“The last holding I’d want to sell in my Stocks and Shares ISA is…”

Happy New Tax Year, to all Stocks and Shares ISA owners! The £20,000 allowance has reset — will you be an ‘early bird’ and resume investing immediately?

| 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.

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it

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.

sdf

We asked a handful of our free-site writers about their highest-conviction holdings in their Stocks and Shares ISAs. Here’s what they said:

Ashtead Group

What it does: Ashtead Group is one of the US’ biggest rental equipment suppliers with a total of 1,234 locations.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Ashtead Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Royston Wild. Owning shares in Ashtead Group (LSE:AHT) has been a bumpy ride more recently. The FTSE 100 company’s share price plunged again in early March as it warned full-year profits would come in at the low end of expectations.

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

See the 6 stocks

Conditions could remain tough in the short term, too, if stubborn inflation means interest rates remain above their norms. Still, this is a growth share I’d be reluctant to ever sell.

The rental equipment business is suffering due to pressure in North America. But this doesn’t faze me. The long-term outlook here remains robust thanks to phenomena like rising infrastructure investment and steady growth in the green economy.

Critically, there is also plenty of scope for Ashtead to keep increasing profits through additional acquisitions. A steady and successful expansion drive allowed it to deliver the best returns of any current Footsie-listed share over the past 20 years.

Royston Wild owns shares in Ashtead Group.

Greggs

What it does: Greggs sells a range of fresh bakery goods, sandwiches and drinks in its shops and, more recently, via delivery.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Greggs Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Paul Summers: It’s going to take a lot for me to part with my position in ‘food on the go’ retailer Greggs (LSE: GRG). 

Having been invested for several years, I’ve benefited from the return to normality following the pandemic and the subsequent recovery in the share price.

Based on recent results, there could be more to come. The company revealed a 13% rise in annual profit in March, helped by its decision to extend store opening hours into the evening. Cue a lovely 40p per share special dividend for holders.

Naturally, Greggs will always face stiff competition in this space and there are only so many new UK stores the company can open.

However, shares currently trade on 21 times forecast earnings. That’s not a bargain price but it’s also nowhere near ‘silly’ territory considering the quality of the business.

Paul Summers owns shares in Greggs

Lloyds Banking Group

What it does: Lloyds is a retail and commercial bank with its operations focused predominantly across the UK. It’s considered one of the ‘Big Four’ banks.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Lloyds Banking Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Charlie Keough. I plan to keep hold of my Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) shares for as long as possible. I’ve been bullish on the stock for a while. Up 8.1% in 2024, as I write, it seems like my investment is finally bearing fruit.

But I see Lloyds going a lot further. There are a few things that hint at why this could be the case.

Firstly, the stock looks undervalued. Today, I can grab shares trading around just seven times earnings. On top of that, when interest rates begin to fall, I see Lloyds being provided with a boost. Investor sentiment will lift. More importantly, the property market will stabilise.

There’s also its 5.3% dividend yield. With my ISA acting as a tax wrapper, it means I pay zero tax on any income I receive, which is an extra bonus.

Short-term volatility is likely. We’re not out of the woods yet with inflationary pressures. Interest rates also remain high. The upcoming months could be sticky.

But I’m holding my shares for the long run. If I have the cash, I’ll likely add to my position.

Charlie Keough owns shares in Lloyds.

Salesforce

What it does: Salesforce is a leader in artificial intelligence solutions, most prominently catered to retailers.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Salesforce PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Oliver Rodzianko. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) could be the strongest investment I own in my Stocks and Shares ISA right now.

There are estimates of up to 40% annual growth rates for the artificial intelligence (AI) market over the next decade. This firm will be directly involved in that, and I think the shares are positioned to be a big winner over the long term.

Management has put together its own AI operating system, called Einstein, and it powerfully helps merchants and other businesses to increase efficiency and harness data analytics.

One of the things I’ve noted as a risk is its valuation. While I don’t think it is unreasonably valued based on long-term future prospects, I expect some volatility. That’s a problem if I don’t have the right temperament to hold out on short-term losses.

Overall, while many others consider Nvidia the be-all-and-end-all for investing in AI, I think Salesforce might have more to give.

Oliver Rodzianko owns shares in Salesforce

Should you buy Ashtead Group Plc now?

Don’t make any big decisions yet.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — has revealed 5 Shares for the Future of Energy.

And he believes they could bring spectacular returns over the next decade.

Since the war in Ukraine, nations everywhere are scrambling for energy independence, he says. Meanwhile, they’re hellbent on achieving net zero emissions. No guarantees, but history shows...

When such enormous changes hit a big industry, informed investors can potentially get rich.

So, with his new report, Mark’s aiming to put more investors in this enviable position.

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

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.

The Motley Fool UK has recommended Greggs Plc, Lloyds Banking Group Plc, Nvidia, and Salesforce. 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

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

If a 50-year-old puts £500 a month into the S&P 500, here’s what they could have by retirement

Regularly investing in S&P 500 shares could help a middle-aged person build a nest egg worth anywhere between £266,100 to…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£100,000 invested in the FTSE 250 5 years ago is now worth…

The FTSE 250's home to many growth stocks, some of which have more than doubled in the last five years!…

Read more »

UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

This little-known tech stock is now the seventh-largest company in the FTSE 100!

In the last five years, this FTSE 100 technology enterprise has moved from 25th to the seventh-largest business on the…

Read more »

Mature black couple enjoying shopping together in UK high street
Investing Articles

Investors who bought £1,000 of Greggs shares 5 years ago now have…

Greggs' shares are seemingly in freefall this year, wiping out almost all of its gains since the pandemic. But could…

Read more »

High flying easyJet women bring daughters to work to inspire next generation of women in STEM
Investing Articles

easyJet shares: here’s what a £1,000 investment in 2020 would now be worth

easyJet shares haven’t been great performers since the pandemic, but with its Holidays division firing on all cylinders, could that…

Read more »

Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

If investors had bought £1,000 of IAG shares 5 years ago, here’s how much money they’d have made…

IAG shares have more than doubled since their pandemic lows, but can the airline stock continue to climb from here?…

Read more »

Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

Investors who bought £1,000 of Tesla stock in April 2025 now have…

Tesla stock's been on a rollercoaster ride in 2025, but investors who capitalised on this volatility have already made an…

Read more »

UK money in a Jar on a background
Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares: a £1,000 investment in 2020 is now worth…

Investing in Rolls-Royce shares has proven to be an immensely lucrative decision in recent years. But just how much money…

Read more »