Category: Stock Market

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A young man in a city street with a hopeful look on his face.

    A young man in a city street with a hopeful look on his face.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) turned a corner this Thursday and recorded its first day of gains, if only just, since Monday’s session.

    By the time trading wrapped up today, the ASX 200 had risen by 0.037% up to 7,611.2 points, despite spending time in both positive and negative territory during intra-day trading.

    This mild performance for ASX shares this Thursday follows a similar night of trading over on the US markets.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) also spent time in both camps but ended up falling over the line and rising 0.13%.

    The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) went the other way though, dropping by 0.32%.

    But back to the ASX now, so let’s check out how the various ASX sectors handled today’s trading.

    Winners and losers

    We had a bit of a mixed bag amongst the different ASX sectors this Thursday.

    Leading the losers was the consumer discretionary sector. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had a pretty nasty day, tanking by 0.66%.

    Also on the nose were communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) closed 0.57% lower today.

    Financial shares weren’t in a good mood either, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s retreat of 0.22%.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) again round out the losers list. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) had a fairly average day, slipping by 0.08%.

    Turning now to the winning sectors, these were led by utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) had a wonderful day, putting on a solid 2.01%.

    Energy stocks were also on fire, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s rise of 0.52%.

    ASX tech shares were close behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shooting up by 0.44%.

    Then we had industrials stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was another bright spot, lifting by 0.39%.

    Healthcare shares had a top day as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s increase of 0.27%.

    Mining stocks followed healthcare, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rising by 0.23%.

    Consumer staples shares recovered slightly from yesterday’s cratering. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) vaulted 0.14% higher by the closing bell.

    Finally, gold stocks had a mildly confident day. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up inching 0.08% upward.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s top stock turned out to be fund manager Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL).

    Insignia shares had a rollicking day, surging 13.72% up to $2.57 a share. This move follows the release of what was obviously a very pleasing set of earnings results this morning.

    Here’s how the rest of today’s winners turned out:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) $2.57 13.72%
    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) $4.01 12.96%
    Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) $27.30 10.39%
    Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) $3.61 8.41%
    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) $43.62 7.70%
    Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) $3.70 5.41%
    Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) $4.15 5.33%
    CSR Ltd (ASX: CSR) $8.36 5.16%
    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) $13.76 4.01%
    Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) $7.62 3.81%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 November 2023

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    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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Lovisa, and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Lovisa, and Megaport. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Goldman Sachs says these ASX growth shares are destined for big things

    A woman holds a tape measure against a wall painted with the word BIG, indicating a surge in gowth shares

    A woman holds a tape measure against a wall painted with the word BIG, indicating a surge in gowth shares

    If you want some ASX growth shares to supercharge your portfolio, then it could be worth checking out the two named below.

    Here’s why analysts at Goldman Sachs are tipping them as buys this month:

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    This language testing and student placement company’s shares could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. The broker responded to its half-year results by retaining its buy rating with a $26.60 price target.

    It believes the company is well-positioned for long-term growth thanks to structural tailwinds and its dominant market position. It said:

    We believe IEL’s premium valuation is justified given the medium-term earnings potential driven by: (1) Structural growth in multi-destination placements, supplemented by an ongoing Australian recovery; (2) Ability to grow market share in the highly fragmented Canadian and UK SP markets; (3) Reinvestment in digital capabilities to increase competitive moat and generate new earnings streams.

    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    Another ASX growth share that Goldman Sachs is feeling positive on is data centre operator NextDC. It currently has buy rating and $16.60 price target on its shares.

    The broker believes NextDC is positioned to deliver rapid growth in the coming years thanks to cloud adoption. And with its shares trading at a discount to peers, Goldman believes now is a great time to pounce on them. It said:

    We are particularly positive on NXT and are Buy rated given the rapid growth in cloud adoption, which has been supported by the continued evolution of the enterprise telecommunications market, and the significant demand by both public and private investors for digital infrastructure assets. We believe the company has a compelling growth profile and a proven and profitable business model, noting it trades on a growth-adjusted discount vs. peers, which we view as unjustified.

    The post Goldman Sachs says these ASX growth shares are destined for big things appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. 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. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Northern Star share price dulls despite record $702 million cash earnings

    A young woman holds onto her crown as another moves to take it, indicating rival ASX sharesA young woman holds onto her crown as another moves to take it, indicating rival ASX shares

    The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is ending the day slightly lower after polishing up its latest half-year result.

    Shares in the gold miner finished Thursday 0.8% lower at $13.06. Still, it could have been worse, given the share price reached a 3.6% intraday low of $12.70 before retracing.

    Golden result fails to excite the Northern Star share price

    • Revenue up 15% to A$2,248 million
    • Gold sales relatively flat at 780,785 ounces versus 773,243 in the prior first half
    • Underlying EBITDA up 41% to A$889 million
    • Cash earnings up 50% to a record A$702 million
    • Record interim unfranked dividend of 15 cents per share, up 36%

    What happened in the first half?

    Australia’s biggest gold miner by market capitalisation generated a 50% increase in cash earnings in the half year ended 31 December 2023. The sizeable strengthening of profits is attributable to a 14% jump in the average realised gold price between reporting periods — rising from $2,513 per ounce to $2,873 per ounce.

    The price of gold has held steady around record levels for months now. Currently hovering around A$3,100 an ounce, people are still flocking to the precious metal amid uncertain monetary policy and geopolitical tensions.

    On 21 November last year, Northern Star provided an exploration update. As per the update, drilling more than 130,000 metres yielded discoveries across the company’s various projects, extending “organic growth optionality across all three production centres”.

    The Northern Star share price has trended higher since this update, lifting 9%, as shown below.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the result, Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin said:

    This interim result is a glimpse of the cash-generating potential that our business is positioned for on a sustainable basis as we reach the halfway mark of our low-risk, five-year profitable growth strategy.

    The highlight of our strong half was the performance of the Kalgoorlie Production Centre, which contributed more than half of the Group’s EBITDA and record EBITDA margins of 44% as our largest asset – KCGM – began a new era of mining high-grade Golden Pike North material.

    What about FY24 guidance?

    The company reiterated its previously set guidance for FY2024. Notably, this includes an expected skew towards the second half being stronger. Gold sales are slated to total somewhere between 1.6 million to 1.7 million ounces.

    Elsewhere, Northern Star pencilled its expectations on the cost and investments side for FY24 — a ‘key focus’ for the company as cost pressures persist. The following guidance was given:

    • All-in sustaining costs between $1,730 to $1,790 per ounce
    • Growth capital expenditure between $1.15 billion to $1.25 billion
    • Exploration expenses of $150 million

    Northern Star share price snapshot

    The glimmer of gold has helped the Northern Star share price outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by 18% over the last year.

    While the capital growth beats the benchmark, how does it stack up on an income basis? Considering today’s declared dividend, Northern Star offers a yield of 2.3% compared to the top 200’s 3.8% passive flow.

    The post Northern Star share price dulls despite record $702 million cash earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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    *Returns as of 10 November 2023

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    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.

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  • Morgans names 3 ASX stocks to buy following results

    Two male ASX 200 analysts stand in an office looking at various computer screens showing share prices

    Two male ASX 200 analysts stand in an office looking at various computer screens showing share prices

    Analysts have been working overtime this month, adjusting their financial models and recommendations to reflect the release of results.

    Three ASX stocks that have fared well with analysts at Morgans are listed below. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

    Camplify Holdings Ltd (ASX: CHL)

    This recreational vehicles digital marketplace platform provider could be an ASX stock to buy according to Morgans. It has responded to its half-year results by retaining its add rating and $2.85 price target.

    Although the market didn’t like the result, the broker remains positive. It said:

    The stock closed down ~17% on result day, which we largely attribute to some seasonality in CHL’s key headline metrics (future bookings, gross margins, etc). We make several cost and margin assumption changes over the forecast period (details below). Our price target remains unchanged and we maintain an Add recommendation on the stock.

    Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

    Another ASX stock that was sold off following its results release is this corporate travel specialist. Morgans has responded by holding firm with its add rating but trimming its price target to $20.65.

    While disappointed with its guidance downgrade, it believes it is worth sticking with the company. The broker said:

    The quantum of the earnings downgrade is clearly disappointing. Given the aggressive pivot in earnings guidance from the AGM last year, the market may take time to rebuild its confidence in the outlook. However, if CTD delivers even close to its five-year strategy, the share price will be materially higher in time. We maintain an Add rating with a new price target.

    Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

    Finally, Morgans is a fan of this ASX healthcare stock and has retained its add rating with a $34.05 price target.

    Although Sonic’s result was “mixed”, Morgans believes its turnaround targets are achievable. It said:

    Uniquely, right-sizing for rapidly declining Covid-19 testing revenues (-90%) has combined with recent acquisition costs, pressuring margins and profitability. However, management remains confident in a turnaround, outlining numerous near/medium term drivers supporting underlying profitability and reflected in guidance, which we view as achievable.

    The post Morgans names 3 ASX stocks to buy following results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Camplify. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Camplify, Corporate Travel Management, and Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • CSR share price jumps again as blockbuster bid confirmed

    a woman wearing a hard hat and high visibility vest checks her device in front of a large spool of steel cable.a woman wearing a hard hat and high visibility vest checks her device in front of a large spool of steel cable.

    The CSR Ltd (ASX: CSR) share price has risen 5% at the time of writing after the company confirmed it had received a large takeover bid after the rumours of interest were reported yesterday.

    Takeover offer confirmed

    CSR noted the media speculation about interest from Saint-Gobain about acquiring the ASX building products business.

    The offer is a conditional, non-binding, indicative proposal from the large French business.

    How big is the offer? It’s $9 per share, which is 7.8% higher than the current CSR share price and 25% higher than a week ago.

    Under the offer, CSR would be entitled to pay a final dividend of up to 25 cents per share for its financial year ending 31 March 2024, which would be deducted from the cash offer price.

    As mentioned, the offer is still subject to a number of conditions including satisfactory due diligence, unanimous recommendation from the CSR board to vote in favour of the proposed transaction, regulatory approvals and CSR shareholder approval.

    This large offer from Saint-Gobain came after an earlier indicative offer and a period of negotiation. After having reviewed the proposal, CSR’s board unanimously resolved to pursue the proposal. CSR is currently providing Saint-Gobain with confirmatory due diligence so that it can put forward a binding offer at an agreed CSR share price of $9.

    No certainty of a deal

    The CSR board noted that there is no certainty that the proposal will result in a binding offer and it will keep the market informed as necessary.

    The board also noted shareholders don’t need to take any action about this proposal at this time.

    What next?

    Due diligence can sometimes take a number of weeks, so it could take a while before anything concrete happens.

    Even if an offer is binding, it can require months for all of the different steps to occur. The CSR share price has risen by 44% in the last six months, so shareholders have seen a big rise in the value of their shares.

    The post CSR share price jumps again as blockbuster bid confirmed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 November 2023

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    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.

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  • Why Bega Cheese, Domino’s, Lovisa, and Universal Store shares are rocketing today

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop.

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is lacking direction on Thursday and has just slipped into the red. The benchmark index is currently down slightly to 7,607.6 points.

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

    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

    The Bega Cheese share price is up 15% to $4.07. This follows the release of the diversified food company’s half-year results. The Vegemite owner reported a 3.2% increase in revenue to $1.73 million and a 263% increase in statutory profit after tax to $26.5 million.

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    The Domino’s share price is up almost 7% to $43.24. Investors have been buying this pizza chain operator’s shares since the release of an encouraging half-year result on Wednesday. In addition, this morning analysts at Morgan Stanley responded by reaffirming their overweight rating and $68.00 price target on its shares.

    Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

    The Lovisa share price is up 12% to $27.60. Investors have been buying this fashion jewellery retailer’s shares after it reported an 18.2% increase in revenue to $373 million and a 12% lift in net profit after tax to $53.5 million. A key driver of this first-half growth was its ongoing store expansion. This includes its first store openings in China and Vietnam.

    Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

    The Universal Store share price is up 15% to $4.70. This has been driven by the release of the youth fashion retailer’s half-year results. It reported an 8.5% increase in sales to $158 million and 16.7% jump in net profit after tax to $20.7 million. This allowed Universal Store board to lift its interim dividend by almost 18% to 16.5 cents per share. This dividend alone equates to an attractive 3.5% dividend yield.

    The post Why Bega Cheese, Domino’s, Lovisa, and Universal Store shares are rocketing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Which ASX All Ords stock is diving 18% on FY23 results?

    A man with arms spread yells as he plunges into a swimming pool.A man with arms spread yells as he plunges into a swimming pool.

    ASX All Ords financial stock MA Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MAF) is tanking on Thursday after the company released its full-year FY23 report.

    The MA Financial share price is down 17.26% to $4.65 at the time of writing. It hit an intraday low of $4.60 in earlier trading, representing an 18.14% fall.

    Let’s check out the numbers.

    ASX All Ords financial stock crashes as EPS declines 32%

    Here are the key numbers for the 12 months to 31 December 2023:

    • Underlying revenue down 11% on FY22 to $270 million
    • Underlying earnings per share (EPS) down 32% to 26 cents per share
    • Record annual gross fund inflows of $1.94 billion, up 27%
    • Assets under management (AUM) up 18% to $9.2 billion
    • Annual recurring revenue (ARR) up 23% to $178 million
    • Fully franked final dividend of 14 cents per share payable on 20 March

    What else happened in FY23?

    MA Financial explained that its boosted ARR helped to partially offset the results of a “challenging macroeconomic environment”.

    There was lower corporate advisory transactional activity and revenue, weaker performance fee revenue due to lower asset valuations, and a five cents-per-share negative earnings impact from strategic growth initiatives.

    MA Financial highlighted the 23% boost to ARR, record fund inflows, ongoing growth in Finsure and accelerating loan volume growth for MA Money.

    The company said Finsure managed loans were up 21% on FY22 to $110 billion. The loan book grew by 150% to $983 million due to the accelerating and “extremely pleasing” growth of MA Money.

    What did MA Financial management say?

    Co-CEOs Julian Biggins and Chris Wyke issued a joint statement, commenting:

    We are very pleased with the strong underlying momentum being experienced across the business that sees the Group very much on track to deliver on its FY26 business targets.

    Despite the challenging economic backdrop, we continue to see the benefits of our diversified business model, and our intentional strategy to build a business that can deliver for investors through the economic cycle.

    What’s next for this ASX All Ords stock?

    MA Financial released its annual report alongside its FY23 results today.

    Looking ahead, MA Financial said it expected continued growth in asset management fund inflows.

    However, the recurring revenue margin was expected to be lower in FY24 due to the impact of interest rates on real estate, the sale of approximately $180 million of hospitality assets, and the FY23 margin being elevated due to the strong performance of private credit funds.

    The company is targeting a break-even run rate for MA Money in 2H FY24 and ongoing growth in Finsure’s revenue.

    MA Financial will continue investing in strategic initiatives, including the US Private Credit platform, MA Brand, and MA Money. This is expected to impact FY24 earnings by six cents per share.

    MA Financial share price snapshot

    This ASX All Ords financial stock has fallen 7.4% over the past 12 months.

    Over the same period, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has risen by 4.6%.

    Meantime, another ASX All Ords financial stock is flying today

    Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) shares have soared on news of the company’s 1H FY24 results.

    The Insignia share price is currently $2.57, up 13.5%. It hit an intraday high of $2.63 in earlier trading.

    The company reported a 1.2% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $95.5 million and a statutory NPAT loss of ($49.9 million) compared to $45.1 million in 1H FY23.

    Funds under management increased by 5.4% to $300.6 billion.

    The ASX All Ords financial stock will pay an unfranked interim dividend of 9.3 cents per share on 3 April.

    The post Which ASX All Ords stock is diving 18% on FY23 results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 November 2023

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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 recommended Ma Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why Clinuvel, Medibank, Sayona Mining, and Tabcorp shares are sinking today

    A young male investor wearing a white business shirt screams in frustration with his hands grasping his hair after ASX 200 shares fell rapidly today and appear to be heading into a stock market crash

    A young male investor wearing a white business shirt screams in frustration with his hands grasping his hair after ASX 200 shares fell rapidly today and appear to be heading into a stock market crash

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory on Thursday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up slightly to 7,609.5 points.

    Four ASX shares that are acting as a drag on proceedings today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

    Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV)

    The Clinuvel share price is down 8% to $15.01. This morning, this biopharmaceutical company released its half-year results and reported a 10% increase in revenue but a 4% decline in net profit after tax. This profit decline reflects a “controlled 28% expenses increase.”

    Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL)

    The Medibank share price is down 4.5% to $3.69. Investors have been selling the private health insurer’s shares following the release of its half-year results. Medibank reported a 3.3% lift in revenue to $4,024 million and a 16.3% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $262.5 million. The latter was slightly below the consensus estimate of $265.7 million.

    Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

    The Sayona Mining share price is down 26% to 4.7 cents. This has been driven by news that its largest shareholder, Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL), has offloaded its entire stake in the lithium miner. Piedmont Lithium agreed to sell 1,152.2 million Sayona Mining shares for a deep discount of 5.2 Australian cents per share, bringing in proceeds of $59.9 million.

    Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

    The Tabcorp share price is down 15% to 61.5 cents. This gambling company’s shares are crashing today after investors responded negatively to its half-year results. Tabcorp reported a 5% decline in revenue to $1,210 million and a loss after tax of $636.8 million. The latter was driven by a non-cash impairment charge of $731.9 million after tax to its wagering and media business.

    The post Why Clinuvel, Medibank, Sayona Mining, and Tabcorp shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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  • ASX earnings: What can we expect from Coles shares next week?

    A photo of a young couple who are purchasing fruits and vegetables at a market shop.

    A photo of a young couple who are purchasing fruits and vegetables at a market shop.

    We’re still right in the middle of ASX earnings season this February. During this reporting period, we’ve already heard from the likes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are set to cross the proverbial earnings Rubicon next week on Tuesday, 27 February.

    As one of the ASX’s most widely-known companies, as well as a favourite for income investors, a lot of eyes will be watching Coles shares next Tuesday. So what should ASX investors expect?

    Well, we can’t know for sure until we hear from the company, of course. But we can point out a few things that could indicate what might be in store for shareholders.

    What kind of earnings will Coles shares report next Tuesday?

    Let’s start by going through the numbers that Coles’ arch-rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) revealed this week.

    Aside from the distraction of Woolworths’ CEO Bradford Banducci unceremoniously stepping down at the same time Woolies’ earnings were made public, it was a pretty mixed report for shareholders to go through.

    For the six months to 31 December 2023, Woolworths reported a 4.4% rise in revenues up to $34.84 billion. That helped the company achieve a 2.5% increase in profits before significant items to $929 million. However, Woolworths also recorded a net loss after significant items (mostly the $1.5 billion writedown of Woolworths New Zealand) of $781 million.

    Saying that, the company still rewarded shareholders with a 2.17% rise for Woolworths’ next dividend. Investors are in line to receive the upcoming interim dividend of 47 cents per share, fully franked, on 11 April. That will be an increase of 1 cent per share from the company’s 2023 interim dividend of 46 cents.

    If Coles shares offer investors better numbers next week than what Woolworths gave to investors this week, there’s arguably a good chance investors will take it as a win.

    This is especially pertinent given Coles’ quarterly sales update last October. As we covered at the time, Coles’ numbers for the three months to 30 September 2023 indicated that Coles had lost market share to Woolworths. That was thanks to Woolies reporting a 6.4% sales growth figure for the quarter, which looked a lot better than Coles’ equivalent 3.6% metric.

    So it will be interesting to see if this pattern solidifies in Coles’ upcoming numbers.

    A “subdued year”?

    But investors shouldn’t get their hopes too high, at least according to one ASX broker. Just yesterday, my Fool colleague covered the views of ASX broker Citi on Coles shares. Citi does currently have a buy rating on Coles, with a 12-month share price target of $17.50.

    However, the broker warned investors to expect “a subdued year” in FY2024, with earnings growth only projected to pick up in FY2025 and FY2026.

    But we won’t know for sure how Coles’ first half went until we hear from the company on 27 February. See you then.

    The post ASX earnings: What can we expect from Coles shares next week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Everything you need to know about the supersized Fortescue dividend

    Miner holding cash which represents dividends.Miner holding cash which represents dividends.

    The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) dividend has been supercharged after a big jump in profitability in its FY24 first-half result.

    As a major ASX iron ore share, Fortescue’s profitability has benefitted from an increase in the iron ore price. Average revenue per dry metric tonne (dmt) has jumped 24% to US$108.19, helping Fortescue’s revenue rise by 21% to US$9.5 billion. This led to net profit after tax (NPAT) growth of 41% to US$3.34 billion.

    Big increase to the Fortescue dividend

    Fortescue’s board has boosted the interim dividend by 44% to A$1.08 after a 44% rise in earnings per share (EPS) to A$1.66. This translates to a dividend payout ratio of 65%, so Fortescue is keeping approximately a third of its net profit within the business.

    The company’s dividend policy is to pay between 50% to 80% of full-year of underlying NPAT to shareholders.

    At the current Fortescue share price, the declared dividend has a cash yield of 3.9% and a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.6%.

    Ex-dividend date

    The ex-dividend date is an important one for investors who want the upcoming payment. Interested investors must own Fortescue shares before the ex-dividend date, otherwise they’ll miss out on the payment.

    Fortescue’s nominated ex-dividend date is next Wednesday, 28 February. This means investors will need to own shares by the end of trading on Tuesday to gain the dividend.

    It will be paid on 27 March 2024 — just over a month away, so investors won’t have long to wait.

    The company’s balance sheet has improved materially since June 2023. This includes a 45% improvement of net debt to $569 million, following free cash flow of US$2.66 billion over the period.

    Fortescue share price snapshot

    Despite today’s rise, Fortescue shares are down more than 5% in 2024 to date.

    The post Everything you need to know about the supersized Fortescue dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 November 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Fortescue. 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.

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