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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

Here’s 1 cheap UK share I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole!

| James Beard

Despite attracting the attention of two major investors and trading at a discount to its book value, our writer doesn’t…

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Investing Articles

Could this FTSE 250 stock be the next Rolls-Royce?

| James Beard

With an ongoing probe into the motor finance industry, the share price of this member of the FTSE 250 has…

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

4,123 shares of this UK dividend stock could get me £206 a month in passive income

| James Beard

Despite cutting its dividend significantly over the past five years, I think this FTSE 100 stock could be a good…

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

14.5bn reasons why I think the Legal & General share price is at least 11% undervalued

| James Beard

According to our writer, the Legal & General share price doesn’t appear to reflect the underlying profitability of the business. 

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Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Where might the Rolls-Royce share price be in 12 months? Here’s what the experts say

| James Beard

The Rolls-Royce share price has more than doubled since November 2023. But analysts have a wide range of opinions as…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Does the Shell or BP share price currently offer the best value?

| James Beard

With the demand for oil and gas still rising, our writer looks at the share prices of Shell and BP…

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Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10,000 into the FTSE 250 5 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now!

| James Beard

The FTSE 250 hasn’t done well over the past five years. But by being selective about which of its stocks…

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

After falling 87% in 45 months, could Dr Martens be a winning value stock?

| James Beard

Ahead of its half-year results due to be released later this month, our writer considers whether this FTSE 250 icon…

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Cargo containers with European Union and British flags reflecting Brexit and restrictions in export and import
Investing Articles

Is it time to look again at UK shares?

| James Beard

Our writer explains why October’s Budget has led him to question his commitment to some UK shares. But what should…

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UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Investing Articles

Could Trump 2.0 be good for FTSE 250 stocks?

| James Beard

Donald Trump’s just been elected President of the United States for a second time. Our writer considers whether this could…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

2 FTSE stocks that demonstrate the best (and worst) of the AIM market

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the performance of two very different FTSE stocks that highlights the pros and cons of investing…

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

Could putting £20,000 into FTSE 100 stocks get me monthly passive income of £2,756?

| James Beard

The FTSE 100 is full of dividend shares offering generous returns. Our writer considers how much income he could generate…

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A handsome mature bald bearded black man in a sunglasses and a fashionable blue or teal costume with a tie is standing in front of a wall made of striped wooden timbers and fastening a suit button
Investing Articles

The Burberry share price rises on takeover rumours. But I still don’t want to buy

| James Beard

Speculation about a possible takeover sent the Burberry share price higher. However, our writer’s steering clear of the luxury fashion…

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Investing Articles

Could the stock market crash in 2024? Here’s what I’m doing!

| James Beard

Some are predicting a global stock market crash led by US equities. Our writer gives his verdict and explains his…

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

With a 6.6% yield, is now the right time to add this income stock to my ISA?

| James Beard

Our writer’s looking to boost his Stocks and Shares ISA. With this in mind, he’s debating whether to buy a…

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

At 72p, the Vodafone share price looks to be at least 33% undervalued to me

| James Beard

Our writer looks at a number of valuation measures to determine whether the Vodafone share price reflects the fair value…

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Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

At 538p, is the Rolls-Royce share price really that expensive?

| James Beard

The Rolls-Royce share price has continued its incredible post-pandemic rally causing many to ask whether the stock’s overvalued. Our writer…

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Investing Articles

With yields over 8.8%, which of the FTSE 100’s top 5 passive income stocks do I think is the best?

| James Beard

These five passive income stocks are all yielding more than 8.8%. Our writer considers which of them (if any) would…

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

Down 13.7% in 7 days, what’s going on with the Lloyds share price?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at recent movements in the Lloyds share price. And asks whether now could be a good time…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

The best investment quote of all time didn’t come from Warren Buffett!

| James Beard

Warren Buffett’s pithy quotes are both relevant and insightful. But the American billionaire didn’t come up with our writer’s favourite.

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

This FTSE 250 stock crashed 21% in an hour! Could this be a buying opportunity for me?

| James Beard

With an eye to the future, our writer considers whether now’s a good time to buy into a FTSE 250…

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Could Mike Ashley boost the boohoo share price like he did with Frasers?

| James Beard

The boohoo share price has collapsed 89% in five years. Could appointing Mike Ashley as chief executive solve the retailer’s…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

My least favourite share’s crashed 35% in 28 months. Here’s why I’m listening to Warren Buffett and selling up

| James Beard

Warren Buffett’s been switching from stocks to cash. But that’s not why our writer’s decided to sell this FTSE 100…

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Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Could NatWest be the perfect FTSE 100 share for me?

| James Beard

With a yield of 5.1% and share price growth of 41% over five years, our writer considers whether this FTSE…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

How will today’s results affect the 2024-2026 dividend forecast for Lloyds shares?

| James Beard

The Black Horse Bank released its third-quarter results today. Our writer considers the implications for the stock's three-year dividend forecast.

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Investing Articles

With a yield of 9.3% and a dividend increase of 456% since 2009, is this the ultimate passive income stock?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at a FTSE 100 share that -- on the face of it -- has all…

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Man riding the bus alone
Investing Articles

£100 a month and 3 dividend shares yielding 5.8%+. Could this get me passive income of £11,297 a year?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at three very different high-yielding dividend shares that could help him achieve a five-figure annual…

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A handsome mature bald bearded black man in a sunglasses and a fashionable blue or teal costume with a tie is standing in front of a wall made of striped wooden timbers and fastening a suit button
Investing Articles

After nosediving 60% in a year, is it time to add this FTSE 250 icon to my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| James Beard

Always looking to boost the value of his ISA, our writer considers whether the recent crash in the Burberry share…

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Light bulb with growing tree.
Investing Articles

Can the move towards renewable energy push the SSE share price higher?

| James Beard

Everyone seems to be talking about green energy these days. Our writer considers how the SSE share price might respond…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Now above 540p, has the Rolls-Royce share price become a bit of a nonsense?

| James Beard

Taking inspiration from Edward Lear and his famous book of nonsense, our writer waxes lyrical about the Rolls-Royce share price.

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Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

Down 43% since 16 July! Is now a good time to buy the FTSE 250’s worst performer?

| James Beard

Our writer asks whether the significant drop -- over the past three months -- in the share price of the…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

Some warning lights are flashing red for UK shares!

| James Beard

Usually a positive person, our writer explains why he’s becoming increasingly pessimistic about the short-term outlook for UK shares.

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

After they fell 29% last week, should I buy Vistry shares for my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| James Beard

Some unexpected news sent Vistry shares sharply downwards. Our writer considers whether this is an opportunity to boost his Stocks…

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Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

The Ocado share price is up 23% in a month! But I’d still avoid it like the plague!

| James Beard

Even though the Ocado share price has risen more than 20% over the past four weeks, our writer explains why…

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Two employees sat at desk welcoming customer to a Tesla car showroom
Investing Articles

Could 5 November create fireworks for Tesla stock?

| James Beard

America chooses its next president in early November. Our writer considers how the result might affect the Tesla stock price.

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Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

Will the Next share price be affected by 2 insiders selling?

| James Beard

With two of the retailer’s directors offloading £31.8m of shares, our writer considers what might happen to the Next share…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

It’s October! Does this mean UK stocks are going to crash?

| James Beard

Whisper it quietly, but four of the five biggest one-day falls in the FTSE 100 have been in the month…

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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 insider’s selling but 2 brokers say “buy”. What’s going on?

| James Beard

A director of this FTSE 250 retailer has sold £114m of stock but brokers rate its shares a Buy. Our…

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

After falling 54% in 5 years, is the worst over for the Vodafone share price?

| James Beard

Since October 2019, the Vodafone share price has been the worst performer on the FTSE 100. But our writer thinks…

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Environmental technology concept
Investing Articles

With 45 years of 5%+ dividend growth, could this be the ultimate passive income stock?

| James Beard

Having grown its dividend by at least 5% each year -- for more than four decades -- this sounds like…

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