Stock Pick

Author: openjargon

  • What this top broker is saying about IAG shares

    Two smiling work colleagues discuss an investment or business plan at their office.

    Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares are up 2.77% to $6.50 apiece on Thursday.

    The ASX insurance stock is trading just a few cents off its four-year high of $6.54 set on 10 April.

    There is no official news from Australia’s biggest general insurer today.

    IAG shares are likely riding higher because the whole market is up. In earlier trading, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) leapt to an intraday high of 7,891.5 points, up 1.78%.

    The ASX 200 is rising following a strong night on Wall Street with the S&P 500 hitting a new closing high.

    This was on the back of encouraging new US inflation data which has renewed hopes of an earlier interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve.

    IAG shares better than Suncorp

    As reported in The Australian today, Citi analyst Nigel Pittaway prefers IAG shares to fellow insurance stock Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN), but only just.

    In a note to investors, Pittaway said:

    The winner in our head-to-head analysis is IAG, although the winning margin is slight.

    The broker explained that both ASX insurance stocks had positive short-term prospects, including strong top-line growth and the likelihood of expanding margins.

    He said:

    In our view, both have strong earnings momentum and we expect the market to continue to buy this for now, even as valuation concerns become more paramount.

    Pittaway noted that Suncorp had the best premium growth in Australia, the best capital return, and likely the better dividend potential of the two.

    He commented that IAG had an opportunity to cut costs, and currently offered relatively better market value than Suncorp shares.

    Citi has a 12-month share price target of $6.75 on IAG, implying a potential 3.7% upside.

    The consensus among 14 analysts on CommSec is that IAG shares are a moderate buy. Four say the stock is a strong buy, nine say it’s a hold, and one says IAG shares are a moderate sell at today’s share price.

    Goldman Sachs has a neutral rating on IAG with a 12-month share price target of $6.30. This implies a potential 3.2% downside on the ASX insurance stock.

    What’s next for IAG?

    My colleague Tristan recently discussed the earnings outlook for IAG through to 2026 based on a new note out of broker UBS.

    As for dividends, the consensus forecast on CommSec is for IAG to pay 26 cents per share in 2024, 30 cents in 2025, and 32 cents in 2026.

    That means dividend yields of 3.99%, 4.6% and 5.7%, respectively, plus some franking.

    In 2023, the annual dividend had 30% franking, and this year’s interim dividend had 40% franking.

    The post What this top broker is saying about IAG shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Insurance Australia 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 Insurance Australia 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

  • Why IDP Education, JB Hi-Fi, PYC, and Renascor shares are falling today

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a day to remember on Thursday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up a sizeable 1.55% to 7,873.9 points.

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

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    The IDP Education share price is down 2% to $16.66. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Morgans this morning. According to the note, the broker has retained its hold rating on the language testing and student placement company’s shares with a reduced price target of $20.00. Morgans is concerned about how restrictive policies could impact the company’s key markets and lead to lower than expected demand for its services.

    JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

    The JB Hi-Fi share price is down over 1% to $57.38. This morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs downgraded the retail giant’s shares to a sell rating with a new $50.00 price target (from $56.50). This implies potential downside of approximately 13% from where its shares trade today. Goldman notes that the company is facing “stronger competition on JBH AU from several fronts including expanding range at Amazon, recovery of execution from HVN, and intensifying competition from Officeworks.”

    PYC Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: PYC)

    The PYC Therapeutics share price is down almost 5% to 10 cents. This follows the release of a trial update from the clinical-stage biotechnology company. PYC is developing a pipeline of first-in-class precision medicines for patients who have genetic diseases and have no treatment options available. Today’s update revealed that the company has completed dosing in patient cohort 4 of the ongoing Single Ascending Dose (SAD) study. This is for its trial of patients with a blinding eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa type 11 (RP11). Judging by the share price reaction, investors appear to have seen something in the update that didn’t meet their expectations.

    Renascor Resources Ltd (ASX: RNU)

    The Renascor Resources share price is down 11.5% to 11.5 cents. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors after the battery materials company’s shares surged on Wednesday. Investors were buying the company’s shares in response to the Federal Budget. They appear to believe that the company’s proposed vertically integrated Battery Anode Material Manufacturing Project in South Australia could benefit from the Budget. The Government is investing $8.8 billion over the decade to strengthen critical minerals supply chains. This Budget establishes a production tax incentive for processing and refining critical minerals at an estimated cost of $7 billion over the decade.

    The post Why IDP Education, JB Hi-Fi, PYC, and Renascor shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Idp Education right now?

    Before you buy Idp Education 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 Idp Education 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 and Idp Education. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Idp Education and Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • The US Secretary of State gave a war-time rock performance at a bar in Kyiv, leaving some Ukrainians scratching their heads

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attending a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 15, 2024.
    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attending a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 15, 2024.

    Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    • Antony Blinken gave Ukrainians a performance of "Rockin' in the Free World" at a bar on Tuesday.
    • But his jam session wasn't well-received by all, with some local politicians slamming Blinken.
    • The performance comes as the northeastern Kharkiv comes under renewed attack from Russia.

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cut loose after a series of meetings with Ukrainian officials on Tuesday by performing Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" at a bar in Kyiv.

    The four-and-a-half-minute performance received mixed reviews in Ukraine, with several local politicians panning Blinken's guitar rock-out as insensitive amid a renewed Russian offensive in Kharkiv.

    Blinken sat among an entourage of officials in the Barman Dictat, a hot spot in the capital, before the Ukrainian band 19.99 invited him onstage as a "biggest friend of Ukraine."

    Slinging a crimson electric guitar onto his shoulder, Blinken told the crowd he knew they were facing a "really, really difficult time."

    "Your soldiers, your citizens, particularly in the northeast, in Kharkiv, are suffering tremendously," he said. "But they need to know, you need to know. The United States is with you. So much of the world is with you and they're fighting not just for a free Ukraine, but for the free world. And the free world is with you, too."

    The US top official strummed slowly as the band joined him. They launched into song, with Blinken occasionally leaning into his mic to sing the chorus of Young's rock hit.

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

    This performance may have been part of Blinken's push to bring music into official foreign affairs. In September, the US State Department under Blinken launched the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, which he commemorated with a performance of "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters.

    'Tactless and inappropriate'

    The war-time guitar diplomacy was soon met with social media backlash from Ukrainian observers and politicians, who questioned the timing of the performance as Kyiv's troops struggled to hold off Russia's advance in the northeast.

    "The message is easy to understand. But it doesn't resonate," Ukrainian parliamentarian Bohdan Yaremenko wrote on Facebook,

    Yaremenko pointed to US support for Ukraine no longer being guaranteed, with a monthslong delay of aid that crippled Ukraine on the battlefield and Trump hinting he may tell Kyiv to negotiate with Russia if he's elected.

    "For ten years, we've been explaining to the free world that we are defending it too," he wrote.

    Oleg Simoroz, a Ukrainian veteran who lost both of his legs in the war, criticized the performance as "simply tactless and inappropriate."

    "So many people die every day because we don't have enough weapons and enough support from our allies," he wrote.

    Valeriy Chaly, a former Ukrainian ambassador to the US, told the AFP: "With all due respect, it's a mistake. The message is wrong."

    "Kharkiv region is wiped off the face of the earth, people are leaving their homes," wrote Svitlana Matviyenko, head of the Ukrainian NGO Agency for Legislative Analysis. "Kharkiv is under constant blows of KABs, Sumy region is preparing, and a top US official sings songs in a Kyiv bar."

    Residents self-evacuate from a multi-story residential building hit by a Russian UMPB D-30 glide bomb on May 14, 2024 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
    Residents self-evacuate from a multi-story residential building hit by a Russian UMPB D-30 glide bomb on May 14, 2024 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

    Yevhen Titov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

    Russia launched a ground assault on Kharkiv over the weekend, capturing several settlements and forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat from other villages. Ukrainian defenses are said to have been lacking in the area, with Ukrainian Armed Forces chief Oleksandr Syrskyi saying on Monday that the situation had "significantly worsened."

    'Russia wants us to stop living'

    Some Ukrainians supported Blinken's performance. One Kyiv resident, Polina, 26, told The Guardian that it signified that Ukrainians are defying Russia's war and enjoying nightlife.

    "Russia wants us to stop living and stop having fun," she said. "The war is everywhere, but it doesn't mean you can't go to a bar. I feel thankful he even came to Kyiv and I thought it was great."

    Mariia Lobyntseva, 27, an artist in Kyiv, told the Los Angeles Times: "Young people can't stop going out and letting off steam at bars. It's necessary for us."

    Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko wrote on X that Blinken's performance may have taken place "at a bad time" but defended the US official as one of the top administrators for US support of Ukraine.

    "Seriously — secretary Blinken is currently the last person we need to focus our bitterness and anger on," he wrote.

    The lyrics of "Rockin' in the Free World" are often seen as a criticism of American patriotism and George H.W. Bush's administration. Some of its lines parody the former president's well-known phrases like "a thousand points of light," which Bush popularized in a push for volunteerism during his inauguration.

    But its title also became known for how it was coined — when Young's guitarist uttered the phrase after the Soviet Union canceled one of his concerts.

    The song's traditional interpretation seems to have waned, given its use in multiple presidential campaigns, including former President Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

    The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

    Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have been reportedly pleading with the Biden administration to allow them to use US weapons to hit targets on Russian soil, saying they knew Moscow's troops were massing on the border near Kharkiv but couldn't respond.

    Ukraine has relied heavily on US artillery but struggled to keep its weapons in action last year when ammunition supplies dwindled amid a delay in Congress for billions in aid.

    In late April, after months of political roadblocks, the US approved a new $61 billion package for Ukraine, including about $25.7 billion of military equipment.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Trump is going out of his way to defend Kristi Noem for shooting her dog, saying she’s just ‘had a bad week’

    Former President Donald Trump (left) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (right).
    Former President Donald Trump (left) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (right).

    Ethan Miller via Getty Images; Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

    • South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was hit by a deluge of criticism after she said she shot her own dog.
    • But former President Donald Trump says he isn't too bothered by the bad press. 
    • "She had a bad week. We all have bad weeks," Trump said.

    Former President Donald Trump doesn't appear to be too bothered by the criticism surrounding South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's decision to shoot her dog.

    "I think she's terrific. A couple of rough stories, there's no question about it," Trump said in an interview on "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" that aired Tuesday.

    "The dog story, people hear that, and people from different parts of the country probably feel a bit differently, but that's a tough story. She had a bad week. We all have bad weeks," he continued.

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

    Noem was hit with a deluge of criticism after she revealed in her memoir that she shot her 14-month-old dog, Cricket. In her book, Noem described the dog as "untrainable" and "dangerous."

    The anecdote provoked bipartisan outrage, with some Republicans saying that Trump shouldn't pick Noem as his running mate.

    Trump, meanwhile, was more forgiving in his assessment of Noem. On the podcast, he speculated that Noem might just have had a team of bad ghostwriters.

    "Sometimes you do books, and you have some guy writing a book, and you maybe don't read it as carefully. You have ghostwriters, too. They help you, and they, in this case, didn't help too much," Trump said.

    Trump has worked with ghostwriters himself — he hired journalist Tony Schwartz to ghostwrite his bestselling 1987 book, "The Art of the Deal."

    Trump's defense of Noem this week suggests that despite the maelstrom of bad press, she may still stand a chance of being tapped to be his running mate.

    The former president has a long list of contenders to choose from, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Trump, however, has remained coy about who his final pick is thus far.

    Trump's choice of a running mate could have huge implications on his campaign's fundraising capabilities as he heads into the final stretch of the electoral race. His campaign team said it raised more than $76 million in April, Politico reported on May 4, citing a person familiar with the matter.

    GOP megadonor Ken Griffin said on Tuesday at the Qatar Economic Forum that he's "going to see" who Trump's running mate is before he decides on whether to give money to the GOP campaign. The hedge fund billionaire declined to state who his preferred vice presidential candidate is, per Bloomberg.

    Representatives for Trump and Noem didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Samsung just released a 43-second response to the ‘crush’ ad Apple was lambasted for last week

    Young woman in white shirt and ripped jeans sits in dim room playing guitar.
    Samsung ad responds to Apple's "crush" spot.

    Samsung

    • Samsung released a 43-second response to Apple's lambasted "crush" advertisement.
    • Apple's advertisement for its new iPad Pro received swift backlash last week.
    • Samsung's ad seems to pick up where Apple's left off amid crushed creative tools and a hydraulic press.

    "Creativity cannot be crushed."

    That's Samsung's message in a new spot that trolls Apple's iPad Pro "crush" ad, which caused an internet meltdown last week.

    In Apple's ad, creative tools — paint, instruments, etc. — are crushed in a hydraulic press, and out comes the ultra-thin and powerful new iPad Pro. As my colleague Katie Notopoulos pointed out, the meaning was likely simple: Look at this upgraded gadget that can do so many things, and it's so thin.

    That's not how the internet read it. Instead, the overwhelming reaction was that the ad encompassed much of the collective existential dread about technology replacing humans — especially creatives. The backlash was so intense that Apple apologized, pulled the ad's TV run, and admitted to Ad Age that it "missed the mark."

    A week later, on Wednesday, Samsung released its response.

    The ad, which was made by BBH USA and will run on social media according to Ad Age, appears to pick up in what could well be described as the aftermath of Apple's spot. In a dimly lit room strewn with crushed instruments and debris, with a paint-splattered hydraulic press in the background, a young woman comes and picks up a partially smushed guitar and begins playing.

    She's reading music off a tablet — a Galaxy Tab S9. The S9 has been on the market since August, so while the spot is partially a tablet ad, it's really primarily a timely kiss-off to Apple.

    Despite the fact that sales recently slumped for both companies, Apple and Samsung are the leaders in tablet sales. In Q1, Apple shipped 9.9 million units, according to IDC. Samsung shipped 6.7 million in that same quarter.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week

    Four investors stand in a line holding cash fanned in their hands with thoughtful looks on their faces.

    It’s fair to say that it’s not peak dividend season on the ASX boards right now. With most ASX All Ords shares announcing their latest earnings over February and March, and with the dividends from those announcements hitting investors’ bank accounts over March and April, the back half of this month of May looks relatively dry when it comes to passive income paycheques.

    But that doesn’t mean no ASX All Ords shares are scheduled to dole out their latest dividends. In fact, next week will see four All Ords shares trade ex-dividend for their latest shareholder payments.

    Remember, when a dividend share trades ex-dividend, it rules a line in the sand regarding who gets to receive the dividend payment in question.

    Put simply, any investor who is on the record as owning a company’s shares as of the market close the day before that company trades ex-dividend is eligible to receive the latest dividend payment. But anyone who buys shares on or after the ex-dividend date misses out.

    So if you want to bag any of the dividends from the four ASX All Ords shares we’re about to discuss, you know what you have to do.

    4 ASX All Ords shares set to trade ex-dividend next week

    WAM Leaders and Amcor

    First up is the listed investment company (LIC) WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE). WAM Leaders is set to pay out an interim dividend of 4.6 cents per share, fully franked, on 31 May at the end of this month.

    But the company’s ex-dividend date has been set for Monday, 20 May. That means that anyone wishing to bag this dividend will need to own WAM Leaders shares as of Friday’s market close.

    This LIC currently sports a dividend yield of 6.52%.

    Let’s discuss All Ords share and packaging giant Amcor plc (ASX: AMC) now. Amcor is a dual-listed company that pays quarterly dividends rather than the usual biannual schedule. Its latest payment, covering the three months to 31 March 2024, is set to be distributed on 11 June next month. It will be worth 19.3 cents per share but will come unfranked.

    Amcor is currently trading on a dividend yield of 4.91%.

    Orica and Whitefield

    Next up, we have All Ords chemical and explosives manufacturing share Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI). Orica shares will deliver an interim, unfranked dividend of 19 cents per share on 3 July. But the company is set to go ‘ex-div’ for this latest payment on Thursday, 23 May next week. That means Wednesday is the last day you can buy Orica shares with the rights to this dividend attached.

    Orica is trading on a dividend yield of 1.63% at present.

    Last but not least, let’s dive into another All Ords share and LIC in Whitefield Industrials Ltd (ASX: WHF). Whitefield is the ASX’s oldest LIC, and has a very long history of paying out chunky dividends. The company’s next interim dividend will come in at 10.2 cents per share, with full franking credits attached.

    However, investors must buy Whitefield shares by next Thursday, 23 May, to receive this payment. The LIC is set to trade ex-dividend next Friday, 24 May. The dividend payday will then roll around for eligible investors on 13 June next month.

    At current pricing, Whitefield can boast of a 3.93% dividend yield.

    The post 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Amcor Plc right now?

    Before you buy Amcor Plc 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 Amcor Plc wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • 3 reasons the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) is a great ASX ETF pick

    a man with a wide, eager smile on his face holds up three fingers.

    The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) is one of the leading ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to own, in my opinion.

    It’s invested in 100 of the largest businesses on the Nasdaq, a stock exchange in the US where many of the largest American tech businesses are listed.

    Let’s look at some very good reasons to like this fund.

    Very strong businesses

    When we look at the top holdings within the NDQ ETF, it owns many of the world’s best and strongest businesses for what they do. I’m talking about names like Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Costco, Tesla and Netflix.

    Collectively, these companies have a strong position in their respective markets, and they continue to reinvest in their businesses. This can unlock the next device, service, or expansion into a new country and create stronger shareholder returns.

    The businesses generally have strong returns on equity (ROE) and great balance sheets, so they’re in a really good position to continue their success.  

    Underlying global diversification

    The businesses are all listed in the US, which may initially seem quite undiversified geographically. However, I think the most important thing is that the portfolio generates profit from across the world; it’s not necessarily about where they are listed.

    I think the NDQ ETF offers good underlying diversification.

    Apple’s iPhones are used in almost every country in the world. Microsoft software is used by computers around the world. Google and Facebook are internet powerhouses used by billions of people. Netflix is gaining global subscribers. And so on.

    The size of these businesses’ underlying profits is very impressive, and the diversification of the earnings is stronger than it seems from the outside.

    Excellent long-term returns for the NDQ ETF

    Making returns is what it’s all about. The NDQ ETF has been one of the best-performing ASX ETFs over the last few years. Since inception in May 2015, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has generated an average return per annum of 19.2%.

    Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Volatility occurs sometimes, and one or two of these businesses could suffer if their growth goes off track.

    But, the NDQ ETF is invested in 100 leading businesses which, as a group, could keep doing well for a long time if they keep re-investing in their operations as much as they have done historically.

    I’m not expecting the next decade to be as good as the last decade, but I believe the NDQ ETF can outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) because of its focus on global profit growth, good margins, and profit re-investment.

    The post 3 reasons the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) is a great ASX ETF pick 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

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  •  ‘Tip of the iceberg’: Why this ASX lithium stock has exploded 200% in a week

    The Errawarra Resources Ltd (ASX: ERW) share price is on fire again on Thursday and rocketing higher.

    At the time of writing, the ASX lithium stock is up an impressive 32% to 18.5 cents.

    This latest gain means that the company’s shares are now up 200% since this time last week.

    Why is this ASX lithium stock on fire?

    Investors have been fighting to get hold of the company’s shares since the release of very promising exploration results from the Andover West project in the West Pilbara region.

    This project comprises over 100km2 of prospective ground located approximately 40km east-southeast of Karratha and south of the Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX: AZS) owned Andover LCT Pegmatite project, which was recently acquired by Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE: SQM) and Hancock Prospecting.

    The release reveals that the ASX lithium stock has identified a large (~ 1.6km x 1km) stacked pegmatite swarm at Andover West. It also notes that there was highly anomalous Li Soil trend (peak 325ppm Li2O).

    These anomalous lithium soil trends are along strike and 1.7km from the Raiden Resources Ltd (ASX: RDN) lithium pegmatite discovery that reported 3.8% Li2O rock chip.

    Management also notes the fertility of pegmatite swarm, highlighted by extensive background Li soil anomalism (>100ppm Li2O).

    An Andover Heritage Clearance Survey is now scheduled to be undertaken this month with planning for a drill program also underway. Field teams have been mobilised to the Pinderi Hills JV with sampling underway.

    Management commentary

    The ASX lithium stock’s executive chairman, Thomas Reddicliffe, appeared to be delighted with the exploration update. He commented:

    We are excited not only by the recognition of this large pegmatite swarm which lies adjacent to Azure minerals Andover project but also because we can now focus in on the lithium fertile zones within these broad pegmatite packages.

    Reddicliffe believes this update may have only “hit the tip of the iceberg” and is looking forward to digging deeper into the Andover West project in the coming months. He adds:

    We believe that we may have only hit the tip of the iceberg with these lithium fertile zones within the pegmatite packages and with their shallow dips we have the opportunity to explore for higher grades down dip. Being along strike and in proximity to the Raiden lithium pegmatites we are optimistic of our chances and keen to do some exploratory drilling.

    Errawarra Resources shares are now up over 350% on a monthly basis.

    The post  ‘Tip of the iceberg’: Why this ASX lithium stock has exploded 200% in a week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Azure Minerals 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 Azure Minerals 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.

  • How the latest Aussie jobs figures just lit the ASX 200 on fire

    Three happy men with moustaches cooking on a BBQ with flames leaping up.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is smoking hot today.

    The benchmark index was already up a very impressive 1.5% at 11.30am AEST.

    That strong run was driven by some encouraging inflation data out of the United States.

    With inflation ticking lower in the world’s top economy, investors are increasingly optimistic about the prospects of one or more 2024 interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve.

    Investors reacted by sending the S&P 500 (INDEXSP: .INX) up 1.2% to close at a new all-time high.

    And with the ASX 200 surging another 0.3% between 11.30am and noon, putting it up 1.8% in intraday trading, the Aussie benchmark is within spitting distance of resetting its own all-time closing high.

    That record was set on 28 March when the index closed at 7,896.9 points. At time of writing, the ASX 200 stands at 7,890.5 points.

    Here’s why investors are bullish on the latest Aussie jobs data.

    ASX 200 leaps on unemployment figures

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the latest jobs data for the month of April at 11.30am.

    April saw the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hit 4.1%, up from 3.9% in March.

    “With employment rising by around 38,000 people and the number of unemployed growing by 30,000 people, the unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, and the participation rate increased to 66.7%,” Bjorn Jarvis, ABS head of labour statistics said.

    While that’s not good news for job seekers, it indicates a slowing economy. And the jobs data looks to have sent the ASX 200 even higher today as it also ups the odds of interest rate cuts from the RBA in 2024.

    However, Jarvis noted that the Aussie labour market still remained tight by historic standards.

    According to Jarvis:

    The employment-to-population ratio remained steady at 64.0% in April, indicating that recent employment growth is broadly keeping pace with population growth. This suggests that the labour market remains tight, though less tight than late 2022 and early 2023.

    Sell in May and go away?

    Sell in May and go away?

    I don’t think so!

    With today’s smoking hot intraday gains, the ASX 200 is almost certain to close well into the green today. That will see the benchmark index closing up for nine out of the last 11 trading sessions!

    And at the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up 4.1% since the closing bell rang on 1 May.

    Indeed, loyal readers (I know you’re out there!) may recall the piece I penned this Tuesday.

    In the article, I highlighted both the overnight US inflation print and today’s Aussie jobs data as potentially setting the ASX 200 up for a “huge day” today.

    I don’t generally toot my own horn.

    So please forgive the following.

    Toot!

    The post How the latest Aussie jobs figures just lit the ASX 200 on fire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Patriot Battery Metals share price rockets 11% on new lithium drilling results

    A young woman holding her phone smiles broadly and looks excited, after receiving good news.

    The Patriot Battery Metals Inc. CDI (ASX: PMT) share price soared 11.25% higher on Thursday after the company released new lithium drilling results.

    The ASX lithium stock rose to an intraday high of 89 cents before settling back to 87 cents, up 8.7%, at the time of writing.

    Today’s rise means Patriot Battery Metals has more than recovered its share price losses from yesterday.

    The miner’s shares fell 5.39% on Wednesday following news that a nine-month memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Albemarle Corp (NYSE: ALB) had concluded and would not be extended.

    Let’s take a look at those drilling results.

    Patriot Battery Metals share price rises on drilling results

    Patriot Battery Metals has released a new batch of core assay results for drill holes completed this year at the CV5 spodumene pegmatite at its Corvette Lithium Project in Quebec.

    The results show “continued strong lithium mineralization over wide intervals” from infill drilling.

    Here are some details:

    • 122.5 m at 1.42% Li2O, including 35.8 m at 2.15% Li2O (CV24-405)
    • 71.4 m at 1.57% Li2O, including 14.2 m at 3.15% Li2O (CV24-435)
    • 68.7 m at 1.56% Li2O and 22.5 m at 1.04% Li2O (CV24-414)
    • 74.9 m at 1.28% Li2O, including 28.1 m at 2.28% Li2O (CV24-423A)
    • 53.0 m at 1.22% Li2O, including 25.0 m at 1.65% Li2O (CV24-450).

    The CV5 spodumene pegmatite has a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 109.2 Mt at 1.42% Li2O inferred. Patriot Battery Metals is hoping for results that will support an upgrade from an inferred to an indicated MRE. The company is now awaiting results from 67 more drill holes in the C5 zone.

    The company is also waiting for results from 44 drill holes in the newly discovered high-grade C13 zone. Patriot is targeting a maiden C13 resource estimate in the third quarter of this year.

    What did management say?

    Darren L. Smith, Vice President of Exploration, commented:

    Another round of CV5 core assays from our infill program and it continues to deliver to expectations.

    Coupled with the new highgrade discovery at CV13, the 2024 winter program’s results continue to demonstrate the quality and scale on show at Corvette.

    What’s next for the Corvette Lithium Project?

    As we covered yesterday, Patriot Battery Metals and Albemarle had been assessing partnership opportunities to study the viability of a downstream lithium hydroxide plant in Canada or the United States for the Corvette Project.

    Albermarle is Patriot’s biggest shareholder with a 6.4% stake.

    With the MoU concluded, Patriot now intends to talk to other downstream companies in the lithium supply chain.

    Management said interest from other potential partners had risen as the scale and quality of the Corvette Project had become increasingly clear.

    Patriot Battery Metals president and CEO Ken Brinsden said they were “excited by the intense market interest in the Corvette project”.

    Brinsden said:

    As we move forward, Patriot is eager to expand its operations and explore new partnerships that support the growing demand for lithium raw materials and chemicals in North America and Europe.

    We also look forward to continuing our productive relationship with Albemarle in a flexible, non-exclusive format.

    The post Patriot Battery Metals share price rockets 11% on new lithium drilling results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.