
Picture supply: Getty Pictures
The FTSE 100 index of main firms comprises a few of the high names in British enterprise, like Shell and Unilever.
Which may not appear to be a ticket for development. In any case, mature firms usually discover it more durable to develop their enterprise than smaller, nimbler upstarts.
Actually, although, it has been a superb 12 months for the index.
Sturdy value development
It has repeatedly hit a brand new all-time excessive in current months – together with a brand new peak yesterday (3 March).
So, what would an investor now be sitting on if they’d invested £10k into the FTSE 100 a 12 months in the past?
It has moved up 14.9% throughout that interval. So, a £10k funding ought to now be price round £11,490. Not dangerous!
3.4% dividend yield from main blue-chip shares
The index additionally yields roughly 3.4% in the meanwhile.
If somebody had purchased a 12 months in the past on the cheaper price, the yield can be accordingly greater. So, they’d now be yielding someplace within the area of three.9%.
So over the previous 12 months that will have added as much as near £400 of dividends on a £10k funding.
Taken collectively, £10k invested a 12 months in the past would now be price nearly £11,900.
Right here’s one strategy to put money into the FTSE 100
Shopping for shares in 100 completely different firms might be time-consuming in addition to requiring vital capital, not to mention incurring numerous buying and selling charges.
That explains why plenty of buyers purchase shares in funds that monitor the FTSE 100 index.
There are many choices obtainable and a few have extra enticing price buildings than others, so it might pay to perform a little research and evaluate the alternatives.
Right here’s why I’m not shopping for a FTSE 100 tracker proper now
Personally, I don’t personal such shares and presently haven’t any plans to.
What works for various buyers varies based mostly on their very own circumstances, goals, and method. Somewhat than investing in a tracker fund, I desire to purchase particular person shares.
For instance, one FTSE 100 share I’ve been shopping for is JD Sports activities (LSE: JD).
Over the previous 12 months, £10k invested within the retailer would have shrunk to beneath £6,700 even together with dividends – a far cry from the general FTSE 100 efficiency, alas.
However I’ve seen that share value tumble as a shopping for alternative for my portfolio.
I desire shopping for particular person shares to an index because it means I can put my cash into what I feel are nice companies not simply no matter ones make it into the index. JD Sports activities has issued a number of revenue warnings over the previous 12 months, however I nonetheless see it as a terrific enterprise.
Why?
It has a big buyer base that has confirmed keen to shell out on expensive sportswear. The corporate understands its goal prospects nicely, it has a powerful model, and an growth plan which means not solely does it have world attain, however that’s set to continue to grow.
The worth fall factors to a few of the dangers, equivalent to a weak financial system hurting client spending and the store property growth programme consuming into short-term earnings.
As a long-term investor, although, I reckon the present value is nicely beneath what I count on JD Sports activities to be price in future. That’s the reason I’ve been shopping for the shares.

Picture supply: Getty Pictures
The FTSE 100 index of main firms comprises a few of the high names in British enterprise, like Shell and Unilever.
Which may not appear to be a ticket for development. In any case, mature firms usually discover it more durable to develop their enterprise than smaller, nimbler upstarts.
Actually, although, it has been a superb 12 months for the index.
Sturdy value development
It has repeatedly hit a brand new all-time excessive in current months – together with a brand new peak yesterday (3 March).
So, what would an investor now be sitting on if they’d invested £10k into the FTSE 100 a 12 months in the past?
It has moved up 14.9% throughout that interval. So, a £10k funding ought to now be price round £11,490. Not dangerous!
3.4% dividend yield from main blue-chip shares
The index additionally yields roughly 3.4% in the meanwhile.
If somebody had purchased a 12 months in the past on the cheaper price, the yield can be accordingly greater. So, they’d now be yielding someplace within the area of three.9%.
So over the previous 12 months that will have added as much as near £400 of dividends on a £10k funding.
Taken collectively, £10k invested a 12 months in the past would now be price nearly £11,900.
Right here’s one strategy to put money into the FTSE 100
Shopping for shares in 100 completely different firms might be time-consuming in addition to requiring vital capital, not to mention incurring numerous buying and selling charges.
That explains why plenty of buyers purchase shares in funds that monitor the FTSE 100 index.
There are many choices obtainable and a few have extra enticing price buildings than others, so it might pay to perform a little research and evaluate the alternatives.
Right here’s why I’m not shopping for a FTSE 100 tracker proper now
Personally, I don’t personal such shares and presently haven’t any plans to.
What works for various buyers varies based mostly on their very own circumstances, goals, and method. Somewhat than investing in a tracker fund, I desire to purchase particular person shares.
For instance, one FTSE 100 share I’ve been shopping for is JD Sports activities (LSE: JD).
Over the previous 12 months, £10k invested within the retailer would have shrunk to beneath £6,700 even together with dividends – a far cry from the general FTSE 100 efficiency, alas.
However I’ve seen that share value tumble as a shopping for alternative for my portfolio.
I desire shopping for particular person shares to an index because it means I can put my cash into what I feel are nice companies not simply no matter ones make it into the index. JD Sports activities has issued a number of revenue warnings over the previous 12 months, however I nonetheless see it as a terrific enterprise.
Why?
It has a big buyer base that has confirmed keen to shell out on expensive sportswear. The corporate understands its goal prospects nicely, it has a powerful model, and an growth plan which means not solely does it have world attain, however that’s set to continue to grow.
The worth fall factors to a few of the dangers, equivalent to a weak financial system hurting client spending and the store property growth programme consuming into short-term earnings.
As a long-term investor, although, I reckon the present value is nicely beneath what I count on JD Sports activities to be price in future. That’s the reason I’ve been shopping for the shares.