Category: Stock Market

The TerraCom Ltd (ASX: TER) share price is feeling the heat today.

While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has edged 0.1% lower at the time of writing, the TerraCom share price has been crunched by 10.3% to sit at 91 cents.

Why the TerraCom share price is being smoked

Instead of ASX announcements or sector news driving this fall, the ASX energy share’s tumble today likely comes down to one primary driver.

TerraCom shares are trading ex-dividend today. And the dividend in question is a juicy one.

When a company declares a dividend, it sets a cut-off date to determine which shareholders are eligible for the payment. This is known as the ex-dividend date.

If you purchase shares on or after this cut-off date, you don’t receive the payment.

So, investors buying the ASX energy shares today won’t be getting their hands on TerraCom’s 10-cent FY22 final dividend.

The emerging resources explorer recently announced a bumper set of FY22 results. Revenue jumped 47% to $805 million while losses on the bottom line reversed to a $216 million profit.

What’s more, TerraCom updated its dividend payout ratio. It’s now intending to return between 60% and 90% of profits to shareholders in the form of quarterly dividends.  

The last time TerraCom paid a dividend was in 2019. 

Why do shares drop on the ex-dividend date?

When a company’s shares turn ex-dividend, its share price typically drops. 

This is because the company is paying dividends out of its cash reserves. So, with its war chest of cash reduced, the value of the company is diminished.

What’s more, some investors will look to offload shares once they’ve locked in the upcoming dividend. 

The extent of the share price fall usually mimics the size of the dividend. But it varies depending on sentiment and how the broader market is faring that day.

In the case of TerraCom, the dividend in question is 10 cents. At the time of writing, the TerraCom share price has fallen by 10.5 cents, slightly more than the dividend.

Which other shares are trading ex-dividend today?

You can see similar price action in Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares today. It’s the first day that Ampol shares are trading without the company’s 2022 interim dividend of $1.20. And at the time of writing, Ampol shares have tumbled by 5.2% or $1.75 to $31.91.

Base Resources Ltd (ASX: BSE) is another company coming under fire today. The Base Resources share price has slid 13.4% or 4.5 cents to 29 cents apiece as shares trade without a 2022 final dividend of 3 cents.

The post Why is this ASX energy share diving 10% on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are 5 ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend tomorrow
• TerraCom share price rockets on 900% dividend upgrade
• ASX falls, eyes on the Fed and huge petrol profits. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/MwCkQv7

Macquarie has reduced its forecast for copper prices over CY22 to CY24 by 5% to 15%.

According to The Australian, the broker reckons softening demand is “set to widen the surplus”.

As is usual with ASX mining shares, a change in copper price forecasts has a flow-on effect on the performance expectations for ASX 200 copper shares.

The article stated:

The downgrades have a material impact on near-term earnings forecasts for copper pure plays, with earnings estimates for Oz Minerals, Sandfire and 29Metals down by 30% to 90%.

Down those 12-month price targets go for ASX 200 copper shares

On the back of these forecasts, Macquarie has also reduced its share price targets for multiple ASX 200 copper shares.

The broker cut its price targets on Oz Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL), Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) and 29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M) by 9% to 17%.

Of course, Sandfire and 29Metals are outside the ASX 200. But the broker has also cut its projections on two of the big ASX 200 miners that are not copper pure-plays but they do produce the red metal.

Macquarie cut its 12-month share price target for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) to $42, and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) to $97.

Today, the copper pure-plays are a mixed bag. The Oz Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) share price is only just in the green, up 0.12% to $25.33 at the time of writing. Meantime, the Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) share price is down 3.2% to $3.93. The 29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M) share price is down 2.1% to $1.88.

What about the long-term outlook for copper?

The market was abuzz in early August when BHP made a surprise takeover bid of Oz Minerals.

The offer was for $25 cash per share, about a 35% premium on the Oz Minerals share price at the time.

The Oz Minerals board quickly rejected the offer, saying it “significantly undervalues” the company.

But the mere fact that the biggest resources company in the ASX 200 made a play for it certainly communicated a lot to investors about the critical role of copper in our decarbonised future. Kinda says something about the long-term outlook for copper in general, right?

The Oz Minerals share price has held firm this week despite the company reporting a 60% profit plunge in its half-year results on 26 August.

The post What’s the outlook for ASX 200 copper shares in September? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why is the BHP share price tumbling again on Friday?
• Another tough day on the ASX; and BHP goes ex-dividend. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News
• Is the Rio Tinto share price a buy post-earnings season?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Rio Tinto share price dips despite $4.9b Turquoise Hill deal

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Billiton Limited and Macquarie Group Limited. 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 Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/gXYfZ4S

The James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX) share price is in the green today.

The global fibre cement company’s share price is currently trading at $33.68, a 1.42% gain. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.03% today.

Let’s take a look at why the James Hardie share price could be lifting today.

New CEO

Investors appear to be buying up James Hardie shares on news the company has hired a new CEO.

Aaron Erter will commence in the top job immediately and will be based in Chicago.

Erter joins James Hardie after a two-year stint with PLZ Corp, a North American aerosol and liquid product manufacturer.

Erter said he has “long admired James Hardie” and sees the new role as a “tremendous opportunity. He added:

I have been fortunate to work for some world-class organizations in my career, and I am confident that my experience and expertise align with what James Hardie needs in a leader.

He has an economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Deputy chairperson and chairperson elect Anne Lloyd said:

I am pleased to welcome Aaron to James Hardie as I transition into the Chairperson role in November. It is an energising period for the organization as we continue to drive profitable growth globally.

Jack Truong exited the company in January and appointed Harold Wiens as interim CEO. James Hardie is forecasting an adjusted net income of between US$730 and US$780 million in 2023.

James Hardie share price snapshot

The James Hardie share price has fallen 37% in the past twelve months and 39% in the year to date.

For perspective, the ASX 200 has lost nearly 9% in the past year.

James Hardie has a market capitalisation of $15 billion based on the current share price.

The post Why is the James Hardie share price having such a stellar end to the week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• James Hardie share price slides following guidance downgrade
• Buy this ASX share now before it reports this month: expert

Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/pg1hWyz

The Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK) share price is soaring on Friday.

This comes after the company released its full-year results for the 2022 financial year.

At the time of writing, the specialty retailer’s shares are up 8.60%, trading at $2.40.

Dusk share price surges despite profit, revenue fall

• Total revenue down 6.9% to $138.4 million
• Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) down 27.9% to $29.8 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) down 31.3% to $18.4 million
• Final dividend of 10 cents per share, fully franked
• Net cash of $21.3 million (no debt) as of 3 July 2022

What happened in FY 2022?

For the 53 weeks ended 3 July, Dusk delivered a solid result despite being heavily impacted in the first half due to COVID-19 government-mandated store closures.

While 5,483 store trading days (approximately 24%) were lost, the group still managed to achieve total sales of 138.4 million, down 6.9% on FY 2021.

Total like-for-like sales (LFL) dropped by 10.5%, cycling from the 32.7% surge experienced in the prior corresponding year.

On a positive note, online sales grew by 2.9% to $11.6 million, representing 8.3% of total sales. The company updated its web platform in August 2021 to be faster, more flexible and more engaging.

Furthermore, Dusk opened 10 new stores in Australia, which have been performing well to date. In total, Dusk now has 132 stores, including the online store.

Inventory stood at $15.4 million, a slight increase compared to the $14.4 million in FY 2021.

What did management say?

Dusk CEO and managing director Peter King had this to say about the results:

There is much to be pleased about in this result when considered in the context of the trading conditions seen in the year, especially in the first half where store closures reduced store trading days by approximately 24% and the Omicron variant reduced foot traffic over summer, including in the important Christmas trading season.

In FY22, we cycled exceptional LFL sales growth of +32.7% in the previous year. Although total and LFL sales were lower in FY22, we achieved strong results for Christmas and Mothers’ Day, and pleasing growth on a two-year basis (i.e. since FY20). Importantly, we feel we consolidated the step change in sales and earnings of the business compared to the pre-pandemic period.

What’s the outlook?

For the first eight weeks of FY 2023, Dusk noted that trading levels were stronger than the previous month of July.

Total sales are up 33.2% when compared to the first eight weeks in FY 2022. The company attributes this to having a full suite of new season merchandise available in-store and online.

Dusk stated that inventory was currently well balanced to meet demand, with orders placed well in advance for the peak Christmas period.

The company refrained from providing earnings guidance for FY 2023 given the continuing uncertain economic environment.

The Dusk share price is down 25% in 2022 after the company recorded heavy falls from April until June.

The post Dusk share price soars 9% on resilient full-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• 2 ASX shares this fund manager thinks fits the bill for ‘undervalued growth’

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Dusk Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/EcYOCHK

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is currently down 1.8%, adding to yesterday’s fall.

Since the end of August, BHP shares have now fallen by around 10%.

Yesterday’s decline may have largely been due to BHP reaching the ex-dividend date. This simply means that new investors buying shares aren’t entitled to the final FY22 dividend.

In theory, BHP shares aren’t worth as much in the short-term if investors aren’t entitled to the large dividend.

However, that’s old news now.

Why is the BHP share price falling?

Well, you’d need to ask each individual seller why they’re selling today, at a lower price.

But, there could be a few different factors.

It’s certainly possible that a few more investors decided to sell their shares after the ex-dividend date.

But there could be other things happening.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently in the red by 0.25%, so BHP may be suffering from general market negativity, though BHP itself is responsible for a sizeable part of that decline considering BHP is such a large part of the overall ASX 200 index.

Iron ore price sinks

However, the thing that may be on investors’ minds the most is changing commodity prices.

As a resource business, BHP’s ability to generate profit is heavily dependent on the commodity price.

The costs of mining iron ore don’t really change whether the iron ore price is US$10 higher or US$10 lower per tonne. So, a higher price can largely add straight to the net profit after tax (NPAT) line (after paying the government a bit more). But the reverse is true when the iron ore price drops as well, which can hurt the BHP share price.

Commsec pointed out that overnight:

Iron ore futures slid US$8.37 or 8% to US$96.39 a tonne after the lockdown of Chengdu revived fears that the virus will continue to hamper China’s economic recovery.

An 8% fall in the iron ore price is a hefty fall in one day.

Lockdowns may not be permanent, but it does increase uncertainty for the market.

However, iron ore isn’t BHP’s only commodity – its portfolio includes other resources like copper, nickel and potash.

The company also recently tried to buy the ASX copper miner OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL), but that was knocked back.

BHP share price snapshot

Over the last six months, BHP shares have dropped 24%.

The post Why is the BHP share price tumbling again on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Another tough day on the ASX; and BHP goes ex-dividend. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News
• Why BHP, Deep Yellow, Nickel Industries, and PointsBet shares are dropping
• Why is the ASX 200 diving 2% on Tuesday?
• How did ASX 200 dividend shares stack up in August?
• Reason for hope as ‘worst month of the year’ starts off badly

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/KYaxOfA

The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price managed to beat the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in August.

Looking at the numbers, Telstra shares went up by 2% while the ASX 200 only went up by 0.6%.

A lot of businesses reported during August 2022, including Telstra. Investors got a good insight into how the telco performed over the prior twelve months. We got a view of how things are turning around and Telstra also revealed an exciting development for shareholders.

Telstra FY22 earnings recap

The telco giant said that its total income fell 4.7% to $22 billion and the underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 8.4% to $7.3 billion. The underlying earnings per share (EPS) jumped 48.5% to 14.4 cents.

Management said that the mobiles division performed “very strongly”, with EBITDA growth of 21.2%. The postpaid handheld average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 2.9% and mobile services revenue rose by 6.4%. The company added 155,000 net retail handheld services.

The company revealed that Telstra Health is on track to become a $500 million revenue business by FY25. Telstra Health FY22 revenue jumped 51% to $243 million after including the acquisitions of MedicalDirector and Power Health.

Telstra Health was also selected by the government to run the 1800RESPECT service. This division could have a growing influence on the Telstra share price in the coming years.

Perhaps two of the most important numbers in the result showed growth. The free cash flow increased by 5.9% to $4 billion. Telstra also increased its dividend for the first time in seven years. The board decided to increase the half-yearly dividend by 6.25% to 8.5 cents per share.

The outgoing boss of Telstra, Andy Penn, said this about the dividend increase:

This represents the first increase in the total Telstra dividend since 2015 and recognises the confidence of the board following the success of our T22 strategy, the ambition in our T25 strategy of high-teens EPS growth from FY21 to FY25, the strength of our balance sheet and the recognition by the board of the importance of the dividend to shareholders.

Dividend growth may be very important for some investors looking at the Telstra share price.

Telstra is expecting growth in the next few years as it rolls out 5G to locations and customers.

The telco is looking to generate attractive profit growth by cutting costs and also growing revenue. Telstra recently implemented price rises for many postpaid customers – this could help revenue and profit.

Are brokers optimistic about the Telstra share price?

The broker Morgans liked the FY22 numbers and is expecting profit growth in FY23 and then in FY24. It’s expecting the elevated dividend payment to continue from here. Morgans has a price target of $4.60 on Telstra, implying a mid-teen rise for Telstra shares.

Ord Minnett also rates Telstra as a buy, with a price target of $4.60. It likes Telstra’s strong positioning as the leader in mobile, and 5G is expected to help Telstra. It’s expecting profit and dividend growth in the coming years.

The post Why did the Telstra share price outperform the ASX 200 in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why did the Telstra share price beat the ASX 200 today?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• Telstra shares offer a dividend yield over 4% right now. Is this as good as it sounds?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday
• How much income will Telstra shares pay for FY22 after this month’s dividend hike?

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 Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3Lokae8

The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price outperformed the broader market in August, gaining 3.95% over the course of the month.

After closing July trading at $17.22, the stock lifted to finish Wednesday’s session at $17.90.

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted just 0.6%. At the same time, the company’s home sector – the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) – slumped 0.2%.

So, what sent the travel giant’s share price soaring above the ASX 200 last month? Let’s take a look.

What drove the Flight Centre share price in August?

The Flight Centre share price stretched its wings in the August earnings season. It lifted to fly higher than the broader market despite dipping 4.5% on the back of the travel giant’s full-year results.

It posted $1 billion of revenue for financial year 2022 – a 154% increase on that of financial year 2021. But that wasn’t enough to boost its bottom line into the green.

Flight Centre recorded a $272.6 million after-tax loss for the period while its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) came to a $200 million loss.

On a more positive note, the company’s global corporate business ended the year with a $13.5 million profit. Its leisure business also returned to profit in the final quarter.

And it may have been more than the company’s earnings driving its stock higher in August.

The Flight Centre share price lifted 7% over the final two sessions of last month amid rumours the company could be getting ready to make some major merger and acquisition moves.

The company responded to speculation of its potential acquisition of US travel company Altour International on Tuesday. It neither confirmed nor denied the rumours, saying:

While it is company policy to not respond to media speculation, the company has had, and continues to have, various discussions with a number of parties regarding strategic opportunities.

As of the final close of August, the Flight Centre share price was 3.8% lower than it was at the start of 2022. For comparison, the ASX 200 recorded a 7.9% tumble over the same period.

The post Why did the Flight Centre share price beat the ASX 200 in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• What’s the outlook for the Flight Centre share price in September?
• Why is the Qantas share price beating the ASX 200 on Wednesday?
• Flight Centre share price up amid M&A rumours
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Here’s what brokers are saying about the Flight Centre share price

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

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/plro4SQ

It’s that time of the year once again folks. The August earnings season has been and gone, and it brought plenty of dividends for those invested in S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares.

A whopping $42.3 billion worth, in fact. And it’s not too late to get a slice of the action.

Here are some ASX 200 shares still offering dividends for new investors.

5 ASX 200 shares still offering new shareholders dividends

ASX 200 companies reporting either half or full-year earnings over the month of August declared a total of $42.3 billion worth of dividends, according to analysis by CommSec.

That marks a 1.7% year-on-year fall and a 6.1% tumble from February’s record dividend offerings.

More than one in five ASX 200 shares reporting full-year earnings paid a dividend, with 61% bolstering their payout and 27.4% cutting it.

But there’s no reason for onlookers to feel left out.

There are still numerous ASX 200 shares that haven’t traded ex-dividend yet. That means investors who jump on board now will still get their share of a company’s upcoming payout.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

ASX 200 energy share Woodside tripled its half-year dividend last month, offering shareholders US$1.09 per share. It’s also fully franked, meaning the payout could bring additional benefits to some investors at tax time.

And there’s still plenty of time to jump on board to receive the offering. Woodside doesn’t trade ex-dividend until Thursday.

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

The ASX 200 biotherapeutics share offered a 10% franked final dividend of US$1.18 per share for financial year 2022.

Would-be investors wishing to get a hold of the payment have until Tuesday to snap up CSL shares.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

ASX 200 energy producer and retailer upped its final dividend to 16.5 cents per share – more than double that of financial year 2021 and its largest dividend since 2015. The offering is also 75% franked.

Those who wanted to jump on board for the dividend have until Tuesday to buy into the company.

BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL)

BlueScope Steel held its final dividend steady at an unfranked 25 cents last month.

The company will pay it out to those holding its shares as of Monday’s close.

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

Finally, the iron ore giant was among the 27% of ASX 200 shares slashing their dividend in August. It cut its fully franked final offering by 43% to $1.21 per share.  

But market watchers can still receive a slice of the reduced pay-out, as long as they’re on board the company’s register when the market closes tonight. The stock will trade ex-dividend on Monday.

The post ASX 200 shares declared $42b of dividends in August. Here’s how you can get a slice appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Hoping to bank the latest Fortescue dividend? Here’s what you need to do
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Blocked again: Here’s what happened to ASX 200 shares last time the Suez was cut off
• How did ASX 200 dividend shares stack up in August?
• Reason for hope as ‘worst month of the year’ starts off badly

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 CSL Ltd. 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/sFv9gaL

The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price was a strong performer in August, rising by around 17%.

All of that gain actually came in the last week of the month.

Reporting season is a very interesting time because it gives investors and analysts a look ‘under the hood’ of businesses. We can get detailed financial analysis and commentary on how an ASX company has performed over the last six or twelve months.

Investors appeared to like what Qantas reported because it was after the release of the FY22 result that the airline’s shares experienced that big boost.

Let’s go through a quick reminder of what the airline said.

FY22 earnings recap

Qantas said that for the 12 months to 30 June 2022, the underlying loss before tax was $1.86 billion. The statutory loss before tax was $1.19 billion. The difference between these two measures largely reflects the $686 million net gain on the sale of surplus land. This helped reduce COVID-era debt.

However, it managed to generate positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $281 million after making $526 million of EBITDA in the second half.

Qantas revealed that its domestic operations were profitable at the underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) level in the fourth quarter. Profitability can be an important factor for investors when thinking about the Qantas share price.

The airline told investors that it has seen a huge increase in forward travel demand since borders reopened.

There has been a lot of media attention on the disappointing customer experience in recent months. But Qantas said contact centre wait times, cancellation rates, and mishandled bag rates are “trending back towards pre-COVID standards during August 2022”.

It pointed to a “significant improvement” in on-time performance, which lifted from 52% in July to 66% in August. Qantas expects it to reach 75% in September and around 80% in October.

The balance sheet and shareholder returns may have been particularly pleasing for some investors. The net debt declined to just $3.94 billion at the end of June 2022. This was below the target range of between $4.2 billion to $5.2 billion. This was one of the factors that gave the board the confidence to launch an on-market share buyback of up to $400 million.

Promising outlook

Investors often like to look at commentary about the future, so this can also influence the Qantas share price.

Qantas said that it has entered FY23 with its balance sheet repair process “effectively complete, strong levels of travel demand and a clear path to improving its COVID-related operational challenges.”

The airline expects to complete its recovery plan in FY23. Qantas said it will deliver $1 billion in annual cost reductions. Qantas is also looking to offset inflation from FY19 to FY23 through additional cost and revenue initiatives.

The company expects fuel costs to be $5 billion in FY23, after a 60% rise in fuel prices compared to FY19. It expects higher ticket prices to recover increased fuel prices, while temporary unit cost increases will help address operational challenges.

In the first half of FY23, Qantas expects domestic capacity to reach 95% of pre-COVID levels. In the second half, the company expects it to be 106% of pre-COVID levels. International capacity is expected to be 65% of pre-COVID levels in the first half of FY23. It’s expected to increase to 84% in the second half.

Brokers remain optimistic about the airline’s ability to deliver returns. UBS rates Qantas as a buy, with a price target of $6.80. That implies a possible rise of around 30%.

The post Why did the Qantas share price rocket 17% in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• 3 ASX shares to buy after reporting season (and a sector to avoid): expert
• Why is the Qantas share price beating the ASX 200 on Wednesday?
• Is the $400m buyback a good thing for Qantas shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/6JOcpd8

If you’re looking for ASX 200 dividend shares to buy, then you may want to check out the two listed below.

Both have recently been named as buys by analysts. Here’s why they rate them highly:

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The first ASX 200 dividend share that could be in the buy zone is investment bank Macquarie.

The team at Morgans is very positive on Macquarie and has an add rating and $215.00 price target on the company’s shares.

The broker likes Macquarie due to its exposure to long-term structural growth areas such as infrastructure and renewables. It also expects the bank to benefit from recent market volatility through its trading businesses and gain market share in Australian mortgages.

In respect to dividends, the broker is expecting partially franked dividends of $7.07 per share in FY 2023 and $7.47 per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Macquarie share price of $174.45, this will mean yields of 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL)

Another ASX 200 dividend share that has been named as a buy is private health insurer Medibank.

A recent note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have a buy rating and $4.00 price target on the company’s shares.

Citi was pleased with Medibank’s performance in FY 2022. It highlights the very strong showing from its private health insurance business and notes that the company’s FY 2023 performance should be supported by higher interest rates.

Overall, the broker is expecting this to lead to its shares providing investors with attractive dividend yields in the coming years. For example, Citi is forecasting fully franked dividends of 15.9 cents per share in FY 2023 and 16.3 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Medibank share price of $3.65, this will mean yields of 4.35% and 4.5%, respectively.

The post Analysts name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why is the ASX 200 diving 2% on Tuesday?
• 3 ASX 200 shares breaking multi-year highs on Tuesday
• Why did the Medibank share price just crack a new all-time high?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Brokers name 2 ASX dividend shares to buy

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

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/rWA5hgR