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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

Investing Articles

Should you buy this Carillion competitor after today’s 15% surge?

| Alan Oscroft

Carillion plc (LON:CLLN) might have collapsed, but there can still be great bargains in the outsourcing and construction sector.

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Investing Articles

2 multibagging growth stocks I’d buy today and hold for a decade

| Alan Oscroft

When a growth share has soared, it's always tempting to sell. But often you'd do better if you bought more.

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Investing Articles

Forget Purplebricks Group plc, here’s a high-growth stock that could trounce it in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Purplebricks Group plc (LON: PURP) shares have soared, but here's one that could do better in 2018.

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Investing Articles

Why I think Interserve plc could go the way of Carillion in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Could outsourcing fever spread to Interserve plc (LON: IRV) and send it the way of Carillion?

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Investing Articles

My biggest investing mistake, and how you can avoid it

| Alan Oscroft

I've made plenty of mistakes in my investment career, but this one is undoubtedly the most costly.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy Associated British Foods plc to complement Unilever plc in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Are Associated British Foods plc (LON: ABF) and Unilever plc (LON: ULVR) a marriage made in heaven?

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Investing Articles

2 dividend investment trusts with yields that beat the FTSE 100

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) looks set for a cracking year of dividends, but you could easily beat it.

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Investing Articles

Two 7% dividend stocks I’d buy and hold forever

| Alan Oscroft

Reliable dividend yields of 7% don't come along every day, so we should snap them up when they do.

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Investing Articles

A challenger bank that could beat HSBC Holdings plc in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

HSBC Holdings plc (LON: HSBA) looks like an attractive investment, but this challenger bank could be even better.

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Investing Articles

2 multi-bagging growth stocks I’d buy for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

It looks like 2018 could be a great year for growth investors. Here are two high-flying stocks for you to…

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Investing Articles

Is Utilitywise plc a falling knife to catch after crashing 20% today?

| Alan Oscroft

Utilitywise plc (LON: UTW) has shocked the markets with another big fall. Is it finally time to buy?

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Investing Articles

Here’s why the FTSE 100 could soon crash through the 8,000 barrier

| Alan Oscroft

Do you think the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) is overvalued after its recent surge? Think again.

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Investing Articles

A small-cap growth stock that could beat the FTSE 100’s best in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

There are plenty of hidden growth stocks if you look outside of the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX).

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Airplane sitting on a runway
Investing Articles

A small-cap stock I’d buy alongside Rolls-Royce Holding plc for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

With manufacturing output rising, Rolls-Royce Holding plc (LON: RR) and the whole engineering sector could be in for a healthy…

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Investing Articles

Forget about Boohoo.Com plc, here’s a fashion stock that could trounce it in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Boohoo.Com plc (LON: BOO) shares are soaring, but could they be heading for a crash?

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Investing Articles

A rising oil stock I’d buy alongside IGAS Energy plc for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

With oil prices rising, 2018 could be a great year for oil & gas explorers like IGAS Energy plc (LON:…

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Investing Articles

Why Lidl’s success would make me dump J Sainsbury plc

| Alan Oscroft

J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) is doing well, but the cheap competition is doing so much better.

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Investing Articles

Why British American Tobacco plc could be the buy of 2018

| Alan Oscroft

The already positive 2018 outlook for British American Tobacco plc (LON: BATS) just got better.

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Investing Articles

Why 2018 should be a great year for BP plc and Royal Dutch Shell plc

| Alan Oscroft

The tough years could finally be over in 2018 for BP plc (LON: BP) and Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:…

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Investing Articles

My top 3 FTSE 100 stocks for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Which FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stocks will do best in 2018? These three must be in with a chance.

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Investing Articles

Why Barclays plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc could be the banks to watch in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Sentiment towards Barclays plc (LON: BARC) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON: RBS) is improving, and it could…

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Investing Articles

How to save over £1 million by retirement, starting in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Don't believe you can retire as a millionaire through careful saving and sensible investment? Think again.

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Investing Articles

Here’s why the FTSE 100 is a great place to invest for 2018 and beyond

| Alan Oscroft

Even through turbulent times, the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) is likely to beat other investments hands down.

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dividend scrabble piece spelling
Investing Articles

My top 3 dividend stocks for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a slightly contrarian look at some income prospects for 2018.

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Investing Articles

Can Halma plc’s growth by acquisition bag you a million?

| Alan Oscroft

Growth at Halma plc (LON: HLMA) has been impressive, but how sustainable is it?

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Investing Articles

A multibagging growth stock I’d sell today, and one I’d buy

| Alan Oscroft

When a stock has already multibagged, it can be hard knowing whether to buy or sell.

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Investing Articles

IQE plc set to trounce market expectations

| Alan Oscroft

IQE plc (LON: IQE) shares have soared, but can expectations-beating results drive them even further?

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy Legal & General plc and Old Mutual plc ASAP!

| Alan Oscroft

Insurance firms like Legal & General plc (LON: LGEN) and Old Mutual plc (LON: OML) could be set for a…

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Investing Articles

Is 2018 the year UK Oil & Gas Investments plc will take off?

| Alan Oscroft

UK Oil & Gas Investments plc (LON: UKOG) shares have faded in late 2017, but that might be about to…

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Investing Articles

A Neil Woodford recovery stock I’d buy alongside AstraZeneca plc

| Alan Oscroft

Bolstering the risk of smaller-cap stocks by combining them with giants like AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN) could be a winning…

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Investing Articles

Why WPP plc could be a better FTSE 100 bargain than Lloyds Banking Group plc

| Alan Oscroft

Dividends from FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stalwart Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON: LLOY) look great, but WPP plc (LON: WPP) shares…

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy this growth stock alongside Sirius Minerals plc

| Alan Oscroft

This rapidly growing stock could be a solid portfolio partner for Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX).

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Investing Articles

Why I’d avoid Tesco plc and buy this 9% dividend yield instead

| Alan Oscroft

Why settle for low dividend yields from Tesco plc (LON: TSCO) when there's so much more on offer?

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Investing Articles

Is Daily Mail and General Trust plc a falling knife to catch after sinking 25% today?

| Alan Oscroft

Daily Mail and General Trust plc (LON: DMGT) falls to pre-tax loss, shares crash.

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Investing Articles

A growth and dividend stock I’d buy alongside Imperial Brands plc

| Alan Oscroft

Imperial Brands plc (LON: IMB) offers big yields today, and here's a progressive dividend stock that could complement it nicely.

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Investing Articles

A small-cap recovery stock I’d buy ahead of Carillion plc

| Alan Oscroft

Carillion plc (LSE: CLLN) could still be too risky to buy right now. Here's a small-cap alternative that could make…

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Investing Articles

Two growing dividend stocks that could soon yield 6%+

| Alan Oscroft

Here are two opportunities to lock-in potentially long-term rising dividends today.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d sell this turnaround stock to buy a ‘secret’ FTSE 100 growth stock

| Alan Oscroft

From small-caps to the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX), there are growth opportunities to be found everywhere.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d consider buying Zanaga Iron Ore Co Ltd after three-bagging in a month

| Alan Oscroft

Zanaga Iron Ore Co Ltd (LON: ZIOC) is sitting on resources that could make it worth a lot more.

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Investing Articles

A small-cap growth stock I’d buy alongside Premier Oil plc

| Alan Oscroft

Could 2018 be the year Premier Oil plc (LON: PMO) and other oil and gas explorers come in from the…

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