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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

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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Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
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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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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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
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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Older couple walking in park
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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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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Man riding the bus alone
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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UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
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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UK supporters with flag
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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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

The St James’s Place (STJ) share price just jumped 25%. Here’s what you need to know

| Alan Oscroft

After a terrible few years, this latest news suggests the St James's Place share price could finally be on the…

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Investing Articles

Do these H1 results make the Fresnillo share price look dirt cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

The Fresnillo share price has been volatile as the prices of gold and silver have been up and down. Here's…

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Young happy white woman loading groceries into the back of her car
Investing Articles

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

| Alan Oscroft

The Ocado share price has collapsed from its dizzying heights during the pandemic. I wonder if it might be set…

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Investing Articles

After a tough time, analysts expect a big earnings bounce for this FTSE 100 stock

| Alan Oscroft

Will earnings really double by 2026? Well, that's what the City analysts think could happen with this FTSE 100 company.

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Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

Here’s where I think the Aviva share price might end 2024

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price is doing well in 2024, with a solid set of Q1 results. With interim results soon,…

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

What next for the ITV share price, after H1 results sent it down?

| Alan Oscroft

The ITV share price is well ahead in 2024, despite a stumble over H1 results. And I think the recovery…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

How could I turn an empty ISA into a £40k a year passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

No matter how much we can afford to invest, if we want to build some passive income there's one key…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy these investment trusts right now for my 2024 ISA

| Alan Oscroft

Most of my Stocks and Shares ISA cash could go into investment trusts this year. But I need to narrow…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

3 top FTSE dividend stocks to consider buying before it’s too late

| Alan Oscroft

When's the best time to buy dividend stocks? Surely it's when their share prices are low and the yields are…

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

How I’d invest £10,000 in FTSE shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

Putting a chunk of cash into FTSE shares today, I'd look for a mix of UK dividend income and US…

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Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

The Rolls-Royce share price is down 10% since a 52-week high. Is this a buying dip?

| Alan Oscroft

H1 results from Rolls-Royce are just around the corner, but what might they mean for the share price? I expect…

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Investing Articles

A £20k Stocks and Shares ISA put into a FTSE 250 tracker 10 years ago could be worth this much now

| Alan Oscroft

The idea of a Stocks and Shares ISA can scare a lot of people away. But here's a way to…

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

What next for the Lloyds share price, after a 25% climb in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

First-half results didn't do much to help the Lloyds Bank share price. What might the rest of the year and…

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Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

As the NatWest share price jumps 7% on H1 results, here’s what you need to know

| Alan Oscroft

The NatWest share price had already reached a 52-week high before Friday's H1 results report. And it's now set a…

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

As the Anglo American share price holds up on H1 results, should I buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Failed takeover attempts and major restructuring all affect the Anglo American share price. Here's what's happening at H1 time.

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

As the Vodafone share price holds firm on Q1 earnings, I’m tempted to buy

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone share price has been sliding for years, but it must bottom out some time, surely? Q1 results show…

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Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

As easyJet predicts a record summer, is the share price primed for take-off?

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price has had a disappointing year so far in 2024. But soaring summer bookings might just change…

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Female Doctor In White Coat Having Meeting With Woman Patient In Office
Investing Articles

Here’s why H1 results could boost the AstraZeneca share price

| Alan Oscroft

The AstraZeneca share price has been a success story in the past five years. With H1 results due, can it…

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