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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

Can Saga plc and Dignity plc help you to a happy retirement?

| Alan Oscroft

Saga plc (LON: SAGA) and Dignity plc (LON: DTY) are both down, but they could have great long-term potential.

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Investing Articles

2 turnaround stocks, and a 5% yielder, I’d buy today

| Alan Oscroft

Investing in these bombed-out shares is risky but could be profitable, and there's a tempting 5% dividend too.

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Investing Articles

After today’s 15% drop, is this momentum stock worth selling to buy Tullow Oil plc?

| Alan Oscroft

Tullow Oil plc (LON: TLW) looks like it's emerging from its troubles, but here's another that's crashing badly.

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Investing Articles

A soaring growth stock I’d buy ahead of Fevertree Drinks plc

| Alan Oscroft

Fevertree Drinks plc (LON: FEVR) shares have soared, but is this growth stock set to overtake them?

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Investing Articles

Is Sirius Minerals plc’s 35% share price slump a great buying opportunity for 2018?

| Alan Oscroft

Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX) shares have crashed since 2017's peak, so is it time to load up?

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy and hold dividend stocks GlaxoSmithKline plc & Taylor Wimpey plc

| Alan Oscroft

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON: GSK) and Taylor Wimpey plc (LON: TW) could be among the best dividend payers of the next…

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Investing Articles

Should you snap up Capita plc after 50% slump?

| Alan Oscroft

Capita plc (LON: CPI) shares have lost half their value, so is it time to buy?

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Investing Articles

Is Nanoco Group plc a small-cap growth stock to buy after soaring 50% today?

| Alan Oscroft

Shares in Nanoco Group plc (LON: NANO) surge on new nanotechnology contract.

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Investing Articles

Following the Footsie’s fall, here’s why I’d sell Tesco plc and buy Imperial Brands plc

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco plc (LON:TSCO) shares have climbed while Imperial Brands plc (LON:IMB) has fallen. Alan Oscroft thinks one of those is…

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Investing Articles

One future dividend stock I’d buy alongside Footsie star SSE plc

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a stock offering growing dividends, to nicely complement the 7.5% from SSE plc (LON: SSE)

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Investing Articles

Why the lowest Footsie level since 2016 means “Buy, buy, buy”

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why long-term investors should rejoice when the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) slumps.

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d buy Sky plc ahead of BT Group plc for 2018

| Alan Oscroft

BT Group plc (LON: BT.A) has had both good years plus some turbulence along the way and 2018 could see…

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Investing Articles

Why I’d buy Neil Woodford favourite Provident Financial plc today

| Alan Oscroft

Neil Woodford has invested serious money in Provident Financial plc (LON: PFG), and Alan Oscroft would too.

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Investing Articles

A small-cap growth stock I’d buy alongside Premier Oil plc in 2018

| Alan Oscroft

Premier Oil plc (LON: PMO) could finally be on the up, and here's another potential growth winner I'd buy too.

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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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