Be careful! These are among the most popular stocks to buy in the UK right now
Image source: Getty Images
SA Stocks and Shares is a very popular way to get income. It means we can set aside regular cash for ourselves that we don’t have to work for — or pay taxes on. And the current ISA limit will expire on 5th April – can’t seem to come soon enough?
It means that many UK investors are busy doing their research. And they decide what to buy before the end of time. So which UK stocks are the savvy saving their money now? I have been looking for the most popular income stocks in 2026.
Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may change in the future. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and does not constitute, any form of tax advice. Students are responsible for conducting their own due diligence and obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.
Under the radar
Popular long-term options such as Legal & General, Avivaagain British American cigars are always on the minds of investors. But there are other surprises. I didn’t expect to see Greencoat UK Wind (LSE: UKW) is moving up the popularity list.
After all, the price has fallen since the US administration turned to trying to thwart renewable energy projects. However, all that fall has actually done is push the expected dividend yield up to 10.8%. Now, that could mean a cut is on the cards. But, for now, analyst forecasts show a strong dividend for the next two years.
Is there a catch? Well, maybe. The main problem is the current lack of profit, with a loss predicted for the year 2025 – the results are due on 26 February. And that’s not the kind of thing long-term income is made of. But sellers expect profits in 2026 and 2027, enough to cover the forecasted dividends about 1.3 times. And with first-half results in July, the company proposed “an annual benefit that rises in line with RPI inflation.”
It may be a long time in this uncertain field. But I would put a bit of next year’s ISA into Greencoat. It should be considered.
Property income
The second one that catches my eye is not shocking at all. That’s right Basic Health Structures (LSE: PHP), a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on first-line healthcare properties such as GP surgeries.
We’ve had another share price fall here, this time due to prolonged weakness in the local market. The trust does not actually make its money from property values - it has a strong record of rental income boosted by long-term NHS leases.
The growth of adoption
Asset valuation affects the value of a business, however. But in the interim, the company had net tangible assets per share of 106.2p, very close to the current share price. Does that mean it is valued only on its assets and the business itself is free? Sounds like it, right?
In the January update, CEO Mark Davies spoke “a year of change” following the combination with Assura. He also commented “PHP’s 30th anniversary of consecutive profit growth.“
And that reminds me, the dividend is forecast at 6.9%. Property risk is still there. And the share price weakness may continue. But is this an attractive alternative income candidate worth considering? I would say so.
