3 top FTSE 100 shares to buy in May

Stephen Wright thinks he’s found a quality growth stock, a steady dividend play, and a bargain value investment for his portfolio in May.

| 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.

Senior woman wearing glasses using laptop at home

Image source: Getty Images

Key Points
  • Rightmove is a top-quality growth stock with a dominant position in its market
  • Legal & General is a well-established company paying a solid and consistent dividend that yields around 7%
  • Sainsbury has a substantial asset base and a low price tag

The FTSE 100 can be a great place to look for investment opportunities. The index is composed of the largest UK companies. It contains companies that have proven themselves over time and produce consistent, steady profits.

Within the index, though, there’s a really diverse range of companies. I’ve found three very different types of stocks that I’m looking at buying for my portfolio in May.

The first is a high-quality growth stock. The second is a steady company that pays a strong dividend. And the third is a cheap value play.

Growth

The growth stock that I’m looking at buying in May is Rightmove (LSE:RMV). The company is the largest UK property platform and its size gives it a huge advantage over its competitors. 

Rightmove’s revenues have surged back after a quiet 2020 during the pandemic and it’s an extremely efficient business when it comes to keeping costs low. The stock isn’t cheap and there’s a risk that comes from paying a high multiple for a good business. However, this is a risk I’m looking at taking to add a quality name to my portfolio in May.

Dividend

I’m also looking at buying shares in Legal & General (LSE:LGEN) in May. The company is about as steady and established as they come and it has paid its dividend consistently over time.

The share price has been coming down quite a bit lately and is approaching levels that I think are attractive. Sometimes a falling share price can be a sign that investors have noticed something wrong with the business. But I don’t think that’s the case with Legal & General. With a 7% yield, I’m inclined to think the risk is worth it.

Value

The third and final stock that I’m considering for May is Sainsbury (LSE:SBRY). This is the least obvious of the three stocks, but I think there might be an interesting value proposition here.

Sainsbury’s shares trade at a price that implies a total value of around £5.5bn for the entire company. On its balance sheet, however, Sainsbury has property and machinery with a value of £13.3bn. There are other things to consider like total debt of around £6.8bn, but I think that Sainsbury shares look cheap given its asset base. 

Summary

There are stocks in the FTSE 100 to suit any style of investor. I’ve found three that I’m thinking of buying in May.

I think that Rightmove has a terrific business model. Legal & General seems to me to be a company that will distribute a steady dividend to its shareholders for a long time. And Sainsbury’s appears to be a stock that is trading at an extremely low price given the assets that the company owns. 

Stephen Wright has positions in Legal & General Group. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Rightmove and Sainsbury (J). 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

ISA coins
Investing Articles

Could an ISA be a good way to start investing?

Might an ISA be a suitable platform for someone who wants to start investing? Our writer explains a key reason…

Read more »

UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Investing Articles

2 top growth stocks to consider for an ISA in April

The UK market is home to some fantastic under-the-radar growth stocks trading at very reasonable valuations. Here are two of…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Could thinking like Warren Buffett help create a market-beating ISA?

Christopher Ruane zooms in on some aspects of Warren Buffett's investing approach he thinks could help an ambitious ISA investor…

Read more »

British pound data
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in a FTSE 100 index tracker at the start of March is now worth…

Anyone who invested money in a FTSE 100 index tracker at the start of the month may wish to look…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

Should investors consider Rolls-Royce shares as war rocks global markets?

Investors who thought Rolls-Royce shares had grown too expensive might have second thoughts as Iran turmoil rattles the FTSE 100,…

Read more »

Young black woman walking in Central London for shopping
Investing Articles

Some lucky ISA investors could pick up £2,000 for free in the next month. Here’s how

The UK government is handing out free money to some ISA investors to help them save for retirement. Here’s a…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Is this the best time to buy dividend shares since Covid-19?

A volatile stock market gives investors a chance to buy shares with unusually high dividend yields. Stephen Wright highlights one…

Read more »

UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Investing Articles

Are we staring at a once-in-a-decade chance to buy this beaten-down UK growth stock?

Investors couldn't get enough of this FTSE 100 growth stock, but the last 10 years have been pretty frustrating. Could…

Read more »