[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images With unemployment on the rise, fears are once again circulating about a potential recession. But by knowing which shares to buy, investors can position their portfolios to weather the potential storms ahead. That’s why some institutional analysts have been issuing recession-resistant recommendations to clients. So what are the experts saying to buy right now? 1. Defensive pharma Even during economic meltdowns, demand for healthcare often remains robust. As such, the pharmaceuticals and biotech sector has historically outperformed during times of crisis. And as of December, the analysts at AJ Bell have flagged GSK (LSE:GSK) as…
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[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Major aerospace and defence company Babcock International (LSE: BAB) is already up 15%+ and the year’s only just began! The rapid surge appears to come from a trifecta of well-timed occurrences — strong half-year results (19% profit growth), a significant upgrade announcement, and geopolitical tensions driving defence spending. Defence stocks add an ethical element that some investors may disagree with. However, for better or worse, they play a key role in the UK economy. So when discussing markets, they can’t be ignored. Along with BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, aerospace and defence are currently driving FTSE…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Should I buy Aston Martin (LSE:AML) shares? This is a question I’ve asked myself a few times over the years. Fortunately, the answer has always been no after digging into the investment case. I say ‘fortunately’ because the share price has literally fallen off a cliff since the James Bond carmaker went public in 2018. We’re looking at a plunge of 98.5%! The more recent performance hasn’t been any better, with the FTSE 250 stock down around 40% since the start of 2025. This means a £5,000 investment made back then is now worth just…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Generating a second income of £3,333 a month from a Stocks and Shares ISA is no easy feat. This figure actually equates to just under £40,000 a year in passive income. And if it’s done in an ISA, all of the income will be free of tax. You’d need to earn approximately £55,000 per year from a salaried job to take home this much after tax. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images On the face of it, FTSE 250 pub chain JD Wetherspoon (LSE:JDW) got some very good news on Thursday (8 January). The expected rise in business rates for pubs is set to be scrapped. The stock however, didn’t exactly surge as a result. And I’m not sure the announcement is as much of a benefit as it seems at first sight. Relief Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK government has been helping the hospitality sector with business rates relief. This had been coming down each year, before ending in 2026. The plan had been to…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Historically, the average Stocks and Shares ISA has returned 9.64% a year. That means a £20,000 investment generates an average annual return of £1,928. That’s almost certainly more than you can get by keeping that sum in cash. So a Stocks and Shares is definitely worth considering for anyone with excess savings – with a few caveats… Down years An average return of 9.64% means Stocks and Shares ISAs tend to do better than cash over time. But there are periods when they do worse. In 2022-23, for example, the average ISA lost around 3%…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images In general, I think real estate investment trusts (REITs) are great passive income investments. And one in particular has been attracting the attention of some smart investors recently. Grainger (LSE:GRI) is the UK’s largest commercial landlord. It has – in my view – an enviable portfolio of properties in some attractive locations and strong rent collection metrics to boot. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Lloyds’ (LSE: LLOY) shares surprised even the most optimistic investors in 2025, climbing over 50%. Despite a challenging economic environment, the Black Horse bank emerged as one of the FTSE 100‘s star performers. But what’s next for 2026? Can this everyday banking giant keep the party going, or is it time to take some profits? Let’s take a look at both sides of the argument. The bull case First, let’s examine why Lloyds could keep climbing. Analysts are mostly upbeat, with an average 12-month price target of 103p — suggesting a moderate gain from current…
[ad_1] A shorter version of this article originally appeared on City Observatory and is republished with permission. Head to their site to read it in full, and read our past coverage of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project between Oregon and Washington here and here. The new estimate for the cost of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project has more than doubled to $13.6 billion. The cost is expected to range between $12.2 billion and $17.7 billion. The new estimate is 130% higher than the previous (2022) estimate. City Observatory obtained this estimate from previously unreleased documents it obtained via a public records request.falseIf IBR…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Dividend stocks are a popular way for some investors to generate passive income. Owning the stock gives them the right to receive a cut of the company’s declared dividend. And this money can be reinvested back into the stock market, compounding the benefits. Here’s how the strategy could play out over time. Putting the money to work With £10k in savings, it provides a good initial pot of cash to put to work. To begin with, I’d look at what yield the investor is trying to target. After all, the £10k is likely only earning…