3 FTSE 100 shares to buy

Rupert Hargreaves looks at some of his favourite FTSE 100 shares to buy in the current market considering their growth potential.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

sdf

I’m always looking for FTSE 100 shares to buy for my portfolio. Right now, I think there are plenty of bargains on the market that could make great additions to my portfolio. Here are three of my favourite stocks on offer right now. 

FTSE 100 stocks 

The first company is the online vehicle marketplace Autotrader (LSE: AUTO). Like many businesses in the UK, last year was a challenging period for the FTSE 100 company. Revenues for the year to the end of March slumped 29%

However, it seems as if things could be looking up this year. The demand for second-hand cars is booming. Some reports have even suggested used-car prices are rising so fast, vehicles become worth more the second they leave the forecourt. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Royal Mail Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Royal Mail Group made the list?

See the 6 stocks

This is excellent news for Autotrader after a tough year. That’s why I think this is one of the best shares to buy now in the blue-chip index. 

Still, despite this potential, the company’s facing increasing competition in the market, which could harm growth. The market for used cars could also go into reverse at any point. 

Even after taking these risks into account, I’d still buy Autotrader for my portfolio. 

The best shares to buy 

As well as Autotrader, I’d also buy FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place (LSE: STJ) for my portfolio. 

The asset and wealth manager is benefiting from increased demand for its services across the UK. Indeed, for the six months to the end of June, the company reported gross inflows of £9.2bn.

The combination of these inflows and rising equity markets pushed group funds under management to £144bn, up from £129bn at the end of December 2020. 

With assets under management and profits rising, management’s reinvesting for growth. It’s increased the number of qualified advisors by 139 this year and is enrolling more in its Academy programmes. 

As St. James’s Place continues to reinvest in its adviser network, I think the company will continue to attract assets. This is why I think the stock’s one of the best shares to buy now in the FTSE 100. As we advance, some challenges it may face include competition and additional regulatory costs, which could impact profit margins. 

Double tailwinds 

The third and final group I’d buy for my FTSE 100 portfolio is Rentokil (LSE: RTO). The pest control company’s currently benefiting from a double tailwind.

The demand for pest control services is rising, and the number of acquisition opportunities is also increasing. In the first half of 2021, the company’s revenues grew 18%, and it completed 24 acquisitions.  

Like St. James’s Place, I think the group’s growth should continue as management reinvests for growth and demand for its services grows. Therefore, as Rentokil’s network expands, I reckon the stock could make the perfect growth investment for my portfolio. 

Risks it may face include higher wage and materials costs, as well as higher interest rates, which could make its acquisitions more expensive. 

Of course, there are plenty of other passive income opportunities to explore. And these may be even more lucrative:

We think earning passive income has never been easier

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Rupert Hargreaves has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Auto Trader. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

1 Warren Buffett stock I’m staying well away from

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has been buying shares in Constellation Brands recently. But Stephen Wright prefers its FTSE 100 counterpart.

Read more »

Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Nvidia stock just hit an all-time high. So could it still make sense to buy?

Nvidia stock has hit an all-time high today. Our writer reckons it may still be cheap from a long-term perspective.…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

As Rolls-Royce shares smash record after record, could they be a bargain even now?

Rolls-Royce shares have performed incredibly in recent years. This writer reckons they may yet go even higher -- here's his…

Read more »

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Growth Shares

2 UK stocks that could be under pressure if fiscal problems keep rising

Jon Smith talks through a couple of UK stocks that he thinks could be under pressure if the government change…

Read more »

Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares with low P/E ratios! Which should I consider buying?

I'm hunting for the best UK value shares to buy this July. Here are a couple from the FTSE 100…

Read more »

Young Caucasian woman holding up four fingers
Investing Articles

4 stocks I bought for my Stocks and Shares ISA in June!

Our writer reveals what he thinks is the most exciting from the four investments he made in his Stocks and…

Read more »

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

5 dividend shares yielding 5.9%+ to consider in July

Christopher Ruane discussed a handful of FTSE dividends shares yielding close to 6% or higher that he reckons investors should…

Read more »

Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Up 50% in just 1 year, can the NatWest share price keep going?

Christopher Ruane looks at a couple of ways to evaluate the Natwest share price and decide whether it offers a…

Read more »