Motley Fool Premium
  1. Authors
    2. /
  2. Alan Oscroft
    3. /

Alan Oscroft

Alan is a freelance writer who began writing for The Motley Fool in the late 1990s. He has been a private investor for more 30 years, and has explored a number of strategies, settling on high-yielding blue-chip shares.

Recent Articles

Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

Here’s how Rolls-Royce shares could climb another 50%… or fall 20%!

| Alan Oscroft

After Rolls-Royce shares have soared over 1,000% in five years, future expectations might be cooling, right? It doesn't look like…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Here’s how Barclays shares could climb another 40%

| Alan Oscroft

Stock markets are clouded by geopolitical threats at the moment, but Barclays' shares could be heading for a further upwards…

Read more »

A beach at sunset where there is an inscription on the sand "Breathe Deeeply".
Investing Articles

Here’s how Lloyds shares could climb another 50%… or crash 50%!

| Alan Oscroft

After a shaky few weeks, where might Lloyds shares go next? Today's analyst opinions diverge more widely than we might…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 45% in 5 years, this UK stock now offers a stunning 11% dividend yield!

| Alan Oscroft

Among the highest UK dividend yields, one immediately begs for closer inspection. Can this double-digit marvel really pull it off?

Read more »

Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Here’s how Aviva shares could soon rise a further 20%… or fall 15%!

| Alan Oscroft

Aviva shares have fallen back a bit, with Q1 results due in May. But analysts are mostly optimistic, and see…

Read more »

Happy woman commuting on a train and checking her mobile phone while using headphones
Investing Articles

In just 2 years, Vodafone shares would have turned £10,000 into this much…

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone transformation is going well, and the shares have had a brilliant couple of years. Can the momentum and…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The BT share price is on fire in 2026. Is there still time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has had a cracking couple of years, as the company heads towards escalating free cash flow…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

These 2 Stocks and Shares ISA buys are on fire in 2026

| Alan Oscroft

The new Stocks and Shares ISA season is seeing a few interesting changes to the companies making up investors' latest…

Read more »

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

Time to buy Associated British Foods (ABF) shares after this exciting news?

| Alan Oscroft

Associated British Foods just told us what we've been waiting to hear, at interim time. But ABF shares fell, despite…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

These are 2 of the hottest FTSE 100 stocks to buy right now, say the experts!

| Alan Oscroft

Analysts are upbeat about which UK stocks to buy in 2026, in a year that could generate an all-time record…

Read more »

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

I asked ChatGPT for the best FTSE 100 stock for total returns in 2026, and guess what it said…

| Alan Oscroft

Are AI chatbots any better than humans at digging out the best value FTSE 100 stocks to consider buying? They…

Read more »

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

Is this the perfect time to consider buying Legal & General shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Legal & General shares have one of the FTSE 100's biggest forecast dividend yields for 2026. Maybe we should think…

Read more »

Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

A stock market crash this summer? Here’s how it could help

| Alan Oscroft

With emotion running high, the stock market is in a funny mood right now. And it can make investing choices…

Read more »

Close-up of children holding a planet at the beach
Investing Articles

Investors are pouring cash into Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. Is it all about SpaceX?

| Alan Oscroft

Is this the perfect time to join the revived space race, by grabbing a chunk of the UK's most popular…

Read more »

The words "what's your plan for retirement" written on chalkboard on pavement somewhere in London
Investing Articles

Here’s 1 way to pick buy-and-forget stocks for a lifetime SIPP

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile stock markets have shaken the confidence of SIPP and ISA investors in 2026. We need a low-stress way to…

Read more »

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

This storming penny stock has already climbed nearly 50% in 2026!

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a penny stock that's been taking the defence sector by storm, and its future order book is building up…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

Here’s how £20,000 could be used to aim for an instant £2,000 passive income!

| Alan Oscroft

Passive income seekers have a healthy number of high-yielding UK dividends to choose from right now. But which ones will…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Here’s what could send Greggs shares climbing again

| Alan Oscroft

Greggs shares are down after investor optimism was hit head-on by a dose of financial reality. The wheels could be…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Where will Rolls-Royce shares go next? Let’s ask the experts

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have wobbled as aviation uncertainty grows. But can the City's glowing forecasts help get the price climbing again?

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Lloyds shares just 12 months ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Caution is creeping into the outlook for Lloyds shares. But when markets are wobbling, isn't that a good time to…

Read more »

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

£10,000 invested in Barclays shares just 12 months ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Despite world events, Barclays’ shares have provided investors with a nice little earner over the past year. And it looks…

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Hesitant over a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here’s a way to deal with scary markets

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile stock markets are scaring potential investors away from getting started with their first Stocks and Shares ISA in 2026.

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

3 steps to aim for a lifetime of passive income from a new ISA

| Alan Oscroft

It's that time of year again when we're all planning how make the most of our new ISA limit to…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

Looking for dividend stocks for a new ISA? These 2 are among the most popular in 2026

| Alan Oscroft

Some investors worry about where share prices are going. Others just sit out volatility and rely on income from dividend…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Is National Grid one of the best stocks to buy for an ISA right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for good-value UK stocks to buy for the new ISA year? This one has long been a favourite, and…

Read more »

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

Why did Raspberry Pi shares just jump 35%?

| Alan Oscroft

Raspberry Pi shares have been in the doldrums in the past 12 months. But is that all changing, after a…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

How much second income could investors earn with 9% dividends from Legal & General shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors looking to build up a second income portfolio have a good few FTSE 100 shares with big dividends to…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Rolls-Royce shares just 2 years ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have fallen some way back from a recent 52-week peak, as global events impact them and the firm…

Read more »

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

£5,000 invested in Barclays shares just 2 years ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

When Barclays shares fall, you've got to ask yourself one question: do you feel... like a long-term investor who just…

Read more »

Calendar showing the date of 5th April on desk in a house
Investing Articles

Investors are rushing to buy these before the Stocks and Shares ISA deadline. Should we join in?

| Alan Oscroft

Despite geopolitical troubles causing so much pain in the world, Stocks and Shares ISA investors in the UK are keeping…

Read more »

British pound data
Investing Articles

With the stock market down, here are 2 potential ISA bargains to consider right now

| Alan Oscroft

When the stock market dips, investors looking at long-term prospects should seek out cheap shares, right? I have my eye…

Read more »

Renewable energies concept collage
Investing Articles

Here’s a top dividend share to consider buying for your ISA right now

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for dividend shares to tuck away in a long-term Stocks and Shares ISA? This trust is offering one of…

Read more »

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Is this a once-in-a-decade chance to buy this top passive income stock cheaply?

| Alan Oscroft

When's the best time to consider buying passive income stocks? When share prices are down and dividend yields are up,…

Read more »

Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

With a P/E of only 22, is Nvidia actually a top value stock?

| Alan Oscroft

Nvidia stock has soared spectacularly over the past few years, on the back of the AI boom. So how can…

Read more »

Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

After falling another 5%, are Aviva shares too cheap to ignore?

| Alan Oscroft

£10,000 invested in Aviva shares five years ago would have grown 50% by now. But what might the future hold,…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Time to buy, after Next shares are lifted by storming FY results?

| Alan Oscroft

Retail sector weakness is holding back Next shares, is it? Tell that to the fashion shoppers who've driven up full-year…

Read more »

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

Stock market correction: Is there still time to buy UK shares cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

Long-term investors can do well to stay calm through stock market corrections, and even crashes, and pick up shares when…

Read more »

Young Caucasian woman with pink her studying from her laptop screen
Investing Articles

Are depressed Lloyds shares just too tempting to miss now?

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares are coming under renewed pressure as conflict in the Middle East threatens the fragile global economic recovery.

Read more »

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

Down 25%, are Barclays shares simply too cheap to ignore?

| Alan Oscroft

Barclays shares have given up a chunk of their recent gains since the Middle East powder keg ignited. Should investors…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Are investors taking a big gamble chasing Rolls-Royce shares higher and higher?

| Alan Oscroft

With Rolls-Royce shares having fallen back from their peak, the temptation to see this as a buying opportunity must be…

Read more »