logo
Airlines, tech and gold: The most popular stocks and funds investors are buying ahead of the ISA deadline

Airlines, tech and gold: The most popular stocks and funds investors are buying ahead of the ISA deadline

Independent07-03-2025

Isa season is rapidly approaching: the end of one financial year and the start of the next one, with investors (and savers!) trying to use up as much of their allowance as possible before 5 April, at which point the £20,000 annual allowance per person resets.
While there is ongoing discussion over whether Cash Isa limits could be cut, the overall allowance is a use it or lose it situation - unused allowances cannot be rolled over into the next financial year.
At the start of 2025, investors in stocks and shares Isas have been putting money into a range of individual companies and funds hoping to generate returns which can help beat inflation and even interest rates, particularly over the longer term.
AJ Bell, one of the UK's largest investment platforms, has shared data on what their Isa customers have been purchasing this year - with some familiar names among the top ten businesses being bought alongside some perhaps more surprising ones.
American chipmaker Nvidia, formerly the most valuable listed company on the planet, holds top spot at the start of the year on the platform and is followed by MicroStrategy, a company which essentially buys up bitcoin and which rebranded to Strategy last month. British businesses in housebuilding, insurance and travel also feature in the most popular list.
'DIY investors have been busy filling their Isas ahead of the tax year-end on 5 April,' says Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. 'Isas are a great way to build up wealth and shelter your gains and income from the taxman.
'Exposure to global and US markets and generous dividend payers were key themes, as you might expect from Isa users. However, there were a few surprises including a shift in behaviour by investment trust fans, and stock investors were taking quite a few contrarian bets.'
From bitcoin to trainers, houses to energy
Those contrarian bets perhaps include fashion shoe retailer JD Sports, a long-time favourite of British investors but one whose share price is down more than 40 per cent across the past six months. Airline Easyjet is up three per cent across the same timeframe, but is down ten per cent over a year.
The full list of most popular stocks and shares on the platform, by net flows from 1 January to 28 February, were:
These choices could be grouped into three different categories, added Mr Coatsworth, including 'higher-risk investments linked to cryptocurrencies and AI, generous dividend payers such as retirement savings group Phoenix, and out of favour companies where investors are potentially buying in the hope of a rebound.'
Spread your eggs across multiple baskets
Outside of individual shares, data on funds which offer a more diversified approach showed an ongoing preference by investors for low-cost passive or tracker shares, as opposed to more expensive actively managed funds.
Funds typically focus on a sector, theme or geographic region, so an S&P 500 fund for example tracks the performance of the biggest companies in the United States, while a physical gold fund would seek to follow the performance of the precious metal's price by holding bullion.
AJ Bell's most popular list of funds were as follows:
'UK investors are increasingly losing faith in the ability for fund managers to consistently outperform the market. By shunning active funds, investors are choosing the lower cost route of simply tracking the market. It's easy to see why,' Mr Coatsworth said.
'Research by AJ Bell recently found that less than a third (31 per cent) of actively managed funds have beaten a passive alternative over the past 10 years.'
Finally, data on investment trusts also shows the yield on offer from payouts.
Weakening share prices in some areas, and widening discounts to the Net Asset Value (NAV) of them have pushed yields up in some cases. Here are the top ten trusts on AJ's platform this year and their yields at the time of publishing:
City of London Investment Trust - 4.7%
TwentyFour Select Monthly Income - 8.5%
JPMorgan Global Growth & Income - 3.9%
Law Debenture - 3.5%
3i Group - 1.5%
The Renewables Infrastructure Group - 10.0%
Greencoat UK Wind - 9.1%
Henderson Far East Income - 11.3%
Abrdn European Logistics Income - 6.1%
Supermarket Income REIT - 8.8%
'Investors may view such trusts as bargains given many trade on large discounts to the value of their underlying portfolio. Large yields offer compensation for the shares being out of favour but there is still uncertainty in when or if those discounts will start to narrow,' Mr Coatsworth noted.
All profits from dividends or capital appreciation are tax-free when made in an Isa wrapper.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tickets are now on sale for huge Wrexham tennis event
Tickets are now on sale for huge Wrexham tennis event

Leader Live

timean hour ago

  • Leader Live

Tickets are now on sale for huge Wrexham tennis event

The Lexus Wrexham Open - the biggest women's tennis tournament, outside of the grass court season, in the UK this year - will take place at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre. Played on the indoor courts at the Plas Coch Road venue between October 19-26, the event is set to feature leading British and international stars, including players ranked in the world's top 100. Tournament promoter Dave Courteen said: 'We are really excited that tickets are now available to buy online from the newly-launched tournament website. 'We have been delighted by the response from the local community since announcing this fantastic tournament is coming to North Wales for the first time. 'It's an ITF World Tennis Tour W100 event, a very high level, and some of the players heading to Wrexham to play will have competed in the French Open at Roland Garros in recent weeks.' Ticket prices, which include a 44-page tournament programme, start from £7.50 for adults and £3.50 for under-16s, with finals day tickets to enjoy both the singles and doubles finals costing £22.50 and £17.50 respectively. A tournament pass to watch all matches throughout the week, priced £67.50 for adults and £47.50 for under-16s, is also available. The Wrexham Open has replaced the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury - which was won last year by rising British star Sonay Kartal - in the LTA Performance Competitions Calendar for 2025. It is the highest-level tennis tournament in Wales since the Rover British Clay Court Championships in Cardiff in 1996. Tickets for the Lexus Wrexham Open can be purchased online at

Nestle confirms it's axed breakfast staple from all UK supermarket shelves as shoppers sob ‘life isn't the same'
Nestle confirms it's axed breakfast staple from all UK supermarket shelves as shoppers sob ‘life isn't the same'

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Nestle confirms it's axed breakfast staple from all UK supermarket shelves as shoppers sob ‘life isn't the same'

Has your favourite product vanished from shelves? We'd love to hear from you - email us on money@ Has your favourite product vanished from shelves? We'd love to hear from you - email us on money@ CRUNCH TIME Nestle confirms it's axed breakfast staple from all UK supermarket shelves as shoppers sob 'life isn't the same' NESTLE has confirmed it axed a breakfast staple from all UK supermarkets, leaving shoppers heartbroken. The chocolate to coffee maker has confirmed Clusters are no longer available on shelves. Advertisement 1 Nestlé Clusters were a popular treat for customers to enjoy The morning meal - made with whole grain flakes and toasted almonds - was a staple in British supermarkets for years but was axed over a decade. However many shoppers are unaware the snack is no longer available in stores and wondered if it would make a return. One curious customers took to X, to plead with Nestle to bring the product back. They said: "I woke up this morning and the only thing I want is a bowl of Clusters. Please bring them back. Advertisement "Life just hasn't been the same since they went away." Nestle responded and confirmed the cereal was no more, crushing dreams the product might make a return soon. The company said: "We're sorry to have to give you disappointing news, but unfortunately, Clusters has been discontinued from our range." It will come as a blow to customers who in the past described it as a "glorious cereal". Advertisement While another said: "Nestle clusters was the only cereal I could eat. I used to buy upto a dozen boxes. There's nothing out there I can eat." And a third upset shopper said: "Please bring nestle clusters back! I'll buy them in bulk I promise." Kellogg's discontinues breakfast cereal It is not the first time Nestle has axed a product that customers love. Last December it told customers it would no longer sell Carnation Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative. Advertisement The substitute for its original dairy version was made with oats and rice and was used for baking sweet treats that were plant-based. It was launched by the chocolate-to-coffee maker back in 2020 and was sold in supermarkets such as Asda and retailed for around £2.50. Last October, shoppers were left distraught after learning the company had stopped making Smarties Buttons. The treat comprised a tasty combination of milk chocolate buttons with crunchy bits, but maker Nestle said it now wants to focus on its core Smarties products. Advertisement The product was unveiled in 2020 as a 'reimagined' treat for choc-lovers with 'special memories' of Smarties. Nestle also said last summer it was no longer making Cheerios Vanilla O's, leading to heartbreak. MORE DISCONTINUED CEREAL It is not uncommon for popular cereals to disappear from shelves. Kellogg's said last month it would no longer be making chocolate Cornflakes after a product recall. Advertisement Two years ago shoppers were also horrified to learn the cereal giant had axed Frosties from its multi pack boxes as it contained too much sugar. And it's not only Kellogg's which has pulled the trigger on a number of popular morning foods. Weetabix confirmed earlier this month that Alpen cereal bars have now permanently disappeared from supermarket shelves. Tesco left shoppers heartbroken when it confirmed it was no longer making its own-brand apricot wheats. Advertisement

Trials of self-driving taxis to launch in England next year
Trials of self-driving taxis to launch in England next year

North Wales Chronicle

timean hour ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Trials of self-driving taxis to launch in England next year

The Department for Transport (DfT), which made the announcement, said this was a year earlier than previously planned. It will be the first time companies in the UK will be allowed to trial autonomous commercial services without a human sitting in the driver's seat to monitor journeys. A wider rollout of the technology is expected when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. That will also permit the sale and use of self-driving, private cars. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. 'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology. 'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.' Development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store