Author: openjargon

  • Even Kamala Harris acknowledged that Biden’s debate performance was rough

    Vice President Kamala Harris at an event on Thursday
    "It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone," Kamala Harris said on CNN after the debate.

    • Joe Biden flailed in his first debate against Donald Trump.
    • It was so bad that even Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged it.
    • "It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone," she said on CNN.

    Even Vice President Kamala Harris said Joe Biden's first debate against Donald Trump went poorly for him.

    "Yes there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish," Harris said at the beginning of an interview with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper following the debate.

    Pressed later on whether she was concerned, Harris reiterated the point: "It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice of November."

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

    On the whole, Harris sought to downplay the significance of the performance. She pivoted repeatedly toward emphasizing the Biden administration's record and talking up Trump's anti-democratic comments and opposition to abortion rights.

    "I understand why everyone wants to talk about it," Harris said of Biden's performance. "But I think it's also important to recognize that the choice in November between these two people that were on the debate stage involves extraordinary stakes."

    The vice president is among several Democrats who could plausibly replace Biden as the party's presidential nominee, should he choose to step aside.

    Many Democrats are in a state of panic after Thursday night's debate, where Biden appeared frail and frequently made nonsensical comments.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • These were 3 of the worst-performing ASX 200 stocks in June. Time to buy the dip?

    a mine worker holds his phone in one hand and a tablet in the other as he stands in front of heavy machinery at a mine site.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks, taken together, moved higher in June.

    In afternoon trade on Friday, with just hours left before the ASX closes shop for the month, the benchmark index is up 1.4% since the closing bell rang on 31 May.

    But not all companies joined in the move higher.

    Below we look at three ASX 200 stocks that tumbled as much as 23% over the month almost past.

    We note that all three have a common factor, and we ponder whether after June’s big falls they may now present good value.

    Three ASX 200 stocks falling hard in June

    The third worst performer on our list is ASX 200 lithium stock Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS).

    The Pilbara Minerals share price is down 3.1% in intraday trade today at $3.16 a share. The lithium miner closed out May trading at $3.79 a share, which sees the stock down 16.6% in June.

    The only price-sensitive news out from the miner came on 21 June.

    Pilbara updated the market on its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for expanded production at its Pilgangoora project. The PFS revealed that production capacity at Pilgangoora could increase to more than two million tonnes a year.

    But the ASX 200 stock closed the day down 2.8% on the news. That may be due to the estimated $1.2 billion price tag for a new whole of ore flotation plant required for the expansion.

    Moving on to the second worst ASX 200 stock performer on our list for June, we have lithium miner IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO).

    The IGO share price is down 1.2% in intraday trade on Friday at $5.80. The stock closed out May trading for $6.99, which sees the IGO share price down 17.0% over the month.

    The only price-sensitive news announced from the miner in June involved gold, not lithium.

    On 21 June, IGO reported on the legal action being taken by South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) regarding disputed royalty payments from the Tropicana Gold Mine, located in Western Australia. IGO denies it has any royalty obligations to South32.

    Which brings us to the worst ASX 200 stock performer on our list for June, Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN).

    The diversified mining services company has mining operations primarily focused on lithium and iron ore. Mineral Resources holds a direct interest in two Western Australian lithium mines, Mount Marion and Wodgina.

    Did you catch the common thread yet?

    The Mineral Resources share price is down 0.7% in intraday trade today at $55.53. Shares closed out May trading for $71.66 apiece, which sees the mining stock down 22.5% for the month.

    Atop being pressured by tumbling lithium prices, as with the two ASX 200 stocks above, Mineral Resources also didn’t get any help from the 9% retrace in the iron ore price in June.

    On 20 June, the miner reported it would stop shipping iron ore from its Yilgarn Hub iron ore operation in Western Australia. With management determining the project is no longer financially viable, shipments will cease by the end of the year. The Mineral Resources share price closed down 1.0% on the day.

    Time to buy the dip?

    After June’s big falls for these ASX 200 stocks, it may be tempting to go bargain hunting.

    But buyer beware.

    I’d steer away from both IGO and Pilbara for the time being, with lithium prices widely forecast for more falls ahead.

    June saw the price of the battery-critical metal tumble some 15%, currently trading near three-year lows of US$12,000 a tonne.

    And the analysts at Citi expect the lithium price has further to fall before finding support. Pointing to building global inventories, the broker believes we “should see lithium prices fall another 15% to 20% to $US10,000 a tonne” over the next three to six months.

    As for Mineral Resources, the ASX 200 stock has significant revenue potential outside of the lithium space. And with that diversity in mind, I’m in line to agree with the analysts at Bell Potter and say June’s big share price retrace could present a good ‘buy the dip‘ opportunity.

    Bell Potter recently reaffirmed its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares with an $84.00 price target. That’s some 50% above current levels.

    According to the broker:

    Mineral Resources completes everything from engineering, to construction, to all aspects of operations in-house.

    Our buy view is underpinned by MIN’s earnings diversification, strong insider ownership, clearly articulated strategies, expertise in contracting and internal growth options at Onslow as well as potential lithium expansions including into downstream.

    The post These were 3 of the worst-performing ASX 200 stocks in June. Time to buy the dip? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Igo 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 Igo 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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.

  • Why Delta Lithium, IAG, Mirvac, and Suncorp shares are climbing today

    a man looks down at his phone with a look of happy surprise on his face as though he is thrilled with good news.

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decent gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.35% to 7,786.2 points.

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

    Delta Lithium Ltd (ASX: DLI)

    The Delta share price is up 13% to 26 cents. Investors have been buying this lithium explorer’s shares after it released an update on its 100% owned Mt Ida Project in Western Australia. That update revealed that the company has discovered a significant gold deposit, not lithium. Management revealed that its mineral resource estimate for gold at Mt Ida (inferred and indicated) is now 6.6Mt @ 3.5 g/t Au for 752,000 ounces. Delta Lithium’s managing director, James Croser, said: “This is a wonderful result for Delta shareholders, reaffirming our long-held belief that the gold system at Mt Ida has significant scale and upside.”

    Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

    The Insurance Australia Group share price is up almost 7% to $7.11. This morning, this insurance giant released an update and reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2024. In respect to the latter, its reported insurance profit and margin are on track to be around the upper end of guidance ranges. In addition, IAG announced that it has purchased reinsurance protection to mitigate natural perils volatility for the next five years, alongside securing adverse development protection for its $2.5 billion long-tail reserves. IAG CEO Nick Hawkins said: “Today’s announcement is an important milestone in our strategy to create a stronger, more resilient IAG.”

    Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

    The Mirvac Group share price is up 4% to $1.88. This follows the release a trading update from the property company this morning. Mirvac reaffirmed its guidance for operating earnings per share of 14 cents to 14.3 cents in FY 2024 and a distribution per share of 10.5 cents. In addition, Mirvac revealed that it has delivered on its ~$1 billion asset sales program. This includes 367 Collins Street, Melbourne (exchanged and deposit received), with settlement expected in July 2024.

    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

    The Suncorp share price is up 3.5% to $17.41. This has been driven by news that ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has received a major boost in its quest to acquire Suncorp Bank for $4.9 billion. The Federal Treasurer has approved the proposed acquisition, paving the way for the deal to complete in July. Suncorp Group’s chairman, Christine McLoughlin, said: “The Suncorp Group Board remains committed to returning to shareholders the majority of net proceeds following completion of the sale.”

    The post Why Delta Lithium, IAG, Mirvac, and Suncorp shares are climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Australia And New Zealand Banking Group right now?

    Before you buy Australia And New Zealand Banking Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Australia And New Zealand Banking Group wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 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 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.

  • The CBA share price trounced the benchmark again in June! Here’s how

    A woman wearing yellow smiles and drinks coffee while on laptop.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is marching higher on this last trading day of June.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday at $126.20. As we head into the lunch hour on Friday, shares are swapping hands for $126.46 apiece, up 0.21%.

    Looking to last month, CommBank stock ended May trading for $119.53 a share.

    With only half a day of trade left in this month, that sees the CBA share price up 5.78% in June.

    For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.2% over this same period.

    Here’s what’s been happening with Australia’s biggest bank stock.

    CBA share price keeps on giving in June

    The CBA share price once more defied a chorus of bearish analysts who’ve labelled the big four bank as overvalued and recommended investors sell. Indeed, at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.12 times, CBA shares trade at the highest valuation of any of the ASX 200 bank stocks.

    But we hope you didn’t take their advice.

    Investor support comes in part because the FY 2025 stage 3 tax cuts and other government cost-of-living relief measures have mitigated concerns over rising bad loans and potentially fuelled more consumer and business borrowing.

    This bullish assessment helped the CBA share price notch a series of record highs in June, most recently on Tuesday the 25th.

    Slipping yields

    The downside of the fast-rising CBA share price, at least for passive income-focused investors, is the lower accompanying dividend yields.

    CommBank has long been favoured by passive income investors for its reliable, twice-yearly, fully franked dividend payouts.

    While those payouts have held up over the years, the yield has come to be significantly higher amid the soaring share price.

    For example, in 2018, investors could have bought CBA shares for $68 apiece and earned a fully franked yield of 6.3%.

    Today, with the CBA share price defying bearish forecasts to soar to $126.46, CommBank stock trades on a dividend yield of 3.6%.

    Almost the biggest company again

    With another strong share price rally in June, CBA closed the gap with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) to retake the crown of the biggest company on the ASX.

    BHP grabbed that title from CBA in November 2021. That came amid a massive iron ore rally, which saw the iron ore price top US$200 per tonne.

    But with BHP’s share price dropping 3.22% in June (at the time of writing), the race for that title is heating up.

    As its stands heading into July, CBA has a market cap of $211.77 billion compared to BHP’s market cap of $218.43 billion.

    The post The CBA share price trounced the benchmark again in June! Here’s how 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 24 June 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.

  • Judge will consider $6 billion legal fees for lawyers who voided Elon Musk’s multibillion pay package

    Elon Musk clasping his hands together.
    Tesla shareholders recently voted to ratify Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package. But the fate of Musk's award still lies in the hands of a Delaware judge.

    • Lawyers who argued against Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package asked for $6 billion in fees.
    • Tesla shareholders voted to re-approve Elon Musk's massive multibillion-dollar pay package.
    • A Delaware judge said she'll consider the attorney fees regardless of the shareholder vote.

    A Delaware judge still wants to consider a $6-billion request in legal fees from lawyers who shot down Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package at Tesla regardless of the recent shareholder vote, court documents show.

    In January, Chancellor Kathleen McCormick of the Delaware Chancery Court ruled against Elon Musk's pay package that would've awarded the Tesla CEO more than $55 billion in stock at the time.

    "The process leading to the approval of Musk's compensation plan was deeply flawed," McCormick wrote in her ruling, pointing to a conflict of interest at Tesla's board, which decides the pay plan and includes Musk's brother as a member.

    With the outcome, lawyers representing Richard Tornetta, the Tesla shareholder who objected to the compensation plan, argued that they provided a valuable service in getting Musk's package rescinded. That value? About $6 billion worth of Tesla shares.

    Musk, at the time, called the request "criminal."

    But Musk received some good news in June after shareholders voted to re-approve the CEO's pay package and maintain the current board structure with Kimbal and James Murdoch.

    The vote doesn't immediately reinstate his pay plan, but it gives an additional boost to Tesla's attorneys' arguments.

    Accordingly, Tesla's defense team filed a motion on June 20 that argued the shareholder's ratification vote vindicates Musk's stock options award.

    "Defendants contend that the consequences of the Ratification alter the course of this litigation and any relief that is potentially available (and relatedly, any attorneys' fees that may be awarded to Plaintiff's Counsel)," Tesla's attorneys wrote.

    Chancellor McCormick will have to decide on the fate of the package and whether the plaintiff's attorneys do deserve about $6 billion in legal fees.

    In response to Tesla's defense team's motion, McCormick wrote in a filing that she wants to hold a hearing on the legal fees without considering the shareholder vote since a separate meeting will be held to consider the impact of that vote.

    "Given that we will hold a separate oral argument devoted solely to the questions raised by the stockholder vote, for the purposes of the July 8 hearing, the parties are instructed to argue the points at issue without regard to the stockholder vote," McCormick wrote. "All arguments concerning the stockholder vote will be deemed preserved."

    James Park, a securities regulation expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Business Insider that the impact of the shareholder vote is crucial to consider the overall value of the litigation that struck down the pay in the first place.

    "My only thought is that the defendant is correct that it would be difficult to evaluate the benefit of the litigation, which is necessary to evaluate the fee request, without considering the impact of the shareholder ratification vote," he wrote in an email.

    Park said that McCormick's response likely indicates that she's "preserving her options."

    Attorneys for Tesla and Tornetta, the plaintiff, did not respond to a request for comment.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Democrats are freaking out after Biden’s debate performance

    Joe Biden stands on stage during the first 2024 presidential debate
    President Joe Biden got his wish for an early debate. He may come to regret it.

    • President Joe Biden struggled in the first debate of 2024.
    • Biden pushed for the earliest major debate in history.
    • After the president's performance, concerns about his age are going to come roaring back.

    President Joe Biden wanted the earliest major presidential debate in history. He pushed for an empty room, muted mics, and Fox News on the sideline. He got everything he desired. Democrats are fuming after his disastrous performance.

    At best, Biden fumbled a chance to jolt his campaign that is within shouting distance in some key battleground states but has little room for error. At worst, his raspy voice and rambling answers may be the final meaningful words of a president who warns that if he loses to former President Donald Trump that the American experiment as we know it will cease.

    Major Democrats helped ensure that Biden avoided any serious primary challenge. No recent incumbent president has debate primary challengers. But no recent incumbent was also the oldest president in the nation's history. And in Biden's own view, no challenger posed such a fundamental risk to the nation as Trump.

    One former White House aide told Politico that Biden's performance was "terrible."

    Special counsel Robert Hur ripped the Band-Aid off when he said that he decided not to charge Biden because a jury would find the nation's leader to be a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." Biden quieted some of those doubts with a rousing State of the Union that repeatedly tore into predecessor in everything but his name.

    But as Thursday's debate unfolded, those doubts came roaring back.

    "There's no way I'd send my boss out on national TV in that condition," Michael Hardaway, a former aide to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X. "There's 0 upside to Joe Biden doing any of these."

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    Quentin James, a co-founder of the Collective PAC, an organization dedicated to Black voters, told The New York Times that he was surprised at how bad Biden's voice was.

    "Compared to the State of the Union and on the campaign trail, I'm wondering if they did too much debate prep," James, who is supportive of Biden, told The Times. "There's very little range. Him being hoarse is hurting his performance."

    Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang also weighed in on X near the end of the debate. "Guys, the Dems should nominate someone else – before it's too late. #swapJoeout," he wrote.

    Multiple outlets reported that Biden had a cold, but as Politico Playbook author Eugene Daniels pointed out the president's illness wasn't mentioned before the debate.

    Biden relishes in being counted out. He even spoke to Hur about President Obama didn't think he would be the best Democrat to run in 2016. Obama's former campaign manager David Plouffe reportedly cautioned Biden that he didn't want to end his decades-long career in public service with a distant finish in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.

    Biden got the last laugh, incredibly overcoming a terrible finish in the Iowa caucuses to win not just the Democratic nomination but the presidency itself.

    A different Obama aide, David Axelrod, reportedly got under Biden's skin this year after expressing concerns about the president's age. There will now likely Democrats that say he should have listened.

    But it won't be a bad caucus result that does him in. It may just be a terrible debate in a mostly empty room on Georgia Tech's campus.

    Biden was already saddled with a horrendous approval rating. Now, more stories about his biggest vulnerability, his age, are almost certainly coming.

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    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • What percentage of GYG shares are owned by the company founders?

    Modern accountant woman in a light business suit in modern green office with documents and laptop.

    Well, Guzman y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares’ first week on the ASX has been… interesting. Upon an explosive initial public offering (IPO) last Thursday, GYG shares rocketed well above their $22 IPO price to reach $30.99 soon after. 

    But the rest of Guzman’s first week on the ASX was more muted. Over Friday and Monday’s session, the company steadily lost value, only to see a bump back up over the past few trading days. Well, until today, that is.

    GYG shares are having an awful end to the trading week so far this Friday, currently nursing a loss of 3.41%, down to $28.64 a share at the time of writing.

    So a wild and woolly first week for Guzman y Gomez on the ASX. Check out the shares’ performance for yourself below:

    But enough on that.

    Guzman insiders take advantage of IPO

    Today, let’s take stock of GYG shares and how much of this company is still owned by its founders.

    So Guzman y Gomez was founded by two people back in 2006: Steven Marks and Robert Hazan. Today, Marks remains Guzman’s co-CEO alongside Hilton Brett. Hazan no longer plays an active leadership role at Guzman, but still retains a significant ownership stake in the business.

    As my Fool colleague Tristan covered earlier this week, many of Guzman’s early-stage investors have taken the opportunity of the company’s IPO to sell down their stakes in the company. Those include the company’s chair, Guy Russo, as well as TDM Growth co-CEO Hilton Brett and director Bruce Buchanan.

    However, the holdings of several of GYG’s largest shareholders, including those of Marks, are still under voluntary escrow. This ensures that 25% of these investors’ holdings are under escrow until the company releases its first half-yearly results. The remaining 75% of these investors’ holdings will be locked up until Guzman’s full-year results for the 2025 financial year are released.

    However, this escrow has not stopped Marks from offloading some of his GYG options. On 24 June, an ASX filing showed that Marks bagged around $8.1 million after converting 403,750 options into shares and selling them.

    How many GYG shares are still owned by its founders?

    But let’s get down to business.

    So according to that filing, Marks retains 2.074 million GYG options. He also directly owns 1,212,000 GYG shares. In addition, Marks indirectly owns another 7,602,000 shares through both a family trust and a super fund. All up, that’s 8,814,000 shares to Marks’ name. Guzman has 101,352,914 outstanding shares in total, meaning Marks retains an approximate 8.7% stake in Guzman y Gomez today.

    But what about the other co-founder, Robert Hazan?

    Hazan doesn’t appear to have changed his stake in the company post-IPO. That means he still retains 4,527,500 shares indirectly through his family company RBH Ltd. That equates to a 4.47% stake in Guzman y Gomez.

    At the current share price, Marks’ stake in Guzman y Gomez would be valued at $252.43 million. Hazan, meanwhile, is sitting on a $129.67 million fortune.

    The post What percentage of GYG shares are owned by the company founders? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Guzman Y Gomez right now?

    Before you buy Guzman Y Gomez 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 Guzman Y Gomez 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 24 June 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.

  • These 3 ASX shares have unstoppable dividend growth

    When it comes to investing in ASX dividend shares, looking at a company’s income track record is one of the first things I do. A company’s management can tell us all sorts of things about how strong its business model is or how exciting its growth potential might be.

    But when the rubber hits the road, actions usually speak louder than words. And if a company has shown the financial strength to deliver a consistently growing dividend over a long period of time, it usually indicates that it is doing something right.

    So with that in mind, today, let’s discuss three ASX shares that have demonstrated a seemingly unstoppable dividend growth streak over recent years.

    3 ASX shares with unstoppable dividend growth streaks

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

    Logistics software company Wisetech Global first burst onto the ASX scene as a popular tech growth stock. But as the old ‘WAAAX’ group faded into obscurity, this company has continued to scale new heights as an ASX dividend share. Most investors might know Wisetech for its stellar share price growth. The Wisetech share price is up more than 90% since the start of 2023 after all.

    But what many Wisetech fans might not know is that this company has been building up an impressive streak of dividend pay rises.

    Wisetech made its first dividend payment to shareholders back in 2017, forking out an annual 2.2 cents per share. But by 2023, this had grown (every year) to 15 cents per share – a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.7%.

    2024’s interim dividend of 7.7 cents was also a big improvement on the 6.6 cents per share investors enjoyed in 2023. So it looks as though Wisetech’s streak is set to continue.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    Next up, we have another tech stock in TechnologyOne. This enterprise software share also has an impressive, but little-known dividend track record.

    Again, this may escape the notice of investors too busy looking at this ASX dividend share’s stellar stock price performance. After all, TechnologyOne shares have risen by a whopping 136% over the past five years.

    Back in 2014, this company forked out an annual total of 6.2 cents per share in dividend payments. But by 2023, this had grown to 19.5 cents per share (a CAGR of 13.58%) after a clockwork-like annual dividend pay rise every single year.

    That’s well over TechnologyOne’s stated goal of increasing its dividends by 8-10% per annum.

    Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

    Last but certainly not least, we have ASX 200 investing house and dividend share Washington H. Soul Pattinson, or Soul Patts for short. Much like a listed investment company (LIC), Soul Patts isn’t your typical ASX share. Instead of selling a good or service, this company manages a portfolio of underlying assets on behalf of its shareholders.

    These assets include a huge portfolio of blue-chip shares, as well as significant chunks of a select group of companies. These include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) and Brickworks Ltd (ASX: BKW). Soul Patts’ investment portfolio also houses other assets like unlisted businesses and private credit.

    Soul Patts has the most impressive dividend streak on the ASX, with no exception. This company has paid out a dividend every single year for more than a century, for one. But it has also delivered a dividend pay rise to investors for 24 years and counting.

    In 2017, Soul Patts forked out an annual total of 54 cents per share. But by 2023, this had grown to 87 cents – representing a CAGR of 8.27%.

    This record alone speaks for itself.

    The post These 3 ASX shares have unstoppable dividend growth 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in 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, Technology One, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why Abacus, Bannerman Energy, Immutep, and Pilbara Minerals shares are falling today

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a better session on Friday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up a solid 0.65% to 7,811.1 points.

    Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

    Abacus Group (ASX: ABG)

    The Abacus share price is down 3% to $1.15. This has been driven by the commercial property company’s shares going ex-dividend this morning for its upcoming final dividend. Last week, the company declared a 4.3 cents per share unfranked dividend. This brought its total dividends for FY 2024 to 8.6 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this final dividend in a couple of months on 30 August.

    Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN)

    The Bannerman Energy share price is down 9% to $3.26. This ASX uranium stock is falling today after it received firm commitments for a two-tranche placement of approximately 25.8 million new shares to new and existing institutional and sophisticated investors. Bannerman Energy advised that these funds were raised at a 7.8% discount of $3.30 per new share, which will raise gross proceeds of approximately $85 million. The funds raised from the placement will be applied towards the development of the Etango-8 Project in the Erongo Region of Namibia.

    Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM)

    The Immutep share price is down a further 9% to 30.5 cents. Investors have been selling this clinical-stage biotechnology company’s shares since the release of topline results from the TACTI-003 Phase IIb Trial on Thursday. Immutep’s trial is evaluating eftilagimod alfa (efti) in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients (1L HNSCC). Although the company reported positive results, it didn’t include a p-value with them. This decision seems to have left investors fearing that the results were not statistically significant.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The Pilbara Minerals share price is down 3% to $3.16. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner today. However, it is worth noting that ASX lithium stocks have been rebounding this week. Today’s decline could have been driven by profit taking from some investors. Especially after lithium miners on Wall Street tumbled into the red during overnight trade. Pilbara Minerals’ shares are down by a disappointing 33% since this time last year amid concerns over falling lithium prices.

    The post Why Abacus, Bannerman Energy, Immutep, and Pilbara Minerals shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Abacus Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Abacus Group wasn’t one of them.

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

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

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 5 potentially cheap ASX shares being bought by insiders

    Two excited woman pointing out a bargain opportunity on a laptop.

    Insider buying often signals confidence in a company’s future, and a few cheap ASX shares have caught investor attention recently due to notable insider activity.

    This kind of buying activity can be a strong indicator of growth potential – especially when it comes from those with deep knowledge of the business. While each of these shares discussed here has faced recent challenges, the recent insider purchase could signal this belief.

    Here’s a look at these five cheap ASX shares being bought by insiders this week.

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    IDP Education has been facing headwinds, with its share price down 23% in 2024 and 37% over the past year. Changes to student visa rules have disrupted the student placement and education company’s key markets.

    Despite this, non-executive director Tracey Horton bought 1,300 shares on 7 June for around $15.15 each.

    Further, Citigroup also purchased around 3.27 million IDP shares in June, bringing its stake to more than 18.87 million shares, or 6.77% voting power.

    Currently, the seemingly cheap ASX share is valued at $15.37 apiece, having climbed 3% into the green so far this week.

    Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

    Deterra Royalties recently experienced a 10% drop after announcing a significant acquisition in the lithium sector.

    The company noted it made a $276 million offer to UK company Trident Royalties Plc in June, equal to roughly 93 cents per share.

    Despite the initial market reaction, the company’s shift towards green metals looks like it’s being viewed favourably by institutional investors.

    Mandatory filings show The Vanguard Group starting an initial position in Deterra, purchasing 26.59 million shares of the company through its various entities.

    This sees it owning 5.029% of the company as of 21 June 2024. The cheap ASX share is priced at $4.02 each at the time of writing.

    BUBS Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

    Bubs Australia has been in the headlines following strong sales growth in the United States. According to my colleague Bernd, Bubs’ weekly scan revenues have surpassed US$1 million, and the company has become the top-selling infant formula product on Amazon USA.

    CEO Reginald Weine is optimistic about sustained demand and future growth. On 24 June 2024, Weine acquired 50,000 shares at $0.125 each. Bubs Australia shares are currently trading at $0.128 each, down 10% in the last month.

    Starpharma Holdings Ltd (ASX: SPL)

    Starpharma Holdings has also faced challenges in 2024. The cheap ASX share is down nearly 47% this year and 68% in the past 12 months.

    Recent filings show that as of 21 June 2024, investment fund Allan Gray reduced its voting power to 9.28% after disposing of 5.35 million shares from its position this week.

    Some of this new supply looks to have been soaked up by two directors – Lynda Cheng, and Robert Thomas – who this week purchased 110,555 shares at 9 cents per share, and 200,000 ordinary shares at 8.9 cents apiece respectively.

    Currently, Starpharma shares are priced at $0.087 each.

    WAM Leaders Limited (ASX: WLE)

    WAM Leaders has seen steady insider buying from director Geoffrey Wilson. Mr Wilson is also the chairman of listed investment company (LIC) WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM).

    Between 24 June and 27 June 2024, Wilson acquired over 18,000 shares. The purchases were made on market across several trades, ranging in size from $11.1 million to $15.6 million.

    The investments bring Wilson’s stake to 13.05 million shares in the cheap ASX share. Today, WAM Leaders is valued on market at $1.28 apiece with a trailing dividend of 9.1 cents per share.

    The post 5 potentially cheap ASX shares being bought by insiders appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bubs Australia 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 Bubs Australia 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 Idp Education. 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.