Category: Stock Market

  • How much have Macquarie shares paid in dividends in the last 5 years?

    Four ASX dividend shares investors stand in a line holding cash fanned in their hands with thoughtful looks on their faces.Four ASX dividend shares investors stand in a line holding cash fanned in their hands with thoughtful looks on their faces.

    Despite tumbling in 2022, the Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price has surged by 87% over the last five years.

    It’s no secret that volatility across global markets due to high inflation levels and rate hikes has caused distress among investors.

    This led the S&P/ASX 200 Financials (ASX: XFJ) sector to tank almost 10% this year.

    After falling to a 10-month low of $157.03 on 17 June, shares in the investment bank are recovering lost ground, for now.

    At the time of writing, Macquarie shares are up 0.51% to $166.18.

    Macquarie dividend history

    Regardless of the company’s recent share price weakness, the Macquarie board has continued to pay robust dividends to shareholders.

    The following are the dividends the company has distributed in the past five years.

    • July 2017 – $2.80 (final dividend)
    • December 2017 – $2.05 (interim dividend)
    • July 2018 – $3.20 (final dividend)
    • December 2018 – $2.15 (interim dividend)
    • July 2019 – $3.60 (final dividend)
    • December 2019 – $2.50 (interim dividend)
    • July 2020 – $1.80 (final dividend)
    • December 2020 – $1.35 (interim dividend)
    • July 2021 – $3.35 (final dividend)
    • December 2021 – $2.72 (interim dividend)
    • July 2022 – $3.50 (final dividend dividend)

    Calculating the above Macquarie dividends since 2017 gives us a total figure of $29.02 for every share owned.

    When pitting the last two dividends against the current share price, Macquarie has a dividend yield of 3.72%.

    Macquarie share price snapshot

    Over the last 12 months, the Macquarie share price has risen by 7%. However, year to date, Macquarie shares are down 19%.

    The company’s shares climbed throughout 2021 before hitting a snag from January 2022 onwards.

    In terms of market capitalisation, Macquarie is the fourth-largest Australian bank valued at approximately $63.7 billion.

    The post How much have Macquarie shares paid in dividends in the last 5 years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Macquarie Group 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 Macquarie Group 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/6yjrtp5

  • Zip share price bucks the trend with 5% fall. What’s happening?

    Woman looking sad while paying.Woman looking sad while paying.

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is tumbling on Monday despite the broader market’s day in the sun.

    Right now, the ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) share is handing back some of the notable gain it racked up late last week.

    At the time of writing, the Zip share price is 51.5 cents, 3.74% lower than its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) are both up 2% right now.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on with the Zip share price on Monday.

    What’s going on with the Zip share price?

    The Zip share price is underperforming today. Though, it hasn’t quite regressed to the multi-year low it reached last week.

    The stock tumbled to a low of 44 cents on Thursday – the lowest it’s been since 2016. Fortunately, the BNPL giant’s stock launched 21.5% higher on Friday, leaving it flat with the prior week’s close.

    Thus, today’s dip might be due to price taking following Friday’s lift.

    Additionally, Zip’s tumble comes amid news the BNPL market could be about to get more crowded. Payment solutions provider Revolut has announced plans to launch a BNPL product, initially hitting the market in Ireland.  

    The Zip share price is joined in the red by BNPL peers Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) and Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM) today. They have seen their stock slip 1.6% and 2.1% respectively.

    But not all ASX BNPL shares are falling on Monday. Stock in ASX 200 payments giant and Afterpay owner Block Inc (ASX: SS2) is currently leaping 6.6%.

    Zip’s home sector, the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ), is also lifting 2.6% right now.

    Additionally, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) – which Zip often trades alongside – is up 2.9%.

    The post Zip share price bucks the trend with 5% fall. What’s happening? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Zip Co 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 Zip Co 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3qD2YZh

  • Are potential suitors getting ready to take another punt on the Tabcorp share price?

    Two men in a bar looking uncertain as they hold a betting slip and watch TV.Two men in a bar looking uncertain as they hold a betting slip and watch TV.

    The Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH) share price is up more than 2% at the time of writing, trading at $1.067.

    The gain brings Tabcorp’s shares to a 12% gain this year to date, up 10% this past month, as illustrated below.

    TradingView Chart

    Potential bidders? Maybe, maybe not

    Reports have now surfaced Tabcorp shares might be in the acquisition limelight again, around one month after the company spun out its The Lottery Corporation business.

    It seems the company’s got its sights set firmly on the future. It’s understood that potential bidders may be interested in a Tabcorp buyout, according to The Australian.

    The newspaper reports:

    [P]otential bidders have begun planning how to overcome regulatory issues should they lob an offer for Tabcorp – likely between $2.5 billion and $3 billion – and identifying how they believe Tabcorp’s operations could be improved and who would be in charge.

    Tabcorp reports its results in August. Should they disappoint and its share price fall, expect potential bidders to make a move.

    Speaking to The Australian, CEO Adam Rytenskild said that he wanted his company to compete with corporate bookmakers.

    “I want us to have more heart and more courage right across everything we do. I want us to be different as a company,” he said.

    “We are loosening the handcuffs a bit and we want our culture to be about transforming and changing.”

    Tabcorp share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, Tabcorp shares have clipped a 7% gain.

    The company has a current market capitalisation of $2.37 billion.

    The post Are potential suitors getting ready to take another punt on the Tabcorp share price? 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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

  • Why Imugene, Link, Metcash, and Sayona shares are racing higher

    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.

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a very strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 2% to 6,708.2 points.

    Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are racing higher:

    Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU)

    The Imugene share price is up almost 38% to 22.7 cents. Investors have been buying this immuno-oncology company’s shares after it revealed positive final overall survival data from its Phase 2 study of HER-Vaxx. Imugene’s HER-VAxx is a B-cell immunotherapy candidate for treatment of tumours over-expressing the HER-2/neu protein.

    Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK)

    The Link share price is up 4% to $3.84. This follows news that Dye & Durham’s proposed takeover of the administration company may not be dead. Though, the offer has been reduced by approximately 22% from $5.50 per share to $4.30 per share.

    Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS)

    The Metcash share price is up 3% to $4.25. The catalyst for this was the release of the wholesale distributor’s FY 2022 results this morning, which outperformed the market’s expectations. Thanks to solid growth from all sides of the business, Metcash reported an 18.6% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $299.6 million. This compares favourably to the market consensus estimate of an underlying profit of $279 million.

    Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

    The Sayona share price has jumped almost 10% to 13.7 cents. This morning this lithium developer released an update on its Moblan Lithium Project in Canada. According to the release, drilling activities have identified multiple new spodumene pegmatites that could significantly increase the company’s North American resource base.

    The post Why Imugene, Link, Metcash, and Sayona shares are racing higher 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    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 Link Administration Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/qxmw5Mv

  • Could Telstra shares be set for a new ASX-listed competitor?

    Two people jump in the air in a fighting stance, indicating a battle between rival ASX sharesTwo people jump in the air in a fighting stance, indicating a battle between rival ASX shares

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) is a telecommunications giant on the ASX. But could it be in for some competition?

    The Telstra share price is up 0.64% in mid-afternoon trade, currently trading at $3.91. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 1.95% higher.

    So which major telco could be considering joining the ASX?

    Optus considers joining the ASX

    Telstra’s number one competitor for wireless services in Australia could be considering joining the ASX.

    The owner of Optus, Singtel, has been working towards an initial public offering (IPO) of its well-known Australian subsidiary, The Australian reports.

    Singapore Telecommunications Limited, Singtel, wholly owns Optus and is a telecommunications giant headquartered in Singapore.

    The publication reported Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have recently been working on the plan.

    However, with the market so volatile at this time, the “pause button” may have been put on the listing, the publication said.

    Telstra has a market capitalisation of around $45 billion based on the current share price. Other telecommunications shares with smaller market caps on the ASX include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) and Uniti Group Ltd (ASX: UWL).

    Optus delivered revenue of more than $7.8 billion for the full year ended 31 March 2022.

    Earlier this year, Optus appointed former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian to the executive team. At the time, Macquarie Telecom Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ) executive Luke Clifton said Telstra “would be quaking in their boots”.

    Telstra share price snapshot

    The Telstra share price has jumped nearly 9% in the past 12 months, but it has lost 6.5% year to date. Those figures would be different if not for the nearly 3% Telstra shares have clawed back in the last week.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX index has slid nearly 10% year to date and 8% in the past year.

    The post Could Telstra shares be set for a new ASX-listed competitor? 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/v5woA4z

  • Sezzle share price flirts with new all-time lows. What is this BNPL company facing?

    Sad woman with her hand on her head and holding a credit card.Sad woman with her hand on her head and holding a credit card.

    The Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) share price has struggled through most of 2022 so far.

    In fact, the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company’s shares hit a new all-time low earlier today. And the challenges seemingly facing the company haven’t let up yet.

    At the time of writing, the Sezzle share price is 27.5 cents, 8.33% lower than its previous close.

    Though, that’s an improvement on its earlier performance. The stock reached an intraday low of 25 cents today – the lowest point it has ever traded at.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently up 1.7% while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is recording a 1.69% gain.

    Let’s take a look at the challenges facing the BNPL provider this year.

    Why’s the Sezzle share price suffering in 2022?

    The Sezzle share price slumped to a new all-time low today. Its recent suffering has come amid rising inflation, interest rate hikes and increasing competition. This seems to have dinted its bottom line and likely impacted investors’ sentiment.

    The company’s business has seemingly continued to grow in 2022. Though, so has its expenses.

    Fellow BNPL provider Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM) recently told the market its consumer finance leg – housing its BNPL offering – has also struggled this year. The company’s chair Chair Christine Christian blamed its suffering on “intense competition, rising interest rates, and weakening consumer sentiment”.

    Speaking of competition, yet another new entrant is set to make its way on the BNPL scene. Revolut announced late last week that it is planning to debut a BNPL offering in Ireland.

    On top of that, Zip has flagged that its working to increase fees charged to customers in the face of the current inflationary environment.

    Zip has, of course, offered to acquire Sezzle in an all-scrip deal that would see shareholders handed 0.98 Zip shares for every Sezzle stock they own.

    Both BNPL shares have tumbled around 90% since the start of 2022. The Sezzle share price is also currently nearly 97% lower than it was this time last year.

    The post Sezzle share price flirts with new all-time lows. What is this BNPL company facing? 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/QVE5b0J

  • Liontown Resources share price rockets 9% amid broker’s positive lithium outlook

    ASX share price rise represented by investor riding atop leaping lion

    ASX share price rise represented by investor riding atop leaping lion

    It’s been a strong day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Monday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 had gained a healthy 2% and is now back above 6,700 points. But it’s been an even better start to the week for the Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) share price.

    ASX 200 lithium stock Liontown has seen a pleasing 9% gain so far today to $1.0625 a share after the company closed at 98 cents last Friday. Since last Thursday, Liontown is now up close to 20%.

    So what’s going on today that might elicit such a strong outperformance of the ASX 200?

    Why is the Liontown share price rocketing 8% today?

    Well, it’s not entirely clear as there are no new developments out of the company itself. However, there is a clear trend emerging on the ASX today that looks to have swept up the Liontown share price. As my Fool colleague Brooke covered this morning, ASX 200 resources shares are amongst the top-performing ASX sectors right now.

    And ASX lithium shares are leading the charge. In addition to Liontown’s impressive gains, we also see the Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price up 4.04%. Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE) shares are up more than 8%, while Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are doing even better, having risen almost 13% at the time of writing.

    So it appears Liontown’s stellar performance today is part of a wider trend.

    This could be being helped by the bullish broker opinion on Pilbara recently. As my Fool colleague James covered yesterday, broker Ord Minnet retained its buy rating on Pilbara shares, complete with a share reprice target of $4.25. Ord Minnet reckons that the impressive offer of US$7,000 per tonne Pilbara received for its lithium spodumene last week bodes extremely well for lithium prices over the medium term.

    If that turns out to be accurate, it would be good news for all ASX lithium stocks, not just Pilbara. So that could be why we are seeing such a rush into ASX lithium companies like Liontown today.

    At the current Liontown share price, this ASX 200 lithium stock has a market capitalisation of $2.32 billion.

    The post Liontown Resources share price rockets 9% amid broker’s positive lithium outlook 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/teQp5Wc

  • What was the highest ever Xero share price?

    A young woman lifts her glasses with one hand as if to take a closer look at something as she has a look of surprised interest on her face with her mouth in an O shape.

    A young woman lifts her glasses with one hand as if to take a closer look at something as she has a look of surprised interest on her face with her mouth in an O shape.

    What was the highest ever Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price? If you’ve been paying attention to the ASX share market of late, you would know that it hasn’t been recent.

    Like many ASX 200 tech shares, the company’s share price has had a punishing 2022 thus far. Shares of the online accounting software provider have plunged by more than 41% over the year to date. Yet, at the time of writing, Xero is up an encouraging 2.12% for the day so far, going for $83.89 a share.

    The steep long-term fall in the Xero share price is arguably not the result of anything to do with Xero’s underlying performance. The company’s last update came last month with its full-year results for FY2022. They showed subscriber growth of 19% to 3.3 million, as well as revenue growth of 29%.

    However, 2022 has seen investors shun companies that tend to get priced on future growth projections as concerns over interest rates and inflation have heated up. Xero has not been immune, as its year-to-date performance shows.

    So when was the Xero share price’s last all-time high?

    The company’s last 52-week high occurred back in November last year. That saw Xero hit an intraday high of $156.65 a share, which certainly feels like a long way from the current share price in the low $80 range.

    But this 52-week high was not the highest the shares have ever traded at.

    Xero’s all-time high watermark was seen back in December 2020. First, we saw the company reach $156.72 on 15 December. Then, on 18 December, the Xero share price hit an intraday high of $157.99. That remains Xero’s highest share price to this day.

    It’s also 47% higher than the company’s current share price.

    No doubt investors are hoping the company can get back to its old highs soon. But we shall have to wait and see.

    At the current Xero share price, this ASX 200 tech share has a market capitalisation of $12.47 billion.

    The post What was the highest ever Xero share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Xero 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 Xero 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/yqO2n7A

  • ASX 200 bank ANZ turns to crypto for carbon credit settlement

    A green-caped superhero reveals their identity with a big dollar sign on their chest.

    A green-caped superhero reveals their identity with a big dollar sign on their chest.

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is forging ahead with its crypto plans with a novel new transaction.

    Back in March, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) listed bank unveiled A$DC, its own stablecoin that’s pegged to the Australian dollar.

    More recently, stablecoins have come under some intense scrutiny, following the collapse of Terra USD and Luna. But unlike Terra’s stablecoin, ANZ’s crypto is 100% backed by Australian dollars.

    Saying it wasn’t at risk of coming de-pegged from the Aussie dollar, ANZ’s banking services portfolio lead Nigel Dobson labelled A$DC a “tokenised deposit”.

    ANZ crypto used to buy Australian carbon credits

    The Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) in question were tokenised by BetaCarbon, which created digital security tokens known as BCAUs.

    As the Australian Financial Review reports, investment company Victor Smorgon Group used A$DC to purchase ACCUs.

    By making the transaction with crypto on the Ethereum blockchain, Victor Smorgon was able to secure its carbon credit purchase without going through traditional intermediaries. These can add complexity and slow down settlement times.

    Commenting on A$DC, Dobson said:

    ANZ is pursuing the transition of financial market infrastructure. We see this is evolving from being internet-protocol based to one of tokenised protocols. We think the underlying infrastructure – efficient, secure, public blockchains – will facilitate transactions, both ones we understand today and new ones, that will be more efficient.

    Dobson also touted the Ethereum blockchain over other, potentially riskier, options:

    Standards are absolutely fundamental to interoperability, and they will soon allow organisations to transfer assets off expensive, and arguably unsustainable, blockchains, to ones with lower cost, faster throughput and sustainability credentials.

    How has the ASX 200 bank been tracking?

    Stablecoin rollouts aside, the ANZ share price has struggled in 2022, down around 18%. That compares to a year-to-date loss of 12% posted by the ASX 200.

    The post ASX 200 bank ANZ turns to crypto for carbon credit settlement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Australia And New Zealand Banking Group 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 Australia And New Zealand Banking Group 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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

  • 3 top stock splits to watch in 2022

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

    Man with hands in the middle of two items with money bags on them.

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

    It’s very possible 2022 will go down in history — among equity investors, anyway — as The Year of the Stock Split. With share prices pumped by a bull market that was running along briskly until recently, many companies elected to employ this classic piece of financial engineering to bring their stocks down to more modest levels.  

    Several more splits are coming, and three of which are coming from the most admired, and closely followed companies on the scene — Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY) (OTC: NTDO.F). 

    It’s important to note that stock splits do not change the underlying market cap of a company; they merely reapportion it among a higher number of shares. 

    1. Tesla

    Tesla remains durably popular among a wide swath of investors. Even though it’s taken plenty of hits this year, like nearly every other popular stock, the company’s leading position in the white-hot electric vehicle (EV) space keeps its price high — these days, shares are trading for around $700.

    Since a big part of Tesla’s appeal is its attraction to retail investors like you or me, it’s in the company’s interest to keep those shares accessible to investors who may not have a ton of cash on hand. So the company’s move is to propose a 3-for-1 stock split, under which existing shareholders would effectively receive a “stock dividend” of two shares for every one they hold presently. 

    This piece of financial engineering is being subject to a shareholder vote, which will be finalized at Tesla’s upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for early August.

    Does any of this sound familiar, long-term Tesla holders?

    It should, because the company pulled the stock split lever at almost exactly the same time back in August 2020. Then, it engineered a 5-for-1 split, surely in the hopes of roping in would-be investors spooked by the high sticker price of roughly $1,300 per share. Following the announcement, the shares rocketed notably higher. Maybe Tesla is hoping for similar magic with the new split.

    2. Alphabet

    Another member of the lofty-stock-price-club is Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), the parent company of mighty internet search titan Google. Both of the company’s listed stocks — Class A and Class C — trade north of $2,200 apiece these days, even after a queasy slide in price aside other tech titles.

    So it made a lot of sense for Alphabet to declare a hefty 20-for-1 split for the two share classes, in addition to the Class B insider shares that aren’t publicly traded.

    Alphabet announced this concurrent with the release of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results back in February. This was probably no accident, as the company posted some powerful year-over-year growth in revenue and profitability, trouncing analyst estimates as it did so. Following that, it came as no surprise when shareholders approved the stock split in a vote conducted at the company’s AGM earlier this month.

    That vote has made Alphabet’s 20-for-1 stock split settled. It will take effect on July 15, when existing Class A, B, and C stockholders of record as of July 1 will receive 19 shares for each one they presently own.

    3. Nintendo

    Tesla and Alphabet/Google enjoy a lot of attention from investors; storied Japanese video game company Nintendo’s spotlight is dimmer. That might change soon, as Nintendo has drawn notice for its own stock split. This is a 10-for-1 deal, initially announced in May, that will go down in the opening days of October.

    This one is a bit complicated. Like Alphabet, Nintendo has multiple classes of U.S.-traded stock, or more accurately American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). The one tickered NTDOY represents only one-eighth of a share of the “main” Nintendo stock traded in Japan. NTDO.F, meanwhile, equals a full one share of the root Japanese stock.

    As my colleague Anders Bylund indicates, the 10-for-1 stock split is very much aimed at domestic investors rather than ADR holders.

    At the moment, equities on the Japanese exchange can only be purchased in minimum blocks of 100 shares. Since one share of Nintendo there currently costs 57,450 yen ($422), even the minimal buy would leave an investor the equivalent of more than $42,000 out of pocket. Given that, we can see how a 10-for-1 stock split is irresistibly appealing to an issuer like Nintendo.

    Nintendo stockholders of record as of Sept. 30 will receive the new shares, the Japanese company declared in its original announcement. 

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

    The post 3 top stock splits to watch 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 June 1 2022

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

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

    More reading

    Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, 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 Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). 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.

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