Category: Stock Market

  • Buy these quality ASX dividend shares for passive income

    Hand holding Australian dollar (AUD) bills, symbolising ex dividend day. Passive income.

    If you’re wanting to generate passive income from the share market, then the ASX dividend shares listed below could be good options.

    They have been rated as buys by analysts and tipped to provide investors with great dividend yields. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs are feeling very positive about this insurance giant and see it as an ASX dividend share to buy this month.

    The broker has named five reasons why it thinks investors should be buying QBE’s shares. This includes its exposure to the commercial rate cycle and its improving performance in North America. It said:

    QBE is a global commercial insurer with three main geographical operations across Australia Pacific, International (encompassing Europe) and North America. We are Buy-rated on QBE because 1) QBE has the strongest exposure to the commercial rate cycle. 2) QBE’s achieved rate increases continue to be strong & ahead of loss cost inflation. 3) North America on a pathway to improved profitability. 4) Valuation not demanding. 5) Strong ROE.

    As for passive income, Goldman is forecasting dividends per share of 60 US cents (89 Australian cents) in FY 2024 and 63 US cents (93.5 Australian cents) in FY 2025. Based on the current QBE share price of $16.93, this equates to dividend yields of 5.25% and 5.5%, respectively.

    Its analysts also see plenty of upside for investors. They have a buy rating and $20.60 price target on its shares.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Another ASX dividend share that could be a good option for passive income investors is Transurban. It manages and develops urban toll road networks in Australia and North America.

    Bell Potter likes the company. This is due to its development pipeline, positive exposure to inflation, and low risk cashflows. It said:

    We believe the current inflationary environment is favourable for Transurban given its inflation-linked revenue stream with annual escalators. Moreover, TCL provides low risk cash flows over the long term, with long concession duration (30+ years), and relative traffic/income resilience. The group’s current pipeline of growth projects is $3.3 billion (TCL’s share of total project cost) and further huge development opportunities are expected over the next few decades, supported by population and economic growth.

    In respect to passive income, Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of 63.6 cents in FY 2024 and then 65.1 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Transurban share price of $12.43, this will mean dividend yields of 5.1% and 5.2%, respectively.

    The broker has a buy rating and $15.50 price target on its shares.

    The post Buy these quality ASX dividend shares for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Qbe Insurance right now?

    Before you buy Qbe Insurance shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Qbe Insurance 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    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 positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • $3,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d use that to start investing today

    A smiling woman sits in a cafe reading a story on her phone about Rio Tinto and drinking a coffee with a laptop open in front of her.

    If you are fortunate enough to have $3,000 in your Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) savings account and no plans for it, I think it could be worth using it to start investing today.

    While it will be gaining interest in your savings account, that will barely be enough to keep up with inflation in the current environment.

    Whereas the share market has traditionally provided investors with an average total return of approximately 10% per annum over the long term.

    This is vastly superior to savings accounts and could compound your money into something significant in the future if you are willing to be patient.

    Let’s look at what $3,000 could become if you were to start investing it into ASX shares.

    Start investing with $3,000 of savings

    As mentioned above, the share market has achieved a return of approximately 10% per annum over the long term.

    And while there is no guarantee that this will be the case in the future, I believe it is fair to base our assumptions on this level of return.

    With that in mind, a single $3,000 investment into ASX shares would grow to become worth almost $8,000 in 10 years if you matched the market return.

    But if you leave it to compound further, then it would grow to approximately $20,000 after 20 years, then $52,000 after 30 years, and $135,000 after 40 years.

    And that is just a single investment. Chances are, over the years you will have extra funds that you can invest into ASX shares. Doing this could have a huge impact on your wealth.

    Contributing more

    Let’s imagine that when you start investing you add an extra $3,000 to your investment portfolio every year instead of just a one-off investment.

    If you did this and matched the market return, you would have a portfolio valued at approximately $60,000 after 10 years.

    And if we keep going with this investment strategy for longer, you would have approximately $200,000 after 20 years, $600,000 after 30 years, and a whopping $1.6 million after 40 years.

    The latter means that someone in their early twenties that starts investing today could potentially have a million-dollar ASX share portfolio before they retire.

    Overall, this demonstrates that making consistent investments into ASX shares has the potential to generate significant wealth. The key is to have a plan and stick with it over the years.

    The post $3,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d use that to start investing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Commonwealth Bank Of Australia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

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

  • Shares vs. property: Which stocks and suburbs delivered the best growth in FY24?

    Three smiling corporate people examine a model of a new building complex.

    If you were invested in ASX 200 shares vs. property in FY24 then you probably did pretty well.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose by 7.83% in FY24, and if we add dividends on top, the total return was a median 12.1%.

    Meanwhile, the national median property price rose by 8%. If we add rental income to that capital growth, the total return for investors was a median 12.2%, according to CoreLogic data.

    But these are just median figures, right?

    As all investors know, returns can differ markedly depending on which individual ASX stocks you are invested in and the location of your real estate investments.

    So, shall we get specific?

    Best performing city and regional property markets of FY24

    Home price growth across the city and regional property markets of Australia varied in FY24.

    Home values in most markets went up. The Perth property market was an absolute screamer, with 23.6% growth over the 12 months. Two other mid-tier capital cities — Brisbane and Adelaide — also stood out.

    But we have a couple of buyers’ markets in play right now, too. They are Melbourne and Hobart, along with their regional counterparts.

    Let’s review the data from CoreLogic.

    In short, investors holding properties in Perth and regional Western Australia did best in FY24.

    Property market Capital growth in FY24 (all homes)
    Perth 23.6%
    Regional Western Australia 16.6%
    Brisbane 15.8%
    Adelaide 15.4%
    Regional Queensland 12.2%
    Regional South Australia 11.3%
    National 8%
    Sydney 6.3%
    Regional New South Wales 4.1%
    Darwin 2.4%
    Canberra 2.2%
    Melbourne 1.3%
    Regional Tasmania 0.7%
    Hobart (0.1%)
    Regional Victoria (0.5%)
    Source: CoreLogic

    Want to get even more specific?

    Suburb-level data for price growth in FY24 is not publicly available from CoreLogic yet. However, we can report the best price growth among SA3 districts across Australia’s eight capital cities.

    An SA3 is a location metric used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS defines SA3s as “often the functional areas of regional towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000 or clusters of related suburbs …”.

    The top 10 SA3 areas for price growth nationally were all in Greater Perth and experienced between 26% and 33.19% capital growth.

    In order, they were Kwinana, Armadale, Gosnells, Rockingham, Mandurah, Canning, Cockburn, Swan, Wanneroo and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.

    Here are the No. 1 SA3s for home price growth in each of the greater capital city areas.

    Best-performing SA3 areas for home price growth in FY24

    Capital city No. 1 SA3 district Capital growth (all homes)
    Sydney Mount Druitt 13.96%
    Melbourne Moreland-North 4.71%
    Brisbane Springwood-Kingston 25.55%
    Perth Kwinana 33.19%
    Adelaide Playford 19.94%
    Canberra Weston Creek 5.24%
    Hobart Sorell-Dodges Ferry 2.78%
    Darwin Litchfield 3.21%
    Source: CoreLogic

    Top performing ASX 200 shares of FY24

    Now we can compare the capital growth of the top 10 ASX 200 shares vs. property in FY24.

    ASX 200 shares Capital growth in FY24
    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) 118.3%
    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) 115.4%
    Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) 89.5%
    West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) 86.1%
    Altium Ltd (ASX: ALU) 84.3%
    Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) 82.9%
    Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) 77.5%
    SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR) 74.3%
    Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) 73.6%
    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) 73.1%
    Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence

    What’s the outlook for home values?

    The CBA economics team has just revised its forecast for home price growth in the calendar year of 2024.

    Senior economist Belinda Allen said the forecast had increased from 5% growth to 7% growth nationwide. The upward revision is primarily due to strong demand and a low supply of homes for sale.

    Looking ahead to the calendar year 2025, CBA expects another 5% lift nationwide, with the mid-tier capital cities of Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide continuing to outperform Sydney and Melbourne.

    The post Shares vs. property: Which stocks and suburbs delivered the best growth in FY24? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Altium, Goodman Group, Hub24, Life360, Pro Medicus, and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, Hub24, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Business woman watching stocks and trends while thinking

    On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and charged higher. The benchmark index rose 0.85% to 7,829.7 points.

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

    ASX 200 expected to fall

    It looks set to be a tough day for the Australian share market on Wednesday despite another positive session in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 46 points or 0.6% lower. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.1%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.15%. The latter two closed at record highs after the US Fed suggested that holding rates high for too long could impact economic growth.

    Oil prices fall

    ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a poor session after oil prices dropped again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.85% to US$81.62 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.1% to US$84.84 a barrel. Easing concerns about Tropical Storm Beryl weighed on prices.

    Buy Telstra shares

    The Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price could be good value according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. In response to news that the telco giant is lifting its mobile prices by $2 to $4, the broker has reiterated its buy rating with an improved price target of $4.30. It commented: “We estimate the postpaid plan changes to drive a blended A$2.50 ARPU [average revenue per user] increase for Telstra. Adjusting for GST, consumer mix (i.e. 2/3 of base) and c.9 month impact, we expect this to contribute $1.14 of ARPU growth, before any potential spin-down.”

    Gold price rises

    ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) will be on watch following a decent night for the gold price. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.35% to US$2,339.5 an ounce. Optimism over interest rate cuts in the United States boosted the precious metal.

    Insignia shares on watch

    Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) shares will be on watch today after the financial services company denied media speculation that it was a private equity target. The company, formerly known as IOOF, saw its shares close almost 14% higher on Tuesday, prompting a price query by the ASX. In response to the query, Insignia commented: “Recent press article published Tuesday 9 July 2024 at 12:45pm in AFR Street Talk “Insignia calls in Citi as PE circles: Geoff Lloyd around the hoop” written by Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport. Citi has not been engaged to field any offers and the company is not aware of any offer.”

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy Limited right now?

    Before you buy Beach Energy Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Beach Energy Limited 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • It’s a buy! Expert says Fortescue shares are oversold

    Female miner smiling in front of a mining vehicle as the Pilbara Minerals share price rises

    Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have seen a fair amount of volatility in 2024 to date, down by nearly 26%, as shown on the chart below. However, with the much-reduced valuation, an expert spies an opportunity.

    The short-term success of a commodity business is often linked to the price of the commodity. If the iron ore price falls, then it can significantly cut into that year’s profitability.

    At the start of 2024, the iron ore price was above US$140 per tonne, but it has since dropped to around US$110 per tonne, according to Trading Economics.

    Optimistic view on Fortescue shares

    Writing on The Bull, Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities has called the ASX mining share a buy. He pointed out that the Fortescue share price has fallen from $27.30 on 22 May 2024 to around $21.80 now, a decline of around 20%.

    Gable and his team suggest that this is an “attractive entry level”. The expert noted that the weaker iron ore price has led to the Fortescue share price fall. But, in past years, Fortescue “has often been oversold on weaker iron ore prices only to bounce back”.

    The Fairmont Equities expert suggests that the Fortescue share price could “move higher from these oversold levels.”

    What’s happening to the iron ore price?

    According to Trading Economics, iron ore recently pulled back from a one-month high as data points to “rising iron ore inventories” at Chinese ports, which is signalling “weaker demand from steel mills for metal production.”

    Markets are now focusing on the upcoming Third Plenum, which will be held later in July. Leading Chinese officials are expected to tackle plans to “comprehensively deepen reform and advance Chinese modernisation.”

    Some analysts are now seeking further policy support for the Chinese property sector.

    Trading Economics also noted that weak US economic data increased bets that the US Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates as early as September. If US rates are reduced, then this could boost global economic growth and overall demand, supporting commodity prices.

    It’s possible that the growing economies of other Asian countries could lead to increased demand for Australian iron ore beyond China. Indian steel demand is expected to keep rising, according to one of the largest steel mills in the world’s most populous country.

    Fortescue share price snapshot

    Despite all of the volatility, the Fortescue share price is actually up nearly 3% in the last 12 months.

    The post It’s a buy! Expert says Fortescue shares are oversold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Fortescue Metals Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue Metals Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

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

  • 2 ASX shares I’d give a wide berth to in today’s stock market

    Man pinching nose and holding other hand up in a stop gesture turning away.

    The stock market has no shortage of ASX shares in which we can invest. Some will turn out to be lucrative winners, giving their investors life-changing gains.

    Many will prove to be conservative investments, slowly building wealth for their owners over time. But there will also be those ASX shares that prove to be duds and are destined to cause nothing but pain to those investors who buy them.

    Today, let’s discuss two ASX shares that I sadly think fall into the latter group.

    In today’s stock market, I’d avoid these two ASX shares

    Guzman y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

    The Guzman y Gomez float last month generated some of the biggest buzz we’ve seen from an IPO on the Australian market in years. But I think investing in Guzman shares at their current pricing is a mistake. As such, this is one ASX share I’m giving a wide berth this July.

    As a rule, I usually avoid ASX share IPOs at all costs. They are hyped-up events that usually produce wild swings in the company in question’s shares. Guzman’s IPO was no different, with investors seeing a huge surge in value, followed by a dramatic slump.

    But even if Guzman hadn’t just IPOed, I wouldn’t buy the shares at today’s ASX pricing. The company has a stretched valuation by any metric. Its market capitalisation stands at $2.79 billion right now – more than double that of KFC operator Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF).

    Sure, Guzman has grand expansion plans, which probably explains why its shares look expensive based on its current metrics. But if these expansion plans don’t, well… go to plan, investors will probably be in line for a major haircut.

    Given how competitive the global fast food space is, I think Guzman’s success is far from a done deal. As such, I am in agreeance with my Fool colleague James that this is one ASX share to stay well away from at current prices.

    WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM)

    WAM Capital is an ASX share and listed investment company (LIC) that is popular amongst investors who look for large, fully franked dividends. Unfortunately, I think choosing this LIC for that purpose (or any other) would be a mistake today.

    Yes, WAM Capital shares do trade on a juicy dividend yield of 10.2% right now. But if you consider that the WAM share price has lost a nasty 32% or so over the past five years, shareholders have barely come out ahead. There’s also this ASX share’s weighty management fee of 1% per annum to take into account.

    Moreover, WAM Capital’s hefty dividend doesn’t look sustainable. The company’s latest update informed investors that it currently doesn’t have enough cash to cover its dividend at the current level for the next 12 months.

    As such, this is another ASX share that I would avoid at all costs right now.

    The post 2 ASX shares I’d give a wide berth to in today’s stock market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Guzman Y Gomez right now?

    Before you buy Guzman Y Gomez shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Guzman Y Gomez 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • What’s the average age Australians access their superannuation?

    man and woman discussing superannuation

    Australians have enjoyed the benefits of superannuation since the scheme was initiated in July 1992.

    To ‘superannuate’ someone means to retire someone with a pension. According to Thinking Ahead Institute, Australian pension assets have grown from 108% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013 to 145% in 2023.

    The firm estimates Australians held over $2.4 trillion in pension assets at the end of 2023, the world’s fifth largest holdings behind Canada, the UK, Japan and the US, respectively. Most of these are in equities, like those in the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ).

    That’s a lot of capital, and I’m sure by now you’re wondering what age Australians typically access their super.

    Let’s examine the details surrounding superannuation access, various retirement intentions, and the financial aspects related to these.

    Accessing superannuation: Preservation age

    In the vast majority of people’s cases, the preservation age is the earliest you can access your superannuation. I emphasise ‘earliest’ because it’s not the most common age.

    For those born after July 1964, the preservation age is 60 years old.

    So, to be considered ‘retired’ at preservation age, you have to be at least 60 and have ceased employment (with no intention of returning to work more than 10 hours a week).

    But what if you intend to work beyond 60?

    Once Australians reach this age, they can generally start accessing their superannuation funds, even whilst still working.

    But you cannot access the funds as a lump sum yet. Only as an income stream.

    If you want to access super as a lump sum, the criteria known as a ‘condition of release’ is:

    • Turning 65: Access to superannuation is available even if you haven’t retired.
    • Retirement: Ceasing gainful employment and having no intention of returning to work.

    So the key difference in how and when you access super depends on whether you want to start drawing it as income or as a lump sum, and what age (or if) you intend to officially retire.

    Critically, in both instances, the super payments are tax-free.

    No matter what though, once you hit 65 years old, you can access your superannuation.

    Interestingly, according to a report by super fund MLC, the average retirement age for Australians varies but has been trending upwards. MLC notes the average age at which individuals retire is approximately 65.4 years.

    This figure differs between genders and industries, with men typically retiring later than women.

    According to MLC, the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 65 to 69 is $428,738, with a median balance of $207,540.

    These amounts are usually sufficient to fund a ‘modest’ retirement lifestyle, it says.

    What does a ‘modest’ lifestyle look like in retirement, you ask? MLC provides the following table from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA):

    Total per year Comfortable lifestyle p.a. Modest lifestyle p.a.
    Couple Single Couple Single
    $72,148.19 $51,278.30 $46,994.28 $32,665.66

    These figures will likely change over time as inflation plays its course.

    Foolish takeout

    Accessing superannuation can begin at the preservation age of 60 as an income stream. However, many Australians often wait until the retirement age of around 65 years old to access their super as a lump sum.

    Understanding the conditions of release and planning your finances can ensure a comfortable retirement. Always seek professional help when needed.

    The post What’s the average age Australians access their superannuation? 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. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

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

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Ten smiling business people wave to the camera after receiving some winning company news.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a strong day of trading this Tuesday, in what was a welcome comeback for the Australian markets after yesterday’s rough start to the week.

    By the closing bell, the ASX 200 had galloped a confident 0.86% higher, leaving the index at 7,829.7 points.

    This happy Tuesday for ASX shares follows a more subdued night of trading over on Wall Street last night.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: DJI) kicked off the American trading week on a sour note, slipping 0.079%.

    But things were brighter over on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which managed a gain of 0.28%.

    But let’s now return to our local markets and check out what was going on with the different ASX sectors this session.

    Winners and losers

    It was all smiles today amongst the ASX sectors, with not one recording a loss.

    The worst-performing corner of the market, though, was energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had a comparatively tame day, inching up 0.15%.

    Gold shares were also relatively subdued. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) lifted 0.16% by the closing bell.

    Things were brighter with consumer staples stocks though. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw its value rise 0.33%.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) did better again, as you’ll see from the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.56% bounce.

    Following REITs, we had utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifted 0.57% this Tuesday.

    ASX mining stocks had a cracker today, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)’s 0.6% leap higher.

    Industrial shares were another bright spot. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) banked a 0.67% gain this session.

    Healthcare stocks were on fire too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) shooting up 0.68%.

    Then we have tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) vaulted up 0.8%.

    Consumer discretionary stocks were also making their investors very happy, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) soaring 0.81%.

    Financial shares were making hay today as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) recorded a 1.35% surge.

    Finally, communications stocks were our best sector of the day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) rocketing 1.39%.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    It was financial services stock Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) that took out the index’s top spot today. Insignia shares surged by a hefty 13.64% up to $2.50 each.

    That was despite no price-sensitive news or announcements out of Insignia today or for a while now.

    Here’s how the rest of today’s winners looked at market close:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) $2.50 13.64%
    Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) $1.37 6.61%
    Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) $0.945 5.00%
    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) $36.38 4.33%
    Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) $15.01 2.88%
    Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) $10.54 2.83%
    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) $4.36 2.35%
    Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS) $4.96 2.27%
    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) $3.73 2.19%
    Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) $14.13 2.17%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bega Cheese Limited right now?

    Before you buy Bega Cheese Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bega Cheese Limited 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Analysts love Woodside and these ASX dividend stocks

    Young woman using computer laptop smiling in love showing heart symbol and shape with hands. as she switches from a big telco to Aussie Broadband which is capturing more market share

    There are lots of ASX dividend stocks to choose from on the Australian share market, but which ones could be buys in July?

    Three shares that were recently picked out as buys by analysts are listed below. Here’s what its analysts are saying about them:

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

    HomeCo Daily Needs could be a top option for income investors. It is a property company with a focus on neighbourhood retail and large format retail assets (retail parks).

    Morgans rates HomeCo Daily Needs highly. This is due to the resilience of its cashflows and exposure to accelerating click and collect trends. Together with its development pipeline, the broker feels the company is well-positioned for growth.

    Morgans expects this to underpin dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2024 and then 9 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current HomeCo Daily Needs share price of $1.20, this will mean dividend yields of 6.7% and 7.5%, respectively.

    The broker currently has an add rating and $1.37 price target on its shares.

    NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF)

    Another ASX dividend stock that could be a buy is private health insurer NIB.

    Goldman Sachs is positive on the company. It highlights that NIB “offers defensive exposure to the private health insurance sector which is experiencing favourable operating trends.”

    The broker expects this to support the payment of fully franked dividends per share of 31 cents in FY 2024 and 30 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current NIB share price of $6.88, this would mean 4.5% and 4.3% yields, respectively.

    Goldman currently has a buy rating and $8.10 price target on NIB’s shares.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

    Finally, Morgans is also positive on Woodside and thinks it could be an ASX dividend stock to buy. Woodside is of course one of the world’s largest energy companies with a portfolio of high-quality operations and projects.

    The broker thinks that recent share price weakness has made now “a good time to add to positions.” Especially given that it believes Woodside “will still generate substantial high-quality earnings for years to come.”

    Morgans expects this to underpin fully franked dividends of $1.25 per share in FY 2024 and then $1.57 per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Woodside share price of $28.59, this equates to 4.4% and 5.5% dividend yields, respectively, for investors.

    The broker has an add rating and $36.00 price target on its shares.

    The post Analysts love Woodside and these ASX dividend stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Homeco Daily Needs Reit right now?

    Before you buy Homeco Daily Needs Reit shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Homeco Daily Needs Reit 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended NIB Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • CBA shares up amid higher revised predictions for home price growth

    A woman wearing yellow smiles and drinks coffee while on laptop.

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are trading 1.47% higher on Tuesday at $128.30.

    CBA shares are outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is up 0.82%.

    Australia’s biggest home loan lender has released revised growth predictions for home prices.

    Let’s check them out.

    CBA shares going in the same direction as home values

    In a note released last week, CBA increased its forecast growth for home values in the calendar year 2024.

    CBA senior economist Belinda Allen said:

    We have held a long-term view that national home prices would lift by 5% this calendar year.

    In recent months we have highlighted upside risks to this forecast based on acute housing shortages, strong demand and below average listings on the market.

    As a result of these factors and monthly home price rises remaining stronger than expected we revise our forecasts to expect a 7% lift this year.

    As we recently reported, the national median home value, which reflects all types of property in a single data point, rose by 8% in FY24 (total returns of 12.2% with rental income), according to CoreLogic data.

    But the strongest markets recorded far greater growth than the national median.

    Perth home values screamed 23.6% higher in FY24. Brisbane values leapt 15.8% and Adelaide values weren’t far behind at 15.4%.

    The key reason for these cities’ outperformance was tight supply and demand.

    The number of homes for sale is significantly below the long-term averages for each city. Plus, demand is high given these markets offer much greater affordability than Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

    What about interest rates?

    Allen said higher interest rates — which mean higher mortgage repayments and limitations on credit availability for new buyers — along with cost-of-living pressures would normally slow the pace of home prices or even push them lower. But that’s not happening due to the tight supply and demand.

    “… the leading indicators such as new lending, auction clearance rates and even sentiment continue to point towards gains in home prices,” she said.

    The possibility of an increase in interest rates due to sticky inflation may limit the upside risk to home values and slow the pace of price growth, she added.

    CBA predicts an interest rate cut in November, and Allen said this could provide a tailwind for home values. Her economics team sees further price gains ahead in 2025.

    She said:

    Our first look at home prices for 2025 sees further gains nationwide, although significant capital city divergences remain.

    An expected easing cycle by the RBA and still acute supply shortages should see prices rise, but growing affordability challenges should limit the size of these gains.

    We expect a lift of 5% over calendar year 2025 with the mid-tier capital cities again outperforming Sydney and Melbourne.

    Property price predictions for 2024 and 2025

    Here are CBA’s forecasts for home values growth in the calendar years of 2024 and 2025.

    Capital city Growth prediction 2024 Growth prediction 2025
    Perth 22% 12%
    Adelaide 14% 9%
    Brisbane 13% 7%
    Sydney 5% 4%
    Melbourne 0% 4%
    Source: CBA

    What’s next for CBA shares?

    The outlook for CBA shares among brokers is varied.

    Goldman Sachs is bearish.

    Goldman describes CBA shares as “in uncharted valuation territory” based on the premium they usually trade for relative to their return on equity (ROE) forecast.

    The broker has a sell rating on CBA and a 12-month share price target of $82.61.

    This implies a 35% fall from today’s CBA share price.

    UBS also expects CBA shares to fall but not by as much as Goldman.

    The broker has a 12-month share price target of $105, implying an 18% downside risk from here.

    Braden Gardiner from Tradethestructure recently told The Bull that traders in CBA shares “may want to consider locking in some gains if the share price falls below $116”.

    The post CBA shares up amid higher revised predictions for home price growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Commonwealth Bank Of Australia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.