We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. We’ll be introducing a new name and brand over the coming weeks — we're very excited to share it with you and embark on this new chapter together!

3 dirt-cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy now

These are some of the best FTSE 100 shares to buy now, considering their valuations and income potential, says this Fool.

| 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.

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 am always on the lookout for dirt-cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy for my portfolio. And, right now, it looks to me as if there are a range of options in the blue-chip index, which seem too good to pass up.

Dirt-cheap FTSE 100 miner 

The first company on my list is the mining group Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO). Currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 7.9, the stock looks incredibly cheap, compared to the rest of the market.

However, I should note this equity may be cheap for a reason. Commodity prices can be volatile, and as one of the world’s largest iron ore miners, Rio Tinto is heavily exposed to the price of the steel ingredient, iron ore. If the price suddenly slumps, Rio’s outlook may suddenly become a lot more uncertain.

Still, I think the company is a great way to invest in the global economic recovery. That is why I would buy shares in this FTSE 100 group today. The stock’s dividend yield could also hit the double digits next year, according to current projections. 

Shares to buy for growth

Alongside Rio, I would also buy Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) for my portfolio FTSE 100 income stocks. This is a play on the UK housing market, a sector that is structurally undersupplied, and where property prices seem to be rising almost every month.

I think it is unlikely property prices will rise indefinitely, but there will always be a demand for new dwellings.

Large homebuilders like Barratt have a competitive advantage because they can negotiate better deals for materials with suppliers and for land from sellers. 

As long as the company can maintain this competitive advantage, I think it is a great way to invest in the UK housing market. That said, all homebuilders are currently encountering significant challenges, including higher materials costs and wage inflation. An increase in interest rates may also weigh on home prices and hurt demand.

Despite these headwinds, I would buy the company, which is currently selling a forward P/E of 9.1 and offers a 4.5% dividend yield.

Market underdog

The final dirt-cheap FTSE 100 company I would buy for my portfolio is the broadcaster ITV (LSE: ITV). The combination of the drop-in advertising demand during the pandemic, competition from large American streaming companies, and a general shift away from terrestrial television are all factors that have held ITV back over the past two years. 

While these factors are still significant risks, I think the market’s opinion of the broadcaster is far too depressed. Indeed, despite a modest recovery in earnings, the stock is still trading at a forward P/E of just 8.2. 

As earnings recover, the company has also pledged to restore its dividend. Analysts believe the stock will offer a yield here of 3.4% next year, based on current projections. 

Therefore, despite the headwinds outlined above, I would buy the stock as a recovery share for my FTSE 100 portfolio. 

Rupert Hargreaves owns shares of ITV. The Motley Fool UK has recommended ITV. 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 with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Dividend Shares

After years of pain, is the Diageo share price looking up?

For almost five years, the Diageo share price has delivered nothing but pain to long-suffering shareholders. But I see early…

Read more »

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

Should I dump Duolingo from my ISA and buy Palantir stock instead?

These two AI-powered software stocks have been heading in very different directions, making me wonder if I should sell one…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett just sounded an alarm to the stock market

Last week Warren Buffett used a six-letter word that should give investors pause for thought. But is the Oracle of…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here are the lazy passive income streams paying me while I sleep

Find out which passive income stocks this writer owns, as well as one from the FTSE 100 index that he's…

Read more »

View of Lake District. English countryside with fields in the foreground and a lake and hills behind.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to aim for a £2,613 monthly second income

Harvey Jones explains how a spread of FTSE 100 shares held in an ISA could generate enough second income to…

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

9 dividend-paying FTSE 100 shares to target a huge ISA retirement income!

Royston Wild explains how a diversified portfolio of FTSE 100 shares can deliver a strong (and growing) passive income in…

Read more »

Front view of a young couple walking down terraced Street in Whitley Bay in the north-east of England they are heading into the town centre and deciding which shops to go to they are also holding hands and carrying bags over their shoulders.
Investing Articles

£20,000 in an ISA? This passive income stock could give you £3,271 in dividends in 2025 and 2026

This passive income stock carries yields of 7.8% for 2026 and 7.9% for next year. So what makes it one…

Read more »

happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

Plan to fund your retirement with just the State Pension? Good luck with that!

The UK's State Pension is ranked as one of the worst among the world's developed economies. Consider this alternative to…

Read more »