Arabtec shares rise to highest in a month

Arabtec Holding climbed to the highest in a month on investor bets the shares of the Gulf's largest publicly traded builder are cheap compared with Dubai-based property developers.

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Arabtec Holding climbed to the highest in a month on investor bets the shares of the Gulf's largest publicly traded builder are cheap compared with Dubai-based property developers.

The stock gained 3.3 per cent to Dh2.22, the highest close since March 3 and trimming this year's drop to 0.9 per cent. About 33 million shares traded, or more than double the three-month daily average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Arabtec was the second most-actively traded stock on Dubai's benchmark index, which rose 1 per cent. The measure has surged 22 per cent this year.

Construction projects in the UAE are picking up, with Arabtec winning contracts to build a branch of the Louvre and an airport terminal in Abu Dhabi. The company, which last month said it has a "strong" backlog of Dh22 billion, trades at an estimated price-to-earnings multiple of about 12. That compares with 15 times for Dubai-based Emaar Properties, whose shares have surged 43 per cent this year.

Arabtec's stock "has been a lagger in comparison to the market and it's trading at attractive valuation," said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president at Dubai-based Gulfmena Investments.

Nine analysts recommend investors sell the shares of Arabtec, while three have a hold rating on the stock, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

* Bloomberg News