3 dirt cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy near 52-week lows?

It’s not a good idea to try timing the market. But when FTSE 100 shares reach new lows, it has to make them more tempting.

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn

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Don’t we love it when some of our favourite FTSE 100 shares are selling near their 52-week lows?

It might not look so good when one of them is a stock I bought some time ago for a fair bit more than the current price. But as a long-term investor, it gives me a chance to buy more now, cheaper, right?

I’m talking about insurer Aviva (LSE: AV.).

Should you invest £1,000 in Anglo American right now?

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

Time to top up?

Aviva shares aren’t quite as low as they were in October 2022, but they’re down 40% in five years.

The business was already in trouble before Covid arrived and sent financial stocks into tailspin. But the firm slimmed down and I think it looks a much fitter beast today.

It’s in an at-risk sector in 2023, with financial stocks having it tough. Anything that harms our free cash and keeps us away from saving and investing has to hurt the companies that offer saving and investing services.

But Aviva is on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11, dropping to 8.5 on 2024 forecasts. And the forward dividend yield stands at 8.3%.

I think that’s too cheap.

Precious dirt

Next up is Anglo American (LSE: AAL). The mining giant’s shares are up 25% in five years, but they’ve lost half their April 2022 price.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Anglo American Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Mining stocks are classic cyclical stocks. And miners can look attractive when they’re near a peak. That’s when commodity prices are high, margins are big, and dividend yields can soar.

But when demand next drops, dividends are cut and the share prices fall. And that, I’d say, is the time to buy.

The outlook for the Chinese economy might be a bit fragile, and demand there is usually the big driver behind metals and minerals prices.

So that suggests Anglo American might be shaky for a while longer. But for long-term investors looking to get into the sector, I reckon it’s worth a closer look.

Comfort buy

Finally, drinks giant Diageo (LSE: DGE) is the third of the FTSE 100 shares hitting lows that I want to look at.

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

Celebrate in the good times, commiserate when times are bad. Isn’t it nice that alcohol fits in just as well with either?

Well, it’s nice for Diageo shareholders’ pockets, if perhaps less so for their livers.

Diageo has good defensive qualities, which is why it tends to command a higher valuation. And, right now, it’s on a P/E of 20.

But I think that’s good value for a quality company like Diageo. For one thing, forecasts drop to 16 over the next couple of years, and it’s a fair bit below the P/E of 25-30 the stock often reaches.

There does seem to be a push against alcohol in developed countries and belt-tightening inflation could hit the share price.

But there are big developing markets out there still largely untapped. This could be a good buy for the next bull run.

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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.

Alan Oscroft has positions in Aviva Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Diageo 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!

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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?

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