Category: Stock Market

  • Conviction list: Goldman Sachs tips big returns from these ASX 200 shares

    A share market analyst looks at his computer screen in front of him showing ASX share price movements

    A share market analyst looks at his computer screen in front of him showing ASX share price movements

    Looking for ASX 200 shares to buy? Then you might want to check out the two shares listed below that are currently on the coveted conviction list of Goldman Sachs.

    These are the ASX 200 shares that Goldman rates incredibly highly and is tipping big returns from. Here’s why the brokers thinks they could be top options for investors right now:

    Lifestyle Communities Limited (ASX: LIC)

    The first ASX 200 share that Goldman Sachs is tipping as a conviction buy is Lifestyle Communities.

    It builds, owns, and operates land lease communities which provide affordable housing options to Australians over 50.

    Goldman Sachs is very positive on the company due to strengthening demand for land lease options, which is being driven by Australians increasingly looking to enhance retirement by releasing equity from the family home. It commented:

    Lifestyle Communities (LIC) is a developer and manager of residential land lease communities in Australia. The long-term outlook for LIC is very positive — we believe outperformance of the stock will be driven by: (1) a step up in the pace of land acquisitions, with industry build rates below demand from an ageing population; (2) structural growth in demand for land lease as the sector increases its penetration among retirees; (3) fundamental valuation support for cap rates.

    Goldman Sachs has a conviction buy rating and $26.00 price target on the company’s shares. This suggests potential upside of 33% for investors from current levels.

    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

    Another ASX 200 share that has been named as a conviction buy is Xero.

    It is a provider of a cloud-based accounting solution used by millions of small businesses globally.

    Although it has been growing strongly for years, Xero could still grow materially in the future. That’s because it only has 3.3 million subscribers out of a total addressable market of 100 million according to Goldman Sachs. This provides it with a huge growth runway over the next decade or two. Goldman commented:

    We see Xero as very well-placed to take advantage of the digitisation of SMBs globally, driven by compelling efficiency benefits and regulatory tailwinds, with >100mn SMBs worldwide representing a >NZ$76bn TAM. Following the recent underperformance (absolute/relative), we see an attractive entry point into a compelling global growth story and our preferred large-cap technology name in ANZ, and are Buy rated (on CL).

    Goldman Sachs has a conviction buy rating and $109.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of almost 35% for investors based on the current Xero share price.

    The post Conviction list: Goldman Sachs tips big returns from these ASX 200 shares 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 February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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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  • Should I buy Santos shares right now for dividend income?

    an oil refinery worker checks her laptop computer in front of a backdrop of oil refinery infrastructure. The woman has a serious look on her face.

    an oil refinery worker checks her laptop computer in front of a backdrop of oil refinery infrastructure. The woman has a serious look on her face.

    Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares have been through plenty of ups and downs. While the Santos share price may be moving like a yo-yo, it’s a good idea to look at how much dividend the business could pay.

    As an oil and gas ASX share, movements in energy prices can have a big impact on the profitability and how much the company is able to send to shareholders.

    So, let’s first consider how much dividend income the business is actually expected to pay out this year.

    Dividend projections

    According to Commsec, Santos could pay an annual dividend per share of 35.2 cents.

    If the company were to pay that amount, it would amount to a dividend yield of 5%, excluding any franking credits.

    But, keep in mind that dividends are not guaranteed. Plus, dividends from ASX resource shares are unlikely to be consistent because of the volatile nature of commodity prices.

    In FY24, the Santos annual dividend per share is projected to decrease to 26.5 cents per share and then fall to 21.2 cents per share in FY25. In other words, this could be the best that it gets in terms of dividend income for the next few years.

    Is the Santos share price worth buying at this level?

    Santos is down over the last year, six months, and in 2023 to date. Investors haven’t been excited by the ASX oil giant recently.

    Interestingly, it does trade on a cheaper earnings multiple compared to Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS).

    According to Commsec, Santos is valued at 7x FY23’s estimated earnings and 8x FY24’s estimated earnings.

    Commsec numbers suggest that Woodside is valued at almost 10x FY23’s estimated earnings and close to 11x FY24’s estimated earnings.

    There is widespread optimism by analysts on the prospects for Santos shares.

    Of the analyst opinions that Commsec looks at, all 18 ratings are a buy, with no holds or sells.

    What about recent results?

    The company recently announced its update for the fourth quarter of 2022. It said that sales revenue was US$1.9 billion for the quarter, taking 2022 sales to US$7.8 billion – up 65% year over year.

    It achieved an annual free cash flow of around US$3.6 billion, more than double the level of 2021. Fourth quarter free cash flow was US$930 million in the quarter. With some of its cash flow, it has been carrying out a share buyback.

    With the Santos share price being close to a 52-week low, I think it’s worth considering. However, I’m not confident about its earnings growth prospects over the rest of the decade, so it’s not one on my watchlist at the moment.

    The post Should I buy Santos shares right now for dividend income? 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 February 1 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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  • 2 ASX dividend shares to buy with big yields: Morgans

    A woman looks questioning as she puts a coin into a piggy bank.

    A woman looks questioning as she puts a coin into a piggy bank.

    Looking for some ASX dividend share to add to your portfolio? Then take a look at the two listed below that Morgans rates as buys.

    Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is the HomeCo Daily Needs REIT.

    It is a property company with a focus on convenience-based assets across the target sub-sectors of Neighbourhood Retail, Large Format Retail and Health & Services.

    Morgans is a fan of the company due partly to its significant development pipeline. The broker highlights that this development pipeline is valued at over $500 million and should underpin solid future growth.

    As for dividends, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 8.3 cents in FY 2023 and 8.5 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current HomeCo Daily Needs share price of $1.33, this will mean dividend yields of 6.2% and 6.4%, respectively.

    Morgans has an add rating and $1.52 price target on its shares.

    Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

    Another ASX dividend share that Morgans rates as a buy is Mineral Resources.

    It believes the mining and mining services company’s exposure to lithium and iron ore is an ideal combination to benefit from the China re-opening.

    It also expects this exposure to underpin some big dividend payments in the near term. Morgans is expecting fully franked dividends of $4.04 per share in FY 2023 and $6.21 per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Mineral Resources share price of $88.60, this will mean 4.55% and 7% dividend yields, respectively.

    Morgans currently has an add rating and $99.40 price target on its shares.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares to buy with big yields: Morgans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Where should you invest $1,000 right now? 3 dividend stocks to help beat inflation

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    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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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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  • The secret sauce to outperforming with ASX shares in 2023: expert

    Man cooking and telling to be quiet with his finger on his lips, symbolising a secret sauce.Man cooking and telling to be quiet with his finger on his lips, symbolising a secret sauce.

    A light appears to be peeking through at the end of the tunnel for ASX shares and the broader market this year. The potential for interest rate rises to soon slow and stop has plenty of investors eager to dive back into the ‘riskier’ end of equities.

    To illustrate, the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) and S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) are up 15.6% and 14.8% respectively after a little more than a month. Meanwhile, the broader Aussie benchmark index has climbed a lesser 8.6% so far this year.

    However, the early widespread strength might be somewhat deceptive according to one investment analyst. Instead, Dr Justin Koonin of Allan Gray Australia suggests a murkier future ahead as the heightened cost of capital canes the corporate world.

    The changing environment renews the importance of what Koonin describes as a key factor for long-term outperformance.

    Have you checked your weight (across ASX shares) lately?

    There is a common misconception in investing that volatility is equivalent to risk. They believe the size and frequency of share price movements are where the ‘risk‘ is for investors. But that isn’t the case… remember we are investing in businesses, not tickers.

    Here’s an example case to look at to understand ‘risk’ across two scenarios:

    1. Company A is a profitable business with a history of growing earnings above 10% per annum with extensive cash reserves and no debt. The company is a microcap (~$100 million market capitalisation), has minimal market liquidity, and a share price that regularly moves 10% on the ASX in a single day.
    2. Company B is an unprofitable business with declining revenues and a high rate of turnover in management. The company’s cash balance is dwindling while debts are rising. Company B has a large market capitalisation (~$2 billion) and is highly liquid with the share price relatively stable at around $3.

    Although Company A might have a more volatile share price, the business itself is in a less ‘risky’ position than Company B.

    Dr Koonin explains this further in a press release made earlier today, stating:

    Most investors tend to think about risk in terms of volatility. But there will always be volatility, that’s part and parcel of investing. We instead view risk as the potential for permanent loss of capital.

    Careful stock picking can help mitigate the risk of permanent loss of capital. Outperformance over the long term does not solely depend on the stocks picked but also significantly depends on the weight of the stocks in the portfolio.

    The key consideration for investors is to ensure they’re appropriately weighted across their ASX shares based on this definition of risk. Essentially, a company you believe is ~80% likely to return 20% should hold a larger weighting than a company that you believe has a 5% chance of returning 100%.

    Echoing Buffett in 2023

    The commentary from Koonin on allocating capital based on the risk of permanent loss of capital is reminiscent of the great Warren Buffett.

    The legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has long been quoted on his two key rules, “Rule number 1: Never lose money; rule number 2: Never forget rule number 1.”

    As ASX shares begin to pick up steam again this lesson in risk and capital allocation might be a timely one. As Dr Justin Koonin puts it, “You can outperform with a low hit rate if the upside of the outperforming investment is large.”

    The post The secret sauce to outperforming with ASX shares in 2023: expert 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 February 1 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Top 10 blank list on chalkboardTop 10 blank list on chalkboard

    After coming tantalisingly close to its all-time high on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) likely disappointed many market watchers by starting the week in the red. The index fell 0.25% today to close at 7,539 points.

    Its biggest weight? The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE).

    The sector fell 1.95% on the eve of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA’s) February meeting where it’s expected to hike rates once more following last month’s unexpectedly stubborn inflation data.

    Interestingly, however, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was today’s best-performing sector, rising 0.9% despite lower oil prices.

    The price of Brent crude dropped 2.7% on Friday to close the week 7.8% lower at US$79.94 a barrel, while US Nymex crude oil fell 3.3% on Friday, marking a 7.9% week-on-week fall that saw it end at US$73.39 a barrel.

    But it wasn’t an energy stock that topped the lot today. Let’s take a look at the 10 ASX 200 shares posting the biggest gains on Monday.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Starting the week out on the best foot was gold mining giant Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM).

    Its share price soared 9% to close at $24.53 amid a takeover offer from world leader Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM).

    These shares made today’s biggest gains:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) $24.53 9.27%
    Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) $1.54 3.7%
    Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) $3.53 3.22%
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) $8.46 2.92%
    Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) $2.04 2.77%
    New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) $5.94 2.59%
    TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) $4.80 2.56%
    Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) $24.59 2.42%
    Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN) $2.12 2.42%
    AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) $24.67 2.15%

    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.

    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 February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Link Administration. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group and Tpg Telecom. 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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  • This ASX ETF just hit an all-time high. Is it too late to buy?

    ETF spelt out on cube blocks with rising arrows.ETF spelt out on cube blocks with rising arrows.

    It was a pretty dreary start to the trading week for ASX shares this Monday. At present, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost around 0.25%. This means that any exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the ASX 200 or ASX shares would have had a slow day as well. But one ASX ETF had a cracker.

    It’s the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT). Wide Moat ETF units have had a very pleasant day indeed. Yes, the fund finished down by 0.38% at $108.04 per unit. But earlier today, the ETF hit a high of $108.89 per unit. Not only is that a new 52-week high for this ASX ETF, but it’s also a new record high:

    Yep, In their nearly eight years on the ASX, this ETF’s units have never been higher than $108.89 each. So a very happy start to the week for Wide Moat ETF investors.

    But why did this ASX ETF hotting new record, all-time highs on a day when the ASX 200 is retreating? Well, put simply, this ETF doesn’t track or represent ASX shares.

    Instead, this fund holds a basket of US shares. But not just any US shares. The only shares that make it into this ETF’s portfolio are those that show “sustainable competitive advantages’, or moats’, as decided by Morningstar’s research team.

    What’s behind the ASX Wide Moat ETF?

    A moat is a term originally coined by the legendary investor Warren Buffett. It refers to competitive advantages that a company might possess, such as a strong brand, cost advantage or switching barrier.

    Apple and Coca-Cola could be described as having brand moats for instance. While the cost of changing from using Microsoft Office to another suite of productivity programs could be a switching moat for Microsoft Corporation.

    So at present, the Wide Moat ETF has 49 underlying holdings within its portfolio. These include Kellogg, Adobe, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Disney and Buffett’s own Berkshire Hathaway. All arguably top-quality companies with clear ‘moats’.

    The real reason this ETF is having such a strong showing is the underlying performance of these holdings, not the ASX. The recent slip of the Aussie dollar against the US dollar would also be helping.

    So is it too late to buy more Wide Moat ETF units? Well, this fund does have a history of meeting and exceeding new all-time highs. Since its inception in 2015, this ETF has averaged a performance of 14.57% per annum. That’s far more than what the ASX 200 Index has delivered.

    So if you have confidence that this ‘moat’ investing method is a sound one, then it’s certainly not too late to invest in the Wide Moat ETF. A new high is not a good reason not to ignore a quality investment.

    After all, shares go up more than they go down. So this could be the first in many new highs for this ETF. You’ve missed out on one, but there could be another just around the corner.

    The post This ASX ETF just hit an all-time high. Is it too late to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “Cornerstone” ETFs for building long term wealth…

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    To help investors navigate this often misunderstood area of the market, he’s released research revealing the “cornerstone” ETFs he thinks everyone should be looking at right now. (Plus which ones to avoid.)

    Click here to get all the details
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Adobe, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2024 $145 calls on Walt Disney, long January 2024 $420 calls on Adobe, long January 2024 $47.50 calls on Coca-Cola, long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2024 $155 calls on Walt Disney, short January 2024 $430 calls on Adobe, and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. 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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  • Should ASX 200 investors buy Flight Centre shares ahead of this month’s earnings update?

    A smiling woman looks at her phone as she walks with her suitcase inside an airport.

    A smiling woman looks at her phone as she walks with her suitcase inside an airport.

    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares have started the week positively.

    The travel agent’s shares beat the ASX 200 and ended the day 1.5% higher at $18.00.

    This means the Flight Centre share price is now up 25% since the start of the year.

    Should you buy Flight Centre shares ahead of its results?

    While buying ASX 200 shares before the release of a result can be a bit risky, Flight Centre has already provided the market with an unaudited preview of its half year results.

    In light of this, there’s not likely to be any surprises when the company releases its full set of results later this month.

    So, should you buy shares?

    Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any brokers that have a buy rating on Flight Centre shares at present. The most positive broker is arguably Morgans, which has a hold rating and $18.10 price target on its shares.

    This is broadly in line with where the Flight Centre share price is currently trading, which appears to indicate that investors might be best keeping their powder dry and waiting for a better entry point.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans was reasonably pleased with the company’s proposed acquisition of luxury travel company Scott Dunn. It was even more pleased with its performance during the first half. It said:

    While the acquisition of Scott Dunn ticks the boxes strategically, FLT has paid a full price and it is only mildly EPS accretive based on recovery year earnings. Importantly, Flight Centre Travel’s 1H23 result has beaten guidance, led by a strong Corporate result.

    One slight negative, though, is that despite the first half beat, its FY 2023 guidance has fallen short of the broker’s expectations. It explained:

    FLT has provided FY23 EBITDA guidance of A$250-280m. This was below Morgans previous forecast of A$289.5m. However it was largely at the midpoint of FactSet consensus of A$266.3m. This guidance is prior to any benefits from the acquisition. The midpoint of guidance implies a 35%/65% 1H vs 2H split, which is broadly in line with FLT’s historical seasonality.

    Finally, while the broker isn’t recommending Flight Centre as a buy, it is encouraging existing shareholders to take part in the company’s capital raising. It concludes:

    We view the placement and SPP price as attractive (FY25 recovery PE of 11.7x) and encourage investors to take up their allocation. We maintain a Hold rating with a new $18.10 price target.

    The post Should ASX 200 investors buy Flight Centre shares ahead of this month’s earnings update? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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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 recommended Flight Centre Travel 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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  • Here’s why analysts rate these blue chip ASX 200 shares as buys

    A woman is excited as she reads the latest rumour on her phone.

    A woman is excited as she reads the latest rumour on her phone.

    There are a lot of blue chip ASX 200 shares for investors to choose from on the Australian share market. Two that have recently been named as buys are listed below.

    Here’s why they could be in the buy zone:

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    The first blue chip ASX 200 share that is highly rated is CSL.

    CSL is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. It is the owner of the number one plasma therapies business, CSL Behring, the world’s second largest influenza vaccine business, Seqirus, and the global leader in iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia therapies, CSL Vifor.

    But CSL never rests on its laurels. In fact, each year the company makes a material investment in research and development (R&D). This investment usually sits in the region of 11% to 12% of sales, which now means more than US$1 billion goes into these activities each year. This ensures that the company has a pipeline of potentially lucrative and life-saving therapies to support its future growth.

    Supporting this will be improvements in plasma collections and the company’s new collection technology. The latter is expected to boost margins by collecting plasma more efficiently and deliver stronger yields.

    Morgan Stanley is positive on CSL and currently has an overweight rating and $354.00 price target on its shares.

    ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

    Another ASX 200 blue chip share that is highly rated is ResMed.

    It is a global leader in the development, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of medical devices and cloud-based software for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of respiratory disorders.

    This is a huge market to operate in. For example, 1 in 5 adults are estimated to suffer from sleep apnoea, with the vast majority of them undiagnosed.

    The team at Morgans is very positive on the company. It believes ResMed is well-placed to grow its market share in the lucrative sleep treatment market and sees a big opportunity in out of hospital care thanks to its digital business.

    Morgans currently has an add rating and $37.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    The post Here’s why analysts rate these blue chip ASX 200 shares as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. 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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  • Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    A man sits in deep thought with a pen held to his lips as he ponders his computer screen with a laptop open next to him on his desk in a home office environment.

    A man sits in deep thought with a pen held to his lips as he ponders his computer screen with a laptop open next to him on his desk in a home office environment.

    With so many shares to choose from on the ASX, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

    Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    According to a note out of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $43.00 price target on this gaming technology company’s shares. Morgan Stanley has been looking at industry data and believes that the company’s Pixel United business is performing ahead of expectations. The Aristocrat share price is trading at $36.28

    Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

    A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating but cut their price target on this insurance giant’s shares to $5.30. This follows the release of a first half update which fell short of Citi’s expectations. While disappointed with the update, the broker believes underlying margin trends are positive, particularly given price rises and easing inflation. As a result, it believes the company’s shares are attractive following recent weakness. The IAG share price is fetching $4.59 this afternoon.

    Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR)

    Analysts at Macquarie have retained their outperform rating and $2.60 price target on this lithium developer’s shares. This follows news that open pit mining has started at the Kathleen Valley lithium project. And while Macquarie continues to expect production to commence in the middle of next year, it sees revenue-generating opportunities from direct shipping ore (DSO) before then. The broker also notes that this DSO is not included in its estimates, so poses upside risk to them and its valuation. The Liontown share price is trading at $1.49 on Monday.

    The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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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  • Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday

    Three children wearing athletic short and singlets stand side by side on a running track wearing medals around their necks and standing with their hands on their hips.

    Three children wearing athletic short and singlets stand side by side on a running track wearing medals around their necks and standing with their hands on their hips.

    It’s been a bit of a rocky start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Monday. After a decent week last week, the ASX 200 has gone backwards over the course of this trading day. At the time time of writing, the index has shed 0.3% and is back below 7,540 points.

    But rather than trying to figure all of that out, let’s instead check out the shares that are currently topping the ASX 200’s share trading volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Monday

    Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM)

    A rare appearance from ASX 200 gold miner Newcrest marks our first share to check out this session. So far today, a notable 10.33 million Newcrest shares have traded places on the ASX boards. This isn’t a hard one to work out.

    Newcrest shares are soaring today after it emerged that US-listed gold miner Newmont has put forward a takeover offer for the ASX miner. Newmont has put up an offer of 0.38 shares for every Newcrest share.

    The company hasn’t come down on the offer yet, but investors sent Newcrest shares up a whopping 14.4% at one stage today with the share price hitting a high of $25.68. It’s settled at $24.59 a share, or 9.55% higher, at the time of writing. No wonder so many shares are flying around.

    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

    Our next ASX 200 share worth a look is lithium stock Core Lithium. This Monday has seen a sizeable 13.65 million Core shares exchanged so far. There’s been no dramatic takeover offer here. But Core Lithium did tell investors this morning that Doug Warden has been appointed as the company’s chief financial officer.

    Investors are either indifferent or don’t seem too impressed though, seeing as Core Lithium shares are currently down by a nasty 5.13% at $1.072 each. This big drop is the likeliest explanation behind the elevated volumes we are seeing.

    Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

    Finally this Monday, we have another ASX 200 lithium share in Sayona Mining. A rather massive 34.38 million Sayona shares have changed hands as it currently stands. We haven’t seen much in the way of news or announcements out of Sayona today.

    But that hasn’t stopped the lithium stock’s share price from plummeting. At present, Sayona has lost a depressing 5.77% and is back down to 24.5 cents a share. It’s almost certainly this big drop in value that is driving the high trading volumes on display here.

    The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday 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 February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Newcrest Mining. 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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