Dear Fellow Investor,

You might have seen across our site that The Motley Fool UK has become an independent UK-owned company, led by our long-standing UK team. Same people, same principles, same focus on helping you become a better long-term investor.

That part hasn’t changed. And it won’t.

But we did think this moment called for something else to change: our name.

Not because we’re becoming something different – but because we want the name on the door to better reflect who we already are, and the kind of investing experience we believe in.

Over the past few months, we’ve been speaking to members and readers about what they value most in us. And the message came through clearly.

Keep it clear. Keep it honest. No jargon. No hype. No hidden agenda. And please – none of the “yet another fintech startup” energy.

We hear you.

We also know that names matter. They set the tone. They tell a story. And if we were going to choose a new one, it had to feel like us – not corporate, not generic, and definitely not forgettable.

So we went looking for something with a bit of history, a bit of humour, and a bit of British eccentricity.

That led us to an old nursery rhyme you may remember – the one about counting magpies:

“One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy…”

Less commonly known is what comes next. In some versions of the rhyme, the twelfth magpie is said to bring wealth.

And so, after a fair amount of discussion, coffee, and debate…

We landed on our new name:

The Twelfth Magpie

It felt right.

A little irreverent. A little unconventional. Rooted in a story. And a nod to the idea that investing doesn’t have to be overly serious or exclusive – it can be open, human, and even a bit playful, while still being grounded in good judgement and long-term thinking.

In many ways, it captures what we’ve always tried to be: independent-minded, slightly unwilling to follow the crowd, and always on the side of individual investors.

Or put more simply: we’re here to help you navigate investing with clarity, honesty, and a bit of character along the way.

That’s the spirit we’re carrying forward.

Over the coming days, you’ll start to see The Twelfth Magpie appear across our site, emails and systems as we make the transition.

You’ll also start to see your usual email newsletters come from our new email address and mailing systems. If you have any questions at all about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us at customerservices@twelfthmagpie.com.

Everything else stays exactly the same. There’s just a new name on the door.

Again, if you have any questions at all, we’re always happy to hear from you.

Thanks for being part of this with us. We’re genuinely excited about what comes next – and glad you’re here for it.

Mark Rogers

The post An Important Update From The Motley Fool UK appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
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Premium content from Share Advisor UK

Defence stocks are no longer just a safe haven. They’re now the hottest growth story on the planet, fuelled by a once-in-a-generation surge in global military spending that governments have already committed to for decades to come.

That opens the door to potentially game-changing returns. And it’s why we’ve just recommended the one UK stock that we believe is best placed to profit from this global rearmament wave.

So, what makes this latest Share Advisor stock pick so exciting?

1. The business is deeply embedded at the heart of NATO, with equipment systems used by more than 25 European nations and a US partnership on some of the most critical defence programmes worldwide.
2. It has just secured a record-breaking order backlog of over £80bn that stretches out into the late 2030s, which the market is still undervaluing.
3. It has generated more than £7bn in free cash flow over the last three years. This isn’t a speculative bet on defence. It’s a battle-tested, cash-generating machine that’s already delivered 22 consecutive years of dividend increases.

As our Senior Investment Analyst, Mark Stones, puts it:

Of course, there is risk.

A future shift in government defence budgets, geopolitical developments that restrict arms sales to certain customers, or broader market volatility could all weigh on the share price in the short term.

This is very much a long-term holding, and investors should be comfortable with some near-term noise in exchange for what we believe is a compelling multi-decade growth story. 

Of course, investing in defence isn’t for everyone, and we respect that.

For some, the moral weight of the industry will always outweigh the financial case – a legitimate concern. But for those who believe that strong, well-funded democracies are ultimately a force for stability and peace in the world, this company’s mission sits on the right side of that argument.

The post Just Released: Our Top Defence Stock For ISAs In May 2026 [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Premium content from Share Advisor UK

ISA investors following the Fire style are accepting higher risk with the goal of attaining higher returns over time. This strategy requires a higher risk tolerance and the willingness to accept significant volatility in share prices.

But it also opens the door to potentially game-changing returns…

So, what makes this latest Share Advisor stock pick so exciting?

1. The market has been punishing cloud platforms for the challenges the industry will face from the power of AI, but this company is well-positioned to gain from AI disruption.
2. The business has transformed from offering a single product 10 years ago to an entire data ecosystem of 24+ solutions with 600+ customers spending more than $1m each year.
3. It has a founder-led management team that has scaled the business into a profitable, multi-billion-dollar under-the-radar tech enterprise.

As our Senior Investment Analyst, Ian Pierce, puts it:

Of course, there is risk.

The technology sector is a competitive and fast-changing market. And the rapid developments of AI tools are making this an even more complicated market.

This complexity is what’s creating the opportunity for this hidden enterprise to position itself as central to businesses’ monitoring of AI tools, but it also brings the risk of being disintermediated by customer-designed tools developed with the help of AI.

So, investors will need to keep a close eye on customer additions and net revenue retention going forward for any sign that customers are turning elsewhere for cheaper alternatives.

Nevertheless, with an intelligently constructed and well-diversified ISA portfolio, these risks can be managed, limiting the damage to a portfolio in case the situation doesn’t turn out as expected.

We don’t consider Fire investing to be gambling or a get-rich-quick scheme, though. We aim to be long-term owners of these businesses and reap the rewards from their success. Our investing time horizon for these shares is measured in years and decades, not weeks and months.

The post Just Released: Our Top Growth-Focused Stock For ISAs In April 2026 [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Premium content from Share Advisor UK

ISA investors following the Ice style prioritise passive income over explosive growth potential. But in a world of uncertainty and volatility, investing in the boring businesses that have shown consistent financial performance and growing dividends can often yield impressive market-beating returns.

Don’t forget, in the long run, dividends have been responsible for over 70% of all stock market returns.

So, what makes this latest Share Advisor stock pick so exciting?

1. Revenue has increased roughly 66% since 2021, demonstrating a clear and sustained momentum pattern.
2. The shares are currently trading around 10x forward earnings – the cheapest valuation seen in years when accounting for net debt.
3. Delivered a strong operational bounce-back from a one-time cyberattack that harmed short-term sentiment but not the long-term trajectory of the business.

As our leading Investment Analyst, James Fox, puts it:

Of course, there is risk.

Conflict in the Gulf represents a very present risk to the business, and the disruption has already been felt across regional supply chains with knock-on effects in Europe. These costs either need to be passed on to consumers, who may already be feeling the squeeze from broader inflationary pressures.

That said, the company is arguably better placed than most to absorb these pressures, with a typically more affluent customer base and product diversification. And with an intelligently constructed and well-diversified passive income ISA portfolio, these risks can be managed, limiting the damage to a portfolio in case the situation doesn’t turn out as expected.

We don’t consider Ice investing to be gambling or a get-rich-quick scheme, though. We aim to be long-term owners of these businesses and reap the rewards from their success. Our investing time horizon for these shares is measured in years and decades, not weeks and months.

The post Just Released: A Lower-Risk, Passive Income Stock Recomendation For Your ISA? [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Premium content from Share Advisor UK

Our monthly Ice ‘Best Buys Now‘ are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of income-focused Icerecommendations, to help investors build out their portfolios.

Here are the latest three picks from our team of experts.

• Morgan Advanced Materials is starting to look like a higher-quality business, with the company offloading assets as part of a business simplification programme.
• The company now trades at 10.9x forward earnings (rolling 12 months), with that figure forecast to fall to 9.6x in 2027. Taking account of the improving balance sheet and 6.5% dividend yield, the stock appears to be trading at multi-year lows based on this adjusted metric.
• Free cash flow improved significantly in 2025, following a reduction in capital expenditure and a reduction in the scope of its investments in the Semiconductor business.
• The stock now trades around 13% below its 50-day moving average after the business reported lower profits and margins in 2025. However, the long-term picture remains intact with a clearer strategic direction.
• The company is considering the sale of its Thermal Products division, which could generate cash to reduce debt and would leave the business with two higher-margin units (Performance Carbon and Technical Ceramics).
• While it’s never good to assume that an asset will be disposed of, the business would appear much stronger without its Thermal Products division. With the remaining businesses offering a blended margin above 12%, the group could command higher margins.

The post £500 buys 259 shares in this 6.5% yielding income stock! [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Mark Rogers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Morgan Advanced Materials Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Premium content from Share Advisor UK

ISA investors following the Fire style are accepting higher risk with the goal of attaining higher returns over time. This strategy requires a higher risk tolerance and the willingness to accept significant volatility in share prices.

But it also opens the door to potentially game-changing returns…

So, what makes this latest Share Advisor stock pick so exciting?

1. It’s one of the world’s largest asset managers that provides a proxy for exposure to a wide variety of asset classes.
2. The business has immensely cash-generative operations that provide the firepower for steady M&A, which has expanded the group well beyond its core fixed income business over the years.
3. It has a founder-led management team that has not only survived previous financial crashes but also used them to the company’s benefit by making opportunistic acquisitions when others are at their weakest.

As our Senior Investment Analyst, Ian Pierce, puts it:

Of course, there is risk.

The financial services sector is always evolving. That means management needs to keep its fingers on the pulse of what investors want and continually expand the number of asset classes it can give them exposure to. Falling behind and missing, for example, the next boom in passive ETFs would be a very big headwind.

Nevertheless, with an intelligently constructed and well-diversified ISA portfolio, these risks can be managed, limiting the damage to a portfolio in case the situation doesn’t turn out as expected.

We don’t consider Fire investing to be gambling or a get-rich-quick scheme, though. We aim to be long-term owners of these businesses and reap the rewards from their success. Our investing time horizon for these shares is measured in years and decades, not weeks and months.

The post Just Released: A Higher-Risk, High-Reward Stock Recommendation For Your ISA? [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Premium content from Share Advisor UK

Our monthly Fire ‘Best Buys Now‘ are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of growth-focused Fire recommendations, to help investors build out their portfolios.

Here are the latest three picks from our team of experts.

• While Shopify derives most of its revenue from taking slices of transactions processed on its platform, the true value is in the ecosystem it creates.
• Payment processing, point-of-sale systems, and marketing are only a few of the value-added options that merchants have when it comes to using it as a commerce platform, and each of these is a vital piece of its increasingly sticky pie.
• Its third-quarter results showed it’s currently operating from a position of strength, with sales and profitability beating analyst expectations. Sales grew by 32% to $2.8bn while gross profit grew by 24%.
• The company benefited from a growing merchant base, international expansion (most prominently in Europe) and growth in offline business-to-business sales. There has been no notable change in business from tariffs.
• In our view, the business remains well-positioned to continue growing through continued merchant growth, greater Shopify Payments penetration, international expansion, and larger retailers joining the platform (potentially helped by wins in the offline business).

The post Up 329%! 3 Top Growth Stocks For March 2026 [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Mark Rogers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Shopify. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Premium content from Motley Fool Share Advisor UK

Our monthly Fire Best Buys Now are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of growth-focused Fire recommendations, to help Fools build out their portfolios.

Here are the latest three picks from our team of experts.

• Alphabet posted its first $100 billion quarter in revenue in the third quarter, with Google Cloud accelerating to 34% growth and AI features reinvigorating Search.
• Alphabet is aiming to convert its $155 billion cloud backlog into revenue while scaling its Gemini AI models across Search, Cloud, and enterprise products.
• Investors should pay attention to AI Mode monetization rates, Waymo’s expansion to 20+ cities, including London and Tokyo, and whether the company’s heavy infrastructure spending weighs on profitability.
• Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a multibillion-dollar stake during this period, a vote of confidence that proved well timed given the stock’s 64% gain for the year as of this writing.
• A U.S. federal judge declined to force a divestiture of Chrome in September, instead ordering Google to end exclusive search distribution deals with device makers like Apple. Separately, the European Commission imposed a nearly $3.5 billion fine over advertising practices. While both cases represent ongoing challenges, investors viewed the U.S. ruling as a relative victory since the company avoided a forced breakup, and shares rose on the news.

The post Just released: the 3 best growth-focused stocks to consider buying in January [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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• Could buying Microsoft stock now be like buying Alphabet in mid-2025 at a share price of $150?

The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Premium content from Motley Fool Share Advisor UK

Investors with a more conservative desire might find the Ice style appealing. By focusing on businesses that have shown consistent financial performance and growing dividends, we seek to beat the market with a mix of income and steadily rising share prices. We consider this to be a lower-risk investing strategy than Fire, but company and industry specific risks mean diversification remains important.

Ice investing can generate large, short-term gains on occasion, but we’re primarily seeking steady gains over time, and shallower declines during wider stock market falls. These qualities are most commonly found in established firms, but the Ice approach does not focus exclusively on large companies. We often see ample opportunity to invest in medium-sized companies, with strong niche positions in their industry and the ability to grow their dividends for years to come.

The post Recently released: December’s lower-risk, higher-yield Share Advisor recommendation [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

More reading

• £503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years
• £1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years
• Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?
• 2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026
• Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

Premium content from Motley Fool Share Advisor UK

Our monthly Ice Best Buys Now are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of income-focused Ice recommendations, to help Fools build out their portfolios.

• BAE Systems expects operating profit to grow by up to 11% this year, driven by sustained demand, including recent orders from Turkey for Typhoon aircraft and from Norway for Type 26 frigates.
• The company has secured more than £27 billion in orders so far this year, with additional agreements anticipated before year-end.
• The order backlog rose to £77.8 billion, equivalent to 3 years of 2024 revenues that providing strong visibility to future earnings.
• Recently announced increases in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP across NATO countries create a highly supportive environment for medium-term growth.
• The recent share price correction presents investors with an attractive entry point into this stable growth business, where the dividend yield has risen to nearly 2%.

The post Just released: our 3 top income-focused stocks to consider buying in December [PREMIUM PICKS] appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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• How do these FTSE 100 stocks keep paying brilliant dividends?

The Motley Fool UK has recommended BAE Systems plc.