The western world boasts the wealthiest nations and citizens on earth, but many people  are struggling to save enough cash for even an emergency fund. Skipton Building Society commissioned a report on British saving habits in 2018 and found one in 10 respondents admitting to spending more than they earn.

Alarmingly, the study found that one in 10 adults over the age of 55 don’t have any savings put away for their future. The Money Advice Service recommends having three months of expenses for emergencies, let alone anything you might need to fund your entire future. But if you are an investor who is 50 or older and without any savings, there is still a path forward to help you twards a more comfortable retirement.

There are basic steps that you can take to reach short-term goals. Crafting a budget is one way to gain control of your finances. 

Make saving a habit

Once you have built a budget, take time to prioritise your savings. Debt reduction should be a top priority before you can start to build your nest egg. When you have achieved stability, it is time to make saving a habit.

Money management is stressful. Take the pressure off and consider starting a savings account that automatically siphons your cash into a savings vehicle. A monthly deposit adds up quickly, and it allows you to ‘pay yourself’ first.

Put your money to work for you

But how exactly should you save to make the most of the nest egg you are building? Well, I think a Stocks and Shares ISA is the way forward as it is a great way to keep your gains from the taxman.

But if you have failed to build savings into your 50s, now is not the time to push forward with an ultra-aggressive approach that focuses on risky growth stocks. A growth-oriented strategy can be lucrative in the long term, but this high-risk method can squeeze investors who are closer to retirement.

Dividend stocks will make your money work for you as you look to build up your savings. I would want to target dividend stocks with a wide economic moat. A share like British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) offers the wide economic moat that I am looking for. The company manufactures and sells cigarettes and other tobacco products. It has been forced to readjust its revenue projects for its e-cigarette arm due to the intense backlash against vaping in the US. It is now projecting revenue growth in the lower end of its 30% to 50% forecast.

The setback is unfortunate, but BATS still looks strong as we look ahead to the 2020s. Its shares have climbed 13% year-on-year, but it still offers nice value. The stock had a price-to-earnings ratio of 11 as of close on November 27. Of course, we can’t forget about its income. British American Tobacco stock boasts an annual dividend of 203p. This represents a tasty 6.7% yield.

Other top shares include names like Unilever, Diageo and Vodafone. Along with BATS, they are all FTSEO100 shares. And if you want to make your savings even easier and to spread the risk more widely, you could try a FTSE 100 tracker that apes the performance of the entire index of the UK’s top shares. An accumulation version will allow you to automatically reinvest your dividends until your retirement.

The post No savings at 50? Here are my two tips that can help you still retire in comfort appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

Many investors are anxious ahead of the UK general election that will be held on December 12. The structure of Brexit still hangs in the balance and so there continues to be considerable economic uncertainty as we look ahead to the next decade. An investor with £5,000 to invest has a lot to consider in this environment.

In these circumstances, I like to target equities in sectors that are mostly safe from political blow-back and are also set up for attractive growth in the long term. I love the renewable energy sector as an investment target for the 2020s.

Why green energy?

According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable energy capacity is set to rise by 50% within five years. This increase will be driven by solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in homes, buildings and industry. The IEA forecasts that total renewable-based power capacity will rise by 1.2 terawatts (TW) by 2024 from 2.5 TW in 2018. Solar PV is expected to account for roughly 60% of this growth and onshore wind approximately 25%.

The share of renewables in power generation is expected to rise to 30% in 2024 from 26% today. Costs have been an oft-cited obstacle in the push for renewable power, but this dynamic has shifted. Solar PV generation costs have fallen in recent years, and those costs are forecast to decline a further 15% to 35% by 2024. In fact, distributed solar PV is already more cost effective than retail electricity prices in most countries.

This promising trajectory is one of the reasons I’m betting on renewable energy equities as we look ahead to the next decade. Today I want to look at one renewable energy stock that investors can purchase before the New Year.

Renewables Infrastructure Group

The first stock I want to zero-in on is Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE: TRIG). It invests in operational renewable energy generation projects across the UK and Northern Europe, predominately in onshore and offshore wind and solar photovoltaics segments. Its shares have climbed 13.7% year-on-year as of close on November 26.

It currently boasts the most diversified portfolio of renewable infrastructure assets in the London-listed sector. As at June 30, its portfolio was valued at £1,621m, which was up 28% from its valuation at December 31 2018. The company has said that it aims to concentrate more on European investment in the quarters to come. Europe has vaulted ahead of the UK in its renewable energy investment push, which is why companies like this one are looking to the European mainland for more growth.

Income investors should be happy with its 5.1% dividend yield. Net cash flow covered its cash dividend by 1.4 times in the first half of the fiscal year, or 1.9 times before the impact of repaying project-level debt. The stock boasts a price-to-earnings ratio of 8 as of close on November 26, putting its shares in solid value territory before December.

The post Have £5,000 to invest? Here’s one green energy stock I’d buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

The UK is faced with historic levels of political volatility. A recent British Election Study found that 49% of voters switched between parties in the 2017 general election. October polls have shown the Conservatives holding on to a consistent and comfortable double-digit percentage lead, but investors should not take these numbers for granted ahead of this campaign. After all, the Conservatives were expected to romp home in the last election but Labour over-performed projections in the 2017 vote, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to run an “ambitious and radical” campaign.

So, what is the best way for investors to prepare ahead of this historic event? Today I want to go over two strategies that I’m planning to pursue.

Play defence

This level of political volatility is enough to put me on the defensive. Fortunately, investors have options available if they want to dig in their heels before December 12. Today, my focus is firmly on United Utilities. The utilities sector has proven to be robust during periods of economic turbulence, so that is where I’m turning to protect my portfolio in November.

United Utilities provides essential services, so its business offers protection from political volatility. The shares have climbed 16% year on year. The stock boasted a price-to-earnings ratio of 16 as of close on October 30, which means we are getting solid value. United Utilities also boasts a 4.8% dividend yield.

Go for gold

The spot price of gold has enjoyed a huge run-up in 2019. Gold has thrived in the face of slowing global growth, rising trade tensions, and a dovish turn from central banks across the developed world. The yellow metal moved up again after a third rate cut by the top US central bank on Wednesday. This was one of the reasons I picked a gold miner as my top stock in August.

Fresnillo is the world’s largest producer of silver from ore and the second-largest gold miner operating in Mexico. The shares plunged sharply after the company slashed its production outlook in July. Last week, Fresnillo said that annual gold and silver production would be at the lower end of its target range in the third quarter. Lower ore grades from its Saucito and San Julián silver deposits contributed to the softer numbers, but Fresnillo expects to see higher ore volumes processed in Q4 and improved grades. The company’s development pipeline holds promise. Its next major mine, Juanicipio, is due to be commissioned in the second half of 2020.

The shares are still trading at the lower end of its 52-week range. It has a high P/E of 33, but the uptick in spot prices should translate to improved earnings even in the face of production setbacks.

The post 2 ways I plan to prepare for the UK election appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Fresnillo. 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.

The FTSE 100 has been pummelled over the last three months as Brexit negotiations have failed to yield an acceptable resolution so far. The European Union and the UK have agreed to a January 31 2020 Brexit extension and the increase in investor anxiety over Brexit brings me to one of my favourite Warren Buffet gems.

Be greedy when others are fearful

One of Warren Buffet’s most repeated quotes is “Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.” Buffett is a strong advocate of value investing, a philosophy first popularised by British-born investor Benjamin Graham. Value investing is an investment strategy that aims to pick stocks that are trading for less than their intrinsic or book value.

The cycle of greed and fear is one that plays out over and over. Investors often allow emotions to dictate their buy/sell decisions, which can lead to losses in the long term. So, what is the best way to follow this advice? First, we need to do our homework. That means identifying stocks that are undervalued. When the broader market is in flux, that makes the job a little bit easier.

In order to follow this tip, investors also need to learn to control their emotions. This sounds simple, but it can be very difficult. There is a wealth of information available to investors in the present day, but this can also be a curse as the herd instinct can take hold.

A stock I’m targeting with this tip in mind

Pearson (LSE: PSON) is a stock that has been hit in September and October. The shares have dropped 24.7% year-on-year as of late morning trading on October 28. In September, the FTSE 100-listed company downgraded its guidance and said that it now expects adjusted operating profit to be at the bottom of its £590m-£640m guidance range.

This is primarily due to weaker US higher education business. US students are shifting to materials that can be procured at a lower cost or for free. Higher education courseware in the US is now forecast to decline between 8% and 12% in 2019. However, Pearson still expects group revenue to stabilise this year.

Pearson should be tempting for investors who are on the hunt for a potential turnaround stock. Right now, the stock possesses a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.7 while also offering up a 2.8% dividend yield. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum indicator that can be useful when I’m on the hunt for value. It is designed to chart the current and historical strength or weakness of a stock or market based on the closing price of a recent trading period. After its adjusted guidance, Pearson stock has fallen below an RSI of 30, and it remains at this level at the time of writing. This means the stock is in technically oversold territory and I think that can be considered a Buy signal.

The post One Warren Buffett investing tip to remember in this market appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Pearson. 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.

We are left with rough estimates as to market size with the market driven underground in the US for so long. Some early figures suggest that illegal sports wagers placed in the US reach around $150bn annually. Gambling Compliance, a London and Washington-based provider of business intelligence into the gambling industry, projected that the US market for lawful sports wagering would grow to $5.7bn in annual revenue by 2024. It also forecast that, by this time, legal sports betting will have spread to 34 states.

Flutter is making big moves in the US

Why is this relevant for investors in the UK? Dublin-based Flutter Entertainment (LSE: FLTR) struck a deal in October that will see it grow into the world’s largest online gaming operator. Stars Group agreed to a roughly US$6bn all-stock takeover. Flutter will own approximately 54.64% of the combined company and Stars Group shareholders will own about 45.36%. The deal is expected to be approved by the second quarter of 2020.

Flutter had been pushing towards a US expansion in the face of toughening EU regulations. Last year Flutter obtained the New York-based fantasy sports site FanDuel, which reported nearly $96m in year-to-date revenue in the state of New Jersey as at September 30.

Stars Group has already established a strong presence in the US. Its partnership with Fox Sports resulted in the launch of Fox Bet in the late summer. Earlier this month, Fox Bet announced a multi-year deal with Major League Baseball (MLB) that will make the mobile sports betting platform an ‘Authorized Gaming Operator’ for the MLB.

If the deal closes by the second or third quarter in 2020, Flutter will find itself in possession of two of the strongest brands in the US market. Online takings are dominating early sports gambling revenues in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with FanDuel standing out as a big winner. The pace of legislative action will keep this market from achieving its full potential until we are late into the next decade, but results in early states show that the wait will be worth it for gaming operators.

Why I’m snapping up Flutter in the fall

Shares of Flutter have climbed 21.6% year-on-year as of morning trading on October 23. I want to take a brief look at Flutter’s Relative Strength Index (RSI), which aims to chart the historical weakness or strength of a stock based on the closing prices of the most recent trading period. An RSI above 70 indicates that a stock is technically overbought, whereas an RSI below 30 indicates that it is technically oversold. Shares of Flutter spiked into technically overbought territory after this deal was announced, but the stock has since retreated to neutral levels with an RSI below 60.

Flutter stock does possess a price-to-earnings ratio of 31 at the time of this writing, but I’m willing to pay the premium to bet on Flutter’s growth after it has gained even more access to this explosive market.

The post 1 FTSE 100 stock I’d lay £5k on right now appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of Paddy Power Betfair. 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.

Housing prices are expected to enjoy an uptick if a deal is worked out between the two sides that avoids this most undesirable outcome. Foreign demand would be hard hit in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Fortunately, factors like a supply shortage and historically low mortgage rates are serving as a buffer for the broader market.

Stocks linked to housing may look like a dicey proposition to many investors ahead of Brexit. OneSavings Bank (LSE: OSB) is a mortgage-focused specialist lending and retail savings group and its shares have dropped 19.6% year-on-year. The stock managed to reach 52-week highs in mid-April, but has since succumbed to broader headwinds. Is there any reason for optimism ahead of October 31?

Mortgage lenders have faced headwinds due to an intense price war that has emerged in 2019. Increased competition and new regulation have seen banks commit to riskier methods. This includes lending out a greater amount of mortgage deals with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios up to 95%.

OSB had managed to avoid the worst impacts of the price war due to its specialised lending business, but its net interest margin (NIM) dropped to 2.78% in the first six months of 2019. This is compared to 3.01% at the same time in 2018. It has said that the trend in NIM had “largely run its course” and has bumped up its full-year forecasts for loan growth. OSB’s underlying profit before taxes rose 6% year-on-year to £96.9m in H1 2019 and underlying basic earnings per share increased 5% to 29p.

The bank was explicit in its warnings about Brexit in its first-half earnings report. OSB said that the broader housing market was “subdued” by Brexit concerns and anxiety over the state of the global economy. However, it reiterated its confidence that its underwriting business would be able to weather a substantial increase in market risk.

Why I’m high on OSB right now

The summer sell-off at OSB appears overdone to me, even after its post-earnings share bump. The shares still boast a favourable price-to-earnings ratio of 6.1. OSB stock spent the first half of August in technically oversold territory, but it has rebounded after its earnings report. Income investors can also bank its solid 4.4% dividend yield.

Brexit is an ever-present concern, but OSB is better prepared than most in its sector to wade through the potential storm. Its stock has fallen off sharply since the spring but is well-positioned to rebound on the back of improved forecasts in the back half of 2019. I’m looking to buy-low in the late summer.

The post One housing-linked stock I’m watching ahead of Brexit appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

Aston Martin (LSE: AML) released its half-year results on July 31, and the reaction from the market is telling. Shares of the luxury car manufacturer were down as much as 20% in early morning trading. Why? The company reported a significant loss in the first half of the year.

The macro trends for the broader luxury market were troubling at the beginning of the year. Stock market turbulence in the final months of 2018 throttled luxury brand equities. The threat of a global slowdown had many investors heading for the exits. But there has been a marked improvement in the first half of 2019, mostly due to rising demand in China and the US. Unfortunately, the luxury car sector has succumbed to worsening economic conditions in the UK and Europe.

In January, UK car sales suffered the biggest drop since the financial crisis. Uncertainty surrounding Brexit has weighed on the industry since the referendum. Car-makers continue to warn that a no-deal Brexit would seriously threaten production and obliterate investor confidence. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently said that investment in the UK industry fell by more than 70% in H1.

A bumpy road ahead

Aston Martin stock had already suffered a sharp drop in the previous week after the company slashed its profitability forecasts due to declining sales. Global headwinds have converged to upend what has been, until now, an impressive turnaround story. Just last February, Aston Martin had posted its first profit in nearly a decade. This sparked momentum for the stock that it had not seen since its return to the market in the autumn of 2018.

But a dampening outlook for the UK and European economy has soured the comeback story. In the first half of 2019m Aston Martin confirmed a pre-tax loss of £78.8m compared to a profit of £20.8m in the same period in 2018. Strong demand in the US and China managed to offset slumping sales in the UK and Europe, but not enough to rescue a disappointing earnings report.

The stock has now shed over 70% of its value since its October 2018 float. The company has reduced its profit margin projections to 8%, down from its previous forecasts of 13%. Aston Martin has slashed its wholesale guidance for the full year too and confidence in the car sector is unlikely to shift in a positive direction until investors are given more clarity on Brexit.

The relative strength index (RSI) aims to chart the current and historical strength or weakness of a given stock. Aston Martin stock was pushed to an RSI below 20 immediately following this earnings report. That puts the shares in technically oversold territory. Sometimes this can serve as a solid buy signal, but I’m remaining on the sidelines. At this stage there are simply too many obstacles for me to put my faith in the stock. In fact, I’m avoiding the car sector entirely in the second half of 2019.

The post I’m avoiding this car stock after a half-year loss appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

Shares of William Hill have plunged 48% year-on-year as of close on July 25. The lack of momentum in 2019 can be partially attributed to the UK government crackdown on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. The May-led government slashed the maximum stake on terminals to £2, down from the original maximum of £100. William Hill took a revenue hit and soon after announced the closure of 700 betting shops across the country.

Betting on the US

The company has committed to a huge push into the US sports betting market. Its setback in the UK market will ramp up the pressure on William Hill to expand and deepen its US operations. The good news is its early efforts have netted positive results.

Thus far, William Hill is the only British bookmaker to have secured licences in every US state that has legalised sports betting. In its May update, the company reported that US total net revenues had climbed 48% year-on-year in the seven US states that had regulated sports betting. The company already boasted a strong portfolio in Nevada, the only US state to have had legal and regulated sports betting before the Supreme Court decision. Its Nevada sports book is responsible for 32% of the market share of bookmakers in the state. To top it off, it has forged a strategic partnership with Eldorado Resorts that gives the bookmaker access to 23m customers in 13 states.

New Jersey legalised sports betting at casinos and racetracks in June 2018 and the Garden State has come on strong over the last year. In May, New Jersey took in $318.9m worth of bets, in comparison to Nevada which took in $317.4m, according to gambling regulators from both states.

William Hill has set a medium-term target to achieve 15% market share on average throughout the regulated US sports betting market. In 2018 William Hill launched its digital sports book in New Jersey and had managed to capture 8% market share at year-end. It is now a little more than a month out from the beginning of the National Football League regular season in the US (the sport attracting the most bets in the country) and the company is well positioned to build on its growth in the second half of 2019.

But not everything is rosy. Its big American adventure is a costly one. Investors should expect this to be reflected in its earnings as it looks like William Hill will struggle to turn a profit in 2019. But even if it barely breaks even, this would be a marked improvement from a steep £722m loss in 2018.

Last year the stock paid out a total annual dividend of 12p per share, which represents a 7.5% yield. I like the stock ahead of its half-year earnings that are set for release on August 9. Its push into the lucrative US market has the potential to pay off nicely in the long term, I believe.

The post Here’s why I’m bullish on this slumping FTSE 250 stock in August appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.

As expected, Boris Johnson was announced as the official victor of the Conservative leadership race on July 23, beating Jeremy Hunt by a decisive two to one margin. He takes the leadership in a time of deep political crisis and hasn’t softened on the October 31 Brexit deadline, so we’re in for an interesting few months after he takes residence in 10 Downing St.

Recent polling has many sweating over the possibility of a general election being called, and the result that could follow it. Investors loathe uncertainty, but Britons aren’t alone. Political shifts have played an outsized role in moving global markets in recent years. This uncertainty at a macro level is starting to make an impact in the form of slumping business investment and confidence, especially in the developed world.

Share prices have been volatile. HSBC (LSE: HSBA) stock has dropped 9% year-on-year and the company is battling higher credit losses over the past year as its smaller business clients suffer from apparent Brexit anxiety. Shares of HSBC dipped after the leadership announcement, following the trend of the FTSE 100 index.

HSBC and other top British banks are set to publish half-year results in the coming weeks. The stock had a price-to-earnings ratio of 12 as I write, which comes in at about the FTSE 100 average. It also boasts a 6% dividend yield, which is above average in comparison to its FTSE 100 peers. Johnson’s hard-line Brexit position has me feeling anxious, but I like HSBC’s price right now.

The largest bank in Britain had taken a seemingly anti-Brexit position in an early 2019 marketing campaign and even through its official Twitter account. And is that a surprise? Many investors fear that a no-deal Brexit could plunge the UK into a technical recession. No-deal had seemed highly unlikely, even after the shocking June 2016 result, but the potential for a disorderly exit from the EU has increased ahead of the revised October 31 deadline.

How I’m playing political strife right now

Warren Buffet’s famous line may come to mind in this situation: “Be greedy when others are fearful.” This has been my approach over the past decade, and I believe a little optimism is in order as we near the autumn Brexit deadline. British and European leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating a deal that avoids the worst-case scenario, even if it means pushing the deadline back further.

I’m targeting stocks like HSBC ahead of the publication of half-year results for Britain’s largest financial institutions. I’m willing to bite on the Boris Johnson dip, and I remain optimistic that a no-deal Brexit will ultimately be averted.

The post Here’s why I’m focused on politics in the second half of 2019 appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended HSBC Holdings. 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.

They say “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” and they have a point. But I say, forget that, you can endeavour to beat index investors.

OK, top indices have performed well in the first half of 2019 but that could soon come to an end. Central banks are gearing up for another round of monetary easing in order to stave off slowing global growth. But there is no guarantee that easing will offset the fallout from global trade tensions, tight labour markets, and pressures from rising debt and shifting demographics. That could mean buying strong, individual stocks is the way forward.

Here are two stocks that have beaten the FTSE 100 index over the past three years. I want to keep with that pace, which is why I’m still high on both today.

Greggs

Greggs (LSE: GRG) has soared 150% over the past year. The sandwich chain has built momentum throughout 2019 due to solid earnings and improved forecasts. It has hopped on a key trend that it expects to fuel growth: plant-based protein offerings. Look no further than the stunning success of Beyond Meat in the US to see how hyped investors are for this craze.

In January, Greggs launched a vegan sausage roll with a Quorn filling. Demand outpaced supply at first, but Greggs quickly caught up to customer interest and the publicity has been like gold dust. Investors should not underestimate this trend’s growth potential. Plant-based proteins have exploded in popularity and consumers are still shifting away from meat products. This is especially true among younger demographics, so long-term investors need to pay attention.

Greggs has achieved annual returns of 36% over a five-year period compared to 6% for the FTSE 100. It had a price-to-earnings ratio of 37 as I wrote this and an earnings yield of 2.7%. Pricier-than-average, but I still like the stock, especially after that promising plant-based protein product launch.

Softcat

Softcat (LSE: SCT) stock has climbed 29% in 2019. The IT infrastructure provider has posted solid earnings so far and in May flagged an improved outlook for its annual results. Sales have received a nice boost as demand has soared for its hybrid cloud service. Predictably, analysts have grown bullish in response to the higher projections.

The firm launched its IPO back in 2015 and has been one of the top performers on the FTSE 250 ever since. Over a three-year period, the stock has returned an annual average of 49%. The FTSE 100, by contrast, returned 8.4% over this same timeframe.

Softcat has retreated from all-time highs it set earlier this month and this has pushed its price lower. The stock has a P/E of 34 and a yield of 2.9%, which means you’re going to be paying a premium right now. A May update had the company project better-than-expected growth for the full year. I like the broad-based trends that are supporting Softcat’s growth right now, so I am still in the buy camp at its current price point.

The post Why I’d buy these 2 on-trend FTSE 250 stocks this summer appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Ambrose has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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.