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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

Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 still looks cheap to me. But don’t just take my word for it!

| James Beard

The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) has increased 7.5% since the start of 2024. But I think there’s evidence to suggest that…

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

What should the Vodafone share price be? Here are 3 possible answers

| James Beard

Our writer uses a number of popular financial measures to come up with an estimate of a fair value for…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Are Rolls-Royce shares good for passive income?

| James Beard

Our writer is getting mixed messages about the Rolls-Royce dividend. But whatever happens, he thinks passive income hunters will be…

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Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Could the Rolls-Royce share price end 2024 above £5?

| James Beard

As the Rolls-Royce share price continues its remarkable run, our writer considers where it might be at the end of…

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Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

1 popular FTSE 100 share I wouldn’t touch with 2 bargepoles!

| James Beard

Hoping to get myself a bargain, I’m always keen to buy FTSE 100 shares after they’ve fallen in value. But…

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

Despite receiving zero passive income, I reckon these are the happiest shareholders on earth!

| James Beard

One of the ways I judge a stock is by the level of passive income it offers. But some investors…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett’s stockpiling cash. Is this a warning sign for the UK stock market?

| James Beard

Warren Buffett’s been converting shares into cash. I wonder what the implications are for an investor in the UK stock…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Up 125% in 27 months, can this ‘old-fashioned’ FTSE 100 stock continue its good run?

| James Beard

Our writer considers the prospects for a FTSE 100 stock that’s operating in a market that’s been in existence for…

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Rear View Of Woman Holding Man Hand during travel in cappadocia
Investing Articles

I’ve found the most popular FTSE share. But should I buy?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been crunching some numbers to identify the FTSE share that tops the popularity charts. But should he follow…

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

Why is the Vodafone share price below 70p when I think it should be 87% higher?

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he believes the Vodafone share price significantly undervalues the telecoms giant, before considering why others disagree.

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

Here’s where I think the Lloyds share price will be at the end of 2026

| James Beard

Having risen nearly 30% since January 2024, our writer considers what could happen to the Lloyds share price by 31…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Is it time to do a 360 degree u-turn and buy this penny stock?

| James Beard

There’s a penny stock that’s recently grabbed the headlines for the right reasons. Is it time for me to think…

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

Could £20,000 and 5 FTSE 100 shares give me a second income of £26,799 a year?

| James Beard

There are plenty of high-yielding shares currently available that could give me a decent second income. And many of them…

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Dominos delivery man on skateboard holding pizza boxes
Investing Articles

Is now the time to get a slice of the action and invest in this tasty growth stock?

| James Beard

Pizza is the world’s favourite food. With this in mind, our author considers whether he should buy a growth stock…

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

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim for £17,896 in income with FTSE 100 shares

| James Beard

Our writer explains how he’d try to turn a lump sum into a five-figure income stream by investing in FTSE…

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Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

£11,185 in savings? Here’s how I’d target a £18,466 passive income with FTSE 100 stocks

| James Beard

Our writer describes how he’d seek to turn a lump sum into a five-figure passive income by investing in some…

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Close up view of Electric Car charging and field background
Investing Articles

Why fine margins matter for the Tesla stock price

| James Beard

In my opinion, a fundamental problem needs to be addressed before the price of Tesla stock recaptures former glories. But…

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Customers being shown around a house in progress
Investing Articles

3 charts that suggest now could be the time to consider FTSE housebuilders!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at recent data that suggests shares in the FTSE’s housebuilders could soon be on their way…

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

Here’s why I think the Lloyds share price recovery will continue

| James Beard

The Lloyds share price is currently 32% higher than its 52-week low of October 2023. And I’m optimistic that this…

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Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Below 1.4p, is this penny stock one helluva bargain?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether the discovery of helium in Tanzania will transform the fortunes of this popular penny stock and…

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Hydrogen testing at DLR Cologne
Investing Articles

At 415p, has the Rolls-Royce share price become a bit of a joke?

| James Beard

I think investing should be taken seriously. But has the recent surge in the Rolls-Royce share price turned the engineering…

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Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

It might not be an aristocrat but Legal & General is still a class dividend stock!

| James Beard

For each of the past 14 years, this FTSE 100 dividend stock has either maintained or increased its payout. Our…

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

Here’s 1 stock I’m buying now for passive income

| James Beard

Our writer explains the reasons behind his decision to buy this FTSE 100 stock. Passive income's the principal one, but…

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Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Value Shares

Could a takeover be on the cards for this ailing FTSE 250 legend?

| James Beard

After seeing its share price fall by 54% over the past 12 months, our writers asks whether this member of…

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Bags of copper-molybdenum at Anglo-American's Quellaveco project in Peru
Investing Articles

Another FTSE 100 takeover approach. But I’m saying ‘no’!

| James Beard

Anglo American, the FTSE 100 mining giant, has rejected a recent takeover approach. I'm a shareholder in the company and…

Read more »

Union Jack flag triangular bunting hanging in a street
Investing Articles

Down 28% in a week! What’s going on with the share price of this FTSE 250 British icon?

| James Beard

There’s one stock in the FTSE 250 that took a bit of a battering last week. But I’m not surprised,…

Read more »

Portrait of pensive bearded senior looking on screen of laptop sitting at table with coffee cup.
Investing Articles

What will a general election mean for the UK stock market?

| James Beard

The Prime Minister must hold an election before 28 January 2025. Our writer considers what the consequences might be for…

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

I don’t care how much FTSE bosses are paid as long as they make me rich!

| James Beard

Facing accusations of greed, the pay packages of FTSE CEOs are back in the headlines. But our writer takes a…

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Sun setting over a traditional British neighbourhood.
Investing Articles

Could I make shedloads of dividend income from 8,025 Kingfisher shares?

| James Beard

Some shares are better than others when it comes to earning dividend income. So how does this FTSE 100 do-it-yourself…

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Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

Are Thungela Resources shares brilliant for passive income?

| James Beard

There’s one share that’s recently been an excellent source of passive income. But ethical investors won’t want to touch the…

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Oil rig
Investing Articles

Is a comeback on the cards for this FTSE 250 stock?

| James Beard

An 11%  increase in its share price over the past three months and a mega merger should see this FTSE…

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Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

I want nothing to do with this FTSE 100 disaster!

| James Beard

Whether looking back three years or five years, there’s one FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stock that’s been the worst performer on…

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Black father and two young daughters dancing at home
Investing Articles

Here’s 1 FTSE share with massive growth potential!

| James Beard

Our writer’s found a FTSE share that he thinks has a bright future. But it’s been an eventful few months…

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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 slumping 80% in 5 years, is the boohoo share price still 5 times overvalued?

| James Beard

The boohoo share price is now 80% lower than it was in April 2019. But there’s some evidence to suggest…

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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

Down 90% in 5 years, can the ASOS share price get much lower?

| James Beard

The ASOS share price has crashed 90% since April 2019 resulting in long-term investors nursing heavy losses. I wonder if…

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Number three written on white chat bubble on blue background
Investing Articles

Annual growth of 12%! Here’s the 3-year dividend forecast for the Lloyds share price

| James Beard

On the day that the Lloyds share price goes ex-dividend, our writer considers how much passive income he might receive…

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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

Should the Tesla share price be $14 or $2,000?

| James Beard

Two investors have widely differing views on what the Tesla share price should be. Our writer wants to understand the…

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Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

Could the Barclays share price double by the end of 2026?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at whether the Barclays share price reflects the intrinsic value of the bank. And considers how it…

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Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

Here’s the 2-year dividend forecast for IAG shares!

| James Beard

Our writer asks whether the reinstatement of the dividend could give a boost to IAG shares. But he thinks income…

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

Down 30% in three months, is now the time to buy Tesla stock?

| James Beard

The Tesla stock price is down nearly a third since the start of 2024. Our writer considers the electric car…

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