5 shares that Fools have been buying!

Our Foolish freelancers are putting their money where their mouths are and buying these shares in recent weeks.

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.

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 alongside you, fellow Foolish investors, here’s a selection of shares that some of our contributors have been buying across the past month!

Barclays

What it does: Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients in over 40 countries.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Barclays Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL8 Apr 20204 Apr 2025Zoom ▾Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '24Jan '25202120212022202220232023202420242025202550100150200250300350www.fool.co.uk

By James Beard. Barclays (LSE:BARC) isn’t the best performing UK bank at the moment but I think it’s the one with the biggest potential. That’s why I bought some of its shares last month.

Should you invest £1,000 in Wh Smith 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 Wh Smith made the list?

See the 6 stocks

With a price-to-book ratio of 0.45, and a 12-month trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 7.1, the stock appears to offer good value. By 2026, analysts are expecting earnings per share to grow by nearly 60%, compared to their anticipated 2024 level. That’s because the bank’s seeking to improve its poor return on capital which lags behind that of its FTSE 100 peers.

However, there are risks. There’s no guarantee that the turnaround plan will work and banking stocks can be volatile. Bad debts could also be a problem if the global economic recovery stalls.

But I have confidence in the bank’s chief executive who plans to reduce costs by £2bn – and return at least £10bn to shareholders – over the next three years.

James Beard owns shares in Barclays.

First Solar

What it does: First Solar is one of America’s leading solar energy companies, known for thin-film solar panels.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3First Solar PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Oliver Rodzianko. I bought First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) recently after its valuation improved.

Management is expanding its manufacturing capacity through two new facilities set to be operational by late 2025. This is crucial to meeting the continued high demand for solar power. It also positions it as a key competitor against Chinese solar companies.

Analysts expect the company to achieve year-on-year revenue growth of 35.5% in 2024 and 26% in 2025. If its valuation also expands, then the returns over the next two years could be very large indeed.

However, China controls over 80% of the global solar supply chain. These businesses could put pricing pressure on First Solar, inhibiting its share price growth.

That being said, I’m bullish on Western green energy. First Solar is one of the strongest US solar investments I know.

Oliver Rodzianko owns shares in First Solar.

Five Below

What it does: Five Below runs a chain of retail outlets selling on-trend items to teenagers priced (mostly) at $5 or less.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Five Below PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Stephen Wright. Shares in US retailer Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) have fallen 57% over the last 12 months. And they’ve reached a point where I think they look like terrific value. 

The company is heavily exposed to households with an income below $50,000 per year. That makes the risk of an economic downturn significant for the business. 

Despite this, Five Below has some impressive growth prospects. It’s looking to expand its store count at a rate of 12% per year for the next few years. 

Normally, this would involve taking on debt. But with new outlets breaking even by the end of the year, the company shouldn’t need to expose its balance sheet to danger in order to achieve its goals.

With the stock falling to a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15, I saw my chance and went for it. It’s started to rally already, though, so I’m on the lookout for another opportunity.

Stephen Wright owns shares in Five Below.

Taylor Wimpey

What it does: One of the UK’s largest home construction companies, building everything from apartments to six-bedroom homes. 

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Taylor Wimpey Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Mark David Hartley. With the new Labour government coming into power, I’ve noticed renewed enthusiasm about building low-cost housing. Affordable housing accounted for 21% of builds performed by Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.) in 2022, so it’s in good stead to benefit from this surge. 

Falling interest rates could also help but for now, the UK’s economic outlook remains unclear. Housing is particularly sensitive to this, so that presents a risk to the stock. Delays and unexpected costs are another concern, as the Middle Eastern conflict threatens material deliveries via the Suez Canal.

With earnings forecast to grow, the stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio could drop from 24 to 18 in the next 12 months. But that’s still above the industry average, so growth may be slow this year. Fortunately,  it has an attractive 5.8% yield, so it makes a great addition to my dividend portfolio either way.

Mark David Hartley owns shares in Taylor Wimpey.

Xtrackers MSCI World Value UCITS ETF

What it does: Xtrackers MSCI World Value UCITS ETF invests in hundreds of global shares using a value strategy.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Xtrackers (ie) Public - Xtrackers Msci World Value Ucits ETF PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

By Royston Wild. Buying value shares can have significant benefits for investors. I’ve chose to increase my own exposure to this category by recently opening a position in the Xtrackers MSCI World Value UCITS ETF (LSE:XDEV).

Value stocks can deliver market-beating capital appreciation over time as investors wake up to their cheapness. These shares can also be more stable during economic downturns as their low valuations already reflect potential profit risks.

This particular ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI World Enhanced Value Index, which comprises 400 large- and mid-cap companies across 23 developed markets. Major holdings include US tech stocks Cisco SystemsQualcomm and IBM.

With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.6 times and 5.19% dividend yield, the fund offers excellent all-round value for money.

On the downside, this Xtrackers product may underperform during a sustained bull market. During these periods, investors tend to favour growth shares over value stocks. But over the long term I’m confident it will prove a valuable addition.

Royston Wild owns Xtrackers MSCI World Value UCITS ETF.

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

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.

The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc, International Business Machines, and Qualcomm. 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

Investing Articles

Up 30% in weeks, does the BAE Systems share price still offer value?

The BAE Systems share price has been on a tear over the past couple of months. This writer sees limited…

Read more »

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

Hunting for shares to buy as the market trembles? Remember this!

After a choppy week in global stock markets, our writer goes back to basics in his hunt for bargain shares…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 simple principles to help build wealth in an ISA

As a new tax year opens up new ISA allowances for many investors, our writer shares a trio of things…

Read more »

Investing Articles

US trade tariffs: what they could mean for UK shares like Ashtead, Compass Group, and Experian

US trade tariffs continue to rock global markets, and the UK is no exception. Our writer considers how a new…

Read more »

Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Dividend Shares

The Trump slump has smashed these FTSE 100 shares!

After a rough week for US and UK shares, investors have been shaken. But now these FTSE 100 stocks have…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Rolls-Royce shares 5 years ago is now worth…

Rolls-Royce shares have been on fire since April 2020. Part of this is the result of pandemic restrictions lifting, but…

Read more »

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

£10,000 invested in Tesla stock at its peak in 2024 is now worth…

Over the last few months, Tesla stock has lost nearly half its value. Here, Edward Sheldon explores a few takeaways…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is the S&P 500 heading for an epic stock market crash?

Our writer shares his thoughts on a very crazy time for the S&P 500 and the wider stock market. How…

Read more »