How I’d invest £1,000 in a Stocks and Shares ISA today

FTSE 100 shares Barclays (LSE:BARC) and Unilever (LSE:ULVR) are two companies I would invest in with £1,000 in a Stocks and Shares ISA.

| 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.

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.

When looking at ways to invest in the stock market, opening a Stocks and Shares ISA is one way of making the most out of what I invest.

Stocks and Shares ISAs have a number of tax benefits, with every adult in the UK having a tax-free allowance of £20,000 which they can use in any tax year.

Like many, I may not be able to take full advantage of that allowance, but that doesn’t mean I can’t gain from investing in a Stocks and Shares ISA with just £1,000.

As with any stocks and shares investment, it must be noted that the value of my investment has the potential to fall as well as rise. With that in mind, here’s how I would invest £1,000 in my ISA today.

Household names

One way I would start investing in my Stocks and Shares ISA is through big, reputable UK companies, which I can find in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250.

These indexes contain some of the longest operating, highest value companies in the UK, and many have historic records of share price growth. It is true that past performance is not an indicator of future performance, but I like to look at household names that have consistently shown profit and share price growth over the years.

UK banks have struggled in the stock market in recent years as economic uncertainty caused by Brexit and Covid-19 has taken its toll. I’d still look to buy finance stocks for my ISA, as I think the economic outlook will improve in the years to come. 

For example, Barclays (LSE: BARC) is one of longest-running companies in the UK. The bank’s share price has bounced back in 2021 as optimism around Covid-19 vaccines grows.

The company reinstated its dividend last month and profits were higher than analysts had expected, although they were lower that in the previous year.

Barclays does have plenty to worry about, though. The company was hit with £4.8bn of impairment charges as a result of Covid-19. The banking sector is fragile right now, and is susceptible to further setbacks if there are more economic woes ahead.

There may be short-term economic turbulence but I see enough value in Barclays shares right now to add to my Stocks and Shares ISA.

Cleaning up

Another company from the Footsie which I would buy for my ISA is Unilever (LSE:ULVR). While the household supplies maker may not itself be a household name, many of its brands are. 

With names such as Domestos and Hellmann’s in its portfolio, there aren’t many people who don’t come into contact with Unilever products regularly.

The Unilever share price has a track record of growth, matched by earnings and dividend growth. The last 12 months have seen an increase in sales of home hygiene products in particular. I think this trend will continue as people will be more conscious about hygiene, even after the Covid-19 threat has subsided.

Unilever shares have seen weakness in the first quarter of 2021 however. Profits have fallen short of analyst expectations recently, and investors may be looking to recovery stocks rather than defensive stocks right now.

While the company may not see a massive turnaround like some companies will as the economy reopens, in the long term I think Unilever can continue to grow and provide returns on investment.

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.

conorcoyle has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays and Unilever. 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

Investing Articles

Here’s the best-performing FTSE 100 stock of the last 10 years

Private equity firm 3i has outperformed the rest of the FTSE 100 over the last 10 years. And its big…

Read more »

Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Here’s why Warren Buffett is selling shares (and why I’m not)

Warren Buffett cited tax considerations as his reason for selling shares in Apple. But this isn’t something most UK investors…

Read more »

Investing Articles

What on earth is going on with the AstraZeneca share price?

The AstraZeneca share price has fallen 30% from its peak in August. Dr James Fox explains what’s going on with…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 high-yield FTSE 100 shares I’d consider buying for passive income…and one I’d avoid

Some FTSE 100 stocks have eye-popping dividend yields. But will the passive income actually be dished out? Paul Summers takes…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

These 2 former stock market darlings are trying my patience! Time to sell?

Harvey Jones thought he was getting a bargain when he snapped up these too much-loved FTSE 100 dividend growth stocks.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d use £3,000 to target a second income that grows each year

Our writer explains the approach he'd take to trying to build a second income that gets bigger over time, by…

Read more »

Elevated view over city of London skyline
Investing Articles

Is it time to buy this incredible FTSE dividend share?

Christopher Ruane examines one FTSE 100 share with a phenomenal dividend history. Does a steep share price fall this year…

Read more »

Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 share has just crashed another 20%. Its P/E is now just 9.9 so should I buy?

Harvey Jones was tempted to buy this FTSE 100 share after it crashed in October. Now it's crashed again, it…

Read more »