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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

Woman using laptop and working from home
Investing Articles

Time to buy more of this dirt-cheap value stock?

| James Beard

When it comes to spending my hard-earned cash, I like to bag myself a bargain. Has the time come to…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett’s valuation tool tells me there’s a once-in-a-decade chance to get rich from the UK stock market!

| James Beard

In 2001 Warren Buffett proposed a new test to judge whether stocks were fairly valued. This indicator suggests now is…

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Older couple walking in park
Investing Articles

No pension at 50? How I’d aim to build passive income of £436 a week for a comfortable retirement

| James Beard

Having enough passive income to supplement the state pension is the key to a happy retirement. It's possible starting at…

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Arrow symbol glowing amid black arrow symbols on black background.
Investing Articles

Up 15% in a month! Is the Greatland Gold share price on its way back?

| James Beard

The Greatland Gold share price has crashed 75% from its all-time high achieved in December 2020. But will recent announcements…

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Typical street lined with terraced houses and parked cars
Investing Articles

The Capita share price has crashed 70% in 5 years. Is it time to bag myself a bargain?

| James Beard

Reflecting the company's troubled past, the Capita share price has plummeted since 2018. But does this represent a buying opportunity?

Read more »

Middle-aged white male courier delivering boxes to young black lady
Investing Articles

Is it time to think outside the box and use my ISA to earn a second income of £1,200 a year?

| James Beard

To give me a second income, has the time come to invest in an unfashionable FTSE 100 company that sells…

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a couple embrace in front of their new home
Investing Articles

7.9% yield! Should I buy this cheap FTSE 100 passive income stock to live like a king?

| James Beard

Against a backdrop of a struggling UK housing market, our writer considers whether this passive income stock is too cheap…

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

Still below 50p. When will the Lloyds share price realise its potential?

| James Beard

With the Lloyds share price struggling to break the 50p barrier, our writer considers whether it'll ever reach the heights…

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Front view photo of a woman using digital tablet in London
Investing Articles

Is this the next FTSE 100 takeover target?

| James Beard

With a falling share price and unhappy investors, our writer thinks there's one FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stock that's a prime…

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a couple embrace in front of their new home
Investing Articles

Is the Persimmon share price heading back to £30?

| James Beard

As recently as June 2021, Persimmon shares were changing hands for £30. Our writer considers whether the stock will reach…

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Investing Articles

Down 88% in 5 years! What’s going on with the Petrofac share price?

| James Beard

Over the past five years the Petrofac share price has crashed by nearly 90%. Our writer considers whether it's time…

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Aerial view of York downtown at night
Investing Articles

If I’d bought £5,000 of Whitbread shares 5 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now!

| James Beard

Whitbread shares have fallen by 12% since April 2018. But the owner of the Premier Inn hotel chain has ambitious…

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

Why I think it’s time to embrace one of the most unpopular stocks in the FTSE 100!

| James Beard

Frasers Group is one of the least popular stocks in the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX). But our writer thinks it's…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

The ASML share price is up 50% in 6 months! Have I left it too late to invest?

| James Beard

The ASML share price keeps on rising. But have I missed my chance to benefit from the growth in the…

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Mature black couple enjoying shopping together in UK high street
Investing Articles

Why I ignored my principles and bought this FTSE 100 stock

| James Beard

Our writer explains why he recently ignored some of his core investment principles and bought one of the smaller FTSE…

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

Are Scottish Mortgage shares now in bargain territory?

| James Beard

With Scottish Mortgage shares down 55% from their all-time high in June 2021, our writer asks whether now's the time…

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A senior group of friends enjoying rowing on the River Derwent
Investing Articles

How I’d invest in my ISA to earn £1,440 a year in passive income!

| James Beard

Seeking opportunities to generate additional passive income, our writer considers two British stocks with above-average yields.

Read more »

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Buyer beware: why I’m wary of putting high-yielding dividend stocks in my ISA

| James Beard

I'm always looking for dividend stocks to include in my portfolio. But I always proceed with caution when I see…

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Young Woman Drives Car With Dog in Back Seat
Investing Articles

Tesla stock is down 15% in 6 months. Will price cuts reverse this trend?

| James Beard

With a view to buying Tesla stock, our writer assesses how the recently announced price cuts will impact on the…

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

Could these 2 high-yielding shares give me a second income of £157 a month?

| James Beard

Our writer considers whether it's possible to use his Stocks and Shares ISA allowance to generate a second income adding…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

23 reasons to buy this FTSE 100 stock?

| James Beard

The 23 member of OPEC+ decided to cut oil production this week. Our writer looks at one FTSE 100 stock…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Will going nuclear make the Rolls-Royce share price rocket?

| James Beard

It may take some time, but our writer believes the Rolls-Royce share price will benefit from the company's move into…

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Young Asian man shopping in a supermarket
Investing Articles

Is inflation good for these 2 FTSE 100 stocks?

| James Beard

It's widely believed that inflation is bad for the economy. But our writer thinks these two FTSE 100 stocks will…

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

Why I think these downtrodden income stocks will recover

| James Beard

Our writer considers two income stocks that have recently had their dividends slashed. He believes the good times will return.

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Grattan Bridge in Dublin, Ireland, on the River Liffey at sunset
Investing Articles

It’s St Patrick’s Day! Which of these Irish stocks should I buy for a second income?

| James Beard

I'm looking for shares that will give me a second income. On St Patrick's Day, I've identified three stocks in…

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

Will this high-yield dividend stock run out of puff?

| James Beard

British American Tobacco is a dividend stock that is one of the highest yielding in the FTSE 100. But is…

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

Will the FTSE 100 ever hit 8,000 again?

| James Beard

The collapse of two banks in the US sent the FTSE 100 tumbling this week. Our writer wants to know…

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

Why I’ve just spent £2,500 on this FTSE 100 stock

| James Beard

Despite concerns about the sector, I’ve invested in one of the FTSE 100’s banking stocks. Here are the reasons behind…

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

Could I strike gold with these penny stocks?

| James Beard

Our writer considers the prospects for two penny stocks. They're mining companies, looking to find gold and other precious metals.

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

Down 30% in a week, is the Atlantic Lithium share price now a bargain?

| James Beard

The Atlantic Lithium share price crashed by more than 30% last week. Our writer wants to know whether this represents…

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

Why tax matters for the Harbour Energy share price

| James Beard

Tax is often ignored when analysing results. But our writer explains why he thinks it will determine the future direction…

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

With oil below $85, what’s next for the BP share price?

| James Beard

Since June last year, the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by $30. Our writer looks at recent…

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Investing Articles

Are Thungella Resources shares going to yield 45% this year?

| James Beard

Thungella Resources shares are presently yielding around 45%. Our writer wants to know whether the company's huge dividend is sustainable.

Read more »

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

I’d buy 45 shares a week of this high-yield stock for £1k a year in passive income

| James Beard

Our writer believes he's discovered an energy stock that will generate a very attractive level of passive income for many…

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Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

If I’d invested £5,000 in Rolls-Royce shares a week ago, here’s how much I’d have now!

| James Beard

Although investing should always be for the long term, our writer couldn't help but notice the recent surge in the…

Read more »

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

The Lloyds share price is still below 52p. Is this bargain territory?

| James Beard

Up 17% in six months, the Lloyds share price has done well lately. But it suffered during earnings season. Is…

Read more »

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

Earnings season: what I’ve learned about the FTSE 100’s banks

| James Beard

Over the past two weeks, all of the banks in the FTSE 100 have reported their 2022 results. Which of…

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Young Caucasian woman at the street withdrawing money at the ATM
Investing Articles

Can the HSBC share price keep on rising?

| James Beard

HSBC's share price rose by 4% on Tuesday after the bank announced its 2022 results. Our writer tries to make…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Investing Articles

The Eurasia Mining share price drops 80% in a year! Time to bag myself a bargain?

| James Beard

The Eurasia Mining share price is now below 4p. Does this mean the shares are a bargain, or is there…

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Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Is this my last chance to buy easyJet shares before they take off?

| James Beard

Passengers are flying again and many families are looking to book their summer holiday. Is now the time for me…

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