3 FTSE 100 shares I’d buy in April

In April, we’ll have updates coming our way from some of our most popular companies. These FTSE 100 shares could be very tempting.

| 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.

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office

Image source: Getty Images

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.

With a new ISA year here, many of us will be thinking about which FTSE 100 shares to buy in 2023. A few tops companies will bring us news in April. And if it’s good, it could give the shares a boost.

Here are three I’d like to buy the next time I have cash to invest.

Tesco

Full-year results are due from Tesco (LSE: TSCO) on 13 April.

Should you invest £1,000 in Capita Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Capita Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Tesco Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Tesco shares have been up and down, and they’re about flat over five years. That has to be due to rising prices and the pressure we’re all under when it comes to having cash to spend.

But the UK’s biggest supermarket did raise its dividend at the halfway stage, by 20%. And it’s in a share buyback at the moment. So it does seem to have the cash to spare.

Sales were up across the board in Q3, but that did included the Christmas shopping period. So what will I look for when we get those FY results?

I think the cash flow for the year will be fine, and I see no threat to the dividend. But I’ll be watching for pressure on margins, and how the firm’s costs are going.

Both of those could impact on the year ahead.

Barclays

Barclays (LSE: BARC) will post a Q1 update on 27 April.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Barclays Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Bank shares fell, due to the latest 2023 scare, though Barclays has picked up a bit. So I think Barclays could be the best value stock in the FTSE 100 right now.

But there is clear risk due to today’s global economic outlook. High interest rates are squeezing retail bank customers. And the threat of recession could be hard on the bank’s US corporate arm.

So what I’d most like to see in the Q1 update is some word on how business is going in the US. I’m not sure how much we’ll get, but just a few calm words might be enough to soothe the market’s fears.

On top of that, a bit of reassurance on the bank’s cash position and liquidity would be welcome.

St. James’s Place

Also on 27 April, we’re due a Q1 update from St. James’s Place (LSE: STJ).

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3St. James's Place Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

I don’t expect to see a financial services firm like St James’s doing well in times like these. But the share price is up over five years, by more than 10%.

It just looks bad since starting to plunge in late 2021. But that was more a reversal of huge gains early in the year. That bubble was just waiting to pop.

FY22 results were really pretty good. Profits held up, inflows came close to 2021, and the dividend was lifted slightly.

But the outlook has to be clouded by the economic storms of 2023. So I’m not sure what to expect of Q1, other than to hope to see cash and inflows staying reasonably firm.

Forecasts for this year and next, at this stage at least, look quite upbeat. The City expects profit to dip in 2023, but then get back to growth in 2024.

But what does the head of The Motley Fool’s investing team think?

Should you invest £1,000 in Capita Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Capita Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

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.

Alan Oscroft has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc and Tesco 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.

More on Investing Articles

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Don’t panic as Warren Buffett retires! Just stick to the Oracle of Omaha’s method

The world's greatest investor Warren Buffett is finally retiring, but this isn't the end of his influence. It’s only the…

Read more »

US Tariffs street sign
Investing Articles

Up 10% in a month! Are the Scottish Mortgage shares the best way to play the tech stock recovery?

Harvey Jones is impressed by the resilience shown by Scottish Mortgage shares during recent turmoil. Should tech-focused investors consider buying…

Read more »

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

Is the HSBC share price an absolute steal at today’s levels?

The HSBC share price has had a terrific run despite the recent sell-off. Now Harvey Jones wonders if the FTSE…

Read more »

Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing Articles

Start investing in the stock market this May with under £1,000? Here’s how!

Christopher Ruane explains some basics of how a stock market newcomer could start investing with under £1,000 and no prior…

Read more »

Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Is this a ‘Warren Buffett moment’ in the markets?

Warren Buffett has been doling out wisdom to shareholders this weekend. Our writer puts one well-known Buffett adage into current…

Read more »

Young woman holding up three fingers
Investing Articles

3 stocks Fools bought over 10 years ago and still hold

The Motley Fool’s approach to investing prioritises buying and holding quality stocks for long periods of time.

Read more »

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

8.1% yield! Here’s the dividend forecast for British American Tobacco shares through to 2027

British American Tobacco shares have been a prized commodity for investors seeking a large passive income. Are they a potential…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

1 FTSE 250 stock trading well below book value

Stephen Wright thinks investors have a number of attractive possibilities with a FTSE 250 REIT trading at a discount to…

Read more »