We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become The Twelfth Magpie -- an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. This site is our new home, and there will be extra tweaks made across the coming few days as we settle in. So if anything looks a little off, please bear with us!

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Forget the National Lottery and Premium Bonds! I’d invest in these 2 FTSE 100 stocks today

I think these two FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) shares could offer improving return prospects.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Twelfth Magpie’s Premium Investing Services. Become a member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn more, and get a free 'Best Buy Now' stock!.

While winning £1m+ on the Lottery or Premium Bonds is likely to appeal to most people, the chances of doing so are extremely slim. In fact, there is a one in 45m chance of winning the lottery, while the average return on Premium Bonds is 1.4% at the present time.

Therefore, buying a range of FTSE 100 shares could be a better idea. They may offer good value for money in many cases at the present time, while their growth prospects could be attractive.

Should you buy Mondi Plc shares today?

Before you decide, please take a moment to review this report first. Despite ongoing uncertainties from US tariffs to global conflicts, Mark Rogers and his team believe many UK shares still trade at substantial discounts, offering savvy investors plenty of potential opportunities to learn about.

That’s why this could be an ideal time to secure this valuable research – Mark’s analysts have scoured the markets to reveal 5 of his favourite long-term ‘Buys’. Please, don’t make any big decisions before seeing them.

With that in mind, here are two large-cap shares that could deliver high returns in the long run as they implement their current strategies.

Reckitt Benckiser

The disappointing third-quarter update recently released by Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) may have dissuaded some investors from buying shares in the consumer goods company. After all, it faces an uncertain near-term outlook due to a change in CEO and challenges in some of its key markets.

However, a difficult quarter could present a buying opportunity for long-term investors. The stock now trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.7, which is below the ratings of many of its global consumer goods peers. Furthermore, it is undergoing a restructuring that could produce a more efficient business that is better able to adapt to changing consumer tastes.

Reckitt Benckiser is focusing its resources on improving its operational performance in the short run. This could strengthen its near-term prospects, while the investment it is making in areas such as innovation and e-commerce may lead to a growing top and bottom line in the long run. As such, now could be an opportunity to buy a high-quality business at a fair price.

Mondi

Another FTSE 100 company that has experienced a challenging operating environment of late is Mondi (LSE: MNDI). The packaging business reported softer market conditions in its most recent quarterly update, with selling prices being down on the same period from the prior year. This contributed to a fall in its quarterly profit, which may cause investors to factor in a wider margin of safety in the short run.

However, the company continues to implement measures that are designed to reduce its costs and improve its profitability. As part of this, it is reorganising its structure so that it can more easily deliver on its customers’ demands.

Looking ahead, Mondi is forecast to post a decline in its bottom line in the current year. However, its forward P/E ratio of 11.2 suggests that its share price includes a discount to its intrinsic value that could present a buying opportunity.

Although the stock could continue to be relatively unpopular among investors in the short run, in the long run it appears to have a solid growth strategy. As such, it may be an appealing company for long-term value investors.

Peter Stephens owns shares of Reckitt Benckiser. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Landlady greets regular at real ale pub
Investing Articles

How much in dividends will these high-yield shares generate in 2026?

With 9.5% and 8.4% dividend yields, what makes these FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 high-yield heroes so special? Royston Wild…

Read more »

British pound data
Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Nvidia shares when ChatGPT was released is now worth…

The rise of Nvidia shares was kickstarted by the advent of ChatGPT. Our author takes a look at how much…

Read more »

Close-up of children holding a planet at the beach
Investing Articles

Did HSBC just become the FTSE 100’s best dividend stock?

HSBC has long been a strong dividend stock, but could it now be one of the best on the entire…

Read more »

Tree lined "tunnel" in the English countryside of West Sussex in autumn
Investing Articles

3 UK shares to consider holding in a Stocks and Shares ISA for a decade

Mark Hartley explains why he thinks these three stocks would make great additions to a long-term Stocks and Shares ISA…

Read more »

Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Where should value investors look for stocks in June?

Value investors looking for stocks to buy might be uneasy with artificial intelligence. But other industries look much more attractive…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The latest broker outlooks on Greggs shares look wacky, so what’s happening?

Analyst price targets for Greggs shares are creating some mixed sentiments on where the high-street baker might go next in…

Read more »

Caerphilly Castle, and reflection in the moat.
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 dividend stocks that stand out for shareholder returns

Andrew Mackie highlights two FTSE 100 dividend stocks where disciplined capital allocation could continue driving shareholder returns.

Read more »

Senior Adult Black Female Tourist Admiring London
Investing Articles

Just 9% of us can expect a ‘comfortable’ retirement! Could UK shares be the answer?

Millions of Brits could miss out on the retirement of their dreams. Might they avoid this by investing in UK…

Read more »