[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images How much does someone need before they can get serious about scouring the stock market on the hunt for shares to buy? It is a good question. Many people hold off from investing in the stock market because they think they need a certain amount to buy shares. Pay close attention to costs and charges! There is some logic to that. For example, Hargreaves Lansdown has a default charge of £11.95 per trade online. That can fall for someone who executes 10 or more trades in a single month, but that seems irrelevant for a…
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[ad_1] Image source: National Grid plc A lot of investors do not prioritise the potential for long-term share price gain, but are primarily interested in what sort of income they might earn. They might invest in National Grid (LSE: NG), for example. The 58% rise in National Grid shares over the past five years has doubtless been welcomed by many shareholders (albeit it is merely in line with the FTSE 100 performance over that period). But the main appeal for many has been the dividend. That is because National Grid specifically aims to appeal to investors for whom regular and…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images A stock market crash can seem like a worrying thing when it comes to pensions. People might look at the valuation of their SIPP during or after a crash and see that it has shrunk dramatically, making it feel as if their retirement goals are moving further away. In fact, though, a stock market crash can be used to try and help bring such goals closer. Here’s how. What really happens when the stock market crashes Looking at a SIPP or ISA valuation covered in red ink it can be easy to think, “ouch! I’ve…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Aviva (LSE:AV.) shares have been a breath of fresh air in my portfolio since I bought them in late 2023 at 413p apiece. Not only have they appreciated in value to 644p, they’ve also pumped out lovely growing dividends. But I was wondering recently how many Aviva shares it would take to pay for the average monthly energy bill. According to EDF Energy, this is currently £147 for a medium-sized household. Let’s take a closer look at this FTSE 100 insurance stock to find out. Strong performance After more than a decade in the wilderness following…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) stock could be about to surge again. That’s because the artificial intelligence (AI) software company just posted its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings and the numbers were truly incredible. Is it time to buy this US growth stock for my ISA? Let’s discuss. Unbelievable numbers for Q4 I thought Palantir’s Q4 results would be good. But I didn’t think they’d be this good. For the quarter, revenue was up a huge 70% year on year to $1.4bn. Meanwhile, US revenue was up an insane 93% to $1.1bn. Driving this growth was US commercial revenue.…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images The first thing I try to do every financial year is get as much money as I can into my Lifetime ISA (LISA). But this could be set to change as the government looks to shake things up. According to Martin Lewis, the LISA is being replaced with a product for first-time buyers only. That’s no use to me, so I’m figuring out what I should do. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Perhaps the best way of thinking about passive income (money made with little effort) came from legendary investor Warren Buffett. He said: “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” I have found the best way to make money while I sleep is by investing in high-dividend-paying shares. The earlier this process is begun, the better, as it allows income to grow through ‘dividend compounding’. Much like leaving savings to accrue in a bank account, this compounding effect can quietly turbocharge long-term returns. So, what…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Diageo’s (LSE: DGE) share price sits near multi‑year lows as the firm struggles to turn its flagship brands into consistent, dependable growth. Down 26% in the last 12 months alone, the gap between these two parts of the valuation puzzle keeps widening. So, is there any sign this may change, and if so, what are the shares really worth? What’s been the problem? The last genuinely strong results Diageo produced were in H1 FY2022, when Covid‑era drinking habits were still inflating demand. With people spending more time at home, net sales jumped 15.8% year on…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images FTSE oil and gas giant Harbour Energy (LSE: HBR) is a standout income share in my portfolio aimed at making retirement much more comfortable. Moreover, the consensus among analysts is that exceptional earnings growth will support this high dividend yield. It may also drive major gains in the share price over time. So, how much could I make from the shares over time? How much earnings growth? The consensus projection is that Harbour’s earnings will grow a stellar average of 77% a year to end-2028. A risk here is any prolonged bearish trend in the…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images After doubling in value in the last two years, many onlookers are suggesting that Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) shares might have run out of steam. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the shares keep surging, perhaps even breaking the £2 barrier in the not-too-distant future. Here the four main reasons why: Continuing high interest rates despite rate cuts. More rounds of share buybacks. Ongoing digitisation. Benefits from artificial intelligence. Read on for a more in-depth analysis of why I feel these four factors could propel the Lloyds share price upwards. I’ll even throw in a ‘wild…