Category: Stock Market

  • Why the Affirm share price is tumbling today

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

    Sad investor watching the financial stock market crash on his laptop computer.

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

    What happened

    Shares of several consumer fintech companies fell today after the popular artificial intelligence lender Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST) disappointed the market with its latest earnings results and guidance.

    Shares of buy now, pay later company Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) were trading nearly 16% lower as of 12:09 p.m. ET today, shares of the one-stop financial services company SoFi (NASDAQ: SOFI) were trading nearly 18.5% lower, and shares of the digital marketplace bank LendingClub (NYSE: LC) were trading about 9% lower.

    So what

    Last night, Upstart reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.61 on total revenue of $310 million for the first quarter of 2021, both numbers that beat analyst estimates. However, Upstart also lowered its revenue guidance for the full year from $1.4 billion to $1.25 billion. The stock plummeted and as of this writing had fallen roughly 60%.

    While the company increased its contribution margin guidance, it also lowered its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) guidance for the full year. Additionally, Upstart earlier this year guided for $1.5 billion of auto loan originations in 2022, but now it seems that goal may be in question as well.

    Over the past few months, the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark overnight lending rate aggressively, by 0.75% in two meetings, sparking concerns among investors that it might tip the economy into a recession. Upstart is currently in the business of originating online personal and auto loans to a range of borrowers across the credit spectrum. These kinds of debt are often some of the first that consumers will stop paying down when they start to face financial pressure. Already, Upstart has seen default trends normalize as help from stimulus has gone away. 

    With all these concerns, Upstart’s partners that actually fund and invest in Upstart loans have asked for higher returns, as there is now a higher likelihood that consumers will default in the future and as investors are facing their own higher funding costs. This has resulted in Upstart having to raise pricing on its platform for borrowers. Higher interest rates may also push out of qualification some borrowers who qualified for certain loans based on certain investors’ risk appetite. All of this will result in lower loan transaction volume and lower conversion rates, which is how Upstart generates the large majority of its revenue.

    Upstart also had to hold a small portion of loans that it normally sells to investors on its balance sheet in the first quarter, which spooked investors. That’s because some of Upstart’s investors, particularly those in the capital markets, are still determining what kind of risk they want to take on, which has resulted in a lack of funding for Upstart loans. Upstart’s management has said this is temporary, but the company is supposed to act as a marketplace, and if funding in the capital markets dries up, that would be extremely problematic for future growth.

    Now what

    Affirm, SoFi, and LendingClub seem to be taking the hit because the market is clumping all these consumer fintech lenders together with Upstart. In Affirm’s case, I can understand the concerns because the company is also somewhat beholden to the capital markets to fund and take on a large portion of its loans.

    But I don’t think LendingClub and SoFi deserve to be clumped in here because both now have bank charters. Bank charters give them access to cheaper deposits, which they can use to fund a large portion of their loans, making them much less reliant on the capital markets.

    Additionally, while Upstart originates loans to borrowers all over the credit spectrum, LendingClub and SoFi lend more heavily to prime borrowers and above, who were less affected by stimulus funds and are in much better financial shape. SoFi will report earnings results for the first quarter of 2022 after the market closes today.

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

    The post Why the Affirm share price is tumbling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Affirm right now?

    Before you consider Affirm, 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 Affirm 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Bram Berkowitz has positions in LendingClub and has the following options: long January 2023 $45 calls on LendingClub and long January 2023 $48.42 calls on LendingClub. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Upstart Holdings, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Upstart Holdings, Inc. 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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  • How to deal with the current share market calamity

    woman meditating and keeping calmwoman meditating and keeping calm

    It’s a scary time to be an investor in ASX shares at the moment.

    It was volatile enough already this year with inflation and interest fears, a war in Ukraine, and new COVID-19 lockdowns in China.

    But now as fears turn into the reality of actual interest rate rises, there is a degree of panic among ASX share investors.

    Since 21 April, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost 7.5%.

    “It is often said markets take the stairs up but the elevator down and that was definitely the case in April,” said Ophir Asset Management co-founders Steven Ng and Andrew Mitchell in a letter to clients.

    It’s not easy seeing your portfolio turn into a sea of red.

    But almost every long-term fund manager will remind you that these are the times to be mentally tough and stay the course. Don’t give up.

    Ng and Mitchell were telling their clients exactly this in their letter this week, in a poetic way:

    If you can keep your head when all about you

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

    If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    But make allowance for their doubting too;

    If you can meet with triumph and disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;

    If, by Rudyard Kipling

    Ng and Mitchell said Kipling’s words reminded everyone that investing is as much about controlling your emotions as it is about buy and sell prices.

    “Investors often dramatically underestimate the value of ‘keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs’.”

    They recognised that in times of market turmoil, human instinct is to get off the scary rollercoaster to stand on the safety of firm land.

    But selling out when markets are plunging is a recipe for disaster in the long run.

    “Equities tend to outperform over the long term,” Ng and Mitchell said.

    “So if the underlying investment thesis remains intact, and the stock’s fundamentals have not deteriorated, or the manager’s process is working but their style is simply out of favour, selling at the bottom and buying at the top will rarely be profitable.”

    When you stay the course for the long term, temporary “macroeconomic” events like inflation, rising interest rates, wars, and supply chain constraints become just small bumps in the road.

    “Virtually all that matters in the long term is the ability of the companies to grow earnings through time,” their memo read.

    “Here it’s all about things like unique products or services, customers’ willingness to pay, addressable markets, and intensity of competition.”

    In other words, they are all factors that the business can control.

    Portfolio adjustments the Ophir team has made

    One part of Kipling’s poem is “make allowance for their doubting too”.

    As such, while practising patience and not selling out at the bottom, investors must always review their portfolio for improvements.

    While emphasising that their portfolio remains largely intact and that this is not a “wholesale” change in strategy, Ng and Mitchell’s team has made some minor adjustments.

    1. Decreasing consumer discretionary exposure
    2. Increasing defensive growth exposure
    3. Moving up the average market capitalisation of its holdings

    They feel shifting away from consumer discretionary ASX shares is a wise idea in light of rising interest rates and less consumer interest.

    Defensive growth shares, which are businesses “trading at reasonable prices” and are less dependent on economic expansion for their own growth, could better withstand a downturn.

    And reducing exposure to its least liquid holdings is a defensive move before any economic slowdown.

    There is one advantage to investors in a slowing economy, according to Mitchell and Ng.

    “The bright side of slower economic and earnings growth, if that eventuates, is that those businesses that can structurally grow their earnings will become a scarcer commodity again,” read their memo.

    “What becomes scarce typically becomes valued by the market, and gets bid up.”

    The post How to deal with the current share market calamity 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo 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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  • 2 compelling ASX small-cap shares to buy today: fund manager

    Two twin babies dressed in bow ties, white shirts and braces lie side by side with one grabbing the over shoulder brace of his brother and smiling cheekily at the camera.

    Two twin babies dressed in bow ties, white shirts and braces lie side by side with one grabbing the over shoulder brace of his brother and smiling cheekily at the camera.

    Ask a Fund Manager

    The Motley Fool chats with fund managers so that you can get an insight into how the professionals think. In part 2 of this edition, Michael Steele, co-portfolio manager at Yarra Capital Management, unveils his two top ASX small-cap share picks at the outperforming Yarra Australian Small Companies Fund.

    Motley Fool: What are the best ASX small-cap shares to buy right now?

    Michael Steele: Those would also be the two biggest holdings in the UBS Yarra Australian Small Companies Fund, which are Austbrokers [AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)] and Auckland International Airport Ltd (ASX: AIA).

    MF: Why do you like Austbrokers?

    MS: Austbrokers is an Australian and New Zealand insurance broking business. Its insurance broking market is highly attractive. You’ve got constant increases in premiums and the demand for the services is there because people need to manage complex risks.

    In addition to that, Austbrokers has the benefit that they can take a greater share of industry profit. And that profit pool is large. They’re getting better pricing with underwriters; they’re reducing their costs by consolidating businesses; and they’re looking to add extra businesses to source product and get more of a vertical margin.

    They’ve also got technology that’s really innovative. They’ve got some hidden value in one of their technology businesses, called BizCover. It’s a technology company that does the full SME insurance process online. So, it’s a digital disruptor with higher growth.

    Austbrokers also has a strong track record executing on acquisitions and adding value.

    MF: Auckland Airport shares took a hammering with the pandemic travel restrictions. Why is that a top ASX small-cap share recommendation and holding for you now?

    MS: We are really quite positive on travel. If you think about the background for travel, everyone’s been effectively at home for at least two years, not being able to travel internationally, so there’s a lot of pent-up demand. Also, consumers have saved up a lot of cash during the COVID-19 period; savings rates are quite high.

    If you put those two fundamentals together, we think there’s going to be a really strong period for travel over the next three to four years. We see significant demand coming through both across corporate and leisure. That will benefit Auckland Airport.

    Auckland Airport really is an amazing asset. This is a monopoly asset in the north of New Zealand.

    Effectively there are two parts to the business.

    First, there are the aeronautical assets that have that recovery from travel. This also has a large opportunity to increase the earnings from their regulated asset base. So, they’ll see price increases and they can invest a lot of capital in expanding the airport. This is a great infrastructure investment where you keep investing and you keep getting a guaranteed return in addition to that cyclical recovery.

    The second component of the business is their property portfolio, an amazing property portfolio adjacent to the airport. They’ve got industrial and they’ve got retail. But arguably they can add the most value through developing new properties. They have an undeveloped property portfolio of 180 hectares.

    The company also has a strong balance sheet. If we see further disruptions and delays with the COVID recovery, they are able to see their way through that. More importantly, they can fund this capex property redevelopment from their balance sheet.

    MF: If the market closed tomorrow for four years, which ASX small-cap share would you want to hold?

    MS: We’d be happy to hold both of these companies if the market closed for four years.

    Auckland Airport has the type of characteristics that you really can set and forget. You could say the same thing for this business with a 10-year view. That’s probably the one that would stand out the most.

    We try to invest in every company for three to five years. We think there’s a time frame inefficiency within the market. A lot of people are focused on what’s happening in the next 12 months. If we think more about the next three to five years, we’re going to think differently to a lot of people in the market, resulting in outperformance.

    We really do see that inefficiency with people chasing the short-term, which is why we stay long-term focused. That’s been a notable factor that’s supported our outperformance over the last six years.

    **

    Be sure to tune in tomorrow for part three of our interview with Yarra Capital’s Michael Steele. If you missed part one, you can find that here.

    (You can find out more about the UBS Yarra Australian Small Companies Fund here.)

    The post 2 compelling ASX small-cap shares to buy today: fund manager 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    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 Austbrokers Holdings 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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  • 2 top ASX dividend shares experts rate as buys

    A businesswoman weighs up the stack of cash she receives, with the pile in one hand significantly more than the other hand.

    A businesswoman weighs up the stack of cash she receives, with the pile in one hand significantly more than the other hand.

    Are you looking for dividend shares to buy? If you are, then you might want to look at the shares listed below.

    Here’s why these ASX dividend shares could be worth considering in May:

    Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

    The first ASX dividend share that could be in the buy zone is Dexus Industria.

    Dexus Industria, formerly known as APN Industria, is an industrial and office property company with a focus on properties that provide functional and affordable workspaces for businesses.

    Morgans is very positive on the company and appears to believe it well-placed to deliver sustainable income and capital growth prospects for shareholders over the long term.

    Its analysts are forecasting attractive dividends per share of 17.3 cents in FY 2022 and 17.6 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Dexus Industria share price of $3.09, this will mean yields of 5.6% and 5.7%, respectively.

    Morgans has an add rating and $3.65 price target on the company’s shares.

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    Another ASX dividend share that could be in the buy zone is Westpac.

    Australia’s oldest bank has just released its half-year results for FY 2022 and revealed an 8% decline in revenue to $10,230 million, a 12% reduction in cash earnings to $3,095 million, and a 61 cents per share interim dividend. While on paper this doesn’t look great, it was actually ahead of the market’s expectations.

    Another big positive from the result was that management continues to target a cost base of $8 billion by FY 2024. This was despite two of its peers admitting defeat on their own targets this month because of inflation.

    This went down well with analysts at Citi and has them forecasting Westpac “delivering the strongest EPS growth in the sector” in the coming years. This is likely to bode well for dividends.

    For example, Citi is forecasting fully franked dividends of 123 cents per share in FY 2022, 155 cents per share in FY 2023, and 180 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Westpac share price of $24.65, this will mean yields of 5%, 6.3%, and 7.3%, respectively.

    The broker also sees plenty of upside for the bank’s shares, with its buy rating and $29.00 price target.

    The post 2 top ASX dividend shares experts rate as buys 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form again and sank deep into the red. The benchmark index fell 1% to 7,051.2 points.

    Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to edge lower

    The Australian share market looks set for a subdued day on Wednesday following a mixed night in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 7 points or 0.1% lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones fell 0.25%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.25%, and the Nasdaq stormed 1% higher.

    TechnologyOne rated as a buy

    The TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) share price could be great value according to analysts at Bell Potter. According to a note, the broker has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $12.50. Later this month, Bell Potter expects the company to report software-as-a-service annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 38% to $215 million for the first-half of FY 2022.

    Oil prices fall again

    Energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a difficult day after oil prices tumbled again. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 3.2% to US$99.76 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 3.3% to US$102.45 a barrel. Economic worries and a strong US dollar weighed on prices.

    AVZ Minerals shares to return

    The AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ) share price is due to return from a trading halt this morning. This lithium developer requested the halt on Monday pending “the release of an announcement in relation to it’s (sic) mining and exploration rights for the Manono Lithium and Tin Project.” This announcement is likely to address concerns over its level of ownership of the project.

    Gold price falls

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor day after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1% to US$1,839.4 an ounce. The precious metal fell after the US dollar strengthened.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    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 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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  • Analysts name 2 profitable ASX growth shares with 40%+ upside

    a man sits at his desk wearing a business shirt and tie and has a hearty laugh at something on his mobile phone.

    a man sits at his desk wearing a business shirt and tie and has a hearty laugh at something on his mobile phone.

    If you’re interested in adding some growth shares to your portfolio, then the two listed below could be top candidates.

    Both these ASX growth shares are highly profitable and have been tipped to continue their strong growth long into the future.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    The first ASX growth share to look at is this sleep treatment focused medical device company.

    Over the last decade, ResMed has been growing its sales and profits at a consistently strong rate thanks to increasing demand and its growing addressable market.

    The good news is that the company still has a significant market opportunity to grow into, with the majority of sleep apnea sufferers still undiagnosed. In addition, the company has a large opportunity with its connected-care digital platform.

    It is partly because of the latter than Morgans is very bullish on ResMed. It commented:

    While we believe the next few quarters will likely be volatile, as Covid-related demand for ventilators continues to slow and core sleep apnoea volumes gradually lift, nothing changes our medium/longer term view that the company remains well-placed as it builds a unique, patient-centric, connected-care digital platform that addresses the main pinch points across the healthcare value chain.

    Morgans currently has an add rating and $40.46 price target on its shares. Based on the current ResMed share price of $27.86, this implies potential upside of 45% for investors.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    Another ASX growth share that could be a quality option for investors is TechnologyOne. It is an enterprise software provider servicing the government, financial services, health and community services, education, and utilities and managed services markets.

    TechnologyOne has recently shifted its focus to its software-as-a-service (SaaS) ERP solution, which delivers the TechnologyOne enterprise suite as a service through the cloud to customers.

    This shift of focus has been going well, with the company reporting SaaS annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 43% to $192.3 million during the first-half. But management doesn’t expect it to stop there. It reiterated that it expects its annual recurring revenue (ARR) to reach $500 million by FY 2026.

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs suspect that TechnologyOne could even outperform this target, noting that the risks are to the upside. It said:

    In our view, TNE is well-placed to meet its A$500mn FY26 ARR target and we are more constructive than consensus and the market (as implied by TNE’s current share price). SaaS flip uplift, elevated inflation (via contractual CPI pass-through) and underlying business growth underpin our A$505mn FY26 ARR estimate, and we think risks are skewed to the upside with our estimates assuming modest organic growth ex-flip (~10%).

    Goldman has a buy rating and $14.00 price target on the company’s shares. Based on the current TechnologyOne share price of $9.95, this implies potential upside of 40% for investors.

    The post Analysts name 2 profitable ASX growth shares with 40%+ upside 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    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 recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ResMed Inc. 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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  • Westpac share price is a buy: Broker tips ‘strongest EPS growth in the sector’

    Man pointing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    Man pointing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    On Tuesday, the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price was a relatively positive performer.

    While the banking giant’s shares only edged a modest 0.2% higher to $24.65, this was notably better than a 1% decline by the ASX 200 index.

    Why did the Westpac share price defy the market selloff?

    Investors were bidding the Westpac share price higher today after a number of brokers responded positively to the bank’s half-year results.

    In case you missed it, on Monday Westpac reported an 8% decline in revenue to $10,230 million, a 12% reduction in cash earnings to $3,095 million, and a 61 cents per share interim dividend.

    This compares favourably to the Visible Alpha consensus estimate for first-half cash earnings of $2.8 billion and an interim dividend of 59 cents per share.

    Are its shares good value?

    One leading broker that sees plenty of value in the Westpac share price is Citi.

    In response to the bank’s half-year result, its analysts retained their buy rating and $29.00 price target.

    Based on the current Westpac share price, this implies potential upside of 17.5% for investors. And if you throw in the 5% dividend yield the broker is forecasting in FY 2022 (rising to 6.3% in FY 2023), the total potential return stretches beyond 22%.

    While Citi was pleased with the result, its main reason to celebrate was management’s decision to stick with its bold cost cutting target. Particularly at a time when its peers are abandoning their own.

    Citi commented:

    WBC surprised the Market by delivering 1H22 cash earnings of $3,095, representing a ~5% pre-provision profit beat. The feature of this result was the solid cost print driven by a ~2,500 reduction in permanent FTEs.

    Unlike peers, management haven’t walked away from its FY24 cost base target of $8bn, as they had already incorporated 2.5% inflation. WBC’s revenue challenges also appear to moderating as the 2Q22 NIM (ex. Markets & Treasury) stabilised at 1.69%. A sharply higher 3 year swap rate will start to become a strong NIM tailwind from 2H22.

    We have moved our FY22/23 EPS estimates up ~2-4% on this higher swap cost, but we have reduced our FY24 EPS by ~4% due to higher BDDs. We see the combination of higher revenue growth, as the cash rate rises, combined with a reducing absolute cost base, as delivering the strongest EPS growth in the sector. Maintain Buy.

    The post Westpac share price is a buy: Broker tips ‘strongest EPS growth in the sector’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Westpac right now?

    Before you consider Westpac, 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 Westpac 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    A woman stands triumphant with arms outstretched as she overlooks a city at sunset.A woman stands triumphant with arms outstretched as she overlooks a city at sunset.

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) cemented its third straight day of consecutive losses. Unrest within the local share market followed another brutal fall in US equities on Wall Street last night. At the end of the session, the benchmark index finished 0.98% lower at 7,051.2 points.

    Instead of tech shares being the main victim on the receiving end today, it was time for energy and mining companies to cop the brunt of selling pressure. Both oil and gold prices fell to the wayside overnight. Inevitably, companies associated with these commodities suffered during today’s showing.

    However, the question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the top ten stocks that came through for investors:

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the financial services software company surged 5.66% despite there being no news or announcements. Find out more about Iress here.

    The next best performing ASX share across the market today was REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA). The online real estate platform strengthened 5.48% with Citi analysts retaining their buy rating on the company yesterday. Uncover the latest REA Group details here.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE) $11.20 5.66%
    REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) $113.16 5.48%
    Idp Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) $25.52 5.06%
    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) $87.85 4.16%
    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) $40.96 4.14%
    Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) $25.51 3.70%
    GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) $1.42 3.65%
    Dominos Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) $70.04 3.61%
    Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ) $4.33 3.10%
    Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR) $19.25 2.67%
    Data as at 4:00 AEST

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

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 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 positions in and has recommended Idp Education Pty Ltd, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited, REA Group Limited, SEEK Limited, and carsales.com 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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  • This ASX battery metals share is rocketed 20% today. What’s going on?

    A man in a suit stands before a large backdrop of a blue-lit globe as the man smiles and holds his hand to his chin as though thinking.A man in a suit stands before a large backdrop of a blue-lit globe as the man smiles and holds his hand to his chin as though thinking.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) index may have suffered on the market today but one ASX battery metals share had a better day.

    The Group 6 Metals Ltd (ASX: G6M) share price soared 20% to close trading at 21 cents today. In contrast, the ASX 200 Materials Index fell 2.38%.

    Let’s take a look at why this ASX battery metals share could be having such a great day.

    What’s happening at Group 6 Metals?

    Group 6 Metals shareholders may be reacting to recent media coverage on the company. Group 6 revealed its tungsten mine is garnering interest from the United States. Tungsten is a critical rare metal with future application in anode materials in lithium-ion batteries.

    Speaking to Four Corners, executive chairman Johann Jacobs said the company has had three meetings with the US embassy in 12 months. He added:

    …and those discussions are continuing. At this stage, they don’t have any financial interest, but they certainly are very keen to see us progress and develop the mine because it’s another supply chain… from a friendly nation. 

    The United States is taking interest amid China’s global dominance of the tungsten market, the ABC noted.

    Group6 is planning to produce tungsten from the Dolphin Tungsten Mine on King Island, Tasmania. Construction at the mine commenced in late January. The company is redeveloping the mine and targeting first concentrate sales in the first quarter of 2023.

    In a presentation to investors in May, the company said the mine is a “world-class quality deposit” that ranks better than its peers.

    The company changed its ticker code on the ASX to G6M from King Island Scheelite Limited (ASX: KIS) in late November.

    Share price snapshot

    The Group 6 Metals share price exploded 45% year to date but it is down 4.55% in the past month.

    In contrast, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has shed 5% in the year to date.

    This ASX battery metals share has a market capitalisation of more than $132 million.

    The post This ASX battery metals share is rocketed 20% today. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in G6M right now?

    Before you consider G6M, 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 G6M 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    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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  • 3 quality ASX All Ordinaries shares that defied today’s sell-off

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    Earlier this morning, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) was down as much as 2.5%. Fortunately, some of those losses receded this afternoon. However, the vast majority of companies in the All Ords still ended in the red.

    While days like today are painful to witness, it can be intriguing to see which companies are able to hold their ground against a wave of pessimism.

    Interestingly, not all of the companies firmly in the green are large and established blue chips. However, there is one characteristic in common out of the ASX All Ordinaries shares that we are about to cover. Each of them is boasting a mound of cash and not a cent of debt — exactly what you might want in a rising interesting rate environment.

    Serving up a few quality ASX All Ordinaries shares

    Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    Go shopping online for some beauty or skincare products in Australia and Adore Beauty is a name that will pop up towards the top of the list.

    The company has been growing rapidly on the top line over recent years, increasing 37% year over year to $196.22 million at the end of last year. However, the share price hasn’t followed the same trajectory since listing in October 2020.

    This ASX All Ordinaries share is down 58% from a year ago. Though, investors might be cutting it some slack now thanks to its immaculate balance sheet with shares finishing 5.3% higher today. At the end of 2021, Adore Beauty recorded $25.07 million in cash and zero debt.

    Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

    Next in line is a once darling stock of the e-commerce sector, Temple and Webster. This company has built itself up since 2011 by being the pre-eminent Aussie online store for homewares and furniture. Unfortunately, falling profitability in the last year has stolen the wind behind the sails of the Temple and Webster share price.

    However, investors were willing to forgive the company for this shortcoming today as the share price surged 6.6%. Much like Adore, this ASX All Ordinaries share has a stack of cash at its disposal for a rainy day. By the last count, the company held $105.5 million in cash and cash equivalents with no debt.

    Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

    Aussie Broadband is another company that held onto the green side of the market today. The popular internet provider has been experiencing plenty of volatility lately but managed to climb 5.8% higher on Tuesday.

    Investors found safety in the small-cap ASX All Ordinaries share today despite other telcos falling. Interestingly, this enthusiasm is on the back of a significant fall in the Aussie Broadband share price that occurred on 2 May. This was in response to reduced guidance shared by the company, knocking down previous expectations.

    Once again, this is a company flush with cash. At the end of December 2021, Aussie Broadband held $168.2 million in cash with a clean slate in terms of debt.

    The post 3 quality ASX All Ordinaries shares that defied today’s sell-off 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    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 positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband Limited and Temple & Webster Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited, Aussie Broadband Limited, and 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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