Member Login
  1. Authors
    2. /
  2. Alan Oscroft
    3. /

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

Neil Woodford’s best stocks of 2017 so far

| Alan Oscroft

Here are three top picks from Neil Woodford's 2017 share portfolio that show the importance of a long-term view.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 big FTSE 250 dividends I’d definitely avoid right now

| Alan Oscroft

Big dividends are usually wonderful, but there are some I'd steer well clear of.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 growth stocks I’d buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

The next few years could see rich pickings among growth shares.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 FTSE 250 dividend stocks I’d buy in February

| Alan Oscroft

Can you afford to miss these FTSE 250 (INDEXFTSE:MCX) income shares?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how you could retire as a millionaire

| Alan Oscroft

Why be a pensioner pauper when you can be a millionaire instead?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s why BP plc shares could soon hit 600p

| Alan Oscroft

BP plc (LON: BP) shares last hit 600p in 2010. When will it happen again?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 350 shares you should consider buying today

| Alan Oscroft

Check out these latest great FTSE 350 (INDEXFTSE:NMX) results.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Should you buy Lloyds Banking Group plc before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

Are Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON: LLOY) shares so cheap you should dive in now?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 seriously undervalued stocks I’d buy before it’s too late

| Alan Oscroft

It's not often we see a whole sector so badly undervalued.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Should you buy these 3 great dividend stocks in February?

| Alan Oscroft

There should be news of some great dividends coming our way in February.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 100 shares I’d buy in February

| Alan Oscroft

You shouldn't miss these top company results coming our way next month.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 attractive dividend shares I’d buy in February

| Alan Oscroft

Watch out for great dividends among companies reporting in February.

Read more »

Investing Articles

After BT Group plc’s shock profit warning, is Vodafone Group plc next?

| Alan Oscroft

Should Vodafone Group plc investors be worrying after BT Group plc shares slump?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 attractive growth shares I’d buy in February

| Alan Oscroft

There could be some nice growth stock bargains among February's results.

Read more »

Investing Articles

5 facts you didn’t know about dividends

| Alan Oscroft

Dividends can put your investment performance ahead of the crowd.

Read more »

Investing Articles

5 smart ISA moves you can make in 2017

| Alan Oscroft

It's getting close to ISA allowance time again, so what should you do?

Read more »

Investing Articles

One stock market sector I’d buy in 2017, and one I’d avoid

| Alan Oscroft

What does hard Brexit mean for the FTSE's sectors, and which ones will be most affected?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 attractive small-cap stocks for less than a pound

| Alan Oscroft

Look no further if you want three great small-cap investing ideas.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Which stocks should you buy to avoid a hard Brexit?

| Alan Oscroft

It's going to be a hard Brexit, so how should your stock selection change?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 top picks for a 2017 starter portfolio

| Alan Oscroft

Here are three shares that could make a great start to your investing career.

Read more »

Investing Articles

What should you do with short-term ISA cash?

| Alan Oscroft

Do you have cash in your ISA just waiting for a bargain? You could be damaging your returns.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is Lloyds Banking Group plc really facing a dividend cut in 2017?

| Alan Oscroft

Will the cash be slashed at Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON: LLOY)?

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 stocks that could double in 2017

| Alan Oscroft

Could you really double your money this year? Check the prospects for these three shares.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Barclays plc: what to expect in 2017

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why Barclays plc (LON: BARC) could be the bank to watch in 2017.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 stocks I reckon could crash in 2017

| Alan Oscroft

Here are three shares that Alan Oscroft thinks are overvalued at the end of 2016.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will the FTSE finally reach 8,000 in 2017?

| Alan Oscroft

Will the 'lost decade' for FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stocks finally end in 2017?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Who’ll turn out to be the 2016 winner, Warren Buffett or Neil Woodford?

| Alan Oscroft

How do you shape up against experts Warren Buffett and Neil Woodford?

Read more »

Investing Articles

2016 in review: Barclays plc

| Alan Oscroft

Is Barclays plc (LON:BARC) ending the year as the best bank on offer?

Read more »

Investing Articles

My 3 top dividend stocks for Christmas

| Alan Oscroft

Tucking away some tasty dividends for Christmas can help you to a prosperous New Year.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Sirius Minerals plc shares are now back to hot bargain prices

| Alan Oscroft

If you thought you'd missed the boat with Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX), you're in with a second chance.

Read more »

Investing Articles

3 growth shares to buy for 2017

| Alan Oscroft

Are these three of the best growth bargains for the year ahead?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why Sky plc shareholders should resist 21st Century Fox’s attack

| Alan Oscroft

21st Century Fox swoops on Sky plc, but is it in shareholders' interests?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will Christmas dinner kill off Tesco plc?

| Alan Oscroft

What will the festive season say about the future of Tesco plc (LON: TSCO)?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Do Berkeley Group Holdings plc results signal a housing crash?

| Alan Oscroft

Do falling reservations at Berkeley Group Holdings plc (LON: BKG) mean we're heading for a housing bear market?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Better Buy: Barclays plc vs HSBC Holdings plc?

| Alan Oscroft

Are Barclays plc (LON: BARC) shares a better buy than HSBC Holdings plc (LON: HSBA)?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Are these the FTSE 100’s best income shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Whatever the state of the market, shares paying high dividends are always attractive.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is Sage Group plc or Biffa plc the better investment after today’s results?

| Alan Oscroft

Is the established Sage Group plc (LON: SGE) or stock market newcomer Biffa plc (LON: BIFF) the better investment?

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why I still wouldn’t touch Tesco plc or J Sainsbury plc shares

| Alan Oscroft

Teco plc (LON: TSCO) shares are bouncing back, but buying them or J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) could be perilous.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why Aviva plc is still my pick of the insurance sector

| Alan Oscroft

The whole insurance sector looks cheap, and Aviva plc (LON: AV) could be the cheapest.

Read more »

Investing Articles

A 10-year pay squeeze could spell trouble for these big retail stocks

| Alan Oscroft

Discretionary spending is facing a squeeze, so should you keep away from upmarket retailers?

Read more »