Month: May 2022

  • Why is the Sezzle share price tumbling on Tuesday?

    Sad woman with her hand on her head and holding a credit card.Sad woman with her hand on her head and holding a credit card.

    It’s been a rather pleasant day so far for most ASX shares this Tuesday. At the time of writing, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up a solid 0.2% at around 7,340 points. But unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) share price.

    Sezzle shares are presently down by a nasty 3.6% at just 66.5 cents each. Not only that, but this ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) share hit a new 52-week low of 65 cents a share earlier this morning. This is the lowest we have seen Sezzle since the depths of the COVID crash of 2020. It puts the 52-week high of $9.83 that we saw only back in July last year even further out of reach.

    So what’s gotten Sezzle shares’ goat today?

    Well, it’s likely that the quarterly update that Sezzle dropped this morning is playing a large role here. So let’s check out what this report said.

    Sezzle share price drops on expanding losses

    So Sezzle’s report was a 10-Q (US quarterly results report). It revealed that for the three months to 31 March 2022, Sezzle brought in US$27.63 million in total income, up from US$26.03 over the same quarter last year.

    However, expenses also rose to US$53.78 million, up substantially from the US$32.86 million recorded last year. That drove Sezzle to a net loss of US$27.99 million for the quarter, a substantial decline from last year’s quarterly result of a US$11.34 million loss. This loss translates to a loss of 14 US cents per share. Last year’s March quarter saw a loss of 6 US cents per share.

    So clearly investors have been disappointed with what Sezzle released this morning, judging by the sharp pullback to a new 52-week low that we have seen today.

    At the current Sezzle share price, this ASX BNPL share has a market capitalisation of $138.47 million.

    The post Why is the Sezzle share price tumbling on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Sezzle, 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 Sezzle 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 Sebastian Bowen 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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  • Boom! Here’s why the Havilah Resources share price just exploded 165%

    businessman takes off with rockets under feetbusinessman takes off with rockets under feet

    The Havilah Resources Ltd (ASX: HAV) share price is roaring upwards on news of an acquisition agreement and a strategic alliance.

    At the time of writing, the Havilah Resources share price is 33.5 cents, 97% higher than its previous close. However, it hit a multi-year high of 45 cents earlier today, representing a 164.7% surge.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news from the copper, gold, cobalt, rare earth elements, and uranium explorer.

    Why is the Havilah Resources share price flying?

    The Havilah Resources share price is rocketing after the company announced its plan to allow OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) to acquire the Kalkaroo copper-gold project in South Australia for $205 million.

    Oz Minerals has 18 months to decide if it will fork out the cash for what is potentially one of Australia’s largest undeveloped open-pit copper deposits. In that time, it will be conducting a study program on Kalkaroo.

    The project currently boasts a mineral resource of 1.1 million tonnes of copper, 3.1 million ounces of gold, and 23,200 tonnes of cobalt.

    Oz Minerals can back out of the agreement as long as it’s drilled at least 5,000 metres at the project. Otherwise, it will be forced to pay a shortfall of $400 for each metre not drilled.

    The agreement also includes a potential $65 million consideration payable if the project’s resource estimate increases by 30%.

    Another annual contingent payment is linked to the price of copper. It is valued up to a cumulative $135 million, subject to inflation metrics.

    Additionally, a strategic alliance between the pair will help Havilah Resources fund a major copper exploration campaign.

    The alliance will run for the duration of the 18-month option agreement.

    It will see Oz Minerals paying Havilah Resources $1 million each month, with 50% of that going towards exploration at the Curnamona Copper Belt.

    The acquisition plan will be subject to Havilah Resources shareholder approval. The company expects it will be put to a vote in August.

    Its directors have recommended the transaction, subject to an independent expert ruling it’s in shareholders’ best interests.

    What did management say?

    Havilah Resources technical director Dr Chris Giles commented on the news driving the company’s share price sky high, saying:

    [The] strategic alliance with OZ Minerals … aims to harness the respective skills of both companies to explore and develop Australia’s next great copper region in the Curnamona Province.

    Exercise of the Kalkaroo option by OZ Minerals would result in monetisation of Kalkaroo and provide what we believe is a fair return for our shareholders without Havilah taking on the longer-term development and financing risks inherent in a large new mining project at this time.

    The post Boom! Here’s why the Havilah Resources share price just exploded 165% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Havilah Resources right now?

    Before you consider Havilah Resources , 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 Havilah Resources 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 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 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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  • Are investors missing out on these ASX share opportunities?

    a man holds his hand under his chin as he concentrates on his laptop screen and makes a concerned face.

    a man holds his hand under his chin as he concentrates on his laptop screen and makes a concerned face.

    There has been much market volatility in 2022. However, this can lead to potential opportunities for investors on the ASX share market.

    Businesses that are growing but have been sold off could now be much more attractive in the long term.

    These two ASX shares could be good value ideas:

    Elmo Software Ltd (ASX: ELO)

    Elmo describes itself as a cloud-based software provider for small businesses and mid-market organisations to manage people, processes, pay, and expenses. It operates in Australia and the UK.

    How much cheaper is the business if you were to buy is now? It has dropped 28% over the past month and 32% in the 2022 calendar year to date.

    However, the company continues to grow at a fast rate. In the third quarter of FY22, it revealed it made $67.4 million of revenue, which was up 37% to $67.4 million. Its annualised recurring revenue (ARR) growth implies more reported revenue in the next 12 months. Its ARR rose 33% to close at a record of $101.2 million.

    Despite the business’s heavy investment for growth, it is now generating a positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). The third quarter EBITDA was $2 million, up $3.2 million year on year.

    Management says the ASX share is focused on reaching its operating cash flow breakeven point and it’s well-funded to achieve this goal. Cash receipts are growing quickly, but cash expenses are largely flat. Cash flow breakeven is expected to occur in the second half of FY23.

    The broker Morgan Stanley currently rates the business as a buy, with a price target of $6.70. That implies that the Elmo share price could more than double over the next year.

    Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

    Corporate Travel Management is a company that helps businesses with their travel needs. It says its service and up to the minute information is a premium asset for its clients. The ASX share also says that its technology platform is critical to success with a global strategy and system architecture.

    Despite the company regularly referring to recovery, the Corporate Travel share price is down by 14% in the last month.

    Earlier in May, it gave an update with a presentation.

    Corporate Travel Management said that it expects to be at least 75% larger than it was in the 2019 calendar year at full recovery. The company said that it has made some transformational acquisitions through COVID-19. Monthly revenue is expected to surpass 2019 levels in the fourth quarter of FY22.

    The ASX share is targeting $265 million of EBITDA when it has 100% recovered.

    Corporate Travel notes that it is recovering faster than the wider corporate travel sector in its largest regions. It puts this down to “strong” market share gains in all regions, its value proposition, and global scale.

    Management notes that the business has zero debt with sufficient cash to support a full recovery. It has been making underlying EBITDA since March 2021.

    The company says that the FY22 fourth quarter will provide strong momentum into FY23.

    Morgan Stanley also rates Corporate Travel as a buy, with a price target of $30. The broker thought the FY22 third quarter was good and points to a further potential recovery for the sector and the business.

    The post Are investors missing out on these ASX share opportunities? 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

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    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 Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management 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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  • Using Bitcoin to diversify your portfolio? Read this

    Concept image of Bitcoin and hand using laptop.

    Concept image of Bitcoin and hand using laptop.

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price has just slipped back below the psychologically important US$30,000 level.

    At time of writing, the world’s biggest crypto by market cap is trading for US$29,995 (AU$42,904). That’s down 3.4% since this time yesterday.

    Though with the token’s notorious volatility it may be significantly lower or higher by the time you’re reading this.

    Bitcoin and cryptos behaving like risk assets

    The decline in the Bitcoin price today follows another retrace in risk assets, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropping 1.2% yesterday (overnight Aussie time).

    And this, says David Donabedian, chief investment officer of CIBC Private Wealth Management, bodes poorly for investors buying Bitcoin to diversify their portfolios.

    According to Donabedian (quoted by Bloomberg), “I think it will continue to trade with the equity market and risk assets. That’s the big lie that’s been exposed, the idea that it’s some new asset class that’s going to help diversify your portfolio has been blown to smithereens.”

    How the crypto market has changed

    Last week crypto investors faced a challenge not seen before.

    Namely, the near total collapse of algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (CRYPTO: UST). UST was intended to be pegged to the US dollar but plunged to 30 US cents when investors lost confidence in the crypto and its supporting token, Terra (CRYPTO: LUNA).

    Luna was meant to help keep UST pegged right at US$1 by enabling investors to swap UST for US$1 worth of LUNA at any time. But that plan didn’t hold up as the LUNA price absolutely evaporated.

    Last Monday, 9 May, LUNA was worth US$66.50. At the time of writing the token is trading for 0.021 US cents.

    The fallout has wiped more than US$300 billion from the total market valuation of all cryptos. Bitcoin itself plunged to US$26,350, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

    But analysts point out it could have been much worse.

    “We have witnessed the rapid decline of a major project, which sent ripples across the industry, but also a new found resiliency in the market that did not exist during the last market downswing,” says Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance Holdings (quoted by Bloomberg).

    eToro’s crypto expert Simon Peters notes that the biggest shift in crypto markets has been the arrival of institutional investors adding Bitcoin and other top tokens to their holdings.

    According to Peters:

    The last time the market faced adversity like this was the collapse of 2018. But the makeup of the market is very different today than four years ago. Institutional investors now make up a much bigger proportion of the market, which has already had an observable impact upon not just prices, but the way the market moves.

    What investors will now be considering, is how these players will help support levels moving forward. With deals from major global financial institutions going ahead, the potential is there for the sector to keep bubbling away, despite difficulties around valuations.

    Indeed, perhaps it’s the arrival of institutional investors into the crypto space that’s seeing Bitcoin move in line with risk assets, making it a potentially poor asset to help diversify a share portfolio.

    The post Using Bitcoin to diversify your portfolio? Read this appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Bitcoin, 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 Bitcoin 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

    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin. 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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  • OFX share price soars 8% on record FY22 results

    Team celebrating corporate success screaming with joy.Team celebrating corporate success screaming with joy.

    The OFX Group Ltd (ASX: OFX) share price is charging higher on Tuesday, up 8.06% at $2.68. However, in earlier trade, it reached as high as $2.75 — an 11% gain on its previous close.

    Investors appear to be rallying behind the company after it announced a record set of results for the 12 months ended 31 March.

    In wider market moves, the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) is trading less than 1% higher on the day.

    OFX share price jumps on record results

    Key takeouts from the full-year results include:

    • Turnover of $33.2 billion, up 32.7% compared to the prior corresponding period (pcp)
    • Transactions up 10.8% to 1.18m million
    • Average transaction values (ATVs) up 23.5% to $28,000
    • Fee and trading income (revenue) up 17.7% to $158 million
    • Net operating income (NOI) up 24.7% to $147 million
    • Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) up 53.1% to $44.5 million
    • Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) up 102.4% to $24.5 million
    • Net cash held of $84.2 million and net available cash of $31.6 million

    What else happened this year for OFX?

    The OFX share price is rising on the back of the record results, with the provider of online international payment services scoring strong revenue growth in all segments.

    For instance, NOI came in 25% higher at $147 million on the pcp, underscored by a 53% jump in EBITDA over the same period.

    Another positive is that bad debts came down by 94% on the pcp, due to what the company calls “exceptional risk management”.

    The results carried down to an NPAT of $24.5 million, itself a more than 102% gain on the pcp, underscored by healthy margins and performance in the corporate segment.

    Specifically, corporate segment revenue was up 30% on the pcp and grew 21% half-on-half.

    Aside from that, OFX also settled the transaction of Firma, a global foreign exchange services provider. The company says this is set to “significantly bolster revenues in its North America corporate business”.

    Management commentary

    Speaking on the results driving up the OFX share price, CEO Skander Malcolm said:

    I am delighted to report such a strong result, which demonstrates excellent momentum across all of our key operating metrics. In an uncertain environment, I couldn’t be happier with the team and execution against our strategy.

    We saw double digit revenue growth in all regions and segments while continuing to invest in our technology, people and risk management capabilities to support future growth.

    What’s next for OFX?

    For the coming year, that being FY23, OFX says it will prioritise investment into its key strategies, while focusing on expanding its footprint in North America.

    “The Group will also continue to generate returns from its ongoing investment in product, risk, payments, and technology while focusing on successfully integrating Firma,” OFX concluded.

    OFX share price snapshot

    In the past 12 months, the OFX share price has soared by more than 114%. It is up 16% this year to date and 12% over the past week.

    The post OFX share price soars 8% on record FY22 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in OFX Group right now?

    Before you consider OFX Group, 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 OFX Group 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 Zach Bristow 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: Brambles takeover talks end, resources shares charge higher

    At lunch on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on form and pushing higher. The benchmark index is currently up 0.4% to 7,120.3 points.

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

    Brambles sinks after takeover talks collapse

    The Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB) share price is sinking on Tuesday. This follows news that the logistics solutions company’s takeover talks with CVC Capital Partners have collapsed. Brambles will now focus on implementing the Shaping our Future transformation plan. This plan builds on the strength of Brambles’ sustainable business model to transform the business and unlock value for customers and shareholders.

    Resources sector drives ASX 200 higher

    The ASX 200’s gains today are being driven largely by the resources sector. Both energy and materials shares are rising thanks to a positive night of trade for commodity prices. Among the best performers are Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

    James Hardie tumbles on Q4 update

    The James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price is falling on Tuesday. This follows the release of the building materials company’s fourth quarter update. James Hardie reported a 20% year-on-year lift in fourth quarter global net sales to US$968 million. This took its global net sales to US$3.6 billion for FY 2022, which was a 24% increase from the prior year. As strong as this was, it still fell a touch short of consensus estimates.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Tuesday has been the Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) share price with a 6% gain. This follows a strong day in the resources sector. The worst performer has been the Brambles share price with a 7% decline. This follows the aforementioned collapse of takeover talks.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Brambles takeover talks end, resources shares charge higher 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 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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  • Critical Resources share price leaps 12% on latest lithium project news

    The Critical Resources Ltd (ASX: CRR) share price is soaring higher on Tuesday following the company’s latest drilling results.

    At the time of writing, the base metals and lithium exploration company’s shares are up 12.33% to 8.2 cents.

    Critical Resources encounters visual spodumene

    Investors are keen to get a hold of Critical Resources shares after the company revealed high-grade visual estimates.

    According to this morning’s company announcement, Critical Resources advised it has again encountered visual spodumene at the Mavis Lake lithium project.

    Four holes were drilled, targeting fine to large spodumene laths hosted from the Pegmatite 6 Prospect.

    As such, the most prominent result, Hole MF22-72 (Hole 13) represented the thickest and most mineralised zone.

    The key highlight included 23.1 metres of visually high, up to 60%, white-silvery green, fine to medium spodumene laths. This hosted approximately 32% spodumene mineralisation throughout the drill hole.

    Critical Resources noted that this intersection continues to illustrate the significance of the down-dip potential within the pegmatite 6 zone.

    The other three drill holes intersected up to 27% of spodumene laths within a larger interval of the spodumene-bearing pegmatite.

    Due to the success of the company’s inaugural 5,000m drill program, exploration works on 28 new targets have been identified.

    Work has commenced extending drilling to a roughly 10,000-metre program.

    Samples and core from the above completed drill holes have been sent for analysis and are expected in due course.

    Critical Resources managing director Alex Biggs commented:

    Hole 13 represents the widest intersection we have seen so far in our drill campaign. The fact that this intersection is at depth, further along strike and importantly a step out hole is significant for the Project and very exciting.

    The high-grade visual estimates are particularly intriguing and we’re seeing the fundamentals of Mavis Lake improving all the time. Working towards a JORC compliant Resource remains the key focus of the Company. We look forward to updating the market on further results as we receive them.

    About the Critical Resources share price

    Since this time last year, the Critical Resources share price has accelerated by more than 480%.

    The company’s shares hit a 52-week high of 14 cents in January, before losing ground in the months after.

    Based on today’s price, Critical Resources commands a market capitalisation of roughly $119 million.

    The post Critical Resources share price leaps 12% on latest lithium project news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Critical Resources right now?

    Before you consider Critical Resources, 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 Critical Resources 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 is the Block share price sliding today?

    a young man sits on the floor with his back against a sofa hunched over his phone in one hand and his other hand on top of his head as though he is seeing bad news as his face looks sad and anguised.a young man sits on the floor with his back against a sofa hunched over his phone in one hand and his other hand on top of his head as though he is seeing bad news as his face looks sad and anguised.

    The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price is in the red today. Block shares are currently swapping hands at $115.12, a 3.45% fall.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.36% in the green at the time of writing.

    Let’s take a look at what could be impacting the Block share price today.

    US listing slides

    Block shares may be down, but it is not the only buy now, pay later (BNPL) ASX share to slide today. The Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) share price is down 6.35%, Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) shares have dropped 2.17%, and the Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is descending 0.53%. Meanwhile, Beforepay Group Ltd (ASX: B4P) shares are climbing 1.27%. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is falling 1.2% today.

    Block’s ASX share price appears to be following in the footsteps of the company’s US listing. Block Inc (NYSE: SQ) fell 5.29% on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

    Daiwa Securities cut the price target on Block’s US listing to $100 from $170. This is still 25% more than the current share price of $79.70. Further, Daiwa relegated the share from a “strong buy” to “buy”.

    Block recently reported a 22% fall in revenue to US$3.96 billion. However, gross profit jumped 34% year on year to US$1.29 billion. The company also reported a positive start to the second quarter of this year.

    Block listed on the ASX for the first time in February after acquiring Afterpay.

    Block share price snapshot

    The Block share price has descended 35% on the ASX since it listed, while it is down 32% in the past month alone. In the last week, Block shares have slumped by 14%.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 index has dropped nearly 5% in the year to date.

    Block has a market capitalisation of about $5 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Why is the Block share price sliding 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

    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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  • Here’s why the Calix share price is leaping 6% on Tuesday

    Woman looks amazed and shocked as she looks at her laptop.Woman looks amazed and shocked as she looks at her laptop.

    Shares of Calix Ltd (ASX: CXL) are worming their way higher on Tuesday and are now trading 5.86% higher from the open. At the time of writing, the Calix share price is $7.04. Earlier it soared to $7.22, its highest mark in the past five days of trading.

    In wider market moves, the S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) has also spiked more than 1% into the green.

    What’s up with the Calix share price?

    Investors might be bidding up the Calix share price in response(ASX: CXL) are worming their way higher on Tuesday and now trade 5% higher from the open.”> to a company announcement this morning.

    Calix advised that it and project partner Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) have been awarded a $20 million grant from the Australian Government under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI).

    This will be used to support the further development and demonstration of the proposed Mid-Stream Project at the Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia.

    The release said: “Grant funding will be used as part of a joint venture (JV) to be entered into between Pilbara Minerals and Calix for the progression of a demonstration-scale chemicals facility at the Pilgangoora Project — with the aim of producing lithium salts for global distribution via an innovative midstream ‘value-added’ refining process.”

    Speaking on the announcement that is likely fuelling the Calix share price today, managing director Phil Hodgson said the company was “very grateful” for the $20 million grant. He added:

    This world-first project aims to develop a low carbon process for lithium salt production into a rapidly growing market that is increasingly demanding more sustainable practices.

    The Calix and Pilbara Minerals teams are working very well together on this joint development and we look forward to progressing this important technology.

    What’s next for Calix?

    Both parties are reportedly hoping to finalise the JV agreement by “early Q3 2022”, prompting a final investment decision in late 2022 or early 2023.

    In the last 12 months, the Calix share price has spiked 184%. It has also gained 6% this year to date.

    The post Here’s why the Calix share price is leaping 6% on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Calix, 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 Calix 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 Zach Bristow 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 Meta Platforms stock just rose while Amazon sank

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

    A woman works on her desktop and tablet, having a win with crypto.

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

    What happened

    On Monday, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: FB) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) were tagged by a storied investment bank as stocks worthy of consideration. Interestingly, the pair went in different directions as investors reacted, with Meta shares eking out a slight (0.7%) gain in price on the day and Amazon stock falling by over 2%.

    So what

    Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) analyst Brian Nowak reiterated his overweight (read: buy) recommendation on Meta shares and said that Amazon has fine potential to become a very compelling buy.

    In his latest research note on Meta, he focused on the steps the social media pacesetter is apparently taking to save expenses. He said that if the company were to enact a hiring freeze, it could filter down into a 4% to 16% improvement in free cash flow (FCF) per share for all of 2022. Nowak added that he would still rate the company a buy without such moves; with them, Meta’s FCF improvement might be “significant.”

    He feels that Amazon has similar potential. He cited the giant retailer’s $6 billion annual spend on “other bets” as a prime candidate for reductions. “In our view,” he wrote, “AMZN still does not screen as being ‘inexpensive’ on FCF in this increasingly FCF focused market.” 

    Now what

    Of the two stocks, investors seem to be taking Nowak’s argument on Meta more to heart. He certainly makes an interesting point about Amazon, but at the moment, that company is clouded by an intensifying war of words between founder Jeff Bezos and the Biden administration over economic policy. The high-profile businessman escalated the fight on Monday, posting a pair of tweets that took aim at both its failed Build Back Better initiative and a rather sideways criticism of Amazon’s labor policies.

    No matter how wealthy or powerful, when an individual gets into a tussle with the government that individual tends to lose. It’s not surprising that Bezos’ spat with the current administration is dampening investor sentiment on his company. 

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

    The post Why Meta Platforms stock just rose while Amazon sank 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

    Eric Volkman has positions in Meta Platforms, Inc. 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. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon and Meta Platforms, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Meta Platforms, Inc. 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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