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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

Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

3 reasons the Raspberry Pi share price could soar in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

The Raspberry Pi share price has risen above its offer price, but it's down since the start of full market…

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Investing Articles

3 reasons the Lloyds share price could still soar in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

Investors who are bullish about the Lloyds Bank share price have enjoyed a good first half. But will it be…

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

3 top UK dividend shares to consider buying for lasting passive income

| Alan Oscroft

These dividend shares might look a bit risky for taking home cash right now. But building a pot for future…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d use it to target £880 of passive income each month

| Alan Oscroft

I wrote all the ways I could think of to earn passive income on pieces of paper. And then I…

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

This UK share just spiked 15% on bid news. Can we bag a quick profit?

| Alan Oscroft

UK share prices are having a good 2024, so far, and this one's already up 39%. Two takeover bids in…

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Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Is Nvidia stock set for a massive crash?

| Alan Oscroft

Nvidia stock is up 3,500% in five years. So has AI fever sent it ridiculously high now, or are we…

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Iberian plane on runway
Investing Articles

Can the IAG share price really be as dirt cheap as it looks?

| Alan Oscroft

While most shares have recovered since the Covid days, the IAG share price is staying stuck to rock bottom. Surely…

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Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

Why did the YouGov share price just crash 37%?

| Alan Oscroft

The YouGov share price has been weak for a while. But that's nothing compared to what happened after this profit…

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Middle-aged white male courier delivering boxes to young black lady
Investing Articles

These FY results could be just what we need for DS Smith share price growth

| Alan Oscroft

While eyes are turned towards high-tech growth stocks these days, I think the DS Smith share price might have slipped…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

Here’s what the National Grid share price fall could mean for passive income investors

| Alan Oscroft

It's long been seen as one of the FTSE 100's best stocks for durable dividends. What does the recent National…

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ISA coins
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d aim for a second income of £1,000 a month, with just £10 a day

| Alan Oscroft

How much do we need to build a decent second income? With enough time, we could do it with a…

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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

At 11%, this dividend share pays the biggest yield in the FTSE 100

| Alan Oscroft

When a dividend share offers a big yield, we need to be cautious of the risks. But I reckon this…

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

Should I buy Scottish Mortgage shares to profit from the AI stock surge?

| Alan Oscroft

Fancy some tech stock growth? Want to snap up a bit of the AI action? Scottish Mortgage shares might be…

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Here’s why these FTSE 250 shares could be set for explosive growth

| Alan Oscroft

Growth stock investing is rising in popularity again, and the FTSE 250 is where investors typically look for potential buys.

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

Down 88% since its peak! Is this one of the best UK shares to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

I see lots of potential shares to buy on the UK stock market right now, but I don't see explosive…

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Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

The Ashtead share price falls on FY results. Is it a good long-term buy?

| Alan Oscroft

High interest rates are bad for companies with high debt, especially if it's growing. But the effect on the Ashtead…

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Mixed-race female couple enjoying themselves on a walk
Investing Articles

Has the Rolls-Royce share price gone crazy?

| Alan Oscroft

When I look at the Rolls-Royce share price, I start to think that what goes up must... keep on going…

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Array of piggy banks in saturated colours on high colour contrast background
Investing Articles

Here’s what the BT share price could mean for passive income investors

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has been falling for years, but that might be about to change. And dividends could be…

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

Should we buy cheap FTSE 100 shares now, before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is up 5% so far in 2024 and hit an all-time high in May. That means the…

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

Here’s why I think the Lloyds share price could hit a 5-year high in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

It's up 13.5% so far in 2024, and reaching new highs. But where might the Lloyds Bank share price go…

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Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

As the Raspberry Pi share price soars, is it set to be a great UK growth success?

| Alan Oscroft

What’s a super successful UK stock market IPO? It’s one we’ve just had, as the Raspberry Pi share price reaches…

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Array of piggy banks in saturated colours on high colour contrast background
Investing Articles

Is Legal & General the best FTSE 100 stock to buy for passive income now?

| Alan Oscroft

The Legal & General share price has been flat for a few years, despite chunky dividend forecasts. I check its…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

After its big fall, is the National Grid share price dirt cheap now?

| Alan Oscroft

The National Grid share price fell sharply in reponse to new rights issue plans. But is it an even better…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

Here’s why I think FTSE 250 shares are dirt cheap now

| Alan Oscroft

After a couple of years of falls, I reckon there are some overlooked growth stock bargains hiding away in the…

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

3 reasons to think FTSE 100 shares are still dirt cheap

| Alan Oscroft

The old adage to "Sell in May and go away" seems like real nonsense this year, with so many FTSE…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn it into a £1,000 monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

When we invest for top long-term passive income, can we snag better returns by taking on some smaller stocks with…

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Road trip. Father and son travelling together by car
Investing Articles

After great results, is this the best FTSE 100 growth stock to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

A key measure of a growth stock is how much of its long-term future growth potential is already built into…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

2 penny shares to consider buying while their prices are still cheap

| Alan Oscroft

I thought these two penny shares looked good value in late 2023. Their prices have gained since then, but I…

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Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Is this the best news yet for the NatWest share price in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

The future of the NatWest share price looks more uncertain as we head to a general election. But we just…

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Young black female footballer training on stadium pitch
Investing Articles

JD Sports share price falls 10% on FY results. Is it too cheap to ignore?

| Alan Oscroft

Revenue is up, but profit is down. And on top of a poor 2024 so far, the JD Sports share…

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Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

With 7%+ yields, here are two FTSE 100 dividend shares to consider buying now

| Alan Oscroft

Even with the Footsie rising strongly in 2024, some of its long-term favourite dividend shares still offer some very nice…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

How I’d try to become a Stocks and Shares ISA millionaire, starting today

| Alan Oscroft

There were more than 4,000 Stocks and Shares ISA millionaires in the UK at the last count. Here's how we…

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Array of piggy banks in saturated colours on high colour contrast background
Investing Articles

5 FTSE 100 stocks to consider for a lifetime of passive income

| Alan Oscroft

I see lots of cheap dividend stocks in the FTSE 100 right now, but prices are starting to rise. Here's…

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

5 FTSE 250 stocks I’d buy for a lifetime of passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why I think the FTSE 250 could be the best UK stock market index to go for in 2024…

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Happy African American Man Hugging New Car In Auto Dealership
Investing Articles

Where will the Tesla stock price go next? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Up, down, sideways... ask a dozen investors where the Tesla stock price is destined, and I reckon we might get…

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Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Where will the BP share price go next? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Some big investing names are backing the oil business. I take a look at what that might mean for the…

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

How much passive income could I earn if I invest £200 a month in a Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to secure some long-term passive income from modest monthly investments? Here's what buying dividend stocks could…

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

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

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has been sliding for years. But after the latest set of results, it looks like the…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

If I’d bought Rolls-Royce shares a year ago, here’s what I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have been the big FTSE 100 success story of the past 12 months and more. And there's still…

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

If I’d bought Lloyds shares a year ago, here’s what I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

It looks like the value of my long-held Lloyds shares is moving me into profit in 2024. Are the UK's…

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