Just lately, I got here throughout an eye-opening report from revered monetary lecturers. This revealed that from 1987 to 2020, UK worth shares underperformed their development equivalents. For buyers within the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, the very best returns got here from shopping for development corporations, moderately than undervalued companies.

Development versus worth

In truth, for at the very least 15 years, the sensible transfer has been to purchase thrilling US shares, moderately than boring British shares. In spite of everything, American company capitalism has delivered superior returns to buyers for many years. However might this tide be turning?

The US inventory market seems to be costly to me right now. The S&P 500 index trades on 23.9 occasions trailing earnings, properly above its long-term common. The index’s dividend yield is simply 1.3% a yr as American firms desire to reinvest earnings into development.

In the meantime, exterior of main market meltdowns, the FTSE 100 has hardly ever supplied such worth. It trades on 14.6 occasions earnings with a dividend yield of three.6% a yr — among the many highest of main inventory markets.

The FTSE 100 jumps forward

The S&P 500 has kicked the FTSE 100’s behind. Over 5 years, the previous has doubled (up 100.3%), whereas the Footsie recorded a 36.3% achieve. Over one yr, the outcomes are 16.1% and 15.3%, respectively (all figures exclude money dividends). However notably, this long-term hole has narrowed dramatically over the past 12 months.

As a long-term investor in each international locations, I’ve adopted these markets for many years. Lastly, after years of ready, there are some early indicators that international buyers may see deep worth in UK shares.

For instance, since end-2024, the UK index is up 7.8%, versus 1.2% for its US counterpart. Final month, the S&P 500 declined by 1.4%, whereas the Nasdaq Composite misplaced 4%. Nevertheless, the Footsie ended February in constructive territory, up 1.6%.

One other factor to notice is that the UK index is simply 0.1% under its all-time excessive hit final month. In contrast, the S&P 500 lies 3.1% under its report excessive of 19 February, whereas the Nasdaq index has dropped 6.7% from its 16 December 2024 peak.

In fact, simply as one swallow doesn’t a summer time make, so one short-term pattern isn’t proof of a seismic shift. Even so, it’s good to see the Footsie having fun with its day within the solar!

As soon as low cost FTSE 250 inventory?

Nevertheless it’s essential to keep in mind that investing in UK shares isn’t solely concerning the FTSE 100. Sticking to my value-investing roots, I’ve been trying on the FTSE 250 and see shares in ITV (LSE: ITV) as undervalued, even perhaps triggering a takeover bid?

Based in 1955, ITV is the UK’s main industrial terrestrial broadcaster, whereas ITV Studios sells content material worldwide. Whereas core income from TV promoting struggles to develop, ITV’s manufacturing, digital and streaming arms are doing properly.

On 28 December, the shares closed at 71.1p, valuing the agency under £2.7bn. Regardless of rising 27.5% over the previous 12 months, it’s down 39% over 5 years.

My spouse and I personal ITV shares in our household portfolio as a price choose. They commerce on simply 6.6 occasions earnings and provide a money yield of seven% a yr. In fact, ITV has to compete with international streaming providers for eyeballs, resulting in declining audiences. Even so, I view it as a strong long-term maintain for us.