What are the best stocks to buy in 2025 in the UK?

As 2025 unfolds amid a rapidly shifting economic landscape — marked by ongoing monetary tightening, signs of recovery in key regions, and major technological disruptions — both Canadian and global stock markets are undergoing a transformation. In this dynamic environment, one question weighs heavily on investors’ minds: which stocks should be prioritised this year to capture growth while managing risk?

From North American tech giants making a strong comeback, to industrial stocks buoyed by reshoring trends and the rise of clean energy, and innovators in artificial intelligence and precision healthcare — 2025 may well be the year for making defining choices in forward-looking portfolios. The real challenge lies in knowing where to look — and more importantly, why.

Explore the stocks to watch, the best dividend-paying shares, and long-term growth opportunities in both Canadian and international markets.

🌟 Top UK Stocks to Watch in 2025

💡 National Grid (NG.L) – Powering the Green Transition

With the UK's continued push towards decarbonisation, National Grid stands to benefit from heavy investments in energy infrastructure and smart grids. Its regulated business model offers resilience amid macroeconomic volatility.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 1 408 GBX
(currently around 1 083 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Regulatory changes and rising interest rates impacting capital costs.

🛒 Tesco (TSCO.L) – Defensive Growth in Uncertain Times

Tesco maintains strong market share in UK grocery retail, benefiting from scale, loyalty programmes, and efficient logistics. Its defensive profile makes it attractive amid persistent inflation and consumer caution.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 475 GBX
(currently around 365 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Tight retail margins and evolving competitive dynamics.

🏥 AstraZeneca (AZN.L) – Precision Medicine on the Rise

This pharmaceutical giant continues to expand its oncology and rare disease pipeline, positioning itself as a long-term growth story in global healthcare innovation.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 13 633 GBX
(currently around 10 487 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Drug approval delays and patent expiries.

🏦 Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) – A Proxy for the UK Economy

Lloyds offers high dividend yields and leverages its domestic focus to benefit from improving credit conditions and rising rates, though its exposure to the housing market poses challenges.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 63 GBX
(currently around 49 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Mortgage defaults and economic slowdown in the UK.

🛢️ BP (BP.L) – Balancing Oil and Renewables

Despite ESG scrutiny, BP remains a cash-generating machine, benefiting from elevated energy prices while investing in low-carbon technologies and transition strategies.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 459 GBX
(currently around 353 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Oil price volatility and policy pressure on fossil fuels.

📦 Ocado Group (OCDO.L) – Betting on Tech-Driven Retail

A long-term speculative play, Ocado’s robotics and automated fulfilment tech attract global retailers. Revenue growth hinges on international licensing success.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 370 GBX
(currently around 285 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: High capex, profitability delays, and tech execution risk.

✈️ Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.L) – Engines of Recovery

Rolls-Royce is riding the global air travel recovery and growing demand for cleaner propulsion systems. Restructuring efforts and cash flow improvements support optimism.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 978 GBX
(currently around 752 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Cyclical exposure and dependency on civil aviation markets.

🔋 SSE plc (SSE.L) – A Utility with Growth Ambitions

SSE is aggressively expanding in renewable energy projects (offshore wind, hydrogen), offering both stable income and exposure to clean growth.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 2 142 GBX
(currently around 1 648 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Delays in green infrastructure and cost overruns.

💳 Wise plc (WISE.L) – Disrupting Global Finance

Wise is changing the face of cross-border payments with low-cost, digital-first solutions. Its profitability and customer growth make it a fintech to watch.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 1 250 GBX
(currently around 962 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Regulatory risks and competitive pressure from banks and fintech peers.

🎮 Frontier Developments (FDEV.L) – Creativity Meets Volatility

This British video game studio is a high-risk/high-reward play with a growing IP portfolio and niche market success. A potential rebound candidate in the tech space.

🎯 End-2025 Price Target: 253 GBX
(currently around 195 GBX)

📉 Key Risks: Project delays, hit-driven revenue model, and margin pressure.

Dividend Focus: 10 High-Yield UK Stocks for 2025

For UK investors seeking passive income, the following companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) offer robust dividend yields for 2025. These stocks span a variety of stable, income-generating sectors:

Geographic Focus: Where to Invest in 2025?

A globally diversified portfolio remains key for navigating today's complex markets. Here's a regional breakdown of where opportunities may lie in 2025:

🇨🇦 Canada: Resources, Infrastructure and Green Innovation

Canada continues to attract interest in sectors such as natural resources, renewable energy, and clean technologies. As the global energy transition accelerates, Canadian producers of oil, gas, lithium and solar energy are well positioned for long-term growth.

Stocks to watch: Bombardier, Enbridge, Fortis, SunPower (the latter linked to the North American solar market)

🇺🇸 United States: Innovation Remains Essential

Exposure to US tech leaders like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Apple allows UK investors to tap into global innovation. While valuations may be high, risk can be mitigated through diversified ETFs or selective stock picking.

🇪🇺 Europe: A Field of Industrial Opportunities

Companies such as Airbus and Stellantis provide access to defensive and industrial sectors, a valuable complement to North America-heavy portfolios. European equities may also benefit from improved valuation metrics and policy support.

🌏 Emerging Asia: Cautious Optimism

Markets such as China and Southeast Asia present potential rebound opportunities—Alibaba being a prime example. However, heightened geopolitical risks mean these should be approached with care and ideally accessed through specialist ETFs with limited portfolio weighting.

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.

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