Bitcoin’s recent rise may have led some investors to ditch UK shares in favour of the virtual currency. However, over the long run, indexes such as the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 could offer recovery potential after their recent falls.
With that in mind, here are two FTSE 100 stocks that could offer long-term growth despite an uncertain economic outlook. They may improve your financial prospects and help to bring your retirement date a step closer.
Recovery potential among UK shares
Many UK shares have fallen in value in 2020. Among them are oil and gas stocks such as BP (LSE: BP). Its share price is currently down by almost 50% since the start of the year.
However, it recently announced a new strategy that could improve its financial performance. It plans to deliver a 10-fold increase in low carbon investment by 2030, while ending exploration activities in new countries within its hydrocarbon segment.
This could help reinvent BP as a business that can benefit from a continued shift towards a greener economy. Certainly, it may mean there’s significant investment required over the coming years that impacts negatively on its financial performance. However, its share price appears to factor this in after its recent fall. As such, buying it today could prove to be a profitable long-term move relative to other UK shares.
A diverse opportunity for the long run?
BHP (LSE: BHP) is another commodity stock that could outperform many other UK shares. The business recently reported relatively positive results. They included profits in line with the previous year, while the company reduced costs by 9% at its major assets. This was achieved through better productivity and improved operating stability.
The company’s exploration programmes and development projects are progressing in line with expectations. Although the global economic outlook continues to be relatively uncertain, BHP has a solid balance sheet and a diverse range of operations that could mean it outperforms other businesses in the same sector.
As such, with the company’s shares currently trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13, it seems to offer long-term investment potential. Its dividend yield of 5% may not be among the most stable in the FTSE 100, but it could be attractive at a time when many UK shares have deferred their dividends for 2020.
Retirement investing
Of course, buying BHP and BP could prove to be a risky proposition due to the uncertain future for the world economy. Therefore, holding them as part of a diverse portfolio of UK shares that operate in a variety of sectors could be a shrewd move.
It may enable you to generate impressive long-term returns above and beyond those offered by other assets such as Bitcoin. In doing so, you may be able to bring your retirement date a step closer.