Month: October 2022

  • Yes, the ASX is open today, and here’s what’s happening

    It’s a public holiday in many Australian states today, but that hasn’t stopped the ASX share market from opening.

    Typically, the ASX only closes on national public holidays, such as Good Friday, ANZAC Day, and Christmas. 

    So, you’re still able to buy and sell shares in your favourite ASX companies today.

    But given it’s a public holiday in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, and South Australia, we’re seeing reduced volume and trading activity as people make the most of their long weekend.

    How are ASX shares performing today?

    All three US benchmarks fell by around 1.5% on Friday, providing a negative lead for the ASX today.

    But the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shrugged off this gloomy sentiment to rise by as much as 0.5% this morning.

    These gains have since reversed, with the ASX 200 down 0.9% at the time of writing to sit at 6,418 points.

    As has often been the case in recent months, the ASX tech sector is bearing the brunt of the fall. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has shed 2.5%.

    Meanwhile, the communication services, consumer discretionary, and financials sectors have all dropped by around 1%.

    Top ASX 200 risers and fallers

    In early afternoon trade, the Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) share price is leading the way. It’s lit up by 2.1% despite there being no news from the mineral sands company.

    BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL) is the next best ASX 200 performer, rising 1.4% against a backdrop of red-hot steel prices.

    Rounding out the top three is Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), which has climbed 1.3% at the time of writing on the back of up swinging oil prices.

    But while some ASX 200 shares buck the broader market weakness, there are many more in the red today.

    The West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) is currently at the back of the pack, tumbling 8.6% to 96 cents. The company released an operations update today in response to a change in the military leadership in Burkina Faso on the weekend.

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is also feeling worse for wear, slumping 7.2% to $1.025. Core Lithium shares emerged from a trading halt today after the company completed a $100 million institutional placement at an offer price of $1.03.

    The Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) share price is also coming under pressure. It’s dropped 7.1% to currently sit at $3.65 despite there being no news out of Chalice today.

    The post Yes, the ASX is open today, and here’s what’s happening appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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 5E Advanced Materials, Appen, Core Lithium, and Infomedia shares are dropping

    A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.

    A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the week in a subdued fashion. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.1% to 6,472 points.

    Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

    5E Advanced Materials Inc (ASX: 5EA)

    The 5E Advanced Materials share price has continued its slide and is down a further 18% to $1.67. Investors have been selling this minerals exploration and production company’s shares since the release of its results and the announcement of the surprise exit of its CEO last week.

    Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

    The Appen share price is down 2% to $3.06. Appen’s shares have come under pressure over the last couple of trading sessions due to concerns over demand for its services. This follows a disappointing update out of one of its biggest customers, Meta.

    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

    The Core Lithium share price is down 6% to $1.04. Investors have been selling this lithium miner’s shares after it completed its institutional placement. Core Lithium has raised $100 million before costs at a discount of $1.03 per new share. In other news, the company revealed that it has sold 15,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene via a digital auction. Demand for the spodumene DSO material was strong, which led to Core Lithium commanding a sale price of US$951/dmt.

    Infomedia Limited (ASX: IFM)

    The Infomedia share price is down 6% to $1.10. This morning the auto industry software provider revealed that it has not received binding takeover offers from Solera Holdings or a consortium comprising TA Associates and Viburnum Funds by its deadline. As a result, it has closed the virtual data room to Solera and the consortium and requested that they destroy or return all confidential information.

    The post Why 5E Advanced Materials, Appen, Core Lithium, and Infomedia shares are dropping appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. has positions in and has recommended Appen Ltd and Infomedia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Infomedia. 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 Mesoblast share price surging 8% on Monday?

    drug capsule opening up to reveal dollar signs signifying rising asx share pricedrug capsule opening up to reveal dollar signs signifying rising asx share price

    The Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) share price is surging today on the back of a product update.

    Mesoblast shares are lifting 7.69% today and are currently trading at 84 cents. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.33% today.

    Let’s take a look at what’s impacting the Mesoblast share price today.

    Mesoblast share price rises on “major milestone”

    Mesoblast is working on allogeneic cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases.

    Investors appear to be buying up Mesoblast shares after the company provided an update on a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) application.

    Mesoblast supplied the FDA with “substantial new information” on the use of remestemcel-L to treat children with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD).

    This new information is in response to a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA received in September 2020.

    Mesoblast said this is a “major milestone” in the company’s response to the FDA.

    Commenting on the news, chief executive Dr Silviu Itescu said:

    The submission summarizes controlled data providing further evidence of remestemcel-L’s ability to save lives.

    Additionally, the improved process controls we have put in place to assure robust and consistent commercial product, together with a potency assay that predicts consistent survival outcomes, makes remestemcel-L a compelling treatment for these children.

    Mesoblast share price snapshot

    The Mesoblast share price has fallen 49% in the past year, while it has lost 40% in the year to date. In the last month, Mesoblast shares have shed more than 1%.

    In comparison, the ASX 200 has shed 10% in the past year.

    Mesoblast has a market capitalisation of more than $619 based on the current share price.

    The post Why is the Mesoblast share price surging 8% on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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 Mesoblast, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Widgie Nickel, and Yancoal are rising

    a young woman raises her hands in joyful celebration as she sits at her computer in a home environment.

    a young woman raises her hands in joyful celebration as she sits at her computer in a home environment.In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.3% to 6,454.5 points.

    Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

    Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB)

    The Mesoblast share price is up almost 8% to 84 cents. Investors have been buying this biotech company’s shares after it confirmed the submission of substantial new information on clinical and potency assay items to the FDA. This is for items identified by the regulator for its remestemcel-L product in the treatment of children with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease.

    Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (ASX: URW)

    The Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield share price is up over 4% to $3.20. This has been driven by news that the shopping centre operator has completed the sale of the Villeneuve 2 centre in the Lille region of France to Ceetrus. This means that the company has now completed 3.2 billion euros of disposals, representing 80% of its 4 billion euros European disposal programme.

    Widgie Nickel Ltd (ASX: WIN)

    The Widgie Nickel share price is up 28% to 30 cents. This follows the announcement of a major lithium discovery from the company’s Mt Edwards project. Management commented: “This initial reconnaissance work identifying high grade spodumene over a significant strike length couldn’t be a better outcome for Widgie.”

    Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

    The Yancoal share price is up 2% to $5.78. This morning this coal miner announced that it will make a major debt repayment. Yancoal advised that it intends to prepay US$1.0 billion of debt from available cash on 4 October. This consists of payment toward Yancoal’s Syndicated Facility and its unsecured related-party loans. This is expected to deliver an approximate US$207 million reduction in total finance cost over the loan periods.

    The post Why Mesoblast, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Widgie Nickel, and Yancoal are rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. 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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  • Did CSL shares manage to generate healthy returns in September?

    A scientist examining test results.

    A scientist examining test results.

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has gone through plenty of volatility in 2022, just like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). But what happened in September?

    Shares in the biotech giant started the year at around $291 and are now sitting at just over $283. So, there has been a bit of a decline this year.

    But market declines have gone further recently as investors get used to the higher interest rates as central banks try to tackle strong inflation.

    How did the CSL share price perform in September?

    Last month, CSL shares dropped by around 3%. Zoom in further and we see that between 8 September 2022 and the end of the month, they fell by approximately 5%.

    How does this compare to the ASX 200? Let’s have a look.

    In September, the ASX 200 declined by 7.3%. From 8 September 2022 to the end of the month, it dropped by 5.5%.

    So that means that CSL outperformed the ASX 200 by 4% over the month of September.

    For one of the ASX’s biggest companies (as measured by market capitalisation), that much outperformance in a short amount of time is useful for shareholders.

    Why did it outperform?

    Ultimately, it’s up to the buyers and sellers to decide what prices to transact at.

    ASX healthcare shares can have a reputation for being defensive and having resilient earnings. It’s possible that CSL’s profit could stay robust, even during economic difficulties.

    Another factor to consider is that CSL reports its financials in US dollars. The Australian dollar started September worth US 68 cents but by the end of the month, it had fallen to US 64 cents. Assuming it generates the same profit in US dollar terms, a lower Aussie dollar gives support to the CSL share price, which is valued in Australian dollars.

    Investors may also be taking into account the guidance that the company gave when it released its FY22 result. The guidance can influence investor thoughts about the CSL share price.

    CSL said that it had a “strong mid-term outlook” as COVID receded, and a “promising cluster” of research and development programs that were nearing completion.

    The company said that it was expecting “strong” plasma collections, though the higher cost of plasma was continuing. It’s rebuilding inventory to strengthen resilience.

    In its vaccine business, CSL said that there was ongoing northern hemisphere demand for flu vaccines and it expected continued growth from product differentiation.

    But, CSL did acknowledge it was continuing to navigate a “challenging external cost environment”.

    Excluding the impact of the Vifor acquisition, the company expected to generate net profit after tax (NPAT) of between US$2.4 billion to US$2.5 billion in FY23. That compares to FY22 net profit of US$2.25 billion. Profit, and expectations of profit, can have a big impact on the CSL share price.

    The post Did CSL shares manage to generate healthy returns in September? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Do these 3 things now if your portfolio is down big

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

    A woman stares at a computer with her face just inches from the screen.

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

    Investors have had a rough go of it in 2022. All three major indices are in a bear market, which is a drawdown of at least 20% from the high. However, many well-known individual stocks are down far more.

    Out of the 10 largest stocks by market cap in the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ: .IXIC), seven are down over 30% from their all-time high, and two are down over 60%. Many growth stocks are down over 80% from their highs.

    Investing is easy when most stocks seem only to go up. But when an investment portfolio is down big, it can be challenging to stay even-keeled and focus on the long term. You can’t wave a magic wand and wish a stock to go up. But you can take actionable steps to position your portfolio to outlast a prolonged bear market. Here are three steps worth considering now.

    1. Give your portfolio a checkup

    Revisiting your holdings is a good practice, no matter the market cycle. But the exercise can be taken a step further in a bear market. Outlasting volatility becomes a little easier if you remember why you bought a company in the first place.

    For most quality businesses, the investment thesis probably hasn’t changed between a year ago and today. Granted, margins may be under pressure, earnings may be declining, and growth rates may be slowing. But businesses don’t experience linear growth. Rather, ebbs and flows are simply par for the course.

    A good example of a company whose business remains largely the same is Google’s parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL). Due to its dependence on advertising revenue and a strong economy, Alphabet’s business is facing short-term headwinds. However, the investment thesis for Alphabet hasn’t changed at all. Alphabet stock may be down 35% from its all-time high — around the same as the Nasdaq Composite. But that doesn’t mean that Alphabet, as a company, is in trouble.

    The same can’t be said for companies that aren’t free-cash-flow positive, are unprofitable, are losing their competitive advantages to larger companies, or depend on debt or equity financing to stay afloat. Rising interest rates and a challenging business climate are headwinds for most companies. But for some, they could lead to unsustainable cash burn and a reason to reconsider owning the company.

    2. Update your savings plan

    Over time, dollar-cost averaging into your favourite companies has been a tried-and-true method for compounding wealth. Saving more can be a great way to accumulate additional shares of your favourite companies, especially when they are on sale.

    Saving more money isn’t easy. But purposeful saving can be achieved by making a list of companies to buy every two weeks, month, or whatever increment of time is best for you.

    Bear markets have historically been excellent times to add shares. The problem for most investors is that they don’t have cash on the sidelines to buy stocks on the cheap. However, investors who are still in the asset accumulation stage of their lives — as in they make more money than they spend — are at an advantage because they can put more money to work and likely have that capital go even further.

    3. Zoom out and focus on your financial goals

    No one likes losing money. But an even worse feeling is losing money in an unexpected way by owning companies that don’t fit your personal risk tolerance or investment time horizon.

    Investors that are in the asset accumulation stage of their lives can afford to take more risks by letting an investment thesis play out and outlast the volatility. However, investors in the asset distribution stage of their life are spending more than they are making and therefore tend to be more risk averse.

    If you are a retiree with high-risk, high-reward stocks that could lead to missing your financial goals, it may be time to rethink some positions. The same disconnect between financial goals and investment holdings can occur if an investor winds up owning too many stodgy companies when they don’t mind taking on more risk when asset values are lower.

    In a bear market, it’s important to remember that investing isn’t about beating the market. It’s about reaching your financial goals in a way that is comfortable, lets you sleep at night, and is aligned with your risk tolerance. In a bull market, it’s easy to be complacent. But bear markets have a habit of catching investors off-guard. For investors whose portfolios are already mostly in line with what they want to own, the best course of action may be to simply do nothing at all.

    Resisting fight or flight

    It’s human nature to want to do something, anything, to rectify steep losses. But often, heavily trading through a bear market can do more harm than good. By taking action through a portfolio checkup, updating your savings plan, and bridging the gap between your holdings and your financial goals, an investor can feel a sense of empowerment even if their screen continues to be painted red with falling stock prices.

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

    The post Do these 3 things now if your portfolio is down big appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Daniel Foelber has positions in Alphabet (A shares). Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, 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 Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). 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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  • Here’s what happened to the BHP share price in September

    a man wearing a hard hat and high visibility vest looks out over a vast plain where heavy mining equipment can be seen in the background as the Nickel Mines share price rises today

    a man wearing a hard hat and high visibility vest looks out over a vast plain where heavy mining equipment can be seen in the background as the Nickel Mines share price rises today

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price was out of form in September.

    During the month, the mining giant’s shares lost 5.1% of their value to end the period at $38.52.

    Why did the BHP share price tumble in September?

    The BHP share price came under pressure in September amid broad market weakness after rising rates sparked fears of a global recession.

    A global recession could be bad news for BHP and other mining shares. That’s because it has the potential to lead to softening demand for commodities, which could in turn put pressure on prices and ultimately mining profits and dividends.

    It is worth noting, though, that the BHP share price actually outperformed the ASX 200 index last month, which lost a very disappointing 7.3% of its value.

    This relative outperformance is likely to have been driven by BHP’s exposure to one booming commodity – coal.

    With coal prices rising to sky high levels and tipped to remain that way for some time to come, some investors are betting on BHP’s earnings holding up despite the current uncertain economic environment.

    Are BHP’s shares a buy?

    One leading broker that sees a lot of value in the BHP share price is Macquarie.

    Late last month, the broker retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target on the miner’s shares to $44.00. This implies potential upside of 14% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Macquarie made the move after upgrading its earnings estimates for BHP by approximately 5% through to FY 2026 to reflect higher coal prices.

    Another positive is that Macquarie is expecting the Big Australian to pay a fully franked dividend of ~$2.60 per share in FY 2023. This equates to a 6.75% dividend yield, which stretches the total potential return to almost 21%.

    The post Here’s what happened to the BHP share price in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. 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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  • Guess which ASX mining share is rocketing 50% on a ‘high-grade’ lithium find

    A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt pumps his fists in the air looking excited and happy about the rising OBX share price

    A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt pumps his fists in the air looking excited and happy about the rising OBX share price

    The Widgie Nickel Ltd (ASX: WIN) share price is having an incredible start of the week.

    In early trade, the mineral exploration company’s shares were up as much as 51% to 35.5 cents.

    The Widgie Nickel share price has since pulled back a touch but remains up 34% to 31.5 cents at the time of writing.

    Why is the Widgie Nickel share price rocketing higher?

    Investors have been scrambling to buy the mineral exploration company’s shares today following the announcement of a major discovery.

    However, unlike what you might expect from the company’s name, Widgie Nickel has not found nickel. Rather, it has found high-grade lithium bearing pegmatites at the newly named “Faraday prospect” of its Mt Edwards project.

    According to the release, lithium bearing pegmatites outcropping over a 600-metre strike with surface expressions of up to 25 meters wide have been identified at the prospect.

    Management believes these early stage exploration results are extremely encouraging and provide the company with the opportunity to significantly increase its lithium exploration activity within the highly prospective tenement package.

    Field work is expected to commence immediately to drill test high-priority targets at the Faraday prospect as well as detailed mapping, soil and rock chip sampling across the Widgie tenure.

    ‘Couldn’t be a better outcome’

    Widgie Nickel’s managing director, Steve Norregaard, was very pleased with the news. He said:

    This initial reconnaissance work identifying high grade spodumene over a significant strike length couldn’t be a better outcome for Widgie. To think we have 170,000t of contained nickel and we now can lay claim to hosting complementary and widespread lithium pegmatites in this world class lithium corridor.

    Widgie looks forward with great anticipation to getting a drill rig on this highly prospective target which will only complement the existing drilling effort on our nickel resources.

    The post Guess which ASX mining share is rocketing 50% on a ‘high-grade’ lithium find appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. 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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  • Bubs share price higher on US FDA news

    A man in his 30s holds his laptop and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

    A man in his 30s holds his laptop and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

    The Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) share price is having a decent start to the week.

    In morning trade, the junior infant formula company’s shares are up 2% to 51.5 cents.

    Why is the Bubs share price rising?

    The Bubs share price is pushing higher today after the company released another update on its US operations.

    According to the release, the company has lodged a letter of intent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is in response to the FDA Guidance for Industry – Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion (Transition Plan) that was issued on 1 October 2022.

    The release notes that the Transition Plan provides a clear regulatory pathway and framework of requirements for Bubs to gain permanent access without interruption to supply to American families.

    If all goes to plan and Bubs makes meaningful progress towards compliance with the Transition Plan, the FDA will allow the company to continue to supply the US market until October 2025.

    Management commentary

    Bubs’ founder and CEO, Kristy Carr, commented:

    We are pleased to announce confirmation of our continued commitment to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and welcome this important FDA announcement which provides a clear pathway for a select number of safe, nutritious, international infant formula brands to secure permanent regulatory approval.

    This commitment and the FDA’s announcement also mean American parents who are already safely using Bubs Infant Formula products, as well as our retail partners now stocking our formula in 6,500 stores across 42 states, can remain confident in ongoing supply, without interruption, providing more choices for American families seeking safe, clean nutrition for their children.

    Importantly, the FDA announcement also provides continued support for the ongoing expansion of our U.S. distribution footprint, as we look forward to launching Bubs Infant Formula products in various new retail groups in the months ahead.

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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. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended 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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  • 3 high-growth US stocks that could be worth $1 trillion in 10 years – or sooner

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

    Green arrow going up on stock market chart, symbolising a rising share price.

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

    The stock market sell-off of 2022 led to a sharp decline in the value of some high-profile names that once traded at (or near) the eye-popping market cap of $1 trillion.

    Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) are two big tech names that became trillion-dollar companies before the broad market sell-off dented their market caps significantly. Tesla, for instance, currently has a market cap of $840 billion. But the electric vehicle specialist was trading above the $1 trillion market cap milestone in October 2021.

    Similarly, Meta Platforms stock has fallen off a cliff, and it now sports a market cap of $366 billion. The social media giant had hit a $1 trillion market cap in June last year when it was known as Facebook. Meanwhile, high-flying semiconductor company Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) was close to hitting the $1 trillion milestone at the end of last year, when its market cap stood at over $800 billion. But the 58% decline in Nvidia stock this year has brought its market cap down to $304 billion.

    But don’t be surprised to see these three tech giants regain the $1 trillion market cap milestone within the next decade, or maybe sooner. Let’s see why that may be the case.

    1. Tesla is close to regaining the $1 trillion mark

    Of the three companies discussed, Tesla is the closest to the $1 trillion milestone. And the company could hit that mark well within the next 10 years given its impressive growth and the massive opportunity in electric vehicles (EVs).

    Tesla is a high-growth company whose revenue shot up 42% year over year in the second quarter of 2022 to $16.9 billion. What’s more, the company is also enjoying solid pricing power, as an increase in the average selling price of its vehicles led to an improvement of 358 basis points in its operating margin during the quarter to 14.6%. The solid top-line growth and the margin expansion led to 57% year-over-year growth in adjusted earnings to $2.27 per share in Q2.

    With the global electric vehicle market expected to clock a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% through 2030 and hit annual sales of 31.1 million units as compared to 2.5 million units in 2020, Tesla has a lot of room to sustain its terrific growth. Of course, the growing competition in the EV space will be a challenge for Tesla, but it is worth noting that the company is successfully growing despite that.

    Tesla’s share of battery electric vehicles in key markets such as China, Europe, and the U.S. has dropped to 15.6% in the second quarter of 2022 from 25% in the second quarter of 2020. However, the company’s deliveries have increased by a massive 180% during that period. Tesla delivered nearly 255,000 vehicles in the second quarter of 2022, compared to nearly 91,000 a couple of years prior.

    Given that Tesla is aggressively expanding its capacity to take advantage of the secular growth in EVs, it is not surprising to see that analysts are expecting its earnings to increase at an annual pace of 55% over the next five years. Additionally, Tesla’s median Wall Street price target of $329 per share points toward a 23% upside from the current levels over the next 12 months, taking this electric vehicle company’s market cap beyond $1 trillion.

    2. Meta Platforms has work to do, but it could get there

    Meta Platforms’ spectacular fall over the past year or so can be attributed to multiple factors. A slowdown in ad spending, surging inflation, and macroeconomic uncertainty have created an unfavorable operating environment for the company. That’s why analysts expect Meta’s top line to remain flat in 2022 at $118 billion. The company’s earnings are expected to drop to $9.87 per share this year from $13.77 in 2021.   

    What’s more, Meta’s move to reduce its expenses for 2022 by keeping a handle on hiring, or even resorting to layoffs, indicates that the social media giant is in for tough times. But there are a few reasons why Meta’s tough times won’t last forever, and the company should eventually come out of its slump in the long run.

    For instance, annual digital ad spending is expected to jump from $521 billion in 2021 to $876 billion in 2026, according to eMarketer. Along with Alphabet, Meta is the other massive player in the digital ad spending space, with the two companies holding a combined market share of 53.2% last year. Meta alone generated $115 billion in advertising revenue last year, which means that it controlled around 22% of this space as per eMarketer’s industry revenue estimate.

    Of course, growing competition from the likes of Amazon and Apple is expected to put Meta’s market share under pressure. But the latter’s move to make money from advertising in emerging niches such as the metaverse could help it sustain its solid share and improve its top line. This explains why analysts expect Meta’s revenue to start growing once again from next year and accelerate in 2024.

    META Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts

    If Meta retains a 20% share of the digital ad spending market in 2026, then its top line could increase to $175 billion based on eMarketer’s forecast. This excludes the potential gains from emerging catalysts such as the metaverse. Multiplying this potential revenue estimate by Meta’s five-year average sales multiple of nine would translate into a market cap of well above $1 trillion. But if we decide to use a lower sales multiple to account for the competition that could arise in the next few years — let’s say a price-to-sales ratio of five after five years — Meta would be close to hitting the milestone it had achieved last year.

    In all, Meta looks well-placed to become a trillion-dollar company over the long run, which is why buying the stock looks like a good idea as it is trading at just 11 times trailing earnings right now.

    3. Nvidia’s multiple catalysts could make it a trillion-dollar company

    Nvidia is in a rough patch this year thanks to the slowdown in demand for graphics cards used in gaming personal computers (PCs), and it recently stumbled upon a new headwind in the data center business after the U.S. government imposed restrictions on sales of chips to China.

    Investors, however, would do well to focus on the bigger picture. That’s because Nvidia is the leading player in a couple of massive markets that are built for long-term growth, and it is also pursuing opportunities in emerging areas such as automotive and digital twins.

    For instance, Nvidia controlled 79% of the market for gaming graphics cards in the second quarter of 2022. This market is in bad shape right now thanks to an oversupply caused by weak demand and higher supply. However, the situation should improve in the long run, as sales of gaming graphics cards are expected to increase at an annual pace of 14% through 2026, presenting a solid opportunity for Nvidia to grow revenue thanks to its impressive market share.

    Meanwhile, Nvidia’s growing influence in nascent areas such as digital twins could supercharge the company’s long-term growth by opening a whole new opportunity to tap. All this explains why Nvidia’s earnings are still expected to clock annual growth of 23% for the next five years despite the challenges it has faced in 2022, according to consensus estimates.

    Applying analysts’ projected earnings growth to its current fiscal year’s estimated earnings of $3.37 per share would translate into a bottom line of nearly $9.50 per share after five years. Multiplying the anticipated earnings after five years with Nvidia’s five-year-average forward earnings multiple of 40 gives us a $380 price target after five years. That points toward 210% gains from the current levels.

    As Nvidia has a market cap of $304 billion now, a 210% gain in five years means that the company would be worth close to $950 billion in 2027. And if we consider that this tech giant has solid catalysts that could help sustain its outstanding growth for the next decade, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it attain a $1 trillion market cap within the next 10 years.   

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

    The post 3 high-growth US stocks that could be worth $1 trillion in 10 years – or sooner appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Inc., Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, 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.

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

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