Image source: Getty Images I have long thought that Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) shares are expensive. To be honest, that was my belief when they were changing hands for 70p, 80p, and 90p. But on each occasion, investors have clearly disagreed with me and now (8 December), the bank’s share price is heading towards the magical 100p. So for a bit of fun, I turned to ChatGPT to see what I’m missing. I asked: “Is it too late for me to buy Lloyds’ shares?” What did it say? I’ve always found the software to be incredibly polite. Indeed, it complemented…
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Image source: Getty Images A lot of investors are concerned that the stock market could be set for a pullback in 2026. That’s understandable as major indexes have had a brilliant run this year and valuations now sit at elevated levels in many cases. Now, I don’t know if we’re going to see a market slump in 2026. But I’ve been taking some precautions just in case, putting a little bit of my ISA capital into a fund that pays 4%+ annually with near-zero risk. Savings account-like returns The product I’m talking about is the Fidelity Cash fund. It’s available…
Image source: Getty Images While everybody else is busy packing gifts under the Christmas tree, savvy investors are also watching retail stock profits soar. In the hope of boosting my dividends in 2026, I’ve identified two British income shares that typically benefit from the holiday spending spree. Let’s see if this year will deliver the same fortunes for these retail giants. Sainsbury’s Time and time again, Sainsbury’s (LSE: SBRY) wins grocery market share over the festive season, with shoppers trusting it to deliver top quality goods. I’ll admit, I’m a Tesco loyalist, but I can’t deny that Sainsbury’s has the…
Image source: Rolls-Royce plc Over the past five years or so, Rolls-Royce Holdings‘ (LSE:RR.) shares have been the darling of the UK stock market. Since December 2020, they’ve risen in value by a staggering 825%. But it’s the future that really matters. Unfortunately, nobody has a crystal ball, which is why — when it comes to choosing stocks — opinions differ. Personally, I think this is a good thing. I reckon we become better investors if we review both sides of an argument and consider views that might challenge our own. And what better way to do this than look…
Image source: Getty Images The average return for FTSE 100 stocks in 2025 so far is 17%. With less than a month left of 2025 as I write, it’s looking like one of the best years for the index this century. Given the Footsie’s focus on huge blue-chips in mature industries, it should come as no surprise that the bulk of those gains have been strong-but-steady returns rather than the kind of growth that makes your eyes pop. But there is one, very notable exception. The share price of FTSE 100 mining firm Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) began the year at…
Image source: Getty Images I have lots of stocks in my ISA and Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) that I consider to be ‘no-brainers’. From online shopping giant Amazon to payments powerhouse Visa, there are plenty of world-class companies with significant long-term growth potential in my portfolio. As for the biggest no-brainer, I reckon it’s rideshare and food delivery champion Uber (NYSE: UBER). Here’s why. The compelling investment case for Uber One reason I categorise Uber thus is that the company’s name’s a verb. That’s a powerful competitive advantage. Because it means the company’s always at the forefront of consumers’ minds.…
Image source: Getty Images Lots of people think about getting into the stock market, sometimes for years, but never actually start buying shares. One reason for that is the perception that it takes a lot of money to start investing. In fact, it is possible to start investing on a very small scale. How much money does it take to start in the stock market? When I say a “small scale“, that could technically be just a few pounds. Some shares trade for pennies and it is usually possible to buy a single share. But there are a couple of…
Image source: Getty Images FTSE 100 stocks have (largely) come out swinging in 2025. Up 17%, the UK’s premier share index has benefitted from resilient earnings, falling inflation, and growing demand for cheap shares. With all of these catalysts still in play, 2026 could be another year of titanic share price gains. Naturally some blue-chip stocks are likely to perform much better than others. Barratt Redrow (LSE:BTRW) and Antofagasta (LSE:ANTO) are two FTSE shares I think could take off next year. Wanna know why? Home run? Investors still doubt the housing market’s underlying strength, but I think they’ll come around.…
Image source: Getty Images For those who are looking to make money while they sleep, dividend shares can be a great choice. But what separates the good ones from the great ones? According to Warren Buffett, the best stocks are ones that pay out more to investors over time. Finding these can be the difference between doing well and earning huge passive income. Buffett’s secret sauce Coca-Cola and American Express have been two of Berkshire Hathaway’s best income investments. And in the 2023 shareholder letter, Buffett outlined why this has been the case. According to Buffett, the reason is that…
Image source: Getty Images Buying FTSE 100 dividend stocks can be a great way of earning a second income over time. In the best cases, the cash keeps coming in whether the stock market goes up or down. One in my portfolio at the moment is Diageo (LSE:DGE). But as the dividend yield gets close to 5%, should I start to worry about my investment or put my foot down and buy more? Dividends Over the last 12 months, Diageo has returned 77.69p per share in dividends. That means someone needs 15,466 shares to earn £12,000 a year, or £1,000…