Category: Stock Market

ASX shares that represent lithium miners and processors have done very well the last couple of years.

The element has seen skyrocketing demand triggered by the world’s transition from cars that burn fossil fuels to those that run on electric power.

Electric vehicles require massive batteries, and lithium is a major ingredient for them.

“We only have to look at the recent results from South American lithium behemoth Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE: SQM) to see the dramatic effect that rising prices have had on profitability,” read a memo from Marcus Today.

“SQM made a big jump in 3Q earnings this year from US$1.7m in 2020 to US$106m. Revenues were up 46.1% on higher prices and more production.”

We need more lithium and Australia is a major producer

The thirst for lithium will not be quenched anytime soon.

“There are 200 new battery megafactories in the pipeline by 2030 and 122 are already operational. China is pegged for 148 of them,” read the Marcus Today memo. 

“If all 200 were to be producing batteries at full capacity, annual demand would be 3 million tonnes. To put that in perspective, that is 37 times what was produced in 2020.”

Even though the US is a leader in new technologies, and is the home of EV leader Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), the country surprisingly doesn’t produce much lithium itself.

“Australia, Chile and China now produce 88% of global lithium,” stated the Marcus Today team. 

“The US has only one lithium producing mine.”

So this gives Australian investors a golden opportunity to cash in.

The trouble is, most ASX shares that have anything to do with lithium have already skyrocketed in price.

The Marcus Today team thus picked out 3 ASX lithium shares that haven’t fully popped yet. Two are speculative buys, while one has firmer prospects.

This miner has 3 lithium projects

Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL) shares have doubled since the start of the year, but all of that gain was realised by mid-February. Thus, the stock price has been flat for 10 months.

“This company has a North American focus in North Carolina. It has hard rock lithium in 3 locations,” stated the Marcus Today team.

“It is going through… environmental hurdles. There are still plenty of boxes to be ticked.”

However, the memo noted this is not a binary outcome stock, as Piedmont has other projects in progress — one in Canada and another in Ghana.

“Capex again will be relatively high at $839 million but it should pay that back in under three years,” the team stated.

“Just for good measure, it is also ESG friendly.”

2 other ASX shares for a lithium play

The two more speculative buys the memo mentioned are Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) and Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR).

Sayona co-owns a site in Quebec, Canada with Piedmont.

“Piedmont effectively owns a 39.6% economic interest in Sayona Quebec,” stated Marcus Today. 

“Just to give Sayona an Australian flavour, it also has projects in WA, including a gold project and graphite in the Kimberley. Sayona has a market cap around $1 billion but clearly has potential.”

The Sayona share price started 2021 at 1 cent but closed on Wednesday at 13 cents.

Meanwhile, Ioneer is working on a project called Rhyolite Ridge in the inland US state of Nevada.

“US Lithium is especially attractive given the president has decreed that lithium is a strategic white powder.”

The coming year could be huge for Ioneer shares, as financing should be finalised with a possible first shipment of lithium in the second half of 2022.

But the project is facing some environmental hurdles, with a plant named Tiehm’s Buckwheat only growing in one place in the world.

“That’s right, on the Rhyolite Ridge in Nevada,” read the Marcus Today memo. 

“Ioneer is not without its issues but, given the strategic nature of the project, the company will move heaven and earth (and Buckwheat) to satisfy the environmental concerns.”

Ioneer shares started the year at 28 cents but were going for 78.5 cents on Wednesday afternoon.

The post 3 obscure lithium ASX shares ready to pop in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla are just the tip of the EV stock iceberg
• The ASX share market coverage that captivated readers in 2021
• Why Tesla stock perked up today
• Aussie investors now hold more Tesla than Woolworths (ASX:WOW)
• Why Tesla stock jumped on Tuesday

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 Bruce Jackson.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/32N7wZi

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) has been a staple for many ASX share portfolios in the past decade.

The hearing device maker has handsomely rewarded its original investors with a 2,350% return, according to Google Finance, and a 13.8% gain over 2021.

However, this year has ended on a sour note, as the share price actually has fallen more than 14% since its August high.

So where to from here? Is it one to buy for 2022?

‘Sales have stagnated’

Redpoint Investment Management chief Max Cappetta told The Motley Fool that “revenue growth has faltered” recently for Cochlear.

“Implant sales have stagnated during the COVID pandemic.”

Despite sound business prospects, Cappetta reckons that the valuation is “stretched” at the moment.

“Our metrics do point to a resurgence in revenue growth but this seems to be fully priced in at present,” he said.

“While there are improving prospects going forward, there also remains the potential for competing products — though we note that the Cochlear’s devices remain clear market leaders.”

Cochlear shares are dividing the experts

It seems Cochlear shares are polarising analysts.

The Motley Fool’s Zach Bristow reported earlier this month that out of 4 major investment houses, one is bearish, one is neutral and two are slightly bullish on the stock.

Goldman Sachs has set a target of $197 a share, which is about a 10% downside from Wednesday morning’s price of $218.18.

“The firm says that Cochlear’s surgery volumes remain at risk due to their elective nature. It notes that Australian surgery numbers are yet to recover to pre-pandemic volumes,” Bristow reported.

“Goldman Sachs recognises these challenges and reckons Cochlear is a sell in a recent note to clients.”

Meanwhile Citi is neutral with a $220 target, while Jarden and Macquarie rate Cochlear as a “buy” with targets of $258 and $256 respectively.

According to CMC Markets, 8 of 12 analysts are recommending a “hold” for Cochlear shares as the year winds down.

The post Where are Cochlear (ASX:COH) shares headed in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 50 shares to buy in 2022
• What’s the outlook for ASX healthcare shares in 2022?
• Why this top broker says the Cochlear (ASX:COH) share price is heading lower

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3pB71u3

Looking for dividend shares to buy in 2022? Then have a look at the ones listed below that have been given buy ratings.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

The first ASX dividend share to look at is Bapcor. It is the Asia Pacific’s leading provider of vehicle parts, accessories, equipment, service and solutions.

Its shares have been sold off in recent weeks amid the acrimonious exit of its CEO following a boardroom spat. While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could be a buying opportunity for patient income investors.

Particularly given Bapcor’s strong market position, store rollout plans, supply chain optimisation initiatives, and increasing private label penetration. This bodes well for its future growth once it has identified a new leader.

Credit Suisse thinks investors should stick with Bapcor and has recently put an outperform rating and lofty $9.20 price target on its shares. The broker is also forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 23 cents in FY 2022 and 24.6 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Bapcor share price of $7.03, this will mean yields of 3.3% and 3.5%, respectively.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Another ASX dividend share to look at is Coles. Over a century after opening its first store in Collingwood, Coles is now one of the big two supermarket operators with over 800 supermarkets. It also operates over 900 liquor retail stores and over 700 Coles express stores.

This gives Coles significant defensive qualities, which have been on display for all to see over the last couple of years.

Looking ahead, management is ensuring that it maintains its leadership position by growing its network further and investing heavily in automation. The latter will make its operations more efficient and support the growth of its online shopping business.

Citi is positive on Coles’ outlook. It currently has a buy rating and $19.60 price target on its shares. The broker has also pencilled in fully franked dividends per share of 64.5 cents in FY 2022 and 71.5 cents in FY 2023.

Based on the current Coles share price of $17.95, this implies yields of 3.6% and 4%, respectively.

The post Here are 2 ASX dividend shares to buy in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top ASX shares to buy in 2022
• The ASX share market coverage that captivated readers in 2021
• 2 strong ASX 200 dividend shares to own for income
• How will ASX retail shares go in 2022?
• 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors

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 owns and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bapcor. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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

On Wednesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on very strong form and stormed notably higher. The benchmark index climbed 1.2% to 7,509.8 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise again

The Australian share market looks set to push higher again on Thursday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 17 points or 0.25% higher this morning. This follows a decent night on Wall Street, which in late trade sees the Dow Jones up 0.3%, the S&P 500 up 0.1%, but the Nasdaq down 0.1%.

Oil prices higher

Energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a good day after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.7% to US$76.49 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.2% to US$79.11 a barrel. Oil prices rose after data showed a fall in U.S. crude and fuel inventories.

Gold price falls

Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) could have a tough day after the gold price edged lower. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.3% to US$1,805.60 an ounce. The gold price eased from a one-month high as investors piled into equities.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of popular ASX 200 dividend shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. Among the shares going ex-div are Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), and Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Iron ore price falls

It was a subdued night of trade for the spot benchmark iron ore price. According to Metal Bulletin, it fell 1% to US$118.30 a tonne. However, this hasn’t stopped the US listed BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price from pushing higher on Wednesday night. The Big Australian’s NYSE shares are up over 1% at the time of writing.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares with growing yields
• Why is Macquarie bullish on these 3 ASX shares?
• Could this drive the Santos (ASX:STO) share price in 2022?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy
• Analysts name 3 ‘must have’ ASX shares for buy and hold investors

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 Bruce Jackson.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/32JhjQ6

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) travel shares lifted on Wednesday, despite the COVID-19 Omicron variant impacting travel plans around the world.

The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price led the pack today followed by Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) and Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB).

Let’s take a look at what may be impacting ASX 200 travel shares lately.

Travel made easier

ASX 200 travel shares have taken a turn for the better following the Christmas break. Shares in Qantas were up by 1.62% from their closing price last Friday, while Flight Centre shares climbed 0.68% and Webjet had jumped 0.19% at the close of trade on Wednesday.

One announcement opening the way for people to travel more freely played out in Queensland. The State Government announced that travellers entering the sunshine state would no longer have to produce a negative PCR test. A rapid antigen test, which is much quicker, will now be the only requirement to cross this interstate border.

Commenting on the change, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said:

The Chief Health Officer is satisfied that a negative result using a rapid antigen test is sufficient for interstate arrivals.

Another factor that may be driving the Qantas share price was some positive news on international travel.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, which obtained an internal memo from the company, the airline will be returning its A380 from the desert to the skies three months earlier than planned.

The A380 service will fly from Sydney to Los Angeles three times a week from 11 January 2022, and has almost double the passenger seats as the airline’s 787 planes.

The positive territory for ASX travel shares today came amid thousands of flight cancellations over the Christmas break. FlightAware data shows there was a 14% decrease in flight activity globally compared to last week.

The travel shares also rose today despite record case numbers of COVID-19 in some states. NSW recorded 11,201 cases, while the SA Government reported 1,471 cases.

ASX 200 travel shares recap

At the market close today, the Qantas share price was trading at $5.02, up 3.5% year to date and up 0.40% this month.

Meanwhile, Flight Centre travel shares closed at $17.84, rising 12.56% this year and 4.08% over the past month.

Webjet shares were swapping hands at $5.30, climbing 4.54% year to date but down 0.93% this month.

In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up more than 12% this year to date.

The post How are ASX 200 travel shares faring over the holiday season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX travel shares in focus on global flight cancellations
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 3 excellent ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy in 2022
• Why AMP, Hipages, Pilbara Minerals, and Webjet shares are storming higher
• ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: AMP shoots higher, travel shares rise

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 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3zb22nk

Shares in Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) spiked higher today to finish trading at $10.39, up 5.48%. The company, formerly known as Orocobre, has been on a bumpy ride these past few months when examining the charts.

Yet investors have bid up its share price in vertical fashion over the last week of trading following the release of the feasibility study and Maiden Ore Reserve for its James Bay Lithium Project located in Québec, Canada.

In the announcement, Allkem confirmed a sustainable, high value hard rock lithium operation utilising renewable
hydropower.

The company says this results in an approximate 2.5x increase in Net Present Value (NPV) from the preliminary economic assessment that was released in March 2021.

Construction is now planned to commence towards the end of 2022 with commissioning in the first quarter of 2024,
subject to certain criteria being met.

Allkem believes the move gives strategic exposure to purveyors “located in proximity to high-growth electric vehicle markets in North America and Europe”.

Allkem’s share price popped from $9.19 to over $10.30 in the days following the announcement, a 12% gain. The strength in pricing left UBS updating clients on its outlook in a note to investors today. Here are the details.

What is UBS saying on the Allkem share price?

UBS wasn’t too surprised with the results of Allkem’s feasibility study and maiden ore reserve results for its lithium Bay Project. Figures were in line with expectations, the investment bank says, however, UBS notes one curious factor.

It comments “What we find interesting is that the suggested recovery profile sees 71.2% in the early years and 66.5% in the later years, but the timing of variations in process plant recoveries are unknown and a key value driver”.

The firm sees Allkem delivering a more conservative recovery at the moment, and says there is added benefit of owning a plant that can produce up to 6% lithium oxide from 2 million tonnes of mined ore for high-end chemical use each year.

Aside from that, UBS reckons that Allkem is most likely to use a combination of cash flow and debt to fund the James Bay project, out of all the options provided.

The broker submits that Allkem could even tread towards forms of project financing or work alongside a collaborator to do some of the heavy lifting.

Regarding financing of the project, UBS notes that “of these options, we expect that strategic partners would be lining up to secure supply…it is more likely the project will be funded through a mix of operational cash flow and debt”.

UBS rates Allkem as a buy and values the company at $10.75 per share.

Meanwhile, both Macquarie and JP Morgan also reckon that Allkem is a buy right now, each valuing the company at $13.60 and $12 per share respectively.

Allkem share price summary

In the past 12 months, the Allkem share price has gained more than 128% after rallying 132% this year to date. Over the course of the previous month, it has shown strengths also.

In that time it has climbed almost 9% and has rallied 13% in the past week of trading. As such, it has outpaced the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) across each of these timeframes.

The post 13% gain in a week: Alkem (ASX:AKE) share price sparks brokers’ interest appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why did the AVZ (ASX:AVZ) share price jump 11% to a record high today?
• 2 excellent ASX growth shares offering big potential returns in 2022
• Macquarie names the best ASX lithium shares to buy in 2022
• 3 excellent ASX growth shares analysts are excited about
• Is the IGO (ASX:IGO) share price a better buy than Allkem?

The author has no positions 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.

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

The Total Brain Ltd (ASX: TTB) share price is surging today after the company signed a new licensing agreement.

In afternoon trade, the company’s shares were trading at 12.5 cents, up 13.6%. Earlier in the afternoon, shares raced ahead by a whopping 27% before retreating.

Let’s take a look at what may be causing the Total Brain share price to skyrocket.

New deal

In today’s release, Total Brain advised it has signed a licensing agreement with Alto Neuroscience for its iSpot-D research data. The agreement is ongoing and non-exclusive.

Total Brain is a digital mental health software-as-a-service (SaaS) company based in Sydney and San Francisco. The company has developed a platform that helps people monitor their mental health.

Alto Neuroscience is developing medicines for mental health conditions using AI-driven brain markers.

The iSpot-D research study is the largest of its kind looking into the treatment of depression and has been published in 55 peer-reviewed publications.

Speaking on the value of the data, Alto Neuroscience founder and CEO Amit Etkin said:

Members of the Alto team have a deep knowledge of the iSPOT-D study having acquired, worked with and published on its data in the past and have the breadth of expertise necessary to harness its unique value.

As part of the deal, Total Brain will receive a one-off license fee of US$500,000. The company will receive its first $100,000 by 15 January, with the remaining balance realised within 15 days of the data transfer date.

The news today follows another data deal with Janssen Research & Development this month. As reported by my Foolish colleague Aaron, Total Brain shares surged nearly 58% during the day off the back of the deal.

Total Brain share price snapshot

The Total Brain share price has fallen in the past 12 months, shedding 57%. Year to date, the company’s shares are down just over 60%.

In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned more than 12% to investors in the past year.

The company commands a market capitalisation of roughly $16.6 million based on the current share price.

The post Here’s why the Total Brain (ASX:TTB) share price rocketed 27% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s why the Total Brain (ASX:TTB) share price is rocketing 58% today

The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3FB7Mcc

As we roll on into the new year Australian financials have reclaimed some of the losses incurred in earlier months, as investors regain faith in the sector.

Two of the Aussie banking heavyweights have fallen onto the radar of investment bank Citi in a recent note out to clients.

In the update, Citi compared Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: CBA)’s buyback program to that of Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC)’s off market buyback program that was announced in recent times.

Aside from that, in a list of analysts provided by Bloomberg Intelligence, sentiment between the two banks appears to be mixed, with Westpac coming out on top in many of the brokers’ individual assessments.

So how does Westpac stack up against the CBA share price? Let’s take a look.

How are brokers comparing CBA and Westpac shares?

The team at Citi reckon that whilst Westpac looks to have improved the offer in its off market buyback program, it is still most likely less valuable than CBA’s.

Part of the reason for this is the complexities that off market buybacks create and have originated for Westpac with respect to tax and payment structuring.

Last week, Westpac went back to the drawing boards with its buyback offer and subsequently amended the discount and extended the tender period for its proposal.

Citi says this has resulted in a modest improvement in post-tax returns for investors and the bank, but it is still a far cry from CBA’s 13% return.

The broker noes that with “less tax benefits on offer, we expect Westpac will likely receive significantly less demand than CBA, but has pledged to redirect any shortfall into an on-market buy-back”.

Yet, Citi feels the equation is far more balanced now that Westpac has committed to an on-market buyback of its shares should it miss the $3.5 billion off-market threshold.

Despite the cautious tone, Citi remains bullish on Westpac and remains adamant that it is the cheapest out of all the Australian banking majors right now.

The firm rates Westpac a buy and values the bank at $27.50 per share. Meanwhile, the team at Morgans, Macquarie, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley each have the CBA share price as a sell right now.

JP Morgan specifically notes CBA’s “very expensive valuation” right now. Even though it forecasts revenue at the top end of the competitor group in FY23/24, it sees pre-provision profit growth being compressed relative to peers.

The broker says that “further capital management is likely in FY23, supported by its residual franking balance; however, the surplus capital position is smaller than peers on a market-cap adjusted basis”.

It is given these factors that JP Morgan sees CBA underperforming the other majors. It rates the bank a sell with a $90 price target.

What’s the sentiment?

Comparing the two stocks with respect to analyst sentiment, the consensus price target on CBA is $92.73 and 69% of the analysts covering the company advocate it as a sell.

Trading at $102.24 on last check, this suggests CBA has almost $10 of downside potential baked into the consensus valuation.

Meanwhile, Westpac has a consensus valuation of $25.27 and just 25% of analysts recommend it as a sell. With the bank trading at $21.54 on last check, analysts submit the Westpac share price is currently undervalued given this upside target.

Despite this, looking at the data a little deeper reveals some interesting results. The spread in analyst price targets is just over 53% for both companies, whereas the number of analysts advocating buy/sell for each name has remained relatively constant over the last 12 months.

The post How does Westpac stack up against the CBA (ASX:CBA) share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: CBA and Westpac rise, Afterpay tumbles again
• 2 ASX 200 dividend shares named as buys
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell
• 3 excellent ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy in 2022
• The stories that rocked the ASX 200 in 2021 revisited

The author has no positions 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 Bruce Jackson.

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

Are you looking for dividend shares to add to your income portfolio? Then the two listed below could be top options.

Here’s why analysts rate these dividend shares highly:

Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

The first ASX dividend share to look at is Adairs. It is a leading homewares and furniture retailer with both a physical presence and growing online presence. The latter includes through both its core brand and its online only Mocka brand.

Adairs has also recently signed an agreement to acquire Focus On Furniture for $80 million. The team at UBS is a fan of the deal. It believes it could allow Adairs to gain greater exposure to mid-market home furniture categories. This would complete its home furnishing proposition. It also sees opportunities for synergies and store rollouts in NSW and Queensland.

In response, UBS retained its buy rating and lifted its price target on the company’s shares to $5.90.

As for dividends, UBS is forecasting fully franked dividends of 19.6 cents per share in FY 2022 and 29.9 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Adairs share price of $4.03, this will mean yields of 4.9% and 7.4%, respectively.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A second ASX dividend share to look at is Transurban. It is a toll road operator with a portfolio of important roads throughout Australia and North America.

Although traffic volumes have been impacted by the birder closures and lockdowns, they are expected to rebound now Australia is reopen.

Morgans is positive on Transurban. It recently commented: “We view TCL as a high quality pure-play toll road infrastructure portfolio benefitting from employment and population growth, urbanisation, and the value of time, with particular exposure to the east coast capital cities in Australia. 12 month and five year estimated total return of c.10% and 7.5% pa, respectively.”

The broker is forecasting dividends per share of 35 cents in FY 2022 and then 55.3 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.98, this implies yields of 2.5% and 4%, respectively. Morgans has an add rating and $14.57 price target on its shares.

The post 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares with growing yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s an under the radar ASX growth share with 22% upside
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Analysts name 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy
• Forget Christmas! Could these ASX retail shares be set for a Boxing Day bonanza?
• Is the Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price in the buy zone for income investors?

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. owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/315TjpG

The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is in the green today despite no news from the supermarket giant.

However, the company’s home sector is the best performing on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) on Wednesday. Additionally, its CEO previously noted the company was ready to approach the Christmas period in a strong position.

At the time of writing, the Woolworths share price is $38.62, 2.41% higher than its previous close.

For context, the ASX 200 has gained 1.22% while the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) is up 2.07%.

Let’s take a closer look at what might be boosting the supermarket’s stock today.

Woolworths share price surges after holiday break

The Woolworths share price is surging higher, potentially due to expectations of a fruitful holiday period.

As most market watchers will be aware, today is the ASX’s first day of trading after the Christmas public holidays.

Previously, in an update detailing the challenges brought about by COVID-19‘s Delta strain, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated the company was well prepared for Christmas:

As we head into the key Christmas trading period we have a good in-stock position and positive trading momentum, and our team is working hard to ensure that our customers have access to all they need to make this a special Christmas.

It could indicate the festive break may be helping the company climb out of its COVID-19 induced slump.

While the Woolworths share price is in the green today, it isn’t performing nearly as well as some of its consumer staples peers.

The Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) share price is outperforming the rest, having gained 5.16% today. Meanwhile, that of Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) is up 4.09%.

Woolworths’ former spin out Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) is also outperforming the supermarket. It has gained 2.5% today.

Today’s movement leaves the Woolworths share price 13% higher than it was at the start of 2021. Though, it’s still 3.7% lower than it was this time last month.

The post What’s driving the Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell
• The stories that rocked the ASX 200 in 2021 revisited
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell next week
• Aussie investors now hold more Tesla than Woolworths (ASX:WOW)
• Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price rises as boss courts API pharmacists

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 Bruce Jackson.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3z5hK34