I believe Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.) could possibly be the most effective FTSE 100 shares to think about shopping for in a downturn. The share price is down 24% previously 5 years, and we’re taking a look at a 5% fall to this point in 2025.

However the slide has pushed the forecast dividend yield up as excessive as 8.1%, according to the payout for 2024.

Demand returning?

The yr to December 2024 noticed falls in construct completions and common promoting costs. However they have been solely modest dips, according to expectations. And contemplating the rate of interest strain on house shopping for, I preferred what I noticed.

At outcomes time the present yr had began out effectively. The non-public internet gross sales charge was up 12% to 0.75 per outlet per week. The corporate famous “some incremental enchancment in market pricing“.

On the unfavourable aspect, we have been informed that “now we have begun to see modest construct price inflation and we anticipate this to be low single digit for the yr“.

The ending of stamp responsibility aid, and discount in rate of interest lower expectations, may nonetheless damage. And I believe sentiment may stay bitter for a while but. However I’m contemplating shopping for some alongside my Persimmon holding.

Insurance coverage cycle

I charge the insurance coverage sector as needing the longest of long-term investing horizons. It actually may be very unstable, and the short-term ups and downs may be extreme. However what higher time to consider shopping for Authorized & Common (LSE: LGEN) then when the ahead dividend yield’s up to 9%?

We’ve seen a 28% share price rise previously 5 years. However it’s been falling since 2022, and over the previous 10 years the inventory’s been flat.

Authorized & Common’s in a really aggressive enterprise. And together with the entire monetary sector, it’s on the sharp finish of hazard from financial strain. We’ve actually seen loads of that in latest weeks, and I anticipate an entire load extra.

I actually do suppose the share price may nonetheless have a really rocky trip forward of it, a minimum of within the shorter time period. However that is one other favorite sector of mine, having purchased Aviva shares some years in the past. I’m considering of including some Authorized & Common.

Threat settling?

I charge WPP (LSE: WPP) as most likely the riskiest of the three I’m taking a look at right this moment. The media company has fallen from its former glory beneath founder Sir Martin Sorrell. And it’s been out of favour with traders since his controversial departure in 2018. The inventory droop since then means the WPP share price is again to the place it was initially of the present century.

However that does transfer the anticipated dividend yield up to 7%. And the ahead price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio’s down beneath 9. In a primary quarter buying and selling replace Friday (25 April), the corporate reiterated its full-year steering.

Talking of commerce conflict fears, the replace mentioned: “While WPP is not itself directly affected by tariffs, they will impact a number of our clients.” However to this point, the agency has “not seen any important change in consumer spending“.

Am I being rash to take a look at shopping for WPP now, with the financial outlook so shaky? Maybe, however I’m undoubtedly contemplating it.