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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

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

Here’s how big share buybacks could boost these low bank stock prices

| Alan Oscroft

So many FTSE 100 companies are engaged in share buybacks right now, but can they really make a difference for…

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

I’d buy 4,300 shares of this FTSE 100 financial stock to aim for £1,000 a month passive income

| Alan Oscroft

There are many ways to earn a passive income. But there's only one way for me, and that's putting my…

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Investing Articles

With an 8.5% dividend, is the Taylor Wimpey share price set to surge?

| Alan Oscroft

The Taylor Wimpey share price is recovering, but the dividend yield is still massive. I'm looking at locking in some…

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Nottingham Giltbrook Exterior
Investing Articles

As the Marks & Spencer share price climbs 10%, is it time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Marks & Spencer share price has doubled in the past year after the company stormed back into the FTSE…

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

What would it take for the Lloyds share price to climb 5X?

| Alan Oscroft

We'd all love to find a five-bagger in our investments, wouldn't we? Could we see it from the Lloyds share…

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a couple embrace in front of their new home
Investing Articles

As the Persimmon share price rises, should we buy before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

The Persimmon share price is still down in the dumps after collapsing in 2022. But we have a flicker of…

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

Here’s why FTSE 100 dividend stocks could shine in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

Forecasts have been cut back a bit, but UK dividend stocks could still be set for the best few years…

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Mature couple at the beach
Investing Articles

Forget the State Pension, here’s how I want to plan my retirement

| Alan Oscroft

The UK State Pension can give us a start to retirement, and it's a nice thing to have. But the…

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Exterior of BT Group head office - One Braham, London
Investing Articles

As the BT share price jumps 6%, is it time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has made a good start to the day as the telecoms giant beat first-half expectations. Is…

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GSK scientist holding lab syringe
Investing Articles

Which is better value, the AstraZeneca or GSK share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The GSK share price has fallen behind in the past few years. But do Q3 earnings mean we should expect…

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

With 8%+ dividends, how long can these FTSE 100 passive income stocks stay cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

Investing in UK stocks for passive income? I am, and I see so many big yields out there I'm spoiled…

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

This beaten-down FTSE 250 growth stock just jumped 25%. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Growth investors haven't really had much to shout about in 2023. But could this FTSE-leading share price spike change all…

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Young Caucasian woman with pink her studying from her laptop screen
Investing Articles

The downtrodden Pearson share price is on the way up. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

With earnings growth and cash flow looking better, I wonder if the Pearson share price could be set for a…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

I’d buy 11,000 shares of this FTSE 100 financial stock to aim for £1,000 a month second income

| Alan Oscroft

What's the secret to earning a second income to help fund our retirement? For me, it's all about buying good…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

With the Lloyds share price in the dumps, should the bank be broken up?

| Alan Oscroft

What should investors want from a persistently low Lloyds share price, and what should the company do to boost shareholder…

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Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

Can the beaten-down Aviva share price ever reach £7 again?

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price has been disappointing investors for years. But there could be a return to earnings growth on…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

These beaten-down FTSE 100 stocks could get my money in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

As this year moves towards its close, I reckon I see more good value FTSE 100 stocks than I remember…

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Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Will the Rolls-Royce share price ever reach £5?

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price has never been as high as 500p. But given enough time, it must surely get there…

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Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

I’ll be buying these dirt cheap UK shares in any 2024 stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Will there be a stock market crash next year? I don't think so. But if there is, I've already decided…

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Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

The beaten-down NatWest share price just fell 10%. Is it a top contrarian buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

The NatWest share price fall just got worse, as Q3 figures disappointed. But might it just make it party time…

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Lady taking a bottle of Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise from a supermarket shelf
Investing Articles

Do Unilever share price falls make this a great value FTSE 100 buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

What should we do when a long-term cash-cow stock falls out of favour? That's what I'm asking about the Unilever…

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High flying easyJet women bring daughters to work to inspire next generation of women in STEM
Investing Articles

When can the beaten-down easyJet share price get back to 500p and more?

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price was above 500p in summer. And it's been a fair bit higher than that, even since…

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

Here’s why Fresnillo could be an overlooked FTSE 100 value stock right now

| Alan Oscroft

Value stocks can often be hidden from view by short-term ups and downs. And this candidate looks expensive in the…

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

This fallen FTSE 100 darling could be one of the best shares to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

Which are the best shares to buy as we approach the end of 2023 and a new year? I put…

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

Can FTSE 250 stocks trounce the FTSE 100 in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

Which is the better buy for 2024, the FTSE 100 or the FTSE 250? Volatility and safety are important, but…

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

5 expert tips for earning passive income from dividend stocks

| Alan Oscroft

There are many different ways to seek passive income. But for stocks and shares, the experts seem to have the…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

Stock market beginner? Here’s how I’d start a Stocks and Shares ISA today

| Alan Oscroft

Does the idea of starting a Stocks and Shares ISA sound like a challenging task and one only for experts?…

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

£10k in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn it into a second income of £500 a month

| Alan Oscroft

Would I prefer to spend a lump sum now, or invest it to try to secure a long-term second income?…

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Electric cars charging at a charging station
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Scottish Mortgage shares 2 years ago, I’d have this much now

| Alan Oscroft

I don't buy growth stocks very often. But right now, I think Scottish Mortgage shares might be just too cheap…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

3 top value FTSE 100 shares to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

I reckon FTSE 100 shares could be among the best stock market buys anywhere. And risky times are good times…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Darktrace shares at the start of 2023, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

It's been one of the boom-and-bust stocks of the past few years. But could Darktrace shares be set for a…

Read more »

Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Investing Articles

Are we headed for a new stock market crash? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Has anyone noticed that the experts are always predicting a new stock market crash, but mostly miss them when they…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

Why is the FTSE 100 down this week?

| Alan Oscroft

Why is the FTSE 100 up this week? Why is the FTSE 100 down this week? It gets asked all…

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Investing Articles

As the Hargreaves Lansdown share price falls, here’s why it’s on my buy list

| Alan Oscroft

The Hargreaves Lansdown share price has been dipping in 2023. How much lower could it go before I can't resist…

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Tesco employee helping female customer
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Tesco shares at the start of 2023, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco shares are one of 2023's FTSE 100 winners so far. But after a few ups and downs in recent…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Can lowering costs get Rolls-Royce shares growing again in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

The latest management update is making me think we could be moving into the next recovery phase for Rolls-Royce shares.

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Which are better to buy now, Lloyds shares or Barclays shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I like Lloyds shares, but then I also like Barclays. In fact, I like lots of FTSE 100 shares. Oh,…

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

3 hot FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying for 2024

| Alan Oscroft

There's a lot of news from FTSE 250 companies right now. Will we see a mid-cap stock surge, when the…

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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

As the THG share price climbs 6%, is it a best-buy growth stock?

| Alan Oscroft

Could shareholders be set to profit from a new bull run for the THG share price? Here's a look at…

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

Here’s how I use high-yield FTSE 100 shares to build a second income

| Alan Oscroft

There are some great Footsie dividends for earning a second income right now. But not all big yields are equally…

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