Category: Stock Market

  • Suncorp share price outperforms as home lending portfolio grows $800m

    A mum and little girl leap and dance in their living room with joy.A mum and little girl leap and dance in their living room with joy.

    The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price is defying much of today’s dip following the release of the company’s banking segment’s quarterly report.

    Suncorp shares are slumping only slightly, while the broader market suffers. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently recording a 1.05% drop.

    At the time of writing, the Suncorp share price is $11.27, 0.4% lower than its previous close.

    Here’s what the banking and insurance provider announced today.

    Suncorp share price outperforms following bank’s growth

    • Suncorp Bank’s home lending portfolio grew $803 million, or by 1.7%, over the March quarter
    • Meanwhile, its business lending portfolio grew $91 million, or 0.8%
    • Home lending lodgements also increased 21% on those of the quarter ending 31 December
    • The bank’s impairment expense for the period was just $1 million
    • 111 home lending customers were in hardship arrangements due to flood events as of 30 April

    What else happened in the quarter?

    Suncorp Bank’s home lending portfolio returned to above-system growth in February and March.

    That saw it boasting a 6.9% annualised growth rate, which increased to 7.5% when discontinued line of credit products are excluded.

    Meanwhile, its increased lodgements were driven by consistent competitive offerings and improved turnaround times.

    The bank states its home lending portfolio is “high-quality and conservatively positioned”. It is weighted towards owner-occupiers with a loan-to-valuation ratio below 80%.

    The bank’s business lending increased by $91 million (0.8%) last quarter, or 3.3% annualised.

    It has also continued to grow transaction account balances by 19.3% annualised. Its higher margin retail term deposits have grown 6.1% annualised, whilst its savings portfolio dropped 8.1% annualised.

    The bank’s $1 million total impairment charge was equivalent to less than 1 basis point of gross loans and advances annualised.

    Suncorp Bank’s liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio were 143% and 142% respectively, as of 31 March 2022.

    What did management say?

    Suncorp Bank CEO Clive van Horen commented on the news helping to buoy the Suncorp share price today.

    Horen said the bank’s home lending momentum is due to its delivery of a targeted program of work improving customer and broker experiences. He went on:

    Turnaround times have been consistently competitive over the quarter, reflecting improved back-end processes to support the higher lodgement volumes. Growth momentum also extended to the business lending portfolio which grew $91 million during the March quarter and over $130 million in April.

    Mr van Horen said the bank’s strong lending portfolio helped it report an expense of just $1 million for the quarter.

    What’s next?

    Today’s release didn’t provide any guidance for Suncorp Bank.

    Though, it did note that the bank’s positive momentum continued in April, with over $550 million of growth.

    Additionally, the bank flagged rising construction costs. It said it expects its construction and development portfolio will be impacted by supply chain dislocation and recent floods.

    Finally, the bank is expecting to reduce its committed liquidity facility limit from its current position of $1.5 billion. Its limit is expected to drop by $500 million increments in May, September, and January.

    Suncorp share price snapshot

    The Suncorp share price is still in the long-term red. Though, it’s outperforming the ASX 200 year to date.

    The company’s share price has slipped 1.8% since the start of 2022. Meanwhile, the index has tumbled 6%.

    Looking further back, the company’s stock has gained 1.9% since this time last year. The ASX 200 has slumped 0.5% over that time.

    The post Suncorp share price outperforms as home lending portfolio grows $800m appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Suncorp, 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 Suncorp 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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    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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  • ASX 200 midday update: Westpac result impresses, AVZ halted

    Disappointed man with his head on his hand looking at a falling share price his a laptop.

    Disappointed man with his head on his hand looking at a falling share price his a laptop.At lunch on Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the week as it finished the last. The benchmark index is currently down 1.3% to 7,100.8 points.

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

    Westpac half-year result impresses

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is charging higher after the banking giant’s half-year earnings came in ahead of consensus estimates. 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. The Visible Alpha consensus estimate was for first-half cash earnings of $2.8 billion, with an interim dividend of 59 cents per share. Westpac also reiterated its bold cost cutting target.

    AVZ shares halted

    The AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ) share price is missing out on the market selloff today after being placed in a trading halt. While it remains unclear exactly what the halt is for, it appears likely to be in relation to concerns over the company’s ownership of the Manono Lithium project. Uncertainty regarding this issue sent the AVZ share price crashing 21% lower last week.

    Magellan shares tumble

    The Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price is tumbling on Monday. This follows broad market weakness and news that the company has offloaded its stake in Guzman y Gomez. The company has agreed to sell its 11.6% stake for $140 million, which represents a $34 million profit on its original investment. Magellan made the sale to focus on its core funds management business.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Monday has been the Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) share price with a 3% gain. At the end of last week, Citi reiterated its buy rating with a $108.42 price target on the pizza chain’s shares. The worst performer on Monday has been the News Corp (ASX: NWS) share price with a 10% decline. Investors have been selling this media giant’s shares since its third quarter update from last week disappointed the market.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Westpac result impresses, AVZ halted 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 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 Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited and 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 painfully common investing mistakes to avoid right now

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

    Woman in an office crosses her arms in front of her in a stop gesture.

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

    There’s no such thing as a perfect investor. Even the most seasoned investing experts make bad investments every now and then. However, good investors understand that some fundamental mistakes can (and should) be avoided to make you a better investor.

    Here are five painfully common investing mistakes to avoid.

    1. Underestimating the power of compounding

    In investing, one of the best resources on your side is time — the earlier you begin investing, the better. Time is so important because of compounding, which occurs when your investment returns begin to earn returns of their own.

    To illustrate the power of compounding, let’s imagine a scenario where your investments return 10% annually (the historical average annual return of the S&P 500). If you contribute $500 a month, here’s how much you’d roughly accumulate at different points in time:

    Monthly Contribution Years Account Total
    $500 10 $95,600
    $500 15 $190,600
    $500 20 $343,600
    $500 25 $590,100
    $500 30 $987,000

    Chart and calculations by author.

    In this scenario, although it will take 10 years to potentially accumulate $95,000, it will take only five more years to almost double that amount. Although you managed to gain $153,000 in the five years between year 15 and year 20, in the five years between year 25 and year 30, your investment will possibly gain over $396,000. That showcases the true power of compounding.

    2. Ignoring an index fund’s expense ratio

    Even though you won’t be charged to purchase an index fund, you’ll pay an expense ratio, which is charged annually as a percentage of your total investment. If an index fund has a 0.50% expense ratio, you’ll pay $5 per $1,000 that you invest. If the expense ratio is 0.25%, you’ll pay $2.50 per $1,000 invested.

    A small difference in percentages may not seem like much but can really add up over time. Just a difference in a quarter of a percentage point can add up to tens of thousands in the long run.

    3. Keeping up with a stock’s daily price movement

    The only thing guaranteed in the stock market is volatility. No matter how great a business is, you can expect its stock price to fluctuate — that’s just how it works.

    If you’re a long-term investor, a stock’s daily price movements shouldn’t affect you or change your attitude toward the investment. If you’re investing in fundamentally sound businesses, you should be able to trust that they’ll produce great returns over the long term, even if they’re having a rough time in the short term.

    4. Equating price with cheap or expensive

    You shouldn’t look at a stock’s price by itself to determine whether or not it’s cheap or expensive. It could very well be the case that a $20 stock is expensive and a $1,000 stock is cheap. Investors should use other metrics to determine whether or not a stock is a good value at its current price.

    One common metric to determine a stock’s value is its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which compares a company’s stock price to its earnings per share (EPS). Calculating a company’s P/E ratio and comparing it to similar companies is one way to help determine if it’s overvalued or undervalued.

    5. Ignoring dividends

    Outside of an increase in a stock’s price, dividends are the other primary way to make money from an investment. While younger companies tend to not pay dividends because they need to reinvest the money back into the company to continue growing, older, more established companies typically pay out dividends because they likely have less room for hypergrowth in their stock price. It’s a way to reward shareholders for holding onto their investments.

    If you consistently buy dividend-paying stocks, you can set yourself up to have a decent amount of income coming in, both now and in retirement. Along with retirement accounts and Social Security, dividends can play a huge role in supplementing your retirement income. In some cases, it can be thousands monthly. 

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

    The post 5 painfully common investing mistakes to avoid 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 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.

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

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  • Magellan share price sinks following $140 million Guzman sale

    man bending over to look at red arrow crashing down through the groundman bending over to look at red arrow crashing down through the ground

    The Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price is in reverse today following the company’s disinvestment announcement.

    At the time of writing, the fund manager’s shares are exchanging hands at $16.49, down 4.41%.

    In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also having another tough day, trading at 7,140.7, down 0.90%.

    Magellan offloads Guzman interest

    Investors are reacting to the company’s latest news, selling off the Magellan share price.

    In its release, Magellan advised it has entered into an agreement to sell its 11.6% interest in Guzman y Gomez.

    Founded in 2006, Guzman y Gomez is an Australian multinational casual-dining and fast-food restaurant chain, specialising in Mexican food.

    The co-party, a Barrenjoey Capital Partners entity, will purchase the stake through an investment trust comprising high-net-worth investors.

    The cash consideration of the sale is valued at $140 million.

    Magellan noted that it may also be entitled to a further payment of up to $6 million. This is subject to the performance of Guzman y Gomez and the “realisation of the investment by the trust.”

    Furthermore, for the sale to proceed, a pre-emptive rights process under the Guzman y Gomez shareholders’ deed must be completed. This provides the co-party’s shareholders with the right to purchase Magellan’s shares on the same terms.

    The transaction is expected to take place in two tranches occurring in June and July 2022.

    Magellan is forecasting to record a pre-tax profit on the sale of $34 million in FY22. Proceeds will be used to support the company’s ongoing capital management initiatives.

    Magellan chair, Mr Hamish McLennan commented:

    GYG is an outstanding company, however, the sale of our shareholding is consistent with our strategy to focus on our core funds management business.

    The upfront sale price represents a 36.3% premium to our entry price in January 2021. We believe the sale is an excellent outcome for Magellan shareholders.

    Magellan is pleased with the performance of its Magellan Capital Partners investments. The outcome we have achieved with this transaction reinforces the strength of our partnership with Barrenjoey.

    Magellan share price summary

    Adding to today’s losses, the Magellan share price has continued its downhill trajectory since July 2021.

    Reaching a 52-week high of $56.18 on 2 July 2021, this means the company’s shares are down by roughly 70%.

    Year to date has also fared no better, with losses of around 22% so far in the five months.

    Magellan has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.68 and commands a market capitalisation of roughly $3.06 billion.

    The post Magellan share price sinks following $140 million Guzman sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Magellan, 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 Magellan 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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    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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  • Are these small 2 ASX growth shares now at compelling value?

    A male investor sits at his desk looking at his laptop screen holding his hand to his chin pondering whether to buy Macquarie shares

    A male investor sits at his desk looking at his laptop screen holding his hand to his chin pondering whether to buy Macquarie shares

    There has been a significant sell-off of many ASX growth shares over the last few months. Could they now be opportunities?

    A company isn’t automatically better value if its share price drops, but these two ASX shares are planning growth for the long term. Let’s take a look:

    RPMGlobal Holdings Ltd (ASX: RUL)

    RPMGlobal describes itself as a global leader in mining software solutions, advisory services and professional development for the mining industry. The idea is that RPMGlobal can enable clients to extract more value at every stage of the mining lifecycle.

    Major clients include Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG).

    The software business has been making acquisitions to improve its offering to clients, in areas like environmental consultancy and emissions reporting.

    While the RPMGlobal share price has declined by more than 25% since the start of 2022, its financial metrics are steadily improving.

    Its annual recurring revenue (ARR) is growing as it signs more customers onto software subscriptions and now sits at $27.9 million. The FY22 half-year operating profit rose $3.9 million to $2.1 million, while net profit after tax (NPAT) increased $8.3 million to $1.9 million.

    The company is expecting a ‘real’ lift in software sales once mining countries open their borders. The ASX growth share said that it’s best to sell software to global companies in person.

    It points out that mining companies are accelerating the move to cloud solutions, so RPMGlobal believes it’s well-positioned to benefit from this structural change.

    Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd (ASX: FDV)

    Frontier Digital Ventures describes itself as a leading owner and operator of online marketplace businesses in fast-growing emerging markets. Those regions are Asia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa. Its portfolio consists of 16 companies in 20 markets.

    Over the last six months, the Frontier Digital Ventures share price has fallen by 40%.

    However, the company’s quarterly revenue continues to climb on a rapid basis and it’s now seeing positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

    In the quarter for the three months to March 2022, Frontier Digital Ventures’ share of revenue was $20.2 million, up 83% year on year. The ASX growth share’s quarterly portfolio EBITDA was a positive $0.7 million, it was the third consecutive quarter of positive EBITDA, with 12 of the operating companies seeing positive EBITDA.

    The Frontier Digital Ventures founder and CEO Shaun Di Gregorio said:

    Building on the strength of our online marketplace leadership positions, we continue to invest in our operating companies to accelerate their transaction capabilities and drive organic growth.

    Our strong underlying marketplace business model combined with developing our transactional capabilities represents a compelling value creation opportunity for FDV’s shareholders. FDV remains in an enviable position with an attractive earnings growth profile and strong balance sheet.

    The post Are these small 2 ASX growth shares now at compelling value? 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 Tristan Harrison has positions in Fortescue Metals Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd and RPMGlobal Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd and RPMGlobal 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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  • Westpac share price charges higher on earnings beat and improving costs outlook

    a young woman raises her hands in joyful celebration as she sits at her computer in a home environment.

    a young woman raises her hands in joyful celebration as she sits at her computer in a home environment.

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has started the week in a positive fashion.

    In morning trade, the banking giant’s shares are up 3% to $24.57.

    Why is the Westpac share price charging higher?

    The Westpac share price is charging higher on Monday after investors responded positively to the bank’s half-year results.

    For the six months ended 31 March, Westpac reported an 8% year on year decline in revenue to $10,230 million and a 12% reduction in cash earnings to $3,095 million. This allowed the bank to pay a 61 cents per share interim dividend.

    While this was a touch lower than what Goldman Sachs was expecting, it was ahead of consensus estimates. The Visible Alpha consensus estimate was for first-half cash earnings of $2.8 billion, with an interim dividend of 59 cents per share.

    Also supporting the Westpac share price was a stronger than expected net interest margin (NIM), which came in at 1.85%.

    Goldman commented: “WBC’s 1H22 NIM was down 14 bp hoh to 1.85% (ex Markets at 1.70%) and was higher than our expectations (GSe, -17 bp to 1.82%).”

    What else?

    But perhaps the biggest driver of the Westpac share price today is the bank’s reiteration of its cost reduction plans.

    With both Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) abandoning their cost reduction targets last week, many thought Westpac would be forced to follow suit. Particularly given how the market was already very sceptical over its plans.

    However, this morning management reiterated its target of reducing its cost base down to $8 billion by FY 2024. This compares to operating costs of $13.3 billion in FY 2021. Though, those numbers include $2.3 million of notable items.

    Time will tell if Westpac gets there, but it certainly made great strides in doing so during this half. Management reported a 10% or $624 million reduction in operating expenses to $5,373 million.

    The post Westpac share price charges higher on earnings beat and improving costs outlook 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

    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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  • Here’s why the Carnaby Resources share price just rocketed 27%

    A man clenches his fists in excitement as gold coins fall from the sky.A man clenches his fists in excitement as gold coins fall from the sky.

    The Carnaby Resources Ltd (ASX: CNB) share price is flying higher in morning trade. It’s up 14% after leaping more than 27% higher in the early minutes after the opening bell.

    Below we look at the drill results that look the be driving ASX investor interest.

    What drill results did Carnaby announce?

    The Carnaby Resources share price is rocketing after the company reported “stunning drill results“. The results are from the exploration campaign at its Greater Duchess Copper Gold Project in Mt Isa, Queensland.

    The results come from both reverse circulation and diamond drilling.

    One of the drill holes intersected the widest high-grade intercept Carnaby has discovered to date. Results were 68 metres at 2.4% copper, 0.4 grams per tonne of gold from 40 metres, including 42m @ 3.6% copper, 0.5 g/t gold from 63m.

    The ASX resource explorer said it has now intersected “wide, high-grade and very shallow” copper-gold mineralisation across a zone of more than 300 metres strike length that remains open.

    Atop this, it reported receiving a number of other new results and visual intersections. Those include a 30-metre zone of very strong copper sulphides.

    On the results that look to be lifting the Carnaby Resources share price today, Carnaby managing director Rob Watkins said:

    These stunning drill results clearly demonstrate the resource and development potential of the Greater Duchess Copper Gold Project. We are discovering and building a pipeline of exceptional and highly desirable copper gold deposits whose intrinsic value will only grow over time as we define and grow the maiden resource and move towards a development timetable.

    Drilling at the project continues with two dedicated drill rigs on site.

    Carnaby Resources share price snapshot

    Though it has come under pressure in 2022, the Carnaby Resources share price remains up 220% in the past 12 months. By comparison, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.48% since this time last year.

    The post Here’s why the Carnaby Resources share price just rocketed 27% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Carnaby Resources right now?

    Before you consider Carnaby Resources, 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 Carnaby Resources 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

    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 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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  • Everything you need to know about the latest Westpac dividend

    Australian notes and coins mixed together.Australian notes and coins mixed together.

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price appears to be off to the right start this week after the bank upped its interim dividend.

    The second largest ‘big four’ bank increased its half-yearly payment despite reporting that its cash earnings slipped over the first half of financial year 2022 this morning.

    It brought in around $3 billion of cash earnings last half – a 12% drop on that of the prior comparable period. Its revenue also slumped 8% to approximately $10 billion.

    At the time of writing, the Westpac share price is $24.37, 2.27% higher than its previous close.

    So, what do investors need to know about the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank’s latest dividend? Let’s take a look.

    All the details on Westpac’s latest dividend

    The Westpac share price is in the green after the bank upped its interim dividend to 61 cents per share.

    The dividend is fully franked and represents a payout ratio of 69%.

    Additionally, considering Westpac’s previous closing price, the bank is now trading with a 5% dividend yield.

    Interested market watchers have until 19 May to acquire the bank’s stock or miss out on receiving the banking giant’s upcoming dividend. That’s the day the stock will trade ex-dividend.

    The dividend will reach investors’ bank accounts from 24 June.

    The interim dividend announced today is the bank’s biggest payout since the onset of COVID-19.

    It’s 1 cent more than Westpac’s final dividend for financial year 2021. It’s also 3 cents more than Westpac’s previous interim dividend.  

    Westpac shareholders also have the option of receiving new shares in the bank instead of a cash dividend.

    That option is offered through the bank’s dividend reinvestment plan. Shareholders have until 23 May to opt into the plan.

    The Westpac share price has gained 12% since the start of 2022. Meanwhile, the ASX 200 has slumped nearly 6%.

    The post Everything you need to know about the latest Westpac dividend 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

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

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  • Why the Spirit share price bounced 12% this morning

    a man and woman agreeing to a deal with a handshakea man and woman agreeing to a deal with a handshake

    The Spirit Technology Solutions Ltd (ASX: ST1) share price was looking greener than usual in early trade on Monday.

    Investor excitement resonated following the telecommunications company’s announcement to sell its fixed wireless assets. Shares in Spirit were trading 11.8% higher to 85 cents apiece near the open. However, they have since lost some ground and are currently trading at 78 cents, up 2.63%.

    Joining the telecom trend

    Spirit Technologies is the latest ASX-listed telecommunications company to sell its infrastructure assets. The announcement this morning coincidentally lands at the same time that TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) is revealing the sale of its mobile tower and rooftop assets for $950 million.

    According to the release, Spirit has entered into a binding sale agreement with Maret Infrastructure Pty Ltd (Maret Group). As part of the deal, the company will divest its wholesale fixed wireless assets for up to $21 million.

    The total consideration will comprise an upfront $15 million payment, in addition to a $6 million performance fee over the next 12 to 24 months.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the deal, Spirit managing director Sol Lukatsky said:

    […] this transaction returns a material amount of capital for a company of our size. Combined with the divestment of the consumer business last October, the proceeds of this sale, (once completed), will have returned over $20M in cash to our balance sheet in FY22.

    Spirit is also undertaking an internal transformation project (Spirit 2.0) to reduce costs and ensure it is well-positioned to capitalise on the growth we are seeing for our services in the SMB market and Cyber solutions.

    Much like other tower sales we have seen from Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Optus, Spirit will retain its customer relationships and revenues associated with the network. Meanwhile, Maret Group will charge Spirit a wholesale ‘last-mile’ services fee for the provision of services.

    Furthermore, the partnership between Spirit and Maret also unlocks the use of Maret’s own spectrum licensing assets for the ASX-listed telecom company. Following this, Spirit plans to bring new fixed wireless products to market under a broader network.

    How has the Spirit share price performed?

    Despite growing revenue by around 94% year over year and turning profitable, the Spirit share price has been a doozy over the past year.

    Specifically, ASX-listed Spirit has tumbled nearly 80% during the 12-month period. Meanwhile, staples of the communications sector, such as Telstra and Uniti Group Ltd (ASX: UWL), have rallied 14% and 78% respectively.

    Undoubtedly, Spirit shareholders will be hoping this latest deal represents a pivotal moment for the share price.

    The post Why the Spirit share price bounced 12% this morning appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Spirit Technology Solutions right now?

    Before you consider Spirit Technology Solutions, 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 Spirit Technology Solutions wasn’t one of them.

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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 SPIRIT TC FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended SPIRIT TC FPO, TPG Telecom Limited, and Uniti 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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  • Analysts name 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy now

    If you’re looking to boost your income portfolio with some new dividend shares this week to combat rising inflation, then the two listed below could be worth considering.

    Here’s why analysts are positive on these dividend shares right now:

    Centuria Industrial Reit (ASX: CIP)

    The first ASX dividend share that is rated as a buy is Centuria Industrial. It is a property company with a focus on high quality industrial assets.

    Thanks to strong demand for industrial property, and particularly from ecommerce-related tenants, Centuria Industrial has been reporting strong rental income and funds from operations (FFO) growth during the first half of FY 2022.

    The good news is that Macquarie appears confident this strong form will continue thanks to ongoing demand for these properties. It currently has an outperform rating and $4.27 price target on the company’s shares.

    As for dividends, Macquarie is forecasting dividends per share of 17.3 cents in FY 2022 and then 17.8 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Centuria Industrial REIT share price of $3.58, this will mean yields of 4.8% and 5%, respectively.

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

    Another ASX dividend share that has been rated as a buy is HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. It is another property company but with a focus on convenience-based assets. This includes neighbourhood retail and large format retail (retail parks).

    Like Centuria Industrial, HomeCo Daily Needs has been on form in FY 2022 and delivered solid growth during the first half.

    Pleasingly, Goldman Sachs believes the company is well-positioned to continue its growth over the medium term thanks to “the shift to omni channel retailing.”

    In addition, the broker feels HDN is undervalued at its current level given this growth outlook and its diversified tenant base. As a result, the broker has put a buy rating and $1.70 price target on the company’s shares.

    In respect to dividends, Goldman is forecasting dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2022 and then 9 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current HomeCo Daily Needs share price of $1.31, this will mean yields of 6.1% and 6.8%, respectively.

    The post Analysts name 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy 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.

    *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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