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James Beard

After studying Business Economics at the University of Leicester, James completed a Master's degree in Development Economics. He then joined an accountancy firm in London and went on to qualify as a chartered accountant. James finished his career in practice as a Senior Assurance Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Middle East. He has since held various senior finance positions - mainly in SMEs but also in an AIM-listed company - in the energy, engineering and manufacturing sectors, both in the UK and Ireland. He is now a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and joined The Motley Fool in September 2023. James invests primarily in UK stocks through his Stocks and Shares ISA and Self-Invested Personal Pension Plan. He enjoys using his accountancy training to review annual reports and earnings releases in an attempt to identify potentially undervalued companies. He also likes dividend stocks and follows the tried and tested approach of reinvesting all of the income he earns buying more shares. His favourite investment quote comes from Warren Buffett. He once said: “Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks."

Recent Articles

Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

Will the Ocado share price hit £1 or £10 over the next 5 years?

| James Beard

Noting a big thumbs down to the retailer’s 2024 results, our writer considers how the Ocado share price might perform…

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Warhammer World gathering
Investing Articles

How 49 words lifted the Games Workshop share price by 8%!

| James Beard

The Games Workshop share price responded positively to today's trading update, which was notably short on detail.

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Up 85% in a month! Is the Eurasia Mining (EUA) share price on the way back?

| James Beard

Since 4 February, the Eurasia Mining (EUA) share price has nearly doubled. But it’s still 8% below its 52-week high.…

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Smiling white woman holding iPhone with Airpods in ear
Investing Articles

Since 2013, Apple’s spent more on its own stock than the value of these 4 FTSE 100 giants!

| James Beard

Many have applauded Apple for using its surplus cash to repurchase its own shares. But our writer says maybe it…

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Runner standing at the starting point with 2025 year for starting in new year 2025 to achieve business planing and success concept.
Investing Articles

Could Nike help rescue the JD Sports share price?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether Nike’s turnaround plan is working and whether it’ll help boost the JD Sports share price.

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

2 good news stories help lift the Helium One share price over 20%!

| James Beard

The Helium One (LSE:HE1) share price soared today after the company provided updates on its two mining projects in Tanzania…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Is it ethical to put BAE Systems in my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the ethics of investing in the defence sector. And asks whether BAE Systems deserves a place…

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Emma Raducanu for Vodafone billboard animation at Piccadilly Circus, London
Investing Articles

The Vodafone share price remains below 70p and continues to divide opinion

| James Beard

To avoid upsetting anyone, James Beard wants to write a well-balanced article about the Vodafone share price. But sometimes it’s…

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Young Caucasian girl showing and pointing up with fingers number three against yellow background
Investing Articles

£20,000 of Lloyds shares could generate £3,276 of passive income over the next 3 years

| James Beard

This FTSE 100 bank recently announced a bigger-than-expected increase in its dividend. Our writer believes it’s good news for passive…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT to name Warren Buffett’s best quote. Here’s what it said

| James Beard

Warren Buffett says artificial intelligence scares him. But I thought it’d be interesting to use the technology to try and…

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photo of Union Jack flags bunting in local street party
Investing Articles

It’s back! Rolls-Royce shares come with a dividend again

| James Beard

It’s been a while but Rolls-Royce shares will soon be earning a dividend once more. However, our writer cautions income…

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Content white businesswoman being congratulated by colleagues at her retirement party
Investing Articles

Could buying FTSE 100 stocks lead to an early retirement?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been learning about the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement. Could investing in the FTSE 100 make this…

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Jumbo jet preparing to take off on a runway at sunset
Investing Articles

The IAG share price flies higher as the company reports strong growth in 2024

| James Beard

Investors pushed the IAG share price higher today after the British Airways owner published an impressive set of results. Our…

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Finger pressing a car ignition button with the text 2025 start.
Investing Articles

The Aston Martin share price nosedives 11% after the car maker reveals another loss

| James Beard

The Aston Martin share price didn't react well to the luxury car maker's latest results. Our writer takes a closer…

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Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Down 8% today after a profits warning, is the B&M share price now as cheap as its products?

| James Beard

It’s no surprise B&M's share price reacted badly to today's outlook. But is this an opportunity for investors to bag…

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Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Is Helium One a penny stock that’s about to lift off?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at the prospects for a penny stock that has two mining projects on the go.…

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Passive and Active: text from letters of the wooden alphabet on a green chalk board
Investing Articles

Could this 16.5%-yielder turn £10,000 into annual passive income of £34,995?

| James Beard

A high-yielding stock’s likely to appeal to passive income hunters. But this doesn’t necessarily mean it would make a sound…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

I think I know which is the FTSE 100’s cheapest bank. And it’s not Lloyds

| James Beard

All of the FTSE 100’s banks have now released their 2024 results. Our writer’s been taking a look to try…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Oh dear! Warren Buffett says people should only invest in companies they understand

| James Beard

Warren Buffett, the American billionaire, says research is the key to being a successful investor. But our writer thinks it’s…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Now that’s a surprise! The Lloyds share price went up despite disappointing results

| James Beard

The Lloyds Banking Group share price reacted positively to its 2024 results. Initially, our writer struggled to understand why.

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Emma Raducanu for Vodafone billboard animation at Piccadilly Circus, London
Investing Articles

I’m in 2 minds about the Vodafone share price. What should I do?

| James Beard

With the Vodafone share price seemingly stuck in a never-ending loop of doom, our writer’s thinking about selling up. But…

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Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Lloyds shares 3 months ago is now worth…

| James Beard

Lloyds shares have done well over the past three months but all of the bank's FTSE 100 peers have done…

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Close-up of children holding a planet at the beach
Investing Articles

The HSBC share price doesn’t know what to do after the bank releases its 2024 results

| James Beard

The HSBC share price had a mixed start to trading today after investors digested the bank’s latest results. Our writer…

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Inflation in newspapers
Investing Articles

£276bn worth of reasons to invest in UK shares?

| James Beard

Our writer prefers investing in UK shares to holding cash. However, he acknowledges that this approach does carry some risks.

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Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

This FTSE stock tanked 58% last week. But there could be some good news!

| James Beard

Shares in John Wood Group plunged after the FTSE engineering stock released a trading update. But our writer thinks there…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100’s full of passive income opportunities to consider!

| James Beard

Our writer believes it’s wrong to overlook home-grown passive income opportunities, especially those in the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX).

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

Could this 15%-yielding dividend stock double an investor’s money in 5 years?

| James Beard

Our writer has found a dividend stock that offers an amazing yield. But can such a generous level of passive…

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

NatWest has just smashed brokers’ dividend forecasts!

| James Beard

After NatWest delivered a Valentine’s Day surprise to investors, our writer thinks the experts may have to raise their dividend…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Prediction: the BP share price could rise in 2025 (or it might fall!)

| James Beard

Following this week’s release of the energy giant’s 2024 results, our writer reviews the prospects for the BP (LSE:BP.) share…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

What’s gone wrong with the FTSE 100’s ‘King of Trainers’?

| James Beard

Feeling the pain of a 28% drop in the JD Sports share price over the past three months, our writer…

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Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

Is Warren Buffett right about this 1 thing when it comes to Lloyds shares?

| James Beard

With the words of Warren Buffett ringing in his ears, our writer considers whether the Lloyds share price will do…

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Investing Articles

Why is the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price up 10% today?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the reasons why the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price is the AIM 100’s best performer today.

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Up 14% today! Here’s one growth stock that Elon Musk likes

| James Beard

A UK growth stock has signed another contract with SpaceX. But does this mean it deserves a place in my…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Why I think this month could be critical for the Lloyds share price!

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he thinks the bank's 2024 results will have a significant impact on the short-term direction of…

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UK money in a Jar on a background
Investing Articles

With a 10.1% yield, should I buy this FTSE 250 income stock?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at an income stock that’s kept its dividend unchanged for five years. But is it high enough…

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Happy couple showing relief at news
Investing Articles

The Bank of England’s slashed its growth forecast but the FTSE 100 doesn’t seem to care!

| James Beard

On the day the UK’s central bank halved its forecast for growth in 2025, the FTSE 100 reached a record…

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Emma Raducanu for Vodafone billboard animation at Piccadilly Circus, London
Investing Articles

With Q3 revenue up 5%, why does the Vodafone share price keep falling?

| James Beard

Despite reporting a rise in sales, the Vodafone share price fell 7%. Our writer looks at the reasons why the…

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Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

Should I buy this dividend stock that one analyst says is 210% undervalued?

| James Beard

Our writer can’t ignore a claim that this high-yielding dividend stock’s also massively undervalued. But does this sound too good…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Could ‘going nuclear’ power the Rolls-Royce share price to £10?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at a smaller version of an old technology that some think could help push the Rolls-Royce…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 stock’s worth more than Greggs! How mad is that?

| James Beard

Our writer’s left scratching his head after learning that a loss-making FTSE 250 stock is valued more highly than a…

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