How I’d invest £1,000 in UK shares before the general election

Is this a good time to buy UK shares? Stephen Wright thinks there are opportunities for investors looking to buy stocks for long-term returns. 

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Overall, UK shares have held up relatively well ahead of the upcoming general election. But there are still some terrific opportunities for investors looking for stocks to buy. 

The best businesses can do well regardless of the political landscape. Since I think the UK has plenty of these, I’d look to invest today, rather than waiting for the outcome of the election.

Election investing

The odds of a Labour majority are currently 1:33. That’s a lot shorter than the odds on the current favourite for the US election – Donald Trump – which are priced at 8:13.

Should you invest £1,000 in Primary Health Properties right now?

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I’m not taking a view about how desirable either outcome would be. But that’s why UK stocks have been holding up well recently. 

In general, the stock market isn’t that bothered about who will win which election. What it cares much more about is having clarity about the outcome.

It’s the same with most macroeconomic issues. It’s much easier for investors to deal with predictable 5% interest rates than with uncertainty over whether they will be 2% or 4%. 

That’s why UK share prices have been less volatile than their US counterparts over the last few weeks. But there are still stocks that I’m looking to buy at today’s prices.

Rentokil Initial

The involvement of activist investor Nelson Peltz at Rentokil Initial (LSE:RTO) has sent the share price up recently. And that’s made it more difficult to buy the stock than it was before.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Rentokil Initial Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL2 Jul 20192 Jul 2024Zoom ▾Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '242020202020212021202220222023202320242024www.fool.co.uk

I’ve had to reconsider my approach to the stock, but I’ve come to the conclusion it still looks like a decent investment. I think company’s strengths outweigh the additional risk. 

Rentokil has a dominant position in an industry that is – unfortunately – steadily growing. And it’s working hard to consolidate that position, which is a good sign for the long term. 

The company has some debt on its balance sheet to work off after a big acquisition a couple of years ago. But when it does, I think it will be in a terrific position for long-term investors.

Primary Health Properties

Waiting times for GP appointments is a key election issue, but everybody seems to be committed to reducing them. That’s good news for Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP). 

The company is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a portfolio of GP surgeries. More doctors probably means higher demand for its buildings, which is a good thing. 

This is another company where debt is a risk. As a REIT, it isn’t able to manage its debt in the way that Rentokil does, so if interest rates don’t fall it might have to issue more shares.

Right now, the stock has a 6.5% dividend yield. Even if that gets cut in half – which I think is the absolute worst that could happen – there’s still a decent passive income return on offer.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.

How I’d invest £1,000

Rentokil Initial and Primary Health Properties both come with risks. But spreading a £1,000 investment between the two companies would help limit the overall effect on my portfolio.

I think both companies operate in industries with good long-term characteristics. So whatever happens in the election, I expect both stocks to turn out to be good investments.

But here’s another bargain investment that looks absurdly dirt-cheap:

Like buying £1 for 31p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this Share Advisor pick has a price/book ratio of 0.31. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 31p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 10%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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.

Stephen Wright has positions in Primary Health Properties Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Primary Health Properties 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.

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