The best shares to buy during lockdown? Here’s what I think

I think these are two of the least risky stocks out there. That’s why I feel they’re among the best shares to buy during lockdown, writes Thomas Carr.

| 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.

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.

As much of the UK moves into Lockdown 2.0, I think I should be focusing on investments that are relatively safe. That means companies that are unaffected by lockdown and that have strong balance sheets. These kind of shares are less risky and that’s why I think they are the best shares to buy during extreme situations.

Supermarket sweep

The supermarkets have emerged as relative winners from the pandemic and lockdown. In the UK, none come bigger than Tesco (LSE: TSCO). As non-essential shops, bars and restaurants have been forced to shut their doors, our spending has inevitably shifted to the supermarkets. And online delivery means that we don’t even need to leave our homes.

Tesco’s first-half results (up to end of August) showed that group revenue rose 7%, largely due to increased food sales. Sales rose strongest during the first lockdown period back in the spring, which bodes well for the current lockdown and any more thereafter. Its online business seems to have benefited the most, with second-quarter (spring) sales surging 90% from the year before.  

Tesco is in process of selling its Thai and Malaysian businesses. This should bring in around £8bn, of which £5bn will be returned to shareholders in the form of a special dividend. Looking at the current share price, that implies a 20%+ payout. And that’s on top of the current dividend yield of around 4%. Quite frankly, that seems too good to be true. It’s what makes it, in my opinion, one of the best shares to buy now.

First-half net profits were up 44% from last year, at £465m. Impressively, that’s after over £500m of Covid-related expenses. With these such costs already incurred, and with greater experience of the Covid operating environment, margins should improve in the second half. Directing expenditure away from its clothing business and towards food should improve profits further. Taking all that into account, I think Tesco shares look really attractive.

Consumer staples among the best shares to buy now

Another safe company in the current climate is McBride (LSE: MCB), I feel. It manufactures a range of cleaning and personal care products, from hand sanitiser and bleach, to aerosols and dishwasher tablets. As well as selling products under its own brands, the group also produces products on behalf of other companies.

The pandemic and subsequent focus on hygiene have been a real boon to the company’s sales. Bleach and surface cleaning sales rose by 15% in the six months to the end of June, while sales of dishwasher tablets and liquids were up 13%. With there being little evidence of the pandemic abating any time soon, I think this focus on hygiene is here to stay. That should boost McBride’s revenues for the foreseeable future.

£10m worth of exceptional items dragged full-year profits below those of the year before. But without these, profits would have been much healthier and the shares would actually look cheap. A new company strategy centres around increasing revenues to €1bn by 2025. That’s 27% above last year’s revenues. If this growth materialises, then it should feed through to the bottom line. To top it off, McBride also plans to buy back up to 10% of its own shares in the next year. And that’s why I think it’s another one of the best shares to buy now.

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.

Thomas has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tesco. 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

Mature Caucasian woman sat at a table with coffee and laptop while making notes on paper
Investing Articles

10% dividend growth! 2 FTSE 100 stocks tipped to supercharge cash payouts

These FTSE 100 stocks have strong records of dividend growth. And they're expected to keep on delivering, as Royston Wild…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 17% in a month and yielding 7.39%! Is this FTSE 100 share a screaming buy for me?

When Harvey Jones bought Taylor Wimpey last year he thought this FTSE 100 share was a brilliant long-term buy-and-hold. Has…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how I’m using a £20k ISA to target £11k+ in income 30 years from now

Is it realistic to put £20k in an ISA now and earn over half that amount every year in passive…

Read more »

Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

If I could only keep 5 UK stocks from my portfolio I’d save these

Harvey Jones is running through his portfolio of top UK stocks to see which ones he couldn't bear to do…

Read more »

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

I’m aiming for a million buying unexciting shares!

By investing regularly in long-established, proven and even rather dull businesses, this writer plans to aim for a million. Here's…

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 things to consider before you start investing

Our writer draws on his stock market experience to consider a few vital lessons he would use to start investing…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will this lesser-known £28bn growth stock be joining the FTSE 100 soon?

As the powers that be plan a reorganisation of Footsie listing rules, this massive under-the-radar growth stock could find its…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Fools wouldn’t touch these 5 FTSE 350 flops with a bargepole – how come I own 3 of them?

Harvey Jones took a chance on three struggling FTSE 350 stocks in the hope that they'd stage a dramatic recovery.…

Read more »