ending 30 September 2024, the group saw revenue grow 3.2% year on year to S$51.8 million.
Gross profit did better, increasing by 7.9% year on year to S$36 million.
Net profit surged 42% year on year to S$6.2 million.
The snack manufacturer generated a positive free cash flow of S$11 million, in line with the free cash flow that was churned out in the prior year.
OCK maintained its interim dividend of S$0.01, unchanged from a year ago.
Management intends to explore opportunities to increase its presence in strategic, high-traffic locations such as transport hubs and is open to synergistic acquisitions to enhance its operational efficiency.
Singapore Technologies Engineering (SGX: S63)
Singapore Technologies Engineering, or STE, is an engineering and technology group serving customers across the aerospace, smart city, defence, and public security sectors.
STE’s share price is up 46% year-to-date and the engineering giant just hit its 52-week and all-time high of S$6.93 recently.
The group reported a sparkling set of earnings for 2024 with revenue rising 11.6% year on year to S$11.3 million.
Operating profit climbed 17.7% year on year to S$1.1 billion while net profit increased nearly 20% year on year to S$702.3 million.
STE’s free cash flow generation more than doubled year on year to S$1.17 billion for 2024.
The engineering giant declared a final dividend of S$0.05, up from the S$0.04 paid out last year.
This final dividend brought 2024’s total dividend to S$0.17, one cent above the S$0.16 declared and paid out for 2023.
After snagging S$12.6 billion of new contracts last year, STE’s order book stood at a high of S$28.5 billion as of 31 December 2024.
Management recently released its Investor Day 2025 slides where the group plans to increase its annual dividend for 2025 to S$0.18.
Haw Par Corporation (SGX: H02)
Haw Par is a conglomerate with four divisions – healthcare, leisure, investments, and properties.
The group’s healthcare division manufactures and sells products such as analgesics and ointments under the famous Tiger Balm brand.
Haw Par’s share price has risen by 18.4% year-to-date and hit its 52-week high of S$13.33 recently.
The conglomerate reported a commendable set of earnings for 2024.
Revenue rose 5.5% year on year to S$244.8 million while net profit increased by 5.4% year on year to S$228.3 million.
The manufacturer of Tiger Balm products also churned out a positive free cash flow of S$50.3 million for 2024.
Haw Par proposed an unchanged final dividend of S$0.20 but also declared a special dividend of S$1 per share.
These declarations brought the total dividend for 2024 to S$1.40 per share.
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Disclosure: Royston Yang does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
