Author: openjargon

  • Guess which ASX All Ords share is diving 11% to record lows today

    A mechanic rests his arms on a car he's working on, looking under the bonnet with a glum look on his face..

    Around half of Australia’s top 500 listed companies are in the red today. However, none are doing it quite as tough as this ASX All Ords share.

    A trading update has prompted the Peter Warren Automotive Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWR) share price to shift into reverse. A 0.2% retreat across the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is less than ideal… but how about an 11% drop? That’s the punishment being administered to shareholders of this automotive dealership operator.

    Shares in this company have now set a new record low, hitting $1.85 apiece. The undesirable milestone means the Peter Warren Automotive share price has cascaded 38% since its 2021 ASX listing.

    So, what’s the exact cause of this deep laceration?

    Expected profits lose some horsepower

    Peter Warren Automotive may not achieve the earnings mileage expected by the market in FY24.

    Revenue is apparently not an issue, continuing to grow. However, underlying profit before tax is a different story. Several impactful factors have forced the company to adjust the market’s view of how the full-year results should look.

    The company’s full-year FY24 underlying profit before tax is now anticipated to be between $52 million and $57 million. For context, estimates already had down Peter Warren Automotive to generate $68.8 million in before-tax earnings.

    At the midpoint, the new guidance reflects a 20.8% downgrade from consensus expectations. Evidently, this is not doing any favours for this All Ords share today.

    Three key contributors were referenced as causes for the reduction, as follows:

    • More competition between dealerships due to increased supply from car manufacturers, weighing down on new vehicle gross margins
    • Subdued demand among customers for new vehicles in light of cost-of-living pressures
    • Higher interest rates producing increased interest costs compared to the prior year

    Despite the knock to earnings expectations, Peter Warren noted some positive items. These include growth in the number of vehicles sold and an increase in service and parts revenue.

    Finally, Peter Warren Automotive highlighted initiatives to reduce the pain of pressured margins. For example, the company is limiting its inventory levels, leaning on growth in its service, parts, and used car segments, and controlling costs.

    This All Ords share is not alone

    While the Peter Warren Automotive share price is copping the brunt of selling pressure today, other consumer discretionary shares are also feeling the pinch.

    In afternoon trading, the consumer discretionary sector is faring the worst on the ASX, down 0.79%. It might have a little to do with April retail trade data hitting the headlines.

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a 0.1% month-on-month increase in retail trade last month. Unfortunately, the market expected a 0.2% strengthening after a shocking 0.4% slump in March.

    Investors may have interpreted it as another tough month for ASX retailers, including for our All Ords share, Peter Warren Automotive.

    The post Guess which ASX All Ords share is diving 11% to record lows today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Peter Warren Automotive Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Peter Warren Automotive Holdings 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 Peter Warren Automotive Holdings 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 Mitchell Lawler 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.

  • Only 1 ASX 200 bank share delivers more capital growth than dividends. Which bank? (Clue: Not CBA)

    A woman shows her phone screen and points up.

    Investors tend to consider ASX 200 bank shares as dividend payers rather than growth investments, with two exceptions — Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

    And there’s good reason for those exceptions, too.

    Which bank delivers more capital growth than dividends?

    At the recent ASX Investor Day in Sydney, investment strategist Marc Jocum from exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider Global X presented the following data on ASX 200 bank shares.

    Source: Global X investor presentation, ASX Investor Day, Sydney

    As you can see, Macquarie shares are the only ones that delivered more capital growth than dividend income among ASX 200 bank shares over the decade to 31 March 2024.

    The Macquarie share price rose 244.7% and dividend returns were 230.8%, providing a total 10-year return of 475.6%.

    When selecting shares for investment, Jocum emphasised the importance of a ‘total returns approach’ that takes dividend returns into account. This is important because they offset poor growth periods.

    According to his presentation:

    Most of the largest Australian banks have had negative capital returns. Dividends can add as an important source of returns and help cushion drawdowns.

    CBA shares delivered the second-best capital growth, but it was a sliver of Macquarie’s at just 56.1% over 10 years. However, a 150.7% dividend return contributed to a solid total 10-year return of 206.8%.

    What’s happening with ASX 200 bank shares today?

    Today, ASX 200 bank shares are lower amid the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) losing 0.27% in value.

    • The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is down 1.11%
    • Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are down 0.79%
    • The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is down 0.32%
    • Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.27%
    • The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is down 0.18%
    • The Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) share price is down 0.17%
    • Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are down 0.035%

    Should you buy Macquarie shares?

    After Macquarie reported its FY24 full-year results earlier this month, top broker Goldman Sachs retained its neutral rating on the ASX 200 bank share and reduced its 12-month price target to $178.74.

    The broker noted that Macquarie’s better-than-expected FY24 performance was driven by a lower-than-expected tax rate rather than revenue growth. But it remains optimistic on the ASX 200 bank share.

    Goldman said:

    Despite this, we remain optimistic on the business’s medium term outlook, given i) an improving macro backdrop (we note GS now expects the rate cutting cycle to commence in November), and ii) MQG is well positioned to benefit from the global push towards decarbonisation, further infrastructure investment, and interest rates reaching their peak levels.

    Yesterday, Macquarie announced that Fitch Ratings has upgraded the long-term issuer default rating (IDR) of Macquarie Bank Limited.

    The long-term ratings of Macquarie entities are now A+ for Macquarie Bank Limited (up from A) and A for Macquarie Group Limited.

    The post Only 1 ASX 200 bank share delivers more capital growth than dividends. Which bank? (Clue: Not CBA) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Macquarie Group Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Anz Group, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 4 ASX growth shares to buy to supercharge your portfolio in June

    Are you looking to add some growth shares to your investment portfolio in June?

    If you are, then the four highly rated ASX growth shares listed below could be worth considering.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    The first ASX growth share that could be a buy is Aristocrat Leisure. It is one of the world’s leading gaming technology companies. It has a world class portfolio of pokie machines, a lucrative digital business, and a growing real money gaming business.

    Analysts at Citi are very positive on the company. Particularly given its strong performance in the first half of FY 2024 and management’s confidence in its outlook.

    Citi has a buy rating and $53.00 price target on Aristocrat Leisure’s shares.

    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

    Goldman Sachs thinks Pro Medicus is a top ASX growth share to buy. It is a leading provider of radiology information systems (RIS), Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), and advanced visualisation solutions across the globe.

    Goldman is very positive on the company’s outlook. It notes that it sees “PME as the clear incumbent technology leader in a growing market with a strong financial profile and significant AI upside.”

    The broker has a buy rating and $136.00 price target on its shares.

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    A third ASX growth share that has been tipped as a buy is ResMed. It is a sleep treatment-focused medical device company.

    ResMed has been growing at a strong rate for over a decade. But if you thought its growth was coming to an end, think again. That’s because its industry-leading products have a massive market opportunity. Management estimates that there are 1 billion people impacted by sleep apnoea worldwide, with only ~20% of these sufferers currently diagnosed.

    Ord Minnett is bullish on ResMed and has an accumulate rating and $40.00 price target on its shares.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    A final ASX growth share for investors to look at in June is TechnologyOne. It is Australia’s largest enterprise software company with locations across six countries. It provides a global SaaS ERP solution that transforms business and makes life simple for users.

    Analysts at Morgans were impressed with the company’s half year results this month. In fact, the broker believes that the company’s profit growth is about to go up a gear. Particularly given its successful transition to a software-as-a-service business model.

    Morgans currently has an add rating and $20.50 price target on its shares.

    The post 4 ASX growth shares to buy to supercharge your portfolio in June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Aristocrat Leisure 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 Aristocrat Leisure Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • ASX 200 energy stock rockets 8% on ‘significant’ milestone

    The market may be edging lower today but the same cannot be said for the Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX).

    In afternoon trade, the ASX 200 energy stock is rocketing higher and is up 8% to 22.2 cents.

    Why is this ASX 200 energy stock rocketing?

    Investors have been scrambling to buy the company’s shares today after it achieved a “significant financial milestone” at the Walyering gas field development.

    According to the release, the Walyering gas field in the Perth Basin, which was brought online eight months ago, has now reached payback of its total development capital spend of approximately $30 million (plus operating costs, royalties and taxes incurred to date).

    Strike Energy advised that total gross income received to date from the Walyering project is approximately $47 million.

    Management notes that this payback profile would be one of the fastest in recent history for a greenfield Australian oil and gas project. It believes this demonstrates the inherent value of the ASX 200 energy stock’s conventional gas play in the Jurassic aged Sandstones within the Cattamarra Coal Measures.

    What’s next?

    Given the success of the Walyering project so far, investors will be pleased to learn that drilling activities continue on site.

    The company advised that Walyering-7 (W7), which commenced drilling 18 days ago, has reached its total planned depth of 4,035 metres (measured depth). This is five days ahead of target and has set a new time/depth record for its drilling performance within the Walyering gas field.

    Pleasingly, the ASX 200 energy stock revealed that the W7 well has passed through multiple sandstone reservoirs within the Cattamarra Coal Measures and has registered positive observations on both mud logs and logging while drilling tools. Management advised that it is now preparing to run a series of wireline logs and specialty tools and will evaluate those results before moving to the next stage of completion.

    It adds that the W7 well has been drilled from a surface location co-located with the Walyering gas processing facility directionally to the east into a fault compartment north-east of the producing Walyering-5 structure. The company intends to provide further updates as operations and evaluation concludes at the W7 well site.

    Despite today’s strong gain, the Strike Energy share price remains one of the worst performers on the ASX 200 index over the last 12 months. During this time, the ASX 200 energy stock is down approximately 53%.

    The post ASX 200 energy stock rockets 8% on ‘significant’ milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Strike Energy 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 Strike Energy Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 Boss Energy, Elders, Peter Warren, and Serko shares are sinking today

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a subdued session on Tuesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is on course to record a small decline. It is currently down 0.25% to 7,768.7 points.

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

    Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

    The Boss Energy share price is down almost 10% to $4.82. This follows news that the uranium miner’s CEO and managing director Duncan Craib, chair Wyatt Buck, and director Bryn Jones have sold a significant portion of their personal holdings. In respect to its CEO, Duncan Craib sold 3.75 million shares at an average price of $5.63 per share between Tuesday and Friday last week. The company’s leader received a total consideration of over $21 million for the shares. Insider selling rarely goes down well with investors and is considered to be a bearish indicator by many.

    Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

    The Elders share price is down 3% to $8.21. This has been driven by the agribusiness company’s shares going ex-dividend on Tuesday. Last week, Elders released its half year results and reported a sharp profit decline. This led to the Elders board cutting its interim dividend by 22% to 18 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this partially franked dividend in their bank accounts next month on 26 June.

    Peter Warren Automotive Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWR)

    The Peter Warren Automotive Holdings share price is down 12% to $1.88. This follows the release of a trading update from the automotive retailer this morning. Peter Warren advised that while revenue has continued to grow, it now expects its underlying profit before tax for FY 2024 to be in the range of $52 million to $57 million. Management notes that this is lower than market expectations and has been driven by a significant increase in vehicle supply, which has led to greater competition between dealerships and lower gross profit margins on new vehicles. In addition, customer demand for new vehicles has fallen due to cost-of-living pressures.

    Serko Ltd (ASX: SKO)

    The Serko share price is down 5.5% to $2.87. Investors have been selling this travel technology company’s shares following the release of its full year results. This was despite Serko reporting a 48% jump in total income to NZ$71.2 million and a 48% improvement in its net loss to NZ$15.9 million. Looking ahead, management is guiding to revenue of NZ$85 million to NZ$92 million in FY 2025. It also expects to become cashflow positive during the year.

    The post Why Boss Energy, Elders, Peter Warren, and Serko shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Boss Resources Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has 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 Serko. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Golden Goose, the luxury sneaker worn by Taylor Swift and other celebs, could go public this week

    Italian shoemaker, Golden Goose may be gearing up to go public.
    Italian shoemaker, Golden Goose may be gearing up to go public.

    • Golden Goose eyes a public listing in Milan this week, aiming for a $3.3 billion valuation.
    • The luxury sneaker brand is popular with celebrities and starts at about $364 per pair.
    • The IPO would help a weak European IPO market poised to bounce back this year.

    Luxury sneaker maker Golden Goose plans to go public in Milan as soon as this week.

    Golden Goose may start working on its initial public offering this week following positive feedback from potential investors, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

    The Italian brand of pre-distressed sneakers is a hit with celebrities including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Hilary Duff. Investors are expected to value Golden Goose at about 11 times this year's estimated earnings. That would value the shoemaker at about $3.3 billion, according to Bloomberg.

    On its official web store, a pair of sneakers starts at about $364 and can go up to $2,598. The brand also sells clothing, beachwear, and accessories.

    The people told Bloomberg that discussions are ongoing, and details of the offering, including its size and timeline, are still flexible.

    The company is owned by European private equity firm Permira. The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    Talks of the listing come as Europe's lackluster IPO market looks for reinvigoration. Potential stock listings this year include Luxembourg-based private equity firm CVC Capital, Spanish fashion giant Puig Brands, and Swiss dermatological brand Galderma.

    However, Golden Goose's IPO could be hurt by slowing demand for luxury goods.

    Kering, the luxury retailer that owns brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, saw overall revenue decline by 10% in the first quarter of the year. Gucci saw a troubling 18% decline in sales, largely from decreased sales in China.

    The two other sneaker companies to go public in recent years are performance footwear brands On Holding and Allbirds, which both target a much lower price point than Golden Goose. Last month, Allbirds, which once held the title for "most comfortable shoe," received notice from Nasdaq that it risks delisting because its stock was trading below $1 for 30 consecutive days. On's stock, meanwhile, is up 47% in the past year.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Tesla is luring Chinese customers with the possibility of a free tour of its Fremont factory if they buy a car

    Robotics arms installing the front seats to the Tesla Model 3 at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California.
    Robotics arms installing the front seats to the Tesla Model 3 at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California.

    • Tesla is courting its Chinese customers aggressively. 
    • Besides price cuts, the EV giant says it's holding a lucky draw for customers. 
    • The company says it will fly winners to the US, where they will tour its Fremont factory. 

    Tesla is pulling out all the stops when it comes to courting Chinese consumers.

    The EV giant said in a Weibo post on Sunday that Chinese customers who take delivery of their Teslas between May 25 and June 30 will stand a chance to win a factory tour in Fremont, California.

    According to the company's poster, Tesla will cover the winner's air tickets, transportation costs, and insurance. In addition to the trip, Tesla said its customers could also win 10,000 kilometers in free mileage on the company's Supercharger network.

    Tesla customers in China could win a trip to the company's Fremont factory if they take delivery of their cars from May 25 to June 30.
    Tesla customers in China could win a trip to the company's Fremont factory if they take delivery of their cars from May 25 to June 30.

    The promotion comes just a day after it said customers could win a free two-day, one-night trip for two to Gigafactory Shanghai if they took a test drive in any Tesla store in China before June 30.

    Tesla said the winners would be chosen via a lucky draw but didn't specify how many would be picked.

    Representatives for Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

    The company's shift toward aggressive promotional tactics comes as it struggles with slowing sales and heightened competition in the Chinese market.

    EV makers hoping to conquer the lucrative Chinese market have been locked in a brutal price war over market share.

    In March, Chinese automaker BYD launched a cheaper version of its Yuan Plus car. BYD priced the vehicle at 120,000 yuan, about 12% cheaper than its predecessor.

    In April, Tesla announced a 14,000 yuan or $1,930 price cut for its Model 3, S, X, and Y cars in China. The company also introduced similar price cuts in the US and Germany.

    "Other cars change prices constantly and often by wide margins via dealer markups and manufacturer/dealer incentives," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in an X post on April 21. "Tesla prices must change frequently in order to match production with demand."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • North Korea said its new liquid oxygen engine caused the downfall of its latest spy satellite and blew it up in midair

    People sit near a television showing file footage during a news report at a train station in Seoul on May 28, 2024, after North Korea said late Monday that the rocket carrying its "Malligyong-1-1" reconnaissance satellite exploded minutes after launch due to a suspected engine problem.
    People sit near a television showing file footage during a news report at a train station in Seoul on May 28, 2024, after North Korea said late Monday that the rocket carrying its "Malligyong-1-1" reconnaissance satellite exploded minutes after launch due to a suspected engine problem.

    • North Korea's latest spy satellite exploded midair, Pyongyang admitted on Monday.
    • Its state media reported that the problem was likely due to its new liquid oxygen and oil engine.
    • North Korea has repeatedly been trying to launch satellites in the last year, but almost all have failed.

    North Korea said on Monday that its latest spy satellite launch failed, with its rocket exploding during the first stage of flight that evening.

    State media Korean Central News Agency cited an unnamed vice director of the country's National Aerospace Technology Administration, who said preliminary analysis pointed to problems with the rocket's new engine.

    The vice director said the mishap was caused by the "reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine," per a translation by KCNA Watch, a US- and Seoul-based website that tracks North Korea's state media.

    The space official said his team would investigate other possible reasons for the failure.

    Pyongyang has attempted three other satellite launches in the last year, though two were confirmed to have failed. All were condemned by the US, Japan, and South Korea as provocations and are signs that North Korea has been able to circumvent sanctions to build its space program.

    In November, North Korea successfully launched its Malligyong-1 satellite and claims it still functions in orbit.

    South Korea assessed in February that the satellite is no longer communicating with the ground. However, several international space experts said that they observed signs of activity on the Malligyong-1 days later.

    Monday's failed launch was an attempt to put the Malligyong-1-1 in space.

    Seoul said it detected fragments in North Korean waters about two minutes after the rocket was launched toward the Yellow Sea, national broadcaster KBS reported.

    South Korean officials released a black-and-white video of the scuppered launch showing what appears to be a fireball in the sky. They said the footage was taken from an observation boat.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYm2Tn7keg?si=rPkGQSVt8EiTJ9Wx&w=560&h=315]

    The attempted space launch has been blasted by South Korea, which they said North Korea warned them about. Seoul scrambled 20 jet fighters, including F-35As, as a precaution.

    Japan also condemned the launch, saying it lodged a strong complaint to North Korea through its embassy in Beijing.

    "A few minutes after launch, it disappeared over the Yellow Sea," Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said of the rocket. "Therefore, we presume that no object was launched into space."

    Kihara added that North Korea has said it intends to launch three more satellites this year.

    The US Indo-Pacific Command called the launch "a brazen violation of multiple unanimous UN Security Council resolutions, raises tensions, and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond."

    It further warned that North Korea appeared to have launched the satellite using technology from its international ballistics missile programs.

    North Korea is sanctioned by the US and its allies, with a focus on limiting its nuclear weapons and space programs. But South Korea has been warning that Pyongyang is still able to pull off satellite launches with Russia's help.

    The US and Ukraine have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery ammunition and say Pyongyang has been receiving raw materials, food, and assistance from Russian experts. North Korea has denied its participation in any arms exchange with Moscow.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • 2 top ASX income shares that analysts love

    Middle age caucasian man smiling confident drinking coffee at home.

    Are you searching for some ASX income shares to buy this week?

    If you are, then you may want to check out the two listed below that analysts think are top buys right now.

    Here’s what they are saying about them:

    Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

    Analysts at Bell Potter think that Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT could be an ASX income share to buy. It is Australia’s largest diversified healthcare REIT with a portfolio including hospitals, aged care, childcare, government, life sciences, and primary care and wellness property assets.

    The broker likes the company due its attractive valuation and exposure to a significant addressable market. It explains:

    HCW has underperformed the REIT sector last 3 months (-10% vs. +22% XPJ) following bond yield reversion and is attractively priced at 20% discount to NTA (but only REIT to record flat to positive valuation movement at 1H24) with double digit 3 year EPS CAGR given high relative sector debt hedging and ability to grow its $1bn development pipeline via attractive YoC spread to marginal cost of debt. Longer term, HCW has significant scope for growth with an estimated $218 billion addressable market where an ageing and growing population should underpin long-term sector demand.

    Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2024 and 8.3 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $1.15, this equates to yields of 7% and 7.2%, respectively.

    The broker has a buy rating and $1.50 price target on its shares.

    QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

    Over at Goldman Sachs, its analysts think that this insurance giant could be an ASX income share to buy.

    It likes the company for a number of reasons. This includes its undemanding valuation. Goldman explains:

    We are Buy-rated on QBE because 1) QBE has the strongest exposure to the commercial rate cycle. 2) QBE’s achieved rate increases continue to be strong & ahead of loss cost inflation. 3) North America on a pathway to improved profitability. 4) Valuation not demanding. 5) Strong ROE.

    The broker expects this to support partially franked dividends of 62 US cents (93 Australian cents) per share in FY 2024 and then 63 US cents (95 Australian cents) per share in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $17.84, this equates to yields of 5.2% and 5.3%, respectively.

    Goldman has a buy rating and $20.90 price target on QBE’s shares.

    The post 2 top ASX income shares that analysts love appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Healthco Healthcare And Wellness Reit right now?

    Before you buy Healthco Healthcare And Wellness Reit 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 Healthco Healthcare And Wellness Reit wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Why Playside Studios, Pro Medicus, Strike Energy, and Winsome shares are charging higher

    A young women pumps her fists in excitement after seeing some good news on her laptop.

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a small decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 7,770.7 points.

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

    Playside Studios Ltd (ASX: PLY)

    The Playside Studios share price is up 5.5% to 95 cents. Investors have been buying this game developer’s shares after it upgraded its guidance for FY 2024. Playside Studios now expects revenue of $63 million to $65 million and EBITDA of $16 million to $18 million. The company’s earnings guidance upgrade represents a 42% increase on the midpoint of its previous guidance of $11 million to $13 million and is a huge jump from a $1.7 million loss in FY 2023.

    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

    The Pro Medicus share price is up over 2% to $115.77. This morning, this health imaging company announced five new contracts with a combined minimum contract value of $45 million. Management advised that the contracts will be fully cloud deployed and are expected to be completed within the next 6 months. The good news is that there could be more contract wins on the way. CEO, Dr Sam Hupert, said: “Despite record new contract signings this year, our pipeline remains strong with a broad range of opportunities both in terms of size and market segments.”

    Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)

    The Strike Energy share price is up 8% to 22.2 cents. This follows news that the Walyering gas field development has reached payback (inclusive of royalties and production costs) only eight months after start-up. Management believes this demonstrates the value of Strike Energy’s high margin, low-cost conventional Perth Basin Jurassic portfolio. Total gross income received to date from the Walyering project is approximately $47 million. The company highlights that this “payback profile would be one of the fastest in recent history for a greenfield Australian oil and gas project and demonstrates the inherent value of Strike’s conventional gas play in the Jurassic aged Sandstones within the Cattamarra Coal Measures.”

    Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX: WR1)

    The Winsome Resources share price is up over 4% to $1.29. Investors have been buying this lithium explorer’s shares following the release of a mineral resource estimate update for its flagship Adina Lithium Project in Canada. According to the release, the mineral resource has increased 33% to 77.9Mt at 1.15% Li2O. Management notes that this confirms Adina’s positioning as one of the largest undeveloped lithium deposits in the world.

    The post Why Playside Studios, Pro Medicus, Strike Energy, and Winsome shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.