Author: openjargon

  • This ASX mining share is surging 26% on ‘high-grade’ drilling results

    Encounter Resources Ltd (ASX: ENR) shares are catching the eye of investors on Monday.

    At one stage, the ASX mining share was up as much as 26% to a new high of 92 cents.

    The niobium explorer’s shares have eased back a touch since then but remain up 16% to 85 cents at the time of writing.

    Why is this ASX mining share surging?

    The catalyst for today’s gain has been the release of drilling results from the Aileron project in Western Australia.

    According to the release, aircore drilling has intersected further shallow, high-grade mineralisation at the West Arunta-based project.

    At the Crean target, continuous near-surface carbonatite was intersected across the four aircore drill lines completed to the west of previous drilling. Previously reported assay results from the most western aircore drill line returned shallow high-grade niobium mineralisation.

    Management notes that mineralisation at Crean is strongest on the two western sections. Pleasingly, it remains open to the west. As a result, the aircore drill rig has now returned to Crean to complete 200m spaced drill lines to extend this high-grade, near surface mineralisation further to the west.

    Over at the Emily target, as a reminder, fifteen widely spaced reverse circulation holes were completed by the ASX mining share late last year. Emily is centred on a magnetic low on the Endurance Fault, which is northwest of the world class Luni discovery owned by WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1).

    Management advised that 10 of the 15 reconnaissance holes intersected carbonatite. The carbonatite at Emily is variably anomalous in niobium and rare earth elements (REE) with shallow, high-grade niobium-REE intersected in two adjacent holes 400m apart.

    Its latest aircore drilling tested the north-south extent mineralisation intersected previously. The good news is the first assays received from Emily returned shallow, high-grade niobium-REE mineralisation north and south of there. Additional aircore drilling at Emily will be completed in July/August to establish strike extent of the high-grade mineralisation identified.

    The ASX mining share’s executive chairman, Will Robinson, commented:

    Aircore drilling is defining new belts of shallow niobium-REE carbonatite hosted mineralisation in the West Arunta. Highly enriched, near surface mineralisation has now been intersected at both the Crean and Emily targets which are located on separate structures at Aileron, over 10km apart. The aircore rig is currently completing further drill sections at the western end of Crean and will then return to Emily and Green.

    The post This ASX mining share is surging 26% on ‘high-grade’ drilling results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Encounter 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 Encounter 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 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.

  • Is the FY25 outlook compelling for AMP shares?

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

    AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares have not performed well compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). In the 12 months to 30 June 2024, AMP shares fell by 2.6%, as shown on the chart below, while the ASX 200 rose by 7.8%. Therefore, the ASX financial share underperformed by over 10%.

    Of course, it’s important to note that AMP’s financial year follows the calendar year, so while the Australian 2024 tax year is over, AMP still has another six months of its FY24 to go.

    AMP has been facing headwinds in recent times from banking competition and a shifting environment in the financial advice space. Analysts are not expecting a spectacular recovery for the company, but have suggested it could see profit slowly climb.

    Before considering the outlook for the next 12 months or so, let’s review the latest financial updates from AMP.

    Earnings recap

    In the FY23 result, which was released in February 2024, AMP said its underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew by 6.5% to $196 million. It also paid a 2023 final dividend per share of 2 cents.

    AMP Bank said its underlying NPAT was $93 million, down from $103 million in FY22. The decline was due to a weaker net interest margin (NIM) compression and growth moderation. Its platforms’ underlying NPAT of $90 million was higher than FY22’s $65 million. The advice underlying net loss was $47 million, an improvement of 30.9%.

    In mid-April, the business revealed its quarterly update for the three months to March 2024.

    It said AMP Bank’s total loan book was $23.5 billion at March 2024, down from $24.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. AMP Bank total deposits grew to $21.4 billion, up from $21.3 billion in the 2024 fourth quarter.

    Platforms net cash flows were $201 million, up 32% year over year. North inflows from independent financial advisers (IFAs) increased 22% year over year to $544 million. Platforms assets under management (AUM) increased to $74.3 billion, up from $71.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    AMP also said its superannuation and investments AUM increased to $54.1 billion, up from $51.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, with net cash outflows reducing to $371 million (down from $610 million of net cash outflows in the first quarter of 2023).

    Finally, New Zealand wealth management net cash outflows were $5 million, while AUM increased to $11.2 billion.

    Outlook for FY24 and FY25 for AMP shares

    At the time of the 2024 first quarter update, AMP Chief Executive Alexis George said:

    We are navigating the headwinds faced by AMP Bank by carefully managing our loan and deposit books, to help address margin pressures. We are making good progress on the development of our digital small business and consumer bank offer, launching in Q1 25, to lessen funding risks over the medium term by broadening the customer base and introducing a compelling transaction account offer that will help diversify and build deposits.

    Our wealth management businesses, Platforms, Superannuation & Investments and New Zealand, benefited from the positive investment markets, while in Australia pension payments increased as we continue to see the impact of the lifting of minimum drawdown limits that came into effect in July 2023.

    In terms of projections, UBS forecasts AMP to make a net profit of $220 million in FY24 and pay a dividend per share of 5 cents.

    The broker predicts AMP’s net profit can rise by 15% to $253 million in FY25. According to UBS, AMP shareholders are forecast to receive a dividend per share of 7 cents in FY25.

    UBS calls AMP shares a sell, with a price target of 98 cents.

    The post Is the FY25 outlook compelling for AMP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Amp 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 Amp 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 Tristan Harrison 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.

  • Buy this ASX tech stock with a $600b opportunity

    If you’re wanting to invest in the tech sector, then you may want to consider Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) shares.

    That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which see value in the investment platform provider’s shares and a huge long-term growth opportunity.

    What is the broker saying about this ASX tech stock?

    Firstly, if you’re not familiar with the company, it is a specialist investment platform provider with over $100 billion in funds under administration (FUA). The vast majority of this relates to custodial services that provide financial intermediaries with a consolidated way to acquire, hold, and administer a broad range of investments.

    Last week, Bell Potter initiated coverage on the ASX tech stock with a buy rating and $53.20 price target.

    Based on its current share price of $46.88, this implies potential upside of approximately 13.5% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Commenting on its initiation, the broker said the following:

    We initiate on HUB with a Buy recommendation and a Target Price of $53.20 p/s. Our favourable investment view is supported by: (1) changes in advice, with investment professionals shifting away from institutionally owned platforms while seeking comprehensive technology solutions; (2) single digit market share and leading capital flows; and (3) increases to the super guarantee contribution and rollovers into self-managed super funds.

    $600 billion opportunity

    Bell Potter highlights that the area of the market that Hub24 operates is suffering from a lack of investment in technology. In light of this, it sees Hub24 as well-positioned to capture an estimated $600 billion in FUA from incumbents on legacy systems. It adds:

    Traditional Dealer Group attrition and a decade of underinvestment in technology has been a tailwind for specialist platform providers. Incumbents with legacy systems have ~$600bn in total FUA that could be redistributed in the medium-term. Adviser ratings recognised HUB as the best functional platform for the second consecutive year and we see this as an opportunity to upsell on capital flows.

    So, with this ASX tech stock having such a bright future and trading at a discount to rival Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL), it feels now is the time for investors to invest. Bell Potter concludes:

    Netwealth is trading on a blended 1 year forward EV/EBITDA of 32.9x with lower forecast FUA and mature EBIT margins. We don’t believe HUB’s trading discount of ~26% is justified and see the potential for it to rerate, predicated on superior technology, recurring revenue growth and operating leverage.

    The post Buy this ASX tech stock with a $600b opportunity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Hub24 Limited right now?

    Before you buy Hub24 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 Hub24 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 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 Hub24 and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Core Lithium share price leaps 9% as results catch short sellers by surprise

    Female miner standing smiling in a mine.

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is soaring higher today.

    Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium stock closed Friday trading for 9.1 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for 9.9 cents apiece, up 8.8%.

    For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.2% at this time.

    This outperformance follows the release of the lithium miner’s preliminary results for FY 2024, which caught a raft of short sellers wrong-footed today.

    Here’s what the company just reported.

    Why is the Core Lithium share price surging?

    Investors are bidding up the Core Lithium share price on Monday after the company revealed it had exceeded its FY 2024 production guidance. Over the 12 months, Core produced 95,020 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene concentrate and shipped 97,423 dmt.

    That tops management’s revised guidance of 90,000dmt-95,000dmt of production. And the spodumene concentrate sales exceeded revised guidance of 80,000dmt-90,000dmt.

    This was aided by the quarter just past, which saw record shipments of spodumene concentrate of 33,027 dmt, atop of 19,771 dmt of lithium fines.

    Lithium fines sales in FY 2024 came in at 66,140 dmt.

    And the balance sheets took a turn for the better, with Core Lithium reporting an unaudited cash balance of $87.6 million at 30 June, up from $80.4 million at the end of March. The company has no debt.

    The miner said it will now pause its Finniss operations, with restart assessments currently underway. It will now prioritise the safe preservation of the Finniss assets in a restart ready state.

    Core is also preparing to commence drilling programs at Shoobridge, Finniss and Napperby. Results of that drilling campaign are expected in the coming months.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results sending the Core Lithium share price soaring today, CEO Paul Brown said, “I would like to commend the team on the operational performance in FY24, particularly the safe and orderly cessation of production activities at Finniss while achieving record production and shipments.”

    Brown added:

    Our commitment is to judiciously protect our balance sheet by reducing costs across the organisation and making prudent investments in our assets where we believe it can grow shareholder value.

    Central to this is putting Finniss in a position where operations can rapidly resume with minimal capital. This would only occur when we are confident the lithium market conditions support such a decision.

    Our strategic focus will be on making Finniss a more robust operation in the future, and exploration is a key enabler of this.

    In FY 2025, we will be drill testing priority targets around Finniss, potentially adding meaningful life to future lithium mining operations. We will also be advancing earlier stage, low multi-commodity exploration activities within our Northern Territory landholding to demonstrate the value in these projects.

    Our business will stay agile and prepared for future opportunities, both within the company and externally, as they arise.

    Core Lithium share price snapshot

    Despite today’s bounce, the Core Lithium share price remains down 89% over 12 months.

    The post Core Lithium share price leaps 9% as results catch short sellers by surprise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Core Lithium 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 Core Lithium 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

    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.

  • A 5-day vacation in Bali 13 years ago changed his entire career plan. Now, he’s married with 2 kids and calls the island home.

    A lounge chair is positioned in front of glass doors that overlook the pool.
    Glass doors let natural light into the home.

    • Simen Platou fell in love with Bali, Indonesia, during a 5-day vacation.
    • Those days stretched into 6 months, and eventually, he decided the island was where he wanted to live.
    • It's been 13 years since he left Norway, and he doesn't think he'll move back anytime soon.

    It's been 13 years since Simen Platou moved to Bali from Norway, and he remembers his first visit to the Indonesian island clearly.

    Back then, he was doing an internship in Vietnam, and a group of Indonesian couch surfers who were living with him planted the idea of visiting Bali in his head.

    Intrigued by their stories, Platou decided he wanted to see the island for himself. A week before he was due to depart for Bali, Platou realized he wasn't enjoying his internship at all.

    So he quit, hopped on the flight, and never looked back.

    A man, woman, and two kids smiling for the camera.
    Simen Platou with his wife Jennifer and their two kids.

    "It was before social media and everything, I didn't know anything about Bali at all. I had never seen a picture of Bali. I didn't know that Westerners even lived here," Platou, 38, told Business Insider. "But when I realized that it was a possibility, it just completely changed my whole outlook."

    What was meant to be a five-day vacation stretched into six months. Platou then returned to Norway to start his master's degree in finance, sticking to the original plan he had set for himself.

    But after six months in Norway, the allure of Bali was too hard to resist, and Platou never did complete his master's.

    "I decided I wanted to be here in Bali instead," he added.

    Finding a place in Bali

    A view of the pool and the exterior of a villa as viewed from the second floor.
    The exterior of the villa.

    When Platou first started living in Bali in 2011, he stayed in a communal home in Kuta, a region near the south of the island. Known for its surf scene, Kuta was also one of the first tourist developments in Bali.

    "I had a fan and a shared bathroom with four other people," Platou said. He said he paid 1 million Indonesian rupiah, or $60, a month for the room.

    In 2014, as other parts of Bali slowly developed, Platou moved further north to Kerobokan — an area sandwiched between Seminyak and Canggu — where he still lives, now with his wife and two kids.

    The sofa takes prime position in the living room.
    The sofa in the living area.

    His three-bedroom house is a leasehold property on a 20-year lease.

    He first leased it for two years at 170 million Indonesian rupiah, before renewing his lease for another two years at the same amount. He's since extended his lease for another 15 years — until 2034 — at 370 million Indonesian rupiah for every five years.

    This averages out to 6.04 million rupiah, or about $370, a month.

    Platou's two-story villa is tucked away in a quiet street, next to three other villas owned by the same landlord.

    The open-plan living and dining area.
    The open-plan living and dining area.

    On the first floor, there's an open-plan living and dining area, a kitchen, and a home office. Upstairs, there's a TV room and two bedrooms.

    "One is meant to be the kids' bedroom while the other is supposed to be my and my wife's room, but now I'm sleeping with my daughter, and my wife is sleeping with my son," Platou said.

    The wooden table sits six.
    The dining table.

    The property was brand new when he moved in, but it's been renovated twice over the past few years in order to accommodate his growing family.

    "When I moved in, I never thought that I was going to have a family here and everything, so we kind of done it as we've gone along," he said.

    The baby fence around the pool and the new doors that close in their first-floor living space are fairly new additions.

    A lounge chair by the kitchen counter.
    A lounge chair by the kitchen counter.

    "Before that, we had no AC in here," Platou added.

    The house wasn't built with the best materials, which caused things in the house to deteriorate quickly, he said.

    Even though he doesn't own the property, Platou says that he's paid for everything that he's changed — from the water pump to the kitchen — out of pocket.

    A white sofa sits in the living room on the upper floor of their villa.
    A sofa on the upper floor of their villa.

    "I am OK with that because I spend so much time here and because I've locked in the rent so early that it's relatively cheap, so it's still worth it," he said.

    Although he has another 10 years left on his lease, he's hoping to build a new house elsewhere for his family soon.

    Embracing a slower pace of life

    Platou's done a lot of different things since he moved to Bali, from starting his own clothing business to doing marketing for insurance companies.

    The kids' room is colorful and filled with murals.
    The kids' room.

    In the past couple of years, Platou's been investing in real estate. He's currently completing two holiday villa rentals in Pererenan, near Canggu.

    As an entrepreneur, Platou says he loves the flexibility in Bali.

    "I work for myself, and I can work whenever I want to, but the best thing about Bali is that everyone else does it too," Platou said. This is different from what life was like in Norway.

    A bed by the kids' sleeping area.
    Platou and his wife sleep with their kids.

    "With my work hours in Norway, I wouldn't have anyone to hang out with," Platou said. "Even when I go there in the summer, the friends that don't have vacation, we can't meet up — it doesn't matter that I have time off. But here, everyone has similar schedules so it's easy to gather."

    It's also easy for him to meet new people who have similar interests.

    "Moving here as an adult, I think it would be easy as long as you put yourself out there a little bit," Platou said. "I feel like here, if you want to meet people, you'll meet people."

    One of the bathrooms in the house.
    One of the bathrooms in the house.

    It also helps that the expat community in Bali is large, Platou said that many others he's met along the way have the same attitude toward making friends and letting new people in.

    Like many locals, Platou has a motorbike that he uses to get around the island quickly. And it's another contributor to his social life.

    "If I'm going to meet up with a friend, it's easy for me to go anywhere. In Norway, it's like I have to check what time the metro runs and how far the walk is on each side," he said.

    The pool.
    There's a child fence around the pool.

    But the best part of Bali has, by far, been the people, he said.

    "I've always experienced people's willingness to help," Platou said. "When I first started my clothing line here, I didn't know anything about production or design. But all the people I met were just so helpful. They took me to factories, showed me how to do it, and let me sell stuff in their stores. I think in other places people would probably be a bit more competitive."

    Bali is continuing to change

    Platou has a word of caution for those who want to move to Bali. Because of how quickly the island is developing, it may look and feel different from what people expect.

    "You have to be a little bit mindful of your long-term plans. So don't build a villa rice field view because it could be gone in six months.

    Lastly, the island has more to offer than popular tourist spots such as Canggu and Seminyak, he said.

    "I think a lot of people when they come here, expect the tropical life but end up moving to what is now a semi-city," Platou added.

    Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you've got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Could this ASX dividend share offer a huge 11% yield in 2026?

    A strong female athlete powers up as she runs and leaps into the air.

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) is a leading shoe retailer, but it’s also usually an impressive ASX dividend share. In 2026, it’s projected to have a very large dividend yield.

    This business acts as the distributor for a number of global shoe brands including Vans, Hoka, Kappa, Skechers, Herschel, Sebago, Merrell, CAT, Saucony, Dr Martens, Palladium, Ugg, Autry, Superga and Timberland.

    It also owns several businesses, including The Athlete’s Foot, Nude Lucy, Article One, Stylerunner, Lulu and Rose, Platypus, Glue Store, and Hype.

    Due to its retail nature, the business usually trades on a relatively low price/earnings (P/E) ratio, which can enable a fairly high dividend yield.

    Huge projected dividend yield

    Accent’s FY24 result may show some disappointing year-over-year profit numbers because of the weak consumer environment at the moment. Households don’t have as much to spend at the moment because of high interest rates, high rent and inflation of other costs.

    However, conditions could start improving in FY25 and rebound in FY26, according to the projections on Commsec.

    The ASX dividend share is predicted to pay an annual dividend per share of 12.2 cents in FY24. That’d be a grossed-up dividend yield of 9.4%.

    In 2025, owners of Accent shares could receive a dividend per share of 13.5 cents. If that projection comes true, it will equate to a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.4%.

    Then, in 2026, the company could pay an annual dividend per share of 15 cents. Incredibly, that implies a possible grossed-up dividend yield of 11.5%. There aren’t many S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares that are projected to pay a dividend yield of more than 10% in FY26.

    Can the ASX dividend share’s earnings grow?

    FY24 is likely to be a fairly weak report, but I think there could be positives to focus on regarding the future.

    Australian inflation has reduced compared to last year, which could mean that Accent’s costs, like rent and wages, stop increasing as fast in FY25 and FY26.

    One of the main drivers of Accent’s earnings for the foreseeable future is its ongoing store rollout. It reached 888 stores in the FY24 first half and planned to open at least 20 new stores in the second half of FY24.

    The company sees a continued store rollout opportunity “in both its core banners and new businesses.” The ASX dividend share also believes there is a “significant growth opportunity” with its online sales as well.

    Pleasingly, the underlying gross profit margin continues to improve, which can support the other profit margin levels.

    Another positive for Accent is that its total ‘owned’ sales in the year to date to the end of January were up 1.6%.

    According to the estimate on Commsec, the Accent share price is valued at just 11x FY26’s estimated earnings.

    The post Could this ASX dividend share offer a huge 11% yield in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Accent 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 Accent 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Accent Group. 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 recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Zip shares FY24 recap: Up 256%, what’s next for FY25?

    A young woman smiles as she rides a zip line high above the trees.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares wrapped up FY24 on a high. Over the 12 months to June 28 2024, shares in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock soared 256% into the green.

    The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) didn’t even come close to that result.

    Investors are eager to know what the future holds for the BNPL player. Especially as gains have continued into the new financial year.

    Let’s dive into the factors driving the recent performance and explore the expert outlook for FY25.

    Why are Zip shares soaring?

    Zip share price performance was impressive through the COVID-19 pandemic years. Investors sent the stock on a meteoric rise to an all-time high of $12.35 per share in February 2021.

    They plunged not long after, wiping billions in market capitalisation from the company’s value. The selling continued until October last year when investors returned to buy Zip shares at lows of 25.5 cents per share.

    Fast forward to today, and Zip shares have rebounded to their current price of $1.65.

    Zip’s business performance under new management has been a major driver of its stock price recently. The company shifted from an aggressive growth strategy to a more sustainable, profitable model, garnering positive sentiment from investors.

    Tyndall Asset Management’s James Nguyen highlighted this transformation as a key differentiator from its BNPL peers. Speaking to The Australian Financial Review, Nguyen said:

    [Zip] was previously a market darling, capitalised at over $6 billion despite reporting losses of more than $200 million per annum. Higher interest rates, loose credit leading to high bad debts, and a weaker consumer resulted in significant shareholder value losses.

    While the macro environment is now more supportive, it is the company-specific turnaround under new management that sets Zip apart from its BNPL counterparts. Growth for growth’s sake has been abandoned, as has its international domination aspirations, and in place is a sustainable, profitable growth strategy.

    Nguyen says Zip’s focus on profitability over growth for growth’s sake is paying off. Within 18 months, the company expects to earn nearly $100 million in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).

    Additionally, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) decision to cancel its BNPL service in the United States, Apple Pay Later, appears to have increased investor confidence. This reduction in competition could help Zip increase its market share in the lucrative American market.

    What’s next for Zip shares in FY25?

    UBS and Ord Minnett both maintain buy ratings for Zip shares, setting price targets of $1.55 apiece, respectively.

    According to CommSec, the stock is rated a buy from consensus. Out of the seven firms covering Zip, five rate it a buy directly, four say it’s a hold, and one firm rates it a sell.

    Looking ahead, Zip’s ability to maintain its profitability focus while growing market share will be crucial, in my view.

    One key area to monitor is Zip’s performance in the US market, where it has shown significant growth. Apple’s decision to withdraw from the BNPL race could be a tailwind.

    Setting context for this, in its most recent quarterly results, Zip reported a 14.6% year-on-year increase in transaction volume to $2.4 billion despite a 3% rise in active customers to 6 million.

    But US revenues were up more than 49% to US$74.3 million, underscored by a 43% growth in transaction volume there.

    Foolish takeaway

    Zip shares have delivered stellar gains in FY24, locking in triple-digit gains for the year.

    As the company continues its transformation under new management, the outlook for FY25 remains promising but requires careful monitoring. As always, remember to conduct your own due diligence.

    The post Zip shares FY24 recap: Up 256%, what’s next for FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Zip Co right now?

    Before you buy Zip Co 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 Zip Co 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 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 Zip Co. 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.

  • 2 ASX 200 gold stocks racing higher on record results

    A number of ASX 200 gold stocks are pushing higher on Monday. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index rising by an impressive 1.7% in morning trade.

    This catalyst for this has been a solid rise in the gold price on Friday night amid interest rate cut hopes.

    In addition, a couple of updates have given the shareholders of two ASX 200 gold stocks a reason to smile today. Let’s dig a little deeper into these updates now:

    Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

    The Ramelius share price is up 3.5% to $1.98. This morning, this ASX 200 gold stock revealed that it achieved a production record of 293,033 ounces for FY 2024. This means that it has hit the upper end of its upgraded guidance of 285,000 to 295,000 ounces.

    Another positive is that management expects its full year all-in sustaining costs (AISC) to be at the lower end of its upgraded guidance range of A$1,550 to A$1,650 per ounce.

    This underpinned total free cash flow of A$315.8 million for the 12 months, boosting its cash and gold balance to A$446.6 million. The latter is up from a balance of $272.1 million at the end of FY 2023.

    Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

    The Regis Resources share price is up 6.5% to $1.89. Investors have been buying this ASX 200 gold stock after it released its fourth quarter update.

    During the quarter, the operational performance across its Duketon and Tropicana operations continued to recover from the major rain events that occurred in March. This led to Duketon producing 75,600 ounces of gold, resulting in FY 2024 gold production of 289,900 ounces. This is within its FY 2024 production guidance range.

    Tropicana, which management notes experienced more significant impacts from the rain, has had a slower recovery. It produced 30,800 ounces of gold, resulting in FY 2024 gold production of 127,800 ounces. This was below its FY 2024 production guidance range.

    Nevertheless, this couldn’t stop the gold miner from achieving production of 417,700 ounces of gold for the year. This was within its group production guidance range for the year.

    And with Regis Resources now fully unhedged and receiving a $20 million tax refund, it reported a record $109 million increase in its quarterly cash and bullion balance. At the end of the period, its cash and bullion balance was at its highest ever level of $295 million.

    The post 2 ASX 200 gold stocks racing higher on record results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Ramelius 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 Ramelius 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 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.

  • Guess which ASX mining stock is rocketing 65% on takeover deal

    The market may be having a subdued start to the week, but that hasn’t stopped one ASX mining stock from rocketing higher today.

    At the time of writing, Rex Minerals Ltd (ASX: RXM) shares are up 65% to 45.5 cents.

    Why is this ASX mining stock rocketing?

    Investors have been scrambling to get hold of the copper and gold developer’s shares after it received and accepted a takeover offer.

    According to the release, Rex Minerals has entered into a scheme implementation deed with MACH Metals Australia.

    Under the scheme, it is proposed that MACH will acquire all of the shares in Rex Minerals which it does not already own for cash consideration of 47 cents per share. This represents a 71% premium to where the ASX mining stock ended last week and values the company at $393 million.

    The release notes that the MACH offer was received following a competitive global partnering process. This process was focused on the $854 million funding and subsequent development pathway for the Hillside Copper-Gold Project in South Australia.

    The Rex Minerals board carefully assessed the offer against a range of other alternatives. After taking into account the risks and potential ownership dilution associated with a stand-alone development of Hillside, it decided the offer was the superior option.

    As a result, the ASX mining stock’s board unanimously recommends that shareholders support the transaction by voting in favour of it. This is in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the independent expert’s report.

    ‘Significant premium’

    Rex Minerals’ CEO and managing director, Richard Laufmann, said:

    The Transaction provides certainty of value and a significant premium representing a 98% uplift relative to Rex’s 90-day VWAP, as well as the opportunity for Rex shareholders to realise their investment at a 10-year historical share price high. This Transaction also represents a more certain outcome for wider stakeholders in Hillside, including the local community, the South Australian Government and Rex employees who will benefit from the significant financial strength and proven track record of MACH to deliver the successful development of Hillside.

    The South Australian Government has been a leader in Australia in support of decarbonisation and copper development. The successful development of Hillside will very much align with their strategy. Subject to approvals, we look forward to working with MACH through to completion and watching them develop the Hillside Project, Australia’s largest fully permitted and shovel ready copper project.

    The post Guess which ASX mining stock is rocketing 65% on takeover deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Rex 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 Rex 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 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.

  • Why I’m bullish about this exciting ASX small-cap share

    A man in a business suit holding a baby conducts a task on his phone

    The ASX small-cap share section of the market is full of stocks with the potential to deliver good returns. An ASX tech small cap with a compelling future is particularly exciting because it can deliver higher profit margins.

    One such company is Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART). It claims to be Australia’s leading online marketplace for local services, connecting people and businesses that need work done with people who want to work.

    Airtasker shares have been trending higher in the last couple of weeks, as shown in the chart above. I believe there is plenty more to come over the long term.

    High gross profit margin

    Airtasker has an enormous gross profit margin of more than 90%, which means that almost all of its revenue turns into usable gross profit. With gross profit, the business can spend on growth activities such as advertising and development while also potentially achieving stronger cash flow and better earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin.

    The business is now achieving profit rather than losses, which is an important milestone.

    In the third quarter, Airtasker achieved a positive free cash flow of $2.5 million, an improvement of $5.1 million year over year. The group EBITDA was $0.6 million in the third quarter, up $1.5 million compared to the prior corresponding period.

    Thanks to growing scale benefits, I think the cash flow margin and EBITDA margin can significantly increase in the coming years.

    Strong revenue growth

    With good margins, the ASX small-cap share just needs to grow its revenue to deliver good financial progress.

    The business revealed its group revenue was $12.2 million in the third quarter of FY24, with Airtasker marketplace revenue growing by 11.5% to $10.1 million.

    The company said the revenue growth was driven by a “recovery in consumer demand (posted tasks) from the prior year as well as successful funnel optimisation programs, including a revised cancellation policy designed to improve platform reliability and address task leakage.”

    Those programs saw cancellations reduce by 23.9% year over year, resulting in the ‘monetisation rate’ improving by 12.8% year over year to 20.5% for the ASX small-cap share.

    Airtasker recently made agreements with media businesses oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML) and ARN Media Ltd (ASX: A1N) for $11 million to grow its brand awareness.

    Large addressable market

    Users can advertise almost any task on Airtasker, including removalists, home cleaning, furniture assembly, deliveries, gardening and landscaping, painting and other handyperson work, business and admin, photography, and many more. There are many categories with a high annual value of work.

    Airtasker is growing rapidly in the United Kingdom — a much bigger market than Australia — partly thanks to its partnership with Channel 4. In the FY24 third quarter, UK posted tasks increased by 49.1% year over year.

    It has a smaller presence in the United States, but it’s growing there too. FY24 US gross marketplace value (GMV) went up 23% from a small base. It’s seeing “healthy growth” in marketplace activity while “maintaining a disciplined approach to investment” as it explores “several media partnership opportunities.”

    I think the international growth could power this ASX small-cap share much higher.

    The post Why I’m bullish about this exciting ASX small-cap share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Arn Media right now?

    Before you buy Arn Media 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 Arn Media 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 Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Airtasker. 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.