Here’s how an investor could start buying shares with £100 in January

Our writer explains some of the things he thinks investors on a limited budget should consider before they start buying shares.

| 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.

A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.

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.

The idea of investing in the stock market can seem like it must be both complicated and costly. The reality though, is that it is possible to start buying shares with a limited amount of money.

In fact, I think even with £100, it is possible to make a move to get into the stock market.

Setting up a way to invest

The first move could be to set up a practical way to invest. That might be a Stocks and Shares ISA or share-dealing account, for example.

Should you invest £1,000 in Ithaca Energy 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 Ithaca Energy made the list?

See the 6 stocks

There are lots of choices here, and fortunately, not all are aimed at people investing large sums of money. So by doing some research and considering my own financial circumstances and objectives, I aim to get the one that is right for me.

Just because an investor starts with £100 does not mean that is all they end up investing. By putting aside £100 each month, for example, in any given year that would amount to having £1,200 to invest.

Getting to grips with how the stock market works

But before investing, it is necessary to understand at least some of the main points about how the stock market works.

A lot of people think that by investing in a brilliant company they could make money. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily true.

It is important to understand, for example, whether the brilliant company also has brilliant finances that are likely to stay that way. For example, is its business model sustainable in the context of competition and how much debt (or cash) does it have on its balance sheet?

Another important consideration is the valuation. Even if it is a great business, paying too much for its shares could end up being a bad move financially.

Putting the theory into practice

As an example, consider Computacenter (LSE: CCC). I think it is a well-run, proven business with an attractive commercial model.

But imagine an investor had piled into Computacenter a quarter of a century ago, just before the dotcom bubble burst. They would have had to wait 20 years for the share to get back to its 2000 price!

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Computacenter Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

In the past several years, the business has benefitted from strong spending by clients. It now trades on a price-to-earnings ratio of 14, which strikes me as reasonable.

As in 2000, one risk is a slowdown in IT spending by large corporate clients. That alone puts me off buying Computacenter shares for my portfolio in the current climate of economic uncertainty. For now though, the business seems to be doing well. But hat was true back at the start of 2000 though.

That example illustrates why savvy investors always pay attention to valuation when investing. But it also points to some of the other factors beyond valuation that I weigh up when deciding whether to start buying shares in a company.

Those range from how large a customer market is to how sustainable a competitive advantage a company has.

I think there are great shares available at attractive prices in today’s market — but it can take effort and a lot of research to find them.

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.

C Ruane has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Computacenter 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.

Our best passive income stock ideas

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

£20K invested in Tesla stock last April is now worth…

Despite all the bad headlines lately, Tesla stock has put in a storming performance over a 12-month timeframe. Is this…

Read more »

Investing Articles

If a 40 year old invests £600 a month in a SIPP, here’s what they could have by retirement

With no retirement savings at 40, an investor could put £600 a month into a SIPP and grow its value…

Read more »

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Why hasn’t its 9.9% yield boosted the Phoenix share price?

Phoenix Group has a dividend close to double digits, but saw a weak share price performance in recent years. Christopher…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

With average 10% yields, these mid-cap FTSE shares could supercharge a passive income portfolio

Some of the best passive income gems can be found on the UK's smaller indexes like the FTSE 250 and…

Read more »

A coin being dropped into a piggy bank
Investing Articles

As the Barclays share price tanks 19% in 2 days, is this a great buying opportunity?

As a trade war sends the Barclays share price into a tailspin, Andrew Mackie steps back to look at the…

Read more »

Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Is Fundsmith Equity still a good choice for a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025?

Many Britons hold the Fundsmith Equity fund in their Stocks and Shares ISAs. Is this still a good move? Edward…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Nvidia stock is down 24% this year. Time to buy the dip?

Christopher Ruane has been eyeing Nvidia stock as a potential addition to his portfolio for a while. Is a recent…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Down 25% since January, this resilient dividend stock’s catching my eye

Maintaining the UK’s rail, water, and energy infrastructure isn’t the most exciting business. But it has made this a solid…

Read more »