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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

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Investing Articles

Where might the BT share price go in the next 12 months? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

The BT Group share price has had a good few months, following a lengthy painful spell. The big question now…

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Investing Articles

Want to make millions like Warren Buffett? Here’s how to avoid his mistakes

| Alan Oscroft

Just look at that Warren Buffett bloke and all the investing mistakes he's made over the years... What do you…

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Investing Articles

Here’s the 1 UK growth stock I’d buy for the AI revolution

| Alan Oscroft

The UK doesn't have many growth stocks competing in the global race for artificial intelligence domination. But this newcomer looks…

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

As the Smiths Group share price drops 7% on results day, I ask if it’s cheap

| Alan Oscroft

The Smiths Group share price had been having a good year, but it just dipped even though full-year profits and…

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Investing Articles

I’m thinking of buying these cheap passive income stocks right now

| Alan Oscroft

I'm searching for passive income stocks for my 2024 Stocks and Shares ISA. The big problem? There are too many…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why we could be in for a golden decade for FTSE 100 dividend shares

| Alan Oscroft

We seem to start each year with bumper FTSE 100 dividend forecasts, and then through the year they keep being…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how much 10 years of dividends from Lloyds shares could be worth

| Alan Oscroft

Forecasting where Lloyds shares will go in the next 10 years is near impossible. But that shouldn't stop us from…

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Investing Articles

How much do I need to invest in UK shares to retire on the passive income they earn?

| Alan Oscroft

Investing in a diversified portfolio of dividend stocks can generate a nice passive income to help long-term investors to retire…

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Investing Articles

Is it finally time for me to buy this FTSE 100 dividend star?

| Alan Oscroft

I think most of my favourite FTSE 100 income stocks still look like they're very good value today. This one's…

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Investing Articles

If I had to buy just 1 FTSE 100 passive income stock for the next 10 years, this would be it

| Alan Oscroft

Wouldn't it be scary having to pick only one passive income stock to hold for a decade? But if someone…

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Investing Articles

If I’d put just £1,000 into Nvidia stock 5 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

The Nvidia stock price has fallen since we saw estimate-busting Q2 earnings at the end of August. But it's still…

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

This FTSE 100 stock looks back on course, and I think it’s still cheap

| Alan Oscroft

Shares in this FTSE 100 stock didn't react too well to the lastest news release, even though the company beat…

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BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.
Investing Articles

My 5 favourite stocks to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

As I see the stock market outlook getting brighter, I'm building up my list of potential stocks to buy in…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why September could be a great time to start a Stocks and Shares ISA

| Alan Oscroft

I wonder how many people, like me, still haven't got their 2024 Stocks and Shares ISA going properly yet? Best…

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Investing Articles

Analysts expect big dividend jumps from these FTSE 250 income stocks

| Alan Oscroft

These are some of the FTSE 250 stocks I like as I believe they could reward dividend investors strongly in…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy 2,000 shares of this dividend stock to aim for an extra £200 of monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Here's one blue-chip UK stock 'd buy if I had the cash to spare as I think it could help…

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Investing Articles

I wouldn’t touch Nvidia stock with a bargepole right now

| Alan Oscroft

It seems that Nvidia stock's the one everyone is raving about buying, as it beat expectations again. Well, not me,…

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Investing Articles

Dividend shares to consider buying while their prices are this cheap

| Alan Oscroft

Dividend shares are becoming more attractive as interest rates fall. But I don't think the market has caught up, and…

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Investing Articles

Cheap penny stocks to consider buying in September

| Alan Oscroft

I keep looking at my top penny stocks, and I keep finding they've climbed and I missed them. But there…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why the National Grid share price might make it the FTSE 100’s best buy

| Alan Oscroft

The National Grid share price was shaken at FY results time. But has everyone noticed how it's been creeping back…

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Business manager working at a pub doing the accountancy and some paperwork using a laptop computer
Investing Articles

If I’d put £5,000 into Lloyds shares in 2015, here’s how much it would be worth now

| Alan Oscroft

The past decade for Lloyds shares teaches me a key long-term investing lesson. And it's a cheery one, not a…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

If I’d put £5,000 into Rolls-Royce shares 4 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have triumphed in one of the best stock market recoveries I've ever seen. Shame I didn't buy any.

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

3 high-yield dividend stocks to consider buying in September

| Alan Oscroft

Investors might be getting nerves over high-tech growth stocks, but dividend stocks have never been out of fashion for long.

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'2024' art concept overlaid on a stock screener
Investing Articles

These are the FTSE 100 shares I’d buy in a new stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is having a good year in 2024. But global investors are thinking about a new crash, and…

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

Here’s how I think the Lloyds share price might end 2024

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds Bank share price has gained 40% over the past 12 months. But I think that might be just…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d buy these FTSE 250 stocks near 52-week lows

| Alan Oscroft

Could now be great time to buy into some underpriced FTSE 250 stocks ahead of the next mid-cap bull run?…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy 2,941 shares of this FTSE 100 stock for £1,000 a year in passive income

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price has had a cracking 12 months. But even after that, its yield still makes it one…

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

These FTSE 100 stocks are near their 52-week lows. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

I don't expect to see many recoveries in the style of Rolls-Royce, but these FTSE 100 companies are down and…

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Middle aged businesswoman using laptop while working from home
Investing Articles

The boohoo share price is down 30% in 2024. Here are 2 things that could turn it round

| Alan Oscroft

The boohoo share price slide's been painful as it just hit a new 52-week low. But I think we might…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Here’s how I think the Rolls-Royce share price might end 2024

| Alan Oscroft

What goes up must come down? Or keep going up? That's the dilemma we face when we look at the…

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Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

5 UK stocks that all passive income investors should consider

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to pick passive income stocks? At the Fool, we think it's good to listen to all…

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Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
Investing Articles

Analysts expect big dividend jumps from these FTSE 100 stocks

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 has been paying growing dividends in the past couple of years, and it looks set to continue…

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

5 UK stocks whose dividends should keep growing

| Alan Oscroft

Dividend stocks whose share prices are down and yields are up. Oh, and with annual cash raises expected too. What's…

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A black male doctor chats to a senior patient on the hospital ward ,with a young female nurse wearing a hijab attending to a dressing
Investing Articles

AstraZeneca hits £200bn as its share price soars. Can I afford to miss out?

| Alan Oscroft

The AstraZeneca share price is up 17% so far this year. But now the firm has broken the £200bn barrier,…

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

Worried about a stock market crash? Here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

For long-term share investors, there really is no need to fear a stock market crash. They're a fact of life,…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how many Lloyds shares I’d need to earn £1,000 a month passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares, good dividend yield, passive income, long-term horizon. Here's how that combination could build me some wealth.

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Investing Articles

Down from a 52-week high, is the BAE Systems share price cheap after H1 results?

| Alan Oscroft

The BAE Systems share price didn't move much after the latest news, despite the company's raised outlook for the full…

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Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

Down 15% this year, is the Rio Tinto share price too cheap to miss after H1 results?

| Alan Oscroft

At H1 time, Rio Tinto believes it's at an inflection point in its growth -- what might that mean for…

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Investing Articles

As the Taylor Wimpey share price inches up on H1 results, is it still cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

Now we know how the first half went for Taylor Wimpey, what things might send the share price higher in…

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Businessman use electronic pen writing rising colorful graph from 2023 to 2024 year of business planning and stock investment growth concept.
Investing Articles

Analysts expect big earnings jumps from these FTSE 250 growth stocks

| Alan Oscroft

I think it might be time for FTSE 250 growth stocks to shine again. And today I'm looking at a…

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