[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images FTSE 100 shares BAE Systems and Babcock International have been on fire in recent years and the Prime Minister may be about to do something that means this continues. First some context. Both rank among the Footsie’s top five performers over the past five years, along with Rolls-Royce, Airtel Africa and Fresnillo. Here are the returns from this magnificent quintet of UK shares. Five-year return (excluding dividends) Rolls-Royce 1,219%Babcock International 471%Airtel Africa 321%BAE Systems315%Fresnillo 274% The common theme for three of these is that they’re in the aerospace and defence sector. BAE Systems is an…
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[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Even with the UK stock market reaching new record highs lately, there are still plenty of FTSE shares offering generous dividend yields. And if these payouts can be maintained, investors could go on to earn an absurd amount of passive income. That’s what’s brought Greencoat UK Wind (LSE:UKW) back in my sights. Renewable energy stocks continue to be unpopular in 2026. But new evidence is emerging that Greencoat shares could be a phenomenal long-term opportunity. And if that’s the case, its 10.6% payout could pave the way to exceptionally lucrative results. So, is now the…
[ad_1] In early 2026, California’s plan to explore replacing its long-standing gas tax with a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fee ignited a firestorm of public debate and online outrage. Headlines and social media feeds on the conservative right lit up with claims that the state was on the verge of imposing a new “mileage tax” that would charge drivers per mile driven — sparking fears of higher costs for commuters and grumbling about government overreach.Yet beneath the buzz and the partisan rhetoric lies a more precise reality: the legislation that prompted this uproar — Assembly Bill 1421 — does not…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images While the FTSE 100 index has climbed this year, the Aviva (LSE: AV.) share price hasn’t participated in the rally. Year to date, it’s down about 9% (versus a near-5% gain for the Footsie). So, what’s going on here? And is now a good time to consider buying? A new risk for Aviva and its shareholders This may sound strange, but I think the share price fall here is related to AI fears. In the same way that software stocks have been hit by disruption fears recently, insurance stocks are now in the firing line.…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images With the markets growing more volatile, I’m once again on the hunt for the best shares to buy. And right now, my attention is on data & analytics firms. Why? Because earlier this month, a massive wave of panic selling kicked off as the threat of new disruptive AI models dominated media headlines. While most of the volatility appears to have been concentrated among US tech stocks, some drops also emerged here in the UK. And two companies that have been hit particularly hard are RELX (LSE:REL) and London Stock Exchange Group (LSE:LSEG). But with…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Not long ago, RELX (LSE: REL) was considered by many to be the FTSE 100‘s artificial intelligence darling. The analytics company had all the tools to take advantage of the introduction of AI. The company even released fully formed services for doctors and lawyers to take advantage of this new technology. And how has the share price been doing? In short, the last year has been a disaster. While Relx was riding the crest of the AI wave for some time – notably doubling in value between 2022 and 2025 – the share price has…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images It’s never been easier to generate a tax-free second income in a Stocks and Shares ISA than today. Thanks to the internet and swarms of competing online brokers, investing has also never been cheaper. Indeed, it’s perfectly viable to get the ball rolling with just £500 (or even less) because some apps don’t charge trading fees. From this tiny acorn, it’s possible to build an impressive future second income. Let’s crunch some numbers to find out more. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images When stocks come with 9% dividend yields, it’s almost always a sign investors are concerned about something. But the market isn’t always right – and when it’s not, they can be huge opportunities. Both the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 have shares with eye-catching yields right now. And investors looking for long-term passive income should take a closer look at both. LyondellBasell Industries At 9.5%, LydonellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB) has the highest dividend yield in the S&P 500. And it’s a classic one for investors – the yield is up because the stock is down,…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images BP (LSE:BP.) shares haven’t been stellar performers of late. The stock has certainly been stronger than some other UK shares, but even after dividends, the energy giant is still struggling to keep up with the FTSE 100. And a £1,000 investment in February 2025 is now only worth £1,079.20 versus the £1,238 index investors have earned. So, what’s going on? And will BP shares start to catch up in 2026? What’s up with BP shares? Even after investors welcomed management’s new strategy to refocus on fossil fuels and slow its transition toward renewables, BP’s performance…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Investing in high-quality, cheap shares is a proven wealth-building strategy. And even as the UK stock market approaches record highs, there remain plenty of discounted buying opportunities for investors to explore. One might even allow investors to more than quadruple their money! Here’s one of Peel Hunt‘s top discounted stock picks for 2026. A 300% growth opportunity?! It’s pretty rare to see institutional investors issue extremely aggressive share price forecasts. So, when the analyst team at Peel Hunt issued a 508p share price target for PureTech Health (LSE:PRTC) shares, it immediately caught my attention. Compared…