Category: Stock Market

  • 2 ASX 200 shares that could be great for dividends

    A young entrepreneur boy catching money at his desk, indicating growth in the ASX share price or dividends

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that pay dividends could be a good place to search for income.

    Some businesses are expected to pay healthy dividend yields over the next 12 months and beyond, with growth expected.

    The below two companies are leaders in their industry and also are paying dividends to their shareholders:

    Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV)

    Premier Investments is one of the leading retailers in the ASX 200. It operates through a number of different brands including Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans and Dotti. It also has sizeable holdings of Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) and Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR). Premier recently increased its holding to more than 15% of Myer.

    According to earnings estimates on Commsec, Premier Investments is expected to pay an annual dividend per share of $0.875 per share in FY22. That would equate to a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.6% for FY22.

    Whilst its physical store network has been disrupted by COVID-19 since March 2020, Premier Investments has seen high levels of online sales growth which has helped increase profit margins. The company is looking forward to a global retail recovery from COVID-19, particularly for Smiggle which has been impacted by closed schools.

    Around a month ago, the business gave a trading update for FY21. It said that its total global sales for the first 18 weeks of the second half of FY21 were up 70% on the comparable period in the second half of FY20 and up 15.8% on the comparable 18 weeks of the second half of FY19.

    One of the highlights of the ASX 200 share’s update was that all 122 Smiggle stores in the UK and Ireland re-opened during April 2021 and May 2021.

    It’s expecting that its retail FY21 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) will be in a range of between $340 million to $360 million, pre-AASB16. That would represent growth of between 82% to 92% on the underlying FY20 EBIT.

    This profit growth is being driven by a number of things including “strong” online sales growth and highly profitable online performance, “exceptional” gross margin expansion in the second half to date with an increase of over 380 basis points, and strong cost control (including reducing rent).

    Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR)

    Carsales says it’s the largest online automotive, motorcycle and marine classifieds business in Australia. It also has operations internationally, with stakes in leading online automotive classified businesses in Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Mexico.

    According to estimates on Commsec, Carsales is projected to pay an annual dividend per share of $0.516 in FY22. That translates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.5%.

    One of the latest moves by the ASX 200 share was to acquire a 49% interest of leading US digital marketplace business Trader Interactive, funded through a $600 million capital raising. At the time of the announcement, the ASX 200 share said that the acquisition represents a strategically compelling opportunity for Carsales to further build out its international scale and industry diversification with exposure to attractive verticals in the US.

    In terms of operating performance, Carsales continues to produce growth despite the impacts of COVID-19 on the business and the industry. In the first six months of FY21, it saw double digit earnings growth with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth of 18% and adjusted net profit after tax (NPAT) growth of 17%.

    The interim dividend was increased by 14% to 25 cents per share.

    The post 2 ASX 200 shares that could be great for dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 15th February 2021

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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 owns shares of and has recommended Premier Investments Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended carsales.com 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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  • AMP (ASX:AMP) share price in focus after Macquarie (ASX:MQG) asset sale agreement

    Business people shakling hands around table

    The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price could be on the move on Thursday.

    This follows news that the embattled financial services company is offloading another asset.

    What did AMP announce?

    This morning AMP announced that it has entered into a binding agreement with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) to sell its AMP Capital’s Global Equities and Fixed Income (GEFI) business.

    According to the release, Macquarie Asset Management will acquire the business for a consideration of up to $185 million.

    Management notes that this sale delivers on AMP Capital’s strategy to focus on high-growth opportunities in private markets across real estate, infrastructure and associated adjacencies. It also believes it is an important step in preparing the AMP Capital business for its planned demerger in the first half of 2022.

    Furthermore, it highlights that the transaction delivers on the previously announced strategy for the AMP Capital public markets business to increase the scale of GEFI through partnerships or sale. As part of the Macquarie Group, it believes GEFI will be positioned to further improve its high-quality client service offering and to expand its client base and product set over time.

    AMP Capital advised that it is also in the process of transferring the Multi-Asset Group business to AMP Australia to create an end-to-end superannuation and investment platform business.

    AMP’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, James Georgeson, said: “In bringing together two well-known Australian investment businesses with strong track records, we’re pleased to deliver such a positive outcome for our clients, our GEFI teams and AMP shareholders. Our review of the GEFI business last year showed it had strong investment capabilities and performance but needed greater scale and broader distribution reach to compete effectively.”

    “Macquarie is a high quality and respected manager, with a complementary culture and capabilities, well-placed to develop the business and deliver continued strong investment performance for its expanded client base. We are committed to working with Macquarie to integrate and transition our clients and teams, and to explore new partnership opportunities to enhance the products and services we both provide to our clients,” he added.

    The AMP share price is down 28% since the start of the year. Shareholders will no doubt be hoping for better in the second half of the year.

    The post AMP (ASX:AMP) share price in focus after Macquarie (ASX:MQG) asset sale agreement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AMP, 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 AMP wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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.

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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 owns shares of and 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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  • Myer (ASX:MYR) share price on watch after responding to Premier investment

    couple make retail transaction at shop counter with retail assistant

    The Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) share price will be one to watch on Thursday.

    This follows the release of a response to the recent buying of shares by retail conglomerate Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV).

    What did Myer say?

    In response to Premier Investments acquiring an interest greater than 15% in the department store operator, Myer has reached out to discuss the investment. This includes discussing the possibility of giving Premier Investments what it really wants – a seat on the Myer Board.

    Myer’s Acting Chairman, JoAnne Stephenson, reminded shareholders that the company has previously stated that it was open to constructive and positive dialogue with its major shareholders, with a primary objective of delivering value for all shareholders.

    She commented: “Acknowledging that Premier Investments has increased its holding in the Company to greater than 15% and the significance of this change, I have reached out to Mr Lew and look forward to constructive dialogue.”

    “The Board is open to discussing appropriate Board representation of Premier Investments through nomination to the Myer Board,” she added.

    However, Stephenson has warned that board representation is far from guaranteed.

    She explained: “In considering this, we would need to be satisfied around any issues or potential conflict that Premier’s representation on Myer’s Board could create and whether they could be addressed through governance protocols or other means.”

    What now?

    Myer doesn’t appear to want to make any changes to its strategy following this investment and stressed that its Customer First Plan is delivering results. Nor does the company want this development to distract it.

    Stephenson said: “We have a well-articulated strategy in the Customer First Plan and it is delivering positive results, as seen at our 1H results despite the ongoing challenges that lockdowns and CBD traffic limitations present.”

    “Our balance sheet has been significantly strengthened through tighter inventory management and cash generation, we have improved our range of products, reduced space, significantly grown our online business, all whilst maintaining discipline over costs and capital expenditure.”

    “We are keen to have Board matters resolved as soon as possible. The Board is focused on ensuring that [CEO] John King and his management team are able to execute the all-important upcoming peak trading period without distraction,” she concluded.

    The post Myer (ASX:MYR) share price on watch after responding to Premier investment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Myer, 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 Myer wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 May 24th 2021

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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 owns shares of and has recommended Premier Investments 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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  • 3 excellent ETFs for ASX investors in July

    3 asx shares to buy depicted by man holding up hand with 3 fingers up

    If you’re looking for an easy way to invest in international shares for diversification, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be the answer.

    But which ETFs should you look at? Listed below are three excellent ETFs that could be worth getting better acquainted with. Here’s what you need to know:

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    This popular ETF gives investors exposure to the growing Asian economy. The BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF provides investors with easy access to a number of the most promising tech shares in the Asian market. This means you’ll be owning a slice of well-known companies such as ecommerce giant Alibaba, search engine company Baidu, and WeChat owner Tencent. There are also a host of lesser known companies, such as Meituan Dianping and Pinduoduo, with explosive growth potential.

    BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    Another ASX ETF for investors to consider is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to the leading companies in the global cybersecurity sector. Given how prevalent cyberattacks are becoming and how much infrastructure is now in the cloud, demand for cybersecurity services is expected to rise strongly in the future. This bodes well for companies included in the fund such as Accenture, Cisco, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Okta, and Splunk.

    BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    Finally, the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF could be another ETF to consider. This ETF gives investors exposure to the 100 largest non-financial shares on the NASDAQ index. These are many of the largest companies in the world and household names. Among the 100 are giants including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. Given the positive long term outlooks of these companies, the Nasdaq 100 has been tipped to outperform the broader market again over the next decade.

    The post 3 excellent ETFs for ASX investors in July 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 more than eight 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.

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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. owns shares of and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS, BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, and BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers 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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  • 2 highly-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors in July

    Dividend stocks represented by paper sign saying dividends next to roll of cash

    If you’re building an income portfolio, then you might want to look at the shares listed below.

    Here’s why these ASX dividend shares could be in the buy zone right now:

    Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN)

    The first dividend share to look at is Mineral Resources. It is a leading mining and mining services company with exposure to iron ore and lithium.

    It is the owner of the Wodgina operation, which is one of the largest known hard rock lithium deposits in the world with a production life of over 30 years. Mineral Resources also jointly owns the Mt Marion Lithium project with Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium, which it operates under a life-of-mine mining services contract. This is complemented by its Iron Valley Iron Ore project and the Koolyanobbing Iron Ore project in Western Australia.

    Analysts at Macquarie are very positive on Mineral Resources. They currently have an outperform rating and $73.00 price target on the company’s shares. The broker is also forecasting dividends of $3.32 per share in FY 2021 and then $3.05 per share in FY 2022. Based on the latest Mineral Resources share price of $57.50, this will mean fully franked yields of 5.8% and 5.3%, respectively, over the next two financial years.

    Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

    Another dividend share to consider is Scentre. While its Westfield properties in Australia struggled during the pandemic, the worst now appears to be over and a return to growth is being predicted.

    For example, Goldman Sachs is positive on Scentre and is forecasting solid revenue, income, and dividend growth in the coming years. It notes that inflation expectations are currently at their highest level since 2015. This is good news for Scentre as it is more positively leveraged to inflation than any other Australian real estate investment trust under its coverage.

    Goldman is forecasting dividends of 14 cents per share in FY 2021 and then 17 cents per share in FY 2022. Based on the latest Scentre share price of $2.78, this equates to yields of 5% and 6.1%, respectively.

    The post 2 highly-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

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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 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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

    On Wednesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and stormed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.9% to 7,326.9 points.

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

    ASX 200 expected to rise

    The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Thursday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 17 points or 0.2% higher this morning. This follows a decent night of trade on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones rise 0.3%, the S&P 500 climb 0.35%, and the Nasdaq edge ever so slightly higher.

    Oil prices fall again

    Energy producers such as Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could be in the red today after oil prices dropped again. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 2% to US$71.85 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 1.9% to US$73.12 a barrel. OPEC uncertainty has been weighing on prices.

    IDP Education shares given buy rating

    The IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) share price could be good value according to Goldman Sachs. This morning the broker reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target to $35.00. Its analysts commented: “In our view, the acquisition of BC’s Indian IELTS operations is an indication of IEL’s willingness to deploy capital toward synergistic acquisitions, and may pave the way for further transactions in other countries.” The IDP Education share price is currently trading at $29.25.

    Gold price rising

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) could push higher today after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.5% to US$1,803.10 an ounce. The precious metal pushed higher after bond yield dipped in response to the US Fed’s meeting minutes.

    Tech shares on watch

    The tech sector was in fine form on Wednesday and was a key driver of the ASX 200’s gains. However, an underperformance by the tech-heavy Nasdaq index last night could mean it is a different story on Thursday. This will mean the likes of Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) will be on watch today.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday 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 more than eight 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 May 24th 2021

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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. owns shares of and has recommended Appen Ltd, Idp Education Pty Ltd, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Appen 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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  • ASX 200 rises, Challenger soars, Zip jumps

    bull market encapsulated by bull running up a rising stock market price

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) went up by 0.9% to 7,327 points.

    Here are some of the highlights from the ASX today:

    Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

    The Challenger share price went up 8.8% today in response to shareholder news.

    It was announced today that Athene, a leading international retirement services company, as well as strategic partner Apollo Global Management, have agreed to buy a 15% minority interest in Challenger from an existing approval. It requires regulatory approval for 3%.

    When combined with other Challenger shares acquired by Athene and Apollo, the acquisition of the 15% equity interest will result in a total expected minority economic interest of 18% of the ASX 200 share for approximately US$540 million.

    Athene and Apollo said they see attractive long-term attractive opportunities in partnering with and supporting Challenger’s continued growth as minority shareholders.

    Challenger’s managing director and CEO Richard Howes said:

    Today’s announcement by Athene is a strong endorsement of Challenger’s market position and long-term growth prospects from a leading international retirement services provider. We look forward to working with Athene and Apollo as we continue to pursue our shared purpose of providing customers financial security for a better retirement.

    The Athene CEO Jim Belardi said:

    Investing in Challenger represents an exciting opportunity for us to support a well-established platform within the Australian market, a geography we have been studying given the current economic conditions and compelling demographic fundamentals.

    In many ways, Challenger is the perfect partner for us – the company is led by an experienced management team, has a strong market position, attractive growth prospects, and shares our deep commitment to retirees. Together, we believe we can help Challenger continue to build long-term value, similar to what we’ve been able to achieve in building Athene’s business in the US and supporting the growth of our sister company Athora in Europe, where we are also minority shareholders.

    Popular ASX shares

    Some of the ASX 200’s most followed ASX shares saw the most share price growth today.

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price went up 6.5%. The buy now, pay later company was one of the strongest performers within the ASX 200.

    Other businesses that also were among the leading gains included A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M), which rose by around 6%, and the Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) share price rose by around 4.8%.

    Outside of the top five performers, the Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price rose around 4.5% and the Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price climbed around 4%.

    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

    The Magellan share price rose by around 0.2% today after giving investors an update.

    The ASX 200 fund manager said that for the quarter ending 30 June 2021, its total funds under management (FUM) increased to $113.9 billion, up from $106 billion at 31 March 2021.

    For the last quarter of FY21, Magellan experienced net outflows of $351 million, which comprised of net retail outflows of $260 million and net institutional outflows of $91 million.

    Magellan funds will pay distributions (net of reinvestment) of approximately $438 million in July, which will be reflected in the FUM figures in next month’s announcement.

    The fund manager also said it’s entitled to estimated performance fees of approximately $30 million for the year ended 30 June 2021.

    Average FUM for FY21 was $103.7 billion, up from $95.5 billion for the year ended 30 June 2020.

    The post ASX 200 rises, Challenger soars, Zip jumps appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 more than eight 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Magellan Financial Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Pointsbet Holdings Ltd, Xero, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Challenger Limited, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk and Pointsbet Holdings 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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  • 3 growing small cap ASX shares to watch

    If you’re wanting to invest in the small side of the Australian share market, then the three small caps listed below could be worth a closer look.

    While there is certainly still a lot of work to be done, they could have very bright futures ahead of them. Here’s why they could be worth adding to your watchlist:

    Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX: ALC)

    The first small cap share to watch is this informatics solutions company. It is aiming to transform healthcare with proactive, smart, intuitive technology solutions that improve the efficiency and quality of patient care in healthcare organisations, worldwide. Alcidion appears well-positioned for growth thanks to the shift to a paperless environment in the healthcare sector and other favourable industry tailwinds.

    Over The Wire Holdings Ltd (ASX: OTW)

    Another small cap to watch is Over The Wire. It is a telecommunications, cloud, and IT solutions provider which has been growing at a solid rate in recent years. Positively, this has continued in FY 2021, with the company reporting a 17% increase in revenue to $50.3 million and a 28% jump in EBITDA to $10.5 million. Positively, almost all its revenue is now recurring, with recurring revenue growing 25% to $45.9 million. And while a recent update reveals that a major new contract is expected to close in FY 2022 instead of FY 2021, management is still forecasting half on half recurring revenue growth of 7% in the second half.

    Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT)

    A final small cap to watch is Volpara. It is a healthcare technology company that uses artificial intelligence to assist with the early detection of breast cancer. Demand for its software has been growing strongly in recent years, leading to impressive market share gains in the United States. This has underpinned solid recurring revenue growth. However, despite this, Volpara still has a significant runway for growth in the future. It estimates that it has a US$750 million annual recurring revenues (ARR) opportunity in breast cancer screening alone. This compares to its current ARR of ~US$18.6 million.

    The post 3 growing small cap ASX shares to watch 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 more than eight 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.

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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. owns shares of and has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd, Over The Wire Holdings Ltd, and VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd and Over The Wire Holdings 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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  • ASX 200 oil shares tumble as OPEC+ nations squabble

    Black barrels of oil in ascending and then descending sizes with a red arrow pointing down to indicate a falling oil price

    ASX 200 oil shares were falling today amid infighting within OPEC+ — the 23-member group of the world’s largest oil-producing nations.

    For example, the Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price finished the day down by 1.87% and Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) shares were 2.45% lower. Other ASX 200 energy shares that were down by around 2% included Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT). These falls came within the context of a rising market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended Wednesday’s session 0.9% higher.

    OPEC+ quarrels hit oil prices

    Today’s falls in ASX 200 oil shares came after OPEC+ nations cancelled their scheduled meeting due to an inability to agree on supply levels, as reported by Reuters.

    OPEC+ (consisting of the 13 OPEC nations like Saudi Arabia and 10 other oil-producing nations including Russia) ministers abandoned discussions after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could not reconcile their differing views.

    Reuters reported analysts and traders fear the rift may lead to the UAE ‘going it alone’ and massively increasing its production. They also fear other OPEC nations may then follow suit. If the supply of oil increases, then its price will decrease.

    ASX 200 oil shares, along with oil prices, boomed earlier this week as investors initially thought the breakdown in talks would be beneficial for the sector.

    OPEC+ derives its market power from its ability to suppress production to inflate the price of the black liquid. The OECD defines the group as an anti-competitive cartel.

    The current price of Brent crude oil is at US$74.50 per barrel. That’s a 0.15% fall from last week. In April last year, for the first time ever, crude oil was selling at an astonishing minus US$40.32 per barrel. Despite increasing climate change awareness, oil is still the most consumed energy product globally.

    More on ASX 200 oil shares

    Over the past 12 months, the abovementioned ASX 200 oil shares have fluctuated from +26% (Oil Search) to -14% (Beach Energy). The Woodside share price is around 11% higher and Ampol shares are 1.25% higher over the same period.

    By market capitalisation, the largest of these companies is Woodside with a valuation of nearly $23 billion. The smallest is Beach Energy, which is valued at almost $3 billion.

    The post ASX 200 oil shares tumble as OPEC+ nations squabble 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 more than eight 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 May 24th 2021

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors

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    Are you looking for some attractive dividend yields to boost your income? Then look at the ones listed below.

    Here’s why these dividend shares have been tipped as great options for income investors right now:

    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

    If you don’t already have exposure to the banking sector, then NAB could be a dividend share to consider. Due to improving trading conditions, its cost management initiatives, its position as the largest business bank, and its strong capital position, things are looking very positive for NAB.

    It is for this reason that NAB remains Goldman Sachs’ preferred sector exposure. Goldman currently has a conviction buy rating and $29.97 price target on the bank’s shares.

    The broker believes NAB is in a position to grow its dividend at a solid rate over the coming years. It is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 124 cents in FY 2021, 133 cents in FY 2022, and $1.38 in FY 2023.

    Based on the current NAB share price of $26.31, this represents yields of 4.75%, 5%, and 5.25% respectively.

    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

    Another ASX dividend share to consider is Super Retail. It is the retail group behind the BCF, Macpac, Rebel, and Super Cheap Auto retail brands.

    Super Retail’s businesses have been performing strongly in FY 2021 thanks to a favourable redirection in consumer spending. This led to the company reporting a 23% increase in half year sales to $1.78 billion and a 139% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $177.1 million.

    Credit Suisse is bullish on Super Retail. It believes the market is underestimating the company’s strong position in the retail market. The broker currently has an outperform rating and $14.45 price target on its shares. Credit Suisse is forecasting dividend of 71.7 cents per share in FY 2021 and then 49.2 cents per share in FY 2022.

    Based on the latest Super Retail share price of $12.49, this will mean fully franked yields of 5% and 3.4%, respectively.

    The post 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 15th February 2021

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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 owns shares of and has recommended Super Retail 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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