Category: Stock Market

  • Guess which $1.4b ASX 200 share just surged 15%

    A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt pumps his fists in the air looking excited and happy about the rising OBX share price

    A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt pumps his fists in the air looking excited and happy about the rising OBX share priceThe Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS) share price is rocketing higher on Thursday.

    In afternoon trade, the travel company formerly known as SeaLink has seen its shares shoot 15% higher to $6.29.

    Why is the Kelsian share price rocketing higher?

    The Kelsian share price is storming higher today after investors responded very positively to an announcement.

    Last month the company confirmed that it was in talks with GoAhead Group regarding the potential acquisition of the UK-based bus and train operator.

    While no financial terms were provided, Kelsian advised that any deal would likely to be in cash.

    Furthermore, with LSE-listed GoAhead currently commanding a 600 million pounds (~$1 billion) market capitalisation, it would be a significant deal for Kelsian, which has a $1.4 billion market capitalisation following today’s gain.

    What’s the latest?

    Given the Kelsian share price performance today, readers might now be expecting to read that the company has signed an agreement to acquire GoAhead.

    But that’s not the case. In fact, the market has actually responded positively to confirmation that Kelsian will not be making an offer for GoAhead. It appears that investors were not convinced with the plan given the significant capital it would have needed to raise to make the acquisition.

    Management blamed volatile equity markets for its decision to scrap the deal. It explained:

    Kelsian is always considering growth opportunities and would only pursue an opportunity that is strategically and financially attractive for its shareholders, as well as aligning with Kelsian’s business model and operating culture. Kelsian has a track record of successfully acquiring, integrating and growing Australian and international businesses.

    Unfortunately, recent Australian equity markets have been volatile and external events have adversely impacted the Kelsian share price since 14 June 2022 when Kelsian first announced it was considering a possible offer for Go-Ahead. The Kelsian Board consider that Australian equity market conditions at this time do not enable Kelsian to pursue a possible transaction for Go-Ahead despite the long-term strategic and economic rationale of the potential transaction for Kelsian.

    The post Guess which $1.4b ASX 200 share just surged 15% 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 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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  • RBA in the spotlight; and Westpac hikes fixed rates. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News

    Scott Phillips on Nine Late News 3 June 2022Scott Phillips on Nine Late News 3 June 2022

    Motley Fool Australia Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined Michael Thomson for Nine’s Late News on Wednesday night to discuss the review into the RBA’s handling of interest rates, and Westpac Banking Corp’s (ASX: WBC) decision to increase fixed rates, with more probably on the way…

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwax0MT49ZM?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The post RBA in the spotlight; and Westpac hikes fixed rates. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News 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 Scott Phillips 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 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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  • What’s the outlook for the Lynas share price in FY23?

    Three business people stand on platforms in the desert and look out through telescopes.Three business people stand on platforms in the desert and look out through telescopes.

    The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is falling today, currently down 2.97% at $8.17.

    Investors have sold down Lynas shares since 28 June, with the stock pushing to six-month lows of $7.54 apiece on 12 July (as seen in the graph below).

    But what might be in store for the mineral explorer for the rest of FY23?

    TradingView Chart

    What next for the Lynas share price?

    The Lynas share price made a strong start to the week following the release of the company’s Q4 FY22 earnings report.

    In it, the rare earths producer reported a 10% dip in sales but grew cash receipts 34% to a record $350 million. Growth was underscored by robust pricing and strong demand for rare earths.

    Noteworthy is that neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) prices were roughly 70–80% higher year on year, Lynas said.

    Additionally, Lynas reported sales revenue of $294.5m, which it said was the second highest quarterly result recorded. This was achieved despite slightly lower production, mainly due to water shortages in Malaysia.

    Macquarie analysts are bullish on the Lynas share price, with the broker rating it a buy. It also values the company at $12.50 per share, as my Foolish colleague Tristan Harrison reported today. Macquarie says Lynas is valued at 10 times FY23 estimated earnings.

    Moreover, Lynas is rated a buy from two out of three of the analysts covering the share, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.

    The average price target from this list is $10.26 apiece, suggesting there could be more upside left in the share yet.

    Investors will be hoping Lynas can repeat its performance in FY22 when it soared by 53%. This was particularly impressive given the ASX 200 itself fell some 10% during the period.

    In the last 12 months, the Lynas share price has gained 38%.

    The post What’s the outlook for the Lynas share price in FY23? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Lynas Rare Earths 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 Lynas Rare Earths 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 Zach Bristow 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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  • Rio Tinto share price stumbles following near-$1b ATO settlement

    A young woman looks at something on her laptop, wondering what will come next.A young woman looks at something on her laptop, wondering what will come next.

    The Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price is in the red on Thursday, tumbling 2.77% to trade at $95.09.

    Its downturn comes amid news the Australian mining giant has agreed to fork out nearly $1 billion in unpaid taxes. It marks one of the largest tax settlements in Australian history.

    The stock is currently defying a broadly flat market today. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.15% right now. At the same time, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has slipped 0.03%.

    Let’s take a closer look at the agreement reached between Rio Tinto and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

    Rio Tinto agrees to near-$1b ATO settlement

    The Rio Tinto share price is suffering on Thursday. Meanwhile, news the company has been ordered to fork out hundreds of millions of additional tax has hit headlines.

    The ATO and the company have reached a settlement that will see Rio Tinto handing over $613 million in tax for the 12 years between 2010 and 2021. That’s on top of $378 million already paid by the resource giant.

    The settlement was born from two disputes. One regarded the pricing of sales of Australian materials, including iron ore and aluminium, to Rio Tinto’s commercial centre in Singapore. The other related to interest on a borrowing used to pay an intragroup dividend in 2015.

    It puts an end to a near-decade long investigation by the ATO.

    “[The settlement] means that additional profits from the sale of Rio’s Australian owned commodities will be taxed in Australia in the years to come,” ATO deputy commissioner Rebecca Saint said, continuing:

    The complexity of properly understanding the global affairs of multinationals … can take years of rigorous investigation. This is the case even when the multinational is fully engaged, shares information, and is motivated to resolve the issue, such as with this settlement.

    The company has also entered an agreement with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Together, the agreements lock in transfer pricing arrangements on materials between Australia and Singapore until 2026 and ensure the company doesn’t face double taxation.

    Rio Tinto chief financial officer Petter Cunningham commented on the agreements, saying:

    We are glad to have resolved these longstanding disputes and to have gained certainty over future tax outcomes relating to our Singapore marketing arrangements.

    Rio Tinto share price snapshot

    Today’s dip included, the Rio Tinto share price is around 4% lower than it was at the start of 2022. It has also slipped 24% since this time last year.

    For comparison, the ASX 200 has fallen 11% year to date and 7.5% over the last 12 months.

    The post Rio Tinto share price stumbles following near-$1b ATO settlement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Rio Tinto Limited right now?

    Before you consider Rio Tinto Limited, 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 Rio Tinto Limited 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 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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  • Down 70% in a year, ASX-listed Ovato calls in administrators

    A hand holding a sign which says HELP is buried in paperwork, indicating an overload of informationA hand holding a sign which says HELP is buried in paperwork, indicating an overload of information

    It is a bleak day for shareholders in Ovato Ltd (ASX: OVT) as the company makes the difficult decision to enter voluntary administration.

    The appointment of administrators has followed a substantial erosion of the Ovato share price over the past year. During this time, shares in the printing solutions company have tumbled 70% as it contended with various business challenges.

    Let’s take a look at what steps the company took today.

    Ovato share price comes to a screeching halt

    Prior to the market opening on Thursday morning, a request for Ovato shares to be suspended from quotation was made to the ASX.

    Ovato also updated investors with the reasoning behind its suspension request. According to its release, the printing company has appointed Chris Hill, Ross Blakeley, and Ben Campbell of FTI Consulting to act as voluntary administrators.

    The action was stated to have taken effect immediately, kicking off the voluntary administration process for ASX-listed Ovato.

    Furthermore, the company told investors the catalysts for its difficult financial position were threefold. These included the effects of volatile market conditions, the increased cost of raw materials, and legacy cost issues. The appointed team will now assess the viability of the business.

    What’s next for ASX-listed Ovato?

    In addition to providing an overall assessment, the appointed administrators will soon move ahead with a public sale and recapitalisation process.

    Moving forward, the Ovato share price will remain frozen while the company undergoes the administration process. Shareholders can expect to hear more details at a creditors’ meeting slated for early August.

    The Ovato share price is down just over 70% from this time a year ago. This has coincided with the company’s revenue continuing to dwindle and operations remaining unprofitable. At the end of December 2021, Ovato reported cash levels of $9.26 million, compared to debt of $49.42 million.

    The post Down 70% in a year, ASX-listed Ovato calls in administrators 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 Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why is the Temple and Webster share price up 7% today?

    A woman and two children leap up and over a sofa.A woman and two children leap up and over a sofa.

    The Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) share price is soaring in early afternoon trading on Thursday.

    At the time of writing, the company’s shares are pushing 7.02% higher to $3.81 apiece. This comes despite no news out of the online furniture retailer.

    In broad market moves, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) is up 0.75%, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is 0.06% higher.

    What’s up with the Temple and Webster share price?

    Investors have been constructive on consumer cyclical shares since mid-June with the consumer discretionary benchmark up 10% in a month. Similarly, the Temple and Webster shares are up 8% over the same period.

    Despite softening consumer sentiment out of the US and Australia recently, consumer spending habits likely jumped in FY22, Focus Economics posits.

    A combination of accumulated savings and a tight labour market points to strengths in consumer demand, it says.

    As a result, the Australian economy looks set to continue growing, and the above points “should feed household spending”, it remarked.

    Furthermore, the consumer discretionary sector continues to catch bids in July. The reversal from previous lows looks to have inflected positively on the Temple and Webster share price.

    It, too, has reverted course and bounced from 52-week lows of $2.97 on 12 July, as seen below.

    TradingView Chart

    As seen in the chart, the two instruments have tracked each other in a strikingly similar fashion over the past 12 months.

    In that time, the Temple and Webster share price has fallen 66%. It is also down 64% this year to date.

    The post Why is the Temple and Webster share price up 7% 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 Zach Bristow 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 Temple & Webster Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group 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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  • Tesla sells 75% of Bitcoin holdings. Here’s why Elon Musk is unloading

    a close up of a woman's face looks skywards as she is showered in a sea of graphic symbols of gold and silver coins bearing the bitcoin logo.

    a close up of a woman's face looks skywards as she is showered in a sea of graphic symbols of gold and silver coins bearing the bitcoin logo.

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price has, so far, managed to shrug off news that Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) has sold some 75% of its holdings of the world’s top crypto.

    The digital token is up 1% over the past 24 hours, currently trading for US$23,273 (AU$33,849).

    Why did Tesla sell most of its Bitcoin holdings?

    The global electric vehicle company released its second quarter report (Q2 2022) yesterday (overnight Aussie time).

    In that report, Tesla listed a number of factors that had negatively impacted its year-on-year operating income. Among those, the company named “Bitcoin impairment”.

    While apparently having lost money on its crypto venture to date, the sale did add US$936 million to the company’s books.

    “As of the end of Q2, we have converted approximately 75% of our Bitcoin purchases into fiat currency. Conversions in Q2 added $936M of cash to our balance sheet,” Tesla stated.

    Tesla invested US$1.5 billion into the crypto asset in early February 2021. The Bitcoin price rocketed on the news of Elon Musk’s support of the token, reaching new record highs at the time of just over US$44,000.

    With the Bitcoin price skyrocketing in the early months of 2021, Tesla turned around and sold roughly 10% of its holdings in short order, reporting $272 million in proceeds from those sales in its April 2021 quarterly update.

    Is this the end of Elon Musk’s love affair with cryptos?

    It’s unlikely that Elon Musk will turn his back on cryptos.

    According to the world’s richest man, Tesla’s sale shouldn’t be viewed as “some verdict on Bitcoin”.

    Rather the electric vehicle company was looking to bolster its cash holdings amid the lingering impacts of the global pandemic.

    Josh Olszewicz, head of research at Valkyrie Investments, said Tesla likely sold its Bitcoin holdings for an average price of approximately US$30,000. That leaves the company holding around US$218 million of the crypto at current prices.

    According to Olszewicz (quoted by Bloomberg):

    Strongly bearish market conditions since the beginning of the year as well as the need for cash on the balance sheet likely contributed to this decision. From a treasury management perspective, downside volatility may have been too unattractive to ignore in the near term.

    The post Tesla sells 75% of Bitcoin holdings. Here’s why Elon Musk is unloading 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 Bernd Struben 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 Bitcoin and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin. 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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  • Liontown share price jumps 7% on ‘significant milestone’

    A young man with short black fuzzy hair and wearing a black and white striped t-shirt looks surprised at a broker's tip that Macquarie shares will rise by 30%

    A young man with short black fuzzy hair and wearing a black and white striped t-shirt looks surprised at a broker's tip that Macquarie shares will rise by 30%

    The Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) share price has returned from a brief trading pause and is shooting higher.

    In afternoon trade, the lithium miner’s shares are up almost 7% to $1.19.

    Why is the Liontown share price racing higher?

    Investors have been bidding the Liontown share price higher after the company achieved another important milestone.

    According to the release, the company has appointed Lycopodium Limited (ASX: LYL) to complete the engineering, procurement, construction management (EPCM) and commissioning services for the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia.

    The EPCM contract is valued at approximately $35 million based on the agreed scope. Pleasingly, despite recent cost inflation, it is on terms consistent with the assumptions in the company’s definitive feasibility study. It also includes fixed and reimbursable portions to ensure greater cost certainty for project engineering.

    Lycopodium is a familiar face at Liontown. The release notes that it has been involved with the project since 2018 and has substantial global mineral processing and project delivery experience which it will leverage to provide Liontown with an integrated engineering, construction and commissioning solution for delivery of the project.

    ‘Another significant milestone’

    Liontown’s managing director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, notes that this is another important milestone for the company. He said:

    Awarding the EPCM Contract is another significant milestone for Liontown and the development of Kathleen Valley. We are delighted to have appointed a company of Lycopodium’s stature and capability, building on their long-standing involvement with the Kathleen Valley Project in overseeing testwork, piloting and design since 2018.

    We believe Lycopodium is an ideal engineering and construction partner, with substantial experience in mineral processing plant design and construction expertise, making it ideally placed to deliver the Project.

    The post Liontown share price jumps 7% on ‘significant milestone’ 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • ASX 200 midday update: ANZ’s capital raising, Link jumps, Zip’s Q4 update

    At lunch on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a small decline. The benchmark index is currently down 0.1% to 6,754.1 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    ANZ shares edge lower

    The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is edging lower on Thursday. This follows the completion of the institutional component of the banking giant’s capital raising. ANZ raised gross proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion at a 12.7% discount of $18.90 per new share. These funds are being used for the acquisition of the banking operations of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN).

    Link accepts takeover offer

    The Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) share price is zooming higher after Dye & Durham agreed to increase its takeover offer again. Dye & Durham has lifted its offer from $4.57 per share to $4.81 per share and Link is recommending shareholders vote in favour of the proposal. Shareholders will also be entitled to a 13 cents per share consideration from the potential sale of Link’s BCM business.

    Zip share price higher on Q4 update

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is pushing higher today. Investors have been buying the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares after responding positively to its quarterly update. Zip reported group quarterly revenue growth of 27% to $160.1 million from its 12 million customers. The company also revealed that it is closing down its Singapore, Zip Business, and Pocketbook businesses. It is also looking at options for other Rest of the World businesses, including the UK.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) share price with a gain of over 15%. This follows the release of a strong quarterly update. Going the other way, the worst performer has been the Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU) share price with a 5% decline on no news.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: ANZ’s capital raising, Link jumps, Zip’s Q4 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in TELIXPHARM DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Link Administration Holdings Ltd and ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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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  • Netflix still has a long way to go

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

    streaming stocks represented by woman watching tv on tablet

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

    Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) investors were able to exhale after the streaming service announced its second-quarter results on Tuesday afternoon. The stock initially moved higher, after the market was encouraged to see Netflix lose less than half of the subscribers that the platform thought it would shed sequentially during the period.

    There is certainly some long overdue relief to Netflix losing only 970,000 net subscribers between the end of March and the conclusion of June. Back in April, Netflix was bracing investors for two million net defections. However, there is more to this relative success story — and subscriber guidance — than meets the eye. Let’s take a closer look.

    Three people leap over a sofa.

     

    Image source: Getty Images.

    Stranger danger things

    It didn’t take long for bears to point out the soft spots in the financial update. If Netflix held up better than expected on the subscriber front, why did reported revenue fall short of the company’s own guidance?

    If sequential subscriber growth is returning in the current quarter after back-to-back periods of sequential declines, why is Netflix’s outlook for the third quarter less than what Wall Street pros are modeling?

    Things aren’t as bad as the naysayers’ questions suggest. Let’s start with the “miss” for the second quarter. Netflix was targeting 9.7% in year-over-year revenue growth. The top line only rose 8.6% on a reported basis, but that’s not the whole story.

    This is a global juggernaut, as more than half of its revenue is now being generated overseas. With the dollar surging against most global currencies, there will be a lot, literally, lost in the translation. Netflix points out that there was a $339 million negative foreign currency impact on the top line in the second quarter. Back that out and revenue would’ve risen a better-than-expected 13% on a constant currency basis. 

    Guidance for the current quarter is less than where analysts are perched, but that also is a matter of foreign exchange swings that are beyond the scope of Netflix’s springtime prognostication skills.

    The third quarter seems uninspiring beyond the return to net additions for the first time in 2022, but it’s not as bleak as the headline numbers may suggest.

    Netflix is eyeing 221.67 million streaming paid memberships worldwide by the end of September. This is a million more than the current count, but it’s still just shy of the 221.84 million accounts it had on its books when the year began. 

    The new subscriber goal is just 3.8% higher than where Netflix was at that point last year. It’s a historical low, but this naturally includes the back-to-back quarters of net defections the platform experienced through the first half of this year.

    The 4.8% year-over-year increase in revenue that it’s targeting for the third quarter is short of the 8% that analysts were modeling, but — again — the strong dollar blurs the passport picture here. On a constant currency basis, Netflix expects its revenue to rise 12% for the current quarter.

    The exchange rate blizzard blows through the income statement, as its forecast of a 29% decline in operating profit would be just a 3% dip. Operating margin would be at 20% instead of the implied 16% in its outlook. 

    In short, it’s not as bad as it seems. It’s also important to frame things in the right light. I’ve seen a couple of boobirds online point out the audacity of Netflix stock rising despite the company shrinking its audience by nearly a million subscribers.

    The obvious counter is that Netflix was expecting to lose more than twice as many paid memberships, but there’s a better argument. Netflix stock was at $348.61 three months ago, minutes before the company announced it would lose two million net subs for the upcoming quarter. Netflix poking its head above $200 on Wednesday isn’t a victory lap. 

    Netflix has a long way to go, and the good news is that it’s far from complacent right now. The launch of an ad-supported tier should help it retain cost-conscious subscribers.

    Starting to crack down on password sharing — through Latin America, initially — could backfire, but if it works, there could be a new higher-priced tier for multi-household families or splits that translate into membership growth.

    Netflix is still the king of the hill when it comes to streaming service stocks, and this week’s mixed report is actually better than it seems on most fronts. 

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

    The post Netflix still has a long way to go 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 ick Munarriz has positions in Netflix. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Netflix. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Netflix. 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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