FTSE shares are more commonly associated with steady dividends than explosive growth. But buried within the London Stock Exchange are some genuinely world-class businesses that have quietly outpaced Wall Street for years.

With the S&P 500 now trading at around 21 times forward earnings, analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast just a 6% return for the rest of 2026. And some academic estimates put the index’s 10-year expected return as low as 4% per annum.

In other words, the S&P 500 could prove quite underwhelming. But that means the bar for UK outperformance has never been lower.

So which FTSE shares could clear it?

The firm quietly becoming an AI powerhouse

Experian‘s (LSE:EXPN) best known as a credit bureau. And as a quick reminder, the company holds financial data on hundreds of millions of consumers globally.

But the story has quietly become something far more interesting in 2026…

Experian’s sitting on an enormous financial dataset. And it’s now monetising that data through AI-powered financial health tools, fraud prevention platforms, and analytics services for lenders.

This positions the business right at the intersection of two unstoppable structural trends: the global expansion of consumer credit and the enterprise adoption of AI.

That’s why analysts from 18 institutions covering the stock carry a consensus Buy rating, with a median 12-month price target implying over 52% upside from today’s price. And revenue is forecast to grow at a steady 8% organically, with earnings per share rising consistently through 2027.

To be fair, Experian isn’t cheap. At current multiples, any disappointment in organic growth could trigger a wave of profit-taking activity, particularly given rising AI competition from hyperscalers entering the credit analytics space.

But for investors with a multi-year horizon, the quality of the franchise looks exceptional.

An aerospace compounder nobody talks about

Melrose Industries (LSE:MRO) is another interesting pick, and one I’ve already added to my own portfolio.

After restructuring into a pure-play aerospace supplier, the group now manufactures engine components for the F-35 fighter jet and Airbus A320 family – two of the most heavily-ordered aircraft programmes in the world – among others. And with this restructuring nearing its completion, the firm’s latest results have started looking genuinely impressive.

In 2025, revenue grew 8%, adjusted operating profit lifted 23% and, critically, free cash flow turned positive for the first time in two years. And with management now targeting £600m in free cash flow by 2029, one analyst has updated their 12-month share price target to 830p – 80.8% higher than where the stock trades today!

So where’s the risk? Despite strong operational momentum, the firm’s 2026 guidance disappointed. Analysts were expecting profits to be slightly higher, and with civil airframe volumes being constrained by supply chain delays at Airbus, sentiment’s seemingly cooled in the near-term.

But if those bottlenecks are cleared, Melrose shares could quickly start marching upwards.

So what’s the verdict?

Both Experian and Melrose are world-class businesses with structural tailwinds, strong analyst backing, and valuations that look genuinely attractive relative to a stretched US market.

While neither’s free from risk, UK investors seeking quality FTSE shares that have the potential to outperform the S&P 500 may want to consider taking a closer look.

Should you invest £5,000 in Experian Plc right now?

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And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Experian Plc made the list?

Zaven Boyrazian owns shares in Melrose Industries.