Is time running out to buy cheap FTSE shares?

While political uncertainty’s bearing down on FTSE shares, the British stock market’s still trending upwards. With inflation cooling, there are growing expectations of interest rate cuts around the corner. And apart from alleviating pressure on household wallets, the lower cost of capital bodes well for stock valuations as well.

As such, 2024 could be a terrific year for investors as the market recovery could potentially enter full swing. And if that’s the case, does that mean time’s running out to capitalise on bargains?

Capitalising on a recovery

History has proven countless times that snapping up quality shares at cheap prices can be quite lucrative. And finding such bargains after a period of heightened volatility is far easier since widespread panic-selling creates buying opportunities en masse.

We’ve already seen many FTSE shares make stellar comebacks over the last six months. Yet there are still plenty trading well below their estimated intrinsic value. And should interest rate cuts spark a new rally, that may change fairly quickly.

This certainly suggests time is running out to capitalise on the recovery. But while this might be partially true, rushing into cheap-looking investments can easily turn into a costly mistake.

Even during a correction, stocks get beaten down for a reason. And in many cases, there’s justifiable cause for concern. It’s up to investors to carefully analyse the underlying business and its situation to verify they’re not walking into a value trap. And, unfortunately, this takes time.

The good news is while the opportunity to capitalise on a stock market recovery’s rare, there are always bargains to be found. Events like short-term disruptions to operations, or missed earnings targets can spark significant stock price volatility, even during a raging bull market. Therefore, investors should never fall prey to the fear of missing out.

Top stocks to consider now?

Finding the best stocks to buy is never easy. After all, everyone has different risk tolerances and objectives that make different businesses suitable or unsuitable, depending on the individual. However, as a young investor, my portfolio’s focus is still firmly on growth. And with that in mind, Kainos Group (LSE:KNOS) looks promising to me.

The group specialises in digitalisation, helping companies automate their processes and improving efficiency while reducing costs. And it’s proven to be a highly generative endeavour that’s led to a return on invested capital (ROIC) of more than 30% for over five years! For reference, the average among most FTSE shares is around 10%.

Seeing this level of shareholder value creation priced at a forward earnings multiple of 20 seems relatively cheap. This is especially true considering that it’s significantly lower than its five-year average. However, Kainos shares aren’t exactly strangers to volatility.

With a stellar track record, investor expectations surrounding this business have been steadily rising over the years. To date, management seems to be delivering on these milestones. And while I’m optimistic the firm will continue to do so moving forward, an unforeseen disruption could spark quite a bit of volatility in the short term.