With £1,000 to invest, I’d buy cheap UK stocks to hold for 20 years

Whether it’s building wealth or earning passive income, Stephen Wright thinks the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 have great value stocks to buy right now.

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Warren Buffett’s advice for 99% of investors is to buy a diversified collection of stocks –  and then forget about them. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO prefers US equities, but I think UK shares are better value right now.

Investing in the stock market can be a great way of building wealth and earning passive income. But the best results come from investing in strong businesses when their shares trade at bargain pribari

Growth vs income

When identifying stocks to buy, what I look for depends on what I’m trying to achieve. If I’m attempting to build wealth, then I want to buy shares in businesses that will be worth more in the future.

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This means I’m targeting shares in companies that have opportunities to reinvest the cash they’ve generated. In doing so, they’re looking to earn even more in the future. 

With passive income, however, the situation is quite different. I’m looking for businesses that can generate more cash than they’re able to invest and therefore look to return the excess to shareholders via dividends.

Either way, it’s important to stick to buying stocks when they’re good value. And whether it’s growth or dividends, I think there are opportunities in UK shares at the moment.

A FTSE 100 growth stock

Shares in Rightmove (LSE:RMV) have just started to rebound in the last month from a 52-week low. But I still think the FTSE 100 stock is good value at today’s prices.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Rightmove Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL22 Nov 201822 Nov 2023Zoom ▾Jan '19Jul '19Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '232019201920202020202120212022202220232023www.fool.co.uk

Over the last decade, the company’s earnings per share have increased by an average of 12.5% per year. Strong revenue growth has been boosted by share buybacks, which I think can continue for decades to come.

Recently though, the market has been concerned with the possibility of increased competition. This could be a threat to Rightmove’s high margins, which are the source of its excess cash.

But the number of buyers and sellers on the platform means the business isn’t going to be easy to disrupt. With £1,000 to invest today, I’d put £500 into Rightmove shares to exploit what I see as unjustified pessimism.

A FTSE 250 income stock

Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). Despite a recent rally in the company’s share price, the FTSE 250 stock is still down 14% since the start of the year.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Primary Health Properties Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL22 Nov 201822 Nov 2023Zoom ▾Jan '19Jul '19Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '232019201920202020202120212022202220232023www.fool.co.uk

REITs are required to distribute 90% of their taxable income to their shareholders as dividends. As a result, they tend to have limited growth prospects, but can be much more attractive from a passive income perspective.

Right now, the stock comes with a 7% dividend yield. At that level, I don’t think the company needs to achieve much in the way of growth in order to be a good place to invest £500 for the next 20 years.

The value of the firm’s assets might come under pressure if interest rates stay high. But with a fully-occupied portfolio and most of its rent funded by the NHS, I see this as a reliable source of passive income for the future.

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

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.

Stephen Wright has positions in Berkshire Hathaway and Primary Health Properties Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Primary Health Properties Plc and Rightmove Plc. 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.

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