4 mega-cheap growth shares to consider for 2026!

Discover four top growth shares that our writer Royston Wild thinks may be too cheap to ignore. Could these UK bargain shares take off in 2026?

| More on:
Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle

Image source: Getty Images

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.

I’m looking for the greatest growth shares to buy for the New Year. And I think I’ve discovered some true gems.

Serabi Gold (LSE:SRB), Glencore, QinetiQ and Aviva are four top growth stocks I feel deserve a close look. With each trading at rock-bottom prices, too, I’m convinced each could surge in price in 2026.

Want to know why? Let’s take a look.

Going for gold

Serabi Gold shares have surged this year as bullion prices have lifted off. The company produces the precious metal from the deposit-rich Tapajós region in Brazil.

Gold’s showing fresh momentum as 2025 closes, hitting new peaks above $4,400 per ounce. City analysts are expecting this strength to continue through in 2026, meaning Serabi’s earnings are tipped to rise 56% year on year.

This leaves the gold miner with a dirt-cheap price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 3.9 times.

Serabi’s is steadily raising output to capitalise on this price environment, too. It plans to produce 100,000 gold ounces by 2028, up from 44,000 to 47,000 today. Keep in mind, though, that any operational issues could scupper these targets and by extension the company’s growth plans.

98% growth

Copper’s also having its time in the sun as supply-related issues worsen. The red metal’s just burst to new highs above $12,000 per tonne, pushed also by speculation over new US import tariffs next year.

Against this backdrop — and with demand rising from the tech and renewable energy sectors — miner Glencore’s earnings are expected to leap 98% in 2026.

Consequently, the FTSE 100 firm trades on a sub-1 price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.1.

Glencore makes a significant portion of its earnings from copper trading and mining. Be mindful, though, that exposure to coal could create dangers as the move to net zero accelerates.

Defence star

Defence has emerged as one of the world’s hottest growth sectors in recent years. Unfortunately, this reflects the onset of war in Eastern Europe and rapid rearmament among NATO nations.

Soaring government debt levels could mitigate future industry growth. But market commentators aren’t expecting this to happen as geopolitical instability grows.

With that in mind, City brokers expect QinetiQ’s earnings to soar 18% this financial year (to March 2026). This leaves it with a PEG ratio of 0.8.

The FTSE 250 firm — whose wide defence portfolio includes designing target systems — also trades on a market-leading P/E ratio of 14.1 times.

Another FTSE bargain

Aviva shares are perhaps most popular because of the firm’s strong dividend record. Things still look extremely bright on this front, the firm packing a 6% dividend yield for 2026.

But for next year the FTSE firm also offers plenty of growth potential for next year. Its bottom line is tipped to rise 13%, which also results in a PEG ratio of 0.1.

With interest rates falling, Aviva’s well placed to capture any uplift in consumer spending. It enjoys incredible brand power across multiple product lines like life insurance, pensions, savings and investments.

Despite competitive pressures, I’m expecting earnings here to rise strongly over time, driven by demographic changes and the growth of financial planning.

Royston Wild has positions in Aviva Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended QinetiQ Group 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

Rear view image depicting a senior man in his 70s sitting on a bench leading down to the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs on the coastline of East Sussex, UK. The man is wearing casual clothing - blue denim jeans, a red checked shirt, navy blue gilet. The man is having a rest from hiking and his hiking pole is leaning up against the bench.
Investing Articles

2 ideas for a SIPP or ISA in 2026

Looking for stocks for an ISA or SIPP portfolio? Our writer thinks a FTSE 100 defence giant and fallen pharma…

Read more »

Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

Could buying this stock at $13 be like investing in Tesla in 2011?

Tesla stock went on to make early investors a literal fortune. Our writer sees some interesting similarities with this eVTOL…

Read more »

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

3 reasons the Lloyds share price could keep climbing in 2026

Out of 18 analysts, 11 rate Lloyds a Buy, even after the share price has had its best year for…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Growth Shares

Considering these UK shares could help an investor on the road to a million-pound portfolio

Jon Smith points out several sectors where he believes long-term gains could be found, and filters them down to specific…

Read more »

Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing For Beginners

Martin Lewis is embracing stock investing, but I think he missed a key point

It's great that Martin Lewis is talking about stocks, writes Jon Smith, but he feels he's missed a trick by…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

This 8% yield could be a great addition to a portfolio of dividend shares

Penny stocks don't usually make for great passive income investments. But dividend investors should consider shares in this under-the-radar UK…

Read more »

Queen Street, one of Cardiff's main shopping streets, busy with Saturday shoppers.
Investing Articles

Why this 9.71% dividend yield might be a rare passive income opportunity

This REIT offers a 9.71% dividend yield from a portfolio with high occupancy, long leases, and strong rent collection from…

Read more »

Portsmouth, England, June 2018, Portsmouth port in the late evening
Investing Articles

A 50% discount to NAV makes this REIT’s 9.45% dividend yield impossible for me to ignore

Stephen Wright thinks shares in this UK REIT could be worth much more than the stock market is giving them…

Read more »