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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

ISA coins
Investing Articles

What should I do about the Rolls-Royce shares in my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| James Beard

Our writer considers what to do about the most profitable holding in his Stocks and Shares ISA. In short, should…

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Investing Articles

The Fresnillo share price had a great June! Could there be more to come?

| James Beard

Reflecting on an impressive run for the share price of Fresnillo, the FTSE 100 miner, our writer considers where it…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Even if Shell doesn’t want to, should I buy BP shares?

| James Beard

With an energy sector ‘mega merger’ appearing increasingly unlikely, our writer considers the implications for his BP shares.

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Young black female footballer training on stadium pitch
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 stock looks remarkably cheap to me!

| James Beard

Always on the lookout for new opportunities, our writer explains why he recently put a member of the FTSE 250…

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Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

Down 89% in 5 years, what next for the Ocado share price?

| James Beard

Since June 2020, the Ocado share price has tumbled nearly 90%. Despite this, the company still has some loyal supporters.…

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

The FTSE 100’s worst stock for passive income could be a long-term growth opportunity to consider!

| James Beard

Not all stocks provide passive income. Our writer looks at one that prefers to reinvest its surplus cash in buying…

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Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

Does the BP or Shell share price offer the better value?

| James Beard

Over the past five years, the Shell share price has outperformed BP’s. But amid rumours of a merger, which of…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

The JD Sports share price is up 7% today! What’s going on?

| James Beard

The JD Sports Fashion share price is having a good Friday (27 June). Our writer reckons events on the other…

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Businessman hand stacking up arrow on wooden block cubes
Investing Articles

The Babcock share price soars 11% after it announces a big increase in profit!

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at how the Babcock share price responded to the release of the group’s latest results…

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

Where next for the BP share price?

| James Beard

The BP share price is 35% more volatile than the FTSE 100. With this in mind, our writer considers how…

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Shot of a young Black woman doing some paperwork in a modern office
Investing Articles

Having fallen 31% in a year, could this downtrodden UK stock be an excellent long-term play?

| James Beard

Our writer considers the prospects for one UK stock that’s suffering more than most from the recent slowdown in the…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Even Warren Buffett’s made some bad predictions!

| James Beard

It’s tough making predictions, especially in the stock market. Our writer looks at some forecasts that have fallen short, including…

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

2 very different stocks that pay above-average levels of passive income!

| James Beard

With yields of close to 10%, these two stocks are great for passive income. And that’s why our writer has…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

This dividend stock’s yielding 5.5% but its directors have sold nearly 15m shares this month!

| James Beard

Our writer takes a closer look at an AIM-listed dividend stock. But despite its impressive yield, some of its directors…

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Putting these 4 in a Stocks and Shares ISA gives exposure to over 1,000 companies at a 10.6% discount!

| James Beard

With increased global uncertainty on the rise, our writer thinks it’s a good time for anyone with a Stocks and…

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

Analysts reckon the Vodafone share price is still undervalued!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the latest Vodafone share price forecasts and assesses how the group’s performed against the targets…

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Hydrogen testing at DLR Cologne
Investing Articles

Despite hitting a record high, analysts reckon Rolls-Royce shares are still undervalued

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at the latest forecasts for Rolls-Royce shares and reflects on where future earnings growth might…

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Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in these 5 FTSE 100 shares in June 2020 would now be worth…

| James Beard

Our writer considers the best-performing shares on the FTSE 100 since the summer of 2020, and takes a closer look…

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

The Metro Bank share price soars 14% on takeover rumours!

| James Beard

The Metro Bank share price was the top performer on the FTSE 250 by late morning today (16 June) after…

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Environmental technology concept.
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 investment trust’s yielding close to 13%! But can it last?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at a FTSE 250 stock that’s currently yielding nearly 13%. And he considers what this…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Is Warren Buffett losing his touch?

| James Beard

Our writer's noticed that Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle has underperformed the S&P 500 during three of the past four years.…

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Investing Articles

After soaring 32% in a month, I think the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price is getting expensive

| James Beard

Our writer argues that the Greatland Gold share price doesn’t accurately reflect the challenges that lie ahead for the group.

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

This dividend share’s increased its payout for an amazing 58 consecutive years!

| James Beard

Our writer takes a closer look at this UK dividend share that has an unrivalled track record of growing its…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

Here’s the dividend forecast for Persimmon shares for the next 3 years

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he thinks Persimmon shares could be one of the best FTSE 100 stocks to consider for…

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

The government’s spending review contained good news for this FTSE 250 stock!

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he thinks this FTSE 250 stock should benefit from today’s (11 June) announcement by the Chancellor…

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

Up 20% today! What’s going on with the Helium One share price?

| James Beard

By mid-morning today (11 June), the Helium One share price had soared 20%. Our writer takes a closer look at…

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

These 3 high-yielding FTSE 100 shares have 1 thing in common

| James Beard

All yielding at least 7.9%, our writer takes a look at three FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stocks that all operate in…

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

This FTSE 100 stock’s beaten the S&P 500 over the past 5 years (and so have 23 others)

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at a lesser-known FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stock that’s outperformed the US stock market since June…

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Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Analysts are predicting big things for this UK growth stock

| James Beard

With the holiday season approaching, our writer takes a look at a UK growth stock that’s operating in a market…

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

The Trump-Musk spat could have implications for the Scottish Mortgage share price

| James Beard

With the bromance seemingly over, our writer considers how the President Trump/Elon Musk fallout could affect the Scottish Mortgage share…

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Young female couple boarding their plane at the airport to go on holiday.
Investing Articles

This FTSE stock’s just crashed 28%! Is it time to take advantage?

| James Beard

Shares in this FTSE airline plummeted 27.9% after the group announced its latest full-year results. But could this be a…

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

REITs are another way of earning passive income from property

| James Beard

Our writer considers why real estate investment trusts (REITs) are good for passive income but sometimes overlooked by growth investors.

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Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

The share price of this FTSE 250 icon soared 26% in a day. Is it time to buy?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a closer look at the latest results of this FTSE 250 legend and assesses how the group…

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Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 stock’s soaring. But is it now overvalued?

| James Beard

There’s a FTSE 100 stock that’s risen 22% in a month. Our writer considers whether this exceptional run is likely…

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Rainbow foil balloon of the number two on pink background
Investing Articles

Could the stock market create a second income higher than the average UK salary?

| James Beard

One reason to invest in stocks and shares is to establish a second income stream. But how much extra cash…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

This UK share’s yielding 9.7%. But for how much longer?

| James Beard

Our writer expresses his doubts over whether one of the UK’s highest-yielding shares can keep paying its generous dividend.

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

The JD Sports share price may be down but I don’t think it’s out!

| James Beard

The JD Sports Fashion share price can be volatile. But our writer believes the stock continues to offer good value…

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A senior woman sits up on the exam table at a doctors appointment. She is dressed casually in a blue sweater and has a smile on her face as she glances at the doctor. Her female doctor is wearing a white lab coat and seated in front of her as she takes notes on a tablet.
Investing Articles

After falling 46% in a day, hVIVO’s become a penny stock… again!

| James Beard

Last week’s unscheduled trading update nearly halved the share price of this medical trials group and re-established its status as…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett says invest in what you know. So is it time to buy this FTSE 100 growth stock?

| James Beard

Warren Buffett once advised investors to stick to their own “circle of competence”. With this in mind, our writer assesses…

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Typical street lined with terraced houses and parked cars
Investing Articles

This week’s biggest loser on the FTSE 100 looks in good shape to me

| James Beard

Our writer looks at the prospects for a famous UK brand whose stock was the worst performer on the FTSE…

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