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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

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Investing Articles

How I’d use an empty Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for a £1,000 monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Here's how using a Stocks and Shares ISA really could help those of us who plan to invest for an…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

Can a €500m buyback kickstart the Vodafone share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone share price has been a loser for investors in recent years, and the dividend has been cut. We…

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

Should I buy National Grid shares for the big dividend before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

This year's price weakness has left National Grid shares on what looks like a tempting valuation. I hope it doesn't…

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

As the BT share price slumps on H1 results, should I buy for big dividends?

| Alan Oscroft

Just when I thought the BT Group share price could be set for a new bullish run, the telecoms giant…

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

If I’d put £20,000 into a FTSE 100 tracker a year ago, here’s what I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is having a great year so far this year, and it seems overdue. What's the best way…

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Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

£20,000 in this FTSE 100 stock could get me £2,170 passive income per year

| Alan Oscroft

My secret when I look for attractive dividend yields for passive income is to balance short-term risk against long-term returns.

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

These stocks could be my favourite FTSE 100 October fallers

| Alan Oscroft

As the FTSE 100 has gone off the boil a little in October, I think it could be throwing up…

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A black male doctor chats to a senior patient on the hospital ward ,with a young female nurse wearing a hijab attending to a dressing
Investing Articles

Can this Q3 update get the Smith & Nephew share price moving again?

| Alan Oscroft

After a few tough years blighted by the pandemic, the outlook might be getting a bit brighter for the Smith…

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Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

Here are 2 of the FTSE 250’s biggest dividend forecasts

| Alan Oscroft

I'm on the hunt for more dividends to snag for my Stocks and Shares ISA. And my eye is falling…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Here’s the latest dividend forecast for Legal & General shares

| Alan Oscroft

The big forecast dividend yield suggests investors are cautious over Legal & General shares. That caution might be a bit…

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London offices of Standard Chartered
Investing Articles

As Q3 results give the Standard Chartered share price a boost, should I buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Standard Chartered share price has had a terrific 12 months, and it's passed under my radar. It might be…

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

With a P/E of only 4.8, here’s the Centrica share price forecast

| Alan Oscroft

The Centrica share price is down this year, as forecasts show further earnings falls over the next few years. Here's…

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Departure & Arrival sign, representing selling and buying in a portfolio
Investing Articles

Just how much higher can the Rolls-Royce share price go?

| Alan Oscroft

Up more than 80% so far in 2024, the Rolls-Royce share price has outstripped my expectations. And some analysts predict…

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Investing Articles

Reasons to consider buying HSBC shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

As a solid Q3 gives HSBC Holdings shares a further 2024 boost, I look at what the recent news might…

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

As the Pearson share price gets a Q3 boost, should I buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Pearson share price has been having a good run in 2024 so far. And the company's Q3 performance is…

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

Here’s how the UK’s Stocks and Shares ISA millionaires got rich

| Alan Oscroft

I think a Stocks and Shares ISA could give private investors like me the best chance of one day hobnobbing…

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Handsome young non-binary androgynous guy, wearing make up, chatting on his smartphone, carrying shopping bags.
Investing Articles

Where will the boohoo share price go next? Here’s what the forecasts say

| Alan Oscroft

Faltering fashion favourite boohoo's share price is hitting the headlines. Sounds like it might be time to take stock of…

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Investing Articles

With a P/E under 8, is this the best FTSE 100 passive income stock to buy today?

| Alan Oscroft

Reinvesting dividends is my top approach to earning long-term passive income. But I also like to get in as cheap…

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

With the Lloyds share price up 30% this year, should I still buy more?

| Alan Oscroft

I'm trying to decide whether to buy more Lloyds before any further share price rises might take the valuation up…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

Here’s the BP share price and dividend forecast for the next few years

| Alan Oscroft

The BP share price has been falling over the past year, as oil fears grow. But are investors missing out…

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British union jack flag and Parliament house at city of Westminster in the background
Investing Articles

Does this news mean the London Stock Exchange Group share price is cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

The London Stock Exchange Group share price has been climbing. But a careful look at the valuation is a necessity…

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A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

Does this news mean a fresh start for the Barratt Redrow share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The Barratt Redrow share price has fallen since the two companies merged in August. But might this latest update change…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

3 reasons to consider buying FTSE 250 shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

Sometimes, I think the time might just be right to spread my interests and look at the wide range of…

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

Why I think the FTSE 100’s the best place for my money right now

| Alan Oscroft

When I look for a long-term home for my investment cash, I can't see any shares I'd like to buy…

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Close-up Of A Piggybank With Eyeglasses And Calculator On Desk
Investing Articles

As the Rolls-Royce share price soars, are we looking at a future dividend star?

| Alan Oscroft

From a 10-bagger for the Rolls-Royce share price, to paving the way for long-term dividends... is that what we're seeing…

Read more »

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

How I’d aim to build passive income with a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA

| Alan Oscroft

What's my route to setting up a passive income for my old age? With reasonable caution, I see nothing I…

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Art concept depicting the year 2024 with a bullseye target in place of the zero
Investing Articles

Here are the latest Lloyds share price and dividend forecasts

| Alan Oscroft

How are the City's brokers rating the Lloyds Bank share price in the near future? There's a fair bit of…

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

Here’s the latest FTSE 100 dividend forecast, and it’s growing

| Alan Oscroft

Despite a generally good year for UK share prices so far in 2024, yields are still strong. And the dividend…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

With yields at 9%+, I expect even more from these FTSE 100 dividend stocks

| Alan Oscroft

I'd thought FTSE 100 yields might be declining by now, as the stock market starts to gain. Can these big…

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

Where will the Tesla share price go next? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

The Tesla share price has been going pretty much sideways since 2021, and its robotaxi event hasn't had much of…

Read more »

Business woman creating images with artificial intelligence inside office
Investing Articles

Can a new AI deal with Google give the Vodafone share price a fresh boost?

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone share price has needed something to shake it up for some time. Is this 10-year deal just what…

Read more »

British pound data
Investing Articles

How I’d invest £1,000 a month to aim for a passive income of £45,000 a year

| Alan Oscroft

Here's how a mixed growth strategy might be the way I'd try to target long-term passive income, if I were…

Read more »

Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

When I look for dividend shares to buy, should I just go for the biggest yields?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is having a strong year in 2024 so far. But there are still some great yields offered…

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

What’s the dividend forecast for BT shares? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Have I made a mistake in not buying BT shares for the dividend, even while watching the share price dip…

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Investing Articles

These might just be the cheapest FTSE 100 shares for me to buy next

| Alan Oscroft

There are many ways we can consider which are the best UK shares to buy at any time. I'm seeing…

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Young Woman Drives Car With Dog in Back Seat
Investing Articles

Can the Tesla share price beat September’s 22% climb in October?

| Alan Oscroft

All the techie attention seems to have drifted away from the Tesla share price at the moment. But October could…

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Female Tesco employee holding produce crate
Investing Articles

After a bumper first half gives the Tesco share price a boost, should I buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Tesco share price is having a great year, and these first-half figures show us why. Here's how the stock…

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High flying easyJet women bring daughters to work to inspire next generation of women in STEM
Investing Articles

Here’s why the easyJet share price climbed 9% in September, and what happened next

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price had been having a good September. But the latest events in the Middle East have knocked…

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Businessman use electronic pen writing rising colorful graph from 2023 to 2024 year of business planning and stock investment growth concept.
Investing Articles

Is JD Sports a buy for me, as the share price falls on H1 results?

| Alan Oscroft

Mixed first-half figures lead to a drop in the JD Sports Fashion share price, despite strong management optimism for the…

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Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

With a 7% yield, here’s the dividend forecast for Aviva shares

| Alan Oscroft

With a big cash payout, and solid forecasts for the next few years, what's not to like about Aviva shares?…

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