Category: Stock Market

  • Are these 2 cheap ASX shares undervalued?

    two ladies playing amongst clothes on a store rack

    two ladies playing amongst clothes on a store racktwo ladies playing amongst clothes on a store rack

    Cheap ASX shares aren’t always necessarily great value. But, there could be plenty of opportunities that could be smart buys whilst also being cheap.

    A number of businesses in the physical retail space on the ASX are often priced at a low price/earnings ratio (p/e ratio).

    Could they be attractive opportunities?

    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

    Super Retail is one of the largest retailers in Australia and New Zealand. It owns four key brands: BCF, Macpac, Rebel and Supercheap Auto.

    Looking at the valuation, the broker Citi thinks that the Super Retail share price is priced at 13x FY23’s estimated earnings. Citi rates the ASX share as a buy with a price target of $16. That’s more than 30% higher than where it is today.

    The broker thinks that retail sales are going to be stronger for longer and it thinks the end of full lockdowns is a positive, though supply chain impacts could be problematic in the shorter-term.

    In October 2021 it gave a trading update for the first 16 weeks of FY22. Despite lockdowns in Victoria and NSW, group sales were only down by 12% and compared to FY20 sales were up 10%. Online sales were up 96% and represented nearly a third of group sales.

    The gross profit margin improvement that was achieved in FY21 was sustained in the first 16 weeks of FY22. However, it noted that margins could be impacted with the challenging supply chain.

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    Accent Group is a large shoe retailing business which sells through a large number of brands, with both ones that it owns and ones that it’s a distributor for. Some of those brands include: CAT, Dr Martens, Glue, Hype, Merrell, Pivot, Platypus, Skechers, Stylerunner, The Athlete’s Foot, Trybe, Timberland and Vans.

    It is currently valued at 13x FY23’s estimated earnings by UBS. The broker rates Accent as a buy, with a price target of $3. That’s a potential upside of more than 35% this year if the broker is right.

    The broker thinks that Accent can benefit with all of its stores open again, as well as longer-term growth of its profit margins.

    Accent is continuing to grow its store network, which can be an important part of revenue and profit growth. By the end of FY22, it’s expecting to have more than 700 stores in Australia and New Zealand.

    The ASX share is also growing its digital sales. In the first quarter of FY22, during the NSW and Victoria store closures, digital sales were up around 65%, with conversion rates rising driven by improved customer targeting and website capability. It wants online sales to be at least 30% of sales over time.

    It’s also seeing some growth of some brands internationally. For example, Stylerunner now ships internationally to the USA, Singapore and Hong Kong. It’s seeing strong early results and it’s watching and testing the US market closely.

    It also recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement in Australia and New Zealand for Reebok, for an initial 10-year term.

    The post Are these 2 cheap ASX shares undervalued? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Super Retail, 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 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. owns and has recommended Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended 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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  • Here are 2 ASX tech ETFs to buy after recent weakness

    A corporate female wearing glasses looks intently at a virtual reality screen with shapes and lights

    A corporate female wearing glasses looks intently at a virtual reality screen with shapes and lightsA corporate female wearing glasses looks intently at a virtual reality screen with shapes and lights

    If you’re wanting to invest in the tech sector after recent weakness but aren’t sure which shares to buy, then these exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be worth considering.

    These ETFs provide investors with easy access to a number of high quality shares in the tech sector. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    The first tech ETF to consider is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to the leading companies in the growing global cybersecurity sector. Among the companies you’ll be investing in with this ETF are Accenture, Cisco, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, and Okta.

    With cybercrime on the rise, demand for cyber security services has been growing fast and is expected to continue doing so in the years that follow. This means many leading companies in the industry could be in a position to grow at an above-average rate over the next decade.

    VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    Another tech ETF to look at is the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. This ETF gives investors access to a portfolio of the largest companies involved in video game development, eSports, and related hardware and software globally.

    VanEck notes that these companies are in a position to benefit from the increasing popularity of video games and eSports. It also notes that the fund gives investors the option to diversify their portfolio by providing opportunities away from tech giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

    Among its major holdings are graphics processing units (GPU) giant Nvidia and games developers Take-Two Interactive (GTA, Red Dead), Electronic Arts (FIFA, Sims, Apex Legends), and Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty).

    The post Here are 2 ASX tech ETFs to buy after recent weakness 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. owns and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. 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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  • Analysts name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy today

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their ASX shares on the laptop in front of them

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their ASX shares on the laptop in front of themA man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their ASX shares on the laptop in front of them

    Are you looking for some dividend options for your portfolio in January? If you are, check out the two ASX shares listed below.

    Here’s why these ASX dividend shares have been tipped to as buys this month:

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    The first ASX 200 dividend share for investors to consider is this retail giant. As well as being one of the big two supermarket operators with over 800 stores, Coles operates over 900 liquor retail stores, and over 700 Coles express stores.

    But management isn’t resting on its laurels. It continues to expand its network and invest in its online business. The latter includes the construction of new smart distribution centres with automation giant Ocado. All in all, this is expected to underpin solid earnings and dividend growth over the 2020s.

    Citi is a fan of Coles. The broker currently has a buy rating and $19.60 price target on its shares. As for dividends, it is forecasting fully franked dividends of 65 cents per share in FY 2022 and 72 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Coles share price of $16.35, this will mean yields of 4% and 4.4%, respectively.

    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

    Another ASX 200 dividend share to look at is Suncorp. Through a range of brands it helps Australians build their futures and protect what matters by offering insurance, banking, and wealth products and services.

    It could be a good option for income investors due to its attractive valuation and generous forecast dividend yields. In respect to the latter, the team at Goldman Sachs is expecting fully franked dividends per share of 61 cents in FY 2022 and 73 cents in FY 2023.

    Based on the current Suncorp share price of $11.60, this will mean yields of 5.25% and 6.3%, respectively. And with Goldman slapping a $13.74 price target on its shares, there’s plenty of upside potential on offer here as well.

    The post Analysts name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    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 owns and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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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  • 2 ASX lithium shares analysts rate as buys

    asx share price increase represented by golden dollar sign rocketing out from white domes of lithium

    asx share price increase represented by golden dollar sign rocketing out from white domes of lithiumasx share price increase represented by golden dollar sign rocketing out from white domes of lithium

    Although lithium shares have been on fire over the last 12 months, it may not be too late to invest in the sector according to analysts.

    For example, the two ASX lithium shares listed below have been tipped as buys recently. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE)

    The first ASX lithium share to look at is Allkem. It is the company that was formed following the merger of Galaxy Resources and Orocobre. This merger created a top five global player with a collection of world class operations and projects across Western Australia, Argentina, and Canada.

    Macquarie is very positive on Allkem. This is due largely to its belief that lithium prices will remain at record levels for a number of years, which bodes well for Allkem’s free cash flow generation in the future.

    The broker recently retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target on Allkem’s shares by 13% to $13.60. This compares to the latest Allkem share price of $11.43.

    Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)

    Another ASX lithium share to consider is Liontown. It is the company behind the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia. This project will be producing 500ktpa of spodumene when it commences in 2024.

    From this, the company has just announced an agreement to sell battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) a total of 150ktpa of spodumene for a five-year term with pricing linked to industry recognised price reporting indices for lithium hydroxide monohydrate. It also revealed that it is currently in negotiations with other tier-1 customers for the remaining offtake.

    Bell Potter is a fan of the company. It currently has a speculative buy rating and $2.15 price target on the company’s shares. This compares to the latest Liontown share price of $1.72.

    The post 2 ASX lithium shares analysts rate as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Orocobre Limited. 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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  • 2 ASX dividend shares rated highly by analysts

    A money jar filled with coins, indicating an investment return from an ASX dividend shareA money jar filled with coins, indicating an investment return from an ASX dividend shareA money jar filled with coins, indicating an investment return from an ASX dividend share

    Key points

    • Analysts have named some ASX dividend shares as buys
    • Simply paying a dividend is not enough to count as an attractive income stock
    • Both Adairs and BOQ look good value and could pay attractive yields

    It can be hard to find investments that deliver a decent yield in the current environment. Some ASX dividend shares may be the answer.

    However, just because a company pays a dividend doesn’t automatically make it a worth a buy. For example, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is one of the most well-known and biggest dividend payers on the ASX. However, several brokers rate CBA as a sell.

    That’s not the case with the following two ASX dividend shares:

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    Adairs is one of the leading retailers when it comes to homewares, furnishings and furniture.

    It is currently rated as a buy by a few different brokers including Morgans and UBS. The price targets on Adairs are $4.80 and $5.90 respectively, which suggests upside of 25% and 53%.

    Both of these brokers are also predicting a large dividend in FY23 from Adairs. At the current Adairs share price, in FY23 Morgans thinks the company is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.8% and UBS is expecting a FY23 grossed-up dividend yield of 11.1%.

    The brokers like that Adairs has bought Focus on Furniture for a decent price which will add to earnings per share (EPS) for the longer-term.

    Adairs thinks that Focus has growth opportunities from a national store roll out, online growth and category and range expansion.

    The existing Adairs business is growing online sales significantly, becoming more efficient and growing profitability.

    The ASX dividend share is also working on opening more larger format stores which are substantially more profitable than smaller ones.

    Morgans thinks that Adairs shares are valued at 9x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ)

    BOQ is currently rated as a buy by six brokers, including Macquarie.

    Macquarie is expecting that the regional bank is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 8.3% in FY23. The price target by the broker on the bank is $10, which suggests a potential upside of more than 20% this year.

    The broker thinks that the bank is doing pretty well in the current environment consider banks like CBA are warning that its net interest margin (NIM) facing difficulties with competition and the low interest rate environment.

    At the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM), it reconfirmed FY22 guidance of at least 2% jaws, with expenses down 1% for the year.

    The ASX dividend share says that it’s maintaining a strong capital position and sound asset quality. It’s committed to delivering long-term shareholder value through sustainable profitable growth.

    A key focus for BOQ at the moment is integrating ME Bank. Work is underway to return ME Bank to growth, with application volumes up 62% in the first quarter in FY22 compared to the FY21 average. Net growth was achieved for the month of November. Synergies are being accelerated and expected to be delivered by the end of FY23.

    Macquarie puts the BOQ share price at 11x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares rated highly by analysts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BOQ, 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 BOQ 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 Tristan Harrison 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 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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  • 2 ASX tech shares that are rapidly growing

    chart showing an increasing share pricechart showing an increasing share pricechart showing an increasing share price

    Key points

    • Digital ASX shares are achieving strong revenue growth
    • Both Doctor Care Anywhere and Cettire are seeing triple digit revenue growth
    • The two stocks are investing and further expanding their addressable markets

    There are a select few ASX tech shares that are experiencing a high level of growth year on year.

    Businesses that are growing at a very fast pace can often capture investor attention.

    Depending on their long-term trajectory, they may end up becoming much larger over time.

    Doctor Care Anywhere Plc (ASX: DOC)

    The Doctor Care Anywhere share price has fallen more than 60% over the past year to $0.55. But the business has been reporting quick operational growth.

    Doctor Care Anywhere is a UK-based telehealth company that wants to provide the best possible patient care and experience through its digital platform. It utilises its relationships with health insurers, healthcare providers and corporate customers to connect with patients to deliver a range of telehealth services.

    For the three months to September 2021, the company saw quarter on quarter revenue growth of 21.6% to £5.8 million (A$10.7 million). This was driven by 30.6% growth of consultations to 116,800. Over 65% of consultations were delivered to returning patients.

    It has also completed the acquisition of tele-health and tele-mental provider GP2U Telehealth. This expanded its operations to Australia, giving it geographic earnings diversification and another avenue for growth.

    Excluding the impact of the acquisition, the ASX tech share has guided that FY21 revenue was going to grow by at least 100%.

    It’s also evolving its operating model so that it can offer not just a 15 or 20 minute virtual GP consultation, but also a 20 minute virtual consultation with an advanced nurse practitioner or a ‘quick consult’ where a patient completes a questionnaire to be reviewed by a prescribing clinician, resulting in written advice or a prescription without the need for a real time video or phone consultation.

    Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT)

    Cettire is a global online retailer. It offers a large selection of in-demand personal luxury goods through its website, Cettire.com. The ASX share has an extensive catalogue of approximately 1,700 luxury brands and 200,000 products across clothing, shoes, bags and accessories.

    The ASX tech share is experiencing rapid growth as more customers shop online due to the e-commerce tailwinds.

    For the first four months of FY22 to 31 October 2021, sales revenue soared 172% to $57.8 million year on year, with the number of orders rising 209% to 107,676 and active customers soaring 220% to 158,260.

    Cettire said that despite offline stores reopening with restrictions easing, its growth trajectory continues unabated.

    The Cettire founder and CEO Dean Mintz said:

    The focused investment to further enhance Cettire’s solid foundations is delivering results. Having invested in customer acquisition and executed strongly, October monthly traffic increased 379% year on year. In addition, we are seeing very positive early signs from the migration to our proprietary storefront, with sales growth in “migrated” markets outpacing the company.

    But the company is also looking to increase its total addressable market. It is looking to open up more potential revenue by exploring new adjacencies, such as the children’s wear segment that it has recently launched.

    Management are focused on operating Cettire to “maximise overall revenue growth”.   

    The post 2 ASX tech shares that are rapidly growing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Cettire, 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 Cettire 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 Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Cettire Limited and Doctor Care Anywhere Group PLC. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cettire Limited and Doctor Care Anywhere Group PLC. 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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  • These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week

    Thumbs down Facebook icon over dark screenThumbs down Facebook icon over dark screenThumbs down Facebook icon over dark screen

    A disappointing finish to the week led to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recording a 0.8% decline to 7,393.9 points last week.

    While a number of shares dropped with the market, some fell more than most. Here’s why these were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week:

    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

    The Pro Medicus share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 last week with a 13.9% decline. This was despite the team at Morgans upgrading the health imaging company’s shares to a hold rating just days after downgrading them to a reduce rating. The broker has a price target of $54.49. The Pro Medicus share price ended the week at $46.59.

    ARB Corporation Limited (ASX: ARB)

    The ARB share price was out of form last week and sank 13.7% over the five days. This 4×4 parts company’s shares came under pressure after being downgraded by analysts at Credit Suisse. According to the note, Credit Suisse has downgraded its rating to underperform with a price target of $38.00. While the broker is forecasting a strong result in February, it expects margin pressures and slower growth thereafter.

    Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL)

    The Pendal share price was a poor performer and crashed 12.7% last week. All of this decline occurred on Friday following the release of a disappointing quarterly update. That update revealed that Pendal experienced net fund outflows of $6.8 billion during the first quarter of FY 2022. This led to its funds under management (FUM) falling 2.5% to $135.7 billion during the December quarter despite the benefits of favourable market movements.

    Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

    The Reece share price wasn’t far behind with an 11.2% decline. This was despite there being no news out of the plumbing parts company. Though, it is worth noting that Reece’s shares hit a record high in the previous week. This could have led to some profit taking from investors last week.

    The post These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week 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. owns and has recommended Pro Medicus Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Pro Medicus Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation 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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  • This top fund manager just called these leading ASX shares a buy

    ASX shares upgrade buy latest buy ideas upgrade best buy Stopwatch with Time to Buy on the counterASX shares upgrade buy latest buy ideas upgrade best buy Stopwatch with Time to Buy on the counterASX shares upgrade buy latest buy ideas upgrade best buy Stopwatch with Time to Buy on the counter

    Key points

    • Fund manager Wilson Asset Management (WAM) has outlined two ASX shares with potential
    • The first stock is pathology business Australian Clinical Labs which is benefiting from the high level of COVID testing
    • The second company is building and restoration services Johns Lyng which is growing market share and opening up new growth opportunities

    Leading fund manager Wilson Asset Management (WAM) has named two ASX shares in its portfolios that it thinks are buys.

    Every month, WAM talks about some of the businesses that have performed well and outlines the bullish factors for thinking about the stocks.

    Two of the featured ASX shares this month comes from WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX) and WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM), which sometimes target opportunities from the smaller end of the ASX, like these two:

    Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL)

    Australian Clinical Labs is described as a leading provider of pathology services in Australia, with 86 accredited laboratories performing services for more than 8 million people annually.

    In December, Australian Clinical Labs upgraded its expectations for the FY22 first half net profit after tax (NPAT) to between $116.3 million to $128 million. This was increased from the previous guidance of between $86.3 million to $94.9 million.

    The fund manager notes that the ASX share is experiencing strong demand for coronavirus testing, particularly during the Omicron variant outbreak and recently completed the acquisition of Medlab Pathology, doubling its market share to 20.4% in New South Wales.

    WAM thinks that Australian Clinical Labs is a high-quality pathology business that can continue to grow organically through market share gains, due to its “superior technology and processes”. The fund manager notes that Australian Clinical Labs has a very strong balance sheet and it also sees the potential for acquisitions in the future that can add to profit.

    Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)

    Another ASX share that WAM likes is Johns Lyng which provides building and restoration services across Australia for properties and contents damaged by insurable events, including impact, weather and fire events.

    It operates in all major metropolitan areas and in high risk regional areas, such as Far North Queensland.

    WAM pointed out that in December, the company announced the acceleration of its US growth strategy through the acquisition of Reconstruction Experts, a leading provider of insurance-focused vendor managed repairs services for US$144 million.

    This acquisition, called highly strategic, adds to the company’s EPS and equated to 7.8x earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the 12 months to 30 June 2021.

    The fund manager decided to invest in Johns Lyng Group based on the view that as the largest and most sophisticated provider of emergency building works, the company will continue to grow through market share gains and acquisition.

    WAM believes that with the recent acquisition, the company has added another material growth pillar that will underpin longer term aspirations and earnings growth.

    The post This top fund manager just called these leading ASX shares a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Johns Lyng right now?

    Before you consider Johns Lyng, 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 Johns Lyng 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 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 recommended Australian Clinical Labs 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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  • Why did the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price gain 33% in a year?

    a group of people gathered around a laptop computer with various expressions of interest, concern and surpise on their faces. All are wearing spectacles.a group of people gathered around a laptop computer with various expressions of interest, concern and surpise on their faces. All are wearing spectacles.a group of people gathered around a laptop computer with various expressions of interest, concern and surpise on their faces. All are wearing spectacles.

    Key points

    • The Altium share price gained 33% in 2021
    • Altium rejected an offer from US software giant Autodesk in June
    • The technology company’s share price recovered from September to December

    The Altium Ltd (ASX: ALU) share price had a stellar 2021 after a slow start to the year.  

    The company’s share price soared from $33.99 to $45.19, a 32.95% gain. Altium outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by about 46%.

    Let’s take a look at what has weighed on the Altium share price in 2021.

    Ups and downs with a strong finish

    The Altium share price had a sluggish start to the year before blasting ahead in June. The share price then had its ups and downs in the second half of 2021 but finished on a high.

    In the first five months of the year, the Altium share price sank. Between market close on 31 December 2020 and 28 May, the shares in the tech company dived 17%.

    In May, the Altium share price dropped 19% in the first two weeks — between market close on 30 April and14 May. This was in line with the S&P ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX), which fell 13.41% in the same time period.

    However, in June the company’s shares changed direction, lifting 39% between market close on 4 June and 7 June alone.

    Driving this massive uplift was news a takeover offer from US software giant Autodesk Inc (NASDAQ: ADSK) had been rejected at the $38.50 per share price. The company believed the proposal undervalued the company.

    In August, Altium shares slumped again by 16.69% between 25 August and 30 August. This price shed appeared to be driven by investor reaction to the company’s FY21 earnings report. Altium’s revenue increased by 1%, but its profit before tax declined by 7%.

    The Altium share price then gained 44.93% between market close on 9 September and 31 December. Investors reacted well to the company’s annual meeting update in November.

    CEO Aram Mirkazemi expressed optimism the company was on track to achieve its FY 2022 guidance of 16-20% revenue growth. Altium was also rated as a “buy” by multiple brokers.

    Share price snapshot

    The Altium share price has fallen 9% in the past month and nearly 4% in the past week.

    Year to date, the company’s shares have fallen roughly 12%. In comparison, the All Technology Index has also fallen 8% since the start of the year.

    Altium has a market capitalisation of about $5.2 billion based on its current share price.

    The post Why did the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price gain 33% in a year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Altium, 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 Altium 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. owns and has recommended Altium. 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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  • Analysts name 3 ASX 200 shares that could generate strong returns

    a man with a wide, eager smile on his face holds up three fingers.a man with a wide, eager smile on his face holds up three fingers.

    a man with a wide, eager smile on his face holds up three fingers.If you’re interested in adding some S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares to your portfolio in January, then the three listed below could be worth considering.

    These ASX 200 shares have been named as buys and tipped to generate strong returns for investors. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    The first ASX 200 share to look at is NEXTDC. It is a leading data centre operator with a collection of world class centres across key capital city locations throughout Australia. Together with its potential expansion into Asia and Edge data centres and the structural shift to the cloud, NEXTDC has been tipped by a number of brokers to grow strongly in the coming years.

    One of those is Citi. It is positive on the company’s outlook and has a buy rating and $15.40 price target on NEXTDC’s shares. This compares to the latest NEXTDC share price of $11.22.

    SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK)

    Another ASX 200 share to look at is this leading job listings company. It appears well-positioned for growth in the coming years thanks to its leadership position, pricing power, and exposure to Australia’s recovery from the pandemic.

    The team at Credit Suisse is bullish on SEEK. Its analysts currently have an outperform rating and $39.50 price target on its shares. This compares to the most recent SEEK share price of $29.65.

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    A final ASX 200 share that could be in the buy zone is Westpac. Australia’s oldest bank has been named as a buy by the team at Morgans. Its analysts believe the company’s shares offer “considerable value” following a recent decline. And while the broker acknowledges that Westpac’s margins have re-based notably lower, it remains positive due to its “expectation of significant cost out by FY24F.”

    Morgans has an add rating and $29.50 price target on the bank’s shares. This compares to the current Westpac share price of $21.45.

    The post Analysts name 3 ASX 200 shares that could generate strong returns 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 owns NEXTDC Limited, SEEK Limited, and 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 SEEK Limited and 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/3nmv2DW