I always like to keep an eye on the UK’s favourite passive income shares. One way I can do this is to take a peek at what Britons are buying in their Stocks and Shares ISAs. Brokers such as AJ Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown release the data from time to time, showing us what the most popular picks are!

One name I see in almost every top 10 list is Legal & General (LSE: LGEN). Why so much buzz about this stock? The retirement and wealth management specialist is known for one of the highest dividend yields, along with the kind of stable revenues that could see the passive income rise long into the future

How much income?

How much are Legal & General shares changing hands for at the moment? On the day I write this, you’d need to fork out 270p for a single share. The forecast dividend (over the next 12 months) is 22p which means, all being well, you would expect to receive an 8.22% return in a year.

A £10,000 stake would require 3,703 shares and could return £822 yearly passive income.

That, we hope, is only the start of it, of course. The real magic to investing in dividend stocks is to find a company capable of growing dividends as the years go on. That means even if we’re withdrawing our dividends as passive income (rather than reinvesting them) we can still see the income go up over time.

For example, Legal & General’s booked an average 4.98% growth rate in dividends over the last decade. If that trend continues, then the dividend yield (on the original investment) would be 9.98% in five years time and 12.73% in 10 years time. Although it should be said that dividends are never guaranteed and the company may struggle to sustain an above-average growth rate.

What I think

Let’s put the brakes on a second. Being the highest dividend on the FTSE 100 positions the stock in the danger zone. You may remember Vodafone offering a 12% yield a couple of years ago? That dividend was unsustainable and the firm slashed it. Anyone buying in dreaming of double-digit returns over the long haul is now looking at a middling 3.36% yield.

Is that the case for Legal & General? One point of concern is the dividend cover which at 0.96 is slightly below the one benchmark. That means in the last financial year the company paid out more in dividends than it made in profits.

While that’s a problem in the short term (or if it keeps happening), the future looks brighter for the company. Earnings are set to increase in the years ahead which should, if the forecasts are accurate, push the dividend cover into safer territory.

On balance? I’m not surprised that Legal & General’s a beloved passive income stock for so many. I too think it’s worth considering.

The post 3,703 Legal & General shares pay £822 yearly passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

John Fieldsend has positions in Legal & General Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Aj Bell 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR.) shares cost just over £1 a piece five years ago. Back then, you could buy almost 10,000 shares with a £10k lump sum.

Since then, they’ve soared 1,041.2% to reach an eye-watering £11.62 a share (as of 22 April 2026). So what would a £10,000 investment score today?

A meagre 862 shares.

That means someone who bought back then could sell their shares today for 11.4 times the value. That’s a spectacular return in just five years. But does that mean investors today have missed out on all the best gains?

Changing times

Those savvy investors who bought five years ago are probably very happy with their investment. But I wonder how many are questioning whether to sell, since the shares are down 3.14% this year.

Does that mean the rally is over and the rest of us missed out?

Not necessarily, but the economic landscape seems to be shifting. Let’s compare how today’s market differs from back then.

Macro, mood, and bank rates

April 2021 was a reopening-led market: lockdown restrictions were easing, rates were ultra-low, and investors were mainly buying recovery stories.

Today is a much tougher market: rates and gilt yields are far higher, so investors care more about cash flow, margins, and dividends.

Most importantly, Rolls-Royce itself has transformed. It’s moved from a survival/recovery case to a business with strong profits, free cash flow, net cash, and a reinstated dividend.

So what does that mean for investors?

• Huge share price rise means the ‘easy gains’ have passed.
• Rolls must keep delivering rather than just keep recovering.
• Interest rates have risen from 0.1% to 3.75%.
• Cash flow and margin trajectory must support the high valuation.

So can Rolls keep the good times rolling?

Financial analysis

Numbers-wise, Rolls continues to impress. Its 2025 results show underlying operating profit of £3.5bn, free cash flow of £3.3bn, and net cash of £1.9bn.

Furthermore, it reinstated dividends and launched a £7bn-£9bn buyback programme for 2026-2028. Those are compelling figures even for the most aggressive growth stock.

But valuation and sentiment are weighing heavily on future gains. That explains why the share price has been stagnant this year, despite strong numbers.

So is it still worth considering?

Short-term risks

Middle East tensions and oil price volatility are key risks for Rolls, compounded by macroeconomic and execution challenges. What do those look like? Here’s a few potential challenges that threaten profits:

• Higher interest rates
• Sticky inflation
• A weakening US dollar
• Geopolitical pressures

But this doesn’t entirely negate the long-term narrative. Now that the recovery has been cemented in, Rolls could shift to being a reliable, defensive income stock in the coming years.

So while it’s still worth considering in the long-term, it’s not necessarily a growth play. If I were holding the shares, I’d consider reducing my position and looking at growth-orientated FTSE 100 stocks with lower valuations.

Just off the top of my head, 3i Group and Barratt Redrow look interesting right now. But that’s just two opportunities I’ve been eyeing up lately…

The post 5 years ago, £10,000 bought 9,827 Rolls-Royce shares. But how many would it buy now? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Mark Hartley has positions in 3i Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barratt Redrow and Rolls-Royce 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

A Stocks and Shares ISA is a brilliant way to build a second income stream to supplement the State Pension. The best time to start investing is always the same: right here, right now. That’s because the longer money is left in the stock market, the more time it has to compound and grow.

Even relatively small sums can build up to something impressive, given time. So how does that work in practice?

Let’s take the example of an investor who is 30 and wants to start building meaningful retirement savings of their own. Money is tight at this age, but investing a little is better than doing nothing at all. Aged 30, they’re probably looking at a retirement age of 68. That allows 38 years for their contributions to roll up free of tax.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

Can I really get rich with a fiver a day?

Let’s say they can afford to put away a modest £5 a day, which works out as £152 a month, or £1,825 a year. Let’s also assume they increase that by 5% a year to keep one step ahead of inflation. My final assumption is an average compound return of 8% a year from a spread of FTSE 100 stocks, with all dividends reinvested. By age 68, they could have £804,155. Not a bad return from a fiver a day.

Now let’s say the portfolio yields 5%, and the investor takes that as income while leaving the underlying capital to grow. That would give them an annual passive income of £40,208 a year. Which is stunning. Of course, there are no guarantees when investing. That portfolio could deliver less than 8% a year. Or significantly more.

The FTSE 100 has been volatile lately, but I can see plenty of shares worth considering today. Insurer and asset manager Aviva (LSE: AV) has been one of the most impressive all-round stocks on the index lately, delivering both share price growth and dividend income. The Aviva share price is up more than 20% over the last year, and 60% over five. All dividends are on top. The yield has topped 7% at times.

Even after that strong share price performance, which typically shrinks the yield, it still offers a chunky 6.1% yield today. Amanda Blanc has done a good job since being made CEO in 2020, streamlining and sharpening the business. She’s has also benefited from higher interest rates, which revived annuity sales.

Should I worry about volatility?

After such a strong run, the shares could slow. Aviva’s price-to-earnings ratio has climbed above 23, although with earnings expected to keep climbing, the forward P/E is a modest 12.4. Blanc now has the challenge of integrating the recent £3.7bn acquisition of Direct Line. Deals of this size carry execution risk. Profits and revenues also depend on the wider economy, and we still don’t know how things will go in Iran.

Even so, Aviva remains worth considering as part of a broader portfolio. All shares have their ups and downs, but short-term volatility is the price investors pay for the superior long-term returns from equites. Which, as my sums show, can build life-changing sums for the cost of a daily cup of posh coffee.

The post No savings at 30? How investing £5 a day in an ISA could target a stunning second income of £40,208 a year appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Harvey Jones 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

Right now, Lloyds‘ (LSE: LLOY) shares seem to have it all. First, investors have had a heap of capital growth. The share price is up 40% over the last year, and 147% over five. And it’s also recovered nicely from Iran war volatility.

Second, the FTSE 100 bank has handed investors a steady stream of dividends. At times, the yield has topped 5%. The board has also been progressive, increasing shareholder payouts by around 15% a year. That helps to protect its real value against inflation.

So does that make it a no-brainer buy? Let’s see.

Is the FTSE 100 bank as good as it looks?

After such a strong run, Lloyds may struggle to maintain its momentum. Like all the banks, it’s benefited from higher interest rates. That allows them to widen net interest margins, which measures the difference between what they pay savers and charge borrowers. It’s a key profitability metric.

Interest rates and therefore margins were expected to shrink this year, but as the oil price climbs and inflation follows, that may not happen.

There’s a downside though. Today’s uncertainty may hit the wider UK economy, and the bank’s business and retail customers. Crucially, it may hit demand for mortgages. This will hurt Lloyds, which is the UK’s biggest residential lender, via Halifax. If businesses fold or people lose their jobs, bad loans could rise.

The shares still look surprisingly good value despite their strong run, with a price-to-earnings ratio of just 10.2. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was creeping up, but a 12% increase in earnings per share from 6.3p in 2024 to 7p in 2025 helped knock it back. Pre-tax profit climbed almost 12% to £6.7bn. That’s allowed it to absorb a hit from the motor finance mis-selling scandal. It can even afford to run a £1.75bn share buyback too.

Why has the headline yield shrunk?

The trailing yield’s no longer as attractive as it was, at just 3.63%. That’s down to the fast-rising share price. The forecast yield for 2026 is more promising at 4.22%. Let’s say an investor wanted to earn £1,500 a year of dividends from this one stock, which works out as £125 a month.

To achieve this, they’d need to invest £35,545 today. The forward yield for 2027 is 5%, which would require just £30,000. That’s a lot to put into a single stock, way above the £20,000 ISA contributions limit. If income’s the main goal, there are more generous dividend payers out there. The highest yield on the FTSE 100 is a meaty 8%, which would allow our investor to hit their income target with just £18,750.

Lloyds’ shares aren’t without risk. They would be swept up in a wider stock market crash, if Iran fears intensify, or either the AI or private credit bubbles burst. A slowing UK economy could squeeze profits and cash flows. The high street giants also face stiff competition from smaller, nimbler challenger banks.

But I still think Lloyds is well worth considering for long-term income and growth, inside a balanced portfolio of other FTSE stocks. And I can see plenty more dividend growth heroes to consider buying today.

The post Here’s how much an investor needs in Lloyds shares to earn a £125 monthly income appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Harvey Jones has positions in Lloyds Banking Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Lloyds Banking 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

What does a forecast dividend yield above 11% say about a stock? It immediately makes me think income investors need to take a closer look. But I also remember that an unusually high dividend yield can mean something has gone wrong.

I’m talking about The Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE: TRIG), though I’m not sure anything fundamentally bad really has struck.

What is it?

The company describes itself as “a FTSE 250 investment company targeting resilient income and long-term capital growth from a highly diversified, cash-generative portfolio of renewables infrastructure assets“. That includes onshore and offshore wind farms, solar energy installations, and battery storage projects in the UK and across Europe.

As of December 2025, the investment trust had a reported net asst value (NAV) per share of 104p. With a 68p share price at the time of writing, that implies a huge 35% discount to NAV.

When a stock appears undervalued, it can be an opportunity to repurchase shares. And that’s exactly what’s happening right now. With FY 2025 results in February, management announced a new £150m share buyback programme.

Oh, and the board reiterated its 7.55p dividend target for 2026. That’s 11.1% of the current share price.

What to watch for

Being cautious, related news brings to mind a couple of potential dark clouds. I’m thinking of fellow FTSE 250 investment trust SDCL Efficiency Income Trust, which this month announced it’s winding down.

Debt had ballooned above a self-imposed limit. And attempts to reduce gearing by selling assets were floundering. The trust wasn’t able to get close to estimated book values. It seems it’s not a seller’s market for energy-related resources right now, except maybe oil.

At the end of 2025, Renewables Infrastructure had total debt of around £2bn. And the market cap of the stock is only around £1.6bn. At least net debt isn’t so high, so I’d hope this one won’t come back to bite investors.

But should future disposals be needed, might that December NAV figure come under scrutiny? And would the discount suddenly look less attractive?

At FY time, Chair Richard Morse did speak of “a challenging year impacted by policy uncertainty, low wind resource and lower power price forecasts, all of which weighed on the company’s valuation“.

Bright outlook

Forecasts show a positive outlook, with earnings per share growing slowly out to 2028. And we could be looking at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of only 8.5 by then. One immediate caution does spring out, mind.

Analysts don’t expect the dividends to be covered by earnings in 2026 or 2027. And by 2028, we’d see only modest cover. Still, we’re not in favourable times for alternative energy right now, and short-term sentiment is weak.

Part of the company’s priority is “to restore dividend cover to historical levels“. And if the next few years go as hoped, this could definitely be one to consider before the next swing in global energy politics — which surely must come.

The post Down 45% in 5 years, this UK stock now offers a stunning 11% dividend yield! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Alan Oscroft 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

Aviva (LSE: AV.) shares are up more than 60% over the past five years. And analysts still anticipate more to come. In fact, only one out of the 15 that I can find offering recommendations has the stock down as a Sell.

The high end of their price targets range has Aviva reaching 770p. And that would mean a 20% gain for investors buying at the time of writing. Why might it happen soon, if the optimists in the City are right? Well, these price targets tend to be short-term.

And looking at forecasts out to 2028, I can see scope for significantly more growth. Still, before I get too excited, I’ll calm myself with the 15% fall that the most bearish of the brokers sees in Aviva’s crystal ball. Even if it’s very much a minority opinion, it could happen.

Bright outlook

Aviva has pulled off an impressive turnaround under the guidance of CEO Amanda Blanc. And full-year 2025 results released in March showed another step along the company’s transformation path. Fifth consecutive year of “strong, profitable growth,” said the boss.

Cash flow strengthened, Aviva kicked off another new share buyback, and the dividend rose above expectations. Looking forward, I see a forecast dividend yield of 6.2% for the current year — even after Aviva shares have done so well in the past five years.

Forecasters expect earnings per share to more than double by 2028. And that could bring the Aviva price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio down under 10… and with progressive dividend rises too.

All this says one thing to me. That 20% short-term share price target rise could be just the start of something more significant over the longer term.

Be cautious

Before I rush off and buy more Aviva shares, it’s important to take a step back and think around the wider picture. Predictions for earnings and dividend growth need care, as neither is close to being guaranteed. They’re really just the City’s best guess at the current moment. And analysts can be wrong more often than we might care to hope.

I also treat price targets with extra care. In fact, when I make an investing decision I try to ignore them altogether. The fundamentals are what count. And I look for as many takes on a stock’s long-term outlook as I can. Broker forecasts are just a part of that, and so is a company’s own guidance.

But all of this tends to assume there’s no catastrophe just round the corner. And current geopolitics makes it clear it’s not sensible to take that for granted.

What next?

Right now, we’re looking at a forward P/E of around 13 for Aviva shares. And in the current climate, there’s a good case for that being seen as fully valued. In fact, I don’t see a lot of safety margin right now, and we could have a continued weak spell for the share price. But for long-term investors who want a solid cash-generative income payer, Aviva has to be one to consider.

The post Here’s how Aviva shares could soon rise a further 20%… or fall 15%! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Alan Oscroft has positions in Aviva Plc. 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

On Saturday 4 April, I highlighted FTSE 250 stock Domino’s Pizza (LSE: DOM) as an attractive UK dividend play. At the time, it was looking cheap and I said it was worth a closer look.

In hindsight, it was indeed worth a closer look, as had someone bought £5,000 worth of shares on Tuesday, 7 April, when the stock market opened after the Easter break, that investment would now be worth about £5,800 – a great result in a little over two weeks!

The strongest growth in 11 quarters

Is the stock still worth a look at current levels? I think so.

Earlier today (23 April), the company posted a trading update for Q1. And while it was brief, it was very encouraging.

For the quarter, total system sales increased by 5.8%, with like‑for‑like growth of 4.5% (its strongest growth in 11 quarters). Meanwhile, total orders rose by 2.3%, with like‑for‑like orders up 0.9%.

In terms of cost management, the company said that its costs are hedged for the current financial year with some costs hedged into 2027. That’s clearly a positive.

As for guidance, the group said that it currently expects to achieve its earnings expectations for the full year. I’m not exactly sure what these expectations are but the market is currently looking for 18p per share in earnings.

We have carried the positive momentum seen at the end of 2025 into 2026, with trading performing in line with our expectations.
Domino’s Pizza CEO Nicola Frampton

Tasty new products

It’s worth noting that on the product front, the company said that it successfully launched ‘CHICK ‘N’ DIP’ during the quarter. Initial trading performance here met expectations with positive feedback from customers.

It also said that it had recently launched its ‘Italianos’ pizza range which is built on a thin crust pizza collection. I think this could be a winner for the company – consumers today are often looking for this type of pizza.

So overall, business performance looks robust. However, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of a major slowdown from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which is a future risk.

How’s the valuation?

As for the valuation, the stock still looks cheap. If we take that 18p per share earnings forecast and compare it to the current share price of 201p, we get a forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 11.

That strikes me as good value. Especially when you consider the company’s strong brand and high return on capital.

What about the dividend yield?

Zooming in on the dividend yield, it’s still very attractive, despite the recent share price rise. With analysts expecting a payout of 11.1p per share for 2026, we are looking at a yield of around 5.5%.

It’s worth pointing out that dividend coverage (the ratio of earnings per share to dividends per share) is solid at around 1.6. That’s one of the reasons I highlighted the stock a few weeks ago – it has much better dividend coverage than a lot of other high-yield UK stocks.

Put all this together, and there’s a lot to like about Domino’s from an investment perspective. I believe this stock is worthy of further research.

The post £5,000 invested in high-yield FTSE 250 stock Domino’s Pizza on 7 April is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Edward Sheldon has no positions in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Domino's Pizza 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

For years there has been a big split between investors who expect Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stock to go to the sky – and those who think it is due to crash down to earth at any moment.

In many ways the past year has been challenging for the company. Despite that, Tesla stock – already pricey a year ago – has risen another 50% over the past 12 months.

Could there be more to come – and ought I to buy some for my portfolio?

Tesla: more than cars?

The crux of the debate boils down to one question: what is Tesla, besides a carmaker?

That is not to understate the importance of the car business currently. Tesla shifted over 358,000 vehicles in the first quarter of this year. In the quarter, 73% of its revenues came from its automotive division, and many additional services revenues flow from it.

But while the automotive division is big business — $16bn of revenues in a single quarter – that hardly justifies the company’s $1.2trn market capitalisation in my view.

General Motors has a massive car business that sold more cars than Tesla in the quarter, but its market cap is $71bn. Ford, with its $51bn market cap, also outsold Tesla.

Car sales may grow over time, although the past year has seen mixed signals on that front in an increasingly competitive electric vehicle market. Car sales volumes in the first quarter did grow 6% year on year, but the overall sales trend for Tesla over the past year has been negative. Last year, volumes fell 9%.

The only way to justify that valuation, then, let alone a higher one, is the prospect of the business growing in other ways.

New possible avenues for growth

There is another big business Tesla already operates in: power generation and storage.

That generated $2.4bn of revenue in the first quarter. Alarmingly for a business seen as having strong growth prospects, that actually represented a 12% fall compared to the same quarter last year.

Beyond that, the company has a lot of other business ideas that could potentially grow big in future. They include self-driving vehicles, humanoid robotics, and AI.

Tesla has a credible claim to do well in each of these areas.

It has already gained relevant experience and skills for each through its car business. It has also demonstrated an impressive capacity to innovate, disrupt an existing sector, and ramp up sales massively in a short number of years.

Lots of ideas, but lots still to prove

However, just because it has done that before in the automotive space is no guarantee it will succeed in the new business areas.

While it has relevant skills, so do a lot of other companies. Some are already far ahead of Tesla in rolling out their businesses, notably in AI and self-driving taxis.

Tesla does not yet have a commercial business in these areas, let alone one that has proven profit potential.

If it gets there at scale, Tesla stock could yet soar. But with high costs involved and arguably no strong competitive advantage compared to some rivals, it might never get there.

So, for now, I see the stock as badly overpriced – and have no plans to invest.

The post Tesla stock’s up 50% in a year. Could it go even higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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

Motley Fool UK 2026

Investing in FTSE 250 shares can offer an investor exposure to medium-sized companies that still have growth prospects.

But such businesses can have quite a few bumps along the way, I have found. Indeed, over the past five years, the FTSE 250 has gained 16% — but that is less than a third of the 50% gain the FTSE 100 has delivered over that period.

One FTSE 250 share I bought when I thought it was a bargain has been dogged by poor performance. But a trading statement issued today (23 April) has seen its share price move up 9%.

Could this potentially be a sign of better days to come?

Strong brand, exposed to shifting consumer trends

The share in question is Domino’s Pizza (LSE: DOM), the local master franchisee of the US pizza giant.

When I bought in, I thought the investment case was simple. Domino’s had been winding down overseas operations in some European markets and focusing on growth potential in its UK market. It looked set to benefit from economies of scale and a clearer strategic focus. It has a strong brand, lean operating model and loyal customer base.

However, things did not go well. A surge in demand for pizza deliveries over the pandemic years started to fizzle out. Chicken threatened to displace pizza in the hearts of some delivery customers.

Even after today’s boost, the FTSE 250 share is still 46% cheaper than it was five years ago.

A positive start to the year

That price fall has helped boost the Domino’s dividend yield to 5.7%.

The tasty passive income streams are attractive to me as an investor and help explain why I have hung on to the share, alongside the fact that I still believe in the basic investment case I outlined above.

I was cheered by the positive news in today’s update when it comes to that investment case. The company’s launch of a chicken dipping product helps to combat the threat that chicken demand could displace pizza orders for some customers.

In the first quarter, total orders were up around 2% year on year. Some of that came from expansion and some from sales growth at existing outlets. Total sales revenues were up 6%, suggesting that as well as higher sales volume, the company was able to raise its prices.

Frankly that sort of growth is not exceptional. Greggs has delivered better numbers and still been punished by the City.

But the difference is around expectations.

Domino’s has lately been dogged by investor concerns about whether its market size can grow at all, or even stay the same. So delivering growth is better than many people expected, helping push up the share price.

This still looks cheap to me

I am still in the red on my Domino’s position, although am happily collecting dividends along the way.

But I continue to hold the share and plan to keep doing so, as I think it looks cheap given its strong brand, proven business model and ongoing growth opportunities.

Although the current price-to-earnings ratio of 13 may not look like a screaming bargain, last year’s operating profit had shown a sharp decline. If the company can translate growth into earnings recovery, the current valuation looks low to me.

The post Up 9% today, is this FTSE 250 share’s recovery gaining pace? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

C Ruane has positions in Domino's Pizza Group Plc and Greggs Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Domino's Pizza Group Plc and Greggs 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.

Motley Fool UK 2026

Barclays‘ (LSE: BARC) shares have had a brilliant run. They’re up 46% over 12 months and 136% over five years, with dividends on top. When a FTSE 100 stock flies like this one, I find myself asking the same question: can it continue? Or should investors simply accept they’ve missed the boat, and target the next big recovery play?

Plenty of blue-chips could be ripe for a similar revival, but Barclays has momentum on its side. All the big UK banks have done well in recent years, for the same reason. Higher interest rates have allowed them to widen net interest margins, the difference between what they pay savers and charge borrowers.

At the start of the year, it looked like that benefit was set to fade, with inflation and interest rates expected to fall. The Iran war has changed that. Inflation jumped to 3.3% in March and it’s expected to climb higher. Interest rates may rise too, which will protect margins. However, it will have a negative impact elsewhere, say, by hitting demand for mortgages, or driving up loan impairments.

Can this FTSE 100 bank keep flying?

Barclays has a broader span than UK-focused banks such as Lloyds and NatWest, due to its US, investment banking and large corporate operations. That makes it potentially more rewarding in good times, but riskier in troubled ones. While recent market volatility will have boosted its trading arm, Barclays has more exposure to equity market bubbles and economic shocks, including threats in AI and private credit. I think investors need to take those risks into account too.

I hold Lloyds, and my shares have done brilliantly. I’ve been looking to supplement it with a second bank, and Barclays seemed the obvious pick, given its different focus. I baulked at the price though. An investor who got in five years ago would only have had to pay 181p per share. If they’d invested £10,000, they’d have bought 5,525 shares, ignoring trading charges. If they’d reinvested their dividends, they’d have even more today.

Today, the Barclays share price is 434p. To buy 5,525 shares now, I’d need to invest £23,978. If fact, I’d probably need to tuck away £25k, to reflect the dividends I’d missed. Which shows how brilliantly equities build wealth.

This stock still looks good value to me

When the Iran war started, Barclays shares plunged, and I wrote several articles for The Motley Fool highlighting the opportunity. Under our strict trading rules, I can’t just write about a stock then go and buy it. Which meant I missed the recent sharp rebound. While annoying, I still think the shares look good value today.

The price-to-earnings ratio is a modest 9.9%, well below today’s FTSE 100 average of just over 16. That’s above the five-year average of around 7.5 for Barclays, but still hugely tempting. This is a bank that posted an 11.3% return on tangible equity in 2025 and aims to deliver more than £15bn of capital to shareholders between 2026 and 2028, via dividends and share buybacks.

There are risks. An oil shock, spike in bad debts or private credit implosion could hit Barclays hard. If you’re thinking of gaining exposure to the UK banking sector, I still think it’s worth considering, even at today’s higher price.

The post 5 years ago Barclays shares cost just 181p! Are they still a buy at today’s 434p? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Harvey Jones has positions in Lloyds Banking Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc and Lloyds Banking 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.

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