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Mark Stones

Mark Stones

Mark Stones (TMFMumbojumbones) joined The Motley Fool in 2014 and initially worked as a writer for Fool.co.uk, before joining the Fool’s analyst programme. Mark earned a BA in English from Loughborough University. Although he spends more time reading annual reports than Russian literature these days, he still appreciates a novelist’s antipathy toward the accepted view, which is a useful attitude when trying to sniff out hidden gems on the stock market. His approach to investing has been largely influenced by the principles of Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch. He also takes a special interest in the work of healthcare companies. Outside of investing, Mark plays guitar, enjoys good writing and has a guilty passion for combat sports.

Recent Articles

Investing Articles

Has There Been A Better Time To Buy Barclays PLC?

| Mark Stones

Now is very much make or break time for Barclays (LON: BARC).

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Investing Articles

Who Should You Buy: Vodafone Group plc Or BT Group plc?

| Mark Stones

Vodafone Group plc (LON: VOD) is a high yielder, but BT Group plc (LON: BT-A) could be a safer option.

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Company Comment

Would A Combined AstraZeneca plc/Pfizer Inc. Be Worth Owning?

| Mark Stones

AstraZeneca plc's (LON: AZN) strengths as a separate entity won't be best harnessed by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

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Investing Articles

Why Shares In Petrofac Limited Plummeted

| Mark Stones

Petrofac Limited (LON: PFC) expects full-year profits to fall by as much as 11%.

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Company Comment

Vodafone Group plc Used To Be A Winner – Is It Now Ex-Growth?

| Mark Stones

Vodafone Group plc (LON: VOD) no longer offers the same growth and income potential.

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Company Comment

Wm. Morrison Supermarkets plc Falls On Poor Sales

| Mark Stones

Recent price cuts at Wm. Morrison Supermarkets plc (LON: MRW) will "take time" to have an effect.

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Investing Articles

J Sainsbury plc Reports 5.3% Profit Growth

| Mark Stones

Results are solid for J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) as Justin King prepares exit.

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Company Comment

Profits At Barclays PLC’s Investment Bank Cut By Half

| Mark Stones

But Barclays PLC (LON: BARC) sees momentum in retail and business banking.

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Investing Videos

Tesco PLC vs Ocado Group PLC: Where Should You Put Your Money?

| Mark Stones

VIDEO: Two Fools put Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO) and Ocado Group PLC (LON:OCDO) under the spotlight.

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Company Comment

Why Shares In Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc Jumped

| Mark Stones

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON: RBS) returns to profit for the first time since last summer.

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Company Comment

Should You Buy Wm. Morrison Supermarkets plc, J Sainsbury plc Or Tesco PLC?

| Mark Stones

Conversely, of Wm. Morrison Supermarkets plc (LON: MRW), J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) & Tesco PLC (LON: TSCO), which should…

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Company Comment

Barclays PLC Is Stoking Fires – Can You Avoid Getting Burned?

| Mark Stones

While it self-immolates, I for one wouldn't shake Barclays PLC's (LON: BARC) hand.

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Company Comment

Lloyds Banking Group PLC Up 4% As It Delivers 22% Profit Jump

| Mark Stones

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON: LLOY) is preparing for the imminent sale of its TSB business.

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Investing Articles

GlaxoSmithKline plc Falls On Slumping Sales

| Mark Stones

GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON: GSK) contends with a slow start to 2014 but is confident of "improving" product portfolio and remains…

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Company Comment

Thorntons plc Transformation Remains “On Track”, Despite Sales Drop

| Mark Stones

Falling supermarket sales hurt Thorntons plc (LON: THT) as store closure plan continues.

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Company Comment

Royal Dutch Shell Plc Hikes Dividend On Cash Flow Boost

| Mark Stones

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (LON: RDSB) also unveils earnings fell by almost half.

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Investing Videos

A Closer Look At AstraZeneca plc

| Mark Stones

VIDEO: Two Fools put AstraZeneca plc (LON:AZN) under the spotlight.

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Company Comment

BP plc To Reward Shareholders With $10bn By 2015

| Mark Stones

BP plc (LON: BP) will continue to divest its assets, with the proceeds primarily going to shareholders.

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Company Comment

Why Shares In Serco Group plc Plummeted

| Mark Stones

Rupert Soames is Joining Serco Group plc (LON: SRP) a month early, and his first task is damage control.

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Investing Articles

Should You Buy AstraZeneca plc Or Vodafone Group plc On Takeover Talk?

| Mark Stones

AstraZeneca plc (LON:AZN) and Vodafone Group plc (LON: VOD) could be lucrative investments, but make sure you ignore the rumours.

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Company Comment

Why Shares In Quindell PLC Plummeted

| Mark Stones

Quindell PLC (LON: QPP) has rebuffed allegations against its activities. Who should you believe?

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Company Comment

Why You Should Buy Into The FTSE 100 On The Dips

| Mark Stones

Stick with the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) for the long haul.

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Company Comment

AstraZeneca plc Rises On Cancer Treatment Prospects

| Mark Stones

No mention of a potential Pfizer bid in AstraZeneca plc's (LON: AZN) latest results.

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Company Comment

Flybe Group PLC Inks Deal With London City Airport

| Mark Stones

Flybe Group PLC (LON: FLYB) continues its turnaround with new five-year contract.

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Company Comment

Should You Sell Quindell PLC On Gotham Report?

| Mark Stones

Quindell PLC's (LON: QPP) reputation is taking a hammering, but the truth may be hidden in plain sight.

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Company Comment

Could Tesco PLC Be The Ideal Value Investment?

| Mark Stones

Tesco PLC's (LON: TSCO) share price performance is poor, but you might be able to take advantage of the market's…

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Company Comment

Sports Direct International Plc Posts 10% Sales Growth

| Mark Stones

Sports Direct International Plc (LON:SPD) is likely to meet or exceed full-year earnings target.

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Company Comment

GlaxoSmithKline plc To Return £4bn To Shareholders

| Mark Stones

After exchanging assets with Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON: GSK) enhances its earnings potential.

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Company Comment

Diageo plc Crushed In Asia, Sales Dive 19%

| Mark Stones

Diageo plc (LON: DGE) is confident demand will pick up in emerging markets long term.

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Company Comment

Why NOW Is The Time To Invest In The FTSE 100

| Mark Stones

Once every three years The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) presents an outstanding buying opportunity.

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Company Comment

Tesco PLC’s Profit Beats Market Forecasts

| Mark Stones

Tesco PLC (LON: TSCO) profit declines but by less than the 10% expected.

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Company Comment

Like Laidlaw, Should Investors Jump Centrica PLC’s Ship?

| Mark Stones

Centrica PLC (LON: CNA) shares are being battered in a political rumble, but problems run deeper still.

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Company Comment

Aggreko plc Begins Year From A Sprint Start

| Mark Stones

Aggreko plc (LON: AGK) is among the morning's top risers on boosted revenues.

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Company Comment

The Best Income Buy: Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc Or Lloyds Banking Group PLC?

| Mark Stones

Neither Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON: RBS) or Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON: LLOY) pay dividends now. But…

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Company Comment

Is It Time To Buy Unloved BP plc And Royal Dutch Shell Plc?

| Mark Stones

Trading in bargain range, BP plc (LON: BP) and Royal Dutch Shell Plc (LON: RDSB) are tinged with risk, but…

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Company Comment

ARM Holdings plc Leads The FTSE 100 Sharply Down

| Mark Stones

Tech stocks like ARM Holdings plc (LON: ARM) are among the leading FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) fallers today.

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Company Comment

What Return Can You Get From Undervalued Lloyds Banking Group PLC?

| Mark Stones

The depressed share price of Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON: LLOY) could soon spring up.

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Company Comment

How Much Trouble Is J Sainsbury plc Really In?

| Mark Stones

J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) lost market share in three months ending 31 March. The onset of decline could have…

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Company Comment

Stomp Wealth Managers With A FTSE 100 Index Tracker

| Mark Stones

A FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) index tracker is cheap, and a great way to avoid 'hidden costs'.

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Company Comment

Quindell PLC Licences Technology To Zurich Canada

| Mark Stones

Quindell PLC (LON: QPP) bolsters its position in the North American insurance market.

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