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.

I’d buy cheap UK shares in a SIPP today to retire on a growing passive income

Andy Ross argues cheap UK shares offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow a passive income that can increase year-on-year.

| More on:

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.

Any investor can, in my opinion, invest within a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and create a very valuable stream of passive income. One way to do this is by buying cheap UK shares. I suggest doing this within a SIPP because the government contributes money towards helping you reach your goals, so it’ll happen quicker. The amount the government provides depends on what rate of tax you pay.

Despite many shares recovering since the stock market crash earlier this year, there are still many cheap UK shares for investors. Concerns over Brexit and the FTSE 100’s reliance on older industries like banking and oil explain why UK shares are cheap. Especially versus, for example, US shares. Here I pick two cheap UK shares I’d potentially buy.

XXX

No 1 UK cheap share

BAE Systems (LSE: BA) will remain a reliable dividend payer well into the future. This is why it makes an ideal SIPP investment for creating passive income. The defence group is well established with governments around the world and has opportunities to expand further into selling digital and cyber capabilities. With a UK Defence Review coming up this is likely to become all the more important in the future.

The shares have a P/E below 12, which indicates they are good value. At the same time, the dividend yield is a decent 4.4% which can help produce income. I think the shares will grow in value over the coming years as well as produce reliable income. Even in a challenging economy like the one we’ve seen this year.

No 2 UK cheap share

Shares in asset manager and insurer Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) have been hit hard this year. The share price is down over 40% in 2020. This is more to do with concerns over the economy and Legal & General’s involvement in the finance industry rather than anything fundamentally wrong with the company.

I think this has made the share too cheap to ignore on a P/E of below seven. The shares are also attractive from an income perspective providing a yield of over 9%. This has risen as the share price has fallen. Typically, before the pandemic, the yield was nearer 6%.

Again, I think the dividend will be saved by management which resisted pressure from UK regulators to cut the payout to shareholders in response to Covid-19.

There are also opportunities to keep growing the business. It was an early adopter of passive funds which have grown in popularity. It also does a lot of work with annuities and pensions, a growing market both in the UK and the US.

I have a lot of confidence the business is well run, cheap and can provide investors with a passive income that will grow and be secure. For these reasons, I’d happily add it to my SIPP and watch the money roll in year after year.

Andy Ross owns shares in Legal & General. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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 »