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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

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

3 FTSE 100 stocks to consider buying in June, with news expected

| Alan Oscroft

We might not have much in the way of FTSE 100 company results coming our way in June, but these…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

Try this quick 5-step passive income stock checklist today

| Alan Oscroft

I like my passive income stock picks to score as high as they can on my five-step checklist. Let's see…

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

Every £5 invested in Rolls-Royce shares 5 years ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Hands up all those investors who shunned Rolls-Royce shares in 2020 and missed out on a big five-year winner? I'm…

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

£10,000 in Lloyds shares could earn this much in cash

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds Bank shares have had a good run with the price rising, but lowering the dividend yield. Yet they could…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in BP shares in the 2020 crash could now be worth…

| Alan Oscroft

BP's push for carbon net-zero launched in 2020 helped push the shares even further down in the Covid crash. Here's…

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Young black female footballer training on stadium pitch
Investing Articles

Just how much lower can the JD Sports share price go?

| Alan Oscroft

Many of us expected a smooth reaction to the JD Sports FY results after a month of market optimism, but…

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

With a P/E of 8 after H1 results, is the easyJet share price too cheap to miss?

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price has had a rocky five years, and decent first-half results failed to give it a boost.…

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Exterior of BT head office - One Braham, London
Investing Articles

The BT share price wobbles on FY results, but I like what I see

| Alan Oscroft

Results for 2025 make me think the recent BT share price growth might be set to slow, but we could…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

These FTSE 100 passive income stocks have raised their dividends for more than 25 years

| Alan Oscroft

Passive income investors can be served by high dividend yields, but multi-year rises in the annual cash payout might even…

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

£10,000 invested in the FTSE 100 at the start of the century could now be worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Even those who put their money into FTSE 100 stocks during the internet bubble in late 1999 could have built…

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

Here’s why FY results and a share buyback could mark a turning point for the Vodafone share price

| Alan Oscroft

This could be a pivotal year for Vodafone as the board seeks to reset the business and reverse a long-term…

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

3 cheap near-penny stocks to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for penny stocks, I keep finding shares that just sit outside the usual strict definition. But I think these…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT to suggest 3 UK dividend stocks for further research. Here’s what it said

| Alan Oscroft

Can artificial intelligence come close to the real thing in my search for long-term dividend stocks? No, but it's a…

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

3 cheap FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

With tariff threats fading (though by no means gone yet), I'm turning my attention to looking for bargain buys in…

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This way, That way, The other way - pointing in different directions
Investing Articles

What’s behind the latest 20% Burberry share price spike?

| Alan Oscroft

The Burberry share price is climbing sharply, even though the fallen fashion giant just revealed a weak full-year performance. What's…

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

How’s the outlook for the National Grid share price after FY results?

| Alan Oscroft

National Grid posted its first annual results since last year's new equity issue, and the share price rose. But what…

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Tesla car at super charger station
US Stock

£10,000 in Tesla stock at the tariff dip bottom is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

President Trump's tariff plans gave Tesla stock a kicking while it was already down. But it's been bouncing up nicely…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Here’s what the latest Q1 update could mean for the Aviva share price

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price has had a strong ride so far this year. And at the end of the first…

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

£10,000 in Nvidia stock at the tariff dip bottom is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

President Trump's tariff announcement caused the Nvidia stock price to fall. But it looks like it opened up a buying…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Here’s what £10,000 in Rolls-Royce shares today could be worth in 2 years

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares are up 90% in the past year, and up 840% over five years. How long can that kind…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Is the FTSE 100 set to soar? Here are 3 ways to aim to cash in

| Alan Oscroft

My outlook for the FTSE 100 is definitely brightening as we get deeper into 2025. How can we make the…

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Business manager working at a pub doing the accountancy and some paperwork using a laptop computer
Investing Articles

3 high-yield passive income stocks to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

These stocks with big dividend yields look very tempting. Passive income investors could do well to consider taking the plunge.

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

£10,000 invested in Tesco shares just a fortnight ago is already worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco shares went through a sharp wobble a couple of weeks ago, but here's a look at what's happened to…

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

Why did the AstraZeneca share price just fall, and what should we do?

| Alan Oscroft

The AstraZeneca share price just took a hit as President Trump announced a price war against the US pharmaceutical industry.

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

What should we do about Berkshire Hathaway stock now Warren Buffett is retiring?

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett is to step down from Berkshire Hathway at the end of the current year, after an amazing 60…

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Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

$3.5bn buyback boosts the Shell share price. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Does the Shell share price make it look like a cash-cow bargain right now? That could depend a lot on…

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a couple embrace in front of their new home
Investing Articles

As the Persimmon share price barely moves on positive trading, is the market missing a chance?

| Alan Oscroft

How much longer will the Persimmon share price remain depressed? This latest update suggests things are looking up this year.

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

3 cheap UK shares to consider buying in May

| Alan Oscroft

The raft of reports from UK shares in April continues into May. Here are three stocks I think could benefit…

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

Prediction: in 12 months the Barclays share price could…

| Alan Oscroft

Barclays just reported a strong set of Q1 results, but the share price fell in response. Who says the stock…

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GSK scientist holding lab syringe
Investing Articles

As the GSK share price bounces back, Q1 results raise hopes for more to come

| Alan Oscroft

The GSK share price took a dive in response to US import tariffs, but the company says it should be…

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

As H1 results send the Associated British Foods (ABF) share price down 8%, is it time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

This blip in the ABF share price on interim results day might be just the buying opportunity that patient long-term…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Will these Q1 results mark the turning point for the BP share price?

| Alan Oscroft

BP's low-carbon aims were not a success for the share price. But we're at the start of a strategic reversal…

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US Trade Barrier Tarrif as American Economic Protectionism
Investing Articles

The HSBC share price dip pushes the dividend to 6.1%. Here’s what Q1 earnings say

| Alan Oscroft

The HSBC share price has wobbled in the aftermath of the escalating US-China tariff war. Can Q1 results help settle…

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ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

Thinking about a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025? Avoid this 1 big mistake

| Alan Oscroft

The new Stocks and Shares ISA year is off to a shaky start thanks to tariff wars and financial turbulence.…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

With Rolls-Royce shares moving up again, is a £10 price target back on the horizon?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares wobbled when President Trump dropped his tariff bombshell on us. But three weeks is a short time in…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 stocks with big dividends to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 250's loaded with so many big dividend yields it's hard to know where to start. These three have…

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BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.
Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 100 stocks with big dividends to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

Sector weakness in some FTSE 100 industries has also left some of my long-term favourite stocks offering attractive dividend yields.

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

Up 58% in a year, the BT share price could be the FTSE 100 target to beat in 2025

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has been steadily climbing back since newish boss Allison Kirkby came on board. Is the new…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Nvidia stock 5 years ago is now worth…

| Alan Oscroft

Even after the Nvidia stock falls of the past couple of months, its five-year performance remains stunning. And it could…

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Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully
Investing Articles

How much would we need in a Stocks and Shares ISA for £10,000-a-year passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

We're still in the first month of the new 2025/26 ISA season, and that means a lot of investors are…

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