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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 female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

Barclays shares could soon soar another 21%, according to the latest price target

| Alan Oscroft

After nearly trebling over the past five years, are Barclays' shares really set for impressive further growth? This analyst thinks…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 stock could storm back into the FTSE 100 with an 80% rise, 1 broker says

| Alan Oscroft

Checking FTSE 100 demotions can be a good way to search for unfairly discounted stocks. Alan Oscroft thinks he might…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Here’s how much I think Lloyds shares will be worth by the end of 2027

| Alan Oscroft

Predicting where Lloyds' shares might go is trickier than not-so-cyclical stocks with less economic exposure, but Alan Oscroft has a…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Investing Articles

£500 buys 643 shares in this penny stock, expected to grow earnings 75% this year!

| Alan Oscroft

You can get a lot of shares for your money with a penny stock. But an attractive valuation is what…

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

As SpaceX stock plunges below its opening price, is it time to dump Scottish Mortgage shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Many investors felt they'd missed out when the SpaceX stock price rocketed. But have we just seen the quickest reversal…

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Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

Here’s how high these brokers think Greggs shares could soon climb!

| Alan Oscroft

Alan Oscroft thinks the decline of Greggs shares could be coming to its end. But the true long-term test might…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

With yields of 8.4% and 7.9%, are these FTSE 250 shares perfect for a Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

FTSE 100 dividend yields might be lower, but there are plenty of smaller-cap companies for Stocks and Shares ISA investors…

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

Are these the best UK shares to buy for passive income right now?

| Alan Oscroft

With the FTSE 100 strong, dividend yields aren't as attractive as they used to be. Alan Oscroft digs out some…

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Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares could be set to climb a further 24% says this broker

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares are set to enter a solid few years of growth, driven by a best-in-class engine fleet. That's what…

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Group of friends meet up in a pub
Investing Articles

How much longer can the Diageo share price stay this low?

| Alan Oscroft

The Diageo share price has been among the FTSE 100's worst performers over five years, but the new boss might…

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Middle aged businesswoman using laptop while working from home
Investing Articles

Up 50% in 5 years, the Aviva share price might be just getting started

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price recovery has been one of the FTSE 100's best in the past decade or more. And…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

Here’s the very latest Barclays share price target upgrade

| Alan Oscroft

The Barclays share price growth has continued with another 55% in the past 12 months, and City analysts are still…

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Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

Could SpaceX trigger a UK stock market crash in 2026?

| Alan Oscroft

It's six years now since the pandemic caused a UK stock market crash. Are frothy US tech stock valuations lining…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

Can the Lloyds share price finally stay above 100p?

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds' share price is struggling in 2026 after a storming few years. But talking of storms, the economic horizon looks…

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

Up close to 50% in a month, what’s next for the easyJet share price?

| Alan Oscroft

External interest in easyJet is perking up, and it's helped reverse an earlier share price slide. The future just got…

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

With a 9.5% yield, this FTSE 250 dividend share could climb up to 40%!

| Alan Oscroft

A dividend share with a high yield, and forecast to keep it going in the coming years, while the shares…

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

As Tesco shares dip on Q1 results, is this a brilliant time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Want a cash-cow investment that commands its sector's biggest market share and seems likely to keep it? Let's take a…

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

Down 33% with a 5.6% dividend yield, is this FTSE 100 stock a once-in-a-decade buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's a FTSE 100 company that's been under economic pressure -- and issued a strong trading update, with a low…

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ISA coins
Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE 250 companies are big Stocks and Shares ISA favourites in June. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Stocks and Shares ISA buys are typically dominated by FTSE 100 companies. But at the moment, some smaller caps are…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why Rolls-Royce shares could be the UK’s most popular Stocks and Shares ISA buy in June

| Alan Oscroft

Have Rolls-Royce shares really reached the top of their meteoric rise over five years? Maybe not, if UK ISA investors…

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

Down 16% in 5 weeks, are BT shares just too good to miss?

| Alan Oscroft

BT shares have had an erratic life. But the company might be shaping up to be one of the FTSE…

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

Here’s why I’m not kicking myself for not buying SpaceX

| Alan Oscroft

SpaceX has just pulled off the most stunning stock market debut in history, and the reaction makes it seem like…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

With a 6.9% yield, is this one of the best FTSE 250 stocks for passive income?

| Alan Oscroft

This UK stock with serious passive income potential has seen its share price languish while its dividends have been growing…

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Investing Articles

This penny stock is down 85% in 5 years, but UK investors are buying it!

| Alan Oscroft

After a few years of this penny stock suffering under economic pressure, I'm seeing growing signs that 2026 might mark…

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Investing Articles

With a 6.9% yield, is this one of the best UK dividend stocks to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors looking for stocks to buy don't have many June results to look forward to. But this one might just…

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

Do the latest forecasts make Barclays shares look stunningly cheap?

| Alan Oscroft

Barclays' shares have had a storming five years, but forecast valuations still look low and City analysts expect more price…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Lloyds shares just a year ago is worth this much today…

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares have settled a bit after a magnificent five-year run, so is it all over? Upbeat forecasters think there's…

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Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Why did Wizz Air shares just jump 10%?

| Alan Oscroft

Wizz Air shares have had a tough five years. But falling oil prices plus a potential turnaround set of results…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Here’s why Legal & General is still the UK’s most popular dividend stock

| Alan Oscroft

There are good reasons why dividend investors have been hoovering up Legal & General stock in 2026, but there are…

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Investing Articles

Why did Raspberry Pi shares just slump 14%?

| Alan Oscroft

Raspberry Pi shares have been soaring on the back of the AI boom, and the first half looks brilliant. But…

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

Here’s why WH Smith shares just crashed 20%!

| Alan Oscroft

WH Smith shares are suffering, as the crisis in the Middle East is hitting North American airport traffic and slowing…

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A row of satellite radars at night
Investing Articles

3 possible ways to get a Stocks and Shares ISA into the new space age

| Alan Oscroft

Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO is dominating the headlines this week, but what might it mean for UK Stocks and Shares…

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Investing Articles

Want to get rich on passive income? Here are some mistakes to avoid

| Alan Oscroft

A key part of successful passive income investing is reducing the risk of losing money. Here's a few ways to…

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Investing Articles

The latest broker outlooks on Greggs shares look wacky, so what’s happening?

| Alan Oscroft

Analyst price targets for Greggs shares are creating some mixed sentiments on where the high-street baker might go next in…

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happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

Here’s why Legal & General is still one of the UK’s most popular SIPP buys

| Alan Oscroft

So far in 2026, UK SIPP investors have largely stuck to the same group of favourite FTSE 100 stocks. And…

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

Is this soaring penny share set for an explosive 2026?

| Alan Oscroft

This penny share company has suffered because its business has been through a tough time. But so far this year,…

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The Milky Way at night, over Porthgwarra beach in Cornwall
Investing Articles

Is the SpaceX IPO the best growth stock opportunity in a generation?

| Alan Oscroft

How about a mix of space exploration, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence? That's what SpaceX stock is all about.

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

As British American Tobacco shares dip, is this a hot buying opportunity?

| Alan Oscroft

Are British American Tobacco shares on their way to completing another decade of dividend growth? Let's check out this latest…

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Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Up 1,200% in 5 years, here’s why Nvidia could still be a brilliant value stock

| Alan Oscroft

An exciting new announcement that could reshape the PC industry has just pushed Nvidia stock... well, just about nowhere really.

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British pound data
Investing Articles

Where might Lloyds shares go in June? Let’s ask the experts

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares could be heading for a quiet spell ahead of first-half results. It seems like a good time to…

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