Stock Pick

Author: openjargon

  • Is the 11% dividend yield from Yancoal shares too good to be true?

    Looking at the Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) shares right now, one metric will probably jump out at you straight away. That would be this All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) stock’s monstrous dividend yield.

    Yancoal shares closed on Thursday at $6.20 apiece. At that pricing, this All Ords coal stock appears to be trading on a trailing dividend yield of a whopping 11.21%.

    Yancoal’s last few dividend payments have also come with full franking credits attached. This means that 11.21% yield would gross up to an even more eye-watering 15.83% with the value of those franking credits included.

    ASX All Ords shares are well-known for relatively high dividend yields compared to what is on offer on other stock exchanges around the world. But even so, an 11% yield (let alone a 15.8% one) is well above what your typical ASX share would offer investors. To illustrate, it’s rare to see an ASX bank stock, usually amongst the highest-yielding ASX blue chips on the market, on a yield above 7%.

    So 11% is a big deal.

    However, as every dividend investor knows, a company’s dividend yield is only a reflection of the past. It in no way guarantees that an investor who buys a share today will receive its current dividend yield on their investment going forward.

    So today, let’s talk about whether Yancoal shares’ ridiculous 11.21% dividend yield is the real deal.

    Is Yancoal shares’ 11% dividend yield too good to be true?

    Well, first things first, Yancoal’s 11% yield is legitimate. It comes from the last two dividend payments the company has forked out.

    The first was last September’s interim dividend of 37 cents per share, and the second was the 32.5 cents per share payment we saw doled out back in April. As we touched on above, both of these payments came with full franking credits attached.

    If we plug in these 69.5 cents per share in dividend payments into the current Yancoal share price, we get a trailing yield of 11.21%.

    But what about the future?

    Unfortunately, Yancoal’s dividends are even harder to forecast than most ASX All Ords shares due to its nature as a commodity stock. This company’s profitability (and thus divided dividend ability) is almost entirely dependent on the price of coal over any given period.

    If coal prices are high, Yancoal’s coffers will be flush with cash, and the company will have to capacity to continue to fund large dividend payments. However, if coal prices sink, you’ll almost certainly see a corresponding drop in the levels of dividend income that shareholders will enjoy.

    Income feast and famine

    To illustrate just how wildly this company’s payments can fluctuate, Yancoal paid out $1.23 per share in dividends over 2022, a year that saw a huge runup in the price of coal. But just three years prior in 2019, investors received a total of just 38.9 cents per share.

    As my Fool colleague Zach recently covered, Yancoal’s most recent quarterly update indicated that the company was continuing to enjoy relatively high coal prices, which bodes well for the company’s short-term dividend firepower.

    But Yancoal is never going to be a company with a reliable and predictable dividend yield. So don’t expect to buy this All Ords stock today and forever get an 11% yield on your cash.

    The post Is the 11% dividend yield from Yancoal shares too good to be true? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Yancoal Australia Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Yancoal Australia Ltd 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 Yancoal Australia Ltd 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 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.

  • 4 excellent ASX ETFs to buy this month

    There are a lot of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to choose from on the Australian share market.

    To narrow things down, let’s take a look at four excellent ASX ETFs that could be good additions to a balanced investment portfolio. They are as follows:

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    The first ASX ETF to look at is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. It provides investors with easy access to 50 of the best technology stocks that the Asian region has to offer. These technology tigers include online retail giant Alibaba, WeChat owner Tencent Holdings, Temu owner Pinduoduo, and search engine leader Baidu. The fund manager, Betashares, notes that the ETF “provides diversified exposure to a high-growth sector that is under-represented in the Australian sharemarket, and a complement to investors with U.S. technology exposure.”

    BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    Another excellent ASX ETF to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. As you might have guessed from its name, this ETF gives investors exposure to the growing cybersecurity sector. This certainly could be a great area of the market to be invested. Betashares notes that “with cybercrime on the rise, the demand for cybersecurity services is expected to grow strongly for the foreseeable future.” Among the fund’s holdings are cybersecurity giants Accenture, Cisco, Crowdstrike, and Palo Alto Networks.

    iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

    A third ASX ETF that could be a great option is the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. This ETF provides investors with access to many of the world’s largest consumer staples companies. These are generally regarded as low risk options and companies that perform well whatever is happening in the global economy. This could make it a good option for investors that have a low tolerance for risk. Among its holdings are global behemoths such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Unilever.

    Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

    A final ASX ETF for investors to look at is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. It is an index-based exchange-traded fund that aims to track the ASX 300 index. The ASX 300 index is home to Australia’s leading 300 listed companies. This includes a diverse group of shares such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). It also provides investors with a source of income. For example, at present, the ETF is trading with a dividend yield of 3.7%.

    The post 4 excellent ASX ETFs to buy this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf right now?

    Before you buy Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf 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 Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that 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 Accenture Plc, Baidu, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, Cisco Systems, CrowdStrike, Macquarie Group, Palo Alto Networks, Tencent, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group and Unilever Plc and has recommended the following options: long January 2025 $290 calls on Accenture Plc and short January 2025 $310 calls on Accenture Plc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, Macquarie Group, Wesfarmers, and iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Danny DeVito gave Rob McElhenney simple advice on how to raise well-adjusted kids in Hollywood: ‘The trick is not much of a trick at all’

    Danny DeVito, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day at the premiere of FX's "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" season 14 in September 2019.
    Danny DeVito and Rob McElhenney have been coworkers and friends for years.

    Morgan Lieberman/Getty Images

    • Rob McElhenney said he admires how his "Always Sunny" costar Danny DeVito has raised his kids.
    • McElhenney said he learned that the key is to show up for his kids and be there for them. 
    • McElhenney shares two sons with his wife and costar Kaitlin Olson.

    Being a parent is hard. And parenting amid the nepo-baby discourse as two famous actors poses its own unique set of challenges.

    Thankfully for Rob McElhenney and his wife and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" costar Kaitlin Olson, who share two children, they have good role models in Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

    "Having Danny DeVito and Rhea in our lives, who have raised three wonderful kids, has been really helpful," McElhenney said in Business Insider's latest digital cover story.

    "Really, the trick is not much of a trick at all," McElhenney explained of DeVito's advice. "It's just, show up, be there for them, make sure that they know that they're the most important thing in your lives, which they are."

    Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day in 2016.
    Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day in 2016.

    VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

    DeVito and Perlman know a thing or two about raising kids in the public eye.

    Their eldest child, daughter Lucy DeVito, 41, is an actor who's appeared on "Always Sunny" and did voice work alongside her famous father for the 2022 animated show "Little Demon."

    DeVito and Perlman also share another daughter named Gracie DeVito, 39, and a son named Jacob DeVito, 36.

    Lucy and Jacob executive produced "Little Demon." Gracie isn't an actor, but is in a similar creative field as a painter and performance artist.

    Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, and Rob McElhenney in August 2018.
    Danny DeVito and Rob McElhenney in August 2018.

    Frederick M. BrownGetty Images

    McElhenney and Olson met when Olson was cast as Sweet Dee on McElhenney's FX series. In Business Insider's cover story, Olson said watching McElhenney work on the show was "definitely when I started to fall in love with him."

    The two have been married since 2008 and have two children together: sons Axel Lee (born in September 2010) and Leo Grey (born in April 2012).

    While both kids have made appearances on "Always Sunny," McElhenney isn't worried about his sons becoming stereotypical nepo babies or running into the dangers of stardom.

    "We've been very fortunate because we have a lot of people in our lives who were either raised by people of great affluence or celebrity or people who raised kids in that scenario who turned out great," he said. What it boils down to, he added, is that the parents are present.

    "If your parents are around, they show up, they give you unconditional love with boundaries and respect you and spend time with you, you're probably going to be OK."

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • 14 details you might have missed in season 4 of ‘The Boys,’ so far

    Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, Tomer Capone as Frenchie, and Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk on season four of "The Boys."
    Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, Tomer Capone as Frenchie, and Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk in season four of "The Boys."

    Jan Thijs/Prime Video

    • Season four of Prime Video's superhero satire series "The Boys" premiered on Thursday.
    • The episodes released so far include subtle references to past seasons and nods to the comic books.
    • It also contains callbacks to the spin-off series "Gen V."

    Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season four of Prime Video's "The Boys."

    "The Boys" has returned for another gory, bloody, jaw-dropping season.

    Season four, which debuted with three episodes on Thursday, is stuffed with Easter eggs, nods to the comics, and references to the college-set spin-off series "Gen V."

    Here are all the details you might have missed so far.

    The Boys operate out of a white van that says Mr. Marathon Catering when they attempt to crash an election night party in the season four premiere.
    Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko on the season four premiere of "The Boys."
    The season four premiere of "The Boys" kicks off with an election night party.

    Prime Video

    This is likely a nod to the supe Mister Marathon.

    In the comics, he was a member of The Seven who was replaced by A-Train. The character has also previously been mentioned in passing during season two, first by Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie) in episode five and then by Lamplighter (Shawn Ashmore) in episode seven.

    Homelander tells his son Ryan that humans are merely "toys for our amusement."
    In the top image: Antony Starr as Homelander and Cameron Crovetti as Ryan on season four of "The Boys." In the bottom image: The character Homelander talking to himself in the comics.
    Top: Antony Starr as Homelander and Cameron Crovetti as Ryan in season four of "The Boys." Bottom: The character Homelander talking to himself in the comics.

    Prime Video; Dynamite Entertainment

    At the election night party, Homelander (Antony Starr) tells Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) not to be scared or intimidated by humans because "they're only humans and toys for our amusement."

    Later in the episode, Homelander again speaks demeaningly of humans when he tells Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), "Humans are nothing. They're less than nothing. They're just toys for my amusement, and yet, they control everything. It's unnatural."

    Homelander likening humans to toys comes from the comics.

    In volume nine ("The Big Ride"), Homelander talks to himself in the mirror and says, "People are toys. They're toys and they're there for my amusement. And there's not a thing more to them than that."

    Homelander initiates applause for Victoria at the party and says, "Girls get it done… in the White House."
    the boys 205 stormfront starlight queen maeve
    Aya Cash, Erin Moriarty, and Dominique McElligott in season two, episode five of "The Boys."

    Amazon Studios

    This is a callback to season two, in which Annie January/Starlight (Erin Moriarty), Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott), and new Seven member Stormfront (Aya Cash) were grouped together for a female-power-style press campaign called "Girls Get it Done."

    Ashley Barrett references the chaotic events of the season one finale of "The Boys" spin-off "Gen V."
    Antony Starr as Homelander on season one, episode eight of "Gen V."
    Antony Starr as Homelander in season one, episode eight of "Gen V."

    Amazon Studios

    During a meeting, Ashley tells Homelander, "After that debacle at Goldolkin — thank you again for saving my life — the board felt we should find new candidates for The Seven ASAP."

    This is a direct reference to what happened during the season one finale of "Gen V," which takes place at a college for young supes called Godolkin University.

    During the episode, students who were being tortured and experimented on in an underground lab called The Woods were freed and unleashed havoc on campus. As the young supes went wild, Ashley called in Homelander to get the situation under control.

    Some of the names of the supes in consideration to join The Seven are pulled from the comics.
    Talon, left, on season four of "The Boys." The same character, right, in the comics.
    Talon, left, in season four of "The Boys." The same character, right, in the comics.

    Prime Video; Dynamite Entertainment

    Ashley presents Homelander and The Seven with a list of 25 supes to choose from to fill the team's vacant seats, including Talon, Hyperion, Dogknott, and Wrangler. Talon and Dogknott are both characters that appear in the comics.

    Butcher secretly meets Victoria at an abandoned Vought Video store next door to a Church of the Collective building.
    An abandoned Vought Video store on the season four premiere of "The Boys."
    An abandoned Vought Video store on the season four premiere of "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    The Church of the Collective, run by Alastair Adana (Goran Visnjic), was a big part of season two. After being ousted from The Seven, The Deep joined the church in an attempt to make amends and earn his way back into the supe group.

    The video store contains a cutout poster for the supe Polarity's movie "Static Heat 3."
    A poster for the Polarity film "Static Heat 3" on season four of "The Boys."
    A poster for the Polarity film "Static Heat 3" in season four of "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    This is another nod to "Gen V."

    On the show, Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas) is a supe with the ability to manipulate magnetic fields and magnetism. He's also a Godolkin University trustee and the father of a student named Andre Anderson (Chance Perdomo).

    Butcher references the supe-killing virus he discovered during season one of "Gen V."
    Karl Urban as Butcher on season one, episode eight of "Gen V."
    Karl Urban as Butcher in season one, episode eight of "Gen V."

    Amazon Studios

    Season four of "The Boys" takes place after the events of season one of "Gen V." The end-credits scene of the finale, which shows Butcher investigating The Woods, confirms that he's the person Grace Mallory (Laila Robins) was speaking to earlier in the season about a virus that can wipe out supes.

    Hughie Campbell's flash drive of incriminating files on Victoria is attached to a Billy Joel keychain.
    Hughie Campbell's flash drive attached to a Billy Joel keychain on season four of "The Boys."
    Hughie Campbell's flash drive is attached to a Billy Joel keychain.

    Prime Video

    Billy Joel is one of Hughie's (Jack Quaid) favorite musicians; throughout the show, he references his love for the singer.

    During season two, Hughie explains that he's fond of Joel because he and his mom, who left him when he was 6 years old, used to have dance parties to his music.

    Ambrosius' tank contains a small figurine of The Deep steering a ship wheel.
    Ambrosius (voiced by Tilda Swinton) and The Deep (Chace Crawford) on season four of "The Boys."
    Ambrosius (voiced by Tilda Swinton) and The Deep (Chace Crawford) in season four of "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    Ambrosius (voiced by Tilda Swinton) is an octopus that The Deep met at Herogasm last season and had sexual relations with.

    Season four reveals that The Deep, who's now divorced, has been secretly stashing Ambrosius in a tank in his bedroom closet. When he's not around to keep her company, the sea creature stays occupied with a small toy of The Deep that she can wrap her tentacles around.

    Sister Sage's real name is Jessica Bradley.
    Susan Heyward, left, as Sister Sage in season four of "The Boys." The character Jessica Bradley, right, in the comics.
    Susan Heyward, left, as Sister Sage in season four of "The Boys." The character Jessica Bradley, right, in the comics.

    Prime Video; Dynamite Entertainment

    Sister Sage is from Detroit, and her power is that she's the smartest person on the planet.

    Homelander recruits her for The Seven because he's tired of being surrounded by people who are so terrified of him that they agree with everything he says and don't challenge him. Homelander also reaches out to her because he's been thinking about his legacy and wants her help in figuring out how to create the ideal world to leave behind for his son Ryan.

    In the comics, Jessica Bradley is a personal assistant to Vought-American CEO James Stillwell.

    Hughie's desktop wallpaper at The Boys headquarters is a selfie of him and Annie.
    Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell in season four, episode two of "The Boys."
    Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell in season four, episode two of "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    After overcoming to difficulties last season, Hughie and Annie are finally in a solid place in their relationship.

    Koy, the Vought stunt coordinator who choreographs Ryan's first staged save, is the show's real-life supervising stunt coordinator John Koyama.
    John Koyama as Koy in season four, episode two of "The Boys."
    John Koyama as Koy in season four, episode two of "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    Later in episode two, when they execute the fake civilian rescue, Ryan accidentally throws Koy too hard, sending him flying into a building to his death.

    "Gen V" characters Sam Riordan and Cate Dunlap's appearances in season four are subtly teased in the news crawl early in episode three.
    Annie and Hughie on TV during season four, episode three of "The Boys."
    Erin Moriarty stars as Annie January/Starlight in "The Boys."

    Prime Video

    As the channel NNC covers Annie rallying Starlighters and declaring she's back, a news crawl reads: "Guardians of Godolkin Sam and Cate to join Seven members at V52 Expo."

    The season four trailer for "The Boys" includes a quick shot of Sam (Asa Germann) and Cate (Maddie Phillips) from "Gen V," but it's unclear which episode fans will see them in.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Giant loophole may protect Trump-property liquor licenses throughout US, despite his felony hush-money conviction

    donald trump court manhattan
    Donald Trump addresses reporters outside his Manhattan hush-money trial.

    JABIN BOTSFORD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    • Trump says he does not hold a liquor license anywhere in the United States.
    • Keeping his name off the paperwork can insulate him from laws barring felons from holding licenses.
    • Trump may not be liable for liquor licenses held by tenants or under LLCs where he's not an officer.

    Keeping his name off the paperwork may protect former President Donald Trump if state officials anywhere in the US try to revoke liquor licenses at Trump-branded properties due to his new felony status, experts told Business Insider.

    New Jersey officials revealed this week that they are looking at the licenses at his three golf courses there.

    The licenses remain current at the three golf courses, located in Colts Neck, Bedminster, and Pine Hill, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Attorney General's office said, confirming that the division of alcoholic beverage control is "reviewing" the status of the licenses.

    More than a dozen bars and restaurants serve alcohol on the premises of Trump-branded or Trump-owned hotels and golf courses in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and California, a survey by Business Insider found.

    These states prohibit felons or people convicted of "moral" offenses such as fraud from holding a liquor license.

    But Trump "is not the holder of any liquor license in New Jersey, and he is not an officer or director of any entity that holds a liquor license in New Jersey — or anywhere in the United States for that matter," the GOP presidential frontrunner said through a spokesman.

    That may keep him insulated.

    Trump may not be responsible for liquor licenses held in the name of his tenants or under LLCs for which he is not on the paperwork, experts said.

    If Trump's name is not connected to the license, then his conviction could be moot, said William Fay, a former New Jersey deputy attorney general who worked with the enforcement bureau of the state's division of alcoholic beverage control.

    Just because Trump's name is in the title of the LLC, doesn't mean he's a member or owner, Fay said.

    If he is a member of the LLC, then simply being licensed as an LLC wouldn't offer any sort of protection. If he's not a member, it could, Fay said.

    But there are loopholes to this loophole

    "Just because he is not on the paperwork doesn't mean he's scot-free," explained Aaron H. Pierce, a Manhattan-based attorney who specializes in alcoholic beverage-control law in New York.

    Trump-branded properties in Manhattan house a half-dozen bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, including the memorabilia-crammed "45 Wine & Whiskey Bar" at Trump Tower.

    Say Trump is landlord to the bar operators at one of these properties, and it's the bar operators who hold the liquor license, Pierce said.

    Or say the bar is owned by an LLC for which Trump is not listed as a director or officer, he added.

    If Trump is charging the bar a flat rent, his felony status won't impact that liquor license. But if he is directly profiting from liquor sales — meaning getting a cut of the bar till — then that's another story, said Pierce, partner at the business law firm Pierce & Kwok LLP.

    "If he's not on the paperwork, but he's profiting directly from the sale of alcohol, then he's not off the hook," he said.

    Trump would still have options, though, even if his hush-money conviction voided one or more of his liquor licenses.

    In New York, Trump could ask for a certificate of relief from civil disabilities, Pierce said.

    A "CRD," as it's called, would be issued by the judge at or after sentencing, and it can help someone with a conviction overcome certain licensing requirements.

    If New Jersey determines that Trump's hush-money conviction disqualifies him as a licensee, as it's a crime of "moral turpitude," Trump could divest from the LLC that owns the license, said Fay, the former prosecutor at the division's enforcement bureau.

    "As I understand, it involves some sort of misrepresentations, so I would assume there's some fraud in that — so theoretically, it would be a moral turpitude crime," Fay said. "Then, yeah, the next option would be to divest his interest."

    "People do tend to pass it on to other LLC members. Sometimes you'll see family members," said Fay. "But I would imagine this would be under some sort of close review at the ABC to make sure it's above board."

    Trump could also have his lawyers make the case at a hearing before an administrative judge that his conviction does not qualify for license-revocation, Fay said.

    Challenging the revocation could take months or years, during which the license would stay in place, Fay said.

    "I don't imagine that will happen here," Fay said of a potential hearing. "There may be conversations that occur proactively, whether it's the golf courses or Trump himself, to take action to absolve himself of a potential issue."

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Can Soul Patts shares beat the market over the next 12 months?

    A man rests his chin in his hands, pondering what is the answer?

    If you have room in your portfolio for some new additions, then it could be worth considering Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares.

    That’s the view of analysts at Morgans, which rate the investment house very highly.

    What is Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company?

    Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company, also known as Soul Patts, started life as an owner and operator of Australian pharmacies.

    Since then, Soul Patts has evolved into a diversified investment house investing across a range of industries and asset classes. This includes listed equities, private equity, credit, and property.

    It has a proud history and highlights that it has never missed a dividend payment to its shareholders since listing all the way back in 1903. In addition, it has delivered increasing dividends every year of this century.

    And while its returns over the last three years have been disappointing, this hasn’t stopped Soul Patts’ shares from delivering an average 10% per annum return over the last decade.

    The good news is that Morgans believes that the latter can continue for the foreseeable future. As a result, the broker currently has the company on its best ideas list. Its analysts commented:

    SOL’s investment portfolio includes a diversified pool of assets ranging from listed equities (both large cap and emerging companies), private equity, property and structured yield. On a 20-year horizon, SOL’s annualised TSR is 12.5% vs the All Ords accumulation index of 9%. SOL has a 20-year history of increased dividend distributions, with a 20-year CAGR of c.8%. In our view, SOL’s management team continues to deliver both organic and inorganic growth over the long term. We continue to like the SOL story, particularly its track record of growing distributions.

    Buy Soul Patts shares

    Morgans believes that investors buying the company’s shares at current levels could get an above-average total return over the next 12 months.

    Its analysts have put an add rating and $35.60 price target on the investment house’s shares. Based on its current share price of $32.36, this implies potential upside of 10% for investors between now and this time next year.

    In addition, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 94 cents per share in FY 2024 and then $1.05 per share in FY 2025. If this proves accurate, it will mean dividend yields of 2.9% and 3.2%, respectively.

    This boosts the total potential 12-month return from Soul Patts shares to approximately 13%.

    The post Can Soul Patts shares beat the market over the next 12 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Washington H. Soul Pattinson And Company Limited right now?

    Before you buy Washington H. Soul Pattinson And Company 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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson And Company 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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • This ASX 200 share has grown (or maintained) its dividend every year for almost 50 years!

    A young male builder with his arms crossed leans against a brick wall and smiles at the camera as the Brickworks share price climbs today

    There are few S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that can say their dividend payout has grown or been maintained every year for two decades. Owners of Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) shares have seen reliable dividend payments for almost five decades.

    Dividends aren’t guaranteed, but companies that have built a history of sending solid dividends to shareholders could continue to deliver pleasing payouts.

    There are a couple of reasons why I believe Brickworks’ strong dividend record can continue.

    Incredible dividend streak

    Brickworks says that it’s proud of its long history of dividend growth and the stability this provides to shareholders.

    It has been 48 years since the last full-year ordinary dividend was decreased in 1976. Following the dividend hike in the FY24 first-half result, the company has grown its dividend every year for the past ten years.  

    Total shareholder returns have been satisfactory as well – in the HY24 result, the ASX 200 share revealed that over the prior 25 years, it had achieved an average shareholder return per annum of 12.9%, compared to an 8.6% return per annum for the All Ordinaries Accumulation Index (ASX: XAOA).

    What is funding the dividends?

    Brickworks may be best known for its Australian and US building product divisions – it’s the country’s largest brickmaker, one of the largest roofing businesses and more.

    However, two other segments are providing resilient cash flow to enable Brickworks to keep paying and growing its dividend.

    First, the ASX 200 share owns approximately a quarter of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), an investment conglomerate that is invested across numerous industries including resources, telecommunications, swimming schools, agriculture, financial services and property. Soul Patts itself has grown its dividend ever year since 2000, providing growing cash flow to shareholders such as Brickworks.

    Brickworks also owns a variety of property assets, with the crown jewel being its 50% share of an industrial property trust. The business is benefiting from organic rental increases with those properties, as well as the ongoing completion of new large industrial warehouses adding to the rental snowball. The FY24 first-half result saw net rental income rise 4% (including the headwind of higher-costing debt), while gross rental income increased 17%.

    That combination of growing rental profits and a rising Soul Patts dividend is helping send the Brickworks dividend higher.

    Brickworks currently has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.5%, which I believe is a decent starting point.

    The post This ASX 200 share has grown (or maintained) its dividend every year for almost 50 years! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Brickworks 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 Brickworks 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 Tristan Harrison has positions in Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (VTS) is a top long-term buy

    Businessman using a digital tablet with a graphical chart, symbolising the stock market.

    Few funds can compete with Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) for the title of best ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF), in my opinion.

    When choosing an ETF to invest in, I’m looking for low fees, diversification and good returns. This fund, which provides exposure to a large array of US shares, looks very appealing to me.

    There are several diversified ETFs that I’d be extremely happy to own including VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY), VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) and BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI). But the VTS ETF arguably ticks the most boxes.

    Let’s examine how Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF rates on each of the factors I’m looking for.

    Low fees

    In terms of annual costs, this is the cheapest shares ETF that Aussies can buy on the ASX.

    According to Vanguard, the yearly fee is a very minimal 0.03%.

    In contrast, an active fund manager typically charges an annual fee of, say, 1% and then performance fees if they outperform their benchmark. The VTS ETF fund does not charge performance fees — it simply tracks the return of the US share market.  

    Diversification

    The Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF has a total of more than 3,700 holdings. There are few ASX ETFs that provide as much exposure to that many businesses in a single fund.

    Having this many holdings reduces the risk of being invested too much in one particular business.

    I also like the level of sector allocation diversification. The technology sector has typically been the best-performing industry over the past decade because of its high margins and fast revenue growth.

    Around a third of the VTS ETF is invested in technology shares, with consumer discretionary (14%), industrials (13.1%), healthcare (11.8%) and financials (10.9%) being the other sectors with a weighting of over 10%.

    Good returns

    While past performance is not a guarantee of future performance, the VTS ETF has done very well thanks to its biggest holdings driving the US share market higher.

    I’m talking about some of the largest stocks in the world: Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Meta Platforms and Berkshire Hathaway. These are high-quality businesses with extremely powerful market positions and the ability to re-invest for a high return within the business. This quality helps the VTS ETF deliver returns for investors.

    In the 10 years to 31 May 2024, the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF has delivered an average annual return of 15.9%.

    I can’t predict its level of return over the next 10 years, but its heavy weighting to strong technology stocks makes me believe the VTS ETF can continue outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the long term.

    The post Why the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (VTS) is a top long-term buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf right now?

    Before you buy Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf 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 Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former 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. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Trump insulted Milwaukee and then things got strange

    Donald Trump
    Former President Donald Trump reportedly insulted Milwaukee, setting off a minor firestorm.

    Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Images

    • Donald Trump reportedly called Milwaukee a "horrible city."
    • The former president is set to be formally crowned the GOP's presidential nominee there in July.
    • Republicans offered a variety of explanations for Trump's reported remark.

    Former President Donald Trump on Thursday reportedly insulted Milwaukee, the site of the Republican National Convention in just a few weeks.

    "Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city," Trump told House Republicans during their closed-door meeting, according to PunchBowl News.

    The strangest part wasn't even Trump's reported insult for the city whose name is a translation of "The Good Land," as Alice Cooper once helpfully taught us. Rather, it was the apparently contradictory ways that Republicans tried to either deny or clarify Trump's remark.

    "I was in the room. President Trump did not say this," Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, wrote on X, quoting PunchBowl reporter Jake Sherman's initial tweet. "There is no better place than Wisconsin in July."

    Steil later told a local TV station that Trump "wasn't talking about the city, he was talking about specific issues in the city."

    "We were having broad conversation about the challenges we face in as a country, in particular the challenges we've seen in Milwaukee," Steil said mentioning issues with elections, crime, and public schools.

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

    A spokesperson for Steil later told Business Insider that since no one was taking notes, it was not clear whether or not Trump said "Milwaukee" and "horrible" next to each other.

    "He's not saying Milwaukee itself is horrible," the spokesperson said. "He was saying the crime and election integrity that the city is facing is what's horrible."

    A convention spokesperson told a local TV station that Trump was discussing his concerns about the security perimeter for the convention, which has been the subject of GOP frustration related to whether protests can occur in a park close to the main convention arena.

    Both parties have historically hosted their conventions in cities or states that may have different politics than their own. This is especially true for Republicans, who have hosted their conventions in cities like New York. Local officials are known for playing nice though in order to garner the big business and spotlight that comes with hosting one of the two major political parties as they formally nominate their presidential candidate.

    Trump's reported insult quickly landed back in Wisconsin where local reporters jumped on the story. The former president's campaign disputed the report.

    "Wrong. Total bullshit," spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on X, quoting Sherman's initial tweet. "He never said it like how it's been falsely characterized as. He was talking about how terrible crime and voter fraud are."

    Sherman has stood by his reporting. "Trump absolutely said it – undoubtedly," he wrote later on X. "People hear what they want. This is familiar to all who have covered Trump or Trump-adjacent stories for the last 10 or so years."

    Democrats and the Biden campaign were quick to defend the largest city in a key swing state. Democrats were originally set to host their convention in Milwaukee in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to switch to a largely virtual event.

    "Once he's settled in with his parole officer, I am certain he will discover that Milwaukee is a wonderful, vibrant and welcoming city full of diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community," Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, whose district includes most of Milwaukee, wrote on X.

    Biden's own account chimed in with an old photo of him celebrating the Milwaukee Buck's 2021 NBA championship at the White House.

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

    Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson took his own shot at Trump.

    "Well, if Donald Trump wants to talk about things that he thinks are horrible, all of us lived through his presidency, so right back at ya, buddy."

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • I’m an only child who was raised by my grandmother. My childhood was lonely, but I’m still choosing to be child-free.

    Marissa Higgins wearing a black top and standing against a brick wall.
    Marissa Higgins was raised by her grandmother.

    Courtesy Marissa Higgins

    • I'm grateful to my grandmother for raising me, but my childhood was lonely. 
    • I thought I'd embrace being alone as an adult, but instead, I've filled my life with love.
    • My wife and I have chosen to be child-free. We're intentional about connections with chosen family.

    I´m in my 30s, but I joke that I´ve been a grandma since birth. I'm an only child, and my grandmother raised me while my parents were out of the picture. I grew up in a sleepy town built around fishermen and summer tourists. My grandmother's house was on a peninsula, a seven-mile stretch of the Atlantic on the south shore of Massachusetts.

    My grandmother was my world, and I understood from a young age that I was lucky to live with her; grandparents aren't obligated to raise their child´s child, and if it weren't for her willingness to act as my guardian, I´m not sure what would have become of me.

    But I still envied my peers with siblings or close cousins; I'd walk the beach with my grandma and long to join kids who were learning to surf with their parents or playing volleyball as a family, activities my aging grandmother simply couldn't keep up with.

    I´ve always had poor eyesight and often became clingy and afraid without my glasses. I'd never been able to see my grandmother from the water and dreaded seeing her become a blurry speck on shore. I remember her best up close: big dark eyes, small stature, knuckles gnarled from arthritis.

    I felt safer right beside her, where I could see her clearly and trust she wouldn´t simply disappear, but I knew better than to ask her to swim with me; she wore slacks and blouses to the beach for a reason. She raised six children, then me — I understood she was fragile, and that I was lucky to live with her during her golden years.

    She often told me, "My body doesn't recover like yours," and encouraged me to do scary things on my own, like search for shells underwater and say hi to strangers.

    I was lonely in childhood, but I still choose to be child-free

    I didn't much enjoy childhood, but as a child-free adult by choice, I'm embracing the freedom being childless gives me with the support of my chosen family. Since moving from my grandmother's home more than a decade ago — first to New York, then Boston, then DC, then Atlanta, then Seattle, and now an island in the Caribbean — I´ve greeted many strangers and felt both lonely and beloved.

    Since her death eight years ago, I've traveled the world like my grandmother never got to — taken solo trips to Iceland for all-night sunshine, gone to Montreal for Pride, and recently, visited the French Alps to spend time with a friend and her wife — and even saved up for corrective eye surgery, hoping Lasik would make me braver, as well as more sporty and spontaneous.

    After Lasik, I did become braver — I joined strangers to go hiking, signed myself and my wife up for snowshoeing, and went camping with girls I knew from the internet. I felt less nerdy, less the shy girl hiding behind a book (though I did, and do, always carry a book with me). It's taken a return to the Atlantic, where my wife and I live for her job, to realize what I don't need is to simply see clearly, but to trust I have people looking out for me.

    We fill our lives with the love of our friends

    My wife and I are firm on our decision not to have children, but after moving cross-country for work repeatedly, we´ve come to love hosting people at our home to build memories.

    My friend and her wife came to visit us from France, bringing with them a penchant for home cooking and tips on how to air-dry clothes. We snorkeled, swam, and spent long hours exploring the island. I fretted about nature cooperating, but my friend just reassured me they came to spend time with me — she doesn't even like the heat!

    Our friends are already planning to come back and stay with us again, creating new memories and traditions. They even discussed the logistics of bringing a future child and talked about names and parenting values.

    I hoped I'd have shaken the chronic loneliness of my childhood by the time I became an adult and learned to embrace being alone without feeling alone, but instead, I'm giving myself the company I always longed for.

    Over the years, I've joined a queer bowling league, played bingo orchestrated by drag queens, and dragged my wife to board game nights. Growing up, I was jealous of kids who had siblings because at least they had someone as a built-in companion, but nurturing friendships in adulthood is teaching me the value of a small but earnest circle. It's not about having people beside me, as I once envied, but about people who will forge the distance, even when it's a plane ride away.

    Watching my friends excitedly become parents affirms my decision not to. It could be tempting to have kids to facilitate the childhood I didn't have, filled with siblings and active parents, but parenting to heal childhood wounds feels misguided and puts the onus on a child who didn't ask to be here. I also don't trust myself to teach someone about the world when I´ve barely figured it out myself.

    My younger self wouldn't believe I´m not only openly gay but married, and she especially wouldn't believe I have people looking out for me, even when they're out of sight.

    Read the original article on Business Insider