Category: Stock Market

  • EML Payments share price lifts on confirmed takeover talks

    A man in his 30s holds his computer underneath and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.A man in his 30s holds his computer underneath and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

    The EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) share price is higher on Monday after the company confirmed it recently received takeover interest from multiple parties.

    And while takeover talks have since come to an end, the news has seemingly excited the market.

    At the time of writing, the EML share price is $1.025, 0.49% higher than it was at the end of Friday’s session.

    Though that’s notably lower than its intraday high. The stock peaked at $1.135 this morning, representing an 11% gain.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tech share today.

    EML share price rises on previous takeover interest

    The EML share price is in the green after the company responded to media reports, admitting two parties had shown acquisition interest last month.

    The company said it had shareholders’ best interests front of mind when considering the proposals. However, takeover talks with both parties have since ended.

    It comes just months after similar media reports led EML to admit it had been in takeover discussions with Bain Capital.

    It’s also only a week since the company’s former CEO walked away from the top job. Emma Shand has stepped up to the helm following Tom Cregan’s shock departure.

    It seems reporting by the Australian Financial Review (AFR) was the catalyst for today’s announcement.

    On top of reporting on takeover interest, the publication also noted apparent “friction” within the company’s leadership. Some insiders reportedly feel the EML board has been reluctant to engage with talks that could see it removed from the ASX.

    In today’s release, the company said:

    The board of EML is excited about the appointment of Emma Shand as the company’s new group CEO and for the future prospects of EML under Emma’s leadership.

    The EML share price has tumbled around 70% since the start of 2022. For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen 33%.

    The post EML Payments share price lifts on confirmed takeover talks 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 EML Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended EML Payments. 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 I think these 2 ASX shares are steals

    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

    ASX share market volatility may seem scary in the moment, but I think that it’s offering investors the ability to invest in some very compelling ideas.

    Not every business is worth owning just because it has fallen in value. But I’ve got my eyes on some leading ideas that now seem really good value amid the sell-off that we’ve seen.

    I think that ASX shares that are growing well could be really attractive ideas to consider, particularly if they’ve been sold down. In my opinion, the below two contenders could do well over the coming years:

    VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    This exchange traded fund (ETF) looks to give investors exposure to the global video gaming and e-sports sector.

    Looking at the holdings, there are a total of 25 businesses in the portfolio. The top ten holdings make up more than 60% of the total allocation. Readers may have heard of some of these names: Tencent, Activision Blizzard, Nvidia, Nintendo, Advanced Micro Devices, Netease, Roblox, Electronics Arts, Bandai Namco, and Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL).

    VanEck said that this ETF can benefit from “the increasing popularity of video games and e-sports”. It’s invested in businesses that make a significant portion of their revenue from the video gaming industry.

    E-sports revenue is certainly growing quickly. VanEck said it has grown by an average of 28% per annum since 2015.

    It notes that e-sports has created new potential revenue streams from game publisher fees, media rights, merchandise, ticket sales, and advertising.

    City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX)

    City Chic is one of the leading ASX retail shares in my opinion. It sells plus-size women’s apparel, footwear, and accessories. City Chic owns a number of brands including City Chic, Avenue, Evans, CCX, Hips & Curves, and Fox & Royal.

    One of the things that attracts me to this business is the fact that it’s going global. It has a presence in the UK, US, and Europe, with the intention of growing in each region and launching more ranges. Canada is another place where it could also grow over time.

    Increasing scale can help a number of areas of the business, leading to operating leverage.

    The ASX share has outlined several positives for its business in the coming years.

    City Chic said that the plus-size market is expected to grow by around 7% per year. The company noted that the average annual spend on plus-size apparel is currently materially less than the rest of the women’s market. But City Chic also said that there are “increasing rates of plus-size women globally”.

    In late April 2022, the company said that it had delivered strong sales growth in the FY22 second half to date, underpinned by the company’s in-stock inventory position. Trading margins have remained consistent with last year. The northern hemisphere has grown to be around 55% of group sales and continued its growth at a rate of 52% in the second half of FY22.

    City Chic continues to add new partners. It’s thinking about increasing prices and it expects to make more earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the second half of FY22 compared to the first half. I think the company can provide solid compound growth in the coming years as it wins over more customers in more countries.

    Since the start of 2022, the City Chic share price has fallen around 60%. This is much more attractive to me.

    The post Why I think these 2 ASX shares are steals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    3 Stocks for Runaway Inflation

    As the world suffers price shocks… and the cost of everything seems to be ticking higher…
    These 3 ASX stocks could be the answer to runaway inflation. Boasting key qualities companies need to not only survive but actively thrive when costs surge.
    Act fast – because in times of inflation, the worst thing you can do is… nothing.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 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 positions in and has recommended Activision Blizzard, Advanced Micro Devices, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Activision Blizzard, Nvidia, and VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. 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 12% in a month, is the Fortescue share price a buy?

    A Chinese investor sits in front of his laptop looking pensive and concerned about pandemic lockdowns which may impact ASX 200 iron ore share pricesA Chinese investor sits in front of his laptop looking pensive and concerned about pandemic lockdowns which may impact ASX 200 iron ore share prices

    Shares in Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) have tumbled in the past month. In fact, just a few days ago on Friday, the Fortescue share price hit an 8-month low.

    The world’s fourth largest iron ore miner’s shares have come under significant selling pressure amid lower iron ore prices.

    At the time of writing, the Fortescue share price is up 1.35% at $16.55.

    This means the company’s shares are now down 11.02% since this time last month.

    Fortescue faces tough trading conditions

    The severe drop-off in iron ore prices is negatively impacting Fortescue shares as well as the broader S&P/ASX 200 Resources (ASX: XJR) index. As of Friday, the latter was also down by around 12% over the past month.

    On 17 June, the steel-making ingredient was fetching US$135.69 per tonne.

    However, a downbeat outlook on Chinese demand led the iron ore price to sink to year-to-date lows of under US$100 on Friday.

    This represents a fall of more than 20% in just one month and over 50% in the past year.

    Furthermore, as reported by my Fool colleague late last week, a cautious outlook on the mining sector by UBS could be further weighing on Fortescue shares.

    The broker has a neutral rating with a price target of $16 a pop. This appears to be in line with what investors currently deem to be fair value for Fortescue shares.

    UBS noted that higher all-in sustaining costs (AISCs) across the board would likely hit mining profits. Subsequently, this could lead to a number of miners missing their production guidance targets.

    Where iron ore prices, and subsequently the Fortescue share price, go from here largely depend on what happens to China’s economy.

    Ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as a cutback on steel production, are having a negative effect on the iron ore industry. The Chinese government is trying to negate these effects with stimulus packages but appears not to have had much of an impact so far.

    On top of that, a potential global recession is also overshadowing the market.

    Fortescue share price summary

    Wild price swings have been the norm for the Fortescue share price in 2022 – down 14%.

    After touching a record high of $26.58 on 29 July last year, its shares dropped to a 52-week low of $13.90 in October.

    Fortescue has a market capitalisation of around $50.96 billion.

    The post Down 12% in a month, is the Fortescue share price a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fortescue Metals Group Limited right now?

    Before you consider Fortescue Metals Group 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 Fortescue Metals Group 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 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 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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  • ‘High quality’: Why Wesfarmers shares are a buy in this broker’s books

    retail shares wesfarmers

    retail shares wesfarmersThe Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price has dropped by around a quarter since the start of 2022.

    It has been a rough time for many ASX retail shares and growth shares since the start of the year, amid inflation and rising interest rates.

    Wesfarmers is one of the oldest businesses in Australia. It operates several businesses, including Officeworks, Target, Catch, Kmart, Bunnings, Priceline, Soul Pattinson Chemists, Clear Skincare Clinics and some industrial businesses.

    Which broker likes Wesfarmers?

    Broker Morgans thinks Wesfarmers is a leading business in the retail space and worth owning, which is why it has an ‘add’ rating on the business with a price target of $58.40. That implies a possible upside of more than 25%.

    In other words, Morgans thinks Wesfarmers shares can regain most of its lost ground over the next 12 months.

    As mentioned by my colleague James Mickleboro, Morgans said that Wesfarmers had one of the highest-quality retail portfolios in Australia, with a good management team and key business, Bunnings, continuing to perform well. Therefore, the fall in the Wesfarmers share price could be an opportune time to buy shares.

    Dividend and valuation

    Wesfarmers has committed to producing shareholder returns. Part of that is by paying an attractive dividend to investors.

    Morgans expects the company to pay an annual dividend per share of $1.65 in FY22. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.1%.

    Morgans has also pencilled in dividend growth of around 10% in FY23 to an annual dividend per share of $1.81. This puts the forward grossed-up dividend yield at 5.6%.

    In line with a ‘buy’ rating, Morgans expects Wesfarmers will generate more net profit after tax (NPAT) than other brokers.

    The broker’s earnings estimates put the Wesfarmers share price at 23x FY22’s estimated earnings and 21x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    Why are investors turning negative on the Wesfarmers share price?

    As one of the largest retailers in Australia, Wesfarmers is heavily exposed to the Aussie consumer. Rising interest rates and higher inflation could hurt household budgets and limit their spending at Bunnings, Catch and its other retail brands.

    That’s partly why brokers like Macquarie, Ord Minnett and Citi all have negative ratings and price targets at least 5% lower than where the business is currently performing.

    Snapshot

    Despite the fall since the start of the year, the Wesfarmers share price has lifted by around 10% over the past month.

    The post ‘High quality’: Why Wesfarmers shares are a buy in this broker’s books appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Inflation pressures and bear market opportunities

    According to The Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips, how investors handle their investments right now could have a massive impact on their wealth in years to come.
    While many investors will turn to real estate, gold and other commodities in times of inflation, Scott is quick to point out another way…
    Get the details now…

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • I think the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF looks like a strong buy

    a man sits at a computer in deep thought with hand on chin in a darkened room as though it is late and night and he is working on cybersecurity issues.

    a man sits at a computer in deep thought with hand on chin in a darkened room as though it is late and night and he is working on cybersecurity issues.This could prove to be a good time to invest in the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ).

    It has been a rough period since the start of 2022. The NDQ exchange traded fund (ETF) has dropped by around 25% in that time.

    But, an ETF’s performance simply reflects the movements of its underlying holdings.

    The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF tracks the performance of the NASDAQ 100 Index, which is made up of 100 of the largest non-financial businesses listed on the NASDAQ.

    The provider of the ETF, BetaShares, notes that many of the companies in this portfolio are at the forefront of the ‘new economy’.

    What are some of the names in the portfolio?

    At 15 July 2022, these were the biggest positions: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Tesla, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, PepsiCo, and Costco.

    As readers may recognise, these are some of the leading businesses in the world at what they do. It can be hard to dislodge a business when it has such a strong competitive position.

    Think how many tens of billions of dollars a business might need to spend just to have a chance of competing with Apple’s iPhone or Alphabet’s Google.

    For me, it’s the quality nature of the underlying businesses that makes the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF so attractive to me. Just look at the returns of the NDQ ETF over the five years to 30 June 2022. It achieved an average return per annum of 18.2% despite the recent decline.

    Valuation change

    The collective group of businesses in the NASDAQ 100 has dropped by around 25% in valuation amid worries about inflation and interest rate changes.

    As an investor, I want to invest in good businesses at good prices. Being able to buy all these great businesses at a price that’s 25% cheaper than 2021 looks good to me.

    According to BetaShares, at 30 June 2022, the forward price/earnings (p/e) ratio was just under 20 at 30 June 2022. While this isn’t exactly low, I think it’s a worthwhile price to pay considering the long-term growth potential for plenty of the underlying businesses.

    Useful diversification for a reasonable price

    There are more than just the major holdings in the portfolio. Names like Adobe, PayPal, Cisco Systems, Qualcomm, Intuitive Surgical, Booking, and ASML each have a compelling case to make.

    The NDQ ETF can provide diversification for investors who are largely invested in ASX shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) being dominated by financial shares and resource shares. The NASDAQ 100 is largely about tech shares, with a 50% weighting to IT.

    It’s worth bearing in mind that some of the names that readers may think are ‘technology’ are actually classified as something else. For example, Tesla and Amazon are counted as consumer discretionary businesses, while Alphabet and Meta Platforms are classified as communication services.

    The annual management fee is 0.48%.

    The post I think the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF looks like a strong buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf right now?

    Before you consider Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf, 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 Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf 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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    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 positions in and has recommended Adobe Inc., Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, Booking Holdings, Cisco Systems, Costco Wholesale, Intuit, Microsoft, Nvidia, PayPal Holdings, Qualcomm, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2024 $420 calls on Adobe Inc., long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2024 $430 calls on Adobe Inc., and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe Inc., Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Booking Holdings, Nvidia, and PayPal Holdings. 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 I think the Corporate Travel Management share price is too cheap to miss

    ASX travel shares

    ASX travel shares

    I am always on the lookout for opportunities that look like strong long-term ideas. At the current time, I think the Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) share price looks like a compelling idea in the ASX travel share space.

    As the name may suggest, it’s a leading business in corporate travel. There are a few factors the company says put it ahead of many other competitors. These include its value proposition, its global scale, and its financial strength. Corporate Travel believes all are highly relevant during the COVID-19 recovery period.

    But there’s more to why I think the business is looking like a good value opportunity than just what it does.

    Better valuation

    It sounds pretty simple, but I prefer being able to buy a business at a lower price than a higher price.

    How much cheaper is the business? It depends on when you look at the price changes but since 29 April 2022, the Corporate Travel Management share price has dropped around 30%.

    While it’s not quite as simple as saying the business is now 30% better value, I think the company is a lot more appealing considering travel is returning in volume.

    Looking at the earnings estimate on CMC Markets, the ASX travel share is projected to generate earnings per share (EPS) of 79 cents in FY23. That puts it at 23 times FY23’s estimated earnings.

    Strong market share gains

    The company claims that it is recovering well ahead of consensus and is ahead of its peers. To me, this is a sign of the quality of the company and how strong it is in the market, which is probably a good omen for the future.

    Management thinks that the company will reach 100% recovery faster than the wider corporate travel industry.

    The company says that it has made “strong market share gains” thanks to its value proposition of service, technology, and the fact that a return on investment (ROI) is highly relevant. Corporate Travel Management also noted that there are little to no recovery impediments existing in North America, the European Union, and Australia and New Zealand.

    Profitable recovery

    The company has made “transformational” acquisitions during the COVID-19 period which can help it generate much more profit.

    Corporate Travel Management said it’s targeting earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $265 million at full recovery. This would be 76% more than it was before COVID-19 hit. The company’s FY22 fourth-quarter revenue was expected to exceed what was generated in 2019.

    The company has been making underlying EBITDA profit since March 2021. But, it was expecting the FY22 fourth quarter would provide strong momentum going into the 2023 financial year.

    Foolish takeaway

    When you put all those factors together, I think the Corporate Travel Management share price looks much more attractive as it works towards a full recovery of volume and much greater profitability.

    The post Why I think the Corporate Travel Management share price is too cheap to miss appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “The worst thing you can do is nothing”

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer says right now is not the time to sit on your hands…
    As inflation eats away at cash balances Scott Phillips reveals three stocks for investors to consider that could help fight rising prices…
    … And Corporate Travel Management Ltd isn’t one of them.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management 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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  • Woolworths share price falls despite ‘important’ $150m acquisition

    A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.

    A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is falling on Monday morning.

    At the time of writing, the retail giant’s shares are down 0.5% to $37.35.

    What’s going on with the Woolworths share price?

    The Woolworths share price has dropped into the red today despite the announcement of an acquisition.

    According to the release, the company’s retail media business, Cartology, has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Shopper Media Group for a cash consideration of $150 million.

    Shopper Media Group is a leading Australian digital out of home media company, offering targeted shopper advertising through a national screen network of more than 2,000 screens in over 400 shopping centres.

    The transaction is subject to ACCC approval and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. If all goes to plan, completion is expected to occur by the end of calendar year 2022.

    Management commentary

    Woolworths’ CEO, Brad Banducci, spoke positively about the acquisition and the retail media business. He said:

    Retail media is developing rapidly and is an important part of the evolution of Woolworths Group. We’re excited about the opportunity to bring together the complementary capabilities of our retail media business, Cartology, with Shopper’s expertise in out of home media.

    This sentiment was echoed by Cartology’s managing director, Mike Tyquin, who believes that this is an important acquisition. He added:

    Shopper’s screen network offers advertisers outstanding retail context and proximity. Shopper has invested heavily in technology, helping the business pave the way for innovation in retail out of home media.

    The acquisition of the business is an important next step in further unlocking the growth potential of Cartology and accelerating our goal to become the trusted media partner of choice for brands and retailers. It will allow us to provide our clients more opportunities to reach their customers via seamless and targeted advertising solutions.

    The post Woolworths share price falls despite ‘important’ $150m acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Three inflation fighting stocks no ones’ talking about

    Savvy Motley Fool investors may have already found three stock moves to help fight inflation.
    Three ASX stocks that could be hiding right under your nose.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 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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  • Lynas share price higher following record Q4 sales

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is starting the week positively following the release of the rare earth producer’s fourth-quarter update.

    In early trade, the Lynas share price is up 3% to $8.30.

    Lynas share price higher after fourth-quarter update

    • Quarterly sales revenue down 10.3% quarter on quarter to $294.5 million
    • Sales receipts up 34% to a record $351 million
    • Total REO production down 26.2% to 3,650 tonnes
    • Closing cash balance of $965.6 million

    What happened during the quarter?

    For the three months ended 30 June, Lynas was on form and delivered record sales receipts of $351 million.

    The key driver of its record sales were strong rare earth prices. The release notes that the NdPr price was between 70% and 80% higher than at the same time last year. The average China Domestic Price for NdPr during the quarter was US$120/kg.

    Complementing this was strong demand for Lynas’ products during the quarter, with the majority of its products sold to buyers outside China.

    And while its sales revenue was down quarter on quarter, it was still the second highest quarterly result at $294.5 million. Management advised that this was despite its production being slightly lower due to water shortages in Malaysia.

    Lynas has implemented a number of mitigating strategies, but the ongoing water shortages from its commercial supplier resulted in several complete or partial temporary production halts during the quarter.

    Pleasingly, a process modification has been designed with the objective of decreasing its fresh water consumption by 40%. This modification will be implemented during the July quarter and is expected to substantially reduce Lynas Malaysia’s exposure to water supply issues.

    Management commentary

    Lynas CEO, Amanda Lacaze, was pleased with the company’s performance during the final quarter. She said:

    I am pleased to report a very strong final quarter for Financial Year 2022 (FY22). Lynas has continued to realise the benefits of robust market pricing and demand despite continued challenges in the external environment. Our year end cash balance of $965.6m provides a confident basis for funding continued growth as demand grows.

    Record sales receipts of A$351m were achieved in the quarter. Sales revenue of A$294.5m was the 2nd highest quarterly result recorded reflecting slightly lower production primarily due to water shortages in Malaysia.

    The post Lynas share price higher following record Q4 sales 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 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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  • Suncorp share price in focus amid $5b bank sale

    a man sits in unhappy contemplation staring at his computer on his desk in a home environment, propping his chin on his hand.a man sits in unhappy contemplation staring at his computer on his desk in a home environment, propping his chin on his hand.

    The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price is on watch this morning after the company announced its plan to sell its banking business to Australia New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) for close to $5 billion.

    The sale will see the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) financial services company focusing entirely on its insurance business.

    Suncorp has also reconfirmed its previously announced financial year 2023 targets across all its businesses.

    As of Friday’s close, the Suncorp share price is $11.10.

    Let’s take a closer look at the major sale announced to the market this morning.

    Suncorp share price on watch amid bank sale

    The Suncorp share price could be in for a big day after the company announced its banking division is expected to be snapped by ANZ for $4.9 billion. The price tag represents $1.3 billion more than the business’ net tangle assets.

    Suncorp expects to rake in $4.1 billion in net proceeds from the sale – representing $3.21 per share. The company plans to return most of the funds to shareholders.

    ANZ will also pay Suncorp at least $50 million to continue using the Suncorp Bank brand for five years following the sale. Under the deal, ANZ can extend the branding deal for a maximum of two years at a cost of $10 million each year.

    Any transaction is still a way off, however. The companies don’t expect the sale to be finalised for around 12 months.

    The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from the Federal Treasurer and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), as well as certain amendments to the State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Act 1996.

    Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston commented on the news that could move the company’s share price today, saying:

    As a dedicated insurance business we will be singularly focused on meeting the needs of our customers and communities at a time when the value of insurance has never been greater.

    By combining with a larger banking group, Suncorp Bank will be well positioned for the future. Customers will see benefits including access to a wider range of products and services, and career opportunities will be enhanced for our people. ANZ is committed to growing its presence in Queensland and I am pleased about the commitments they are making to our customers and employees.

    The Suncorp share price is currently around 3.5% lower than it was at the start of the year.

    The post Suncorp share price in focus amid $5b bank sale 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 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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  • Experts name 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy right now

    A man in his 30s holds his computer underneath and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

    A man in his 30s holds his computer underneath and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

    If you’re searching for some dividend shares to buy, then you may want to look at the two listed below.

    Both these dividend shares have recently been rated as buys by experts and tipped to provide attractive dividend yields. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX: CQE)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is the Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT.

    It is a real estate investment trust with a focus on social infrastructure properties such as bus depots, police and justice services facilities, and childcare centres. Demand has been very strong for these properties with end users. So much so, at the last count the company had a 100% occupancy rate and a weighted average lease expiry of 14.6 years.

    Goldman Sachs has been pleased with the company’s performance and currently has a conviction buy rating and $4.24 price target on its shares

    The broker is also expecting some generous dividends in the coming years. It is forecasting dividends per share of 17.2 cents in FY 2022 and 18.3 cents in FY 2023. Based on its current share price of $3.59, this implies yields of 4.8% and 5.1%, respectively.

    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

    Another ASX dividend share that has been rated as a buy is this investment bank.

    Macquarie has been a very strong performer again this year thanks to growth across the business. It recently released its full-year results for FY 2022 and revealed a 56% increase in net profit after tax of $4.7 billion.

    This went down well with the team at Morgans. And while the broker suspects that it will be hard to top this in FY 2023, it remains very positive on the long term due to the company’s exposure to structural growth markets. As a result, it has put an add rating and $215.00 price target on the bank’s shares.

    In respect to dividends, its analysts are forecasting a $7.07 per share dividend in FY 2023 and then $7.47 per share dividend in FY 2024. Based on the current Macquarie share price of $167.99, this will mean yields of 4.2% and 4.45%, respectively.

    The post Experts name 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy right now 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 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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