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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

Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Will going nuclear drive the Rolls-Royce share price even higher?

| James Beard

Our writer considers how the UK government’s desire for greater nuclear power capacity might impact the Rolls-Royce share price.

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

Could this 25%-yielding stock help me turn £20,000 of savings into £3,402 a month of passive income?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether investing £20,000 in this high-yielding stock could generate a four-figure monthly passive income.

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Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

As Ocado says goodbye to the FTSE 100, here comes LondonMetric Property!

| James Beard

As part of the latest quarterly reshuffle, Ocado will leave the FTSE 100 and a rapidly-growing real estate investment trust…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Investing Articles

Are there 8.4m reasons why the Greatland Gold (GGP) share price is 62% undervalued?

| James Beard

The Greatland Gold share price has risen 24% since the start of May. I think it could be argued that…

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Young black woman walking in Central London for shopping
Investing Articles

An insider just bought £63,965 of this FTSE 250 stock!

| James Beard

The new CFO of Dr Martens, the FTSE 250 icon, has just spent thousands buying the company’s shares. Should I…

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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 nosedived 14.2% in May. Time to buy?

| James Beard

The easyJet share price was the worst performer on the FTSE 100 in May. Our writer considers whether now might…

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Young Woman Drives Car With Dog in Back Seat
Investing Articles

Up 16% in May! Is it time to buy this overlooked FTSE 100 growth stock?

| James Beard

There’s one stock on the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) that performed brilliantly last month. But can the company continue to defy…

Read more »

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

With a 5.2% yield and a P/E ratio of 8.2, this FTSE share looks like good value to me!

| James Beard

In a case of mistaken identity, our writer’s got his ‘Ramsdens’ mixed up. But in doing so, he’s stumbled across…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Investing Articles

The JD Sports share price slumped 5% on Friday. What’s going on?

| James Beard

After the company announced its 2024 results, the JD Sports share price fell sharply on Friday (31 May). Our writer…

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estate agent welcoming a couple to house viewing
Investing Articles

The Persimmon share price didn’t react well to takeover talk. What should I do?

| James Beard

The Persimmon share price fell 3% one day last week after news leaked of a potential acquisition. As a shareholder,…

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A mixed ethnicity couple shopping for food in a supermarket
Investing Articles

With a yield of 8%, is this FTSE 250 REIT brilliant for passive income?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether buying shares in one particular real estate investment trust is an excellent way of generating passive…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

The National Grid share price nosedived 21% in 2 days! Is it time to take advantage?

| James Beard

The National Grid share price tumbled after the company surprised shareholders by revealing plans to raise more money via a…

Read more »

Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 still looks cheap to me. But don’t just take my word for it!

| James Beard

The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) has increased 7.5% since the start of 2024. But I think there’s evidence to suggest that…

Read more »

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

What should the Vodafone share price be? Here are 3 possible answers

| James Beard

Our writer uses a number of popular financial measures to come up with an estimate of a fair value for…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Are Rolls-Royce shares good for passive income?

| James Beard

Our writer is getting mixed messages about the Rolls-Royce dividend. But whatever happens, he thinks passive income hunters will be…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Could the Rolls-Royce share price end 2024 above £5?

| James Beard

As the Rolls-Royce share price continues its remarkable run, our writer considers where it might be at the end of…

Read more »

Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

1 popular FTSE 100 share I wouldn’t touch with 2 bargepoles!

| James Beard

Hoping to get myself a bargain, I’m always keen to buy FTSE 100 shares after they’ve fallen in value. But…

Read more »

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

Despite receiving zero passive income, I reckon these are the happiest shareholders on earth!

| James Beard

One of the ways I judge a stock is by the level of passive income it offers. But some investors…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett’s stockpiling cash. Is this a warning sign for the UK stock market?

| James Beard

Warren Buffett’s been converting shares into cash. I wonder what the implications are for an investor in the UK stock…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Up 125% in 27 months, can this ‘old-fashioned’ FTSE 100 stock continue its good run?

| James Beard

Our writer considers the prospects for a FTSE 100 stock that’s operating in a market that’s been in existence for…

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

I’ve found the most popular FTSE share. But should I buy?

| James Beard

Our writer’s been crunching some numbers to identify the FTSE share that tops the popularity charts. But should he follow…

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

Why is the Vodafone share price below 70p when I think it should be 87% higher?

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he believes the Vodafone share price significantly undervalues the telecoms giant, before considering why others disagree.

Read more »

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

Here’s where I think the Lloyds share price will be at the end of 2026

| James Beard

Having risen nearly 30% since January 2024, our writer considers what could happen to the Lloyds share price by 31…

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

Is it time to do a 360 degree u-turn and buy this penny stock?

| James Beard

There’s a penny stock that’s recently grabbed the headlines for the right reasons. Is it time for me to think…

Read more »

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

Could £20,000 and 5 FTSE 100 shares give me a second income of £26,799 a year?

| James Beard

There are plenty of high-yielding shares currently available that could give me a decent second income. And many of them…

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Dominos delivery man on skateboard holding pizza boxes
Investing Articles

Is now the time to get a slice of the action and invest in this tasty growth stock?

| James Beard

Pizza is the world’s favourite food. With this in mind, our author considers whether he should buy a growth stock…

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

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim for £17,896 in income with FTSE 100 shares

| James Beard

Our writer explains how he’d try to turn a lump sum into a five-figure income stream by investing in FTSE…

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

£11,185 in savings? Here’s how I’d target a £18,466 passive income with FTSE 100 stocks

| James Beard

Our writer describes how he’d seek to turn a lump sum into a five-figure passive income by investing in some…

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Close up view of Electric Car charging and field background
Investing Articles

Why fine margins matter for the Tesla stock price

| James Beard

In my opinion, a fundamental problem needs to be addressed before the price of Tesla stock recaptures former glories. But…

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Customers being shown around a house in progress
Investing Articles

3 charts that suggest now could be the time to consider FTSE housebuilders!

| James Beard

Our writer’s been looking at recent data that suggests shares in the FTSE’s housebuilders could soon be on their way…

Read more »

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

Here’s why I think the Lloyds share price recovery will continue

| James Beard

The Lloyds share price is currently 32% higher than its 52-week low of October 2023. And I’m optimistic that this…

Read more »

Burst your bubble thumbtack and balloon background
Investing Articles

Below 1.4p, is this penny stock one helluva bargain?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether the discovery of helium in Tanzania will transform the fortunes of this popular penny stock and…

Read more »

Hydrogen testing at DLR Cologne
Investing Articles

At 415p, has the Rolls-Royce share price become a bit of a joke?

| James Beard

I think investing should be taken seriously. But has the recent surge in the Rolls-Royce share price turned the engineering…

Read more »

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

It might not be an aristocrat but Legal & General is still a class dividend stock!

| James Beard

For each of the past 14 years, this FTSE 100 dividend stock has either maintained or increased its payout. Our…

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

Here’s 1 stock I’m buying now for passive income

| James Beard

Our writer explains the reasons behind his decision to buy this FTSE 100 stock. Passive income's the principal one, but…

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Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Value Shares

Could a takeover be on the cards for this ailing FTSE 250 legend?

| James Beard

After seeing its share price fall by 54% over the past 12 months, our writers asks whether this member of…

Read more »

Bags of copper-molybdenum at Anglo-American's Quellaveco project in Peru
Investing Articles

Another FTSE 100 takeover approach. But I’m saying ‘no’!

| James Beard

Anglo American, the FTSE 100 mining giant, has rejected a recent takeover approach. I'm a shareholder in the company and…

Read more »

Union Jack flag triangular bunting hanging in a street
Investing Articles

Down 28% in a week! What’s going on with the share price of this FTSE 250 British icon?

| James Beard

There’s one stock in the FTSE 250 that took a bit of a battering last week. But I’m not surprised,…

Read more »

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

What will a general election mean for the UK stock market?

| James Beard

The Prime Minister must hold an election before 28 January 2025. Our writer considers what the consequences might be for…

Read more »

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

I don’t care how much FTSE bosses are paid as long as they make me rich!

| James Beard

Facing accusations of greed, the pay packages of FTSE CEOs are back in the headlines. But our writer takes a…

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