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Alan Oscroft

Alan is a freelance writer who began writing for The Motley Fool in the late 1990s. He has been a private investor for more 30 years, and has explored a number of strategies, settling on high-yielding blue-chip shares.

Recent Articles

Tree lined "tunnel" in the English countryside of West Sussex in autumn
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA for a £1,525 monthly second income?

| Alan Oscroft

Alan Oscroft takes a look at how long-term investors can use a Stocks and Shares ISA to target a welcome…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

£8,580 invested in Rolls-Royce shares shares 5 years ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have been suffering from Middle East strife fallout, but analysts aren't being dissuaded from their rosy outlook.

Read more »

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

Could this FTSE 100 company, down 54% in 5 years, be a perfect Stocks and Shares ISA buy?

| Alan Oscroft

With its shares in a spin, this might not be an obvious Stocks and Shares ISA choice. Here's how writing…

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

How much is needed in an ISA to target a £2,091 monthly passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's how an ISA can be combined with a long-term investing strategy to target passive income aimed at easily beating…

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Investing Articles

As Endeavour Mining shares jump 7% on Q1 results, is this a way into the gold rush?

| Alan Oscroft

Endeavour Mining shares have more than doubled over the past 12 months as gold has soared. But how much risk…

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Investing Articles

As Standard Chartered shares jump on impressive Q1, is this a FTSE 100 banking bargain?

| Alan Oscroft

It's a record quarter for Standard Chartered, with FTSE 100 bank shares under Q1 scrutiny at a time of unusual…

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

Are Unilever shares the perfect ISA buy for troubled times after Q1 impresses?

| Alan Oscroft

Unilever shares have been wobbling as restructuring plans make profitability hard to get a handle on. But the cash is…

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

As the Lloyds share price falls while profits rise, is it time to dump?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors might be getting cold feet over the Lloyds share price, as a better-than-expected quarter still resulted in a decline.

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Investing Articles

As GSK shares fall 5% on Q1 news, is this a buying opportunity?

| Alan Oscroft

GSK reinforced its upbeat guidance for the year ahead in a Q1 update, after an impressive 2025, but the shares…

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

What next for AstraZeneca shares, after another cracking quarter?

| Alan Oscroft

AstraZeneca shares have made storming gains since Pascal Soriot became the boss. The latest outlook suggests it could be far…

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Investing Articles

Where next for the Barclays share price, after Q1 fails to inspire?

| Alan Oscroft

I've been eagerly awaiting first-quarter bank results season. But judging by the Barclays share price reaction, sentiment appears lukewarm.

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Light bulb with growing tree.
Investing Articles

Here’s how this overlooked 6.5p penny stock could turn £5,000 in an ISA into £11,077

| Alan Oscroft

City analysts have been carefully scrutinising this depressed UK penny stock, and their price target suggests they like what they…

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Investing Articles

With BP shares boosted by Q1 results, how much higher can they go?

| Alan Oscroft

A big jump in profit in the first quarter put BP shares among the FTSE 100's upwards movers, with the…

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

Here’s how long-term investors can benefit from a stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Does the Bank of England really think there's a stock market crash coming? Even if they do, they still have…

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

How much does an investor need in an ISA to target a £2,400 monthly passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors really can hope to generate passive income from a Stock and Shares ISA to compete against working in a…

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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

Here’s how Rolls-Royce shares could climb another 50%… or fall 20%!

| Alan Oscroft

After Rolls-Royce shares have soared over 1,000% in five years, future expectations might be cooling, right? It doesn't look like…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Here’s how Barclays shares could climb another 40%

| Alan Oscroft

Stock markets are clouded by geopolitical threats at the moment, but Barclays' shares could be heading for a further upwards…

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A beach at sunset where there is an inscription on the sand "Breathe Deeeply".
Investing Articles

Here’s how Lloyds shares could climb another 50%… or crash 50%!

| Alan Oscroft

After a shaky few weeks, where might Lloyds shares go next? Today's analyst opinions diverge more widely than we might…

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Investing Articles

Down 45% in 5 years, this UK stock now offers a stunning 11% dividend yield!

| Alan Oscroft

Among the highest UK dividend yields, one immediately begs for closer inspection. Can this double-digit marvel really pull it off?

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Here’s how Aviva shares could soon rise a further 20%… or fall 15%!

| Alan Oscroft

Aviva shares have fallen back a bit, with Q1 results due in May. But analysts are mostly optimistic, and see…

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Happy woman commuting on a train and checking her mobile phone while using headphones
Investing Articles

In just 2 years, Vodafone shares would have turned £10,000 into this much…

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone transformation is going well, and the shares have had a brilliant couple of years. Can the momentum and…

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Investing Articles

The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has had a cracking couple of years, as the company heads towards escalating free cash flow…

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Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026

| Alan Oscroft

The new Stocks and Shares ISA season is seeing a few interesting changes to the companies making up investors' latest…

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

Time to buy Associated British Foods (ABF) shares after this exciting news?

| Alan Oscroft

Associated British Foods just told us what we've been waiting to hear, at interim time. But ABF shares fell, despite…

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Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

These are 2 of the hottest FTSE 100 stocks to buy right now, say the experts!

| Alan Oscroft

Analysts are upbeat about which UK stocks to buy in 2026, in a year that could generate an all-time record…

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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT for the best FTSE 100 stock for total returns in 2026, and guess what it said…

| Alan Oscroft

Are AI chatbots any better than humans at digging out the best value FTSE 100 stocks to consider buying? They…

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

Is this the perfect time to consider buying Legal & General shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Legal & General shares have one of the FTSE 100's biggest forecast dividend yields for 2026. Maybe we should think…

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

A stock market crash this summer? Here’s how it could help

| Alan Oscroft

With emotion running high, the stock market is in a funny mood right now. And it can make investing choices…

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

Investors are pouring cash into Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. Is it all about SpaceX?

| Alan Oscroft

Is this the perfect time to join the revived space race, by grabbing a chunk of the UK's most popular…

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The words "what's your plan for retirement" written on chalkboard on pavement somewhere in London
Investing Articles

Here’s 1 way to pick buy-and-forget stocks for a lifetime SIPP

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile stock markets have shaken the confidence of SIPP and ISA investors in 2026. We need a low-stress way to…

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Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

This storming penny stock has already climbed nearly 50% in 2026!

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a penny stock that's been taking the defence sector by storm, and its future order book is building up…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

Here’s how £20,000 could be used to aim for an instant £2,000 passive income!

| Alan Oscroft

Passive income seekers have a healthy number of high-yielding UK dividends to choose from right now. But which ones will…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Here’s what could send Greggs shares climbing again

| Alan Oscroft

Greggs shares are down after investor optimism was hit head-on by a dose of financial reality. The wheels could be…

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Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Where will Rolls-Royce shares go next? Let’s ask the experts

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have wobbled as aviation uncertainty grows. But can the City's glowing forecasts help get the price climbing again?

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Lloyds shares just 12 months ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Caution is creeping into the outlook for Lloyds shares. But when markets are wobbling, isn't that a good time to…

Read more »

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

£10,000 invested in Barclays shares just 12 months ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Despite world events, Barclays’ shares have provided investors with a nice little earner over the past year. And it looks…

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Hesitant over a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here’s a way to deal with scary markets

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile stock markets are scaring potential investors away from getting started with their first Stocks and Shares ISA in 2026.

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

3 steps to aim for a lifetime of passive income from a new ISA

| Alan Oscroft

It's that time of year again when we're all planning how make the most of our new ISA limit to…

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ISA coins
Investing Articles

Looking for dividend stocks for a new ISA? These 2 are among the most popular in 2026

| Alan Oscroft

Some investors worry about where share prices are going. Others just sit out volatility and rely on income from dividend…

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Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Is National Grid one of the best stocks to buy for an ISA right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for good-value UK stocks to buy for the new ISA year? This one has long been a favourite, and…

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