These FTSE 100 shares are near 52-week lows. I’d buy all of them!

Our writer picks out three battered FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stocks he’d snap up before the next bull market arrives.

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Some FTSE 100 shares have rocketed in the past year while other arguably far-better businesses have struggled. Personally, I see this as a huge opportunity.

Here are three of the latter that I’d buy without hesitation if I had the money to invest.

Diageo

Shares in premium drinks firm Diageo (LSE: DGE) are down 14% over the last year and now trade barely above the 52-week low hit in early July.

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Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Diageo Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL11 May 20208 May 2025Zoom ▾Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '24Jan '2520212021202220222023202320242024202520251500200025003000350040004500www.fool.co.uk

To some extent, this is understandable. The tragic loss of long-running CEO Ivan Menezes coupled with cost pressures have combined to unnerve some investors. Even a recent beat of full-year sales forecasts hasn’t been enough to raise spirits.

But let there be no confusion. Strong capital gains and consistent (and consistently rising) dividends mean Diageo has been an absolute corker for owners over the long term.

As all Fools know, the past isn’t necessarily a guide to the future. So, research showing that the young folk of today aren’t quite as partial to alcohol as previous generations, for example, is a bit worrying. Then again, we know they are more willing to pay for premium brands when they do drink.

For this reason, I think Diageo shares should continue to deliver very decent returns.

Halma

A second FTSE 100 member I’d have no issue buying today would be life-saving technology firm Halma (LSE: HLMA).

At first glance, that’s pretty contrarian. The £8bn cap’s share price hasn’t recovered from the big market sell-off at the beginning of 2022.

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

Again, however, I see this as an opportunity for those blessed with a bit of patience. Tellingly, the shares are still up 52% over the last five years.

Let’s not forget that Halma has managed to grow its annual dividend by 5% or more for the last 44 years either. This is primarily due to a superbly executed strategy of buying other businesses specialising in products that are increasingly deemed mandatory by regulators.

Unfortunately, this reliability brings its own problems. Despite its poor showing over the last year and a half, Halma’s valuation — a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26 — still looks high relative to the market, albeit justifiably so.

That could come back to haunt new investors if we get another market meltdown and/or targets aren’t hit.

Still, I think this is a risk worth taking, so long as I’m nicely diversified elsewhere.

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust

A final FTSE 100 share within touching distance of its 52-week low is one I’m already invested in: Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LSE: SMT).

Frustratingly, SMT shares remain under the cosh as investors continue to fret over various economic headwinds. To make matters worse, the revival in US tech stocks seen in 2023 has barely registered in the stock’s valuation.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

So, why would I buy (more) today? There are two main reasons.

First, an eventual pause in interest rate hikes should push SMT shares to outpace the market because its portfolio is chock full of disruptive growth companies that are favoured in a “risk on” environment.

Second, the shares still trade at a discount to net assets. In other words, I’m being asked to pay a price lower than what the portfolio is estimated to be worth.

That rarely happens with this particular investment trust.

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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.

Paul Summers owns shares in Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Diageo Plc and Halma 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.

Like buying £1 for 51p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 8.5%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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