3 FTSE 100 UK shares to buy in 2022 for growth

Rupert Hargreaves takes a look at some of his favourite FTSE 100 UK shares to buy for growth in the year ahead.

| 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.

Close-up of British bank notes

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

I have been looking for attractive FTSE 100 UK shares to buy for my portfolio in 2022. I am concentrating on companies with tremendous growth potential, as I think these businesses will be able to capitalise on the economic recovery over the next year.

With that in mind, here are three I would buy for my portfolio today based on their growth prospects. 

FTSE 100 growth 

The first business is the financial services and credit rating agency Experian (LSE: EXPN). This company helps corporations and consumers analyse their financial credit information and find products fitting their credit profiles.

Consumer confidence is returning as the economy is opening up, leading to rising demand for credit products. As a result, analysts expect the firm’s growth to accelerate in the next two years. The City is projecting earnings growth of 22% for the current year, followed by growth of 14% in 2023.

The biggest challenge the company is likely to face over the next few years is competition, as it is one of the three leading credit agencies. However, it does have a solid competitive advantage in the form of data. With decades of consumer data under its belt, I think the business is well-placed to continue to grow in the years ahead. 

UK shares to buy 

While Experian’s competitive advantage is its data trove, Coca Cola HBC‘s (LSE: CCH) advantage is its bottling contract across Europe with the drinks giant Coca-Cola

This competitive advantage essentially gives the group a guaranteed income stream. Management has been building on this solid base through acquisitions and efficiency initiatives. 

With earnings growth averaging 6.3% for the past six years, the company is hardly a growth champion. But I believe this is one of the best FTSE 100 shares to add to my portfolio, considering the competitive advantage outlined above. It may not be the fastest growing business, but gains are relatively steady and predictable. This quality is relatively rare among blue-chip stocks. 

Still, it is not immune to challenges. Some headwinds the company could face include rising wage and materials costs. These could hit profit margins and reduce growth. 

International expansion

The final FTSE 100 growth stock on my list is Entain (LSE: ENT). Over the past decade, this company has gone from strength to strength through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.

The pandemic generated a windfall for the business, as stuck-at-home consumers turned to its online gaming platforms to pass the time. The group is using this windfall to help support growth around the world. Considering its track record of expansion, I am excited by this potential. 

That said, gambling is a highly regulated industry. It is also highly competitive. Both of these could act as headwinds to the group’s expansion in the years ahead. 

Despite these risks, I think the company’s international presence gives it scope to expand rapidly over the coming years. 


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 has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Coca-Cola HBC and 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

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

With a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA, here are 3 ways an investor could target a £2k annual passive income

Our writer thinks there is more than one way to try and skin a cat when it comes to earning…

Read more »

Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

Up 350% in 3 years but my favourite FTSE growth share is still on a low P/E of just 10!

Harvey Jones can't tear his eyes away from this former penny stock turned growth share superpower. But can it carry…

Read more »

Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Up 83% in months, could Micron stock be the next Nvidia?

Chipmaker Micron Technology's stock price has surged by over 80% in just a few months. Could this be a possible…

Read more »

Tesla car at super charger station
US Stock

£1k invested in Tesla stock at the start of the year is currently worth…

Jon Smith reveals the performance of Tesla stock in 2025 and explains why he doesn't believe the move lower is…

Read more »

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

What sort of return could someone get by investing £20,000 in UK dividend shares?

Should UK savers consider dividend shares over cash? Stephen Wright thinks those looking for long-term passive income would be wise…

Read more »

Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Around a 15-year high, is Barclays’ share price still too cheap to ignore?

Barclays’ share price is at a level not seen since 2010, but price and value aren't the same thing, so…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

47% below fair value and with an 18% earnings growth forecast, should investors consider this FTSE retail institution now?

This FTSE 100 British retail institution lost its way for a while but has bounced back in recent years, and…

Read more »

Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

Lloyds share price: up 40% this year, is it time to take profits?

The booming Lloyds share price is up nearly 40% in 2025, outperforming its UK banking peers. Our writer asks whether…

Read more »