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Ben McPoland

Ben is an investment writer who has contributed more than 1,800 articles for The Motley Fool UK. He has been managing his own ISA and SIPP portfolios for over a decade, focusing on high-quality companies benefitting from powerful growth trends. His favourite investing quote comes from Peter Lynch: “The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.”

Recent Articles

Investing Articles

How I’d invest £20,000 in UK shares to target £1,500 a year in passive income

| Ben McPoland

Right now, UK shares offer a golden opportunity to build amazing high-yield passive income from scratch. Our writer explains how…

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The Troat Inn on River Cherwell in Oxford. England
Investing Articles

If I put £10,150 into this dividend stock, it could pay me a £1,000 yearly second income

| Ben McPoland

This Fool is wondering whether he should start loading up on this FTSE 100 stock to aim for an ultra-high-yield…

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Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

1 world-class FTSE 100 stock to buy for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution

| Ben McPoland

AI systems need data and lots of it. Fortunately, this FTSE firm has mountains of it. Here's why it's a…

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View of Tower Bridge in Autumn
Investing Articles

This high-flying FTSE 100 stock should easily survive a UK recession

| Ben McPoland

Some FTSE 100 stocks are more likely than others to shrug off an economic downturn. Here's one that looks like…

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Mature people enjoying time together during road trip
Investing Articles

Would I buy Aston Martin or Ferrari shares for my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Ben McPoland

There's been a huge contrast in the returns from these two luxury carmakers. Which one is the better buy today…

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Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

This unloved FTSE 100 stock is the cheapest it’s been in 12 years!

| Ben McPoland

FTSE 100 stock Diageo has been out of favour with investors for quite some time. Here's why it might now…

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White ladder leaning on red wall with cut out heart shape.
Investing Articles

FTSE 250 dividend shares I adore: Games Workshop

| Ben McPoland

This investor pens a Valentine's Day letter to the FTSE 250 stock he's loved the most. But is he still…

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Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

Should I buy Rolls-Royce at £3? Here’s what the charts say

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce shares have been around £3 for a fair few weeks now. Is that good value or not? Our writer…

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British union jack flag and Parliament house at city of Westminster in the background
Investing Articles

History suggests the stock market will do this after the next UK general election in 2024

| Ben McPoland

What might happen to the stock market after the next general election? Ben McPoland takes a look and highlights one…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

3 ways to invest in booming artificial intelligence (AI) growth stocks

| Ben McPoland

AI looks set to transform the world over the next decade. Here are three options for investors to consider for…

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Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

I’d buy 20,618 shares of this high-yield FTSE stock for £150 a month in passive income

| Ben McPoland

Our writer thinks this FTSE 250 dividend stock looks like a very attractive candidate to try and generate passive income…

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Art concept depicting the year 2024 with a bullseye target in place of the zero
Investing Articles

1 penny stock I’m buying for the last time at 10p!

| Ben McPoland

This under-the-radar penny stock has tremendous potential but is very risky. Here's why I'm making one final purchase of shares…

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Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

Here’s how many ITV shares I’d need for a £2,000 a year passive second income

| Ben McPoland

This Fool is wondering how much he'd need to invest in this well-known FTSE 250 broadcaster to try and generate…

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Art concept depicting the year 2024 with a bullseye target in place of the zero
Value Shares

2 FTSE value stocks that are simply too cheap to ignore!

| Ben McPoland

A pair of value stocks trading at bargain basement prices from the blue-chip and mid-cap indexes have caught this Fool's…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 earnings: why did the AstraZeneca share price fall 7%?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer considers the reasons for AstraZeneca's fall in the FTSE 100 today and explains why he isn't too worried…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Investing Articles

Should I buy Aston Martin shares as the FTSE 250 firm seeks a new CEO?

| Ben McPoland

The Aston Martin share price has been on a rollercoaster ride over the last 12 months. Is the FTSE 250…

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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10,000 in Nvidia stock at the start of 2024, here’s what I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

Nvidia stock was the standout winner in 2023 as the AI chipmaker's profits surged quarter after quarter. It's also made…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Ferrari’s up 45%! Should I invest more money in this top growth stock?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland takes a look at a well-known growth stock that's tripled in value over the last five years. What's…

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Hand is turning a dice and changes the direction of an arrow symbolizing that the value of an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is going up (or vice versa)
Investing Articles

Why bother picking stocks when I can just invest in ETFs?

| Ben McPoland

This writer explains why he chooses to invest his money in the shares of individual companies rather than passive index…

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Electric cars charging at a charging station
Investing Articles

I’d buy 2,504 shares of this FTSE 250 investment trust for £1,000 in yearly passive income

| Ben McPoland

Our writer thinks one FTSE 250 investment is perfectly placed to offer rising income and share price growth as the…

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Young Caucasian girl showing and pointing up with fingers number three against yellow background
Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 100 stocks that easily pass the ‘snap test’

| Ben McPoland

Our writer takes a look at a trio of FTSE 100 stocks that would be sorely missed if they vanished…

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Diverse group of friends cheering sport at bar together
Investing Articles

8.1% dividend yield! Should I snap up ITV shares after the latest ‘buy’ rating?

| Ben McPoland

This well-known FTSE 250 stock is currently carrying a monster dividend yield and just got the nod of approval from…

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Female Tesco employee holding produce crate
Investing Articles

Here’s how many Tesco shares I’d need for £100 a month in passive income

| Ben McPoland

This Fool considers how many shares of the UK's leading supermarket he'd need to buy in order to try and…

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A senior group of friends enjoying rowing on the River Derwent
Investing Articles

3 secrets of ISA stock market millionaires

| Ben McPoland

Investing in the stock market has proven to be an ideal way of generating significant long-term wealth for thousands of…

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British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

These were the best performers on the FTSE 100 in January

| Ben McPoland

The FTSE 100 might have got off to a slow start this year, but these top-performing stocks certainly didn't. Why…

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The Troat Inn on River Cherwell in Oxford. England
Investing Articles

What’s going on with the Diageo share price after H1 earnings?

| Ben McPoland

The Diageo share price has been struggling recently due to weaker sales in the Americas and uncertainty about the global…

Read more »

One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

Here’s a 28p FTSE stock that has the potential to reach £1

| Ben McPoland

Our writer takes a look at a high-flying FTSE small-cap stock that is up once again today following a bullish…

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Young Woman Drives Car With Dog in Back Seat
Investing Articles

Is Pets at Home a FTSE 250 stock worth buying after its Q3 update?

| Ben McPoland

This FTSE 250 pet stock is down slightly today after the company released a mixed trading update. Is this now…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Greggs shares 5 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

Greggs shares have done incredibly well over many time frames. But is this well-known FTSE 250 stock still worth buying…

Read more »

British union jack flag and Parliament house at city of Westminster in the background
Investing Articles

I’d buy 7,027 shares of Legal & General stock for £1,500 in yearly passive income

| Ben McPoland

This writer thinks Legal & General is still one of the very best dividends around for generating ultra-high-yield passive income…

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The Mall in Westminster, leading to Buckingham Palace
Investing Articles

How much passive income could I get from the UK stock market in 2024?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer considers how much he could expect to yield this year by investing in dividend shares listed on the…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

3 high-growth stocks that could reach $1 trillion in 10 years — or sooner

| Ben McPoland

A handful of growth stocks have achieved trillion dollar valuations in recent years. Here are three this Fool thinks will…

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The Milky Way at night, over Porthgwarra beach in Cornwall
Investing Articles

No passive income right now? I’d follow these 3 timeless Warren Buffett lessons

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights three things that Warren Buffett looks for in a stock, and names one he reckons matches this…

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BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.
Investing Articles

I’m buying these cheap shares yielding 5.4% for my ISA in February

| Ben McPoland

Our writer explains why these cheap shares have made it onto his buy list despite already being in his Stocks…

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Electric cars charging at a charging station
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10,000 in Tesla stock 6 months ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

Tesla stock doubled in 2023 as tech shares rebounded strongly. But it hasn't had the greatest start to 2024. What's…

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has 100% of his FTSE 100-listed fund in these 8 stocks

| Ben McPoland

This unsung FTSE 100 trust has delivered truly mouthwatering returns over the last five years, yet still trades at a…

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Electric cars charging in station
Investing Articles

Should I buy NIO stock at a 52-week low?

| Ben McPoland

Despite the resurgent US market, NIO stock is once again languishing. Is it finally time to load up on shares…

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Tabletop model of a bear sat on desk in front of monitors showing stock charts
Investing Articles

My ISA is ready for a 2024 stock market correction

| Ben McPoland

This investor reveals which well-recognised FTSE 100 share he's planning to buy more of if the stock market corrects this…

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Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares downgraded to ‘sell’ rating! Time to worry?

| Ben McPoland

The investment rating of Rolls-Royce shares was downgraded recently by a top broker. Shareholder Ben McPoland considers what to do…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

If I invest £10,000 in National Grid shares, how much passive income would I receive?

| Ben McPoland

National Grid is a well-loved FTSE 100 dividend stock that pays passive income into the portfolios of many UK investors…

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