We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best UK Growth Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) stands against the other UK growth stocks.

The start of this year has marked interesting developments for the UK market. The main stock market index has increased 5.86% since the beginning of 2025, and despite global economic uncertainties, UK equities are trading at significant discounts compared to their US counterparts. The valuation gap suggests potential opportunities for growth-seeking investors.

Reflecting on the 2024 market, economic uncertainties and fluctuations were dominating factors, which required investors to examine stock performances more closely. Interestingly, smaller companies performed the best in the UK market, delivering returns of 13.78%, while the larger companies were close behind, with a return of 9.66%. In an unpredictable environment, high institutional and hedge fund ownership in growth companies indicates strong investor confidence, which could mean potential for long-term value creation.

Growth stocks are stocks that tend to outperform the broader market. They are company stocks that are likely to grow at a significantly higher rate than the average growth for the market. These companies often reinvest their profits to fuel further growth rather than paying dividends. Investors are typically attracted to growth stocks due to the potential for attractive capital appreciation over time. More often, these are smaller stocks or startups that gain a sudden uptick due to the industry or tech push.

Growth Stocks Vs Value Stocks

Growth stocks are typically priced higher relative to current earnings due to anticipated future growth. They typically trade at a high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Compared to them, value stocks are priced lower relative to their fundamentals and are seen as undervalued in the market. While growth stocks tend to operate in dynamic industries such as tech, value companies may be in more established industries and offer dividends. In 2024, value investing slightly outperformed growth in the UK, which necessitates the need to create a diversified investment approach.

Identifying Growth Stocks

While most growth stocks are small companies with market potential, they can also be larger firms where the company has a growth mindset and its share values continue to rise. There are still some common traits that all growth stocks share. The foremost characteristic is the company’s constant stronger financial performance compared to its peers. If the company is growing at a percentage higher than the average growth of the market, it has growth potential better than its peers. Secondly, growth stocks are typically companies that have a stronger or unique product line with a loyal customer base. They have investments in technology to build an edge over competitors. With a strong focus on innovation, they ensure they are ahead in the race to capture greater market shares in their industry. They might also be companies that have high potential to grow in the future, perhaps through a market build-up, expecting to reach key milestones in the future.

While these shares can have high potential and, thus, be attractive to investors, they can also be high-risk, with stock expectations going south.

In the current market scenario, growth stocks offer several advantages. Primarily, there is the potential for significant increases in stock value as companies expand. Growth stocks can act as a hedge against inflation, as companies with strong growth can outrun inflation. Positive outlooks and focus on innovative sectors can also accumulate investor interest and elevate stock prices. It is, however, key to consider the inherent risks to avoid drastic declines.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the 10 best UK growth stocks to buy now, we screened the 20 largest companies in the UK in growth-related industries. We then ranked our choices by revenue growth potential and hedge fund sentiments.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points. (see more details here).

An aerial shot of a business district with the company's headquarters towering above its competitors.

Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG)

Revenue growth past 5 years: 15.55%

Number of hedge fund holders: 10

Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) is a leading UK-based financial services firm serving retail and commercial customers. The financial services player operates through well-established brands such as Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Scottish Widows, the Group offering a comprehensive suite of services, including retail and commercial banking, insurance, pensions, and wealth management. Commanding a substantial presence in the UK financial sector, Lloyds holds a 21% market share of current account balances and serves approximately 15 million retail customers, establishing its significant role in the industry.

The UK finance industry has seen increased regulatory scrutiny in recent years. Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) saw a 20% decrease in pre-tax profits in 2024, which was largely attributed to an additional £700 million provision set aside to address potential claims related to historical mis-selling in car finance, bringing the total provision for this issue to £1.2 billion. However, the banking sector collectively also witnessed the return of over £10 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in 2024. For major players like Lloyds, this suggests favorable base rates and effective risk management practices across the industry.

Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) is expected to grow earnings and revenue by 11.1% and 5.9% per annum, respectively, suggesting a good growth trajectory. The stock is currently trading at a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 11x, which is slightly below the US Banks industry average of 11.7x. This suggests there is potential for offering capital appreciation for investors. Lloyds anticipates a significant growth in net interest income, expecting it to reach £13.5 billion by 2025. The optimistic outlook is driven by improvements in asset quality and robust capital generation. The strong shareholder returns, stable earnings, and strategic growth initiatives make it a compelling UK growth stock with upside potential.

Overall LYG ranks 10th on our list of the best UK growth stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential for LYG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LYG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

 

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stock To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap. 

  Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at  Insider Monkey.