Stock market recovery: 11 UK shares I’d buy in an ISA in 2021 to double my money

I reckon these UK shares have all the tools to help investors get rich in 2021. I’d buy them in my own Stocks and Shares ISA for the new bull market.

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.

Could we be on the cusp of a prolonged new bull market? Encouraging news flow surrounding a Covid-19 vaccine has helped UK share prices bounce back strongly in November. A successful rollout of a pandemic-ending ‘silver bullet’ in the months ahead I think would lead to further spectacular rises in 2021 too.

UK share prices rebounded strongly in the aftermath of the 2008/2009 banking crisis. Many thousands of investors got stinking rich in the process. A huge number of Stocks and Shares ISA investors even made millions as stock markets bounced back.

I’ve already been buying stocks for my ISA to ride the economic rebound. And there are plenty of others I’m thinking of buying to ride the new bull market and make loads of money. Give me a few minutes to talk you through some of my favourites:

#1: Media-based UK shares to bounce back

UK shares involved in the media are often some of the fastest to recover when economic conditions improve. Advertising revenues tend to pick up rapidly as the light at the end of the tunnel appears, which is positive news for 2021. Indeed, ad sales are starting to improve right now, even as global Covid-19 infection rates still climb.

This bodes well for multinational ad agency WPP for example, which has the resources, the prestige, and the global footprint to capitalise fully on the economic upturn. The FTSE 100 firm is one of my favourite picks also because of its low earnings multiple and its big dividend yields for 2021. These sit at 10 times and 5.5% for next year respectively.

System1 Group is another top UK share that should rebound strongly. It provides market research and other information to companies concerning what makes consumers tick. Analytics and exhibitions specialist and FTSE 100 company RELX could also see business explode in 2021 as companies prepare themselves for the upturn.

I’d also buy some of London’s battered broadcasters and publishers to capitalise on the improvement in advertising spending. ITV, which was recently relegated from the FTSE 100, is a great way to ride this trend, as is fellow FTSE 250 stock STV Group. I also reckon digital publishing group XLMedia and magazine producer Future are other terrific buys for the new bull market.

#2: Life insurers to rebound

A bounce in consumer spending power in 2021 would help life insurance revenues climb higher too. This bodes well for some of the FTSE 100’s biggest companies like Aviva, Legal & General Group and RSA Insurance Group. I like all these UK shares today because of the gigantic dividend yields they’re packing. These range from 4.7% to 7.2% for next year.

Additionally, these FTSE 100 heroes all trade on low earnings multiples (and in the case of Aviva and Legal & General, below 10 times). However, the cut-price life insurer I’d buy today is Prudential. This is because its huge exposure to emerging Asian markets should deliver spectacular earnings growth in 2021 and long beyond.

Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended ITV, Prudential, and RELX. 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

Investing Articles

Will the S&P 500 crash in 2026?

The S&P 500 delivered impressive gains in 2025, but valuations are now running high. Are US stocks stretched to breaking…

Read more »

Teenage boy is walking back from the shop with his grandparent. He is carrying the shopping bag and they are linking arms.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in a SIPP to generate a brilliant second income of £2,000 a month?

Harvey Jones crunches the numbers to show how investors can generate a high and rising passive income from a portfolio…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will Lloyds shares rise 76% again in 2026?

What needs to go right for Lloyds shares to post another 76% rise? Our Foolish author dives into what might…

Read more »

Investing Articles

How much passive income will I get from investing £10,000 in an ISA for 10 years?

Harvey Jones shows how he plans to boost the amount of passive income he gets when he retires, from FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 34% in 2025 — but could this be one of the UK’s top growth stocks for 2026?

With clarity over research funding on the horizon, could Judges Scientific be one of the UK’s best growth stocks to…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Can the rampant Barclays share price beat Lloyds in 2026?

Harvey Jones says the Barclays share price was neck and neck with Lloyds over the last year, and checks out…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how Rolls-Royce shares could hit £25 in 2026

If Rolls-Royce shares continue their recent performance, then £25 might be on the cards for 2026. Let's take a look…

Read more »

Departure & Arrival sign, representing selling and buying in a portfolio
Investing Articles

Prediction: in 2026 the red-hot Rolls-Royce share price could turn £10,000 into…

Harvey Jones can't believe how rapidlly the Rolls-Royce share price has climbed. Now he looks at the FTSE 100 growth…

Read more »