4 penny stocks I’d buy for 2022 and look to hold for 10 years

I’m searching for the best penny stocks to buy for next year. Here’s why these four low-cost UK shares have caught my eye.

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 Pennies on a Pound Note

Image source: Getty Images

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’m on the lookout for the best penny stocks to buy for 2022. Here’s a handful I’d buy for next year and aim to hold for the long haul.

The diagnosis is good

Signs of a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections washing across the globe suggests a growing threat to the economic recovery. But not all UK shares are in danger of being washed out by a worsening public health emergency. Take EKF Diagnostics for example. This business manufactures medical kits that help diagnose whether or not someone has contracted the virus.

EKF might not just be a flash in the pan though. The business also manufactures a range of testing kits for other medical conditions. So it should benefit from the steady increase in global healthcare spending. Remember though, a high-profile failure of its equipment could prove catastrophic for future profits.

Shaking things up

The Covid-19 crisis has also underlined the importance of living healthy lifestyles. Ideas like keeping fit and eating well have gained extra importance as people try to bolster their immunity levels. This all benefits Science in Sport, a penny stock whose wide variety of nutritional products include energy gels, protein shakes and vitamin tablets.

What I also like is the impressive brand power of its labels, such as SiS and PhD (a personal favourite of mine). It’s a quality Science in Sport has built up by teaming with some of the world’s most popular athletes and sports teams. And it helps it thrive in a market which is become increasingly competitive.

Ready to fly

Phoenix Copper’s another cheap UK share that’s caught my attention recently. It’s not just due to the release of impressive survey results at its Red Star project in Idaho this week. The miner has discovered three new anomalies that it says “are significantly greater” than the discovery outcrop drilled in recent years.

It’s also not just because its American Depositary Receipts have received approval to trade over the counter in New York, giving it the opportunity to attract new investors.

I’m thinking of buying Phoenix Copper as clean energy investment and soaring electric vehicle demand should turbocharge copper consumption. Goldman Sachs thinks global copper off-take could soar 600% between now and 2030.

Buying mining shares can be risky business as cost overruns and production problems can hit profits hard. Still, I believe this company’s risk/reward profile is extremely attractive.

Another top penny stock to land

A resurgence in fishing as a recreational activity makes Angling Direct an attractive penny stock to buy too. Sales of rods, lines and other sorts of tackle were rising before the Covid-19 crisis emerged.

The public health emergency has boosted demand even further as people took up the pursuit during lockdowns. Angling Direct’s own sales jumped 27% in the 12 months to January as a result.

Like EKF Diagnostics, Angling Direct could benefit from a long road out of the pandemic. Though supply chain problems are growing, I still think this cheap UK share’s a brilliant buy for 2022.

Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Is 2026 the year the Diageo share price bounces back?

Will next year be the start of a turnaround for the Diageo share price? Stephen Wright looks at a key…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s my top FTSE 250 pick for 2026

UK investors looking for under-the-radar opportunities should check out the FTSE 250. And 2026 could be an exciting year for…

Read more »

Yellow number one sitting on blue background
Investing Articles

Here’s my number 1 passive income stock for 2026

Stephen Wright thinks a 5.5% dividend yield from a company with a strong competitive advantage is something passive income investors…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

Should I sell my Scottish Mortgage shares in 2026?

After a strong run for Scottish Mortgage shares, our writer wonders if he should offload them to bank profits in…

Read more »

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

Down 35%! These 2 blue-chips are 2025’s big losers. But are they the best shares to buy in 2026?

Harvey Jones reckons he's found two of the best shares to buy for the year ahead, but he also acknowledges…

Read more »

A senior man and his wife holding hands walking up a hill on a footpath looking away from the camera at the view. The fishing village of Polperro is behind them.
Investing Articles

State Pension worries? 3 investment trusts to target a £2.6m retirement fund

Royston Wild isn't worried about possible State Pension changes. Here he identifies three investment trusts to target a multi-million-pound portfolio.

Read more »

Smiling white woman holding iPhone with Airpods in ear
Dividend Shares

4 dirt-cheap dividend stocks to consider for 2026!

Discover four great dividend stocks that could deliver long-term passive income -- and why our writer Royston Wild thinks they’re…

Read more »

Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

These fabulous 5 UK stocks doubled in 2025 – can they do it again next year?

These five UK stocks have more than doubled investors' money as the FTSE 100 surges. Harvey Jones wonders if they…

Read more »