Best shares to buy now: 5 options

Rupert Hargreaves explains why he thinks these five stocks are some of the best shares to buy now for his portfolio for the next few years.

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.

When it comes to finding the best shares to buy now, I am focusing on a few key sectors. 

The sectors that I believe will achieve the best performances over the next few years are homebuilding, resources, and green energy.

To a certain extent, they are all linked. For example, the resource sector produces materials for the homebuilding and green energy sectors. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Legal & General 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 Legal & General made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Resource giant

Rather than trying to pick out winners in the resource sector, I would buy Glencore. I think this is one of the best shares to buy now because it is a commodity trader. As well as owning mines around the world, it buys and sells a whole range of commodities, earning a small profit in the process. 

Glencore’s advantage is its size. Trading commodities requires a vast amount of capital, and this company is one of only four that virtually control the international commodity market. This is why I would buy the stock today. 

However, it might not be suitable for all investors. Glencore has mixed ESG credentials, as it is a large coal producer. This may put some investors off from investing in the business. 

Best shares to buy now in the homebuilding sector

In the homebuilding sector, I would Berkeley and Taylor Wimpey. The former targets the higher end of the property market, while the latter produces homes nearer the average UK property price of approximately £250,000. By acquiring both, I think my portfolio will benefit from exposure across the market. 

I think these are the best shares to buy now in the sector because Taylor has a cash-rich balance sheet. Meanwhile, Berkeley has a solid reputation for luxury properties. The UK property market is structurally undersupplied, and this lack of supply, coupled with rising demand, means property prices look set to continue rising for the foreseeable future. Demand for new homes should also continue to rise, setting up some solid tailwinds for these firms. 

Still, their growth is unlikely to come without any negative surprises. Rising labour and materials costs could hurt profits and lead to reduced profit margins. Therefore, both Taylor and Berkeley may fail to live up to the market’s lofty growth expectations. 

Green energy

I think the best shares I can buy now in the green energy sector are Greencoat Wind and SEE.

Estimates suggest hundreds of billions of pounds will flow into the renewable energy industry over the next few decades. I want to have some exposure to this. 

Greencoat has built a portfolio of wind energy generation assets. SEE is planning to spend billions building out its renewables portfolio over the next few years. I think owning these two firms could provide broad exposure to the renewables sector and offer the potential for growth in the years ahead. 

Key challenges the companies may face include high costs for developing new renewable assets, reducing returns on these assets when they are finalised. They may also struggle to invest if interest rates rise substantially.

Should you invest £1,000 in Legal & General 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 Legal & General made the list?

See the 6 stocks

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 Greencoat UK Wind. 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.

Our best passive income stock ideas

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

More on Investing Articles

US Trade Barrier Tarrif as American Economic Protectionism
US Stock

Strong pound, weak dollar: a once-in-a-decade chance to get rich with US stocks?

UK investors can buy more US stocks as the pound rises against the dollar, which could boost the investment appeal…

Read more »

Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

Why investors don’t need to wait for a stock market crash to buy shares

Even when the stock market is on the up, sharp declines in individual share prices can still present investors with…

Read more »

One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 shares: an “act now” opportunity to build wealth?

This writer reckons there are potentially overpriced shares in the FTSE 100 index at the moment -- but maybe also…

Read more »

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

Rolls-Royce shares just hit an all-time high. Could they still be a bargain?

Christopher Ruane sees some reasons why Rolls-Royce shares may move even higher from their latest all-time high. So, will he…

Read more »

US Tariffs street sign
Investing Articles

As the S&P 500 falters, is it time to buy US shares?

The S&P 500 looks expensive, but investors might consider buying shares in an oil company that could return 100% of…

Read more »

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

This FTSE dividend stock superstar is down 30% in 3 months – time to consider buying it?

Harvey Jones has been watching this under-the-radar FTSE 100 dividend stock for several years. Suddenly, it's available at a big…

Read more »

Man smiling and working on laptop
Investing Articles

Forget short-term pain! I’m holding this FTSE 100 share for long-term gain

This FTSE 100 share has delivered a long-term annualised return of almost 10%. Royston Wild expects it to keep impressing.

Read more »

British union jack flag and Parliament house at city of Westminster in the background
Investing Articles

1 excellent defence ETF to consider buying for a Stocks and Shares ISA 

Offering a modern take on an old industry, this ETF is well worth considering as a potentially smart addition to…

Read more »