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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

A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.
Investing Articles

How Trump’s tariffs are re-writing the ISA ‘rule book’

| James Beard

I think a well-balanced ISA should contain a combination of growth and defensive stocks. But recent events are making this…

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

The Vodafone share price is 24% undervalued, according to analysts

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the latest targets for the Vodafone share price. Although there’s a wide variation, the average…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

I think there’s 1 big surprise in this broker’s top 10 FTSE ‘mid-cap’ growth stocks!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the 10 favourite FTSE stocks of one particular investment bank. But he’s not impressed by…

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Investing Articles

Up more than 50% in a month! What’s going on with the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price?

| James Beard

The Greatland Gold (GGP) share price has been the best performer on the FTSE AIM 100 index over the past…

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Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

I own the FTSE 350’s highest-yielding dividend share. So why am I concerned?

| James Beard

Our writer draws on his own personal experience to highlight why high-yielding dividend shares should sometimes be treated with caution.

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

With yields of 7.6%, 9% and 9.3%, here are 3 juicy passive income stocks to consider!

| James Beard

Our writer reckons investors looking to generate above-average levels of passive income could consider these three dividend shares.

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

What should the Helium One share price be?

| James Beard

Our writer believes valuing pre-revenue mining stocks is incredibly difficult. To illustrate his point, he looks at the Helium One…

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Group of friends talking by pool side
Investing Articles

Up 17% in 2 days! At last, some good news for those interested in the JD Sports share price

| James Beard

The JD Sports share price jumped after the company said trading was in line with expectations. Our writer considers what…

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

The BP share price keeps falling. But should I put the energy giant in my SIPP?

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the recent BP share price performance and considers whether it would be a good addition to…

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Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Last week, Rolls-Royce shares were the most popular on this investor platform. But there’s a catch!

| James Beard

Those using the Hargreaves Lansdown website bought more Rolls-Royce shares than any other UK stock last week. But this isn’t…

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

This FTSE 250 REIT’s been unaffected by Trump’s tariffs. And it’s yielding 8.3%

| James Beard

Our writer’s found a FTSE 250 real estate investment trust that hasn’t been caught in the fallout from ‘Liberation Day’.…

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

I was wrong about the Tesla stock price!

| James Beard

Tesla stock's been affected more than most by ‘Liberation Day’. But our writer has other concerns about Elon Musk’s company.

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Aston Martin DBX - rear pic of trunk
Investing Articles

Car-mageddon! The Aston Martin share price has tanked 30% in a month

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the performance of the Aston Martin share price over the past few weeks and considers whether…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Now more than ever, this Warren Buffett quote’s one to remember!

| James Beard

With President Trump’s tariffs causing stock market turmoil across the globe, our writer reflects on a famous piece of advice…

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Hand flipping wooden cubes for change wording" Panic" to " Calm".
Investing Articles

With plenty of cheap shares out there, here’s what I’m doing with my ISA!

| James Beard

Given the current market turmoil, our writer reckons there are lots of cheap shares on offer at the moment. But…

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UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

These FTSE 100 stocks could be the winners from Trump’s tariffs!

| James Beard

President Trump’s unpopular tariffs caused mayhem on the world’s stock markets this week. But some FTSE 100 stocks bucked this…

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

In my opinion, this FTSE growth stock looks set to soar over the next 5 years!

| James Beard

Our writer thinks this UK growth stock could benefit from the current excitement surrounding artificial intelligence applications.

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Here are the latest Persimmon share price and dividend forecasts

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the latest forecasts for the Persimmon share price and considers what level of dividend the stock…

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

OMG DYOR but IMO this ‘cool’ FTSE 100 stock offers bangin’ VFM!

| James Beard

Despite being one of the least trendy 50-somethings around, our writer considers how Gen Z could help push this FTSE…

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Female Tesco employee holding produce crate
Investing Articles

Is the Tesco share price about to turn?

| James Beard

The Tesco share price fell last month on news that Asda was preparing for a price war. But our writer…

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

Are things about to go from bad to worse for this legendary FTSE 250 stock?

| James Beard

Aston Martin is an iconic FTSE 250 stock that’s been struggling lately. And it looks as though President Trump’s not…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Why are investors ignoring this FTSE 250 dividend stock with a near-10% yield?

| James Beard

Despite offering a near double-digit yield, this dividend stock appears unloved. Our writer tries to understand why it seems to…

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Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

What’s stopping the Helium One share price from going higher?

| James Beard

Our writer thinks the Helium One share price has reached an inflexion point and what’s likely to happen next is…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Could the Rolls-Royce share price hit £11 within 4 years?

| James Beard

The Rolls-Royce share price rally continues. With this in mind, our writer looks at the group’s prospects over the next…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

How £10,000 invested in this little-known FTSE stock could generate £34,400 of passive income a year!

| James Beard

Looking at this AIM stock’s performance over the past five years, our writer considers how a five-figure annual passive income…

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Two elderly people relaxing in the summer sunshine Box Hill near Dorking Surrey England
Investing Articles

Is the sun setting on the FTSE 250’s solar funds?

| James Beard

Over the past 12 months, the prices of these FTSE 250 renewable energy stocks have fallen 4%-10%. Our writer looks…

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Red briefcase with the words Budget HM Treasury embossed in gold
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 winner from yesterday’s UK spring statement

| James Beard

Our writer’s been crunching the numbers to see which FTSE 100 stock was the winner from the Chancellor’s speech in…

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Man riding the bus alone
Investing Articles

Despite the takeover rumours, I don’t want anything to do with this FTSE 250 stock

| James Beard

Some big names are investing huge sums buying this FTSE 250 stock. Even so, our writer explains why he doesn’t…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Is Helium One a good penny stock to buy?

| James Beard

According to some data that I’ve seen, there are 448 penny stocks to choose from. But there’s one in particular…

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Solar panels fields on the green hills
Investing Articles

Is it time to forget about the Footsie and look to the FTSE 250 for dividend shares?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether income investors should turn to the UK’s second tier of listed companies when looking for dividend…

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

Is the Vodafone share price on the turn?

| James Beard

After a long period in the doldrums, the Vodafone share price has suddenly sprung into life. But our writer’s trying…

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

On dividend payment day, what next for the easyJet share price?

| James Beard

Since March 2020, the easyJet share price has fallen 4.5%. Our writer considers the airline’s income potential and its growth…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

Could the ‘Pepsi Paradox’ make this FTSE 100 stock a buy?

| James Beard

Scientists have a theory as to why Coca-Cola is the world’s number one soft drink. But is this good enough…

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This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Investing Articles

Is the share price slump of this FTSE 250 defence stock a warning sign for others?

| James Beard

Despite an increased focus on defence spending, the QinetiQ Group share price fell heavily on 17 March. Our writer takes…

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Girl buying groceries in the supermarket with her father.
Investing Articles

Down 12% in a week! Here’s what I’m doing about the Tesco share price

| James Beard

Following an announcement by a rival supermarket, the Tesco share price fell sharply lower. But our writer sees an opportunity.

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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

The 5 most popular FTSE 100 shares on the AJ Bell trading platform

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the FTSE 100’s most bought stocks on one particular investment platform. And he’s heartened by…

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House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

Do real estate investment trusts (REITs) make great dividend shares?

| James Beard

Always on the hunt for interesting dividend shares, our writer takes a closer look at some of the UK’s real…

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

Could 1 ISA, £20,000, and 5 FTSE 100 stocks generate £12,517 of passive income a year?

| James Beard

The maximum amount that can be put into a Stocks and Shares ISA this year is £20,000. But how much…

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Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

How Warren Buffett continues to make the cash register ring like church bells!

| James Beard

I've been reading Warren Buffett’s latest letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. As ever, it contains some great advice.

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Investing Articles

With gold above $3,000, is it time to consider buying this FTSE miner?

| James Beard

Here’s one FTSE 100 stock that should -- in theory -- benefit from the current global uncertainty and a rising…

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