The FTSE 100 blue-chip index loved a begin to 2025, hitting an all-time excessive of simply over 8,445 on 15 Could earlier than retreating. Final week was bumpy as buyers fretted over US rates of interest. The index threatened to dip beneath 8,000 once more earlier than rallying.

So it’s barely unfair to take a snapshot at the moment and draw critical judgements. When AJ Bell appeared on 17 December it was up 7% on the 12 months however now that’s down to 4.7%. As we will’t repeat sufficient at The Motley Idiot, short-term actions don’t depend. It’s the long term that issues.

UK blue-chips look undervalued to me

The FTSE 100 doesn’t simply ship capital development when share costs rise. Its shares are supplemented by dividends, share buybacks and takeovers. AJ Bell funding director Russ Mould says after taking these under consideration the impact is to “confound the prevailing bearish tone of commentary on UK equities”.

He added: “Total returns from the UK stock market in 2024 handily beat cash, bonds and inflation, but the poor comparisons with the USA remain the stick with which the FTSE 100 is constantly beaten.”

Ah sure, the US. The S&P 500 has grown 25% 12 months thus far, smashing each index on earth. However it could actually’t compete with the FTSE 100 for dividends as its common yield of 1.22% trails the three.6% of the FTSE 100. This issues over time.

On December 10, AJ Bell discovered that after factoring in dividends, buybacks and takeovers, the FTSE 100 has loved its finest 12 months since 2021 with an 11.4% complete return.

Utilizing its figures, an investor who put in £10,000 at first of January would have £11,140 at the moment. That’s £1,140 greater than they began with.

I purchase particular person shares fairly than observe the index. To date this 12 months, 18 shares have generated a complete return in extra of 30% and roughly half of the index produced a double-digit return.

British Airways proprietor Worldwide Airways Consolidated Group (LSE: IAG) is the largest winner. Its shares are up 95% 12 months thus far.

I noticed its potential, too, writing on 29 November 2023, that the IAG share price appeared “ridiculously cheap, trading at just 3.8 times forecast 2023 earnings”. Sadly, I didn’t put my cash the place my mouth was.

The share price could climb larger in 2025

IAG is shaking off the grim legacy of the pandemic, which left it nursing money owed of €11.6bn as fleets have been grounded.

Q3 outcomes on 7 November confirmed earnings had jumped 43.5% to €1.75bn, with flights at 95.6% capability. The board resumed dividends too.

Like each airline, it stays weak to a bunch of threats. Rising oil costs can push up prices, wars can shut routes and pure disasters could cause mayhem.

But I feel the shares look match to fly in 2025 too, given the persevering with low valuation of simply 7.2 instances trailing earnings.

It is a sample throughout the FTSE 100. UK shares are roughly half the price of US ones. And there’s extra revenue to come back. As Russ Mould factors out: “Analysts think the FTSE 100’s aggregate pre-tax income in 2025 will exceed 2018’s pre-Covid peak by £78bn or some 46%.”

I’ll be directing my funding efforts on the FTSE 100 subsequent 12 months. I really feel like I’ve missed my probability with IAG however now I’m searching round for shares than can emulate its success in 2025 and past.