• Bob Menendez’s congressman son survives fight of his political life amid father’s ‘gold bars’ corruption scandal

    Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Rep. Rob Menendez.
    Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Rep. Rob Menendez.

    • Rep. Rob Menendez — the son of Sen. Bob Menendez — just survived a tough primary challenge.
    • Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla ran against him, focusing largely on the elder Menendez's scandals.
    • The race also came after machine politics suffered a major blow in New Jersey.

    Rep. Rob Menendez of New Jersey— the son of scandal-plagued Sen. Bob Menendez — defeated a well-funded Democratic primary challenger in New Jersey on Tuesday, according to Decision Desk HQ and the Associated Press.

    It's a significant victory for the younger Menendez, who had found himself in the fight of his life amid his father's lurid corruption scandal. Sen. Menendez has been accused of accepting bribes in the form of wads of cash and gold bars in exchange for, among other things, acting as a foreign agent. His trial began last month and remains ongoing.

    The congressman had been challenged by Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who waged a campaign largely based around the elder Menendez. Though the congressman has not been linked to his father's alleged misdeeds, he has defended him amid the charges, and he pointedly declined to offer an opinion on his father's looming independent Senate bid during an interview with Business Insider in April.

    "I don't have the capacity to think through, well, what if, what if, what if," Menendez said at the time. "There's a lot that I have to deal with right now."

    Bhalla would have made history as just the second Sikh American ever elected to Congress, and the first to wear a turban.

    The primary was also a key test for how candidates will run without the so-called "county line" system, which has enabled machine politics to persist for decades in New Jersey. It's essentially a ballot design trick that has allowed party organizations to hand-pick candidates in state elections for decades.

    Following a lawsuit from Rep. Andy Kim amid his short-lived primary campaign against First Lady Tammy Murphy, a federal judge struck down the system for the June primary, and it could be invalidated forever. Kim officially became the Democratic nominee for Senate in Tuesday.

    That system enabled the coronation of Menendez by party leaders in 2022, despite holding no elected office before.

    During one recent debate, Bhalla alleged that he was essentially pressured into endorsing the younger Menendez that year, and that Sen. Menendez was on speakerphone with his son during the call.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Why is the BHP share price tumbling on Wednesday?

    2 people at mining site, bhp share price, mining shares

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is taking a tumble today.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed down 1.2% yesterday at $44.28. At the time of writing on Wednesday morning, shares are swapping hands for $43.71 apiece, down 1.3%.

    For some context the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time.

    It’s not just the BHP share price underperforming today.

    Shares in rival ASX 200 iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) are down 0.8%, while the Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price is down 1.3%.

    Here’s what’s happening.

    What’s pressuring the BHP share price?

    BHP’s share price moves on the ASX today are following a similar sell-down in the miner’s international listings.

    Overnight, BHP shares closed down 2.2% in the United States, where the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

    Most of the selling pressure looks to be coming from a sizeable retrace in metals prices.

    The copper price dropped another 2.0% overnight to US$9,945 per tonne. While that’s still near historic highs, the copper price has now retraced by almost 9% since 20 May.

    Copper counts as BHP’s second biggest revenue earner after iron ore.

    Speaking of, the iron ore price tumbled 2.1% overnight to US$107.65 per tonne.

    On 7 May the critical steel making metal was fetching just under US$120 per tonne, having fallen from US$143 per tonne in early January.

    What’s happening with the iron ore price?

    The iron ore price gained for most of April and into early May amid hopes that China’s renewed stimulus efforts would boost the nation’s floundering property sector, providing some helpful tailwinds for the BHP share price.

    (Although BHP’s bid to acquire global miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL) weighed on shares late in April.)

    But those hopes appear to be fading in recent weeks, as analysts are increasingly sceptical that the measures will be enough to revamp China’s steel-hungry property markets.

    According to Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

    Recent property support measures in China failed to ignite much hope of stronger demand. Further [iron ore] price gains will likely be capped by persistent concerns over the state of the Chinese property market.

    Robert Rennie, head of commodity and carbon strategy at Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), also believes iron ore prices are unlikely to top US$120 per tonne again anytime soon, noting that iron ore inventories are rising in China at a time they’d usually be falling.

    “It feels as if it’s just a matter of time before we start to see a more meaningful correction below $US110 and eventually $US100, brought on by rising supply out of Africa,” Rennie said.

    With today’s intraday moves factored in, the BHP share price is down 13% in 2024.

    The post Why is the BHP share price tumbling on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bhp 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 Bhp 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

    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.

  • Treasury Wine share price jumps on US opportunity and FY24 guidance update

    The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price is racing higher this morning.

    At the time of writing, the wine giant’s shares are up 5% to $11.97.

    Why is the Treasury Wine share price jumping?

    Investors have been buying the company’s shares this morning in response to the release of an update after the market close on Tuesday.

    Overnight, the company held an investor and analyst event from its recently acquired DAOU Vineyards property in Paso Robles, United States.

    At the event, management spoke positively about Treasury Wine’s opportunity in North America. It also provided an update on its guidance for FY 2024.

    In respect to the former, the company believes its DAOU acquisition has unlocked a significant long term growth opportunity for Treasury Americas.

    It notes that it has created the number one luxury wine business in the US and filled a significant Treasury Americas portfolio gap at the US$20 to US$40 per bottle range. It has also complemented its existing luxury portfolio above the US$40 per bottle price tag.

    Other positives that management highlighted are the significant value creation opportunity leveraging Treasury Americas and DAOU’s unique strengths. It has also provided the scale to consider the creation of a standalone Treasury Americas Luxury division alongside Penfolds.

    FY 2024 guidance update

    Also boosting the Treasury Wine share price on Wednesday was management reaffirming its guidance for FY 2024.

    At a group level, it continues to expect mid-high single digit EBITS growth for the year. This excludes the EBITS contribution from DAOU in the second half.

    For Treasury Americas, it expects FY 2024 EBITS in the range of $223 million to $228 million. This reflects luxury portfolio growth, supported by increased availability, with premium portfolio revenue broadly in line with the prior corresponding period.

    DAOU EBITS is expected to be approximately US$24 million, which is in line with expectations.

    Outlook

    Looking ahead, management’s expectations for DAOU are unchanged. The acquisition is expected to be earnings per share accretive (pre-synergies) and mid to high single-digit earnings per share accretive for the first full year of ownership. Over the medium term, average annual low double-digit NSR growth is expected.

    Finally, work to assess the future operating model for the company’s global portfolio of Premium brands is continuing. An update will be provided in August.

    The Treasury Wine share price is up 6% over the last 12 months.

    The post Treasury Wine share price jumps on US opportunity and FY24 guidance update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Treasury Wine Estates Limited right now?

    Before you buy Treasury Wine Estates 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 Treasury Wine Estates 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Xero share price on watch amid $1.3 billion convertible notes offering

    The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price is paused from trade on Wednesday morning.

    Why is the Xero share price paused?

    The company’s shares are paused at present after Xero announced a major convertible notes offering.

    According to the release, Xero has launched an offering of US$850 million (~A$1.3 billion) fixed coupon guaranteed senior unsecured convertible notes due in 2031. These are to be issued by its wholly owned subsidiary, Xero Investments, and guaranteed by Xero.

    The company intends for the notes to be listed on the official list of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading. After which, conversion of the notes will be cash settled unless the issuer elects to physically settle the conversion by having Xero issue ordinary shares to the relevant noteholders.

    Why is it raising funds?

    After deductions for commissions, professional fees, other administrative expenses, and funding the costs of the call option transactions, the net proceeds from the offering will be used for several purposes.

    Xero advised that this includes to repurchase its existing notes, for potential acquisitions and strategic investments, and for general corporate purposes.

    In respect to the repurchase of existing notes from the US$700 million zero coupon guaranteed convertible notes that are due in 2025, Xero advised that it is carrying out a reverse bookbuilding process. This is being undertaken to receive indications of interest from holders of the existing notes that are willing to sell in return for cash. In addition, Xero may, at its discretion, continue to buyback on-market any remaining existing notes.

    As for its potential acquisitions and strategic investments, Xero has not advised of any deals in the works. Instead, it appears to be ensuring that it is positioned to take advantage of opportunities if and when they arise.

    Commenting on the convertible notes offering, Xero’s chief financial officer, Kirsty Godfrey-Billy, said:

    We’re pleased with how we are managing our strong balance sheet and the optionality this provides. The announced offering will provide us with financial flexibility as we continue to execute our strategic priorities.

    The Xero share price is up 20% since this time last year.

    Should you buy its shares?

    One leading broker that sees a lot of value in the Xero share price is Macquarie.

    Earlier this week, its analysts put an outperform rating and $180.70 price target on its shares.

    Based on yesterday’s close price, this implies potential upside of 37% for investors over the next 12 months.

    The post Xero share price on watch amid $1.3 billion convertible notes offering appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Xero 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 Xero 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) a better buy for beginner investors or retirees?

    Girl and her grandmother sharing a hug on the porch

    The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) is a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) that could be a useful investment for many investors, whether they’re already in retirement or just starting out.

    The VGS ETF enables investors to gain exposure to the global share market. It invests in businesses from a wide range of major developed countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

    Could the fund be a better choice for younger or older investors? I think it could be equally appropriate for both groups’ investment strategies for a few key reasons.

    Tracks the market for low fees

    The global share market has been a powerful wealth-building machine that has delivered pleasing long-term returns, thanks to the strength and economic moats of the underlying holdings.

    The VGS ETF portfolio holds many of the world’s leading companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Visa, Procter & Gamble, Mastercard, Costco, Walmart and Salesforce.

    This is a very high-quality group of holdings. It would take an individual investor a great deal of effort and research to recreate a portfolio with that much diversification and quality.

    Thanks to this ASX ETF, we can track the performance of the global share market at a low cost.

    VGS comes with an annual management fee of just 0.18%, meaning nearly all of the (excellent) returns stay in the hands of investors. Low costs are appealing whether you’re old or young.

    Good returns

    I wouldn’t advocate investing in something just because it’s diversified. I want to have a satisfactory level of confidence that the investment returns could compound my wealth at a solid pace in the coming years.

    According to Vanguard, the VGS ETF has delivered an average return per annum of 12.7% since its inception in November 2014. If the return can continue at a double-digit pace, that’d be good news for anyone’s portfolio, whether they’re beginners or retirees.

    We can’t accurately predict future returns, but some of the financial characteristics look compelling enough for continued long-term success. As of April 2024, according to Vanguard, the VGS ETF’s return on equity (ROE) ratio is 18.8%, and the earnings growth rate for the overall portfolio is 14%.

    When companies generate good earnings and reinvest money in their businesses for a profit return of almost 20%, I believe this is likely to lead to good long-term outcomes for shareholders.

    The younger investors may be looking for an investment to grow their wealth, while older investors may want returns to pay for their lifestyle.

    Beginners, retirees, and everyone else could benefit from that potential return and hopefully experience capital growth. However, no level of return can be guaranteed.

    What about passive income for retirees?

    People in retirement may want more cash flow than this ASX ETF’s dividend yield can provide. According to Vanguard, the VGS ETF dividend yield was just 1.8% at the end of April 2024.

    However, if the fund keeps delivering capital growth, retirees could decide to sell a small portion each year and still generate capital growth with their portfolio.

    For example, if you invested $100,000 in Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF units and the fund rose 10% in value (potentially including re-investing dividends) in one year, it’d be worth $110,000 after 12 months. You could sell $4,000 of the holding – creating a 4% ‘dividend yield’ on the initial balance – and still have $106,000 remaining.

    I wouldn’t want to sell all of the capital gains generated because a share market decline could occur in some years, so it would be wise to consider allowing the balance to keep rising in the positive years.

    The post Is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) a better buy for beginner investors or retirees? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares Etf right now?

    Before you buy Vanguard Msci Index International Shares Etf 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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares Etf 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

    John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Google’s privacy chief making ‘shock’ exit after 13 years with the company

    Keith Enright in a suit testifying in front of Congress
    Keith Enright, chief privacy officer at Google LLC, testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on safeguards for consumer data privacy in Washington, DC.

    • Google's chief privacy officer will be leaving the company in the fall.
    • Keith Enright will not be replaced; instead, Google will restructure his role.
    • The departures come as Google's privacy policies face scrutiny.

    Google's chief privacy officer will leave the company after 13 years, and Google has no plans to replace him.

    Keith Enright will remain at the company until the fall, a Google spokesperson told Business Insider. One source told Forbes that the announcement of his departure was met with "shock" from employees.

    "After over 13 years at Google, I'm ready for a change, and will be moving on this fall, taking all that I've learned and trying something new," Enright said in a LinkedIn post Tuesday. "I'm incredibly proud of the team we built, and the work we did to keep billions of people around the world safe and in control."

    Enright leads the global privacy team in crafting and implementing privacy and data policies across Google's products and services. In 2018, he testified about consumer data privacy to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, defending Google's privacy policies while acknowledging the company's past mistakes.

    Google's head of competition law, Matthew Bye, will leave after 15 years at the company.

    Google confirmed the departures in a statement to Business Insider. Both Bye and Enright will not be replaced. Instead, a Google spokesperson told Forbes that the company will restructure its policy and privacy work to include multiple teams.

    "We regularly evolve our legal, regulatory, and compliance work as we launch and run innovative services that comply with a growing number of intersecting obligations and expectations," a Google spokesperson told BI in a statement. "Our latest changes will increase the number of people working on regulatory compliance across the company."

    Enright's departure comes as Google's privacy policies have been scrutinized

    In December, Google settled a lawsuit that alleged the company was secretly amassing data from Chrome users who thought their browsing activity was private, or as Google calls it, in Incognito mode.

    Google agreed to delete billions of user data records as part of the settlement.

    On Monday, 404 Media published a leaked copy of an internal Google database that revealed thousands of privacy-related incidents from 2013 to 2018. The incidents included one where a Google speech service logged audio of an estimated 1,000 children for about an hour.

    A Google spokesperson told Business Insider that all the incidents have been reviewed and resolved, meaning any private information has been deleted.

    A Google spokesperson told Business Insider that the leak news and announcement of Enright's and Bye's departures are unrelated.

    Google has also tried to enhance user privacy with its initiative to eliminate third-party cookies in its Chrome browser.

    Enright and Bye did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Broker says Lovisa shares are a buy following this week’s selloff

    An analyst wearing a dark blue shirt and glasses sits at his computer with his chin resting on his hands as he looks at the CBA share price movement today

    I think it is fair to say that Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) shares have taken a real beating this week.

    The fashion jewellery retailer’s shares are down over 11% since the end of last week.

    This compares to a 0.6% gain by the ASX 200 index over the two trading days.

    Why have Lovisa shares been sold off?

    Investors have been hitting the sell button this week after Lovisa announced that its CEO, Victor Herrero, will be stepping down from the role next year.

    The highly respected CEO will remain with the company until 31 May 2025. After which, he will be replaced by John Cheston, who is currently the CEO of Smiggle, which is owned by Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV). Prior to Smiggle, Cheston was CEO at Marks & Spencer.

    Given Victor Herrero’s experience in overseeing global expansions for retail brands, investors appear concerned that his exit could derail Lovisa’s own expansion.

    Though, it is worth noting that his replacement, John Cheston, has overseen the expansion of Smiggle around the globe. So, he certainly has the experience required to take over the reins at Lovisa.

    Broker says buy the dip

    Bell Potter has responded to the news and remains positive despite the CEO change. In fact, the broker believes that Cheston will be a good fit for Lovisa. Its analysts commented:

    While we see leadership transition risk at LOV with the executive departure, we believe today’s CEO appointment aligns well to drive the next leg of growth and lift the penetration on a global business built by Victor, in addition to the appropriately priced LTIs [long term incentives]. We anticipate a smooth transition over the next 12 months and expect John’s background on Smiggle’s growth strategy into ANZ/UK/Ireland/Asia/Middle East in both retail & wholesale channels to assist continued execution in LOV’s ~40 markets globally.

    In light of the above, this morning the broker has retained its buy rating and $36.00 price target on Lovisa’s shares.

    Based on its current share price of $29.74, this implies potential upside of 21% for investors over the next 12 months. The broker concludes:

    Our Price Target remains unchanged at $36.00/share. We continue to view distinctive growth traits, strong gross margin outlook, store opportunity, ability to execute as a strong player in the fashion jewellery market and lower price point driven competitive advantage as able to justify LOV’s premium to the peer group (~30x FY25e P/E, BPe). Retain BUY.

    The post Broker says Lovisa shares are a buy following this week’s selloff appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lovisa Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Lovisa Holdings 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 Lovisa Holdings 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Does the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (VTS) pay a decent ASX dividend?

    Man sits smiling at a computer showing graphs

    Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) shares (units) may be best known for the substantial capital growth it has delivered to investors. However, did you know it also pays dividends?

    An exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows investors to buy a large group of businesses in a single investment. The ETF also acts as a conduit for any dividends and distributions it receives from holdings and passes to investors.

    With this particular ETF invested in more than 3,700 US-listed businesses, it receives a lot of dividends!

    Let’s examine how much dividend income the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF is paying.

    VTS ETF dividend yield

    The fund provider, Vanguard, tells investors about the fund’s key statistics every month. These include performance, the price/earnings and price-to-book ratios, the return on equity (ROE) ratio, the collective earnings growth rate of the underlying businesses, and the dividend yield.

    The ASX dividend yield of the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF is directly influenced by the dividend yield of the underlying holdings. The greater the portfolio’s weighting to a particular company, the more it influences the dividend yield.

    According to Vanguard, the VTS ETF dividend yield was 1.4% in April 2024.

    That’s not an exciting dividend yield. It’s so low because the portfolio’s biggest holdings have low yields or don’t pay dividends at all.

    For example, the biggest seven positions in the fund’s portfolio at 30 April 2024 were Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Meta Platforms and Berkshire Hathaway. Company giants, but none of these stocks have a material yield. So, it’s not surprising the VTS ETF can’t provide much passive income to investors.

    It is fairly common for technology companies — which make up around a third of the fund’s allocation –to reinvest much of the profit generated back into the business for further growth rather than distributing it to shareholders.

    Can the fund generate cash flow?

    Over the past five years, the VTS ETF has delivered an average return per annum of 14.2%. Past performance shouldn’t be relied on for future performance, of course.

    With that sort of return, an investor could decide to sell around 3% or 4% of the fund’s value each year, and the remaining balance could still rise over time thanks to capital growth if the ETF’s total returns are more than 4% per annum. That means an ASX dividend yield of 3% or 4% could be achieved through sales, though any gains would be taxable (just like dividends are).

    That strategy would only work for a meaningful balance, though, such as above $10,000. Selling $40 of units, for example, would mean the brokerage costs may take up too much of the sale proceeds to be worthwhile.

    The post Does the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (VTS) pay a decent ASX dividend? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf right now?

    Before you buy Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf 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 Vanguard Us Total Market Shares Index Etf 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, 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 recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 high-flying ASX shares that could keep on climbing

    Over the last 12 months, the ASX 200 index has risen over 7%. While this is a decent return, it pales in comparison to some of the returns that have been recorded by ASX shares.

    For example, the three ASX shares listed below have absolutely smashed the market. And the good news is that there may be more to come according to analysts. Here’s what you need to know:

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    The Life360 share price is up almost 130% since this time last year. Investors have been fighting to get hold of the location technology company’s shares thanks to its explosive growth and transition to positive cash flow.

    The good news is that analysts don’t believe it is too late to climb on board. For example, Bell Potter has a buy rating and $17.75 price target on the ASX share. This implies potential upside of 15% for investors over the next 12 months.

    It highlights that the company has “the potential to leverage its large and growing user base to enter new markets and disrupt the legacy incumbents.” Bell Potter also believes that its performance during COVID highlights “the potential for continued strong growth in the base with market conditions now back to normal.”

    Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

    The Telix share price has smashed the market and climbed 62% over the last 12 months.

    The catalyst for this has been a combination of exceptionally strong sales and earnings growth from the radiopharmaceuticals company and very promising trial updates.

    In respect to its financial performance, last month the company released its first quarter update and revealed a 75% increase in revenue to $175 million. Telix’s gross profit grew even quicker and was up 84% to $115.4 million.

    This went down well with analysts at UBS. The broker has put a buy rating and $19.30 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of almost 9% for investors.

    Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

    The Universal Store share price has also risen 62% over the last 12 months. This has been driven by a solid performance so far in FY 2024 and the belief that its shares were undervalued last year.

    In respect to the former, the youth fashion retailer reported an 8.5% increase in group sales and a 16.7% jump in net profit after tax during the first half.

    Despite its strong rise, Morgans believes this ASX share can keep climbing. It has put an add rating and $6.50 price target on its shares, which implies potential upside of 30% for investors from current levels.

    The post 3 high-flying ASX shares that could keep on climbing 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 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Universal Store. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • With 6%+ yields, here are 2 ASX dividend shares to consider buying now

    Happy man holding Australian dollar notes, representing dividends.

    Income investors certainly are a lucky bunch. The Australian share market is filled to the brim with dividend-paying companies.

    And while the average dividend yield usually sits at around 4%, some ASX dividend shares provide much juicier yields.

    For example, the two shares listed below have been named as buys and tipped to offer yields greater than 6% this year and next. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    The first ASX dividend share that could be worth considering this month is Accent Group.

    It is a market leading digitally integrated retail and distribution business in the performance and lifestyle market sectors. Its main focus is footwear, with the company operating a large number of retail banners such as HypeDC, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, Stylerunner, and The Athlete’s Foot.

    At the last count, Accent Group had a network of over 800 stores. It also had 35 websites, 821 points of distribution, and almost 10 million contactable customers. This makes it the clear leader in the market.

    Bell Potter is a very big fan of the company and sees significant value in its shares at current levels. The broker has a buy rating and $2.50 price target on them. This implies potential upside of approximately 30% for investors over the next 12 months.

    But the returns won’t stop there. Bell Potter expects some very big dividend yields from its shares in the near term. It is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 13 cents in FY 2024 and then 14.6 cents in FY 2025. Based on the latest Accent share price of $1.92, this represents dividend yields of 6.8% and 7.6%, respectively.

    APA Group (ASX: APA)

    Another ASX dividend share that could offer big yields for income investors in the near term is APA Group.

    It is an energy infrastructure business that owns, manages, and operates a diverse portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets. This includes 15,000 kilometres of natural gas pipelines that connect sources of supply and markets across mainland Australia, delivering half the nation’s natural gas usage.

    In addition, it owns or has interests in gas storage facilities, gas-fired power stations, and renewable energy generation. In total, the company owns or manages and operates a portfolio of assets valued at around $25 billion.

    Analysts at Macquarie are positive on the company and have an outperform rating and $9.40 price target on its shares.

    As for dividends, the broker believes the company’s long run of dividend increases can continue. It is forecasting dividends per share of 56 cents in FY 2024 and then 57.5 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current APA Group share price of $8.39, this equates to 6.7% and 6.85% dividend yields, respectively.

    The post With 6%+ yields, here are 2 ASX dividend shares to consider buying now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Apa 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 Apa 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 5 May 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.