Here’s how I’d spend £1,500 in July on UK growth stocks

Jonathan Smith explains the key elements of what make UK growth stocks attractive, and gives some examples of companies he would buy now.

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.

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.

A graph made of neon tubes in a room

Image source: Getty Images

Given the volatility we saw in the FTSE 100 last month, I think there are some opportunities in the market to take advantage of. If I had £1,500 that I was looking to deploy in July for the long run, I would be thinking about good UK growth stocks. There are several points that I think make them attractive right now.

Key points about UK growth stocks

A growth stock is a share that has certain attributes. The company is usually in a fast growth sector. This could be technology, energy, healthcare or several others. The fast pace of growth usually means that all profits are reinvested in the business. As a result, it’s unusual to get a growth stock that’s attractive for dividend investors.

It also might be the case that the profits aren’t that high right now. Yet due to the pace of growth, the future looks bright. This usually means UK growth stocks have a high price-to-earnings ratio. This feature means that value investors tend to stay away from growth stocks.

If income and value investors are unlikely to buy growth stocks, why should I? Well there’s an important element of growth stocks that I find attractive: the future outlook. These stocks have the potential to increase revenue and profit by 10x or more in a few years time. If this is realised, then the share price should reflect this increase as well. This could give me large profits when I come to sell the shares.

Investing my £1,500

There are many UK growth stocks listed on the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 right now. With £1,500, I could in theory invest in all of them, but I wouldn’t actually do this. After all, my £1,500 would become so diluted and would be eaten away by transaction fees that it wouldn’t be very efficient at all.

Instead, I’d look to buy half a dozen stocks that fit the bill. As I mentioned at the beginning, several sectors are growing at a good pace. In the technology area, the likes of Experian and AVEVA Group are companies that I think would sit well in my portfolio.

Outside of technology, I’d buy SSE as a potential growth stock in the renewable energy space. Although the share price is only up 10% over the past year, I think the renewable energy space hasn’t fully gained traction yet and so has the potential to outperform going forward. Thinking outside the box in this way can help me to outperform the broader market.

Over time, I’ll hopefully get more disposable funds that I can allocate to growth stocks beyond July. One option here would be to increase my holdings in the same stocks I already hold. Alternatively, I can buy different stocks, allowing me to further diversify my risk.

jonathansmith1 has no position in any share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Experian. 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

This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Investing Articles

As the FTSE indexes sink, these unique dividend shares are making investors money

These two dividend shares are in positive territory for the month and outperforming the major FTSE indexes by a significant…

Read more »

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

Down 15% in days, are Rolls-Royce shares suddenly a bargain again?

Rolls-Royce shares have been heading south over the past couple of weeks. This writer thinks that makes sense -- but…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

What would a 40-year-old need to put into an empty SIPP to target monthly passive income of £1,000?

From a standing start at 40, how might someone target a four-figure monthly income stream from their SIPP? Christopher Ruane…

Read more »

British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

As the ISA deadline approaches, UK investors have the opportunity to buy cheap shares

In recent weeks, equity markets have fallen significantly due to the conflict in the Middle East. As a result, many…

Read more »

Array of piggy banks in saturated colours on high colour contrast background
Investing Articles

£5k left in a Stocks and Shares ISA? 2 top ETFs to consider buying in April

Ben McPoland highlights a pair of very different ETFs that he thinks could help generate long-term wealth inside an ISA…

Read more »

Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Investing Articles

Could a £20,000 ISA end up generating £20,000 of passive income each year?

Could a Stocks and Shares ISA ultimately cover its own cost each year with the passive income it produces? Christopher…

Read more »

A young black man makes the symbol of a peace sign with two fingers
Investing Articles

2 top stocks to consider buying after this week’s FTSE carnage

Investors looking for beaten-up stocks to buy for the long term have a lot of great options after the recent…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

A stock market crash could be a gift for long-term investors

A stock market crash could present some outstanding buying opportunities. But the key to taking advantage is knowing what to…

Read more »