Day: December 16, 2021

3 ETFs for ASX investors in 2022

ETF spelt out

If you don’t have the funds to build a truly diverse portfolio, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be a quick fix.

This is because ETFs give investors access to a large number of different shares through just a single investment.

With that in mind, listed below are three ETFs that could be good options in 2022. Here’s what you need to know about them:

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF tracks the performance of many of the largest technology companies that have their main area of business in Asia (excluding the Japan market). Among the ETF’s holdings are Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Tencent. Given how these companies are among the fastest growing in the region and revolutionising the lives of billions of people, they have been tipped to generate strong returns in the future.

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Another ETF to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. It provides investors with exposure to the leaders in the global cybersecurity sector. This includes companies such as Accenture, Cisco, and Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, and Okta. BetaShares notes that the cybersecurity sector is heavily under-represented on the ASX. As a result, this ETF ensures that Australian investors don’t miss out on the growing demand for these services.

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Finally, if you’re interested in gaining exposure to the US tech sector, then the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF could be a great way to do it. This ETF provides investors with access to the 100 largest non-financial shares on the NASDAQ index. This means you’ll be owning a slice of giants such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook/Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, and Tesla.

The post 3 ETFs for ASX investors in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Here’s why the Aspen (ASX:APZ) share price shot up 6% today

growth in housing asx shares represented by little wooden houses next to rising red arrow

The Aspen Group Limited (ASX: APZ) share price climbed today following the release of its portfolio valuations for the first half of FY22.

The property group also announced the date it would pay dividend distributions to shareholders.

At the close of trade, the Aspen share price was up 5.76% trading at $1.75.

What’s the latest on Aspen’s property portfolio?

Aspen owns and operates 18 residential, retirement and short-stay properties across Australia, valued at more than $200 million.

This morning, the company released a revaluation of 6 properties — 5 located in New South Wales and one in the Northern Territory — representing “about a quarter” of its property portfolio. The company said the value of these properties had jumped around $17 million higher since 30 June this year.

In today’s release, Aspen attributed the 45% valuation increase to “an increase in adopted net income of 25% and reduction in average capitalisation rate (weighted by net income) of about 95bps”.

Aspen said this equated to an increase in net asset value (NAV) per security of around 9%.

Dividends distribution

Also today, the company announced that it would advise shareholders about its performance, outlook and updated distribution policy when it released its half-year results next year.

Shareholders can expect a total dividend distribution payment of 3.10 cents to be paid on 25 February next year.

The company has also reiterated that its distribution reinvestment plan has remained suspended.

Aspen share price snapshot

The Aspen share price has rocketed more than 45% higher in the past 12 months and is up 44% since the start of 2021.

Based on its current share price, the company has a market capitalisation of more than $233 million.

The post Here’s why the Aspen (ASX:APZ) share price shot up 6% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

*Returns as of August 16th 2021

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The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Here’s why EML (ASX:EML) shareholders are suing their own company

A group of disappointed board members.

It was a relatively good day to be a shareholder of EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) shares this Thursday. Despite the losses of the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), the EML share price ended up closing 1.55% higher at $3.27 a share.

That move comes despite news today that some EML shareholders have banded together to file a class action against EML. It will be heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Shine Lawyers allege that an Irish subsidiary of EML, PFS Card Services Ireland Limited (PFS), “made misleading representations regarding their corporate governance and regulatory compliance”. According to the law firm, “thousands of Australian investors who put money into EML Payments” have joined the class action.

EML faces class action from its own shareholders

This relates to the well-publicised issues EML had with the Central Bank of Ireland earlier this year. Back in May, it became public that the Irish Central Bank had raised concerns over EML’s PFS business. The Central Bank alleged that the company was failing to adequately comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations. As we covered at the time, this had big implications for the entirety of EML’s European business dealings.

The reaction from shareholders was brutal. Within a day, the EML share price had lost more than 46% of its value. Even today, after EML has received something of an all-clear from the Central Bank, EML shares remain down around 37% from where they were before the concerns were aired publically.

Shine Lawyers point to the fact that “the revelation caused EML Payments Limited’s share price to plunge 46 per cent in a day, yet it took the Brisbane-based company four days to request a trading halt” as the reason for the class action.

Here’s some of what Joshua Aylward of Shine Lawyers class Action Practise, had to say:

The Central Bank of Ireland raised the alarm over potential non-compliance with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations with PFS on May 13… This suggested the company’s European operations could be in jeopardy, but EML failed to disclose this to the Australian share market in a timely manner…

It is alleged that EML’s conduct showed disregard for its regulatory obligations and to the thousands of Aussies who invested their money into its businesses.

The class action is open to any investor that purchased EML shares between 19 December 2020 and 18 May 2021.

The post Here’s why EML (ASX:EML) shareholders are suing their own company appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in EML Payments right now?

Before you consider EML Payments, you’ll want to hear this.

Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and EML Payments wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

*Returns as of August 16th 2021

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended EML Payments. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended EML Payments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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What’s on the cards for the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price in 2022?

Rising arrow on a piggy bank with a woman holding it and smiling.

The Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) share price is testing its shareholders’ patience this year. Despite putting the pedal to the metal for the first three-quarters of the year — rising nearly 30% — shares in the 158-year-old bank are now only up 5.7% year-to-date.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has handed out a gain of 9.1% (before dividends). An even more comparable comparison is the ASX financials sector. The overall sector has pulled a gain of more than 18% since the start of 2021, mostly thanks to the majority of the big four conjuring up 15% or more increases.

Nonetheless, as we get closer to crossing the threshold from one year to the next, it’s time to slide the Bank of Queensland share price under the microscope and get a sense of where it could be heading in 2022.

New year, same old bank

Many of us like to create New Year’s resolutions, though few follow through on the idealised ambitions. In 2022, shareholders will be watching that the bank follows through on its pre-commitments.

This follows a barrage of shareholder complaints regarding the Bank of Queensland’s lack of current technology at the annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.

To which the bank admitted it had underinvested in during the past. However, chair Patrick Allaway gave shareholders the commitment that a digital transformation would be underway as part of a new strategy launched last year.

As part of the grilling for the bank’s outdated tech, Australian Shareholders’ Association’s Kelly Buchanan said:

For years and years, BoQ has been promising to get on top of its antiquated technology system. How can your long-suffering shareholders be confident, that with the acquisition of ME Bank, this time it’s different?

While current technology seems to be a problem for numerous major Australian banks, the Bank of Queensland has the added complexity of recently tieing up a substantial amount of money in the acquisition of ME Bank. That investment came to a total of $1.325 billion.

What are analysts expecting for the Bank of Queensland share price?

It appears brokers are optimistic about a good year for the Bank of Queensland share price. In fact, two brokers currently have price targets that are above the financial institution’s current valuation.

Firstly, the team at Citi has a buy rating on the bank, alongside a $10 price target. This would suggest a potential upside of 25% to the current Bank of Queensland share price.

Secondly, analysts at Goldman Sachs are expecting good things from the Aussie bank in 2022. The broker also has a buy rating and a $9.67 price target.

Finally, based on its latest earnings the Bank of Queensland share price is trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of ~12.8 times. While this is above the industry average, investors could be paying a premium for the bank’s impressive growth between FY20 and FY21.

The post What’s on the cards for the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Should you invest $1,000 in Bank of Queensland right now?

Before you consider Bank of Queensland, you’ll want to hear this.

Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bank of Queensland wasn’t one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

*Returns as of August 16th 2021

More reading

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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