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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

One bargain growth stock I’d buy ahead of Boohoo.Com plc

| Alan Oscroft

Shares in Boohoo.Com plc (LON: BOO) have flown, but here's a potentially better bargain that could be just starting.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d sell Purplebricks Group plc to buy this growth stock

| Alan Oscroft

Purplebricks Group plc (LON: PURP) could have flown too far too soon, but here's a growth candidate that's yet to…

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Investing Articles

Should you buy Petra Diamonds Limited after a 15% jump today?

| Alan Oscroft

The latest update could mark a turnaround point for Petra Diamonds Limited (LON: PDL).

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy this progressive dividend stock alongside Legal & General Group plc

| Alan Oscroft

Legal & General Group plc (LON: LGEN) pays top dividends, and here's a long-term income stock that's a good match.

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Investing Articles

2 top turnaround stocks that could make you a millionaire

| Alan Oscroft

These two small-cap stocks could be on the verge of serious long-term profit growth.

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Investing Articles

2 ‘hidden’ small-cap stocks that could make you stinking rich

| Alan Oscroft

These two small-cap shares look like they've passed under the radar, and now could be a great time to buy.

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Investing Articles

2 bargain growth stocks offering rising dividends too

| Alan Oscroft

These are two very different stocks, but both offer strong growth plus progressive dividends.

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Investing Articles

A growth stock I’d buy alongside Hurricane Energy plc

| Alan Oscroft

Hurricane Energy plc (LON: HUR) has great potential, and here's another stock that could complement it well.

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Investing Articles

Two nicely progressive dividends that could make you rich

| Alan Oscroft

Dividends are great, but dividends that grow every year are even better. Here are two that might strengthen your portfolio.

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Investing Articles

2 sparkling small-cap stocks that could make you rich

| Alan Oscroft

Here's one small-cap that's just off the mark, and another that looks set for a profitable recovery.

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Investing Articles

Why I might sell Premier Oil plc to buy Sirius Minerals plc

| Alan Oscroft

Premier Oil plc (LON: PMO) and Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX) have headed in opposite directions, so what should I…

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Investing Articles

Is 88 Energy plc a falling knife to catch after dropping 40% in 4 days?

| Alan Oscroft

Oil and gas explorers can be volatile, but do the extreme ups and downs of 88 Energy plc (LON: 88E)…

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Investing Articles

Why I’d stock up on battered Ryanair Holdings plc this week

| Alan Oscroft

Don't you love to hate Ryanair Holdings plc (LON: RYA)? You shouldn't, because the shares could net you some big…

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy this biotechnology star alongside GlaxoSmithKline plc

| Alan Oscroft

This great growth prospect should nicely complement solid dividends from GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON: GSK).

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Investing Articles

Here’s how you really can beat the market and achieve financial independence

| Alan Oscroft

If anyone tells you that you can't beat the market, tell them to stick it up their returns.

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Investing Articles

How much longer can BP plc’s dividend hold out?

| Alan Oscroft

Will BP plc (LON: BP) make you, or could it lose you a fortune?

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Investing Articles

Just Eat plc could be the growth stock that will make you a million

| Alan Oscroft

The storming performance from Just Eat plc (LON: JE) could be the start of years of growth.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d drop Fevertree Drinks plc like a hot potato

| Alan Oscroft

Fevertree Drinks plc (LON: FEVR) could be the most overvalued stock on the whole market.

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Investing Articles

2 recovering growth stocks to help you achieve financial independence

| Alan Oscroft

These two bombed-out growth stocks could be set for a storming comeback.

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Investing Articles

Tesco plc is bouncing back, but I still wouldn’t buy it

| Alan Oscroft

If you think Tesco plc (LON: TSCO) shares are finally in bargain territory, I say think again.

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Airplane sitting on a runway
Investing Articles

These 2 battered stocks look set for a return to growth

| Alan Oscroft

These two hot recovery prospects certainly carry some risk, but they could provide great rewards for brave investors.

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Investing Articles

One dividend star I’d buy today, and one I’d sell

| Alan Oscroft

Here's one dividend that looks set to soar, and one that could come crashing down.

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Investing Articles

AA plc slumps 19% on executive chairman dismissal for “gross misconduct”

| Alan Oscroft

What does the surprise sacking of the boss mean for AA plc (LON: AA) as an investment?

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Investing Articles

2 dividend stocks I’d buy and hold for the next decade

| Alan Oscroft

When investing in dividend stocks, the future is more important than the present.

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Investing Articles

Down 20%: are SDL plc shares now an incredible bargain?

| Alan Oscroft

Should you buy "transformational" SDL plc (LON: SDL) shares after today's big drop?

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Investing Articles

2 gold stocks I’d buy today and hold forever

| Alan Oscroft

Holding gold could be a good move, but buying gold mining shares could be even better.

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Investing Articles

2 top dividend stocks I’d keep on buying

| Alan Oscroft

The best dividend shares are ones you'll want to keep topping up in the coming years.

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy HSBC Holdings plc today

| Alan Oscroft

Dividends at HSBC Holdings plc (LON: HSBA) could be under pressure, but here's why they could be worth snapping up…

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Investing Articles

Is Utilitywise plc a falling knife to catch after plunging 40% today?

| Alan Oscroft

Neil Woodford owns under-pressure Utilitywise plc (LON: UTW) shares, so should you join him in the search for a bargain?

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Investing Articles

BHP Billiton plc and Shire plc could be the FTSE 100’s best bargains

| Alan Oscroft

Now could be a great time to buy FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stalwarts BHP Billiton plc (LON: BLT) and Shire…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy FTSE 100 giant Royal Dutch Shell plc for its dividends today

| Alan Oscroft

Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON: RDSB) offers one of the best dividends in the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX), and it…

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Investing Articles

Is AstraZeneca plc a falling knife to catch after dropping 15% today?

| Alan Oscroft

AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN) could be one of best bargains of the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) right now.

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Investing Articles

Rathbone Brothers plc is a growth stock that could have far more to give

| Alan Oscroft

Rathbone Brothers plc (LON: RAT) shares have gained 50% in the past year, and show no signs of stopping.

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Investing Articles

2 top income stocks to help you to financial independence

| Alan Oscroft

Collecting and reinvesting these dividends could get you to a very comfortable retirement, quicker than you might think.

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Investing Articles

Should you buy this Neil Woodford FTSE 100 favourite?

| Alan Oscroft

Neil Woodford has been dipping into this FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) giant, so should you join him?

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Investing Articles

One outsourcing turnaround stock I’d sell and one I’d buy

| Alan Oscroft

Which of these fallen shares is the one set to return to growth, and which is the one to avoid?

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Unilever sign
Investing Articles

Is Unilever plc the FTSE 100’s best stock of all time?

| Alan Oscroft

Unilever plc (LON: ULVR) has climbed by 1,300% since 1988, massively beating the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX).

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Investing Articles

One turnaround miner I’d buy today, and one I’d sell

| Alan Oscroft

Here are two recovering mining stocks, one of which looks like a much better buy than the other.

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Investing Articles

How your retirement portfolio could be wrecked by inflation, and what to do about it

| Alan Oscroft

If you're planning your retirement portfolio, you need to take steps to deal with the effects of inflation.

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Investing Articles

2 hot growth stocks set to beat the Footsie

| Alan Oscroft

If you want to beat the Footsie average, one great way is to dig out the best growth shares.

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