UK stocks: a brilliant buying opportunity?

UK stocks have taken a battering in recent days. That can be disconcerting — but our writer is taking a long-term approach to bargain hunting.

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The past few days in the stock market have been like a roller coaster. Looking at one’s portfolio during such times can be alarming. The FTSE 100 flagship index of leading UK stocks has been a sea of red during some recent trading sessions.

For a long-term investor like myself, I try not to pay much attention to such short-term swings in valuation. But that does not mean I am ignoring the stock market turbulence. After all, the sort of falling share prices we have seen can sometimes signal an outstanding buying opportunity for the long-term investor.

Broad-based price falls

Across the pond, the S&P 500 index is down 11% over the past week alone (well into correction territory, though still some way from a crash).

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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 Nvidia made the list?

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Things look no better for UK stocks, with the FTSE 100 also down 11% over the past five days.

That may seem surprising as the US index previously looked costlier than its London equivalent. Indeed, over five years, the former is up 79% while the latter has climbed a more modest 31%.

But clearly, investors in many markets are nervous right now.

That is not limited to specific companies that are perceived to have a direct connection to the impact of US tariff moves, either. As I write this on Wednesday afternoon, 97 of the 100 shares in London’s index of blue-chip stocks are lower than they were when the market opened this morning.

Hunting for quality shares on sale

One of the three shares bucking the trend, incidentally, is JD Sports (LSE: JD).

I have been buying JD Sports shares during recent market turbulence partly because of the disconnection between short-term share price moves and what I see as the sportswear retailer’s underlying long-term value.

Despite today’s positive moves, the JD Sports share price is still 28% down since the start of 2025. I thought it was cheap at a pound – and it now trades for barely two-thirds of that!

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3JD Sports Fashion PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

The company has a large US business. It also makes a lot of its money selling shoes made by US companies like Nike, that are manufactured in countries such as China and Vietnam. So the tariffs are a real risk to profitability. That comes on top of multiple profit warnings issued by the firm over the past year.

Resilience in a tough market

But with a proven business model, large customer base, and unique brand, I remain upbeat about the long-term outlook for JD Sports.

A trading update today (9 April) said that it expects full-year like-for-like revenue growth for its most recent year to be about 0.3%. That is not the stuff of investor dreams, but is decent given the tough trading environment. It described the impact of US tariff changes as “uncertain“ for now.

But JD Sports, selling on a price-to-earnings ratio of 11, is an example of a share that potentially looks like a screaming bargain to me. Its share price has fallen 57% since September, yet I think the business continues to look strong.

That is not true for all shares, of course. But for the long-term investor choosing shares carefully, I think the current market is throwing up some potentially great bargains among UK stocks.

Should you invest £1,000 in Nvidia 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 Nvidia 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.

C Ruane has positions in JD Sports Fashion. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Nike. 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.

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