Author: openjargon

  • This ASX dividend share is predicted to pay a 12% yield in 2026!

    Middle age caucasian man smiling confident drinking coffee at home.

    Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG) shares might be an excellent source of passive income in the coming years. The ASX dividend share could pay an enormous dividend yield in FY26 if a forecast proves correct.

    One of the benefits of investing in ASX retail shares is that they typically trade on a lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio, which can help enable a greater dividend yield.

    Shaver Shop is among the largest retailers of male and female hair removal products. It has more than 120 stores in Australia and New Zealand and an online presence on its own websites, as well as eBay, Amazon, TradeMe, and MyDeal.

    The company also offers oral care, hair care, massage, air treatment, and beauty products.

    Low valuation

    I mentioned retailers can have low P/E ratios, and Shaver Shop is no exception.

    According to the estimate on Commsec, Shaver Shop is projected to generate earnings per share (EPS) of 13.2 cents in FY26.

    At the current Shaver Shop share price of $1.14, that translates into the company trading at 10x FY26’s estimated earnings, which I think represents a low valuation considering the ASX dividend share could generate EPS growth between now and FY26.

    Growing businesses are normally valued at a higher earnings multiple by investors to take into account the potential profit the business may make in the future.

    Large dividend yield expected

    No business is guaranteed to pay a dividend – it’s not bank interest.

    Interestingly, Shaver Shop has grown its annual dividend every year since it first started paying one in 2017. This growth streak is not guaranteed to continue. Indeed, the estimates on Commsec imply a dividend cut may be on the cards in FY24, though the FY24 interim payout was maintained at 4.7 cents per share.  

    The forecast on Commsec suggests Shaver Shop could pay an annual dividend per share of 10 cents in FY26. This would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 12.6%.

    If that payout happens, it would be a huge yield for shareholders, but it could certainly be possible considering the last 12 months amounted to a grossed-up dividend yield of 12.8% amid difficult retailing conditions.

    Shaver Shop can grow its profit in the future by adding more stores, benefiting from Australia’s growing population and adding more brands to its portfolio, such as Skull Shaver.

    The post This ASX dividend share is predicted to pay a 12% yield in 2026! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Shaver Shop Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Shaver Shop 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, 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 Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Shaver Shop Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • These ASX 200 mining stocks could rise 30% to 60%

    If you’re looking to diversify your investment portfolio with some mining sector exposure, then it could be worth considering the two ASX 200 mining stocks named below.

    That’s because they have not only been rated as top buys, but they also have been tipped to rise strongly from current levels. This could potential mean market-beating returns for investors buying them today.

    Here’s what you need to know about these mining stocks:

    Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

    Analysts at Bell Potter think this ASX 200 gold mining stock could be severely undervalued by the market right now.

    It feels that investors are not taking into account its high-quality all-Australian portfolio and the attractiveness of these assets to a bigger player. In addition, the broker highlights that the Duketon Gold Project owner has a very positive production growth outlook. It said:

    As one of the largest ASX listed gold producers, we are attracted to its all-Australian asset portfolio and organic growth options which are unique at this scale. Furthermore, we see key opportunities in the fundamental, medium-term outlook and, in our view, these may also make RRL an appealing corporate target in the current conducive M&A environment.

    Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.80 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 61% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

    Another ASX 200 mining stock that gets the thumbs up by analysts is Woodside. It is one of the world’s largest energy producers with operations across the globe.

    Morgans thinks that its shares are undervalued after recent weakness. In light of this, it sees now as a great opportunity for investors to snap them up. It said:

    WDS’s share price has been under pressure in recent months from a combination of oil price volatility and approval issues at Scarborough, its key offshore growth project. With both of those factors now having moderated, with the pullback in oil prices moderating and work at Scarborough back underway, we see now as a good time to add to positions. Increasing our conviction in our call is the progress WDS is making through the current capex phase, while maintaining a healthy balance sheet and healthy dividend profile.

    The broker has an add rating and $36.00 price target on Woodside’s shares. Based on its current share price of $27.26, this suggests that a return of 32% is on the cards for investors before dividends. This increases to approximately 36% including them.

    The post These ASX 200 mining stocks could rise 30% to 60% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Regis Resources Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Regis Resources Limited 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. 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.

  • 3 of the best ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy now

    The benchmark ASX 200 index is home to 200 of the largest listed companies on the Australian share market.

    Among these companies are some true blue chip stars that could form the foundations for a winning portfolio.

    But which ASX 200 shares could be top buys for investors today today? Let’s now take a look at three blue chip options for investors to consider buying:

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    The team at Bell Potter thinks that Coles could be an ASX 200 share to buy.

    It is of course one of Australia’s largest supermarket operators. In addition, the company has a large liquor store network and joint ownership of the Flybuys loyalty program.

    The broker likes the company due partly to its recent investment in automation and its online business. It believes that this “should help Coles maintain its market position.”

    Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $19.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    Another ASX 200 share that analysts rate as a buy is CSL.

    It is one of the world’s leading biotherapeutics companies with a collection of industry-leading therapies. This includes therapies such as Privigen, Hizentra, Idelvion, and Afstyla.

    But CSL is never one to settle. Each year it reinvests in the region of 12% of its sales back into research and development (R&D) activities. Combined with its existing products and the rollout of its new plasma collection technology, the future looks bright for this ASX 200 blue chip star.

    In light of this, it may not come as no surprise to learn that a large number of brokers are recommending CSL shares as a buy. One of those is Macquarie, which has an overweight rating and $330.00 price target on them.

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    A third ASX 200 share that could be a great addition to a portfolio is ResMed.

    It is a medical device company with a focus on the sleep disorder market. This is a huge market, with an estimated one in five people suffering from a sleep disorder globally.

    However, the majority of these people are not aware of their conditions. But with the awareness of sleep disorders and the health risks they pose increasing each year, ResMed looks well-placed to continue its solid growth long into the future.

    Citi is bullish on ResMed and has a buy rating and $36.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 3 of the best ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Coles Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Coles Group Limited 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Macquarie Group, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group, Macquarie Group, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

    Scared, wide-eyed man in pink t-shirt with hands covering mouth

    At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

    This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

    With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

    • Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) is far and away the most shorted share on the Australian share market with short interest of 21.6%. This is up slightly week on week. Short sellers appear to be betting on lithium prices staying lower for longer and crunching the company’s profits.
    • IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 13.1% of its shares held short, which is up slightly since last week. This language testing and student placement company recently revealed that it is being negatively impacted by student visa changes in a number of key markets. As a result, flat earnings and expected by analysts this year and an earnings decline is forecast the year after.
    • Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) has 10.4% of its share held short, which is up slightly week on week once again. The company will shortly commence lithium production at the Kathleen Valley Project. This isn’t perhaps the best time to be adding to lithium supply.
    • Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) has short interest of 10.2%, which is down week on week again. This graphite miner’s shares have fallen heavily over the last 12 months due to weak battery materials prices, production suspensions, and its ongoing cash burn.
    • Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest rebound to 10%. Short sellers appear to believe that the travel agent will fall short of the market’s revenue margin expectations.
    • Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) has short interest of 10%, which is now up for a sixth week in a row. Doubts over the gold miner’s proposed merger with Canada-based Karoa Resources appear to be behind this.
    • Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) has short interest of 9.7%, which is up since last week. This lithium miner is currently paying more to pull lithium out of the ground than it receives from buyers. Not a great business model.
    • Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) has short interest of 9.6%, which is up week on week again. While this mineral exploration company’s Gonneville Project is a globally significant critical minerals project, it is still years away from commencing production or even a final investment decision. Some investors also believe the assumptions used its project studies are a touch ambitious.
    • Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL) has short interest of 8.4%, which is down slightly since last week. This struggling health imaging company is guiding to yet another sharp decline in its earnings in FY 2024.
    • Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) returns to the top ten with 8.3% of its shares held short. This semiconductor company’s shares have crashed 70% over the last 12 months. Short sellers don’t appear to believe the declines are over given its lofty valuation and pitiful revenue generation.

    The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares 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. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    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 Idp Education. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 explosive ASX tech stocks to buy and hold forever

    A man in trendy clothing sits on a bench in a shopping mall looking at his phone with interest and a surprised look on his face.

    The Australian tech sector is home to a number of ASX shares that have significant growth potential.

    This could make them great options for investors that are willing to make patient buy and hold investments.

    For example, three ASX tech stocks that brokers think have very bright futures and could be in the buy zone now are listed below.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    Life360 could be a fantastic ASX tech stock to buy.

    It is the location technology company behind the eponymous Life360 app. This app is used by millions of families worldwide. A recent update revealed that its global monthly active users (MAU) increased by 4.9 million during the first quarter to 66.4 million.

    This is underpinning significant revenue and earnings growth. And with management focusing on increasing both its average revenue per user metric and paid subscribers, as well as venturing into advertising, Life360’s growth outlook appears very positive.

    Morgan Stanley is confident on its outlook and recently put an overweight rating and $17.50 price target on its shares.

    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

    The second ASX tech stock that could be a buy is Megaport.

    It is the leading global provider of elastic interconnection services. Megaport’s software layer provides users with an easy way to create and manage network connections. Through its network, businesses can deploy private point-to-point connectivity between any of the locations on Megaport’s global network infrastructure.

    Due to the structural shift to the cloud and higher spending on enterprise networking, the company has been growing at a rapid rate and appears well-placed to continue doing so in the coming years.

    Citi is a big fan of the company and believes there will be a multi-year spend on cloud infrastructure coming and this will support structural growth for Megaport.

    The broker put a buy rating and $16.05 price target on its shares last week.

    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

    A third ASX tech stock that analysts rate as a buy is Xero.

    It is a global small business platform with a total of 4.2 million subscribers. The company notes that its smart tools help small businesses and their advisors to manage core accounting functions like tax and bank reconciliation. In addition, they can complete other important small business tasks like payroll and payments.

    Goldman Sachs is very bullish about the company due largely to its quality and significant growth opportunity.

    Its analysts highlight that Xero is “very well-placed to take advantage of the digitisation of SMBs globally, driven by compelling efficiency benefits and regulatory tailwinds, with >100mn SMBs worldwide representing a >NZ$100bn TAM.”

    Goldman currently has a buy rating and $164.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 3 explosive ASX tech stocks to buy and hold forever 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. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group, Life360, Megaport, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Megaport. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • More parents are taking on debt to pay for Disney vacations as prices soar

    Disney, Magic Kingdom
    Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

    • Lending Tree surveyed Americans about how vacationing at Disney World impacts their finances.
    • Nearly 50% of parents with children under 18 go into debt for Disney trips.
    • Respondents said in-park food and beverages were the main budget-busters.

    As prices soar, some parents are emptying their bank accounts for a trip to Disney. Others are maxing out their credit cards.

    Disney's expensive prices have been a hot topic among parkgoers recently. They even caused Disney CEO Bob Iger to raise his eyebrows in disbelief.

    Disneyland raised ticket prices in 2023 and Disney World is expected to increase costs in 2025.

    So Lending Tree surveyed over 2,000 American consumers to understand just how much a trip to Disney's theme parks can impact a family's finances.

    What it found is a little concerning.

    "Across the 77% of theme park-going parents with kids younger than 18 who've been to Disney, 45% have gone into debt for a Disney trip," the survey found.

    A large crowd walks towards a castle at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
    A view of Main Street at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

    That's up from the 2022 Disney debt survey, which found that 30% of parents with children under 18 were going into debt.

    According to the survey, parents with young children had an average debt of almost $2,000.

    Despite the financial hit, 59% of parents said they didn't regret the decision.

    "For so many parents, taking their kids to Disney is a rite of passage, something they remember fondly from their youth and want to experience with their kids," LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz said in a statement. "Because of those feelings, they're often willing to take on debt to get there."

    Food, transportation, and accommodation are the biggest dents to parents' Disney budgets. The survey found that 65% of respondents with Disney debt said food and beverages cost more than they expected.

    Disney World and Disneyland representatives did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

    The rising prices at Disney and, well, everywhere, coupled with stifling childcare costs, are already impacting parents across the country, leading some to look for alternatives to Disney.

    One husband told BI his family decided to visit Great Wolf Lodge in North Carolina instead of their usual trip to Walt Disney World.

    The husband said his children enjoyed Great Wolf Lodge more than their Disney adventures, and it cost less, too.

    Have you taken on debt to take a trip to a Disney theme park and want to share your story? If so, reach out to this reporter at ledmonds@businessinsider.com

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Over 35,000 women fled Texas to get abortions in 2023

    Close up view of stethoscope on digital tablet.
    A staggering number of patients left Texas to get abortion care, data shows.

    • Tens of thousands of women fled Texas in 2023 to get abortions out of state, data shows.
    • It was the most of any state. Nationally, over 171,000 patients traveled out of state to get care.
    • The state of reproductive and maternal healthcare will only get worse in Texas, one expert said.

    They say everything is bigger in Texas.

    That includes the number of women who had to leave the state to get abortion care, new data shows.

    In 2023, over 35,000 patients fled Texas to get abortion care in another state, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research and policy organization.

    Nationwide, over 170,000 patients traveled out of state for abortion care, according to the data, which Guttmacher collected to analyze the impact of the Supreme Court's Dobbs opinion in 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

    Even before Dobbs, Texas already had a strict 6-week ban in place since late 2021.

    "Texas had already clamped down on services," Debbie McNabb, a retired gynecologist based in Texas, told Business Insider. "So women had already been traveling a long ways."

    McNabb said the state of reproductive affairs will only get worse in Texas, which is ranked No. 2 among states that provide the worst prenatal and maternal health care, according to an analysis of nationwide access to care by Value Penguin, a data analytics firm.

    Texas is far from the only problem. A staggering portion of the country has little to no access to maternal health care. Over a third of counties in the United States are maternity care deserts, meaning they have "no hospitals providing obstetric care, no birth centers, no OB/GYN and no certified nurse midwives," according to a report from the March of Dimes, a nonprofit that works to improve the health of mothers and children.

    Patients aren't the only ones leaving Texas. Medical students are, too. The majority of them report a desire to choose their residency programs based on where abortion is legal.

    "We're going to get fewer trainees, OBGYN trainees in Texas, which is going to increase our maternity deserts and decrease the availability of routine OBGYN care. The other issue is we are not going to get the best and brightest residents," McNabb said, "because people are ranking the states with abortion access higher."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • This ASX 200 stock’s ‘compelling valuation’ makes it a strong buy

    A man holding a cup of coffee puts his thumb up and smiles while at laptop.

    Although the Australian share market is trading within sight of its record high, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any bargain buys out there.

    For example, the ASX 200 stock in this article has been labelled as undervalued and tipped to deliver big returns for investors over the next 12 months.

    Which ASX 200 stock is cheap?

    The stock in question is steel products manufacturer BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL).

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have reiterated their buy rating on the company’s shares with an improved price target of $30.10.

    Based on the current BlueScope share price of $20.54, this implies potential upside of approximately 47% for investors over the next 12 months.

    In addition, the broker is expecting the ASX 200 stock to provide dividend yields of 2.9% in FY 2024 and 3.4% in FY 2025. This boosts the total potential return to approximately 50%.

    Why is the broker bullish?

    The main reason that Goldman Sachs is bullish on BlueScope is its US painted steel business. It explains:

    BSL began its push into the high growth US painted steel market in 2022 with the acquisition of Coil Coatings making BSL the third-largest painted steel producer in the US. Our analysis of the US painted steel market and BSL’s strategy indicates the US painted steel growth opportunity could deliver ~A$400mn (~20%) EBITDA upside.

    The broker also highlights that this ASX 200 stock is trading at a significant discount to peers. It adds:

    Comp analysis implies BSL undervalued: Despite ~50% of EBITDA being higher margin painted steel by FY28E, BSL trades at ~4x EBITDA vs. US steel peers at ~7-8x, with painted steel company AZZ on ~9x. […] Compelling valuation and FCF: trading at ~0.65x NAV (A$31.7/sh), ~4x NTM EBITDA (vs. 10-yr average of 4-7x), and on a FCF yield of ~6% in FY24E.

    Goldman then concludes:

    We reiterate our Buy rating on BSL. Our NAV increases by 5% (~A$700mn) to A$31.7/sh after incorporating US painted growth into our base case, and our 12m PT rises by 8% to A$30.1/sh, on the higher NAV and putting the US coated and painted business on 8x (unchanged for Aus, new for US). Although the US growth strategy could take around five years to deliver, BSL already looks undervalued vs. US steel peers, and we believe very little of the potential upside from the US growth strategy is being priced into the stock.

    The post This ASX 200 stock’s ‘compelling valuation’ makes it a strong buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bluescope Steel Limited right now?

    Before you buy Bluescope Steel Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bluescope Steel Limited 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

  • Gov. Wes Moore’s message of patriotism and service could be a blueprint for Democrats in a divided US

    Wes Moore
    Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland.

    • Maryland Gov. Wes Moore campaigned for Josh Stein, who's running for North Carolina governor.
    • Moore's visit to North Carolina coincided with Stein's veterans coalition launch.
    • Moore's messaging on patriotism could help Democrats make inroads with voters who've drifted away.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore hit the campaign trail last week for Josh Stein, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in North Carolina, rallying veterans to back his fellow Democrat in one of the most competitive governor races in the country.

    For gubernatorial aspirants, having a show of support from a sitting governor is critical, especially in a tight race.

    Moore's visit to the Tar Heel State came as Stein, who is now the attorney general, launched his "Veterans for Stein" campaign coalition.

    North Carolina has one of the largest populations of active-duty military personnel in the country and serves as home to nearly 800,000 veterans. So it's natural for politicians to engage with the military community. Its influence in the state runs deep.

    For Moore, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army and was deployed in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006, patriotism and service shouldn't be relegated to one particular political party or ideology.

    Beginning with Moore's successful 2022 gubernatorial campaign, he's spread that message stumping for candidates across the country. And, in the process, he's sought to keep Democrats in conversations where they need to be if they're going to be a viable party in all corners of the United States.

    It's an effort that Moore feels will resonate.

    "There are certain things worth fighting for, and we risked our own safety for freedoms," Moore recently told Business Insider. "Some of the freedoms are on the ballot now, including the freedom to know that reproductive health should be between a woman and their doctor."

    Last November, Moore came to Virginia to stump for Democratic legislative candidates, visiting the military-heavy Hampton Roads area and endorsing veterans like Michael Feggans of Virginia Beach — who was elected to the House of Delegates that month.

    "[W]e're pushing back against a lot of these individual forces who are trying to claim this mantle of patriotism and are actually restricting rights in the name of patriotism," Moore told BI at the time.

    With political polarization in the country becoming more hardened by the day, Democrats have a major opportunity in states like North Carolina, where there is still a significant level of split-ticket voting.

    Even though former President Donald Trump won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, Stein won his attorney general races in the same general election.

    Moore feels great about Stein's chances this fall. He said the attorney general shares the values veterans are looking for, especially on issues like health care and housing affordability.

    "He's consistently stood up for veterans as attorney general," the governor told BI last week. "And he'll do it as governor."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

    A man looking at his laptop and thinking.

    On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week with a small decline. The benchmark index fell 0.3% to 7,724.3 points.

    Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to edge lower

    The Australian share market looks set to edge lower on Monday following a mixed finish on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 17 points or 0.25% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.15%, the S&P 500 edged slightly lower, and the Nasdaq rose by 0.1%.

    Oil prices soften

    ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a subdued start to the week after oil prices softened on Friday. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 0.2% to US$78.45 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 0.15% to US$82.62 a barrel. This couldn’t stop oil from snapping its three-week losing streak amid optimism over a tighter market.

    Buy BlueScope shares

    The BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL) share price could be undervalued according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. This morning, the broker has reiterated its buy rating with an improved price target of $30.10. This implies potential upside of approximately 47% for investors over the next 12 months. Goldman said: “Although the US growth strategy could take around five years to deliver, BSL already looks undervalued vs. US steel peers, and we believe very little of the potential upside from the US growth strategy is being priced into the stock.”

    Gold price storms higher

    It could be a good start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price stormed higher on Friday. According to CNBC, the spot gold price was up 1.3% to US$2,348.4 an ounce. This meant that the precious metal recorded its first weekly gain in four thanks to interest rate cut hopes.

    Capricorn Metals named as a buy

    Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating on the gold miner’s shares and lifted its price target slightly to $6.53. This suggests that its shares could rise 46% from current levels. The broker said: “CMM is a sector leading gold producer with a strong balance sheet, a management team with an excellent track record of delivery and clear organic growth options to lift group production to 270kozpa. We retain our Buy recommendation.”

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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.