Looking for the best shares to buy now? I’d take these 3 simple steps today

Focusing on company track records and strategies could be a sound means of finding the best shares to buy now, in my view.

Peter Stephens ❯

Having held various senior management positions in the manufacturing sector, Peter founded his own manufacturing company in 1996. This was subsequently sold in 2007. Meanwhile, his passion for investing (which began during the privatisations of the 1980s) remains strong and he couples this with writing for The Motley Fool as a Contractor. His investment style is value-oriented; focusing on company fundamentals, as well as assessing the strength and presence of a competitive advantage. While above-average growth prospects remain very attractive, a greater focus on dividends has crept in since Peter became a part-time retiree in 2007.

Published 21 January, 2021 2:21 pm GMT

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Determining the best shares to buy now is clearly very subjective. Every investor will have their own views on which companies provide the most attractive investment opportunities.

However, some of the most appealing stocks are likely to have a mix of solid fundamentals, sound strategies and track records that suggest they can perform well in a variety of operating conditions.

Buying such companies at fair prices could prove to be a profitable move. They may be more likely to outperform the stock market and deliver high capital returns.

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The best shares to buy now may have solid track records

A solid track record of performance in a range of economic situations may differentiate the best shares to buy now from their peers. The economic outlook is currently very uncertain. Political risks are elevated, while the challenges faced in 2020 regarding coronavirus look set to continue at least in the early part of this year.

Therefore, companies that have been able to deliver impressive sales and profit growth in a variety of operating environments could be relatively attractive. They may be able to outperform their peers in the short run, which could equate to lower levels of risk. Meanwhile, they could be in a stronger position to capitalise on a likely economic recovery in the coming years that produces a higher valuation.

A sound growth strategy

The best shares to buy now may also have sound strategies that can lead to growing profitability in the coming years. The past 12 months have included major change across many industries. This could mean that companies with static business models that fail to innovate quickly become outdated. By contrast, companies that are able to respond quickly to changing consumer tastes may be the major winners in the likely stock market recovery.

Clearly, it is difficult to assess whether a specific strategy will be successful or not. However, by analysing a company’s recent investor updates compared to those of its peers, it is possible to identify the most flexible and adaptable businesses within a specific sector. They may be able to adjust their operations to accommodate a rapidly-changing economic outlook over the long run.

Financial strength ahead of an uncertain 2021

As mentioned, the best shares to buy now are likely to have solid financial positions. While this is always the case, a solid balance sheet may be worth more than usual in the eyes of investors at the present time. Companies with low debt and strong cash flow may offer less risk during what could prove to be an uncertain period for the economy.

They may also be able to invest to a greater extent in new products and services. Over time, this could produce higher profit growth and a rising share price.