A FTSE 100 share I’d buy to target a 35,219% return!

This FTSE 100 share has seen its price soar almost 21,800% in the past 20 years! Royston Wild explains why he thinks it will continue outperforming.

| 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.

Man smiling and working on laptop

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.

Investing in FTSE 100 shares can have its advantages and disadvantages. Britain’s premier share index has delivered weaker long-term returns than the FTSE 250, as the graph from Hargreaves Lansdown below shows.

Graph showing the performance of UK shares since 2004
Source: Hargreaves Lansdown

But you can also see that the Footsie still has the capacity to deliver impressive returns. Indeed, the graph shows the index has delivered a return of around 300% during the past two decades.

Importantly, the FTSE 100 also tends to exhibit significantly less volatility compared to other indices on the London Stock Exchange, including the FTSE 250.

Should you invest £1,000 in Lloyds Banking Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Lloyds Banking Group made the list?

See the 6 stocks

ETFs vs individual shares

There are a couple of ways I can try to make this sort of impressive return. I can invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), which tracks the broader performance of the index.

One example is the iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF. Products like this help me to manage risk by investing across the whole index. But there’s some downside to just investing in a Footsie tracker fund.

These ETFs contain stocks that I as an investor may be keen to avoid. An ESG investor, for instance, may be turned off by the idea of owning shares in oil producer BP and cigarette manufacturer Imperial Brands.

Additionally, since these ETFs aim to replicate the FTSE 100, they lack the potential to outperform the broader market. By investing in individual shares, I have the opportunity to achieve higher returns if these companies perform well.

A top FTSE 100 stock

One share I’m tipping to deliver market-beating returns is Ashtead Group (LSE:AHT). I already own it in my Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). And after recent price weakness I’m considering adding to my holdings.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Ashtead Group Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Ashtead is one of the largest rental equipment suppliers in North America. In fact, it’s second only to United Rentals, where it supplies hardware to a broad range of sectors including construction, emergency response, and entertainment and events.

Past performance isn’t always a reliable guide as what to expect. But the company’s delivered a stunning return of 35,219% in the 20 years to 2024, according to Hargreaves Lansdown, as its share price exploded and dividends steadily grew.

I feel too that Ashtead can continue comfortably outperforming the broader index during the next two decades. That’s even though it faces some softness in end markets in the near term (this week, it warned that sales growth would cool to between 5% and 8% this year).

Bright future

Ashtead has multiple things in its favour. Equipment users are increasingly favouring rental over straight-out ownership. The company looks set to exploit this change too, as the North American construction sector grows, and the next generation of US mega-projects come online.

It also has considerable scope to continue growing through acquisitions. The rental market remains highly fragmented and last year the business acquired 26 businesses for $905m.

It’s worth keeping an eye on the company’s rising debt pile as it could limit future acquisitions. Its net debt to EBITDA ratio rose to 1.7 times last year, from 1.6 times.

That said, Ashtead’s balance sheet remains broadly robust with that ratio remaining within target, below 2 times. In my opinion, this FTSE 100 share has the tools to continue delivering market-beating returns looking ahead.

Should you buy Lloyds Banking Group now?

Don’t make any big decisions yet.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — has revealed 5 Shares for the Future of Energy.

And he believes they could bring spectacular returns over the next decade.

Since the war in Ukraine, nations everywhere are scrambling for energy independence, he says. Meanwhile, they’re hellbent on achieving net zero emissions. No guarantees, but history shows...

When such enormous changes hit a big industry, informed investors can potentially get rich.

So, with his new report, Mark’s aiming to put more investors in this enviable position.

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

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.

Royston Wild has positions in Ashtead Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Hargreaves Lansdown Plc and Imperial Brands Plc. 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

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

Around a 1-year high, is there enough value left in Next’s share price to make it worth me buying?

Next’s share price has risen a lot in eight months, but there could still be a lot of value left…

Read more »

Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

OMG DYOR but IMO this ‘cool’ FTSE 100 stock offers bangin’ VFM!

Despite being one of the least trendy 50-somethings around, our writer considers how Gen Z could help push this FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 cheap FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 growth stocks to consider as stock markets sink

I think these Footsie and FTSE 250 growth shares could be very shrewd buys to consider in the current climate.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 shares I’ve bought in the 2025 stock market sell-off

The stock market has experienced a lot of turbulence in recent weeks. Edward Sheldon has been taking advantage and buying…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Investors considering HSBC shares could aim for £8,453 a year in passive income from just £5 a day!

A relatively small daily investment in HSBC shares over several years can produce an extraordinary level of annual passive income…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The Rolls-Royce share price has fallen! Is this the moment investors have been waiting for?

Even the Rolls-Royce share price can't escape current stock market volatility, falling slightly over the last week. Should investors consider…

Read more »

Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

Down 59% from its 12-month highs, is this FTSE 250 stock too cheap to ignore?

Shares in FTSE 250 housebuilder Vistry are almost certainly too cheap to ignore. But are they discounted enough to offset…

Read more »

Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

As the S&P 500 struggles to recover, here’s what Warren Buffett’s doing

The S&P 500 is fighting to regain its February highs amid ongoing trade tariff uncertainty. Our writer looks to the…

Read more »