Author: openjargon

  • Here’s where I see the Qantas share price ending in FY 2025

    A woman reaches her arms to the sky as a plane flies overhead at sunset.

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price is once again back in focus. This follows a difficult few years for the company, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and ending with a series of headlines that coincided with former CEO Alan Joyce’s departure.

    But 2024 has been a different year for the airline. Since January, the Qantas share price has rallied nearly 16% into the green, bouncing from lows of $5.01 on 6 March to trade at $6.22 apiece before the open on Friday.

    Based on market dynamics and analysts’ insights, I believe Qantas could trade above $8.00 per share by the end of FY 2025. Let me explain.

    Why Qantas shares could be a buy

    After an earnings slump spearheaded by the pandemic, Qantas looks well-primed to grow over the coming years.

    Goldman Sachs recently added the Qantas share price to its “Asia-Pacific conviction list” for June.

    It notes the airline could produce earnings per share (EPS) of 85 cents and 96 cents per share in FY 2024 and FY 2025, respectively. This is “materially ahead” of the 57 cents per share booked in 2019.

    The broker also says Qantas looks undervalued compared to its peers. At the time of writing, it trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 6.7 times versus an average of 9.1 times for its regional and US competitors.

    According to Goldman analyst Niraj Shah, this, and exceptional forecasted earnings growth, place Qantas on the runway for liftoff.

    “Despite a higher fuel price and ongoing customer experience investment, Niraj forecasts [profit before tax] to be 51% above pre-COVID in FY24E and 61% higher in FY25E”, the broker says.

    This uplift reflects the group’s A$1bn+ cost out program (rather than simply elevated yields/unit revenues that are arguably more cyclical). FY25E unit revenue assumptions reflect growth of only 3.0% p.a. vs pre-COVID, based on capacity setting that is largely consistent with pre-COVID levels.

    Goldman has set a target of $8.05 apiece on the Qantas share price, implying a potential upside of 29% from today’s value.

    According to CommSec, 13 out of the 16 brokers covering the airline rate it as a buy, three as a hold, and 11 rate it as a “strong buy.”

    Catalysts for Qantas share price

    I cannot ignore Goldman’s 61% projected growth in pre-tax earnings for the company. But there are other catalysts worth mentioning.

    The broker also suggests three potential tailwinds for the Qantas share price. First, “positive trading updates on operational performance” could be a factor. This reflects things like customer satisfaction, running times, and so forth.

    This year’s annual financial results could also add a thrust of buying power into the stock. Goldman reckons the numbers will show “sustainably” better earnings.

    Finally, it suggests that investors should listen to management’s commentary on FY 2025 and look for any positive takeouts, especially regarding dividends.

    In fact, Qantas has announced an increase in its on-market share buyback by up to $400 million. Over FY 2025-2027, Goldman expects total capital returns of $1.6 billion — including $1.2 billion in dividends. This is a fourth catalyst for its share price, in my view.

    Why Qantas shares are still cheap

    Despite the broader market’s rise, Qantas shares remain attractively valued. Currently trading at a P/E ratio of 6.7, they are significantly cheaper compared to the iShares S&P/ASX 200 Index ETF (ASX: IOZ)’s P/E of 18.

    This tells us investors are paying much less for each dollar of Qantas’ earnings.

    If Qantas hits the projected EPS of 96 cents in FY 2025 and the P/E remains unchanged at 6.7, this implies a price target of $6.80/share (6.7 x 0.96 = $6.80).

    But Goldman believes this multiple will converge to the peer average of 9.1 times, as Qantas delivers “earnings that are sustainably above pre-COVID levels” and potentially returns capital to shareholders. I can’t say I disagree.

    If it does increase to the 9-times multiple and Qantas hits EPS of 96 cents, this implies a value of $8.64 per share (9 x 0.96 = $8.64). I believe the Qantas share price could push to this mark by the end of FY 2025. 

    Promising future for Qantas

    Given the combination of operational efficiency, strong earnings forecasts, and dividend potential, I think Qantas share price has a bright future. Broker estimates support that the Qantas share price could end FY 2025 above $8.00 per share.

    As always – consider your own personal financial circumstances.

    The post Here’s where I see the Qantas share price ending in FY 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Qantas Airways 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 Qantas Airways 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 Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Are CBA shares losing their passive income credentials?

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have long been a favourite among passive income investors.

    That’s because the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank has a stellar record of paying out two fully franked dividends a year. For more than 10 years now.

    With the exception of the final dividend in 2020, which was cut roughly in half in the wake of the global pandemic market meltdown, the dividends delivered by CBA shares have also remained remarkably stable around the $2.00 a share range.

    In 2018 for example, CBA paid an interim dividend of $2.00 a share and a final dividend of $2.31 a share. That equates to a 12-month payout of $4.31 a share.

    Most recently, CBA has paid out a final dividend of $2.40 a share and an interim dividend of $2.15 a share. That equates to a 12-month payout of $4.15 a share.

    Again, with the exception of the pandemic year, you’ll find a similar pattern going back more than a decade.

    Which goes a long way to explain CommBank’s passive income appeal.

    But are CBA shares losing their passive income credentials?

    Tapping CBA shares for passive income

    As we looked at up top, CBA’s dividend payouts remain quite solid.

    In fact, the final dividend of $2.40 per share, which landed in eligible shareholders’ accounts on 28 September, represented a record-high payout.

    But here’s the thing.

    While CommBank’s passive income stream has remained relatively stable over the past 10 years, the CBA share price has not.

    Going back to our 2018 example, the ASX 200 bank stock hit lows of less than $68 a share that year.

    Investors who bought the stock at that level will have earned a fully franked dividend yield of 6.3% that year. And shares bought at that price would have returned a yield of 6.1% this year.

    But with the CBA share price defying bearish forecasts and instead rocketing to new record highs this week, the passive income stream is looking far more muted.

    At time of writing today, CommBank stock has retraced a touch from those record highs to be trading for $124.21 a share.

    That sees the stock trading on a fully franked trailing yield of 3.3%.

    Of course, it’s not all bad news.

    While investors may be earning a significantly lower dividend yield, they have enjoyed some market-beating share price gains.

    The CBA share price has surged 30% over the past 12 months. And that’s not including the $4.15 a share in dividends the ASX 200 bank stock delivered.

    The post Are CBA shares losing their passive income credentials? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia right now?

    Before you buy Commonwealth Bank Of Australia 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 Commonwealth Bank Of Australia 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 Bernd Struben 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.

  • 3 popular ASX ETFs that own Nvidia shares

    Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) shares have been on fire over the last 12 months.

    The graphics processing units (GPU) developer’s shares have risen over 200% during this time.

    This means that you would’ve tripled your money if you had invested this time last year.

    Unfortunately, there isn’t a listing for Nvidia shares on the ASX, so if you want to invest you need to invest through a broker that allows you to buy US stocks.

    But there is a way to gain exposure to Nvidia indirectly. That is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

    But which ASX ETFs allow you to invest in this tech giant? Let’s take a look at three.

    BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    The hugely popular BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF is the most obvious choice for Nvidia exposure.

    It provides investors with easy access to the 100 largest (non-financial) stocks on Wall Street’s famous NASDAQ index.

    At present, Nvidia equates to 8.1% of the ETF. This is a touch behind Microsoft at 8.6% and level with Apple.

    There are also a host of other world class companies included in this ASX ETF. Which helps to explain why it has risen 28% over the last 12 months.

    Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

    Another ASX ETF that allows you to invest indirectly into Nvidia is the Global X Semiconductor ETF.

    This fund seeks to invest in companies that stand to potentially benefit from the broader adoption of tech-enabled devices that require semiconductors. This includes the development and manufacturing of semiconductors.

    Global X notes that the world’s next generation of innovative technology will require semiconductors to power it, putting the 30 companies in this ETF in a strong position for the future.

    Nvidia is far and away the largest holding in the fund with a 13.01% weighting. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturng Co Ltd (NYSE: TSM) is next in line with a weighting of 10.4%.

    This ETF has outperformed with a 58% gain over the last 12 month.

    Betashares Metaverse ETF (ASX: MTAV)

    A final ASX ETF that provides access to Nvidia shares is the Betashares Metaverse ETF.

    It aims to track the performance of an index that provides exposure to a portfolio of leading global companies involved in building, developing and operating the Metaverse.

    Betashares notes that the Metaverse has been described as the next iteration of the internet that seamlessly combines our digital and physical lives.

    Nvidia is the largest holding in the fund with a weighting of 9.5%. Next in line are Meta Platform at 5.6% and Nintendo at 5.4%.

    This ETF is up 36% since this time last year.

    The post 3 popular ASX ETFs that own Nvidia shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf right now?

    Before you buy Betashares Nasdaq 100 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 Nasdaq 100 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

    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 James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Nintendo and 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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • ‘Better outlook’: Goldman just upgraded this ASX tech share

    Smiling man working on his laptop.

    Goldman Sachs has just taken Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) off its “sell list”, upgrading the ASX tech share to a neutral rating.

    The upgrade highlights Dicker Data’s defensive revenues and strong balance sheet, among other points. At the time of writing, shares in the ASX tech player are swapping hands at $9.44 apiece.

    Let’s take a look at why the broker has made its decision.

    Why Goldman upgraded this ASX tech share

    The broker decided to upgraded the ASX tech share from its bearish view to a more neutral stance for three main reasons.

    One, Goldman’s analysis indicates the company’s significant backlog headwinds are expected to ease. It sees this with a potential for a PC market recovery in the second half of 2024.

    Secondly, despite softer revenue, Dicker Data is growing operating margins. The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin increased from 4.4% to 4.8% this year. This is thanks to strategic acquisitions, Goldman says.

    It says the ASX tech share “has executed well” on improving margins in the “volatile revenue environment across 2020-24”. This could help grow earnings per share (EPS) moving forward.

    DDR’s high margins relative to peers, strong balance sheet and tight inventory management place
    the company in a position to capitalise on market share opportunities as they arise.

    Finally, the broker says Dicker Data is now fairly valued relative to distributor peers. It currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20 times. At this valuation, Goldman says the risk-to-reward is “now balanced” for the company.

    Since adding DDR to the Sell list on Jan 28, 2024, [Dicker Data] is down 23% vs ASX300 +1%, with the shares looking fairly valued vs distributor peers at ~19x NTM P/E vs ~23x at the time of downgrade.

    The broker has a price target of $9.85 per share on the ASX tech player, around 4% upside at the time of writing.

    What’s next for Dicker Data?

    Goldman Sachs acknowledges Dicker Data’s challenging near-term revenue environment. The broker adjusted its revenue forecasts downwards for FY 2024/25/26 as “a more realistic assessment” of this.

    The ASX tech share reported FY 2023 sales growth of 5.6% to $3.3 billion. It pulled this to net profit after tax (NPAT) of $82 million, up 12.5% year over year.

    Dicker Data is “tracking flat” on this result, Goldman says, but there could be a tailwind if it sells through inventories this year.

    “As supply chain challenges have resolved, DDR may be able to run down its inventory balance and generate higher free cash flow than expected, taking pressure off the balance sheet”, the firm said.

    The ASX tech share has been heavily sold this year. It’s more than 20% in the red since January. Over the last 12 months, it has held onto a 12% gain.

    The post ‘Better outlook’: Goldman just upgraded this ASX tech share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Dicker Data right now?

    Before you buy Dicker Data 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 Dicker Data 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 Zach Bristow 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 positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 ASX shares with high insider ownership

    Confident male executive dressed in a dark blue suit leans against a doorway with his arms crossed in the corporate office

    As a long-time investor, I consider many factors when analysing ASX shares. I try to understand business models and industries, analyse financial health and valuation, and think about growth potential, competitors, and more.

    Another crucial factor for minority shareholders is high insider ownership. When insiders, such as executives and directors, own a chunk of the company’s shares, their interests align closely with those of smaller shareholders.

    Their personal financial stake in the company’s success often leads to decisions that aim to increase shareholder value.

    With this in mind, here are three ASX companies with significant insider ownership that I recommend considering today.

    Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

    If you’ve recently undertaken bathroom renovations, you may already be familiar with Reece. As a leading Australian distributor of plumbing, waterworks, and bathroom products, Reece has established itself as a go-to source for quality renovation supplies.

    Established in 1920 by H.J. Reece, Reece has grown to become a dominant player in the Australian and New Zealand markets, with a significant presence in the US through its acquisition of MORSCO in 2018.

    In 1969, the Wilson family became majority shareholders in Reece and currently owns at least 359 million shares, representing 55% of the company according to the FY23 annual report.

    Reece’s business model focuses on maintaining a broad product range, efficient supply chain management, and investing in digital transformation to enhance customer experience.

    The company’s revenues have grown from $5.5 billion in FY19 to $8.8 billion in FY23, while net profits after tax (NPAT) have doubled from $202 million to $388 million during the same period.

    Reece is a consistent dividend payer, distributing approximately 38% of its FY23 profits to its shareholders, or 25 cents per share. This is equivalent to a dividend yield of 1% at the current share price.

    Supply Network Ltd (ASX: SNL)

    Supply Network distributes aftermarket parts for commercial vehicles. The company operates through its two main brands: Multispares, which serves Australia, and Globac, which serves New Zealand.

    Supply Network provides a wide range of products, including brake, suspension, and engine components, primarily for the truck and bus industries.

    It boasts a tight-knit, long-serving board, all with significant shareholdings. According to its FY23 annual report, the company’s directors and senior managers own nearly 18 million shares, representing 42% of the company.

    The founder, Greg Forsyth, holds a relevant interest in over 12 million shares, or 28% of the company. He has served as the chairman of the Board since 2010. Managing director and CEO Geoff Stewart has been at the helm since 1999. With an engineering background and more than 30 years of industry experience, he holds around 1.4 million shares.

    With strong backing from insiders, the company’s growth has been impressive. Between FY19 and FY23, its revenue doubled from $123.9 million to $252.3 million, as net profits after tax more than tripled from $8.7 million to $27.4 million. The return on average total equity has been high and growing, reaching 40% in FY23.

    The Supply Network share price is traded on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32x based on its trailing earnings over the 12 months to December 2023.

    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

    Last but not least, Pro Medicus. This is a leading provider of radiology information systems (RIS), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and advanced visualisation solutions across the globe.

    The company excels in the United States, the largest medical imaging market in the world. Between FY18 and FY23, its revenues quadrupled from $34 million to $127 million, driven by successful market penetration in both Australia and the US.

    For instance, the North American region accounted for nearly 80% of its FY23 revenue. Thanks to this remarkable success, its net profits after tax soared from $10 million to $61 million during the same period.

    There are many reasons behind this success story. Pro Medicus capitalised on the medical imaging industry’s shift to digital with its innovative and efficient product offerings, positioning itself as a leader in the market.

    Above all, however, I think having a solid management team with substantial share ownership was one of the important factors.

    As noted in the FY23 annual report, executive key management personnel collectively hold 52.4 million shares, representing 52% of the company. Co-founders Dr Sam Hupert and Anthony Hall maintain a strong influence, each owning 24% of the company.

    Dr Hupert co-founded Pro Medicus in 1983 as he recognised the potential for computers in medicine early on. He served as CEO from the company’s inception until 2007, became an executive director, and resumed his role as CEO in 2010.

    I must admit its current valuation is eye-watering, with a P/E ratio of 184x based on trailing earnings. However, the good news is that the company’s earnings have been growing at an annual rate of 30% to 40% since FY21. If this growth continues, its future P/E ratio will become more reasonable.

    The post 3 ASX shares with high insider ownership appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Pro Medicus 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 Pro Medicus 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 Kate Lee 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 Pro Medicus and Supply Network. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus and Supply Network. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault just put 1 of his sons in charge of an LVMH holding company

    Delphine Arnault with her brothers and Bernard Arnault sit front row at a fashion show
    Alexandre Arnault, Antoine Arnault and Delphine Arnault with their father Bernard.

    • LVMH boss Bernard Arnault is currently the world's richest person. 
    • Arnault has five children — and they all work across LVMH and its brands. 
    • On Friday, Frédéric, one of Arnault's sons, was named head of one of the holding companies that controls LVMH.
    Luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnault is the world's richest person.
    Bernard Arnault

    Bernard Arnault's fourth child has been named head of one of the family's holding companies that control luxury giant LVMH.

    Frédéric Arnault, a 29-year-old, was also appointed to the LVMH board alongside his brother Alexandre in April. Those additions mean four out of Arnault's five children now sit on the LVMH board.

    Arnault is currently the world's richest person with a net worth of about $215 billion, according to estimates by Bloomberg. In 2023, he became only the third person to surpass the $200 billion mark, following tech moguls Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

    Arnault cofounded LVMH in the 1980s and is its CEO and chair. The French luxury conglomerate owns a range of brands covering fashion, perfume, jewelry, watches, and alcohol, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Moët & Chandon, Fenty Beauty, and Tiffany & Co.

    In February 2023, Arnault's daughter, Delphine Arnault, became CEO of Dior. But it's not just Delphine who has risen up LVMH's ranks. All four of Bernard's sons work at LVMH and its brands, too.

    Bernard, 75, has not said who he wants to take over from him, but it's a topic that gets discussed every time he gives one of his offspring a new role. In 2022 LVMH raised the age limit of its CEO from 75 to 80, extending Bernard's possible tenure.

    "The best person inside the family or outside the family should be one day my successor," Bernard told The New York Times in September. "But it's not something that I hope is a duel for the near future."

    Bernard has primed his children for leadership roles at the company since birth, though they say he never forced them to join LVMH. His offspring were sent to the best schools and as children would get quizzed on their math skills nearly every night, The Times reported.

    "I didn't want them to start going to big parties," Bernard said of his children. "I made them work."

    The Arnault family has been compared to HBO series "Succession," which sees the children of media mogul Logan Roy vying to take over as CEO.

    "I know it's disappointing for a lot of people," Antoine Arnault, Bernard's oldest son, told The Times, "but we actually get on well."

    Delphine and Antoine already sit on LVMH's board, leaving only Jean — the youngest of the siblings — off the board.

    His oldest child — and only daughter — is the CEO of Dior.
    Louis Vuitton's executive vice president Delphine Arnault and Owner of LVMH Luxury Group Bernard Arnault attend the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 20, 2019 in Paris, France.

    Delphine, born in 1975, is the eldest of Bernard's five children, and his only daughter.

    She started her career at McKinsey, where she spent two years as a consultant before moving to designer John Galliano's company.

    Delphine worked at Christian Dior Couture as its deputy managing director from 2008 to 2013, before spending a decade as an executive vice president of Louis Vuitton, LVMH's biggest brand.

    She started as the CEO and chair of Dior in February 2023.

    Delphine sits on LVMH's board of directors and is a member of its executive committee — only the second woman to join it, and its youngest member when she joined it at 43.

    Antoine is the CEO of LVMH's parent company.
    Natalia Vodianova and Antoine Arnault attend the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2022 in Paris, France.

    Antoine is Bernard's oldest son, born in 1977. Like Delphine, Antoine was born to Bernard's first wife, Anne Dewavrin.

    Antoine started working at LVMH in 2005 in its advertising department. Two years later, he was appointed director of communications at Louis Vuitton, where he launched campaigns with public figures ranging from Angelina Jolie and Bono to Muhammad Ali and Mikhail Gorbachev.

    In December 2022, Antoine was appointed CEO of Christian Dior SE, the holding company the family uses to control LVMH. He's also the non-executive chair of cashmere label Loro Piana.

    Antoine became an LVMH board member in 2006 and has been the company's head of image and environment since 2018.

    Alexandre became an executive VP at Tiffany & Co. after LVMH bought the jeweler.
    Alexandre Arnault attends as Tiffany & Co. celebrates the launch of the Lock Collection at Sunset Tower Hotel on October 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

    Alexandre was born in 1992, Bernard's first son to his second wife, Helene Mercier, and is an executive vice president at Tiffany & Co.

    After interning in New York at McKinsey and KKR, Alexandre moved to his father's retail empire, where he worked on digital innovation.

    "I was obviously raised to be in the group," Alexandre told The New York Times in 2018, adding that it was ultimately his choice to work at LVMH and that he turned down offers from McKinsey and KKR.

    Alexandre spent about four years as the CEO of German luggage brand Rimowa after reportedly persuading his father to buy an 80% stake in it in 2016. During his time at the helm, he revitalized Rimowa — including launching collaborations with Supreme and Off-White.

    After LVMH bought Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion in 2020, Alexandre became executive vice president of product and communications at the jewelry maker at just 28 years of age.

    Former President Donald Trump said in February 2023 that he had hosted Alexandre and his wife for dinner at Mar-a-Lago. "He is a young man on the move, the son of one of the great businessmen and leaders in Europe, and in the World," Trump wrote of Arnault.

    Frédéric is head of one of the family-holding companies controlling LVMH
    Bernard Arnault (L) poses with his son: TAG Heuer's CEO, (a LVMH parent company) Frederic Arnault next to Louis Vuitton CEO, Mickael Burke (R) at the Louis Vuitton workshop named "L'Abbaye" during its inauguration on February 22, 2022 in Vendome, central France.

    Frédéric, born in 1995, now heads one of the Arnault holding companies that controls LVMH.

    Arnault's fourth child, will replace Nicolas Bazire as managing director of Financière Agache, the company said on Thursday.

    The promotion is the 29-year-old's third this year. In April, he joined the luxury brand's board along with his brother Alexandre and in January, he became the CEO of LVMH watches.

    After interning at McKinsey and at Facebook's AI research unit, and a brief period running a mobile payment startup, Frédéric quickly moved up the ranks at LVMH.

    He joined the company full-time in 2017 as the temporary head of connected technologies at Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer. Just a year later, he became TAG Heuer's director of strategy and digital. In 2020, he was named the brand's CEO at the age of 25. The role involved managing over 2,000 people and starting a "complete transformation" of the company.

    The New York Times reported that Bernard had groomed Frédéric to become TAG Heuer's leader from the start, though this wasn't entirely smooth sailing. Stéphane Bianchi, who was CEO of TAG Heuer before Frédéric and tasked with training his successor, told the newspaper they clashed "everywhere" at the start.

    In his time running the company, Frédéric focused on connected watches, orchestrated a shift from wholesale to retail, grew its e-commerce sales, and negotiated a partnership with Porsche.

    Frédéric was appointed head to a new role running LVMH's watches division in January. In that role, he oversees TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith.

    Bernard's youngest son, Jean, is a director in Louis Vuitton's watches division.
    TAG Heuer CEO Frederic Arnault and Jean Arnault, Louis Vuitton Watches Marketing and Development Director, attend an intimate dinner hosted by TAG Heuer at Ceto Restaurant ahead of the 79th Monaco Grand Prix on May 27, 2022 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.
    Jean Arnault (right) with his brother Frédéric.

    Jean is Bernard's youngest son, born in 1998. He has a master's in financial mathematics from MIT and another in mechanical engineering from Imperial College, London, according to the Financial Times.

    As a student, he interned at both Morgan Stanley and McLaren Racing and had a short stint at a Louis Vuitton retail store in Paris, according to his LinkedIn profile.

    Jean became the marketing and development director of Louis Vuitton's watch division in August 2021 at the age of 23, just months after he graduated. He's now the brand's watches director.

    Jean told the FT that his older brother Frédéric's work at TAG Heuer had sparked his interest in watchmaking.

    "We have a close relationship and he started talking to me about the new watches and all the different things he was working on," Jean said. "I was fascinated. And that's really the turning point."

    Jean told The New York Times in November 2022 that he still turns to his older brother Frédéric for work advice.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • 2 ASX biotech shares that could be the next Telix Pharmaceuticals

    Doctor doing a telemedicine using laptop at a medical clinic

    Looking to invest in an ASX biotech share with the potential to become the next Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)?

    You’re not alone!

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biopharmaceutical company has been going from strength to strength lately.

    Just in the past few weeks, Telix made several announcements that sent the stock soaring.

    First it announced positive results from its ProstACT SELECT clinical cancer trial. And just days later it reported on progress on approval for TLX250-CDx, its kidney cancer imaging agent, with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    So, just how well have shareholders in this ASX biotech share been faring?

    Well, if you’d bought Telix shares one month ago you’d be sitting on a gain of 20% today.

    If you’d bought at the start of 2024, you’d be up 78%.

    And if you’d snapped up the ASX biotech share for a bargain $1.05 a share five years ago, you’d have watched those shares surge 1,606%.

    Or enough to turn a $5,000 investment into $85,300!

    Which bring us to Rory Hunter, portfolio manager of SG Hiscock’s Medical Technology Fund.

    The ASX biotech shares that could mimic Telix’s success

    The SG Hiscock’s Medical Technology Fund will have done well with its Telix Pharmaceuticals holdings.

    According to Hunter (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review):

    We originally took a position [in Telix] back in 2019 and chief executive Christian Behrenbruch has delivered on all stated commercial milestones in a timely manner, which is a feat not often achieved among early stage biotechs.

    Hunter remains moderately bullish on the outlook for the ASX biotech share. But he noted that in the case of this ASX biotech share, “The easy money has been made.”

    And he cautioned that “investors will need to stomach some volatility” with the Telix share price moving forward.

    Though, as you can see on the price chart up top, that’s something long-term shareholders in this ASX biotech share should already be well-familiar with.

    When asked which stocks his fund holds that have the same explosive potential as Telix or Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU), Hunter pointed to Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6) and Dimerix Ltd (ASX: DXB).

    He noted that Clarity Pharmaceuticals could replicate “Telix’s success in radiotheranostics”. While Dimerix could replicate “Neuren’s success in rare diseases”.

    He added that with “assets in late-stage development”, Dimerix was a potential M&A target.

    Clarity, Hunter added, could also become a potential takeover target for its “exciting and compelling early-stage data”.

    The Clarity share price is already up a whopping 575% over 12 months.

    The Dimerix share price has run even hotter. The ASX biotech share is up 817% over 12 months.

    The post 2 ASX biotech shares that could be the next Telix Pharmaceuticals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 3 lower-risk ASX dividend shares for retirees

    A mature age woman with a groovy short haircut and glasses, sits at her computer, pen in hand thinking about information she is seeing on the screen.

    ASX dividend shares that generate relatively stable profits may deliver more consistent investment income than the broader ASX share market, which could appeal to retirees.

    If I were in retirement, I’d want to own stocks that are more likely to continue delivering dividends, even during a downturn. Life expenses continue regardless of what’s happening with the economy.

    With that in mind, I think the three ASX shares below are candidates for passive income.

    Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

    Metcash has three divisions – food, liquor and hardware.

    With the food division, it supplies IGA supermarkets around the country, and it recently acquired a food distribution business that supplies business customers like cafes, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and so on.

    The liquor division supplies various independent liquor chains, such as Cellarbrations, The Bottle-O, IGA Liquor, Porters Liquor, Thirsty Camel, and Duncans.

    I believe the food and liquor segments can provide defensive earnings with largely consistent demand.

    Its hardware division includes several businesses, including Mitre 10, Home Timber & Hardware and Total Tools. Australia’s growing population helps drive long-term demand for hardware.

    The business is committed to a dividend payout ratio of 70% of underlying net profit after tax (NPAT). According to Commsec, the ASX dividend share is predicted to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.8% in FY25.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    This business owns various leading retailers, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Priceline and Target.

    Wesfarmers’ biggest profit generators – Bunnings and Kmart – are very well suited to capture market share in the current economic conditions because of their focus on providing customers with value for household products.

    The company is investing in new industries, such as healthcare and lithium, that can help diversify and grow Wesfarmers’ earnings for retirees (and all other shareholders).

    One of Wesfarmers’ aims is to grow its dividend over time, and it has delivered that since the onset of COVID-19. The FY24 half-year dividend was hiked by 3.4% to 91 cents per share, and the Commsec projection suggests a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.5% for FY25.  

    APA Group (ASX: APA)

    APA owns vast gas pipelines around Australia that transport half of the nation’s gas usage. It also owns other gas-related assets, including gas-powered energy generation. APA has a growing portfolio of renewable energy (solar and wind) and electricity transmission assets.

    It has grown its distribution every year since 2004, giving it one of the longest growth streaks on the ASX. The ASX dividend share’s cash flow is increasing over time as more pipelines and other assets are completed or acquired.

    APA has guided its payout will be 56 cents per security, which translates into a distribution yield of 6.5%.

    The post 3 lower-risk ASX dividend shares for retirees appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • We gave our daughter $20,000 for a wedding, but she used it for a home down payment and paid for her own wedding. Everyone was happy.

    Wedding
    Mike's daughter spent the money he gave her on a down payment and later paid for her own wedding (not picture here).

    • A couple in Kansas City gave their daughter a lump-sum of $20,000 to spend on her wedding.
    • Instead, she spent the money on buying a home, and she and her fiancé paid for their own wedding.
    • Mike said it all worked out and that he thinks his daughter learned about budgeting in the process.

    When Mike's daughter got engaged, he and his wife wanted to help pay for it.

    Mike, who asked Business Insider to only use his first name for privacy reasons, estimated that a wedding in the Kansas City area would cost between $15,000 and $25,000 at the time, which was around 2015.

    Mike and his wife decided they could put $20,000 towards the wedding, but they knew wedding spending can get out of hand and that emotions tend to run high during the planning process.

    So instead of working closely with their daughter on her wedding plans and talking through each potential cost, they came up with a straightforward solution: give her and her fiancé a lump sum of $20,000 and let them do all the planning.

    "I didn't want to be telling my daughter what she could and couldn't do," he said. "She was an adult."

    Mike said the strategy took the pressure off him and his wife and helped avoid any wrestling over who was buying what or what his daughter could and could not have at her own wedding. He also said it helped him and his wife contribute the amount they wanted without going over budget by adding on things here and there.

    In 2023, the national average cost of a wedding was $35,000, according to The Knot, while the average cost in Kansas was $25,000. Still, most couples end up going over their budget. A Real Weddings Study by The Knot found 56% of couple spent an average of $7,600 more on their wedding than they planned. Others exceeded their budget by more than $10,000.

    While tradition typically has the bride's family primarily paying for a wedding, those customs are changing, especially as Americans get married later in life and are more able to take on their own wedding costs. A 2023 study from The Knot found it's more common for couples and their families to split the costs equally.

    Mike, his wife, their daughter, and her fiancé were all happy with the lump-sum agreement.

    "Then they kind of tricked me," he said, laughing. "One day, they came home and said, 'Hey, we bought a house.'"

    The couple took the $20,000 and used it to put a down payment on their home — before they actually had their wedding, which they then planned to pay for out of their own pocket.

    Initially, Mike was surprised, but ultimately, he thought it was a good thing that his daughter and her fiancé paid for their own wedding.

    "If kids are not given carte blanche on wedding plans, if they're forced to budget from their own standpoint, the whole thing just doesn't get out of hand," he said.

    The couple held the wedding at the rose garden in Loose Park, a large public park in Kansas City, and at a popular reception hall. Mike said everything about the wedding seemed reasonable but that he never learned what they ended up spending.

    "I never asked," he said.

    If the couple had used the money for a down payment and then eloped, Mike said that may have bothered him. But as long as he and his wife were still able to attend their daughter's wedding, they were happy.

    "I figured I got off for a reasonable amount of money for the wedding, and they got a down payment on a house out of the deal and a wedding," he said.

    Mike said he thinks too many people get caught up on the lavish weddings they see on TikTok, but that it can take away from the "whole point of having a wedding, which is to have a marriage."

    He also said that he thinks by helping them learn how to budget their money for a wedding, it was also a good step towards learning how to budget in a marriage.

    Mike's wife did end up giving their daughter a bit more money in the end, which he thinks was for something having to do with her dress.

    "She snuck it in," he said, laughing. "She couldn't resist."

    Have a news tip or a story to share about the costs of throwing a wedding or being in a bridal party? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Parents are spending hundreds to have other people prep and pack their kids for summer camps that cost upward of $15,000

    Kids walk to their cabins at summer camp
    Summer camp these days can run families thousands of dollars.

    • Summer camp costs these days start long before little ones leave home, The Wall Street Journal reported. 
    • Some families with disposable income are shelling out for pre-camp packing services.
    • Others are using laundry services to outsource the post-camp unpacking haul.

    The cost of sleep-away camp — like nearly everything else these days — is on the up and up.

    But the staggering $15,000 price tag on some elite summer camps doesn't account for the hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars parents are now paying to prep and pack their kids beforehand, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.

    Some families are opting to outsource the pre-camp headache of checking off their children's packing list and the post-camp slog of sorting through laundry, The Journal reported this week.

    Camp costs these days start racking up long before the little ones hit the canoes. Many camps send out detailed packing lists, some of which include more than 100 items that parents are encouraged to procure for their campers, the outlet reported.

    Last year, a mother of two wrote for Business Insider about the massive summer camp packing list that ran her nearly $5,000 after she secured the recommended 15 pairs of shorts, 15 shirts, 16 pairs of socks and underwear, multiple pairs of shoes, several towels and swimsuits, various jacket options, and two sheet-sets per kid.  

    Some camps go even further, suggesting kids come with brand-name camp chairs, decorative pillows, and outfits in multiple color options for end-of-camp "Color Wars," according to The Journal.

    Oh, and everything a child brings to camp in 2024 should be labeled or monogrammed. Duh.

    For many families with disposable income, outsourcing is the solution

    Beth Leffel, a Boca Raton mother, turned to Denny's, a children's boutique with stores in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, the first summer she sent her daughter to camp, she told The Journal.

    The boutique boasts personal shoppers who work one-on-one with families, going item by item on each packing list to supply the necessary goods. Spencer Klein, whose family owns the business, told the outlet that the average first-time camper spends anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 at Denny's.

    After dropping about $2,000 at Denny's and $250 at Party City the first year, Lefell told the outlet she now searches for deals and dupes of more expensive items.

    summer camp

    Natalie Liberman, another Boca Raton-based mom, told The New York Post last year that she spent nearly $5,000 making sure her seven-year-old daughter was set with rainbow merch and monogrammed clothing items ahead of summer camp. 

    Personalized camp wares are the new status symbols, and influencers and online retailers have wasted no time capitalizing on the new trend, the outlet reported in June 2023. 

    Jody Geller, a Florida mother of two, started an online store in 2018 where she customizes camp gear, including $86 pillows and $38 water bottles. Geller told the Post she often has orders that exceed $1,000. 

    The services don't stop there

    Once the required items have been procured, some parents call in professional organizers to finish the packing ordeal.

    Dara Grandis, a mother of three in Manhattan, hired Meryl Bash, a professional organizer, to get her kids' luggage ready for seven weeks away at summer camp, she told The Journal.

    Bash offers an array of camp-related services, including making sure everything on the packing list is included, weeding out last year's clothes that no longer fit, and supplying packing tape, storage cubes, and bags, according to the newspaper. Bash charges $125 per hour for packing days, plus $100 per hour for an extra packer, The Journal reported.

    Once the summer is over and young campers make their way back home, some families opt to outsource the post-camp laundry haul, as well, turning to businesses like First Class Laundry Services in West Palm Beach, Florida.

    For $225 per trunk, the laundry company will pick up a camper's luggage, wash and fold everything inside, and return the clean goods to parents' front door, The Journal reported.

    Are you sending your kids to summer camp this year? We'd love to hear from you about the costs and process. Contact reporter Erin Snodgrass at esnodgrass@insider.com to share your stories.

    Read the original article on Business Insider