Share your opinion and earn yourself a free Motley Fool premium report!

We are looking for Fools to join a 75 minute online independent market research forum on 15th / 16th December.

To find out more and express your interest please click here

Small-caps predicted to soar in 2021! 2 cheap UK shares I’d buy for the new bull market

Small-caps have outperformed larger-cap companies in recent months. And I like these UK shares that are expected to keep soaring too!

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.

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.

UK share prices have rallied since early November there are still plenty of top stocks trading too cheaply today, I feel. It’s a drum we beat regularly here at The Motley Fool. And it’s a theory that many City brokers are expressing as we move into 2021 too.

The outlook for the UK economy might be grim due to a mix of a long Covid-19 hangover and an uncertain Brexit solution. But the prospect of a global economic rebound following solid coronavirus vaccine news is compelling for UK share investors. We could be at the start of a new bull market. And I’m still buying for my Stocks and Shares ISA to capitalise on any stock market rebound.

Small-caps tipped to continue outperforming

A recent survey from MBH Corporation suggests that small-cap UK shares, as well as US and German small-caps, are particularly good investments right now.

The investment specialists say that 80% of professional investors “think small and micro-caps are a good investment opportunity in the current market”. And of the 117 investors it surveyed, a whopping 76% reckon that investors in UK shares should increase their exposure to smaller-cap stocks during the next six to 12 months.

MBH Corporation says that small and micro-cap share indices have been outperforming mid and large cap indices in 2020. Some 71% of those who were surveyed reckon they will continue to perform better than bigger UK shares during the next six months as well.

Businessman leading a chart upwards

2 cheap UK shares on my ISA shopping list

There are many small-cap stocks on my own Stocks and Shares ISA watchlist today. A large number of these in fact look too cheap to miss at current prices, I think. Let me talk you through two of these cheap UK shares that I’m thinking of buying.

#1: Devro

I’d happily invest in sausage casings maker Devro for 2021 and hold it for years to come. Demand for its sausage casings continues to grow and margins keep on rising too. I reckon this particular UK share could experience rocketing earnings growth this decade as sales to emerging markets take off. Devro’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9 times for next year provides exceptional value for stock pickers like me. And it carries a mighty 6% dividend yield as well.

#2: Forterra

Brickmaker Forterra is another cut-price corker on my ISA watchlist. Housebuilding in the UK took a whack in 2020 as Covid-19 lockdowns caused workers to down tools. However, construction rates will improve sharply from next year, supercharging demand for Forterra’s products. And building levels will remain strong throughout this new decade as new homes demand rockets (the UK government plans to create 300,000 new homes each year). This particular share trades on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) rating of 0.1 for 2021. It boasts a handy 2.5% dividend yield as well. As a result, I think it’s worthy of serious attention at current prices.

Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Devro. 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

Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Investing in high-yield dividend stocks isn’t the only way to compound returns in an ISA or SIPP and build wealth

Generous payouts from dividend stocks can be appealing. But another strategy can offer higher returns over the long run, says…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

A rare buying opportunity for a defensive FTSE 100 company?

A FTSE 100 stock just fell 5% in a day without anything changing in the underlying business. Is this the…

Read more »

Two elderly people relaxing in the summer sunshine Box Hill near Dorking Surrey England
Investing Articles

Simplify your investing life with this one key tip from Warren Buffett

Making moves in the stock market can be complicated. But as Warren Buffett points out, if you don’t want it…

Read more »

Tesco employee helping female customer
Investing Articles

Is Tesco a second income gem after its 12.9% dividend boost?

As a shareholder, our writer was happy to see Tesco raise dividends -- again. Is it finally a serious contender…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Has the Rolls-Royce share price gone too far?

Stephen Wright breaks out the valuation models to see whether the Rolls-Royce share price might still be a bargain, even…

Read more »

Tŵr Mawr lighthouse (meaning "great tower" in Welsh), on Ynys Llanddwyn on Anglesey, Wales, marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait.
Investing Articles

How much do you need to invest in a FTSE 100 ETF for £1,000 monthly passive income?

Andrew Mackie tested whether a FTSE 100 ETF portfolio could deliver £1,000 a month in passive income – the results…

Read more »

Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Investing Articles

One of my top passive income stocks to consider for 2026 is…

This under-the-radar income stock has grown its dividend by over 370% in the last five years! And it might just…

Read more »

Two female adult friends walking through the city streets at Christmas. They are talking and smiling as they do some Christmas shopping.
Investing Articles

Here’s how you can invest £5,000 in UK stocks to start earning a second income in 2026

Zaven Boyrazian looks at some of the top-performing UK stocks in 2025, and shares which dividend-paying sector he thinks could…

Read more »