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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

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

1 UK stock I love, and 1 FTSE 100 struggler I won’t touch

| Ben McPoland

This writer explains why he's buying one UK growth stock while avoiding the worst year-to-date performer in the FTSE 100…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

My top 2 growth stocks to consider for an ISA right now

| Ben McPoland

Many Nasdaq stocks look overvalued right now. But this pair seem reasonably priced given their long-term earnings growth potential.

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Small cap sticky note
Investing Articles

1 penny stock under 60p that could explode higher!

| Ben McPoland

Find out why this writer is bullish on one under-the-radar UK penny stock that's growing strongly in the renewable energy…

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Rear View Of Woman Holding Man Hand during travel in cappadocia
Investing Articles

Here’s how investing £700 a month could unlock a £48,000 second income

| Ben McPoland

Earning nearly £50k a year in dividends may sound like a pipe dream. Yet this writer reckons such a sizeable…

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Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Investing Articles

Why is everyone talking about Rolls-Royce shares?

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce's CEO reckons the company can grow to become the FTSE 100's largest as AI fuels a nuclear renaissance. But…

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

This ex-penny stock jumped 16% today! Should I buy it for my ISA?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer revisits a small-cap UK stock that he passed up on last year for his Stocks and Shares ISA.…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

1 UK penny stock that could be a hidden gem at 57p!

| Ben McPoland

Find out why our writer was so impressed with this innovative UK small-cap stock that he's decided to buy some…

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Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

Near $200, might Palantir stock become the next Microsoft?

| Ben McPoland

This writer is wondering if he should buy Palantir stock, just in case the AI firm goes on to become…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

1 world-class artificial intelligence (AI) stock to consider buying while it’s down

| Ben McPoland

Not all AI names are frothy and overhyped. Here's a dominant S&P 500 growth stock that I think is worth…

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Two female adult friends walking through the city streets at Christmas. They are talking and smiling as they do some Christmas shopping.
Investing Articles

15,100 shares in this FTSE 250 stock could unlock £2,000 a year in passive income 

| Ben McPoland

Our writer picks a cheap mid-cap dividend stock that he thinks could be a great source of passive income over…

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The words "what's your plan for retirement" written on chalkboard on pavement somewhere in London
Investing Articles

My SIPP portfolio is on fire so far in 2025! Should I be worried?

| Ben McPoland

Find out which top growth stocks have been powering our writer's DIY pension portfolio -- his SIPP -- and why…

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 investment trust has just smashed the S&P 500!

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights a FTSE 250 trust that has been easily outperforming its benchmark lately, with a helping hand from…

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Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Investing Articles

This growth stock just crashed 39% in my ISA! Here’s what I’m doing next

| Ben McPoland

While The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:TTD) has been a top-tier growth stock for many years, investors are worrying about rising competition.

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

This 79p penny share is up 66% year to date! Time to buy?

| Ben McPoland

The company behind this penny stock has just announced a £2m share buyback programme. Our writer digs into this online…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Should I sell my Rolls-Royce shares near £11?

| Ben McPoland

It has been a very lucrative few years for Rolls-Royce shareholders. But with the FTSE 100 stock at record levels,…

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Front view photo of a woman using digital tablet in London
Investing Articles

Meet the £3.56 dividend stock that’s forecast to smash Lloyds over the next 12 months 

| Ben McPoland

This cheap dividend growth stock surged by more than 19% yesterday, but City analysts still see it rising another 56%…

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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

My top Stocks and Shares ISA stock just rocketed 16%! 

| Ben McPoland

This incredible S&P 500 growth stock continues to make serious returns in my ISA portfolio. Here's why it jumped 16%…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

This S&P 500 stock could surge 55% in just 12 months, according to experts

| Ben McPoland

One particular S&P 500 biotech continues to stink out our writer's Stocks and Shares ISA. Is it time he chucked…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Down 9.6% after Q2 earnings, I’m watching this famous growth stock like a hawk

| Ben McPoland

One artificial intelligence-related growth stock continues to catch this investor's eye. But why has the market soured on its prospects?

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UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

5 FTSE 100 shares that have surprised everyone since 2020!

| Ben McPoland

No less than 30 different FTSE 100 shares have doubled over the past five years. Our writer highlights a quintet…

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Group of friends meet up in a pub
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to target a £5,000 monthly passive income?

| Ben McPoland

Discover how making regular investments into the stock market can mushroom into a sizeable passive income portfolio over time.

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

Meet the FTSE 100 juggernaut that’s smashing Nvidia shares in 2025! 

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce (LON:RR) has done it yet again, and the shares were on the move in the FTSE 100 today. But…

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Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

Why I’m betting on Ferrari over Tesla stock

| Ben McPoland

Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) and Tesla are arguably not car stocks at all. Rather, they're in the business of luxury goods and…

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Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Investing Articles

Meet the £2.71 UK stock that’s forecast to smash Rolls-Royce shares in the next 12 months

| Ben McPoland

City analysts reckon this FTSE 250 stock can jump 55% over the next year. If so, that could easily outperform…

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

Here’s why BAE Systems, JD Sports, and HSBC shares all fell 3% today

| Ben McPoland

HSBC is an Asia-focused bank, JD Sports sells trainers, and BAE is in defence. So why are all three FTSE…

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Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

What I wish I knew before investing in the stock market

| Ben McPoland

Our writer talks about a couple of mistakes he made when first investing in the stock market, and how he…

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Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Greggs shares 1 week ago is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

Greggs is a beloved brand with loyal customers and continues to invest for long-term expansion. So why is this investor…

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

Here are the latest forecast dividend yields for Sainsbury’s and Tesco shares

| Ben McPoland

Our writer takes a look at the dividend yields of the UK's two leading supermarkets to help him decide which…

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Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

Should I buy Palantir stock before 4 August?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer is wondering if it's time for him to add Palantir stock to his portfolio, just in case it…

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Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

How I’m positioning my ISA and SIPP for the AI revolution

| Ben McPoland

Artificial intelligence is almost certainly going to transform multiple industries. Ben McPoland explains his strategy for his ISA and SIPP.

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Abstract 3d arrows with rocket
Investing Articles

Up 65% since April, is this ex-penny share ready to rocket higher?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland looks at Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE), a former penny share that has exploded skywards in the past three months.…

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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

My favourite UK stock rose 5% today and topped the FTSE 100 index!

| Ben McPoland

The Games Workshop (LON:GAW) share price jumped over 5% in the FTSE 100 index today. Our writer takes a closer…

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

This green energy share just jumped 44% on the London Stock Exchange! Time to buy?

| Ben McPoland

There are plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in the London Stock Exchange. Might this surging FTSE share…

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

Down 47% and 29%! Here are the 2 worst-performing FTSE 100 dividend stocks of 2025

| Ben McPoland

Buying unloved shares can really turbocharge a portfolio, if and when they mount a comeback. What about these two struggling…

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photo of Union Jack flags bunting in local street party
Investing Articles

This cheap FTSE stock could jump 27%, according to brokers

| Ben McPoland

Our writer highlights one cheap small-cap stock that appears well set up to actually grow amid all the economic doom…

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Investing Articles

2 top FTSE 100 stocks to consider buying in August

| Ben McPoland

This pair of high-quality FTSE 100 stocks look decent value to our writer, despite the blue-chip index's recent jump higher.

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Blue NIO sports car in Oslo showroom
Investing Articles

Down 92%! Should I buy NIO stock at $5 before September?

| Ben McPoland

NIO stock’s trading below its IPO price of $6.26, yet the Chinese electric vehicle firm continues to grow strongly (unlike…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

Should I buy Apple for my Stocks and Shares ISA in August?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer’s never owned Apple stock. With the share price down 14% year to date, is now the time for…

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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

At 85p, is ITV a bargain value stock hiding in plain sight?

| Ben McPoland

The FTSE 250 broadcaster impressed investors with its first-half results last week. Should I now buy this dividend-paying value stock?

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Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

Up 84% and down 53%! 2 innovative growth stocks on my ISA watchlist

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland has been keeping an eye on these two growth stocks. After one has surged and the other crashed,…

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