Category: Stock Market

Is your ASX share portfolio lacking in Christmas cheer? Perhaps you’re hoping some sparkly new additions to your holdings will make for many happy returns in 2023.

Or, maybe you’re just keen to jump aboard the possible ‘Santa Rally’, if ASX share prices do, indeed, enjoy a traditional festive boost in December.

For their thoughts on which companies should be on your wish list, we asked our Foolish contributors to make a list and check it twice.

These are the ASX shares they reckon will help make for a merry investment portfolio:

8 best ASX shares for December 2022 (smallest to largest)

• Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG), $145.42 million
• Renascor Resources Ltd (ASX: RNU), $635.68 million
• Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), $2.53 billion
• JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), $4.89 billion
• Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR), $7.76 billion
• Xero Limited (ASX: XRO), $10.44 billion
• Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN), $15.9 billion
• Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB), $16.69 billion

(Market capitalisations as of 30 November 2022)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX shares

Shaver Shop Group Ltd

What it does: Shaver Shop operates a network of shops across Australia and New Zealand as well as an established online channel. It’s a speciality retailer of male and female personal grooming products and also sells products relating to oral care, hair care, massage, air treatment, and beauty.

By Tristan Harrison: According to Shaver Shop, it operates in a sector with a $10 billion total addressable market. By 2026, this market is forecast to grow to $12 billion. Furthermore, major brands stocked by Shaver Shop release new products every year, giving the ASX company more opportunities to sell the latest high-tech products.

Shaver Shop is planning to continue growing its store network, increase its range, and grow its contribution from exclusive products. Currently, more than 50% of sales and around 60% of gross profit come from the company’s exclusive lines.

FY23 sales to 6 November 2022 saw total sales growth of 13% year over year, with gross profit margins “consistently up” on the prior year.

Shaver Shop shares are valued at just seven times FY24’s estimated earnings with a projected FY24 grossed-up dividend yield of 14.1%.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares in Shaver Shop Group Ltd.

Renascor Resources Ltd

What it does: Renascor engages in the exploration of minerals such as graphite, as well metals including gold and copper, among others. It has projects located within South Australia.

By Matthew Farley: Renascor has been announcing some positive developments of late. These included the company forecasting strong demand for its purified spherical graphite product.

The materials explorer also recently received government approval to move ahead with plans for its Siviour Mine and Concentrator. According to Renascor, this brings it “another key step closer to becoming a producer of 100% Australian-made Purified Spherical Graphite”.

Once fully operational, the company has the potential to produce up to 150,000 tonnes of graphite concentrates per annum.

Despite some recent positive momentum, it should be noted that Renascor is currently unprofitable. The company was running at a $1.5 million loss for the trailing 12 months ending 30 June 2022.

Loss-making companies are generally much riskier investments than those consistently generating earnings and profit, so caution should be exercised before jumping in. But for those who are prepared to carry the risk, I believe Renascor could be a speculative ASX investment worth considering.

Motley Fool contributor Matthew Farley does not own shares in Renascor Resources Ltd.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd

What it does: Lovisa is a fashion jewellery retailer and, increasingly, a shopping centre staple. After starting out with a single Sydney store in 2010, Lovisa stores can now be found in 25 countries around the globe.

By Brooke Cooper: ‘Tis the season for sparkles, whether they be lights in trees, bubbles in glasses, or shiny new trinkets. December has also turned my attention to retailer of sparkly things, Lovisa.

The company has been doing particularly well this year. It was added to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), has doubled its full-year profits, and most recently announced a strong start to this fiscal year.

It’s also been growing its international footprint and dividends, increasing the latter by 95% in financial year 2022.

And the future could be even brighter for the stock. UBS tips it to rise another 21% to $29, slapping it with a buy rating.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper does not own shares in Lovisa Holdings Ltd.

JB Hi-Fi Limited

What it does: JB Hi-Fi is a dominant retailer of electronics, home appliances and other consumables. Customers can choose from a wide range of goods at a JB Hi-Fi store, including mobile phones, computers and other tech, vinyl records, DVDs, televisions, refrigerators, and espresso machines.

By Sebastian Bowen: Chances are at least some readers will be heading to a JB Hi-Fi store sometime this month, so we have a fitting choice for the festive season.

I believe JB is one of the best-run retailers in the country. It has made an art of effortlessly pivoting to keep ahead of consumer trends, which explains why it sells more TVs than hi-fi equipment these days.

JB’s share price has taken a hit over this year. And yet the company delivered an impressive set of full-year results back in August, reporting a 7.7% rise in net profits and a 52.8% lift in online sales.

With an earnings multiple under 10 and a fully franked dividend yield over 7%, I think this ASX 200 retail share is the perfect stocking stuffer this December.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares in JB Hi-Fi Limited.

Carsales.com Ltd

What it does: When it comes to buying or selling a car, there’s no doubt that carsales.com is one of Australia’s go-to websites. In fact, it’s ranked number one in Australia under the vehicles category according to Similarweb, boasting 15.1 million total site visits last month. The online classifieds company provides a digital marketplace for new and used cars in Australia and internationally.

By Mitchell Lawler: The Carsales share price has been on the up and up since last month, rallying by more than 18%. Yet, the revved-up valuation still remains 11% discounted compared to where it was situated at the end of 2021.

I’m bullish on Carsales’ future growth potential as it acquires the remaining 51% of US-based Trader Interactive. This move expands the company’s exposure to international markets, reduces its reliance on Australian operations, and opens the door to recreational vehicles and power sports consumers (non-automotive).

I believe the sheer size of the US non-automotive market – double Australia’s automotive market – is a desirable proposition. This could ultimately provide a greater runway for growth over the coming decade.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares in Carsales.com Ltd.

Xero Limited

What it does: Xero provides a cloud-based accounting software platform that connects small business owners with their numbers, their banks, and their advisors. It has 3.5 million subscribers and is a leader in cloud accounting across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

By James Mickleboro: With the Xero share price losing more than half its value in 2022, I think it is trading at a very attractive level for patient long-term investors. This is because I believe Xero is well-placed to continue its solid growth over the next decade, thanks to the quality of its platform, the structural shift to the cloud, and its significant global opportunity.

At the end of the first half of FY 2023, Xero had amassed 3.5 million subscribers with a lifetime value of NZ$13 billion. The former compares to its total addressable market of 45 million subscribers globally. In addition, the company continues to squeeze more dollars out of each subscriber with price increases and its growing app ecosystem.

Goldman Sachs appears to agree. It currently has a buy rating and $115 price target on its shares.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares in Xero Limited.

Mineral Resources Limited

What it does: Mineral Resources is a diversified mining and mining services company. It has four business branches — iron ore, energy (gas), lithium, and mining services like crushing (in fact, it’s the world’s largest crushing contractor).

By Bronwyn Allen: I like the business diversity in this ASX mining share. Mineral Resources doesn’t just dig stuff up; it provides services to other miners. What it does dig up are some of the world’s hottest commodities today – iron ore, lithium, and gas.

I believe the company’s lithium business is especially attractive. Mineral Resources is a global top-five lithium producer, and now it’s investing heavily in the refining space. Electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Elon Musk describes refining as “like minting money” because it’s refined lithium that is required in EV batteries and demand is sky-high.

Mineral Resources owns a stake in two of Australia’s largest hard-rock lithium mines. Its partners are Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium Group Co Ltd (SHE: 002460) and US lithium behemoth Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB).

It commands a 29% market share of the world’s hard-rock supply. This company is an amazing growth story. It was listed on the ASX in 2006 with a market capitalisation of $100 million. Today it’s worth $16 billion. It claims to have delivered the second-highest total shareholder return (TSR) growth of the ASX 200, at 30% per annum since listing. It’s also increased its fully-franked dividends by 20% per annum for the past decade.

Today, it has a lot of broker support. Goldman Sachs says buy and has a $96 share price target. It reckons Mineral Resources will triple its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in FY23. Macquarie says the company is valued at only four times its FY24 estimated earnings and could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of as much as 15.5% in FY24.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen does not own shares in Mineral Resources Limited.

Brambles Limited

What it does: Brambles is a global transport and logistics company with operations in 60 countries and a market cap north of $16.5 billion. Its pallets and containers are used to transport goods across the world.

By Bernd Struben: With inflation and interest rates likely to remain elevated in 2023, I like the outlook for companies with strong balance sheets that are able to pass on higher costs to their customers. And I believe Brambles ticks that box nicely.

The analysts at Perpetual recently noted, “The transport and logistics company has been able to use its considerable pricing power and clout in the market as insulation from inflationary costs, while also being disciplined in recovering costs.”

Despite the skyrocketing price of timber adding US$470 million to its pallet costs, Brambles achieved 14% year-on-year profit growth in 2021-22. The Brambles share price has gained 18% over 12 months. The stock pays a 2.7% dividend yield, partly franked.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in Brambles Limited.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in December 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Getting cold feet on ASX 200 lithium shares? Here’s why UBS ‘remains positive’
• 2 ASX lithium shares to buy, and 3 to sell: brokers
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Could these be the best ASX tech shares to buy now for 2023?
• Why this ASX 200 dividend share could be an income gold mine hiding in plain sight

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa Holdings Ltd and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended JB Hi-Fi Limited, Lovisa Holdings Ltd, Macquarie Group Limited, and carsales.com Limited. 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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On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again and charged higher following a softer than expected inflation reading. The benchmark index rose 0.4% to 7,284.2 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set to continue its winning streak on Thursday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 13 points or 0.2% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.7%, the S&P 500 is up 1.5%, and the NASDAQ has risen 2.5%. Wall Street rebounded strongly from a shaky start after the US Fed suggested that smaller rate hikes could start this month.

Oil prices storm higher

Energy producers including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good day after oil prices charged higher on Wednesday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3% to US$80.55 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.8% to US$85.38 a barrel. Tighter supply conditions boosted prices.

BHP and Rio Tinto rise on Wall Street

Mining giant’s BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) could have positive sessions on Thursday after rising on Wall Street overnight. In late trade in the United States, Australia’s largest miners are up 2.7% and 1% on the NYSE.

Shares going ex-dividend

A couple of ASX 200 shares are due to go ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower on Thursday. Fund manager Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL) is trading ex-dividend for its 3.5 cents per share dividend and enterprise software company TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is trading ex-dividend for its 10.8 cents per share dividend. Both dividends will be paid in approximately two weeks.

Gold price higher

Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) will be on watch after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.6% to US$1,774.2 an ounce. Gold is set for a 7% monthly rise, which would be its best month in two years. The prospect of interest rates increasing at a slower rate gave the precious metal a major lift in November.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday
• Why is the BHP share price smashing the market with a 22% gain in November?
• Why are ASX 200 coal shares burning brighter on Wednesday?
• Best of a bad bunch: The 3 best-performing ASX 200 tech shares in November

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 Technology One. 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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Although the tech sector has fallen out of favour this year, I still believe the long term fundamentals are very positive and having exposure to the sector is a good thing for a portfolio.

But which ASX tech shares should you buy? Two that analysts are tipping as buys are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

The first ASX tech share to look at is Altium. It is the company behind the Altium Designer printed circuit board design (PCB) software.

PCBs are the boards you find in electronic devices. They are integral to their operation and come in all shapes and sizes, which means that specialist software is required for their design.

The good news is that Altium’s software is regarded as the best in the industry. A testament to this is the high profile companies and organisations using it such as BAE Systems, Dell, Microsoft, NASA, and Tesla.

With demand increasing thanks to favourable tailwinds such as the IoT and AI booms, management is forecasting strong growth over the coming years. This includes growing its revenue to US$500 million by 2026. This will be more than double FY 2022’s revenue of US$220.8 million.

The team at Jefferies appears confident on the company’s outlook. Its analysts currently have a buy rating and $42.32 price target on its shares.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Another ASX tech share that has been tipped as a buy is Life360.

It is a location technology company that operates in the digital consumer subscription services market. Its key offering is the eponymous Life360 app, which has over 40 million active users. This app offers families features such as communications, driver safety, and location sharing.

Goldman Sach is very bullish on the company due to its massive market opportunity. It highlights that “Life360 is exposed to a US$12bn global TAM with a large opportunity to expand its product suite, grow average revenue per paying circle (ARPPC), increase payer conversion, and lift penetration rates outside of the US.”

The broker currently has a buy rating and $7.50 price target on the company’s shares.

The post Analysts name the ASX tech shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Ainsworth, Life360, Temple & Webster, and Whitehaven Coal are charging higher
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why Best & Less, Cettire, Life360, and Paradigm shares are sinking today
• Goldman Sachs gives its verdict on the Altium share price
• Life360 share price lower despite takeover talks

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Altium and Life360, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Altium and Life360, Inc. 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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November has been another volatile month for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium share sector.

Some of the biggest lithium miners have seen double-digit declines in recent times.

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is down more than 16% since 9 November 2022.

Since 14 November 2022, the Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price has dropped by 17%.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares have dropped around 8% since 14 November 2022.

However, it has been a positive run for the miner Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN). The share price has risen 3.5% since 14 November 2022, perhaps thanks to the rising iron ore price.

Have we seen the peak for the ASX 200 lithium shares? One broker thinks that the future for these businesses is still compelling.

UBS confident on the future

According to reporting by The Australian, the analyst Dim Ariyasinghe from UBS said the broker still has long-term conviction with the outlook for lithium. Its view “remains strong” despite “short-run jitters”.

The expert reportedly noted “near-term risks” relating to electric vehicle demand because of increasing uncertainty and disruption caused by COVID-19 cases in China. There is an expected cut of Chinese electric vehicle subsidies, as well as slowing demand for electric vehicles from the European Union and China.

But, in promising commentary for lithium investors, the analyst said:

However, our view on the medium-term and long-term remains positive and has actually increased due to additional policy support for EVs.

Which ASX 200 lithium shares does the broker prefer?

While all of the businesses may have operations in the lithium sector, they have different valuations, different growth plans and different financials.

It was reported by the newspaper that of the four lithium miners in this article, two are rated as buys – Allkem and Mineral Resources.

Next, the broker is neutral-rated on IGO shares, remembering that only part of this business is related to lithium mining.

Finally, UBS has a sell rating on Pilbara Minerals shares. Keep in mind that the Pilbara Minerals share price has doubled over the past six months. The price target of $3.05 would represent a fall of around a third – but if the Pilbara Minerals share price dropped to $3 tomorrow it would still be up by 30% over the past six months.

The post Getting cold feet on ASX 200 lithium shares? Here’s why UBS ‘remains positive’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 2 ASX lithium shares to buy, and 3 to sell: brokers
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Move over Pilbara! Fundie tips ASX 200 lithium stock with an ‘enormous expansion opportunity’ a buy
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday
• Why this ASX 200 dividend share could be an income gold mine hiding in plain sight

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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If you are looking to bolster your portfolio with some blue chip ASX 200 shares, you may want to look at the two listed below.

Here’s why these blue chip shares are highly rated by experts right now:

REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

The first blue chip ASX 200 share to look at is REA Group. It is the leading player in online real estate listings in the Australian market with its realestate.com.au website.

This website continues to dominate the local market, helping the company deliver a 16% increase in revenue to $305 million and an 11% lift in operating EBITDA to $131 million during the first quarter despite the housing market downturn.

This was underpinned by 121.9 million average monthly visits during the period, which is 3.3 times more visits than the nearest competitor.

Goldman Sachs was pleased with the update and remains bullish on the future. In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with a $159.00 price target on its shares.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

Another ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a top option for investors is Treasury Wine.

It is one of the world’s leading wine companies and the owner of a portfolio of popular wine brands. The jewel in the crown is of course the Penfolds brand, which continues to generate significant sales for Treasury Wine even after being kicked out of China.

Looking ahead, thanks to the success of its premiumisation strategy and strong demand in the United States, the team at Morgans believes the “foundations are now in place for TWE to deliver strong earnings growth from the 2H22 over the next few years.”

Morgans has an add rating and $15.71 price target on its shares.

The post Experts say these ASX 200 blue chip shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• I’d aim for $1 million in retirement buying just 10 ASX 200 shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares analysts are tipping for stellar growth
• Markets are nervous. Why waiting to buy these ASX 200 shares could prove expensive
• 3 dividend-paying ASX growth shares I would buy to retire rich

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 REA Group Limited and Treasury Wine Estates Limited. 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 lithium shares have been the market darlings of 2022 but some brokers’ enthusiasm is starting to wane — at least on some of them.

Let’s take a look at which lithium shares remain in favour and which ones the experts recommend selling.

The ASX lithium shares to buy

According to The Australian, UBS reckons Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) is the pick of the ASX lithium shares right now. It has a buy rating on Allkem as well as Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN).

According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Jarden Securities also likes Allkem and Mineral Resources.

Jarden rates Allkem a buy with a 12-month share price target of $17.71. That implies an upside of about 30% based on the closing Allkem share price of $13.65 on Wednesday. Allkem is up 3.41% today.

Jarden also has a buy rating on Leo Lithium Ltd (ASX: LLL) with a share price target of $1.19. That implies an upside of about 54% based on Leo Lithium’s closing share price of 54.5 cents, up 5.83% today.

Jarden also has an overweight rating on Mineral Resources shares. The Mineral Resources share price closed at $87.42 today, up 4.36% for the day.

The ASX lithium shares to sell

Both UBS and Jarden have sell ratings on Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS).

Many brokers have flagged recently that it’s probably time for investors to cash in on the meteoric rise of the Pilbara Minerals share price. It has almost doubled in value in just six months.

Today, Pilbara Minerals shares finished at $4.66, up 3.79%. Jarden has a 12-month share price target of $3.65 on the stock, implying a potential downside of 22%

Jarden also rates Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares a sell. The Core Lithium share price has crashed by 30% in 12 days.

However, even taking this recent decline into account, the shares are up by more than 110% in 2022 overall.

What’s going on with lithium prices?

As my Fool colleague Bernd writes today, investors are worried that lithium commodity prices are due for a correction. The mineral hit record prices earlier this month and they have gradually fallen since.

This is largely due to China, which is the world’s top producer of electric vehicles (EVs) and thus a big buyer of lithium.

Soaring COVID-19 cases in China, the government’s zero-COVID policy, ongoing lockdowns, and a slowdown in EV sales are causing market ructions for the commodity itself, as well as ASX lithium shares.

The post 2 ASX lithium shares to buy, and 3 to sell: brokers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Getting cold feet on ASX 200 lithium shares? Here’s why UBS ‘remains positive’
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday
• Why has the Core Lithium share price crashed 30% in 12 days?
• Why this ASX 200 dividend share could be an income gold mine hiding in plain sight

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Allkem Limited and Core Exploration Ltd. 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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Wednesday was another good day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). It closed 0.43% higher at 7,284.2 points.

Leading its gains was the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ). It lifted 1.25% following a decent night for base metals. They pulled ahead amid news China vowed to ease some COVID-19 measures, CNN reports.

Gold futures also lifted 0.5% overnight to US$1,748.40 an ounce. Iron ore futures, however, slipped 0.2% to US$92.90 a tonne.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) also gained, rising 1.8% on Wednesday after a mixed night for oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price fell 0.2% to US$83.03 a barrel while the US Nymex crude oil price rose 1.2% to US$78.20 a barrel.

It wasn’t all sunshine across the market today, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Index (ASX: XTJ) both slumped 0.25%.

All in all, six of the ASX 200’s 11 sectors closed higher on Wednesday. But which stock outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Out in front come the final bell was the Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) share price. It lifted 12% on Wednesday.

Today’s biggest gains were made by these shares:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)	$0.23	12.2%
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)	$10.04	8.42%
New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC)	$5.95	6.82%
Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE)	$1.00	5.26%
IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)	$15.40	4.69%
Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)	$2.11	4.46%
Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN)	$87.42	4.36%
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (ASX: FPH)	$21.96	4.13%
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)	$2.32	4.04%
Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)	$4.66	3.79%

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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More reading

• Move over Pilbara! Fundie tips ASX 200 lithium stock with an ‘enormous expansion opportunity’ a buy
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday
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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 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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S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank shares put in a mixed performance in November.

As we head into the final hour of trade for the month, only three of the seven big bank stocks are in the green for the month.

In case you’re unfamiliar, the ASX 200 banks shares on our list are:

• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
• Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)
• Virgin Money UK PLC (ASX: VUK)

So, which three finished in positive territory? And which bank led the charge?

Read on.

The two runners up

Kicking off with the third-best performing ASX 200 bank share we have Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, which has a current market cap of $5.2 billion.

The bank closed out October trading for $9.01 per share and is currently trading for $9.14 per share, up 1.4% for the month.

Bendigo and Adelaide trades at a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 12 times and pays a trailing dividend yield of 5.7%, fully franked.

The second-best ASX 200 bank share to have held in November is Commonwealth Bank of Australia. CBA shares closed on October 31 trading for $104.68. They are currently changing hands for $108.03, putting the CBA share price up 3.2% in November.

CBA trades at a PE ratio of 20.2 times and pays a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.5%.

Which brings us to…

The best-performing ASX 200 bank share in November

By far the best ASX 200 bank share to have had in your portfolio in November is…drum roll please…Virgin Money.

Virgin Money finished October trading for $2.44. Shares are currently trading for $3.04 apiece, putting the bank’s stock up an impressive 25% over the month.

Virgin Money trades on a PE ratio of 4.7 times with a trailing dividend yield of 5.6%.

Driving investor interest in November was an exceptionally strong full-year result for the 12 months ending 30 September.

Highlights from the report, released on 22 November, included a 43% increase in after-tax profit year on year. The bank’s final dividend reflected this profitability, with Virgin Money increasing its final dividend payout by 580% from the prior year.

And if that wasn’t enough to lift ASX 200 investor interest in the bank share, Virgin Money also announced an $89.5 million share buyback.

The post The 3 best-performing ASX 200 bank shares in November revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is a stock market crash coming for us in 2023?
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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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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It’s been a bumper year for S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium stocks, and none have commanded the attention like Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS).

But Shaw and Partners senior resource analyst Peter O’Connor sees more opportunity in another ASX 200 lithium share – IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO).

The analyst believes it’s a buy, saying the company could act as a hedge, representing future-facing commodities. Beyond lithium, IGO works in nickel, cobalt, and copper.

Let’s take a closer look at what the fundie likes about the often overlooked $11 billion ASX 200 lithium share. The IGO share price is $15.37 right now.

Is IGO a top ASX 200 lithium stock to buy?

Speaking with Market Matters’ James Gerrish, O’Connor outlined why he’s bullish on IGO:

[It has a] smart management team, good operators, great balance sheet, I like what they’re doing. And they’ve got an enormous expansion opportunity in the lithium asset in [Western Australia].

It is the best quality, longest life, highest grade asset in the lithium space.

The fundie also said he gives the company “the award for this decade, of the best [merger and acquisition] trader.”

Of course, referring to the company’s acquisition of the Tianqi joint venture and the sale of its Tropicana Gold Mine. Not to mention its takeover of Western Areas.

The Tianqi acquisition was said to be completed when lithium was trading for around US$400 a tonne. As of Pilbara Mineral’s latest auction, the material was trading for more than US$8,000 a tonne.

However, O’Connor warned that the stock will follow the commodity price, and right now 2023 looks likely to be a rough year for lithium:

It may be that the ramp-up of supply of lithium – which we know is too slow in the long term – but in the short term, it may just make it match to the demand slowing.

The post Move over Pilbara! Fundie tips ASX 200 lithium stock with an ‘enormous expansion opportunity’ a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Is China responsible for decimating your ASX 200 lithium shares?
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• What $10,000 in ASX lithium shares a year ago would be worth today

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 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 Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price has gone up by around 6.6% in November, which compares to a 6% rise for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

It has been a solid period for a number of ASX shares, including Wesfarmers.

The business is the owner of a number of retail businesses that are recognisable in Australian shopping centres or on the main roads such as Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Target and Priceline.

Inflation and rising costs remain a key factor

Investors are trying to weigh up how inflation and higher interest rates are going to impact earnings and what this could mean for the Wesfarmers share price.

The Australian Financial Review CFO Live Summit was held earlier this week, with the Wesfarmers chief financial officer Anthony Gianotti making an appearance. It was noted by the AFR that there is growing pressure on Wesfarmers to “keep prices steady and deliver for an increasingly value-conscious consumer”.

As noted by the newspaper, Wesfarmers is having to juggle a number of things such as changing capital costs, changing supplier costs and adjustments to industrial relations (IR).

Wesfarmers is trying to find the right level of passing on some costs to customers and trying to find efficiencies and savings so it can keep prices low to try and win market share.

According to the reporting, prices for materials for some of Wesfarmers’ products are starting to “normalise”, though higher than pre-COVID levels. But, it may take time before improvements in the supply chain issues flow to the wider economy.

Another factor is wage growth. The boss of Wesfarmers, Rob Scott, has reportedly been supportive of wage rises. Widespread wage growth could be a boost for Wesfarmers’ earnings.

October inflation not as strong as expected

Just before the end of the month, the AFR reported that annual inflation reduced to 6.9% in October, which was lower than the expected 7.6% figure.

It was reported that the less-than-expected increase was due to a decline in food prices, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as holiday costs and accommodation.

However, the higher energy bills as well as the impacts of floods on grocery prices weren’t reflected in the inflation number yet.

The BetaShares chief economist David Bassanese was quoted saying:

Underlying inflation pressures appear to be cresting. At face value, this strengthens the case for the RBA to consider a potential pause in its rate hike campaign after next week’s likely eighth rate hike this year.

Investors becoming more optimistic on the Wesfarmers share price

The broker UBS recently increased its price target on Wesfarmers to $56, which represents a potential rise of around 15%. It thinks businesses like Kmart and Bunnings can excel during this difficult period.

On the broker’s numbers, Wesfarmers shares are valued at 22 times FY23’s estimated earnings.

The post The Wesfarmers share price had a strong run in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
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• The 10 ASX 200 shares responsible for 60% of all Aussie dividends last quarter
• Broker says these top ASX 200 dividend shares are buys
• Are Wesfarmers shares a buy for portfolio diversification?

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 positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers Limited. 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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