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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

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Investing Articles

2 bargain FTSE 100 shares that I already own!

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at his own portfolio and identifies two FTSE 100 stocks he thinks offer tremendous value…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use £20,000 of savings to target £1,289 a month of passive income!

| James Beard

Our writer demonstrates how it’s possible to a generate a healthy level of passive income from a portfolio of FTSE…

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Older couple walking in park
Investing Articles

With DeepSeek on the scene, should investors ‘go retro’ with their Stocks and Shares ISAs?

| James Beard

The arrival of a new AI model has caused mayhem in the tech sector. Does this mean a more old-fashioned…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

Dr Martens’ shares get a kicking after the bootmaker’s latest update

| James Beard

Dr Martens' share price was down after the company’s Q3 trading update. Our writer thinks now’s the time to address…

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High flying easyJet women bring daughters to work to inspire next generation of women in STEM
Investing Articles

The easyJet share price hits a little turbulence despite a positive trading update

| James Beard

The easyJet share price didn’t respond well to the airline’s update for the quarter ended 31 December. Our writer tries…

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

As Trump enters the White House, this UK share looks at least 19% undervalued to me!

| James Beard

On the day that Donald Trump takes office for the second time, our writer thinks there’s one UK share that…

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Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

Up 23% today! Has the death of this FTSE stock been greatly exaggerated?

| James Beard

Investors reacted well to the latest trading update from this FTSE stock, despite fears that the industry in which it…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

How could an investor use £20,000, an ISA, and 5 dividend shares to target annual income of £3,225?

| James Beard

Our writer describes how a relatively modest level of savings could be invested in a handful of dividend shares to…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use a Stocks and Shares ISA to target a four-figure second income

| James Beard

Our writer explains how investing the maximum annual amount in a Stocks and Shares ISA could generate a very healthy…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use £20,000 of savings to target £396 a month of passive income!

| James Beard

Our writer demonstrates how it’s possible to build an impressive level of passive income from a portfolio of FTSE 100…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 stocks just set a new record!

| James Beard

Against a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, the index of FTSE 100 stocks hit an all-time high today (17 January).…

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

I don’t understand why this FTSE 250 stock’s got so cheap!

| James Beard

Looking at the latest balance sheet of this FTSE 250 stock, our writer’s puzzled as to why investors appear to…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

This UK dividend share is currently yielding 8.1%!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at a FTSE 250 dividend share that -- due to its impressive 8%+ yield -- is…

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Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing Articles

Greggs shares became 23% cheaper this week! Is it time for me to take advantage?

| James Beard

On the day the baker released its latest trading update, the price of Greggs shares tanked 15.8%. But could this…

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British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

Why isn’t the promise of 1.5m more homes helping these FTSE 100 stocks?

| James Beard

The government wants Britain’s builders to help boost economic growth. So why are the FTSE 100’s construction stocks tanking?

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Investing Articles

Is the 12.3% yield on this UK dividend stock too good to be true?

| James Beard

The impressive double-digit yield on this dividend stock recently grabbed the attention of our writer. But how sustainable is it?

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

Hargreaves Lansdown’s clients are buying loads of this US growth stock. Should I?

| James Beard

Our writer's noticed that during the week after Christmas, many investors bought this US growth stock. He asks whether he…

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Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

With much to be cheerful about, why is this FTSE 250 boss unhappy?

| James Beard

JD Wetherspoon, the FTSE 250 pub chain, is a British success story. But the government’s budget has failed to lift…

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Young woman carrying bottle of Energise Sport to the gym
Investing Articles

Is it time to get my Stocks and Shares ISA into shape by investing in The Gym Group?

| James Beard

January provides an opportunity to set some goals for the year ahead. Our writer considers one possible investment for his…

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UK coloured flags waving above large crowd on a stadium sport match.
Investing Articles

Down 89% in 5 years, is it time for me to check out the boohoo share price?

| James Beard

While watching the darts final last week, our writer’s mind started to wander and his thoughts turned to the boohoo…

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Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

Helium One’s a penny share I wouldn’t want to touch with a bargepole in 2025!

| James Beard

Despite successfully flowing gas in Tanzania, our writer explains why Helium One’s a penny share he doesn’t want to buy.

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Iberian plane on runway
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100’s top performer in 2024 still looks 30% undervalued to me!

| James Beard

Our writer finds many reasons to buy shares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), the FTSE 100 aviation group. But there…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 stock offers no passive income but looks 42% undervalued to me!

| James Beard

Our writer has found one stock that he thinks could take off in 2025, even though it doesn’t offer the…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

Here’s the dividend forecast for National Grid shares through to 2027

| James Beard

After a volatile 12 months, National Grid shares are expected to provide a dividend yield of 4.8% for the company’s…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

With a 5.1% yield and huge growth potential, is this the best FTSE 100 stock out there?

| James Beard

It’s rare to come across a high-yielding FTSE 100 stock that also has excellent growth prospects. Has our writer managed…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett’s indicator is flashing red for US shares. Could UK stocks benefit in 2025?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at a valuation tool devised by Warren Buffett and asks whether it could be good news for…

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Investing Articles

Could this be the FTSE 100’s best bargain for 2025?

| James Beard

The FTSE 100 is full of cheap stocks but there’s one in particular that our writer believes has the potential…

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Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

Is Helium One an amazing penny stock bargain for 2025?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether to invest in a penny stock that’s recently discovered gas and is now seeking to commercialise…

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

Here’s why I’m expecting big things from my Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025!

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he believes his Stocks and Shares ISA is well positioned to deliver strong growth over the…

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Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

What has to happen for the Vodafone share price to hit £1?

| James Beard

Continuing to be frustrated by the Vodafone share price, our writer considers what the company has to do for the…

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Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

Since December 2023, this FTSE 100 stock’s fallen 32%. Is it now too cheap to overlook?

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he believes this FTSE 100 stock offers tremendous value for money. And considers whether he should…

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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

4 reasons why I think UK shares will soar in 2025!

| James Beard

As 2024 draws to a close, our writer explains why he’s optimistic that UK shares, including the FTSE 100, will…

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Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

I think Legal & General shares are great for passive income. That’s why they’re on my Santa list!

| James Beard

Our writer’s identified a blue-chip dividend share that he believes has the potential to generate generous levels of passive income…

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Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 stock’s down 21% since I bought! Have I made a BIG mistake?

| James Beard

FTSE 100 stocks are supposed to be less volatile. But our writer recently purchased one that’s making him question this…

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Landlady greets regular at real ale pub
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett owns this FTSE 100 stock. But should I?

| James Beard

Warren Buffett rarely invests in FTSE 100 shares but he does have a position in Diageo. Is it time for…

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

7 reasons why I won’t touch this FTSE 250 legend with a bargepole!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the history of Aston Martin, the iconic FTSE 250 car maker, and explains why he's…

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Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Should I buy Helium One, possibly the FTSE’s ‘most popular’ share?

| James Beard

After doing some number crunching, our writer’s identified what he believes to be one of the FTSE’s most favoured stocks.…

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

With a 10.4% yield, P/E ratio of 9.9, and a P/B of 0.37, is this FTSE 100 stock a no-brainer buy for me?

| James Beard

Using a range of popular valuation measures, this FTSE 100 stock appears to offer tremendous value for money. So is…

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Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

Down nearly 18% from its 52-week high, is the Lloyds share price now a screaming buy for me?

| James Beard

In recent weeks, the Lloyds share price has under-performed the wider market. Could this be the buying opportunity that I’m…

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Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Why are investors blowing a raspberry at this FTSE 250 stock?

| James Beard

After a successful IPO, the share price of this FTSE 250 stock's fallen. Our writer looks at the reasons and…

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