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James Beard

After studying Business Economics at the University of Leicester, James completed a Master's degree in Development Economics. He then joined an accountancy firm in London and went on to qualify as a chartered accountant. James finished his career in practice as a Senior Assurance Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Middle East. He has since held various senior finance positions - mainly in SMEs but also in an AIM-listed company - in the energy, engineering and manufacturing sectors, both in the UK and Ireland. He is now a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and joined The Motley Fool in September 2023. James invests primarily in UK stocks through his Stocks and Shares ISA and Self-Invested Personal Pension Plan. He enjoys using his accountancy training to review annual reports and earnings releases in an attempt to identify potentially undervalued companies. He also likes dividend stocks and follows the tried and tested approach of reinvesting all of the income he earns buying more shares. His favourite investment quote comes from Warren Buffett. He once said: “Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks."

Recent Articles

Close-up of children holding a planet at the beach
Investing Articles

The HSBC share price doesn’t know what to do after the bank releases its 2024 results

| James Beard

The HSBC share price had a mixed start to trading today after investors digested the bank’s latest results. Our writer…

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Inflation in newspapers
Investing Articles

£276bn worth of reasons to invest in UK shares?

| James Beard

Our writer prefers investing in UK shares to holding cash. However, he acknowledges that this approach does carry some risks.

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Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

This FTSE stock tanked 58% last week. But there could be some good news!

| James Beard

Shares in John Wood Group plunged after the FTSE engineering stock released a trading update. But our writer thinks there…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100’s full of passive income opportunities to consider!

| James Beard

Our writer believes it’s wrong to overlook home-grown passive income opportunities, especially those in the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX).

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

Could this 15%-yielding dividend stock double an investor’s money in 5 years?

| James Beard

Our writer has found a dividend stock that offers an amazing yield. But can such a generous level of passive…

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

NatWest has just smashed brokers’ dividend forecasts!

| James Beard

After NatWest delivered a Valentine’s Day surprise to investors, our writer thinks the experts may have to raise their dividend…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Prediction: the BP share price could rise in 2025 (or it might fall!)

| James Beard

Following this week’s release of the energy giant’s 2024 results, our writer reviews the prospects for the BP (LSE:BP.) share…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

What’s gone wrong with the FTSE 100’s ‘King of Trainers’?

| James Beard

Feeling the pain of a 28% drop in the JD Sports share price over the past three months, our writer…

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Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

Is Warren Buffett right about this 1 thing when it comes to Lloyds shares?

| James Beard

With the words of Warren Buffett ringing in his ears, our writer considers whether the Lloyds share price will do…

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Investing Articles

Why is the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price up 10% today?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the reasons why the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price is the AIM 100’s best performer today.

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Up 14% today! Here’s one growth stock that Elon Musk likes

| James Beard

A UK growth stock has signed another contract with SpaceX. But does this mean it deserves a place in my…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Why I think this month could be critical for the Lloyds share price!

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he thinks the bank's 2024 results will have a significant impact on the short-term direction of…

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UK money in a Jar on a background
Investing Articles

With a 10.1% yield, should I buy this FTSE 250 income stock?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at an income stock that’s kept its dividend unchanged for five years. But is it high enough…

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Happy couple showing relief at news
Investing Articles

The Bank of England’s slashed its growth forecast but the FTSE 100 doesn’t seem to care!

| James Beard

On the day the UK’s central bank halved its forecast for growth in 2025, the FTSE 100 reached a record…

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Emma Raducanu for Vodafone billboard animation at Piccadilly Circus, London
Investing Articles

With Q3 revenue up 5%, why does the Vodafone share price keep falling?

| James Beard

Despite reporting a rise in sales, the Vodafone share price fell 7%. Our writer looks at the reasons why the…

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

Should I buy this dividend stock that one analyst says is 210% undervalued?

| James Beard

Our writer can’t ignore a claim that this high-yielding dividend stock’s also massively undervalued. But does this sound too good…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Could ‘going nuclear’ power the Rolls-Royce share price to £10?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at a smaller version of an old technology that some think could help push the Rolls-Royce…

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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

This FTSE 250 stock’s worth more than Greggs! How mad is that?

| James Beard

Our writer’s left scratching his head after learning that a loss-making FTSE 250 stock is valued more highly than a…

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Golden hand holding Number 2 foil balloon.
Investing Articles

2 bargain FTSE 100 shares that I already own!

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at his own portfolio and identifies two FTSE 100 stocks he thinks offer tremendous value…

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estate agent welcoming a couple to house viewing
Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use £20,000 of savings to target £1,289 a month of passive income!

| James Beard

Our writer demonstrates how it’s possible to a generate a healthy level of passive income from a portfolio of FTSE…

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Older couple walking in park
Investing Articles

With DeepSeek on the scene, should investors ‘go retro’ with their Stocks and Shares ISAs?

| James Beard

The arrival of a new AI model has caused mayhem in the tech sector. Does this mean a more old-fashioned…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

Dr Martens’ shares get a kicking after the bootmaker’s latest update

| James Beard

Dr Martens' share price was down after the company’s Q3 trading update. Our writer thinks now’s the time to address…

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High flying easyJet women bring daughters to work to inspire next generation of women in STEM
Investing Articles

The easyJet share price hits a little turbulence despite a positive trading update

| James Beard

The easyJet share price didn’t respond well to the airline’s update for the quarter ended 31 December. Our writer tries…

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

As Trump enters the White House, this UK share looks at least 19% undervalued to me!

| James Beard

On the day that Donald Trump takes office for the second time, our writer thinks there’s one UK share that…

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Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

Up 23% today! Has the death of this FTSE stock been greatly exaggerated?

| James Beard

Investors reacted well to the latest trading update from this FTSE stock, despite fears that the industry in which it…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

How could an investor use £20,000, an ISA, and 5 dividend shares to target annual income of £3,225?

| James Beard

Our writer describes how a relatively modest level of savings could be invested in a handful of dividend shares to…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use a Stocks and Shares ISA to target a four-figure second income

| James Beard

Our writer explains how investing the maximum annual amount in a Stocks and Shares ISA could generate a very healthy…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

Here’s how an investor could use £20,000 of savings to target £396 a month of passive income!

| James Beard

Our writer demonstrates how it’s possible to build an impressive level of passive income from a portfolio of FTSE 100…

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

FTSE 100 stocks just set a new record!

| James Beard

Against a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, the index of FTSE 100 stocks hit an all-time high today (17 January).…

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Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

I don’t understand why this FTSE 250 stock’s got so cheap!

| James Beard

Looking at the latest balance sheet of this FTSE 250 stock, our writer’s puzzled as to why investors appear to…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

This UK dividend share is currently yielding 8.1%!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at a FTSE 250 dividend share that -- due to its impressive 8%+ yield -- is…

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Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing Articles

Greggs shares became 23% cheaper this week! Is it time for me to take advantage?

| James Beard

On the day the baker released its latest trading update, the price of Greggs shares tanked 15.8%. But could this…

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

Why isn’t the promise of 1.5m more homes helping these FTSE 100 stocks?

| James Beard

The government wants Britain’s builders to help boost economic growth. So why are the FTSE 100’s construction stocks tanking?

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Storytelling image of a multiethnic senior couple in love - Elderly married couple dating outdoors, love emotions and feelings
Investing Articles

Is the 12.3% yield on this UK dividend stock too good to be true?

| James Beard

The impressive double-digit yield on this dividend stock recently grabbed the attention of our writer. But how sustainable is it?

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

Hargreaves Lansdown’s clients are buying loads of this US growth stock. Should I?

| James Beard

Our writer's noticed that during the week after Christmas, many investors bought this US growth stock. He asks whether he…

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Group of young friends toasting each other with beers in a pub
Investing Articles

With much to be cheerful about, why is this FTSE 250 boss unhappy?

| James Beard

JD Wetherspoon, the FTSE 250 pub chain, is a British success story. But the government’s budget has failed to lift…

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Young woman carrying bottle of Energise Sport to the gym
Investing Articles

Is it time to get my Stocks and Shares ISA into shape by investing in The Gym Group?

| James Beard

January provides an opportunity to set some goals for the year ahead. Our writer considers one possible investment for his…

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UK coloured flags waving above large crowd on a stadium sport match.
Investing Articles

Down 89% in 5 years, is it time for me to check out the boohoo share price?

| James Beard

While watching the darts final last week, our writer’s mind started to wander and his thoughts turned to the boohoo…

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

Helium One’s a penny share I wouldn’t want to touch with a bargepole in 2025!

| James Beard

Despite successfully flowing gas in Tanzania, our writer explains why Helium One’s a penny share he doesn’t want to buy.

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Iberian plane on runway
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100’s top performer in 2024 still looks 30% undervalued to me!

| James Beard

Our writer finds many reasons to buy shares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), the FTSE 100 aviation group. But there…

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