The best FTSE 100 stocks to buy now for the recovery

Rupert Hargreaves explains why he’d buy these FTSE 100 shares that he thinks are some of the best stocks primed for the recovery.

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.

British bank notes and coins

Image source: Getty Images

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.

I think the best stocks to buy now in the FTSE 100 are recovery shares. However, rather than just picking out one or two blue-chip stocks for my recovery portfolio, I’d buy a basket of different companies.

I think this would allow me to gain exposure to the recovery while limiting risk at the same time. After all, there’s always a chance one or two businesses may never recover from the pandemic. 

With this in mind, here’s a selection of FTSE 100 stocks I’d buy for my portfolio as recovery investments today. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Burberry Group Plc 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 Burberry Group Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Stocks to buy now

Two sectors that have suffered more than most in the pandemic are hospitality and commercial property. As such, I’d acquire the world’s largest catering group Compass and real estate investment trust British Land for my portfolio of FTSE 100 recovery shares. 

Both of these stocks offer something different.  As large hospitality events have been put on ice during the past 18 months, Compass’ sales plunged. To overcome these challenges, the firm has been branching out into new markets.

And as the economy reopens, large events are also returning. This could provide a twin tailwind for the firm as its news lines of business and more traditional income streams from significant events combine to push sales higher. 

Meanwhile, figures show consumers are steadily returning to bricks-and-mortar stores. This is positive for British Land. The landlord owns a vast commercial property portfolio, with both offices and retail units making up the mix.

Over the past year, management has also diversified by expanding into retail parks, which achieved better performances throughout the pandemic. Once again, the company could benefit from twin tailwinds as the economy reopens, with its traditional and new portfolios both reporting growth. 

FTSE 100 engineering

As well as the companies outlined above, I think BAE Systems and Melrose are also some of the best FTSE 100 stocks to buy now. 

I’d acquire both of these companies because I believe they offer exposure to different parts of the global engineering and manufacturing industries. Melrose is primarily a civilian engineer, while BAE is a defence contractor. 

Defence contracting can be a lucrative and predictable business because deals usually last for many years, and technology is closely guarded. Melrose doesn’t have the same defensive qualities, but it does have a strong track record of achieving value for shareholders by improving the efficiency of the companies it acquires. 

I think both of these enterprises should benefit from the FTSE 100 economic recovery as we advance. 

Risks and challenges

These may be some of my best stocks to buy now. Nevertheless, I think it’s important to note they’re not risk-free investments.

As recovery plays, if the rebound starts to stutter, or if there’s another more severe wave of coronavirus, they could begin to struggle.

Rising costs could also be a problem for the engineers, manufacturers and caterers. At the same time, higher interest rates may reduce property profit margins. So I’ll be keeping these risks in mind when I buy these stocks. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Burberry Group Plc 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 Burberry Group Plc 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 owns shares of British Land Co. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British Land Co, Compass Group, and Melrose. 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.

Like buying £1 for 51p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 8.5%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

More on Investing Articles

A senior man using hiking poles, on a hike on a coastal path along the coastline of Cornwall. He is looking away from the camera at the view.
Investing Articles

1 year ago, I said I wouldn’t touch Vodafone shares with a bargepole! Was that wise?

When Harvey Jones looks back at his decision not to buy Vodafone shares ago, does he feel anger or a…

Read more »

Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

1 year ago I said I’d left it too late to buy BT shares – see how much growth I’ve missed!

Harvey Jones thought he'd missed his moment to buy BT shares this time last year, but history proved him wrong.…

Read more »

A quiet morning and an empty Victoria Street in Edinburgh's historic Old Town.
Investing Articles

Here’s how a spare £2,000 could be used to start investing this week!

Our writer outlines some of the practical considerations someone might think about if they would like to start investing with…

Read more »

Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Its market cap is over $3trn – but could Nvidia stock still be a bargain?

Nvidia stock may look expensive on some metrics -- but this writer thinks that, from a long-term perspective, it may…

Read more »

Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

5 UK shares I think are worth considering now

Christopher Ruane highlights a handful of UK shares he thinks investors should consider in the current market, offering a variety…

Read more »

many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

A £10,000 investment in ITV shares 10 years ago is now worth…

Even factoring in dividends, ITV shares have delivered an awful return since 2015. Could the FTSE 250 firm be about…

Read more »

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

Could the Rolls-Royce share price end up hitting £20?

The Rolls-Royce share price has surged in recent years and many investors are wondering whether it could fly even higher…

Read more »

Smiling white woman holding iPhone with Airpods in ear
Investing Articles

2 cheap FTSE 250 growth shares I think demand attention in June!

The FTSE 250 index is packed with top growth shares with rock-bottom valuations. Here's a couple I'm considering for my…

Read more »