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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

Why I still want this zero income stock in my Stocks and Shares ISA

| James Beard

Most of the holdings in my Stocks and Shares ISA are in companies that pay generous dividends. But I'm still…

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Investing Articles

Is this 9.3%-yielding income stock a value trap?

| James Beard

I'm keen to learn more about a FTSE 100 income stock that offers a near double-digit yield. Could it be…

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

Here’s the 2-year dividend forecast for easyJet!

| James Beard

easyJet has updated its policy for rewarding shareholders. Our writer considers what this means for the airline's dividend forecast.

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Investing Articles

If I’d invested £1,000 in the FTSE 100 after Black Monday, here’s how much passive income I’d have now!

| James Beard

On the 36th anniversary of Black Monday, I wonder how much income would be generated today, from £1,000 invested in…

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Union Jack flag triangular bunting hanging in a street
Investing Articles

8,725,000 reasons to buy Aston Martin shares now?

| James Beard

Insiders recently bought nearly 9m Aston Martin shares worth over £22m. Have I left it too late to buy a…

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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

How I’d aim to turn £2,481 of savings into £266 of passive income a month!

| James Beard

Interest rates are rising but James Beard explains why he thinks the stock market is still the best way of…

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Investing Articles

My easyJet shares are falling but I’m not letting go!

| James Beard

easyJet shares fell 7% after the airline released its 2023 preliminary results. But here's why I don't regret buying the…

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Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

St James’s Place shares are down 16% today. What’s going on?

| James Beard

St James's Place shares continue to come under pressure. Has the time come to pick up a bargain, or is…

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Road trip. Father and son travelling together by car
Investing Articles

Are Tesla and Rivian the best EV growth stocks?

| James Beard

The electric vehicle sector seems like a good place to look for growth stocks. But there are warning signs that…

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

A once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy Scottish Mortgage shares!

| James Beard

Despite tech stocks being back in fashion, Scottish Mortgage shares have fallen 8% since October 2022. But I think the…

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

Here’s the 2-year dividend forecast for Vodafone!

| James Beard

As a shareholder in the telecoms giant, I've a keen interest in the dividend forecast for Vodafone. Unfortunately, some analysts…

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Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Could Shell be the first FTSE 100 stock to achieve a £1trn valuation?

| James Beard

James Beard considers whether Shell could be the first FTSE 100 stock to achieve a market cap in excess of…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Is Mike Ashley the next Warren Buffett?

| James Beard

Mike Ashley has been busy building stakes in a number of companies. Is he trying to emulate Warren Buffett's Berkshire…

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Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Down 8% in 3 days! Can I be tempted to buy boohoo shares?

| James Beard

Many investors sold their boohoo shares after the company released its latest results. Our writer considers whether this is a…

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Investing Articles

Yes, this FTSE 250 stock really is yielding 21%!

| James Beard

It's rare to come across a FTSE 250 stock that's yielding over 20%. Our writer's found one but he's wary…

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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

When will the Lloyds share price hit £1?

| James Beard

The Lloyds share price has struggled lately to get above 50p. Our writer asks whether it will reach £1 again,…

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Investing Articles

Will rising oil prices make FTSE 100 shares tank?

| James Beard

Oil prices are rising again. Our writer considers what the impact might be on FTSE 100 shares if this trend…

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Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

I’ve just bagged myself a FTSE 100 bargain!

| James Beard

There are a number of FTSE 100 stocks that are currently in bargain territory. Here's why I've just gone and…

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Investing Articles

An insider’s buying this AIM stock. Pure genius or misplaced loyalty?

| James Beard

An insider recently bought shares in the fourth most valuable AIM stock. But I wonder whether a better opportunity lies…

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Investing Articles

Trick or treat? This FTSE 100 stock’s yielding over 10%!

| James Beard

With Halloween approaching, our writer asks whether the 10% yield on this FTSE 100 stock is a value trap or…

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Investing Articles

Can an October stock market crash be avoided?

| James Beard

Ten of the 17 biggest daily falls in the FTSE 100 have occurred in October. Our writer considers whether a…

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Investing Articles

Why I’m convinced this dividend stock is the best 5%-yielder on the FTSE 100

| James Beard

With an above-average yield of 5.6% and monopoly status in its primary markets, what's not to like about this Footsie…

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Mixed-race female couple enjoying themselves on a walk
Investing Articles

Mike Ashley’s been buying ASOS shares. Should I?

| James Beard

Frasers Group, which is 70% owned by Mike Ashley, has been busy in August buying ASOS shares. Is this something…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

When will the Vodafone share price reach £1 again?

| James Beard

The Vodafone share price last closed above £1 on 6 March. Our writer's been crunching some numbers to assess when…

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

I’d try to turn a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA into income of £15,180 a year for a life in the sun

| James Beard

Our writer explains how he wants to use his Stocks and Shares ISA to generate a healthy five-figure income and…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett is buying housebuilders. Should I do the same?

| James Beard

Regulatory filings show that housebuilders are attracting the attention of Warren Buffett. Our writer asks whether they should be on…

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Young black female footballer training on stadium pitch
Investing Articles

Down 12% in a week. What’s going on with the JD Sports share price?

| James Beard

Even though the company hasn't announced any bad news, the JD Sports share price has fallen 12% in a week.…

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Union Jack flag triangular bunting hanging in a street
Investing Articles

Is it time to give up on the FTSE 100?

| James Beard

The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) appears to be going nowhere. Is it time to look elsewhere or remain loyal to…

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Young black woman using a mobile phone in a transport facility
Investing Articles

Close to a 52-week low, are Vodafone shares the ultimate value stock?

| James Beard

Vodafone shares are close to their 52-week low. But our writer thinks this FTSE 100 stalwart could make a great…

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Investing Articles

Beware the RC365 share price bubble

| James Beard

I believe the RC365 share price is showing all the signs of an unsustainable bubble. But it might take a…

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Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

Are miners the FTSE 100’s best value stocks?

| James Beard

With all of them experiencing share price falls over the past six months, are the FTSE 100's miners currently the…

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Investing Articles

A shrewd insider is buying this FTSE 250 stock

| James Beard

A large number of Dr Martens shares have recently been bought by an insider. Should I do the same and…

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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

Why do British investors love IAG shares?

| James Beard

A European trading platform has revealed that IAG shares are the most popular among its British investors. I want to…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Starting today, could I turn £100 into £1m with a Stocks and Shares ISA?

| James Beard

History tells me there's a chance that investing a small amount today in a Stocks and Shares ISA could growth…

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Road trip. Father and son travelling together by car
Investing Articles

Should I forget Tesla and buy Rivian Automotive stock instead?

| James Beard

A £1,000 investment in Tesla 10 years ago would now be worth £30,538. Will Rivian Automotive stock do something similar…

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

The Supply@Me Capital (SYME) share price is down 90%. But why do investors now love the stock?

| James Beard

Since the company floated in March 2020, the Supply@Me Capital (SYME) share price has crashed 90%. But it's surged in…

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Union Jack flag triangular bunting hanging in a street
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett thinks it’s time to buy the UK stock market

| James Beard

In 2001, Warren Buffett proposed a way of assessing whether stock markets are fairly valued. His measure suggest the UK…

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Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

2 lithium penny stocks to consider holding for 10 years

| James Beard

I've been researching how I can start investing in lithium. Two penny stocks have recently caught my attention. But am…

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A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

Now’s the time to invest in the FTSE 100’s best value stocks

| James Beard

I think the best value stocks in the FTSE 100 can currently be found in the housebuilding sector. Here's why…

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

Savvy insiders are buying this FTSE 250 stock

| James Beard

Insiders are spending thousands on this FTSE 250 stock. But, perhaps more significantly, another retailer is joining in too. What's…

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