We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become The Twelfth Magpie -- an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. This site is our new home, and there will be extra tweaks made across the coming few days as we settle in. So if anything looks a little off, please bear with us!

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

How I’d invest £5k in top tech stocks right now

Jon Smith explains how he’d mix up top tech stocks in his portfolio, picking some established names and some newer ones too.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Tech is a sector that has been performing exceptionally well in recent years. The Nasdaq index is where most of the large tech names have their primary listings. It has tripled in value over the past five years. By contrast, the FTSE 100 has risen by 3% over this same period. So if I was thinking about investing £5k in top tech stocks at the moment, here’s what I’d do.

Sticking with the big guns

Firstly, there’s no getting away from the tech giants that dominate when you look at market capitalisation. A good measurement here is that there are currently five companies in the world that have a value above £1trn. Four of these are tech companies.

XXX

I’d definitely allocate some of my £5k to these top tech stocks, namely Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon. These companies are popular for a reason. The customer base, the product set and the hold on the market that these stocks have is clear. Even though growth in coming years will likely be slower than the past (due to the size of the companies), I still think having funds in these shares is the way to go.

The potential risk is that these stocks are overvalued. Yet I think this can be applied to the entire tech industry. To a certain extent, it’s something that I just need to accept and live with. These same stocks were being flagged up pre-pandemic as being overvalued. Since then, the shares have continued to rise. 

Investing in specific top tech stocks

With the rest of my £5k, I’d focus on different themes that I believe in. These include the metaverse, cybersecurity and electric vehicles (EVs).

The metaverse is the virtual reality that’s being brought to life by various businesses. I think that any stock that’s related to this area (either directly or indirectly) is worth considering. The potential growth of this virtual reality is huge. It ranges from education to gaming, sport and much more.

Cybersecurity is another area that I’d pick top tech stocks for. With our increasing reliance on the internet, hacking is very lucrative. Therefore, I think companies that offer protection could do well in the future. 

Finally, EVs. Although I’ve been a vocal critic of Tesla, I do think there’s value in this sub-sector. The tech that’s going into these vehicles is incredible. I’d prefer to invest in relative newcomers such as Lucid Motors and Rivian.

Allocating funds for potential further growth

I’ll need to be mindful of the high volatility that comes with such stocks. Ultimately, in the pursuit of higher returns, I have to accept this.

Overall, I’d allocate £2k to the large established tech names. For the remaining £3k, I’d split it between the three sectors mentioned above. I feel that this gives me a diversified mix of companies even under the same umbrella of tech. 

Jon Smith has no position in any share mentioned. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Friends and sisters exploring the outdoors together in Cornwall. They are standing with their arms around each other at the coast.
Investing Articles

£503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years

This FTSE 250 stock has averaged a huge return for 15 years. At today's price, £503 buys 14 shares. But…

Read more »

Black woman using loudspeaker to be heard
Investing Articles

£1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years

This FTSE 100 mining stock has returned close to 30% a year for a decade. At 3,995p, £1,000 buys 25…

Read more »

Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?

With a £288m order book and a hidden pipeline of defence and nuclear contracts, is this growth stock now too…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026

A REIT backed by the NHS and another backed by Tesco and Sainsbury's with both yielding 7%+. Here's why I'm…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

A 5.7% yield, £238 in passive income from just 97 shares, and one of the most divisive dividend stocks on…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

£10,000 in an ISA generates a second income of…

The London Stock Exchange is home to some of the world's most generous dividends. But how big a second income…

Read more »

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Expert recommendations: 2 top income stocks yielding 7%+!

With yields of 7.2% and 7.8% respectively, these two income stocks are catching the eyes of institutional analysts. Should investors…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

3 top income-focused stocks to buy in May 2026, according to experts

Looking for a stock to buy for income in May 2026? Experts have flagged these three UK dividend shares as…

Read more »