[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images With interest rates falling from recent highs, I think dividend shares are back in fashion in 2026. Two of the biggest names on my own watchlist are Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) and GSK (LSE: GSK). Both are large, steady dividend payers that have enjoyed strong recent share price runs, which makes them worth a closer look for income investors. Lloyds shares flying high Lloyds has had a strong year with its shares sitting around 100p as I write late on 9 January following a 85.5% gain in the last 12 months. Higher interest rates have helped…
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[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images The great thing about buying individual FTSE 100 stocks instead of tracking the index is that there are always opportunities out there. The blue-chip index may have hit another all-time closing high of 10,124.6 on Friday (8 January), but not every stock is flying. Instead of chasing momentum, lots of investors prefer to target undervalued stocks, in the hope of benefitting when they swing back into favour. I’m one of them. And despite the FTSE 100’s blockbuster performance, I can still see plenty of bargains. Sainsbury’s shares got cheaper last week Even though the index…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images The FTSE 100 is home to a wide range of different businesses, ranging from banks and builders to miners and supermarkets. To showcase this variety, here are three Footsie firms that are taking market share from rivals in their respective industries. Supermarket giant Let’s start with the largest, which is Tesco (LSE:TSCO). The share price has jumped roughly 85% since early 2023, which is a cracking result when dividends are also factored into the equation. A key reason behind this has been the company’s incremental market share gains. In its recent Q3 and Christmas trading…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images On 2 January, the elite UK stock market index broke above 10,000 points for the first time. It’s a big milestone and cements the strong rally it’s been on since the tariff-induced falls back in April last year. Yet despite all the cheers, I think the odds of another stock market crash have risen. Here’s why. Complacency creeps in The pop over the past couple of weeks has come more from positive global risk sentiment. Even though this is good, I think the UK stock market is being carried by this, rather than by strong…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Tesco (LSE: TSCO) shares have had a brilliant run, climbing 70% in the last three years. It’s a great example of how even big blue-chip stocks can deliver stellar short-term growth, although these things tend to come in waves. Yet lately I’ve been sounding the alarm, warning that investors in Tesco may have had their fun for now. And last week, the crunch came. The share price fell. Should investors brace ourselves for further losses, or is this a brilliant opportunity to buy more shares at the lower price? FTSE 100 sector winner In December,…
[ad_1] Image source: The Motley Fool After a lifetime of building wealth in the stock market, on 31 December, billionaire investor Warren Buffett officially stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B). But prior to his journey into retirement, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ gave some final words of advice for investors. As we start 2026, here are some of his thoughts. 1. Be patient. Don’t chase enthusiasm With the ‘Buffett Indicator’ reaching a staggering 230% versus its post-2000 average of 110%-130%, the US stock market’s among one of the most richly valued in the world right now. And as a…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Investors are constantly looking for the best stocks to buy. The challenge is that finding these big winners before they’ve surged is far easier said than done. However, looking at the latest report and projections from expert institutional investors, there are three UK growth stocks that might be worth a closer look. 1. Cloud software & AI growth Sage Group’s (LSE:SGE) one of the UK’s leading providers of business management tools for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its cloud platform handles critical tasks like accounting, payroll, and human resources that millions of businesses rely upon…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images It’s possible to get yields of 7% or 8% from UK dividend stocks today, with capital growth potential too. But which ones to choose? For a bit of fun, I decided to call in ChatGPT. I’d never seriously use artificial intelligence to pick stocks, it’s prone to making simple errors and using outdated info, but I thought it might highlight a few opportunities I’d missed, and could then research myself. I asked it to list five stocks from the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, all with yields of 7% or more. The results, as ever,…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Last week, the FTSE 100 crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time. It closed over the 10,000 figure for the first time too. The milestone reflects a confluence of global and domestic factors rather than a sudden surge in UK economic strength. A weaker pound — relative to where it was a decade or so ago — has continued to flatter the overseas earnings of multinational constituents. Meanwhile stabilising inflation and a slow-moving economy continue to underpin expectations for further interest rate cuts. As interest rates fall, we typically see money move from savings…
[ad_1] We discuss some minimalist equity MF portfolios. This is intended for beginners new to the capital markets. Existing investors with multiple funds need not act on this. However, they should tell themselves not to buy more anymore and try to de-clutter as and when possible in the future.New investors should also recognise that a minimalist portfolio will not remain so if FOMO urges them to buy more. The MF industry will continue to produce new products. We cannot buy all of them. We must ask ourselves to stop at some point (preferably right at the start) and focus on…