Share tips 2024: this week’s stock tips

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Five to buy
One to sell
The rest...

last updated 22 November 2024

If you’ve been keeping a close eye on share tips 2024, then don’t miss this weekly round up of the top stocks to consider for your portfolio.

The MoneyWeek share tips 2024 guide pulls together some of the best UK stocks from some of the top share tipsters around.

As well as the UK financial pages, we look at publications across the pond for investors who want to diversify their holdings internationally.

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From investing in UK equities, European stocks, to finding the best performing stocks in the S&P 500 – here are our top share tips of the week.

This list is updated weekly on a Friday.

Five to buy

1. London Stock Exchange Group (LON: LSEG)
The Telegraph
London Stock Exchange Group’s shares have surged 64% since February 2022. Third-quarter revenue rose 9.5% and gross profits 10%. Earnings per share are expected to increase by 9% for the year and 12% next year. Despite a “rich” price/earnings (p/e) ratio and potential market volatility from a Trump presidency, LSEG can overcome potential challenges thanks to its strong balance sheet, competitive position, partnership with Microsoft and recurring revenues. 10,640p

2. Anglo American (LON: AAL)
The Times
After rejecting BHP’s £39bn takeover bid, Anglo American’s shareholders have pressured the miner to restructure and focus on copper, which is in demand for manufacturing low-carbon technologies. Restructuring is risky, and BHP could renew its offer, yet investors should find comfort in the premium price the coal operation was sold for, indicating the potential for further gains as Anglo simplifies its operations. Expected recoveries in platinum and diamond prices also bode well. 2,455p

3. Optima Health (LON: OPT)
Shares
Britain’s leading occupational health provider aims to grow through acquisitions and organic expansion, with analysts predicting a 23% annual revenue growth rate over the next five years. The company serves over 2,000 clients, including the Ministry of Defence, the Metropolitan Police, and J Sainsbury. With an occupational health market worth £1.3bn in Britain, long-term contracts, and high revenue retention rates, Optima has the potential to become a “bigger, more profitable business over several years”. 165p

4. BT Group (LON: BT.A)
Investors’ Chronicle
BT plans to grow profits by lowering costs through job cuts, implementing AI tools to increase productivity and selling underperforming non-UK assets. The business division is struggling thanks to weakness in its non-UK trading arm; yet BT increased its dividend and plans to raise it yearly, and the Openreach wholesale arm is the main revenue driver. BT isn’t exciting, but it’s cheap and can still “squeeze” more cash from its infrastructure. 142p

5. Simply Good Foods (NASDAQ: SMPL)
Barron’s
Simply Good Foods, which offers low-carb, low-sugar, and high-protein products, has been growing steadily, yet the shares have fallen 8% this year. If the US firm can boost sales of successful products and revitalise the Atkins brand, a diet that has fallen out of favour with consumers, this could prove a buying opportunity. Simply trades at a discount to rival BellRing Brands and is a cheaper alternative for investors in the nutrition market. $37

One to sell

Smith & Nephew (LON: SN)
The Telegraph
Smith & Nephew has trimmed sales growth forecasts for 2024 due to weakness in China and downgraded margin expectations to 17.5% from “at least” 18%. The orthopaedics and wound care company maintains its margin goal of 19% to 20% in 2025, implying a “strong advance” in earnings. But after several “turgid updates”, the market isn’t “going to price this in until the numbers are delivered”. Thus the stock feels like “dead money at best”. Activist investor Cevian may push for a shakeup, or a new predator could appear. “Sell”. 937.8p

The rest...

1. Vodafone (LON: VOD)
Investors’ Chronicle
Vodafone’s €8bn sale of its Italian unit and its proposed merger with Three UK are expected to be completed in early 2025 and should help the company return to profitable growth. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said recently that the tie-up could proceed if Vodafone keeps its promise to invest £11bn in 5G infrastructure. Meanwhile, the German business is underperforming. The last six months have been “more of the same” and “until we see evidence of change, we stick to hold”. (70p)

2. Bloomsbury (LON: BMY)
Shares
Bloomsbury “is a pandemic winner, which has kept on winning since Covid”, thanks to its diverse portfolio of fiction and non-fiction titles and strong presence in academic publishing. Its return on capital employed has more than doubled since 2019, matched by a strong share-price performance. Bloomsbury plans to acquire more academic assets, discover new authors and expand internationally; interest could also be bolstered by TV adaptations. Bloomsbury has a strong balance sheet to support a progressive dividend policy and plans to increase payouts this year. Buy (678p).

3. Lancashire Holdings (LON: LRE)
The Telegraph
Lancashire Holdings’ combined ratio and profit expectations for the year won’t be much affected by the modest $130m to $140m expected cost of this year’s hurricane and storm season. That is due to the insurer’s solid underwriting and risk management. Thanks to further growth in premiums, Lancashire can add to its first-rate dividend record and provide income and capital returns. The Lloyd’s of London’s syndicate manager recently declared a special dividend. Buy (678p).

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Kalpana is an award-winning journalist with extensive experience in financial journalism. She is also the author of Invest Now: The Simple Guide to Boosting Your Finances (Heligo) and children's money book Get to Know Money (DK Books).

Her work includes writing for a number of media outlets, from national papers, magazines to books.

She has written for national papers and well-known women’s lifestyle and luxury titles. She was finance editor for Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima.

She started her career at the Financial Times group, covering pensions and investments.

As a money expert, Kalpana is a regular guest on TV and radio – appearances include BBC One’s Morning Live, ITV’s Eat Well, Save Well, Sky News and more. She was also the resident money expert for the BBC Money 101 podcast .

Kalpana writes a monthly money column for Ideal Home and a weekly one for Woman magazine, alongside a monthly 'Ask Kalpana' column for Woman magazine.

Kalpana also often speaks at events. She is passionate about helping people be better with their money; her particular passion is to educate more people about getting started with investing the right way and promoting financial education.