Month: May 2022

  • Why is the Core Lithium share price up 6% today?

    A man scoots in superman pose across a bride, excited about a future with electric vehicles.A man scoots in superman pose across a bride, excited about a future with electric vehicles.

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is on the move today following strong interest from investors.

    This comes despite the company not releasing any price-sensitive news to the ASX.

    At the time of writing, Core Lithium shares are travelling 6.51% higher to $1.39.

    What’s driving Core Lithium shares up and away?

    Investors are snapping up Core Lithium shares after the company has been progressing its wholly-owned Finniss Lithium Project.

    Since the beginning of the year, the company’s share price ascended on the back of market confidence in lithium demand.

    Popular belief is that Core Lithium will need to play a key role in meeting the future lithium supply gap. Many expect supply will need to grow rapidly as the demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy ramps up over the next decade.

    Earlier this month, the company provided a development update on its flagship project, which sent Core Lithium shares 9.28% higher.

    Management highlighted that the crushing services contract awarded to CSI Mining Services will begin mobilisation to the site next month.

    The crushed ore will be stockpiled before being processed to make spodumene concentrate by the dense media separation (DMS) plant. This will then be ready for export to Core Lithium customers.

    Core Lithium is building Australia’s most advanced lithium project, with first production of lithium concentrate scheduled in Q4 2022.

    Once online, the Finniss Lithium Project will be the first Australian lithium-producing mine outside Western Australia.

    The Australian government is focused on increasing the capabilities of onshore refinement of critical minerals.

    Last year, the Australian federal government awarded Core Lithium’s Finniss site Major Project Status (MPS).

    Achieving MPS underlines the importance of the strategic significance of this project to Australia. It provides extra support, including a single-entry point for regulatory approvals, project support and coordination with government authorities.

    Core Lithium share price snapshot

    It has been a stellar year for Core Lithium shares, surging to a record high of $1.675 before taking a slight breather.

    When looking at the past 12 months, the miner’s shares are up an outstanding 470%.

    Based on today’s price, Core Lithium has a market capitalisation of roughly $2.26 billion, with over 1.73 billion shares outstanding.

    The post Why is the Core Lithium share price up 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Core Lithium right now?

    Before you consider Core Lithium, 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 Core Lithium wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Scott Phillips.

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  • Why has the Core Lithium share price surged 6% today?

    Two excited mining workers in yellow high vis vests and hardhats shake hands to congratulate each other on a mineral discovery that is making the Galileo Mining share price rise todayTwo excited mining workers in yellow high vis vests and hardhats shake hands to congratulate each other on a mineral discovery that is making the Galileo Mining share price rise today

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is on the move today amid strong interest from investors.

    This comes despite the company not releasing any price-sensitive news to the ASX.

    Core Lithium shares are trading up 4.98% at $1.37 at the time of writing, after hitting an intraday high 6.51% higher at $1.39. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also in the green today, currently up 0.92%.

    What’s driving Core Lithium shares up and away?

    Investors are snapping up Core Lithium shares after the company has been progressing its wholly-owned Finniss Lithium Project.

    Since the beginning of the year, the company’s share price ascended on the back of market confidence in lithium demand.

    Core Lithium is among ASX lithium shares likely to play a key role in meeting a future lithium supply gap. This is expected to grow rapidly as the demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy ramps up over the next decade.

    Earlier this month, the company provided a development update on its flagship project which sent Core Lithium shares 9.28% higher.

    Management highlighted that the crushing services contract awarded to CSI Mining Services will begin mobilisation to the site next month.

    The crushed ore will be stockpiled before being processed to make spodumene concentrate by the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant. This will then be ready for export to Core Lithium customers.

    Core Lithium is building Australia’s most advanced lithium project, with the first production of lithium concentrate scheduled in Q4 2022.

    Once online, the Finniss Lithium Project will be the first Australian lithium-producing mine outside of Western Australia.

    The Australian government is focused on increasing the capabilities of onshore refinement of critical minerals.

    Last year, Core Lithium’s Finniss was awarded Major Project Status (MPS) by the Australian federal government.

    Achieving MPS underlines the importance of the strategic significance of this project to Australia. It provides extra support, including a single-entry point for regulatory approvals, project support and coordination with government authorities.

    Core Lithium share price snapshot

    It has been a stellar year for Core Lithium shares, surging to a record high of $1.675 before taking a slight breather.

    When looking at the past 12 months, the Core Lithium share price is up an outstanding 470%.

    Based on today’s price, Core Lithium has a market capitalisation of roughly $2.26 billion, with more than 1.73 billion shares outstanding.

    The post Why has the Core Lithium share price surged 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Core Lithium right now?

    Before you consider Core Lithium, 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 Core Lithium wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Scott Phillips.

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  • ASX 200 midday update: AGL demerger scrapped, A2 Milk jumps

    Two men lok sxcited on the trading floor.

    Two men lok sxcited on the trading floor.

    At lunch on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a strong gain. The benchmark index is currently up 0.8% to 7,240.3 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    AGL demerger scrapped

    The AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price is tumbling lower on Monday after the energy giant announced that it is scrapping its demerger. Although the AGL board continues to believe the demerger would have been “the best way forward,” it concedes that it was unlikely to secure the required shareholder votes. AGL estimates that it has spent $160 million on the demerger process to date. In response to the news, AGL’s chairman and CEO announced their exits.

    A2 Milks jumps

    The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price is racing higher today. This follows news that its smaller rival Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) has signed a deal with the Biden Administration for the supply of 1.5 million tins of infant formula. Investors appear to be hoping that the embattled infant formula company will also strike a similar deal. The US is currently facing major shortages due to the closure of a major manufacturing plant.

    Tech shares storm higher

    The tech sector has played a key role in driving the ASX 200 higher on Monday. Strong gains from the likes of Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) have driven the S&P ASX All Technology index 3.1% higher. Investors were scrambling to buy tech shares after data showed that US inflation is slowing.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Monday has been the A2 Milk share price with a 10% gain amid hopes that the company will get a boost from US infant formula shortages. Going the other way, the Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price is the worst performer with a 3% decline. Investors have been selling this struggling artificial intelligence data services company’s shares since its takeover approach was withdrawn.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: AGL demerger scrapped, A2 Milk jumps 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 over ten 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 January 12th 2022

    More reading

    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. has positions in and has recommended Appen Ltd, Block, Inc., and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why now could be a good time to invest in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF

    A cute young girl wears a straw hat and has a backpack strapped on her back as she holds a globe in her hand with a cheeky smile on her face.

    A cute young girl wears a straw hat and has a backpack strapped on her back as she holds a globe in her hand with a cheeky smile on her face.

    I believe that this could be a good time to consider investing in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

    There are plenty of ETFs on the ASX to choose from. However, I believe that the VGS ETF may be one of the leading picks for investors to choose from in the ETF space.

    The ETF is about investing in a portfolio of global shares from a wide variety of major developed economies.

    When people talk about the ‘global’ share market, they are sometimes talking about the benchmark that this Vanguard ETF seeks to follow.

    I believe that by simply tracking the long-term return of the global share market, investors can see decent results. There are a few different reasons why I like the VGS ETF.

    Low fees

    One of the main reasons why this ETF is so popular is because it enables regular investors to track the returns of the global share market for a very low fee.

    According to Vanguard, this ETF has an annual management fee of just 0.18% per annum. It’s not the cheapest ETF that Vanguard offers, but I think that this low cost is very compelling because it means investors get a vast majority of the net returns that the underlying shares deliver.

    I think that the fees are also reasonable when looking at the diversification of the ETF.

    Diversification

    For me, the Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF could be one of the best options for diversification.

    According to Vanguard, at the end of April 2022, the ETF had around 1,500 different positions. That’s a lot different businesses. I think this level of holdings is useful for reducing the risk for individual companies.

    It’s not just a technology ETF, though IT does get the biggest allocation at 22.1% of the portfolio as at April 2022. There are many different sectors represented including healthcare, financials, consumer discretionary, industrials, consumer staples, communication services, energy, materials, utilities, and real estate.

    Strong portfolio holdings

    The biggest positions in an ETF’s portfolio can have the largest effect on the returns.

    Many of the world’s strongest technology names are held by the VGS ETF. Within the top ten holdings are names like: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. Berkshire Hathaway is also one of the biggest holdings.

    I think that strong businesses can generate good investment returns over time.

    As always, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. However, with the quality names in this portfolio, it’s not too surprising that even after the recent declines, the VGS ETF has returned an average of 11.4% per annum in the five years to April 2022.

    Why invest now with the VGS ETF?

    I’ve talked about what investors get with this ETF. I think the current price is now much more attractive after a fall of more than 10% in 2022.

    Investing is about picking a good long-term investment, but it’s also about buying assets at a good price in my opinion. The VGS ETF is now cheaper and I think being able to buy a large group of businesses at a cheaper price is attractive.

    The post Why now could be a good time to invest in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF right now?

    Before you consider Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, 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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    More reading

    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2023 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2023 $265 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Meta Platforms, Inc., Nvidia, and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Let Dividend King stocks lead you to the promised land

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    A man with a scrappy beard and wearing dark sunglasses and a beanie head covering raises a fist in happy celebration as he sits at is computer in a home environment.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    A well-rounded investment portfolio should include dividend-paying companies. As a shareholder, dividends are a way to be rewarded for holding on to your investments, and when utilized the right way, they can make up a good portion of your portfolio’s total return. However, not all dividend-paying companies are created equal. If you’re looking for consistent, well-established companies, look no further than Dividend Kings.

    Here’s why you should let them lead you to the promised land.

    They’ve stood the test of time

    Dividend Kings got their honorable title because they’ve managed to increase their yearly dividend for at least 50 consecutive years. Being able to maintain a dividend for that long is an accomplishment in itself, but being able to increase it for that many years is a completely different feat. With Dividend Kings, you know you’re investing in companies that have stood the test of time.

    Any company with the Dividend King title in 2022 has increased its dividend since 1972, at a minimum. During that time, these companies have made it through some of the toughest economic conditions the U.S. has seen. Dividend Kings have made it through:

    • Black Monday (1987).
    • Dot-com bubble collapse (2000).
    • The Great Recession/Financial crisis (2008-2009).
    • COVID-19 pandemic (2020).

    There are many solid companies who had to cut their dividends during those times, including prominent Fortune 500 companies, but Dividend Kings stood tall and weathered the storm. 

    There’s power in the DRIP

    While receiving dividends can be a great source of income, the real power comes when you enroll in your brokerage company’s dividend reinvestment program (DRIP). With DRIP, any dividends you receive are automatically used to buy more shares of whatever company or fund paid them out. This adds to the power of compound interest.

    Let’s imagine we have two funds — one without a dividend and one with a 2.5% dividend yield — and you contributed $500 into both monthly, receiving a 10% annual return (the historical average of the S&P 500). Assuming the dividend yield stays the same, here’s how the account totals would look in 25 years:

    Fund Dividend Yield Amount Contributed in 25 Years Account Total After 25 Years
    Fund 1 0% $150,000 $590,000
    Fund 2 2.5% $150,000 $864,000

    Data source: author calculations

    With zero additional effort, receiving (and reinvesting) dividends increased your account total by roughly $274,000. As a dividend investor, it helps to delay receiving payouts in cash until retirement, when having an additional source of income can be more beneficial. Until then, you can reap major rewards by using a DRIP. Even if you manage to accumulate $500,000 in a fund with a 2.5% yield, that’s $12,500 in yearly payouts.

    More importantly, it helps to invest in Dividend Kings because you can, in good faith, not only rely on the dividend but also anticipate it increasing. Your dividend payout increases, your number of shares increases, and you receive higher payouts; it’s a cycle you want to get stuck in. 

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Let Dividend King stocks lead you to the promised land 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 over ten 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 January 12th 2022

    More reading

    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 Scott Phillips.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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  • Why is the A2 Milk share price climbing 11% on Monday?

    A baby's eyes open wide in surprise as it sucks on a milk bottle.A baby's eyes open wide in surprise as it sucks on a milk bottle.

    It’s proving to be a good day for the A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price despite the company’s silence. However, there has been good news from one of its peers.

    At the time of writing, the A2 Milk share price is $4.79, 10.88% higher than its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently up 1%.

    Let’s look at what might be driving the milk and infant formula company’s stock higher.

    What’s going on with A2 Milk on Monday?

    A2 Milk shares are surging on Monday. The gains come amid news the United States is addressing a major baby formula shortage.

    That’s particularly good news for ASX-listed baby formula company Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB). It’s shaken on an agreement with the US Government that will see it providing 1.25 million tins of formula to the country.

    It comes after a major US formula plant was shut down due to a bacterial infection.

    While the news might have helped spur A2 Milk shares’ gains, it’s done wonders for the Bubs Australia share price.

    Right now, the latter is 45% higher than it was at the end of Friday’s session.

    A2 Milk’s revenue from infant nutrition products dropped 10.5% over the first half of financial year 2022. The dip was mostly due to fewer sales in China.

    Thus, some market participants might be hopeful that a shortage in the US could bring higher demand for A2 Milk’s formula products.

    A2 Milk share price snapshot

    Sadly, today’s gains haven’t been enough to boost A2 Milk shares into the long-term green.

    Right now, the company’s stock is 16% lower than it was at the start of 2022. It has also fallen 15% since this time last year.

    At the current share price, the A2 Milk company presides a market capitalisation of more than $3.2 billion.

    The post Why is the A2 Milk share price climbing 11% on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in A2 Milk right now?

    Before you consider A2 Milk, 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 A2 Milk wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 recommended A2 Milk and BUBS AUST FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • AGL share price deflates 4% in light of new future

    A young woman blindfolded holds her hands up as if feeling her way with the graphic of a lit up light bulb ahead of her and an assortment of unlit light bulbs hanging above her head.A young woman blindfolded holds her hands up as if feeling her way with the graphic of a lit up light bulb ahead of her and an assortment of unlit light bulbs hanging above her head.

    The AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price is feeling the sting of uncertainty on Monday morning.

    In early morning trade, shares in the polarising energy giant are down 2.5% to $8.65. However, moments ago the AGL share price was in the red by as much as 4.6%.

    The undesirable performance comes amid news AGL will no longer proceed with its plan to split the company. Further, shareholders are making sense of what the path that lies ahead may now look like.

    No more demerger, but now what?

    As I covered in my earlier article today, the devised demerger of AGL Energy has been the target of ridicule for months. No one has been more vocal about potential shareholder destruction than tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes.

    Today, it appears the substantial AGL shareholder stands victorious in his battle against the demerger proposal. Triumphantly tweeting this morning, Cannon-Brookes said: “We embrace the opportunities of decarbonisation with Aussie courage, tenacity & creativity.”

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    However, now the activism comes to the pointy end of the stick: what does AGL do from here? It’s a question that is especially important to shareholders as the AGL share price slips today.

    Furthermore, the question holds significant weight considering the company is estimated to have forked out $160 million to date on a now canned concept.

    According to the announcement, the first order of business in the post-demerger world is to conduct a strategic review. This will encompass a broad assessment of what will create long-term value for shareholders amid an increasingly environmentally conscious landscape.

    Additionally, the review will do the following:

    • Leverage the analytical work carried out for the demerger proposal
    • Assess any new approaches from third parties in terms of financial transactions; and
    • Conduct further consultation with stakeholders including Grok Ventures, regulators, governments, and communities

    The company added it believes the closure dates of its coal-fired power stations will continue to be accelerated.

    AGL share price stumbles on board breakup

    On Friday, reports flowed through financial media indicating that Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures will scout out two seats at the AGL table if the demerger fell through. Well, here we are a few days later with that exact scenario.

    Notably, the spots are already being made available by AGL board incumbents. Both Jacqueline Hey and Diane Smith-Gander are two non-executive directors resigning from the board. Meanwhile, chair Peter Botten and CEO Graeme Hunt are relinquishing their positions.

    The AGL share price may potentially be on shaky ground until shareholders have a clearer outlook.

    The post AGL share price deflates 4% in light of new future appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in AGL Energy right now?

    Before you consider AGL Energy, 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 AGL Energy wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    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 Scott Phillips.

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  • Why is the Block share price surging 8% higher today?

    A woman with strawberry blonde hair has a huge smile on her face and fist pumps the air having seen good news on her phone.

    A woman with strawberry blonde hair has a huge smile on her face and fist pumps the air having seen good news on her phone.

    It has been a great start to the week for the Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price.

    In morning trade, the payments giant’s shares are up a sizeable 8% to $126.25

    Why is the Block share price surging higher?

    The rise in the Block share price on Monday mirrors the gains made by the company’s NYSE listed shares on Friday night.

    Block’s shares stormed 8.5% higher on Wall Street amid a big rebound in the tech sector. This rebound helped drive the tech-focused Nasdaq index a hefty 3.3% higher during the session.

    This has rubbed off on the Australian tech sector this morning, with the S&P ASX All Technology index up an equally strong 3.1% at the time of writing.

    But what’s driving tech shares higher?

    Investors were flooding back into the tech sector on Friday night following the release of inflation data out of the United States.

    That data revealed that US inflation slowed in April after reaching a forty-year high in March.

    This has sparked hopes that inflation won’t be as bad as feared and that the US economy won’t fall into a recession.

    It could also mean the US Federal Reserve doesn’t have to be as aggressive with its rate hikes, which would bode well for tech sector valuations.

    The post Why is the Block share price surging 8% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Block right now?

    Before you consider Block, 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 Block wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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. has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why is the Elders share price in reverse today?

    A farmer looks backwards towards his crops.A farmer looks backwards towards his crops.

    Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) shareholders might be wondering why the share price is shedding 2.44% to $13.20 today.

    The agribusiness company released its half-year results last week, reporting double-digit growth across key financial metrics.

    Subsequently, the board opted to significantly increase its interim dividend to eligible investors.

    Let’s take a look below at why Elders shares are falling during early morning trade.

    Shareholders lock in the Elders interim dividend

    The Elders share price is in reverse after trading ex-dividend today.

    This means if you purchased shares in the company before today, you’ll receive the dividend. However, if you purchase Elders shares from today, the upcoming dividend will go to the seller.

    Historically, when a company reaches its ex-dividend day, its shares tend to fall in proportion to the dividend paid out.

    If you’re wondering why, eligible shareholders tend to quick offload after securing the dividend, looking for other alternative investments.

    In addition, the company’s value is worth a tad less after paying out a portion of its profits to shareholders.

    When can shareholders expect payment?

    For those eligible for Elder’s interim dividend, shareholders will receive a payment of 28 cents per share on 17 June.

    The upcoming dividend is 30% franked.

    Franking credits, otherwise known as imputation credits, are highly regarded in the investing world. This is a type of tax credit that is passed onto shareholders when dividend payments are made by a company.

    Furthermore, investors who elect for the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) will see a number of shares added to their portfolio. This will be based on a 10-day volume-weighted average price from 31 May to 9 June.

    There is no DRP discount rate and the last election date for shareholders to opt in is 2 June.

    Elders share price summary

    Since the beginning of 2022, Elders shares have edged 7.7% higher following an improvement in seasonal trading conditions.

    It’s worth noting that Elders shares touched a multi-year high of $15.32 on Monday 23 May.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) surged in the earlier months of 2022, but has reversed its gains.

    The ASX 200 benchmark index is down around 3% year to date.

    Based on valuation grounds, Elders commands a market capitalisation of roughly $2.06 billion, and has a trailing dividend yield of 3.18%.

    The post Why is the Elders share price in reverse today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Elders right now?

    Before you consider Elders, 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 Elders wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 recommended Elders Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 2 ETFs I’d buy in June 2022

    A man and woman watch their device screens, making investing decisions at home.A man and woman watch their device screens, making investing decisions at home.

    I think there are plenty of good exchange-traded fund (ETF) opportunities to find on the ASX share market for June 2022.

    At times like this, I think it’s worth remembering one of the cliché phrases of investing: ‘Buy low, sell high’. Investors don’t necessarily need to sell when prices go higher. But I do think that when prices are lower, it’s good to have a look for potential investments.

    Sometimes it can be tricky to know which investment to go for. So, why not pick an ETF?

    ETFs allow investors to buy a whole group of shares at once, which is pretty handy for diversification.

    With that in mind, I like the look of these two ETFs.

    VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

    This ETF is a portfolio of around 300 international businesses which are rated as quality businesses.

    What counts as quality? These businesses should rank well on three factors: return on equity (ROE), stable year-on-year earnings growth, and low financial leverage.

    In other words, it’s a portfolio of businesses that are consistently growing profit, have low levels of debt, and require a lot of shareholder funds to make a profit.

    At the end of April 2022, the biggest positions in the portfolio were familiar names: Apple, Microsoft Corporation, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group, Alphabet, Visa and Mastercard.

    I think that the QUAL ETF is looking much better value after its almost 20% decline in 2022. The 0.4% annual management fee also seems very reasonable to me.

    With this portfolio focused on quality, I think it will do well over the longer term, starting from this lower price.

    BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI)

    This ETF is another one that gives exposure to a portfolio of global names. However, it is different compared to most other options.

    BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF is about investing in a portfolio of “large global companies that meet strict sustainability and ethical standards”.

    This portfolio excludes a number of industries including fossil fuel producers, armaments, gambling, alcohol and junk foods. Companies also have to be in the top third of performers in terms of ‘carbon efficiency’ for their industry. Or they must engage in activities that can help reduce carbon use by other industries.

    Interestingly, the returns of the ETHI ETF have been solid, in my opinion. However, it’s important to note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. At end of April 2022, the ETHI ETF has returned an average of 17.3% per annum over the last five years. That return compares to an 11.4% return per annum for the widely-used global shares benchmark, the MSCI World ex-Australia Index, over the last five years.

    At the latest disclosure, these are some of the biggest holdings: Visa, Home Depot, Apple, Mastercard, Toyota Motor Corp, Nvidia, UnitedHealth Group, Cisco Systems, Adobe and ASML Holding. I think these holdings tick the ‘quality’ box as well.

    The post 2 ETFs I’d buy in June 2022 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 over ten 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 January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe Inc., Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Apple, Cisco Systems, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and has recommended the following options: long January 2024 $420 calls on Adobe Inc., long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2024 $430 calls on Adobe Inc., and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe Inc., Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Apple, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Inc., and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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