In this article, we will take a look at the 5 best UK stocks to buy now. For a detailed analysis of these companies, go directly to the 10 Best UK Stocks to Buy Now.
5. Rio Tinto Group (LSE: RIO.L)
Rio Tinto Group (LSE: RIO.L) is a London-based metals and mining company. It was founded in 1873 and is placed fifth on our list of 10 best UK stocks to buy now. The company mines and sells iron ore, copper, diamonds, gold and uranium. Rio stock has returned more than 98% to investors over the past year. The firm owns and runs open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries, smelters, power stations, and research and service establishments. It has a market cap of more than $148 billion.
In August last year, Rio Tinto Group (LSE: RIO.L) announced that it was initiating against an Australian firm over a fire at an iron ore facility in Australia. As the economy reopens, mining stocks like Wheaton Precious Metal Corp. (NYSE: WPM) are on the rebound. Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, First Eagle Investment Management is a leading shareholder in Wheaton Precious Metal Corp. (NYSE: WPM) with shares worth $676 million.
4. Vodafone Group Plc (LSE: VOD.L)
Vodafone Group Plc (LSE: VOD.L) is a Berkshire-based telecommunications firm. It was founded in 1982 and is ranked fourth on our list of 10 best UK stocks to buy now. The company has diversified business in recent years to include an array of investments in the Internet of Things universe. Vodafone stock has returned more than 41% to investors over the past year. The company has close to 700 million mobile, broadband, and television customers scattered around the globe.
Vodafone Group Plc (LSE: VOD.L) recently inked a deal with technology giant Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) for the development of a cloud-based storage and analytics platform that would hold Vodafone data. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is one of the biggest companies in the world and at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, 179 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $21.9 billion in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), up from 162 in the preceding quarter worth $14.7 billion.
3. Glencore plc (LSE: GLEN.L)
Glencore plc (LSE: GLEN.L) is a trading and mining company. It is ranked third on our list of 10 best UK stocks to buy now and was founded in 1974. The firm has a market cap of $53 billion and posted more than $140 billion in revenue in 2020. It has mining interests in several resource rich nations around the world like Canada, Australia, Norway, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The firm mines and sells several precious metals in addition to exploring oil and gas deposits.
Glencore plc (LSE: GLEN.L) has seen share price soar since the start of 2021 as the demand for copper and battery metals increases in the post pandemic economy. Due to the increased demand, US-based Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE: CRS) has also gained in value in tandem with Glencore. Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Fisher Asset Management is a leading shareholder in Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE: CRS) with shares worth $14 million.
2. Barclays PLC (LSE: BARC.L)
Barclays PLC (LSE: BARC.L) is a London-based multinational investment bank. It was founded in 1896 and is placed second on our list of 10 best UK stocks to buy now. The bank offers various financial services, including personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management. Barclays stock has returned more than 70% to investors over the past year. In addition to the UK, Barclays has operations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Barclays PLC (LSE: BARC.L) shareholders earlier this week rejected for the second time a proposal that would limit the bank’s financial dealings with fossil fuel firms. Like Barclays in the UK, the Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) is a big banking name in the US. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, 99 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $35.3 billion in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), up from 88 in the preceding quarter worth $26.6 billion.
1. AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN.L)
AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN.L) is a Cambridge-based biotechnology company that was founded in 1992. It is ranked first on our list of 10 best UK stocks to buy now. AstraZeneca is one of the first companies in the world that developed the coronavirus vaccine and marketed it to different countries. However, as world governments debate the axing of vaccine patents, it would appear the COVID-19 vaccine boom might not bring the firm as much revenue as envisioned at the beginning of the year.
On May 6, German officials agreed to drop restrictions on the use of the AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN.L) vaccine for people under the age of 60. Like the British firm, US-based Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) has also developed a COVID-19 vaccine. Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, London-based investment firm Theleme Partners holds shares worth $588 million in Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA).
You can also take a peek at 10 Best Travel Stocks to Buy Right Now, and 10 Best Automotive Stocks to Invest in Now.
