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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

Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

Is the AI stock bubble really on the verge of bursting?

| Alan Oscroft

Some say we're in an AI bubble, some say it's still just the start of a sector surge. Either way,…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

How should Warren Buffett invest Berkshire Hathaway’s $382bn?

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett is leaving Berkshire Hathaway with record amounts of cash on the books. But he's not doing it just…

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

Here’s why this hot FTSE 250 stock rocketed 90% in October!

| Alan Oscroft

Following a return to the FTSE 250 in October, this company's technology could give it a strong head start in…

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Diverse group of friends cheering sport at bar together
Investing Articles

Here’s why the THG share price climbed 24% in October!

| Alan Oscroft

After a THG share price reversal in the past few months, is the growth story back on track for this…

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Two female adult friends walking through the city streets at Christmas. They are talking and smiling as they do some Christmas shopping.
Investing Articles

Here’s why the Next share price climbed another 15% in October

| Alan Oscroft

The third quarter has been great for the Next share price, as the company had to face a tough decision:…

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Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

Can the FTSE 100 smash through 10,000 points by Christmas?

| Alan Oscroft

Which stocks might help push the FTSE 100 to a new all-time record in time for the holiday season? Let's…

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

The BT share price would have turned £5,000 into this much in 5 years…

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price turnaround over the past five years has been genuinely impressive, though it's been going off the…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

The Standard Chartered share price has soared, and Q3 results hint at why

| Alan Oscroft

As buybacks at Standard Chartered are still going strong and plans are ahead of schedule, are we missing a share…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT where the Rolls-Royce share price will be this time next year!

| Alan Oscroft

Increasingly sophisticated ways to search large amounts of data will always be welcome. But can AI help with the Rolls-Royce…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT where Lloyds shares will be this time next year!

| Alan Oscroft

AI tools are giving us ever quicker access to data in increasingly organised ways. How best to use them? I…

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Young Woman Drives Car With Dog in Back Seat
Investing Articles

What would happen to the Tesla share price if Elon Musk leaves?

| Alan Oscroft

As Tesla approaches its annual meeting of shareholders, Elon Musk's proposed payment package is dominating share price talk.

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

As the HSBC share price shrugs off Q3 profits miss, is it too late to buy cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors were fearing bad things for the HSBC share price from the current Bernie Madoff case... but underlying Q3 results…

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

The BP share price would have turned £5,000 into this much in 5 years…

| Alan Oscroft

Nobody could have predicted where the BP share price was going to go over the past five years, but it's…

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Mature people enjoying time together during road trip
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to target a £20,000 passive income at 60?

| Alan Oscroft

The power of compound returns means the prospect of retiring with a good passive income from stocks and shares can…

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

These are October’s best-selling stocks and shares among UK ISA investors

| Alan Oscroft

Here's my latest look at where private investors in the UK are trusting our long-term ISA cash. And you know…

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

I asked ChatGPT what’s the chance of a stock market crash?

| Alan Oscroft

Fears of a stock market crash might have calmed down a bit from recent panics. But high valuations remain a…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 dividend shares are set to pay out nearly £80bn in 2025! Here’s how to get some

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why UK dividend shares could be the best in the world for generating the cash flow to fund our…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

These penny shares are crushing the market in 2025, but they might still be cheap!

| Alan Oscroft

Penny shares often bring volatility risk to our investments. But we can also see some scorching recoveries when they head…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Prediction: analysts expect 45% earnings growth in 3 years from this FTSE 250 stock!

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 250's been lagging the FTSE 100. But this is the kind of company I reckon could help kick…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Prediction: analysts think this UK high-yield dividend stock is set to climb 20%+!

| Alan Oscroft

Checking through broker price targets on my favourite dividend stocks, this one catches my eye, in a sector I think…

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

The Fresnillo share price falls 17% in a week as gold and silver slip. Time to load up?

| Alan Oscroft

Will the recent Fresnillo share price falls lead the way for a wider sell-off of gold, silver and other precious…

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

Prediction: analysts think this FTSE 100 share price is set to climb 49%!

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 has had a strong 2025 so far. But do these forecasts mean I've found a stock that's…

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

Could an AI crash hit the FTSE 100? I’m watching these UK stocks!

| Alan Oscroft

What could a US stock market slump mean for UK stocks? I'm wondering what nice new buying opportunities it might…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Can the Rolls-Royce share price keep on smashing expectations?

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price has almost doubled so far in 2025, but what does it look like on longer-term valuations?

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

City experts now think the Lloyds share price could climb as high as…

| Alan Oscroft

Has the likelihood of higher car loan costs led to lower Lloyds share price targets from City brokers? So far,…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

To target a £1,500 monthly passive income, I’d need this much in a SIPP…

| Alan Oscroft

An extra few quid every month in passive income could make a significant difference to our financial wellbeing when we…

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Value Shares

Down 58% this year, is this past FTSE 100 winner a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett says investors should look for great companies when they're undervalued. I think this FTSE 100 stock might fit…

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Value Shares

At under £2, is the BT share price a no-brainer buy sign?

| Alan Oscroft

Upbeat forecasts and healthy dividend prospects are making me think the BT share price could have a few good years…

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

How much do you need in an ISA to target a £30,000 second income?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a look at how we might plan to pocket a five-figure annual second income to help fund our retirement,…

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

The great AI stock market crash! Has it already started?

| Alan Oscroft

Talk of a US stock market crash seems to be in the headlines almost every day these days, as stock…

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

Is the car loan pressure on Lloyds shares really finally over?

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares just got a modest boost as the FCA published its latest pronouncement in the long-running car loan mis-selling…

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Aston Martin DBX - rear pic of trunk
Investing Articles

Is this the end for the Aston Martin share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The Aston Martin share price just took a tumble as the company downgraded its guidance due to economic conditions and…

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

How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to target a £20,000 retirement passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

With pensioners facing increasingly tough financial futures in the UK, a decent passive income in retirement can make a big…

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Young Asian man shopping in a supermarket
Investing Articles

As the Tesco share price is boosted by a double-digit dividend rise, should we consider buying?

| Alan Oscroft

The Tesco share price has had a strong five years. First-half results show improved market share and a raised full-year…

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

Never mind the Lloyds price, this bank stock just fell 4%

| Alan Oscroft

Not all banks stocks have recovered the way the Lloyds share price has. This one has had a tough five…

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Playful senior couple in aprons dancing and smiling while preparing healthy dinner at home
Investing Articles

This overlooked FTSE 100 stock jumped in September. Are we too late to get in?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a FTSE 100 company that keeps popping up on my radar, and a bullish September means I just have…

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Older couple walking in park
Investing Articles

How much do you need in high-yield UK shares for a £2,000 monthly passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

Thinking of investing in some high-yield shares on the UK stock market to help generate extra income to supplement your…

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Female Doctor In White Coat Having Meeting With Woman Patient In Office
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 stock posted a big jump in September. Time to buy before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

The share price of this FTSE 250 company has stagnated in recent years. It sounds like it might be doing…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

How to avoid penny stock rip-offs, and one to consider buying in October

| Alan Oscroft

Can penny stocks make us rich, or are they things that scams are made of? There's truth in both extremes,…

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Middle-aged lady in wheelchair writing on whiteboard
Investing Articles

Learn the habits of the UK’s most successful passive income investors

| Alan Oscroft

If we want to set up the best passive income we can, who better to try to emulate that the…

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