Category: Stock Market

  • 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to shine bright in 2022

    three adorable children sit side by side at a table wearing upturned colanders on their heads fixed with shining light bulbs as they smile cutely at the camera.

    three adorable children sit side by side at a table wearing upturned colanders on their heads fixed with shining light bulbs as they smile cutely at the camera.three adorable children sit side by side at a table wearing upturned colanders on their heads fixed with shining light bulbs as they smile cutely at the camera.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is putting in a strong showing today.

    ASX 200 shares are up a combined 1.27% in afternoon trading.

    That will come as welcome news to investors who watched the benchmark index slide 9.9% from the start of the year through to 27 January. ASX 200 shares have now rebounded 5% from that low.

    But we’re not necessarily out of the bearish woods quite yet.

    Investor worries fuelling volatility

    According to Saxo Capital Markets Australian market strategist Jessica Amir, share markets are seeing increased volatility as investors fret over inflation driving higher interest rates, rising geopolitical tensions, and issues in energy markets.

    But she sees it all as a glass half full.

    As The Australian reports, Amir says that despite these concerns, “there are opportunities“.

    The first ASX 200 share she sees opportunity in for 2022 is Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

    With a market cap just north of $2.9 billion, Whitehaven is the biggest pure play coal miner on the ASX.

    Amir notes that Whitehaven’s share price has fallen recently – it’s down 20% from the 6 October 12-month highs – but she says profits are expected to more than double in 2022.

    According to Amir, “China, India and Russia make up 50% of global electricity consumption and most of that comes from coal.”

    Next up, Amir believes WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) has been oversold.

    The ASX 200 share, with a market cap of $14.5 billion, provides cloud-based software solutions for international and domestic logistics industries.

    According to Amir (quoted by The Australian), “This is a tech company that powers the logistics industry and works with global brands like DHL and FedEx. Its shares look like they have been oversold.”

    Then there’s Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE).

    Formerly known as Orocobre Limited before rebranding, Allkem supplies lithium carbonate and boron worldwide, with its resources predominantly located in Argentina.

    Amir said that with lithium prices forecast to rise 80% in 2022, that should be good news for the Allkem share price.

    How have these 3 ASX 200 shares been tracking?

    The Whitehaven share price has soared 93% over the past 12 months and is up 11% so far in 2022.

    The Allkem share price has rocketed 87% since this time last year but is down 12% since the opening bell on 4 January.

    As for WiseTech, the ASX 200 share is up 34% over 12 months and down 24% so far this calendar year.

    The post 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to shine bright in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Whitehaven, 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 Whitehaven 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. owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • CBA (ASX:CBA) share price is ‘very expensive’: expert

    a small boy dressed in a bow tie and britches looks up from a pile of books with a book laid in front of him on a desk and an abacus on the other side, as though he is an accountant scouring books of figures.a small boy dressed in a bow tie and britches looks up from a pile of books with a book laid in front of him on a desk and an abacus on the other side, as though he is an accountant scouring books of figures.a small boy dressed in a bow tie and britches looks up from a pile of books with a book laid in front of him on a desk and an abacus on the other side, as though he is an accountant scouring books of figures.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is edging higher today, now trading at $94.42 at the time of writing — up 0.45%.

    The bank started the year poorly, with shares faltering almost 7% into the red since the start of 2022 trading on 4 January. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down just over 3% during the same time.

    Analysts have been calling for a pullback in the CBA share price for some time, with some noting it seemed overvalued relative to earnings and to the other banking majors throughout 2021.

    But are analysts still as downbeat on the CBA share price? And what about its valuation given the recent market downturn? Let’s take a look.

    CBA is a sell, according to consensus

    Overall sentiment on the bank’s share price appears to be quite downbeat at present, judging from the list of analysts provided by Bloomberg Intelligence.

    On that list, 11 brokers urge their clients to sell and/or short CBA shares whereas just 2 advocate it as a buy right now.

    That equates to 88% of analysts having the CBA share price as a sell or hold right now – hardly a bullish outlook.

    Most of the commentary is centred around the bank’s valuation and the pressures on its profit margins as cost blowouts continue to plague its income statement.

    Whilst JP Morgan forecasts the bank’s revenue growth “to be towards the top end of peers in FY23/24”, it notes ongoing costs will likely cap profits and earnings per share (EPS) relative to peers.

    It also forecasts CBA’s net interest margin (NIM) to contract over the coming periods, in line with NIM headwinds for the broad sector.

    Moreover, JP Morgan continues to be put off by the bank’s “very expensive valuation” given its shares are still trading at 20x price to earnings (P/E), down from 22x P/E a month ago.

    Goldman Sachs also reckons that CBA’s NIM will be in hot focus in its upcoming earnings release. Goldman is forecasting a 16 basis point decline in the bank’s NIM this period.

    “This is amplified by the disproportionate share of mortgages that are currently going into fixed rates,” the broker noted to clients in an update recently.

    As a result of this, Goldman trimmed its price target on CBA by 2% to $80.94, retaining its sell recommendation in the process.

    Not only that, but the consensus price target on CBA shares is currently at $93 and change – suggesting a downside potential of almost $1 per share.

    Morgans is the most bearish and values the bank at $74 per share, whereas Jefferies and Jarden are the only two brokers standing apart from the pack. In recent updates, they assigned price targets of $108 and $100 per share respectively.

    CBA share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, the CBA share price has held gains and climbed more than 6% but is losing ground amid the recent weakness.

    This year to date, things aren’t so rosy with the CBA share price down almost 7% so far in 2022, after tanking more than 8% in the last month of trading.

    The post CBA (ASX:CBA) share price is ‘very expensive’: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Commonwealth Bank of Australia right now?

    Before you consider Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 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 Commonwealth Bank of Australia 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • This global financial giant is buying up Bitcoin. Could ASX banks be next?

    Cryptocurrency bitcoin coin in gold piggy bankCryptocurrency bitcoin coin in gold piggy bankCryptocurrency bitcoin coin in gold piggy bank

    It’s been a big week for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), with both coins seeing prices rebound after a sustained period of decline.

    In the latest development, one of the “big four” accounting firms has announced that it will be investing in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Canadian arm of KPMG revealed that it has allocated funds to its corporate treasury to invest in crypto assets.

    This move is an example of more traditional financial institutions entering the market. But, are ASX banks keeping crypto at arm’s length?

    First, let’s read why KPMG is taking a chance on Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    Mature crypto assets become too big to ignore

    Yesterday, KPMG Canada announced a first-of-its-kind investment for the firm with an investment in the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation.

    According to the release, the investment comprised of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and carbon offsets to counteract the emissions of the transactions. The accounting firm allocated the funds using Gemini’s execution and custody services.

    While the addition of crypto to its balance sheet suggests a positive sentiment, cryptocurrency advocates might be wondering why it took so long. Bitcoin has now been in existence for around 13 years.

    In explaining, KPMG’s managing partner of advisory services, Benjie Thomas, said that the decision to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum is based on maturity as an asset class.

    Crypto assets are a maturing asset class. Investors such as hedge funds and family offices to large insurers and pension funds are increasingly gaining exposure to crypto assets, and traditional financial services such as banks, financial advisors and brokerages are exploring offering products and services involving crypto assets.

    Adding:

    This investment reflects our belief that institutional adoption of crypto assets and blockchain technology will continue to grow and become a regular part of the asset mix.

    Furthermore, the decision was made following an in-depth evaluation by the firm. This included a complete risk assessment considering regulatory, reputational, tax, and accounting implications.

    Are ASX banks getting involved with Bitcoin?

    Financial institutions in Australia are also approaching cryptocurrencies with a more open mind in the last few months.

    Surprisingly, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) — Australia’s largest bank — announced plans to unlock crypto investments to its customers in November 2021. In addition, the feature would be enabled through its partnership with Gemini, a regulated crypto exchange.

    However, CBA is not the only ASX bank to be taking Bitcoin and its crypto peers more seriously. Remarks from Nigel Dobson, banking services portfolio lead at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ), indicate the potential for another major bank to enter the fray.

    Dobson highlighted that the market had become too big to ignore. Although — at this stage — no ASX-listed banks have added cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets.

    At the time of writing, Bitcoin is up 2.7% in the last 24 hours to A$61,706. Similarly, Ethereum is trading 2.5% higher at A$4,410.

    The post This global financial giant is buying up Bitcoin. Could ASX banks be next? 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 owns Bitcoin, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Is the Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price a smart buy for dividends?

    Two fountains of black oil in the shape of up arrows signalling oil price rise

    Two fountains of black oil in the shape of up arrows signalling oil price riseTwo fountains of black oil in the shape of up arrows signalling oil price rise

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price is an interesting one to consider for income.

    Since the start of the 2022 calendar year, Woodside shares have climbed around 20%. In-fact, the Woodside share price just hit a 52-week high. Compare that to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has dropped 5% since the start of the year. A 25% outperformance in less than two months.

    After a rapid correction of oil prices late last year on concerns about the impacts of Omicron, oil prices have rallied higher. It’s now reaching a multi-year high.

    A commodity business like Woodside Petroleum is heavily dependent on the resource price to be able to generate strong profits. The profit is what funds the dividend.

    Is Woodside share price benefiting from the higher oil prices?

    The latest quarterly update from the company showed a big increase in the ‘realised price’ and sales revenue.

    Woodside’s average realised price increased to $90 per barrel of oil equivalent, up 53% from the third quarter of 2021.

    Sales revenue jumped 86% to $2.85 billion, whilst sales volume rose 22% to 31.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

    So, the company is seeing a significant increase in revenue thanks to the higher price. It was the highest quarterly sales revenue on record.

    It will soon be an even bigger oil business after signing a binding share sale agreement with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) for the merger of BHP’s oil and gas portfolio with Woodside.

    How big could the dividend be in FY22?

    Ultimately, the dividend decision is for the Woodside board to decide.

    But, analysts have had their best guess at what the FY22 dividend might be.

    The broker Morgans reckons that Woodside is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.6% in FY22 and 6.8% in FY23.

    CommSec numbers suggest that the grossed-up dividend yield could be 9.75% in FY22 and 7.1% in FY23.

    Is the Woodside share price a buy?

    Investors consider several different things about Woodside, with its profit being an important component.

    The oil giant recently announced some accounting changes including a non-cash, post-tax impairment reversal related to oil and gas properties of US$582 million comprising $319 million related to Pluto-Scarborough and $263 million to NSW Gas.

    The calculation of the 2021 final dividend, to be announced on 17 February 2022, will exclude the impact of the impairment reversal on net profit.

    Morgans rates Woodside as a buy, with a price target of $30.55.

    The 2022 production guidance is between 92 MMboe to 98 MMboe, excluding the impact of the proposed merger with BHP.

    Citi is currently ‘neutral’ on the business, with a price target of $23.83, though it notes production this year is expected to be a little better than it was thinking it would be.

    The post Is the Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price a smart buy for dividends? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 Woodside 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 Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Playside (ASX:PLY) share price tanks 10% on BEANS project update

    A disappointed man slumps in his chair and holds his head while playing an online gameA disappointed man slumps in his chair and holds his head while playing an online gameA disappointed man slumps in his chair and holds his head while playing an online game

    The Playside Studios Ltd (ASX: PLY) share price is nosediving today following a project update on the BEANS Web 3.0.

    At the time of writing, the video game developer’s shares are down 10.31% to $1.175.

    What’s dragging Playside Studios shares lower?

    Investors are selling off Playside Studios shares after the company reported a technical issue regarding a smart contract.

    According to its release, Playside Studios advised that an error allowed 2,223 BEANS to be minted for minimal consideration. The mistake in judgement occurred late afternoon yesterday following the sale of 7,777 BEANS. The latter generated a net revenue of $8.38 million.

    Playside Studios stated that once it found out what happened, the independent third-party quickly facilitated corrective action via the NFT marketplace.

    As a result, normal trading was quickly restored and no long-term impacts are expected to arise.

    The costs associated with fixing the issue by the third party is estimated to be less than $500,000. Playside Studios noted that it does not foresee any material changes to its revenue earned from the original mint.

    To ensure that the error doesn’t occur again, the company has reviewed its internal procedures and made adjustments. Further process improvements are anticipated to follow to safeguard the BEANS project in future.

    Playside Studios said that it will reveal the identity of all BEANS to the owners on Thursday 10 February. More information to the community will be provided in relation to new features being added to the roadmap ahead.

    Playside Studios share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Playside Studios shares have gained more than 220%, and are up 7% year-to-date.

    Based on today’s price, Playside Studios commands a market capitalisation of roughly $170.26 million, with approximately 144.29 million shares outstanding.

    The post Playside (ASX:PLY) share price tanks 10% on BEANS project update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in PlaySide Studios right now?

    Before you consider PlaySide Studios, 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 PlaySide Studios 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • ASX retail shares have slumped in 2022. Could there be more pain to come?

    A woman sits with her head down and colourful retail shopping bags all around her.A woman sits with her head down and colourful retail shopping bags all around her.A woman sits with her head down and colourful retail shopping bags all around her.

    It’s been a tough start to 2022 for many ASX retail shares. Data released today shows just how tough it has been for Australian shops, and also provides mixed forecasts for the future.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) has been underperforming the market over the course of 2022 so far, slumping 9%.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen 5% over that time.

    Here’s what the future looks like for Australian retailers and, as an extension, ASX retail shares.

    Data highlights tough January and mixed outlook

    Data detailing how tough January was for retailers has dropped today, and it’s not a particularly pretty picture.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) announced that its Household Spending Intentions (HSI) index fell 10% last month, with retail spending intentions leading the fall with a 20.9% dip.

    However, that fall followed a rallying over the previous months, landing retail spending intentions 4.4% higher than in January 2021.

    Additionally, CBA noted credit card data highlighted an uptick in consumer spending in early February.

    That’s potentially juxtaposed with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Roy Morgan. They found consumer confidence fell 1.9% over the first week of February.  

    ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said the drop in consumer confidence was likely due to anticipation of rising interest rates and Western Australia’s bushfire events, COVID-19 outbreak, and continued border closure.

    The pendulum also swung for Australian’s financial positions. Just 23% of Australians said their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year – representing a 4 point drop. That’s compared to 32% who said their families are ‘worse off’ – a 4 point increase.  

    Looking to the future, 35% – 2 points fewer – believe their families will be better off this time next year. On the other side, 21%  – 3 points more – expect they’ll be worse off.

    Finally, the latest monthly business survey conducted by National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) found business conditions had fallen 5 points in January with profitability, trading conditions, and employment all slipping lower.

    Retail was once again among the hardest hit, falling 38 points.

    In more positive news, business confidence rose 15 points in January after falling in December.

    NAB chief economist Alan Oster said Australia’s economy is experiencing “a period of elevated inflation while supply chain issues remain unresolved”.

    “Overall, the January survey shows significant disruption to business activity from the spread of the Omicron variant, albeit impacts on businesses were less severe than in past outbreaks,” said Oster. “However, we continue to expect a strong recovery as case numbers come down.”

    How are ASX retail shares performing today?

    Tuesday’s session brings a mixed performance from ASX retail shares.

    The Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK) share price has fallen 7% while that of Best & Less Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: BST) and Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) are down 4.1% and 1.9% respectively.

    Meanwhile, the Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) share price is 2.8% higher, while stock in Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) and JB Hi Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) is up 1.3% and 0.6% respectively.

    For context, the ASX 200 is currently up 0.8% while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 0.7%.

    The post ASX retail shares have slumped in 2022. Could there be more pain to come? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Super Retail Group right now?

    Before you consider Super Retail Group, 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 Super Retail Group 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. owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO and Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO and Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • ‘Cringe-inducing’: Fortescue (ASX:FMG) boss takes aim at ScoMo over clean hydrogen claims

    a man dressed in a green superhero lycra outfit stands in a crouched pose with arms outstretched as if ready to spring into action with a blue sky and oil barrels lying in the background.a man dressed in a green superhero lycra outfit stands in a crouched pose with arms outstretched as if ready to spring into action with a blue sky and oil barrels lying in the background.a man dressed in a green superhero lycra outfit stands in a crouched pose with arms outstretched as if ready to spring into action with a blue sky and oil barrels lying in the background.

    The Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price is on the rise during early afternoon trade on Tuesday.

    It comes after Fortescue chair Andrew Forrest intensified his campaign against the federal government’s promotion of coal-made hydrogen as ‘clean energy’.

    At the time of writing, the iron ore producer’s shares are up 3.2% to $22.22 apiece.

    Fortescue amplifies ‘clean energy’ campaign

    Making headlines today, Forrest took out a full-page colour advert in the Australian Financial Review challenging the federal government’s clean energy claims.

    In the statement, Forrest rejected the Morisson government’s assertion that coal and gas-generated hydrogen can be billed as ‘clean’.

    Forrest believes the term ‘clean hydrogen’ should be swapped for ‘green hydrogen’, which is made from renewable energy.

    It’s worth noting the mining giant’s green offshoot Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is focused on producing renewable hydrogen.

    The company is aiming to generate 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. 

    Last week, the world’s first liquefied hydrogen tanker, the 116-metre Suiso Frontier, picked up coal-made hydrogen from Victoria’s La Trobe Valley.

    The ship successfully loaded the hydrogen bound for Japan. The shipment is part of a $500 million pilot project hosted by AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)’s Loy Yang A brown coal-fired power station to produce hydrogen for Japanese giant Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

    Brown coal, considered the dirtiest of its group, along with gas, produces emissions from burning fossil fuels.

    Following the ship’s departure, Forrest commented that it should not be an opportunity to “pretend brown hydrogen is exporting green energy to the world”.

    In 2021, FFI took on Australia’s biggest oil and gas companies over gas-produced hydrogen not being acceptable as ‘clean energy’. A senior executive from FFI spoke out saying that the so-called ‘blue hydrogen’ depends on carbon capture or offsets.

    In addition, former prime minister and current FFI chair Malcolm Turnbull called gas supplies ‘a con’.

    He also said that carbon capture storage (CSS) is a ‘no goer’, citing it’s yet to reach commercial-scale suitable for reducing emissions.

    Fortescue share price summary

    Up until the end of July, the Fortescue share price was enjoying strong gains, hitting an all-time high of $26.58. That all came crashing down in the following months with the company’s shares touching a low of $13.90 in early October.

    Since then, Fortescue shares have rebounded to around the halfway levels achieved in the first half of 2021.

    On valuation metrics, Fortescue commands a market capitalisation of roughly $68 billion and has approximately 3.08 billion shares on issue.

    The post ‘Cringe-inducing’: Fortescue (ASX:FMG) boss takes aim at ScoMo over clean hydrogen claims appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price jumps after outperforming expectations and excitement over US$75tn opportunity

    A woman throws her hands in the air in celebration as confetti floats down around her, standing in front of a deep yellow wall.A woman throws her hands in the air in celebration as confetti floats down around her, standing in front of a deep yellow wall.

    A woman throws her hands in the air in celebration as confetti floats down around her, standing in front of a deep yellow wall.The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price has been a very strong performer on Tuesday.

    In afternoon trade, the investment bank’s shares are up 4% to $201.73.

    At one stage today, the Macquarie share price was up as much as 5.5% to $204.88.

    Why is the Macquarie share price charging higher?

    Investors have been bidding the Macquarie share price higher today following the release of its third quarter operational update.

    Although the bank didn’t provide any financials with its update, it advised that it was “a record quarter.”

    This was driven by strong performances from its market-facing business. Management advised that the Commodities and Global Markets (CGM) and Macquarie Capital businesses have delivered a combined profit contribution that was up “substantially” on the prior corresponding period. This is also the case financial year to date.

    What was the reaction?

    This update went down well with the team at Goldman Sachs, which suspects that Macquarie could outperform its expectations in FY 2022.

    Goldman commented: “While no specific group guidance has been provided by MQG for FY22, the divisional outlook is incrementally more positive than what was provided at MQG’s 1H22 result in Oct-21, which leaves upside risk to our current forecasts.”

    Looking longer term, the broker notes that Macquarie has highlighted that a whopping US$75 trillion of total infrastructure investment will be required globally by 2040.

    Goldman appears to believe this bodes well given how “management highlights it was the number one global infrastructure financial advisor in 2021, driven by a tenured senior team, that continues to innovate and push into new markets.”

    Is this a buying opportunity?

    At present, Goldman has a neutral rating and $199.40 price target on the company’s shares. This is broadly in line with where the Macquarie share price is trading currently.

    However, there is a chance that the broker will make some changes to its recommendation and valuation in the coming days once it has update its model to reflect this stronger than expected performance. So, stay tuned for that.

    The post Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price jumps after outperforming expectations and excitement over US$75tn opportunity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Macquarie, 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 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 James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Do Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) shares pay dividends?

    Australian dollar notes around a piggy bank.

    Australian dollar notes around a piggy bank.Australian dollar notes around a piggy bank.

    Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) was certainly one of the hottest ASX shares on the share market last year. As we covered last month here at the Fool, Lynas managed to give its investors a very impressive 155% return over 2021. Last year proved to be a year in which ASX investors looked to what was perceived to be futuristic resources companies for returns. We saw enormous interest in lithium miners like Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), battery tech companies like Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX), as well as rare earths miners like Lynas.

    Rare earths is a slightly misleading name for the minerals that Lynas extracts. Lynas’ rare earths like neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum and cerium are not ‘rare’ in the traditional sense. In fact, they are some of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Rather, finding large, concentrated deposits of them is rare.

    But we digress.

    Zooming out, and the returns are even more impressive for Lynas shareholders. This company is one that remains up an eye-watering 910% over the past five years, and up more than 600% since March 2020.

    I’m sure Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is kicking itself for not getting a hold of Lynas when it made a bid for the company back in 2019. Its $1.5 billion offer certainly looks like a lost opportunity now that Lynas has a market capitalisation of $8.3 billion.

    But now that shareholders have enjoyed such pleasing gains in recent times, many might be wondering when they might get rewarded for simply holding the shares. I’m talking about dividend payments, of course.

    At Lynas, dividends are scarcer than rare earths

    So do Lynas shares pay a dividend? The answer is a resounding no. Lynas Rare Earths has never paid out a dividend to its shareholders.

    That’s not to say it couldn’t though. Over FY2021, the company made $235.3 million in earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). That translated to an earnings per share (EPS) of 18.08 cents per share. If Lynas hypothetically wanted to pay out 10 of those 18.08 cents of EPS as a dividend, it would have given the Lynas share price a yield of roughly 1% on today’s pricing.

    But it’s possible that due to this company’s far-from-secure earnings base, it has decided to keep its powder dry. To illustrate, although FY2021 saw the company report healthy earnings, the company actually lost money on an EPS basis over the preceding financial year, FY2020. Back then, Lynas reported negative EPS of -2.79 cents per share. Obviously, if a company is losing money on an earnings basis, it can’t really afford to fork out a dividend.

    Resources companies like Lynas can never predict when the market for the commodities they extract might be favourable or unfavourable. But this can make all the difference between losing money and making a healthy profit. Perhaps Lynas’ management wishes to keep its balance sheet as fortified as possible for this reason. Thus, this might be why Lynas decided to not pay out a dividend over FY2021.

    But who knows what the future might hold. If the company keeps growing the way it did in FY2021, then shareholders might eventually get some income from their Lynas Rare Earths shares.

    The post Do Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) shares pay dividends? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Lynas Rare Earths, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Lynas Rare Earths 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 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 owns and has recommended Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Travel soars, ANZ falters, Magellan sinks. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News

    Scott Phillips on Nine News.Scott Phillips on Nine News.Scott Phillips on Nine News.

    Motley Fool Australia Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined Nine’s Late News on Monday night to discuss the big jump in travel industry shares on the back of the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) profit squeeze, and more pain for shareholders of Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG).

    The post Travel soars, ANZ falters, Magellan sinks. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips owns Corporate Travel Management Limited and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Helloworld Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Helloworld Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited, Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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