All the latest articles & insight from our investment writers to inspire your own research and analysis.
What are the major banks backing right now, and which of those ideas actually stand up to closer scrutiny? Alpesh Patel OBE screens 71 recent buy-rated stocks across nine sectors, combining analyst calls with momentum, valuation and quality checks to separate stronger setups from potential traps. But first, some updates & insights Exciting news. I
Being fully invested can feel like the obvious way to maximise returns, but today cash and bonds can offer meaningful returns without the same volatility. Michael Taylor looks at why opportunity cost matters again, and how investors can think more carefully about risk, time horizons and keeping some powder dry. Back when the pandemic was
Richard takes a tilt at Kainos, a software consultancy and developer that spooked investors in 2024 and 2025 and righted itself in 2026. Cerillion, Alfa, and Dunelm also feature. 5 Strikes Since my last update, six companies have published annual reports and passed my minimum quality filter. Of them, I only awarded Dunelm less than
Headlam boasted an industry-leading position, an asset-rich balance sheet and a long record of dividends… and yet still went bust. Maynard Paton recaps what went wrong at the floor-covering distributor. I wrote about Headlam for ShareScope during 2020 and gave a bullish verdict: “Headlam seems to possess the industry position, balance-sheet strength and management experience
Bruce looks at the diverging performance of European (EGAS) versus US (NG1) natural gas. Stocks covered KEYS, JNEO, VCT. The FTSE 100 fell -1.4% to 10,606 over the last 5 trading days. The Nasdaq100 and S&P 500 were both also down c. -1.4%, while the FTSE China 50 was down -2%. The latter is now
Doing nothing can be one of the hardest disciplines in trading, especially when a stock you missed suddenly takes off. Michael Taylor looks at why the urge to act can be so costly, and why learning to sit on your hands may be an edge in itself. GCM Resources went up over 400% in a
Richard wrestles with the conundrum that is Goodwin, a company selling off its biggest and most profitable division. MS International and Northern Bear also feature. 5 Strikes Since my last update seven companies have passed my minimum quality filter and published annual reports. Name TIDM Prev AR Strikes # Strikes GDWN Goodwin 28/8/26 ? CROCI
In this month’s funds article, David Stevenson goes bubble hunting, asking whether we should worry more about deflation than inflation, and go full-on contrarian, digging into Chinese technology ETFs. Is there an earnings Bubble? Be under no illusions; what we’re seeing at the moment in the equity markets is no bubble, in the classic sense
Bruce returns to a Terry Smith filter from 2019, and examines what has gone wrong with the “buy quality and then do nothing” approach to investing. Company mentioned TRCS y-02-09-2026-trcs The FTSE 100 was flat over the last 5 trading days at 10,824. The Nasdaq100 rose +1.5%, while the FTSE China 50 was up
UK small caps can offer private investors an edge, with less institutional competition and greater scope for overlooked opportunities. Michael Taylor explains how disciplined stock selection, risk management and a consistent process can help tilt the odds in investors’ favour. The game is rigged. It always has been. But maybe not in the way you
Richard wonders if Colefax’s lucrative buyback strategy is destined to go on for another generation. Six more shares pass 5 Strikes. 5 Strikes Since my last update, 12 shares passed my minimum quality filter. After a cursory examination of their director shareholdings and financial histories in ShareScope, seven have achieved less than three strikes. Name
Likewise is one of the very few flotation start-ups that has actually delivered on its growth ambitions. Maynard Paton recounts the career of the group’s boss and its successful progress against floor-covering rival Headlam. The stock market is littered with sorry start-ups that floated with persuasive growth stories but then failed to deliver. But very
