Category: Stock Market

The ASX mining share Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) saw plenty of volatility over the 12 months ending 30 June 2024. Rio Tinto shares rose by 3.75%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) increased by 7.8%.

With China’s changing economic conditions, investors have had to accept an uncertain outlook for Rio Tinto shares.

The ASX mining share produces a number of commodities, including iron ore, copper and aluminium. Iron ore usually generates the lion’s share of the company’s earnings.

Things may be looking up for the miner after the iron ore price jumped to US$113 per tonne from around US$106 per tonne a week ago.

According to Trading Economics, there are hopes that China will introduce more stimulus measures at the upcoming Third Plenum this month and announce plans for “comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.” A rising iron ore price supports the Rio Tinto share price.

The website said weak US data could also spur a rate cut, boost global demand, and support commodity prices.

Rio Tinto’s financial calendar follows the calendar year, while it was the Australian tax year that just finished. Let’s remind ourselves what Rio Tinto has reported during 2024 and what the earnings outlook is for the business.

Recent events

In February 2024, the business reported its 2023 full-year result.

It reported that operating cash flow dropped 6% to US$15.16 billion and free cash flow declined 15% to US$7.66 billion. Net profit after tax (NPAT) declined 19% to US$10 billion. In addition, the company cut the ordinary dividend by 12% to US$4.35 per share.

In mid-April, the business reported its 2024 first-quarter production result. This showed Pilbara iron ore production of 77.9mt, down 2% year over year and 11% lower than the fourth quarter.

Its first-quarter mined copper production was up 7% year over year to 156kt. Aluminium production was up 5% year over year to 826kt.

Outlook on Rio Tinto shares

The miner is working on a number of projects which could help future earnings.

It’s ramping up underground copper production at the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. Rio Tinto and its partners are building a mine and 600km of new rail at the Simandou mine in Guinea (Africa) to unlock “incredibly high-grade iron ore,” which will “unlock low-carbon steel making.”

Finally, the Rincon lithium project in Argentina has seen progress in developing a small battery-grade lithium carbonate plant, where production is expected to start by the end of the year.

According to the estimates by the broker UBS, in FY24 Rio Tinto is expected to generate US$52.3 billion of revenue, NPAT of US$12.1 billion and pay a dividend per share of US$4.48. The balance sheet is projected to be in a net debt position of US$1.5 billion at the end of FY24.

In FY25, UBS predicts that Rio Tinto could generate US$52.5 billion of revenue, net profit of US$12.3 billion and pay a dividend per share of US$4.56. The balance sheet is projected to be in a net cash position of US$574 million at the end of FY25.

The post Are Rio Tinto shares worth digging into amid the miner’s FY25 outlook? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy Rio Tinto and these ASX dividend shares in July

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

A new month is here, so what better time to consider making some new additions to your income portfolio.

Five ASX dividend shares that could be worth considering in July are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The first ASX dividend share for income investors to consider buying is Aurizon. It transports more than 250 million tonnes of Australian commodities each year through its rail network.

Ord Minnett is bullish on the company and has an accumulate rating and $4.70 price target on the company’s shares.

As for income, it is forecasting partially franked dividends of 17.8 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 24.3 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the latest Aurizon share price of $3.60, this will mean dividend yields of 4.9% and 6.75%, respectively.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Another ASX dividend share to look at is Centuria Industrial. It is Australia’s largest domestic pure play industrial property investment company.

UBS is a fan of the company and has a buy rating and $3.50 price target on its shares.

In respect to dividends, the broker is forecasting Centuria Industrial to pay dividends per share of 16 cents in both FY 2024 and in FY 2025. Based on the current Centuria Industrial share price of $3.04, this represents dividend yields of 5.25% in both years.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

A third ASX dividend share to look at is Super Retail. It is the retail conglomerate behind the BCF, Supercheap Auto, Macpac, and Rebel store brands.

Goldman Sachs is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $17.80 price target on its shares.

As for income, Goldman expects fully franked dividends per share of 67 cents in FY 2024 and 73 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $13.70, this will mean yields of 4.9% and 5.3%, respectively.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Analysts at UBS think that Transurban could be an ASX dividend share to buy this month.

The broker currently has a buy rating and $14.80 price target on its shares.

Its analysts are forecasting dividends per share of 63 cents in FY 2024 and 66 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Transurban share price of $12.38, this will mean yields of 5.1% and 5.3%, respectively.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

A fifth and final ASX dividend share that could be a buy is Universal Store. It is the youth fashion retailer behind the Universal Store, Perfect Stranger, and Thrills brands.

Morgans is feeling bullish about the company and has an add rating and $6.50 price target on its shares.

As well as major upside, the broker believes Universal Store is well-placed to pay big dividends in the coming years. It expects fully franked dividends per share of 26 cents in FY 2024 and then 29 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Universal Store share price of $4.82, this will mean yields of 5.4% and 6%, respectively.

The post 5 ASX dividend shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

With the 2024 financial year fading into the background and FY 2025 stretching ahead, we turn our focus to what investors might expect from ASX gold shares.

As you may be aware, FY 2024 was a banner year for most gold miners, thanks to the surging gold price.

The yellow metal is currently fetching US$2,361 per ounce. That’s up almost 23% from the US$1,925 that same ounce was trading for this time last year.

Bullion’s strong performance has offered some heady tailwinds for ASX gold shares. In fact, Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) rocketed 162% in 12 months amid strong gold exploration results, leaving the 8.3% gains posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) far behind.

The rising gold price has also helped boost the performance of the big S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold producers like Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM), Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

But that’s the financial year just past.

Now, what can investors expect from ASX gold shares in the year ahead?

Will ASX gold shares outshine again in FY 2025?

Before we dive in, there are obviously many company-specific factors that will impact each individual ASX gold share. Those include variables like the weather in their mining locations, production levels, cost management, and how they progress with exploration and new project development.

But the price they receive for the yellow metal they dig from the ground is one factor that will impact every ASX gold share.

As for what we can expect from the gold price, we defer to the World Gold Council (WGC).

In their mid-year outlook report, the WGC noted, “Gold has thus far benefitted from continued central bank buying, Asian investment flows, resilient consumer demand, and a steady drumbeat of geopolitical uncertainty.”

Looking ahead to FY 2025, ASX gold shares may face steady prices.

“Current market trends indicate a rangebound performance from its current levels during H2… The global economy, as well as gold, seem to be waiting for a catalyst,” the WGC said.

The report pointed out that more than 40% of global gold demand stems from consumers.

As such, “The sharp upward trend in the gold price has dampened demand in some markets such as India and China. But positive economic growth can counteract some of this effect.”

What could drive the gold price higher?

The World Gold Council indicated a number of catalysts that could send the gold price higher in FY 2025 and support further gains for ASX gold shares.

According to the report:

For gold, we believe the catalyst could come from falling rates in developed markets, that attract Western investment flows, as well as continued support from global investors looking to hedge bubbling risks amid a complacent equity market and persistent geopolitical tensions.

Gold, which pays no yield itself, tends to perform better in low or falling interest rate environments.

Western retail investors have also largely been missing from the gold rally to date, with gold ETFs witnessing outflows.

The WGC said this “suggests that, unlike previous periods when gold broke record highs, the market is still not saturated and could see another leg up”.

Atop setting interest rates, central bank demand also has an important impact on the gold price, and by connection ASX gold shares.

“We estimate that [central bank demand] contributed at least 10% to gold’s performance in 2023 and potentially around 5% so far this year,” the WGC said. “Questions as to whether demand from the official sector may lose momentum. But we still expect central bank demand to remain above trend this year.”

And, while we hope global tensions ease in FY 2025, ASX gold shares would likely get a lift if geopolitical risks heat up.

According to the WGC report:

Geopolitical risk is particularly difficult to predict and may come from where it’s least expected. What is true, however, is that gold reacts to geopolitics, adding 2.5% for every 100-points the Geopolitical Risk (GPR) Index moves up.

The post Will ASX gold shares again outshine the market in FY 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

I believe buy and hold investing is one of the best ways to grow your wealth.

This is because it allows you to leverage the power of compounding over time.

But don’t worry if you’re not a fan of stock-picking. That’s because exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are here to make life easier.

They allow you to buy large numbers of stocks in one fell swoop. This means you can diversify your portfolio almost instantly.

But which ASX ETFs could be great long term options? Let’s take a look at three that could be buys:

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

When making long term investments, it is never a bad idea to buy the best companies you can get your hands on. The good news is that the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF is home to many of the biggest and best companies that the world has to offer.

This hugely popular ASX ETF gives investors easy access to the 100 largest non-financial shares on the famous NASDAQ index. This is heavily, but not exclusively, focused on technology, with many household names among the ETF’s holdings. This includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA).

Over the last 10 years, the index the fund tracks has generated a return of 22.7% per annum.

VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

Another ASX ETF that could be a great buy and hold option is the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

Warren Buffett is a great investor to follow if you’re interested in making long term investments. His focus on investing in companies with sustainable competitive advantages (moats) and fair valuations has allowed him to smash the market for many, many decades.

The VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF allows you to invest in this style by putting together a group of shares that have the exact qualities that Buffett looks for when making investments.

And just like Buffett, this ETF has delivered great returns. The index the ETF tracks has achieved an average return of 16.7% per annum over the past 10 years.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

Finally, if you want to invest locally, then the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF could be a great option.

This ETF allows you to buy a slice of the companies included in the ASX 300 index. These are Australia’s leading 300 listed companies and include names from all sides of the market.

Among its holdings are companies as diverse as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS).

Over the last 10 years, it has achieved a return of approximately 8% per annum.

The post Buy and hold these ASX ETFs for 10 years+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Can the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) give ASX investors another 32% in FY25?
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• Is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) outperforming your super fund?
• ASX NASDAQ (NDQ) ETF: Up 30% in a year, should you buy now or wait?
• Buy these market-beating ASX ETFs in FY25

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Lovisa, and Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Lovisa, Macquarie Group, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Lovisa, Microsoft, Nvidia, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

By all accounts, the 2024 financial year that has just passed us by was a very successful one for ASX shares on the whole. Between the start of July 2023 and the end of June 2024, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose by a healthy 7.8%. If you include dividend returns, that gain stretches to around 12%.

But let’s talk about how the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) went.

The ASX 200 might have had a very strong year indeed over FY24. But the Betashares Nasdaq 100 exchange-traded fund (ETF) made it look silly, if we’re to be frank.

NDQ units started FY24 priced at $35.05 each. But by the end of last month, those units finished up the financial year at $45.51. That’s a gain worth 29.84%. If we include the value of the dividend distributions the ASX’s NDQ investors enjoyed over the 12 months to 30 June, that return stretches to roughly 32.1%.

Not a bad effort for just one year of waiting. That kind of return is astonishingly good. There aren’t too many investors that could have replicated it in their own portfolios, that’s for sure.

As the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is mostly made up of the United States’ most prominent tech stocks, it’s not too difficult to see where these huge returns come from. To illustrate, the five largest positions in the NDQ portfolio are (in order) Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, Alphabet and Broadcom.

• Microsoft shares rose 31.25% over FY24.
• Apple shares were up 8.58%.
• Nvidia stock shot up a whopping 192%.
• Alphabet’s Class A shares enjoyed a 52.17% bounce over the year.
• And Broadcom shares rocketed 85%.

Together, these five stocks account for 35.1% of NDQ’s entire portfolio by weighting. So, with gains rolling out from these top five, NDQ units were always going to have a veritable party over FY24.

But what about FY25?

Can the NDQ ETF bring home another 32% for ASX investors in FY25?

Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Normally, it would be prudent to state that a 30% gain from any investment, but particularly an index fund, is more likely to be one-off than a guide to future returns. As we stated earlier, a 30% gain is a rare feat in any stock market.

Additionally, it’s also worth stating that past returns are never a guarantee of future prosperity with any investment.

Saying that though, the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF does have a long track record of delivering massive returns. As of 28 June, NDQ units have returned an average of 22.24% per annum over the past five years and 20.04% per annum since the ETF’s ASX inception in 2015.

This ETF’s holdings are indisputably some of the best and most exciting companies in the world. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if investors continued to enjoy meaningful gains from NDQ units.

However, that doesn’t make buying this ETF today a sure thing. Like FY24 before it, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF’s FY25 will be made or broken by the performance of its top holdings.

If the US economy remains strong, global geopolitical tensions don’t rise any further, and the presidential election in November goes relatively smoothly, then there’s a decent chance that NDQ’s top holdings (and thus the ETF itself) will have another successful year this financial year.

But that is a lot of ifs. If one or more of these factors turns sour, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could well take a major haircut in FY25.

Who knows how the NDQ ETF will fare on the ASX in FY25? Whatever happens, it will be well worth watching.

The post Can the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) give ASX investors another 32% in FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top ASX shares to buy for FY25
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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A rising number of Australians expect to still be paying off their home loans when they enter retirement, according to superannuation provider Vanguard.

A survey of 1,800 people aged over 18 found that 45% of Gen Z respondents believed they’d still be paying off their mortgage by the time they were ready to retire.

Gen Zs were born between 1996 and 2010.

The survey found 32% of Gen X respondents also expected to still be paying off their property loans in retirement.

Gen Xers were born between 1966 and 1980. This is the next generation due to retire, with the elders of the group turning 58 this year.

This is two years shy of the superannuation preservation age and nine years shy of the ‘retirement age’, which refers to the age at which Australians are eligible for the age pension.

Gex Xers have varying intentions on how to deal with their mortgages when they decide to give up work.

What will Gen Xers do when they enter retirement?

Vanguard said 38% of Gen X respondents intended to keep paying off their mortgages in retirement.

Another 25% planned to use their superannuation savings to wipe out the debt in one hit. And 18% said they would consider selling their mortgaged home and repaying the debt when they quit work.

Among Millennials, 29% also think they’ll still have a mortgage when they enter retirement. Millennials were born between 1981 and 1995.

Vanguard’s How Australia Retires report also revealed that 8% of retirees today are paying off a home loan.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows there are 4.2 million retirees in the community today. So, 8% equals 336,000 homeowners.

Expert says this is a ‘sleeper issue’ in our economy

Vanguard Australia managing director Daniel Shrimski said the rising number of people expecting to retire with a mortgage or rent their homes during retirement was a “sleeper issue”.

He said:

After working hard and saving for the majority of our lives, Australians want to feel excited about a financially secure retirement.

However, our research has revealed nearly 1 in 5 Australians are renting in retirement, and 30 per cent of working Australians expect to still be paying a mortgage after they retire.

This is a bit of a sleeper issue when it comes to retirement. We tend to presume we’ll be homeowners and mortgage free – but having unresolved debt or needing to drawdown on savings to pay rent is likely to be a big financial burden for many, especially if full-time paid work is no longer an option.

This is an important point, considering that four of the top five reasons for retirement are beyond the control of workers.

They include sickness, injury, or disability (which prompted 13% of current retirees to quit work), being retrenched, dismissed, or unable to find work (5%), and caring for an ill, disabled, or elderly person (3%).

This is one of the reasons why many Australians retire earlier than initially planned. As we’ve previously reported, the average age at which most workers intend to retire is 65.4 years. However, existing retirees report retiring much earlier than this at an average age of 56.9 years.

Shrimski added:

This is why it’s so important that a robust superannuation balance is part of a ‘whole of wealth’ retirement plan, so Australians can have confidence and security in retirement.

According to the research, homeowners who are not in a relationship have a 31% higher chance of retiring with a mortgage.

The post Will you still be paying a mortgage in retirement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• These ASX shares can rise 25% to 40%
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• Bell Potter names 3 of the best ASX 200 stocks to buy in July
• Are you contributing enough to superannuation for your income bracket?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

If you want to supercharge your investment portfolio, then it could be worth checking out these ASX shares in this article.

That’s because they have been named as buys and tipped to deliver mouth-watering returns over the next 12 months. Here’s what analysts are saying about them:

Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL)

This fund manager’s shares could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter.

It highlights that the ASX share has come under pressure since some significant selling from a former insider. However, rather than being concerned by the selling, it feels this has created an “excellent” buying opportunity. The broker commented:

RPL is performing well, generating strong net flows, strong investment returns, high fee income and benefitting from increased scale through acquisitions. The shares have been weak since the sell down of stock by Rob Luciano on 21 June. (10m shares sold at $3.22, a 9% discount). We feel this recent weakness offers an excellent opportunity to buy into an attractive growth story, with strong momentum and a widening shareholder base. Updating our model for the performance fees and FUM increases our FY24 EPS figure by 0.7% but reduces FY25 and FY26 by 2.3%.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $4.75 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of almost 40% from current levels.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

Over at Goldman Sachs, its analysts see plenty of upside in this wine giant’s shares.

The broker highlights that its shares are trading on lower than normal multiples. This is despite its very positive outlook thanks to acquisitions, the removal of Chinese tariffs, and the expansion of the Penfolds business. It said:

Our Buy rating on TWE is premised on accelerating double-digit EPS growth in FY24-27e driven by 1) continued global expansion of Penfolds, especially post the removal of China import tariffs on Australian wine; our recent channel checks suggest positive reception to the returning Australian sourced Penfolds and we expect a ~63pct pre-tariff recovery by 2027; and 2) its rank as the #1 luxury wine company in the US (most sales in luxury wine) with the recent acquisitions of Frank Family Vineyards (FFV) and DAOU which have been growth and margin accretive, combined with a stable portfolio of Premium Brands. TWE is trading modestly below the 5-year historical P/E average.

Goldman has a buy rating and $15.40 price target on its shares. This suggests that they could rise 26% from current levels.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

Analysts at Bell Potter also think that this niobium explorer could be an ASX share to buy if you have a high risk tolerance. This is thanks to its Luni niobium project, which is on track to be a globally significant project. The broker commented:

We see the potential for Luni to be a globally significant niobium project, capable of generating on average A$514m in annual EBITDA. Using Lynas as a comp, which trades on a 10.9x EV/EBITDA multiple, yields an enterprise value of A$5.6bn for WA1.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating and $28.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 32% for investors.

The post These ASX shares can rise 25% to 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Treasury Wine Estates. 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 recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price came under intense selling pressure in the financial year just past.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium stock closed out FY 2023 trading for 90 cents. On 28 June, the last day of FY 2024, shares closed the day at 9.3 cents apiece.

That put the Core Lithium share price down a painful 89.7% over the financial year.

Here’s why the ASX lithium miner just finished off a year to forget.

What happened to the Core Lithium share price in FY 2024?

Most of the pressure heaped onto the Core Lithium share price came from an ongoing slide in global lithium prices.

With lithium supplies ramping up faster than demand growth over the year, the lithium carbonate price ended FY 2024 at around US$11,000 a tonne. That’s well down from the 2022 all-time highs. And it’s less than a third of the US$32,000 a tonne that lithium prices averaged in 2023.

While there were a few sizeable moves higher for the Core Lithium share price over the 12 months, the trend was sharply lower, as you can see in the chart above.

The 2024 calendar year started poorly.

On 5 January, the miner announced it was suspending mining operations at its flagship Finniss Project in the Northern Territory in early January. With lithium prices crashing, management said it was unprofitable to continue mining.

While continuing to process its established ore stockpiles, Core Lithium indicated it was unlikely to resume operations at Finniss until lithium prices have recovered.

The company’s half-year results, released after market close on 12 March, also left much to be desired.

For the first six months of FY 2024, Core reported revenue of $135 million and a loss after tax of $167 million. The company also announced that CEO Gareth Manderson was leaving the top job.

The Core Lithium share price crumbled by 30% over the five trading days following the half-year announcement.

And the miner’s 3Q FY 2024 results, released on 29 April, did little to placate shareholders.

While Core continued to process ore stockpiles, quarterly spodumene concentrate production declined by 14% from the prior quarter.

Commenting on those results at the time, interim CEO Doug Warden acknowledged that, “Following the decision to cease mining in January 2024, it has been a challenging quarter for Core employees, contractors and shareholders.”

As for FY 2025, the Core Lithium share price closed the first trading week of the new financial year flat at 9.1 cents.

The post Why did the Core Lithium share price crash 90% in FY 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Guess which 2 ASX All Ordinaries shares were the best and worst performers of FY24?
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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

If you’re in the market for some new ASX 200 shares in July, then it could be worth listening to what analysts at Bell Potter are saying.

That’s because they have just revealed their favoured picks for the month ahead. Three on its list this month are named below. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

Bell Potter continues to see a lot of value in this mining and mining services company’s shares at current levels.

Its analysts like the company due to the diversity of its operations and its strong production growth potential. It said:

Our Buy view is underpinned by MIN’s earnings diversification, strong insider ownership, clearly articulated strategies, expertise in contracting and internal growth options at Onslow as well as potential lithium expansions including into downstream. All up, MIN offers diversified exposure to steady income streams from the contracting business and market-driven commodity exposure coupled with earnings derived from both lithium and iron ore.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $84.00 price target on the ASX share. This implies potential upside of approximately 45% for investors.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

Another ASX 200 stock that could be a buy in July according to the broker is Neuren Pharmaceuticals. It is a growing biotechnology company developing treatments for rare diseases of the central nervous system.

Bell Potter is particularly positive on its NNZ-2591 product and believes it could be a key driver of growth in the coming years. It said:

In the last six months, NNZ-2591 reported highly encouraging Phase 2 data in two rare diseases. NEU will once again have first-to-market opportunities in these two rare diseases, assuming future Phase 3 trials are successful. While short-term news will continue to be impacted by Acadia’s commercialisation of NEU’s first drug, called Daybue, we maintain our BUY recommendation for investors who have a longer 2 to 3-year investment horizon.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $28.00 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 40% is possible for investors.

Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT)

The broker believes that this ASX 200 stock could be seriously undervalued by the market. Especially given the recently announced sale of its Corporate Trust (CT) and Wealth management (WM) businesses to private equity firm KKR.

It believes this makes the remaining business cheap compared to peers. It explains:

Perpetual announced a disposal of the Corporate Trust (CT) and Wealth Management (WM) businesses to KKR for $2.175bn. This price was ahead of our expectations ($1.5-1.9bn), and should result in a cash payment to shareholders of between $804m-1,104m or $6.95- 9.55 per share, dependent upon the assumptions, particularly tax and deal costs. We estimate the residual asset management business is being valued at between $1.3-1.6bn or between 3.5x-5.5x EBITDA. We believe this is too low for an international asset manager. Valuing the residual asset management business on 6.3x FY25 would imply a value of $2.1bn or $18.17/per share.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $27.60 price target on its shares. This reflects ~$18.17 for the remaining business and a forecast cash distribution of ~$9.50. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of 28% for investors.

The post Bell Potter names 3 of the best ASX 200 stocks to buy in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Scott Phillips.

As you plan for retirement, it’s essential to ensure that your superannuation contributions align with your income bracket. Contributing enough to your super is vital for securing a comfortable retirement, but many Australians are unsure if they’re doing enough.

In this article, we’ll explore average super contributions and balances across income groups. Understanding where you stand in your income bracket can empower you to make informed decisions towards a financially secure retirement.

Average and median superannuation balances by income group

Let’s begin by examining the superannuation balances of Australians across different income brackets. According to the Australian Taxation Office, here are the average and median super balances for FY21 and FY22 by income bracket:

Taxable income	Average balance 2020–21	Average balance 2021–22	Median balance 2020–21	Median balance 2021–22
$18,200 or less	$200,833	$161,473	$31,237	$21,374
$18,201 to $45,000	$102,045	$98,453	$18,047	$17,127
$45,001 to $180,000	$153,187	$142,818	$77,930	$70,374
$120,001 to $180,000	$325,265	$295,925	$200,164	$178,728
$180,001 or more	$615,266	$573,053	$331,971	$303,980
No income tax return	$132,312	$132,854	$36,568	$40,888
Total	$170,191	$164,126	$59,883	$57,912

• Lower-income earners: For those making $18,200 or less, the average and median super balances dip noticeably. This change signals a need for extra support to help the lower-income group grow their retirement savings.
• Steady despite challenges: Interestingly, individuals without a taxable income managed a slight increase in their average super balance. This resilience suggests various factors are at play, including possibly government co-contributions that helped buoy their savings.
• Middle-income group: Those earning between $45,001 and $180,000 saw their super balances shrink a bit. Despite this, their continued accumulation of substantial savings points to the importance of regular contributions and the benefits they bring over time.
• High earners: The top earners, those with incomes of $180,001 or more, experienced a decrease in their average balance but still maintained significant savings. This highlights how higher contribution limits and perhaps more aggressive investment strategies can pay off.

How much did Aussies contribute to super?

The ATO’s FY22 data breaks down individuals’ superannuation contributions by taxable income brackets. The original data is separated by gender, age, and income range, but I combined them to find subtotals and calculated averages for each income group.

Income range	Employer	Personal	Other	Total contribution
$18,200 or less	$1,037	$5,595	$1,718	$8,350
$18,201 to $45,000	$3,070	$2,890	$480	$6,440
$45,001 to $180,000	$7,766	$2,070	$530	$10,366
$120,001 to $180,000	$13,842	$4,083	$1,288	$19,213
$180,001 or more	$19,103	$9,284	$1,918	$30,306
No income tax return	$4,757	$4,044	$2,171	$10,972

The ATO’s FY22 data shows significant variation across different income brackets:

• $18,200 or less: This group made total contributions averaging $8,350, with the majority coming from personal contributions of $5,595.
• $18,201 to $45,000: Contributions totalled $6,440, with employer contributions of $3,070 being the largest component.
• $45,001 to $120,000: Total contributions reached $10,366, predominantly from employer contributions amounting to $7,766.
• $120,001 to $180,000: This income range had contributions of $19,213, with a substantial amount coming from employer contributions at $13,842.
• $180,001 or more: Contributions were highest in this bracket, totalling $30,306. Employer contributions were again the largest part at $19,103.
• No income tax return: This group made contributions totalling $10,972. However, this group has a more balanced distribution among employer, personal, and other contributions.

This data highlights that higher income groups generally contribute more to their superannuation, with employer contributions being the primary source across all brackets.

It’s encouraging to note that Australians across different income levels are actively making additional contributions to their super accounts, taking advantage of the tax benefits offered by super.

I hope your super contributions are on a par with other Aussies making similar income. Explore more about superannuation here for additional insights.

The post Are you contributing enough to superannuation for your income bracket? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Bell Potter names 3 of the best ASX 200 stocks to buy in July
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Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee 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.