Category: Stock Market

  • Amazon is bowing to regulators. Here’s what it means for shareholders

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    person sitting at outdoor table looking at mobile phone and credit card.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Like some other big tech companies, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been in the antitrust hot seat for several years now. The company has a huge presence in U.S. e-commerce, controlling roughly 40% of a fast-growing market, and it’s also the leading cloud infrastructure provider.

    Amazon has no direct rival in e-commerce as no other company has more than single-digit market share in the category, and Amazon has used that dominant position to its advantage, launching businesses like its third-party marketplace and advertising embedded on its product pages.

    Both of those deliver high margins. In fact, Amazon’s marketplace is so successful that it generates more in sales volume than the company’s first-party business (that is, direct sales).

    The online retail giant has taken note of the success of individual products in the marketplace, at times launching its own similar private-label products. Former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said Amazon policy forbids using third-party data in making first-party product decisions, but he also told a congressional panel that he couldn’t guarantee that that policy had never been violated.

    Developing house brands is a tried-and-true strategy for brick-and-mortar retailers, and Amazon has followed suit and ramped up its private-label business over the years. It has reached nearly 250,000 private-label products across 45 different owned brands.

    However, The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Amazon is cutting back on that business due to a combination of regulatory pressure and weak sales in some of the product categories.

    Bezos, who is now executive chairman, has been a big backer of the private-label business, but it hasn’t lived up to his expectations.

    Amazon’s owned brands, which span categories like batteries, clothes, and baby-care products, account for just 1% of total retail sales, falling well short of a goal Bezos had set of capturing 10% of Amazon’s total sales by 2022.

    Two steps forward, one step back

    While there is no talk of shuttering the private-label business, the Journal said that Amazon is significantly reducing the number of private-label goods on its site, eliminating several weak sellers to focus instead on fast-moving consumer goods like batteries whose sales it can more easily forecast and fulfill.

    The regulatory threat may also be a factor. Amazon is the world’s second-biggest company by revenue, and it could pass No. 1 Walmart as soon as next year.

    Senators like Elizabeth Warren and antitrust regulators have become wary of the company’s power and have suggested potential moves like splitting the marketplace from the first-party business or cleaving Amazon Web Services from the e-commerce division. Those antitrust attacks don’t help Amazon’s reputation, and the company is already dealing with a unionization push at some of its warehouses.

    The decision to curtail its private-label business might also reflect the company’s realization that its greatest strength in e-commerce is as a facilitator rather than a direct seller. The recent launch of Buy with Prime, allowing online shoppers to shop directly on non-Amazon websites and get Prime delivery for the first time, could juice sales by leveraging the company’s logistics network.

    What it means for investors

    It’s easy to forget that Amazon has had its share of failures over its history, including the Fire Phone, the Amazon Webstore (a competitor to Shopify), and Amazon Destinations, its online travel agency. Given the company’s overall success, it’s unusual for some of its initiatives to flop.

    It’s too early to call the private-label business a failure, but it clearly hasn’t lived up to Bezos’s expectations, and Amazon lags behind brick-and-mortar competitors whose owned brands have thrived. Costco, for example, is nearly synonymous with Kirkland, the private-label brand that comprises everything from peanuts to underwear, and Target has 10 of its own billion-dollar brands, each bringing in $1 billion or more in annual revenue, meaning its private-label business is bigger than Amazon’s even though its overall revenue is much lower.

    Brick-and-mortar chains, for a number of reasons, might have an advantage over Amazon in selling private-label goods.

    Costco, for example, has far fewer stock keeping units (SKUs), or individual items for sale, than Amazon, making the private-label business less complicated. The regulatory criticism also seems a good reason for Amazon to pull back in an area that has already sparked ire from government officials.

    While this looks like a minor defeat, it’s worth remembering that experimentation and failure are core parts of the company’s culture, and Amazon doesn’t expect every new idea to pan out. Though it’s pulling back on private labels, programs like Buy with Prime and Amazon Go seem to be gaining momentum.

    That’s a reminder that the company still has plenty of levers to pull in order to grow the business, even if private-label products aren’t delivering as expected.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Amazon is bowing to regulators. Here’s what it means for shareholders 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 July 7 2022

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    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Shopify, Target, and Walmart Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $1,140 calls on Shopify and short January 2023 $1,160 calls on Shopify. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.



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  • Guess which ASX 200 share this fundie tips to outperform

    A businessman in a suit wears a medal around his neck and raises a fist in victory surrounded by two other businessmen in suits facing the other direction to him.

    A businessman in a suit wears a medal around his neck and raises a fist in victory surrounded by two other businessmen in suits facing the other direction to him.

    Fund manager Wilson Asset Management (WAM) has explained why the IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH) share price outperformed in June and why the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share could keep performing from here.

    WAM runs a number of different listed investment companies (LICs) including WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE), WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM) and WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX).

    IPH is, or was, in the WAM Research and WAM Capital portfolios at the end of June 2022. It was in the top 20 holdings.

    What is IPH?

    The fund manager described IPH as Asia Pacific’s leading intellectual property services group, comprising a network of member businesses, servicing more than 25 countries.

    Recent performance

    The IPH share price has risen by around 15% since mid-June.

    WAM noted that in June, the business didn’t release any “fundamental” news to explain the strong rebound of IPH shares

    The fund manager explained the bounce of the legal outfit’s shares may have been due to currency tailwinds because IPH invoices the vast majority of its clients in US dollars.

    While the IPH share price went up, the global share market declined in June after, according to WAM, news of continued interest rate rises and rising inflation, and sentiment gravitated towards businesses with more “resilient earnings profiles” that have “historically proven themselves capable of delivering organic growth in tougher economic environments.”

    In other words, IPH’s defensive earnings and business model could lead to good performance during this difficult period.

    Latest IPH update

    IPH wants to deliver growth in a number of ways including organic growth, acquisitions and expanding service offerings to clients in Australia and New Zealand.

    The ASX 200 share said that the scale of its business enables it to look further at intellectual property adjacent opportunities. It has a “strong balance sheet and capacity” to go after opportunities.

    In a recent investor presentation, the business said that “global IP trends remain supportive for IP protection” and that it’s well placed to capitalise on these trends.

    It also said that it has “demonstrated consistent earnings and cash flow generation to underpin returns to shareholders.” The business has been steadily growing its ordinary dividend over the past several years.

    IPH share price snapshot

    Over the last six and twelve months, IPH shares are virtually flat.

    The post Guess which ASX 200 share this fundie tips to outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Iph Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Iph Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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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 recommended IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended IPH Ltd. 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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  • Experts name 2 beaten down ASX growth shares with plenty of upside potential

    A xouple consider the pros and cons of taking out a loan

    A xouple consider the pros and cons of taking out a loan

    With the market starting to rebound, now could be an opportune time to look at buying some beaten down ASX growth shares.

    Two that could be worth considering are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    The first beaten down ASX growth share to consider is Domino’s. This pizza chain operator’s shares have dropped over 40% since the start of the year.

    The team at Citi believe this could be a buying opportunity for patient investors. The broker recently reaffirmed its buy rating and $92.95 price target on the pizza chain operator’s shares. This implies potential upside of 30% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Its analysts continue to see Domino’s as a great long term option thanks to its store rollout plans and strong balance sheet. It feels the latter is supportive of potential merger and acquisition (M&A) activity.

    It commented:

    Our Buy rating is predicated on potential upside from potential M&A activity, upside to long term store rollout and sales on track to rebound later in CY22 once the business has cycled through the abnormal comps.

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    Another beaten down ASX growth share that could be worth considering is IDP Education. This provider of international student placement services and English language testing services has seen its shares lose 25% of their value in 2022.

    This is despite the company returning to form in FY 2022 and delivering strong growth across the board as demand for its services rebounds from the pandemic.

    Goldman Sachs continues to be very positive on IDP Education’s prospects. It currently has a buy rating and $35.50 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of over 30% for investors from current levels.

    The broker said:

    We see a compelling long-term growth opportunity with a number of drivers: Structural growth in multi-destination student placement markets; supplemented by ongoing recovery in the Australian market; Ability to grow market share in highly fragmented Canadian and UK SP markets; Reinvestment in digital capabilities to increase competitive advantage and strengthen relationships with tertiary institutions and; Consolidation of IELTs business and ability to supplement organic growth with bolt-on acquisitions.

    The post Experts name 2 beaten down ASX growth shares with plenty of upside potential 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 July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Idp Education Pty Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises 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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  • Will Ethereum and Bitcoin see the ‘flippening’ in 2022?

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    an image of a gold bitcoin and a gold ethereum coin side by side against a backdrop of a graph with reda and green bars representing rising and falling prices.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    With Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) rallying these days, maybe it’s a good time to revisit the “flippening.” The term (and it’s as fun to say out loud as it is to read or write) is the moment that Ethereum bulls are waiting for. The flippening will take place the moment that the world’s second-most-valuable cryptocurrency overtakes market leader Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) in terms of market capitalization.  

    There are no guarantees that the event will even happen, of course. Bitcoin continues to be the brand that every investor knows. The gap between the two digital currencies is also pretty substantial. Bitcoin, with its $434 billion price tag, is more than double Ethereum’s market cap of $182 billion.

    But with Ethereum now possibly weeks away from a historic milestone as it continues to be the blockchain platform of choice, it wouldn’t surprise crypto traders if Bitcoin surrendered market leadership to its closest peer. Don’t sleep on the flippening.

    Trading places 

    Momentum has been on Ethereum’s side lately. It’s up 37% over the past week as of Thursday morning, compared to a more modest but still potent 15% recovery for Bitcoin. Ethereum has also tripled Bitcoin’s return over the past month. Stretch the timeline back a year (merrier times, for sure) and even Ethereum’s 23% slide is marginally kinder than Bitcoin’s 28% plunge.

    It’s naturally going to take a lot for Ethereum to flip the script. It would have to soar 139% from here. And Bitcoin would have to stand still. It’s difficult to fathom because the market needs a reason to disconnect the two leading crypto denominations. When one rallies, the other is inching higher. When investor appetite cools, it tends to chill for both currencies. Bitcoin and Ethereum are both roughly 70% off the all-time highs they hit last year. 

    If the flippening chatter isn’t getting the same kind of traction it did a year or two ago, it’s because both cryptos would need to triple from here to return to their peaks. The bullish case was that Ethereum would pass Bitcoin on the way up instead of being passing ships in a less inspiring market climate. 

    Why is this baton-passing event even possible at this point? Ethereum bulls will point to the merge as the catalyst that could catapult their crypto of choice to the top. Bitcoin and Ethereum currently rely on proof-of-work models to generate new tokens. Mining for new Bitcoin or Ethereum relies on computation power, a validation process that is battle-tested and secure but a drain on energy resources. Proof of work is a red flag for critics with environmental concerns. 

    Ethereum has spent the past two years working to shift to a proof-of-stake protocol. It’s a consensus-based mechanism for validating new coins that is popular with many of the faster and more energy-efficient cryptocurrencies. Ethereum was initially hoping to complete the merge to proof of stake last year, but it has proved to be a herculean task. The can has been kicked through the first half of this year, and Ethereum programmers (for now) have Sept. 19 tentatively circled as the day for the migration to proof of stake to take place. 

    Traders credit the new date for the surge in Ethereum over the past week, but we’ve seen deadlines come and go in the past. There are still concerns that this could be a “trade on the news” moment, especially if Ethereum keeps climbing ahead of the merge.

    However, this could be the moment when Bitcoin and Ethereum truly separate from each other in terms of market sentiment and momentum. Bitcoin wears the market-cap crown right now because it planted the flag when it comes to crypto. It’s the industry standard. Ethereum rose to second place by raising the bar with blockchain technology that powers smart contracts that fuel functionality beyond just a store of value or the means to settle up a transaction.

    There are naturally many other types of cryptocurrencies out there, and they have their own particular strengths. A third digital currency could be the one that ultimately overtakes both Bitcoin and Ethereum to rise to the top.

    Ethereum is the one we’re watching now, though. It accounts for nearly two-thirds of the total value locked — or deposited in decentralized finance protocol chains — and many smaller digital currencies are there simply to make Ethereum more useful.

    Time may be running out for the flippening to take place this year, but if the merge goes smoothly and Ethereum continues to distance itself from Bitcoin’s current limitations, a shift in market sentiment could make it the top dog by 2023.  

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Will Ethereum and Bitcoin see the ‘flippening’ in 2022? 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 July 7 2022

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    Rick Munarriz has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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  • Up 8% this week, is the Boral share price on the comeback trail?

    A concerned man leans against a brick wall looking up at the skyA concerned man leans against a brick wall looking up at the sky

    The Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) share price was on a roll this week, gaining 7.78% to close on Friday at $2.77.

    It followed a 58% tumble experienced by the stock over the first half of 2022, driven by a February capital return.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 3% this week. It’s also slipped around 10% since the start of this year.

    But with one broker focusing on blue skies ahead, could the market be seeing the start of an about-face from the Boral share price?

    Let’s take a closer look at what the expert predicts for the future of the building products and construction materials company’s shares.

    46% upside tipped for Boral share price

    The Boral share price has struggled in recent times, with inflation and energy prices taking their toll on the company.

    Boral is a large energy user, and much of its business relies on the housing market, which can be hit hard by rising inflation and resulting interest rate hikes, as my Fool colleague Brendon Lau reported last month.

    Further, the company announced its earnings were hampered by “extraordinary” rain earlier this year.

    It expects the rain left a dint to the size of around $30 million in its financial year 2022 earnings while inflation and energy costs could have had a $15 million impact.

    On top of that, the company noted it expected its transformation project to deliver a benefit of between $45 million and $50 million. That’s lower than its targeted range of between $60 million and $75 million.

    But analysts at Macquarie believe the worst could be over for the ASX 200 stock.

    The broker has slapped Boral shares with a $4.05 price target and an ‘outperform’ rating. That indicates a 46.2% upside on the company’s current share price.

    The post Up 8% this week, is the Boral share price on the comeback trail? 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 July 7 2022

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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 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.

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  • Why did the ANZ share price smash the other ASX 200 banks today?

    Happy couple at Bank ATM machine.Happy couple at Bank ATM machine.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a rather rocky end to the week’s trading session on Friday. The ASX 200 ended up losing an anaemic 0.04%, falling to just over 6,790 points. But perhaps surprisingly, most of the ASX 200-dominating bank shares performed rather better.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price inched ahead, gaining 0.18% today to $97.80 a share. But Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares had a very healthy day indeed. Westpac rose 1.1% at $21.07 a share.

    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) performed similarly. It finished up a robust 0.74% at $29.88 a share.

    But it was the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price that really lit up the tyres. ANZ shares rose a pleasing 3.01% to $22.59 each. That comes after this ASX 200 bank share closed at $21.93 a share yesterday.

    Why did the ANZ share price outshine the other ASX banks?

    Well, we can’t know for sure, seeing as there was nothing out today from ANZ itself that might easily explain this disparity.

    However, we can consider that ANZ has been in the news this week in a big way. On Monday, the bank announced that it intends to acquire the banking arm of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) for $4.9 billion. This would be one of the largest ASX bank deals in more than a decade.

    ANZ’s shares have been halted from trading for most of the week so that the bank could undertake capital raising to fund the acquisition. ANZ shares returned from this halt yesterday, but perhaps investors decided that the bank is looking good with its brand new bag today.

    There is certainly no news or announcements out of the other ASX banks this week that come close to the significance of ANZ’s plans. So this could be why we saw such enthusiasm for the ANZ share price today as we head into the weekend.

    Whatever the reason, it was certainly a pleasing day for ANZ shareholders.

    At the last ANZ share price, this ASX 200 bank share has a market capitalisation of $63.82 billion, with a dividend yield of 6.37%.

    The post Why did the ANZ share price smash the other ASX 200 banks 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 July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in National Australia Bank 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 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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  • Why did the Kogan share price rocket 20% this week?

    Woman looks amazed and shocked as she looks at her laptop.

    Woman looks amazed and shocked as she looks at her laptop.Despite a few bumps and bruises, it’s been a pretty good week for ASX shares this week.

    As it stands on Friday afternoon, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has put on a pleasing 3.15% since last Friday’s close. But that’s nothing compared to the Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price.

    Kogan shares have had a ripper of a week, no way around it. For starters, this online-based retailer added a pleasing 4.47% during today’s trading session alone, leaving it at $3.27 a share going into the weekend.

    This time last week, Kogan shares were trading at just $2.72, only a whisker off the company’s 52-week low of $2.66.

    This means that the Kogan share price has climbed from $2.72 to $3.27 in a week – a whopping gain of 20.22%.

    But even so, this company is still deep in the red over 2022 thus far. Year-to-date, the Kogan share price remains down a nasty 62% or so, despite this week’s gains.

    So what has put such a rocket behind the Kogan share price this week?

    Why has the Kogan share price shot the moon this week?

    Well, unfortunately, it is entirely unclear. This week’s spectacular gains have not resulted from anything the company has released itself. Indeed, we haven’t had any official news or announcements from Kogan since 8 July.

    However, we have seen a definite trend emerging on the ASX boards this week that could shed some light on Kogan’s gains.

    Many smaller ASX retailers like Kogan have been suffering a similar fate this year. But this week has seen several of them jump on a similar rocket to Kogan.

    Take Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK). Its shares are up 8.6% over the past week. Or Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV). Lovisa shares have surged more than 8% over the same period. Not quite at Kogan’s level, but pleasing enough.

    So perhaps Kogan’s impressive gains are just part of this trend that we are seeing. Whatever the reason, it has undoubtedly been a great week for Kogan shareholders.

    At the last Kogan share price, this ASX retailer has a market capitalisation of $350.72 million.

    The post Why did the Kogan share price rocket 20% this week? 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 July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Dusk Group Limited and Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dusk Group Limited and Lovisa Holdings Ltd. 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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  • Is the Xero share price heading back over $100?

    A guy shrugs his shoulders, not sure which is the right decision.

    A guy shrugs his shoulders, not sure which is the right decision.

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price was a positive performer on Friday.

    The cloud accounting platform provider’s shares rose almost 1% to end the week at $91.22.

    This latest gain means the Xero share price is now up almost 20% since this time last month.

    Though, it is worth noting that its shares are still down materially from their 52-week high of $156.65.

    Can the Xero share price climb back beyond $100?

    It has been three months since the Xero share price traded above $100.00 but it may not be long until it is beyond this level again.

    That’s the view of analysts at Goldman Sachs, who recently reaffirmed their buy rating with a $113.00 price target.

    Even after its strong gains over the last 30 days, this still implies potential upside of 24% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Why is the broker bullish?

    Goldman is bullish on Xero due to its belief that the company can grow its gross profit by an average of 22% per annum between FY 2023 and FY 2025. This is thanks to the stickiness and importance of its software and the low churn levels it is commanding compared to peers. The broker commented:

    While noting that the near term remains robust, we do acknowledge the risk of higher churn from SME business challenges and recent price increases. Nevertheless, we see Xero as well-placed to navigate this uncertainty given the stickiness & importance of its software, and lower levels of churn vs. AU overall. We revise FY23-25 GP to reflect FX and higher churn/ARPU growth (price increases).

    It is also worth noting that analysts at Citi also see scope for the Xero share price to climb beyond the $100 mark again. Its analysts have a buy rating and $108.00 price target on the company’s shares. Citi commented:

    We see Xero’s decision to increase prices in ANZ and UK as an indication of the company’s confidence in its position in its core markets. While the changes would not have a full impact in FY23e, we estimate the changes represent a 8% uplift to group ARPU and represents upside to our ARPU forecasts. An increase in churn is a factor to consider especially given the slowing economic outlook.

    The post Is the Xero share price heading back over $100? 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 July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A group of happy office workers throw papers in the air and cheer after seeing the Latrobe Magnesium price skyrocket 38%A group of happy office workers throw papers in the air and cheer after seeing the Latrobe Magnesium price skyrocket 38%

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started and ended in the red on Friday despite trading higher for much of the afternoon. As of the market’s close, the index was 0.04% lower at 6,791.50 points.

    Its downfall was driven by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ), which was weighed down by the APA Group (ASX: APA) share price. The stock tumbled on news of the company’s expected final dividend.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) also slumped 1% amid lower oil prices.

    The Brent crude oil price fell 2.9% to US$103.86 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price dumped 3.5% to US$96.35 a barrel.

    It wasn’t all dire, however. Real estate, financials, and information technology ended the day in the green, with the Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price recording its third consecutive major gain.  

    At the end of Friday’s trade, three of the ASX 200’s 11 constituents were in the green. But which companies reported the biggest gains of the day? Keep reading to find out.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s top performing ASX 200 share was none other than Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH). Find out what’s been going on with the bookmaker’s stock here.

    Today’s biggest gains were made by these ASX 200 shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) $3.29 16.25%
    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) $0.88 13.55%
    EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) $1.195 7.17%
    Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) $7.09 5.51%
    Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL) $4.75 4.4%
    Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) $9.61 4.34%
    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) $8.59 4.25%
    City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX) $2.58 3.2%
    Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) $214 3.18%
    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) $22.59 3.01%

    Our top 10 ASX 200 shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays 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 July 7 2022

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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 Cochlear Ltd., EML Payments, MEGAPORT FPO, PINNACLE FPO, Pointsbet Holdings Ltd, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended APA Group, EML Payments, and PINNACLE FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear Ltd., MEGAPORT FPO, and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. 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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  • Analysts name 2 stellar ASX growth shares to buy

    A young woman wearing a blue blouse with white polkadots holds her phone up with an intrigued and happy look on her face as she reads news about the Life360 share price

    A young woman wearing a blue blouse with white polkadots holds her phone up with an intrigued and happy look on her face as she reads news about the Life360 share price

    If you’re searching for growth shares to buy, then it could be worth considering the two listed below.

    Here’s why analysts are saying that these ASX growth shares are in the buy zone now:

    Readytech Holdings Ltd (ASX: RDY)

    The first ASX growth share to look at is enterprise software provider Readytech.

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs are very positive on Readytech. This is due to its strong position in defensive market verticals such as higher education and local government. It notes that these are under-served by both large and small enterprise software competitors.

    Goldman expects this to allow the company to continue growing organically at a solid rate in the coming years. It also sees opportunities for Readytech to boost its growth with bolt on acquisitions.

    The broker commented:

    In our view, RDY will continue to grow mid-teens organically while making accretive acquisitions (such as IT Vision), with profitability underpinned by solid software metrics including low churn at ~3% and high LTV/CAC.

    RDY serves defensive end markets (e.g. higher education, local government) and has high recurring revenue (>85%) which should protect the company’s earnings profile in an economic downturn.

    Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $4.60 price target on ReadyTech’s shares.

    Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

    Another ASX growth share that could be in the buy zone is wine giant Treasury Wine.

    Analysts at Morgans are very positive on the company. This is due to its strong brands, attractive valuation, and highly regarded management team.

    Morgans explained:

    TWE owns much loved iconic wine brands, the jewel in the crown being Penfolds. We rate its management team highly. The foundations are now in place for TWE to deliver strong earnings growth from the 2H22 over the next few years. Trading at a material discount to our valuation and other luxury brand owners, TWE is a key pick for us.

    Its analysts currently have an add rating and $13.93 price target on the company’s shares.

    The post Analysts name 2 stellar ASX growth shares to buy 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 July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Readytech Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Readytech Holdings Ltd 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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