This year FTSE100 it has already reached an all-time high, although it has since fallen slightly lower again. Investors may associate record gains with an overvalued market. Add to this widespread concerns about whether some share markets are in some sort of AI-fueled bubble, and it’s effortless to imagine why some people might scoff at the idea that shares in some notable British companies are currently selling for next to nothing.

However, let’s look at the mergers and acquisitions market and we may get a different impression. Prospective buyers – including many sophisticated global companies – are lining up to try to buy UK companies.

This suggests that, at least in some cases, well-informed buyers may actually see well-known UK stocks as offering good value.

Exploiting weaknesses – or seeing good value?

To take easyJet (LSE: EZJ) as an example.

He recently received multiple offers from one potential suitor.

So far he has not accepted any of them. However, it currently provides some constrained information to the company.

This suggests that easyJet’s board is taking the prospect of a possible takeover seriously, even if it is opposed to what is on the table for now.

easyJet’s share price remains significantly lower than its last publicly announced offer. I interpret this as a suggestion that the City may have doubts about the likelihood of any deal.

The company described the offer as distinctive. In other words, the takeover approach may take advantage of the weakening share price in recent months due to risks related to the Middle East conflict, such as volatility in jet fuel prices and weakening demand for holiday air travel.

On the other hand, this is often the case in investing: buyers want to buy a company when they see a potential discrepancy between the price and the long-term value they believe it will have.

Chasing opportunities

I think easyJet as a company has a lot to offer.

It has a business model that, while somewhat seasonal, has proven it can generate cash over the long term. It has an established customer base, a powerful brand and future development opportunities.

I recently bought this stock, in part because some of the risks I’ve had with it in recent months seem to be diminishing. A good example is that jet fuel has become cheaper.

But it’s not the only UK share that I’ve been buying in recent months in the belief that there’s a gap between the company’s current price and what I think its long-term value should be.

I try to avoid buying a stock just because it has a low price. Rather, I look for companies that I think are excellent, but whose share price doesn’t seem to accurately and fully reflect this.

Even in this market, while some investors are concerned about the valuation of AI and the prospect of a bubble, I see many UK shares that I think fit the bill.

Is it worth investing £5,000 in easyJet Plc now?

If investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have stock advice, it can pay to listen. After all, Twelfth Magpie’s flagship Share Advisor newsletter, which it has run for almost a decade, provides thousands of paying members with the best share recommendations from across the UK and US markets.

Mark believes there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying right now. Want to check if easyJet Plc is on the list?

Christopher Ruane owns shares in easyJet.