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.

At a 20% discount, is this under-the-radar UK stock about to blast off?

There’s a UK stock that invests in a sector forecast to be worth $1.8trn by 2035. And it trades at a healthy discount. But is there a catch?

| More on:
Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle

Image source: Getty Images

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!.

The UK stock market is home to the world’s first listed SpaceTech investment company. And with the space economy attracting a huge amount of interest at the moment, it could be well placed to take advantage of a 21st century space race.

However, its shares trade at a 20% discount to the fund’s net asset value. Is this a buying opportunity to consider, or is it a sign that investors remain to be convinced? Let’s see.

Should you buy Seraphim Space Investment Trust 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.

The first of its kind

The Seraphim Space Investment Trust (LSE:SSIT) describes itself as the “most prolific” SpaceTech investor globally. At 30 September 2025, it valued its portfolio at £284m. However, things are moving fast. During the last quarter of 2025, it reported that its top four holdings had increased in value by £69m.

But therein lies a problem. It’s difficult valuing companies whose shares are not publicly traded.

Most of the trust’s holdings are in private businesses, all of which are viewed as having the potential to “dominate globally and are category leaders with first mover advantages in areas such as global security, cybersecurity, food security, climate change and sustainability”.

Valuations are usually based on the latest funding round, which is standard practice in the industry.

The trust categorises its investments as either unicorns (valued over $1bn), soonicorns, minicorns, or seedcorns. Many of these are start-ups. And sometimes, there can be lots of hype surrounding these types of companies, which can lead to optimistic valuations and plenty of risk.

This probably explains why the trust’s shares are trading at a 20% discount (at 20 February) to its net asset value. I suspect investors are being a little cautious. But the gap’s starting to close. For a short while after its IPO in July 2021, the stock traded at a premium.

Source: company annual report 2025

Huge growth

This could be a sign that the space business is becoming increasingly fashionable.

Indeed, McKinsey & Company forecasts that the global space economy will be worth $1.8trn by 2035, with ‘reach’ applications (those helping companies across a wide range of industries to generate more revenue) outperforming ‘backbone’ solutions (for example, satellites, launchers, and GPS).

Source: McKinsey & Company

Diversification’s key

Personally, I’m excited by the possibilities of space. And by taking a position in Seraphim Space Investment Trust, it’s possible to have exposure to a number of companies in different countries operating in a variety of sub-sectors, which helps spread risk.

For example, the trust’s top three holdings are based in Finland, Italy and the UK. And they comprise the owner of the world’s first and largest constellation of miniaturised satellites, the market leader in space logistics, and a developer of an antenna capable of connecting to any satellite in any constellation in any orbit.

Inevitably, with many companies in their infancy, not all will succeed. But it only takes a few to do well and the trust’s share price could take off.

I also like the fact that the trust’s most recently published balance sheet — at 30 June 2025 – shows no debt. And it had £21.5m of cash.

For these reasons, I think it’s a great stock to consider.

James Beard has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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

Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

How to buy growth stocks at below-market prices

Don’t want to pay market prices for growth stocks? Here's a sneaky strategy investors can use to get deals at…

Read more »

CEO Mark Zuckerberg at F8 2019 event
Investing Articles

Are Meta shares at the start of a comeback?

Shares in Meta Platforms have been held back by the firm’s high-risk approach to AI. But is this the moment…

Read more »

UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Investing Articles

With dividend yields averaging above 7%, are these 2 UK shares worth considering?

Muhammad Cheema looks at two UK shares: ITV and Legal & General. With yields of 6.1% and 8.1%, should investors…

Read more »

Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

How much do you need to invest in dividend stocks to be able to retire?

Some 77% of people in the UK won't have enough income to manage a moderate retirement. Here’s how dividend stocks…

Read more »

Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

FTSE 250 stock CMC’s shares have rocketed 51%! What’s going on?

CMC Markets' shares have surged by double-digits today after a strong full-year trading update. Is the FTSE 250 company now…

Read more »

A row of satellite radars at night
Investing Articles

Will I buy SpaceX at £100 a share in my SIPP?

Ben McPoland is considering adding SpaceX stock to his SIPP on 12 June. Might this be a no-brainer buy-and-hold opportunity?

Read more »

Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

Aberdeen shares are back in the FTSE 100 — is this turnaround stock just getting started?

Following its return to the FTSE 100, Andrew Mackie examines whether Aberdeen's shares could be on the cusp of a…

Read more »

Shot of an young mixed-race woman using her cellphone while out cycling through the city
Investing Articles

Down 65% with a 5.65% yield! Is this dividend share a once-in-a-decade buy? 

Harvey Jones says this dividend share is still posting decent profits at a challenging time. Its low valuation and high…

Read more »