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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

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Investing Articles

With gas flowing, is it time to buy FTSE growth stock Helium One?

| James Beard

When it comes to growth stocks, Helium One appears to be gaining a lot of attention on the online chat…

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Passive and Active: text from letters of the wooden alphabet on a green chalk board
Investing Articles

Starting with £20,000, could I generate passive income of £9,479 a year for my retirement?

| James Beard

Our writer is investing with a view to securing a comfortable retirement. But how much passive income could he generate…

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

Should I have buyer’s remorse after adding this FTSE bargain stock to my ISA?

| James Beard

After bagging what I believed was a FTSE 100 bargain, I’ve read a newspaper story that makes me want to…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

I think the most valuable member of the FTSE 250 has just become the bargain of the millennium!

| James Beard

After completing a transformational acquisition, our writer can’t understand why the share price of this FTSE 250 energy company isn’t…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

The BP share price has just hit a 52-week low. But I still don’t want to invest!

| James Beard

Even though the BP share price is currently 27% lower than it was in April, our writer explains why he…

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Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

As the Nvidia share price nosedives again, should I be worried?

| James Beard

After another significant fall in the Nvidia share price, our writer considers what the implications are for his own portfolio.

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

Is now the time to buy these 3 FTSE 250 British legends that have fallen on hard times?

| James Beard

It looks as though Burberry will be relegated to the FTSE 250, joining two other British icons that are struggling.…

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Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Are the FTSE 100’s British banks still undervalued?

| James Beard

In February, the Bank of England’s Governor said he was puzzled at the low valuations of the FTSE 100’s UK…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

My favourite FTSE 100 dividend share is yielding only 3.6%. But I’m not selling!

| James Beard

Despite seeing a big reduction in the yield of his number one dividend share, our writer has no plans on…

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Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

If I’d invested £10,000 in Rolls-Royce shares on 12 November 2020, you won’t believe how much I’d have now!

| James Beard

Reflecting on his own attitude towards risk, our writer applauds those who bought Rolls-Royce shares towards the end of 2020.

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Lady taking a bottle of Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise from a supermarket shelf
Investing Articles

Nelson Peltz is selling but the Unilever share price is up! What’s going on?

| James Beard

The Unilever share price has risen despite one of the company’s largest shareholders selling part of his stake for £181m.…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett’s stockpiling cash. Should I be worried?

| James Beard

Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle, has been building up its cash reserves. Our writer considers what this means.

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

Despite an 8.3% yield, I wouldn’t touch this popular passive income stock with a bargepole!

| James Beard

For 25 consecutive years, this FTSE 100 stock has grown its dividend. Although popular with investors looking for passive income,…

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

When it comes to passive income, beware of lies, damned lies, and statistics!

| James Beard

Reflecting on the famous Mark Twain quote, our writer takes a look at some of those stocks apparently offering generous…

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Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

How high can the Rolls-Royce share price go in 2024?

| James Beard

As the Rolls-Royce share price continues to defy his expectations, our writer considers where it might be at the end…

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Young black female footballer training on stadium pitch
Investing Articles

Could the share price of this FTSE 100 retailer increase by 74% over the next 14 months?

| James Beard

There’s a FTSE 100 CEO who will receive a £100m bonus if he can get his company’s share price to…

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Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Here’s the dividend forecast for Rolls-Royce shares in 2024 and 2025!

| James Beard

Rolls-Royce shares used to offer generous levels of passive income. Our writer considers whether this will be the case in…

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

These insiders reckon Raspberry Pi is a value stock full of potential. Are they right?

| James Beard

Some in the know believe this is a value stock that will provide big returns in the long run. Our…

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

My top 3 bargain FTSE shares! But which is cheap, cheaper and the cheapest?

| James Beard

Having identified his three favourite undervalued FTSE 100 shares, our writer attempts to rank them in order of value for…

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

Here’s why I think the Vodafone share price could be undervaluing the company by 50%!

| James Beard

Despite the Vodafone share price remaining stuck in the doldrums, our writer makes the case for why it should be…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

Down 23% in 2024! I think I’ve just bagged myself a FTSE 100 bargain

| James Beard

Taking advantage of a significant pullback in its share price this year, our writer’s recently taken a position in this…

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

After nosediving 53% in 8 weeks, could this be one of the best AIM stocks to buy right now?

| James Beard

Insiders have taken advantage of the recent fall in the YouGov share price. Our writer considers whether he should do…

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

After crashing more than 50% in a year, are these 2 of the FTSE’s best value stocks?

| James Beard

Despite being household names, these two FTSE stocks have more than halved in value since July 2023. Are they now…

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

3 reasons why I predict UK shares will soar over the next 12 months!

| James Beard

Our writer believes there are plenty of reasons why UK shares will do well over the next year or so.…

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

After falling 9% in 6 weeks, is this FTSE 100 stock now in bargain territory?

| James Beard

The BAE Systems share price hit a 52-week high on 3 June. Six weeks later, it’s down nearly 10%. Is…

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

No savings? I’d put £100 a month into this sleepy giant to generate passive income of £7,772 a year!

| James Beard

Starting with zero in the bank, our writer reckons it’s possible to generate an annual four-figure passive income from a…

Read more »

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

Which is better value? The Vodafone or Lloyds share price?

| James Beard

Our writer compares the Lloyds share price with that of another British icon with a view to deciding which one's…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

After a turbulent few weeks, could I be tempted by the National Grid share price?

| James Beard

The National Grid share price has settled down following a dramatic slide. Our writer asks whether now would be a…

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

At 462p, does the Rolls-Royce share price still offer good value?

| James Beard

The Rolls-Royce share price has increased nearly 450% since June 2022. Our writer seeks to understand why some believe the…

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

Will the Vodafone share price ever reach £1 again?

| James Beard

Since last being over 100p in February 2023, the Vodafone share price has fallen 30%. Our writer wonders if a…

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UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

It’s polling day! How will the FTSE 100 respond to the result?

| James Beard

Today (4 July) voters will be asked to choose the UK’s next government. Our writer considers how the FTSE 100…

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

Could 719 Greggs shares give me £126 a month of passive income?

| James Beard

Our writer takes a look at the UK’s leading food-to-go retailer and wonders whether he should buy its shares for…

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

After its share price crashed 46% in a day, is this a bargain basement value stock?

| James Beard

YouGov’s shares nosedived after the company issued a profit warning. Our writer considers whether it’s now one of the best…

Read more »

Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

With demand for oil still rising, where could the BP share price be in 2029?

| James Beard

With oil consumption expected to peak in 2029, our writer considers what might happen to the BP share price over…

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Light trails from traffic moving down The Mound in central Edinburgh, Scotland during December
Investing Articles

Up 33% over the past year. What’s driving the Scottish Mortgage share price higher?

| James Beard

The Scottish Mortgage share price has outperformed the FTSE 100 since the start of 2024. Our writer looks at the…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Could the UK general election be bad news for this FTSE 250 energy producer?

| James Beard

The country is due to vote in the general election on 4 July. Our writer looks at the possible implications…

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

The Raspberry Pi share price soared 53% in 4 days! Is it too late to buy?

| James Beard

The Raspberry Pi share price rocketed after the company’s IPO was over-subscribed. But is there any value left in the…

Read more »

Black woman using loudspeaker to be heard
Investing Articles

Here’s the 2024-2027 dividend forecast for one of the FTSE 100’s most reliable income stocks

| James Beard

Following publication of updated guidance, our writer’s been looking at the Legal & General dividend forecast for the next four…

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Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

After the general election what might happen to the FTSE 100?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at the manifestos of the three main political parties to try and understand how the general…

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

Beware of value traps when it comes to dividend shares!

| James Beard

Some of the yields quoted for dividend shares can be misleading. But our writer thinks he’s found a steady and…

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