£2k to invest? Here are two cheap UK shares I’d buy right now

Rupert Hargreaves highlights two cheap UK shares that could be some of the best blue-chip buys in London right now, based on their prospects.

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There’s no shortage of cheap UK shares after this year’s stock market crash. So today, I’m looking at two strong FTSE 100 businesses currently trading at knockdown prices.

If you’re buying with a long-term horizon of 10 years or more, I reckon these stocks could help you build a large financial nest egg. 

Cheap UK shares to buy 

Shares in blue-chip dividend champion British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) have slumped in recent months. Concern about the company’s long-term outlook, as well as a declining number of smokers around the world, has hurt investor sentiment towards the business. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Aston Martin 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 Aston Martin made the list?

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However, the group’s underlying fundamental performance remains strong. This is why the company is on my radar as one of the best cheap UK shares to buy right now. 

The company’s latest trading update showed a 3.5% increase in adjusted profit before tax to £4.9bn. This was above analyst expectations. Overall revenues in the first half of the year increased by nearly 1%. 

The firm’s strong H1 performance puts it well on the way to meeting full-year growth expectations. As such, I reckon now could be an excellent time to buy the stock as part of a diversified portfolio of cheap UK shares.

Right now, shares in the company are dealing at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of just 7.7. That’s below the long-term average of around 16. In addition, shares in British American Tobacco offer a dividend yield of 8.5%. I think these numbers show the stock provides a wide margin of safety at current levels. 

Mining giant 

Mining giant Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) is also on my radar. There are several reasons why I think this company could be a great addition to a basket of cheap UK shares.

For a start, the company is the largest producer of iron ore in the world. This gives it a definite competitive advantage and the most substantial profit margins in the mining sector. The company also has a strong balance sheet. Rio’s healthy cash generation has helped it reduce debt and invest in the business at the same time. 

It’s also returned a lot of cash to investors over the past few years. However, despite its performance since 2015, investor sentiment has turned against the business recently. Like many cheap UK shares, investors are worried about the impact the coronavirus crisis might have on the company’s bottom line.

So far, the effect has been minimal. Therefore, I think now could be an excellent time to take advantage of depressed investor sentiment and buy the stock as part of a diversified portfolio. 

It’s projected to pay investors a market-beating dividend yield of 6%. On top of this, the stock appears to offer a margin of safety as it’s trading 30% below its long-term average P/E multiple of around 15. 

Should you invest £1,000 in Aston Martin 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 Aston Martin 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 in British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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

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