About 1.15 million Aussies are managing their own superannuation via a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), according to new figures from the Australian Taxation Office.

Nine in 10 SMSFs have just one or two members. Overall, there are 616,400 SMSFs in Australia today.

In the first quarter of 2024, 7,371 new SMSFs were established and 272 were wound up. This left a net increase of 7,099 SMSFs over the quarter, the third-fastest rate of increase over the past five years.

Aussies looking after their own superannuation through an SMSF collectively manage $933 billion in assets. If we strip out the amount they’ve borrowed, we get a net $896 billion under management.

Aussies can borrow through their SMSFs to buy assets such as residential real estate.

Average wealth of self-managed superannuation owners

According to the latest full-year financial data published by the ATO (FY22), the average wealth per member is $780,254, and the median is $467,187.

These figures combine contributions over the years and the increase in the value of their assets.

If we look at income data among SMSF members, 22.5% have an annual income between zero and $20,000, 15.3% earn between $20,000 and $40,000, and 13.4% earn between $100,000 and $150,000.

The first two income bands likely reflect retired Australians who are no longer earning high taxable incomes, such as those mainly drawing money tax-free from their superannuation to cover living costs.

Demographic data shows the largest cohort of SMSF members are 75 to 84 years old (15.1% of members) followed by those aged 60 to 64 years (12.7%) and 65 to 69 years (12.1%).

The preservation age for superannuation is between 55 and 60 years, depending on when you were born. The age pension is taxable and the age of eligibility is 67 years.

The third income band likely reflects current workers on high incomes.

Which assets do SMSF investors like most?

The bulk of that $933 billion personally managed by Aussies with SMSFs is invested in ASX shares.

In total, $271 billion is in ASX shares and $16 billion is in international shares.

Cash and term deposits, at $145 billion, are another big category.

There is also $122.5 billion in unlisted trusts and $55.5 billion in other managed investments.

In the property space, SMSF members have $92 billion in Australian commercial property and $50 billion in local residential property.

Debt securities such as bonds comprise $9.5 billion of assets under management by Aussies with SMSFs.

Cryptocurrency was introduced as an investment option for SMSFs in 2019, with $1 billion now invested.

5 most popular ASX shares among SMSFs

According to Super Guide, the most popular ASX stocks among SMSFs are as follows:

• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares (48% of SMSFs holding ASX shares are invested in BHP)
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares (45.6%)
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares (40.9%)
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares (39.1%)
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares (38.9%)

The post Here’s the average wealth of Aussies who manage their own superannuation appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, and Woodside Energy Group. 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.

There are a lot of options for income investors to choose from on the Australian share market.

But which ASX dividend shares could be buys when the market reopens?

Let’s take a look at four that analysts rate as buys. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

Goldman Sachs thinks that this annuities company could be an ASX dividend share to buy.

It likes Challenger because “it has exposure to the growing superannuation market across Life and Funds Management.” In addition, it highlights that “higher yields should drive a favorable sales environment for retail annuities as well as an improvement in margins.”

The broker currently has a buy rating and $7.50 price target on its shares.

As for dividends, it is forecasting fully franked dividends of 26 cents per share in FY 2024, 27 cents per share in FY 2025, and then 28 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the current Challenger share price of $6.48, this will mean dividend yields of 4%, 4.15%, and 4.3%, respectively.

Dexus Convenience Retail REIT (ASX: DXC)

Another ASX dividend share that has been given the thumbs up is Dexus Convenience Retail REIT. It owns a portfolio of service station and convenience retail assets across Australia.

The team at Morgans is positive on the company and has an add rating and $3.23 price target on its shares.

In respect to income, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 21 cents in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $2.67, this implies yields of 7.85%.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Goldman Sachs also thinks that Dan Murphy’s and BWS owner Endeavour Group could be a great ASX dividend share to buy.

It likes the company due to its market leadership position and the defensive nature of the alcohol retail market.

The broker expects this to support fully franked dividends of approximately 22 cents per share in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Based on the current Endeavour share price of $4.96, this will mean dividend yields of 4.4% for both years.

The broker has a buy rating and $6.20 price target on its shares.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

A final ASX dividend share that could be a buy according to Goldman Sachs’ analysts is Super Retail. It is the owner of popular retail brands BCF, Macpac, Rebel, and Super Cheap Auto.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $17.80 price target on its shares.

As for dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 67 cents in FY 2024 and then 73 cents in FY 2025. Based on the latest Super Retail share price of $13.09, this will mean yields of 5.1% and 5.6%, respectively.

The post 4 top 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 Endeavour Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Green energy isn’t just good for the environment – it could also be big business.

As part of this year’s Federal Budget, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced that the government is planning to invest a whopping $22.7 billion in decarbonisation through its ‘Future Made in Australia’ package.

Given Australia’s abundant sunlight and windswept coastlines, the government believes we could quickly grow into a ‘renewable energy superpower’. Now, it wants to light a fuse under our fledgling green energy sector.

But Australia isn’t alone – governments all over the world are investing in renewables. According to the World Economic Forum, America has invested an eye-popping US$559 billion in clean energy since 2020, and Germany’s not too far behind at US$339 billion.

This could make green energy a real growth sector to invest in over the next decade.

Although – a little surprisingly – when it comes to genuine green energy ASX stocks, there aren’t too many Australian companies available to choose from.

Sure, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) can talk up its solar and wind energy credentials, but it still owns Eraring, Australia’s largest coal-fired power plant. And AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) may offer some renewables, but it’s also Australia’s biggest carbon emitter.

This might leave investors seeking green energy exposure feeling a little downtrodden. But don’t despair – the Kiwis have got us covered. There are not one, not two, but three New Zealand-based 100% green energy companies currently trading on the ASX.

Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX: MCY)

First up is Mercury NZ. It is a diversified utilities company that supplies electricity, as well as broadband and mobile services to its customers. All its electricity comes from renewable sources, including hydro, geothermal, and wind.

In its 1H24 results, covering the six months ended 31 December 2023, total revenues jumped by 23% versus 1H23 to NZ$1.6 billion. However, higher operating expenses, mainly driven by depreciation on its new wind farms at Turitea and Kaiwera Downs and higher borrowing costs, drove net profit after tax (NPAT) 27% lower (to NZ$174 million).

Despite the drop in net income, management remains bullish about the company’s growth prospects and is investing heavily in new energy assets. In September 2023, the company committed NZ$220 million to expand its geothermal station at Ngā Tamariki and is also planning to significantly increase capacity at its Kaiwera Downs wind farm.

Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ)

Meridian Energy is New Zealand’s largest energy producer, and it generates all of its energy from renewable sources.

The company owns and operates six power stations in the Waitaki Hydro Scheme, with a further two owned and operated by Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE) – yet another New Zealand energy company ASX investors can buy shares in (although it also owns the Huntley Power Station, NZ’s largest coal-fired power plant). Together, the eight power stations in the Hydro Scheme supply 16% of New Zealand’s electricity.

Meridian also owns and operates the underground Manapouri Power Station, the largest hydropower station in New Zealand. In addition to its hydro assets, Meridian also has a significant number of wind farms – plus, it offers solar energy plans where it buys back excess energy from households and businesses with solar panels installed.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

Completing our New Zealand-based trifecta is Infratil. It’s an interesting addition to this list as it’s actually an investment company that owns a number of green energy assets, along with investments in healthcare, digital infrastructure (like data centres and telecommunications networks), and even Wellington International Airport.

Infratil takes a long-term approach to its investment choices, which makes it a good stock to look at for growth investors. It taps into many emerging growth investing themes, from artificial intelligence to an ageing population to (of course) green energy and decarbonisation.

Infratil has a globally diversified portfolio of renewable energy investments, including a 51% stake in hydroelectricity generator Manawa Energy Ltd (NZE: MNW), a 95% stake in Singapore-based wind and solar energy company Gurīn Energy, and a 40% stake in Swiss-based company Galileo, which has operations all across Europe.

The post Top ASX green energy stocks in June 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Rhys Brock 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.

Are you looking for big returns for your investment portfolio?

If you are, then take a look at the three ASX shares listed below that have been tipped to rise materially by analysts.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

AVITA Medical Inc (ASX: AVH)

Morgans sees huge upside for this ASX share over the next 12 months. In fact, the broker believes the regenerative medicine company could more than double in value from current levels.

It was very pleased with news that the US FDA has approved its Recell Go product. It is an autologous cell harvesting device, harnessing the regenerative properties of a patient’s own skin to treat burn wounds and full-thickness skin defects. It commented:

AVH has received FDA approval for its automated product, RECELL Go, for use in burns and full thickness skin defects. This approval marks a significant milestone for the company, with management expecting this device to increase adoption of the technology amongst clinicians. We have made no changes to our forecasts and recommendation.

Morgans has an add rating and $6.40 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 115% for investors.

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

Analysts at Goldman Sachs think that this miner would be a great option for investors that are looking for exposure to iron ore. The broker feels its shares are undervalued at the current level and could offer major upside potential and good dividend yields. It said:

Supportive Valuation: the stock is trading at 0.8x NAV (A$8.8/sh) and ~4.4x EBITDA (NTM). Our NAV is based on a long run Fe price of ~US$105/t (real) for 65% Fe and ~US$75/t premium for DRPF above 62% Fe Index. For every ~US$10/t increase in our long run price, our CIA NAV would increase by ~A$1.5/sh.

Goldman has a buy rating and $8.80 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 25% for investors. In addition, it is forecasting dividend yields of 4% in FY 2025 and 6% in FY 2026.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Another ASX share that could offer big returns is Eagers Automative. It operates one of Australia’s largest auto dealership networks.

Bell Potter thinks that the company’s shares have been oversold following a disappointing trading update last month. It said:

We believe this is a relatively isolated event that doesn’t materially change the outlook so our investment thesis remains intact. We believe the stock looks value on a 2025 PE ratio of c.10x and a forecast yield of c.6% in 2024 and c.7% in 2025.

Its analysts have a buy rating and $13.35 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 32% for investors. In addition, dividend yields of 6%+ are forecast through to FY 2026.

The post These ASX shares can rise 25% to 100%+ 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 positions in and has recommended Avita Medical and Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical and Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX bank shares have had a remarkable run since November, and now it’s time to be cautious on the sector, warns top broker Goldman Sachs.

In a note to clients, the broker said bank fundamentals were generally weak and stocks were trading at “close to record expensive” levels.

Goldman said:

… while the deterioration in earnings appears to now be finished, we see very limited upside risk, and therefore, with valuations skewed asymmetrically to the downside, we now think a more negative view on the banks is appropriate …

The broker added:

Australian bank valuations are at extremes, with absolute 12-month forward PERs at the 99th percentile, our DCF valuations are, on average, 175% below current share prices, and the spread between bank fully-franked yields and the 10-year bond yield is currently at its lowest level in nearly 15 years.

Amid stretched valuations, Goldman has a buy rating on only one bank among the big four institutions.

Which bank is a buy?

Goldman has a buy rating on ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) with a 12-month share price target of $28.15.

ANZ shares closed on Friday at $28.25, up 1.15% for the day and up 8.7% in the year to date.

Goldman analysts Andrew Lyons and John Li said:

We are Buy-rated on ANZ given i) we are seeing evidence of ANZ’s ability to derive productivity benefits (A$201 mn in 1H24) and management noted there remains a large pipeline available which can be used to offset cost inflation.

Furthermore, ii) the improving profitability of ANZ’s Institutional business remains a key driver of our positive investment thesis.

We continue to see upside for Group returns due to accretive mix shifts in the Institutional business towards higher ROE Payments and Cash Management business.

Finally, the stock still trades at a discount to the sector (ex-dividend adjusted).

Why is this ASX 200 bank share a sell?

Goldman has a sell rating on ASX bank share Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) with a 12-month price target of $24.10.

Westpac shares closed yesterday at $25.98, up just 0.19% for the day and 12.56% higher year to date.

Lyons and Li said they had downgraded Westpac shares due to the following factors:

… i) execution, cost and timing risks relating to its technology simplification, ii) of the major banks, WBC’s balance sheet is the most overweight domestic housing, which we expect will be more growth constrained than commercial lending over the medium term, iii) NIM has been supported by a shorter duration replicating portfolio but this will give them less longevity, and d) WBC’s 14.2x 12-mo fwd PER is more than one standard deviation expensive vs. its 12.7x historic average. 

The post Buy one, sell the other: Goldman’s take on these 2 ASX bank shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Anz 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 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.

One day having a meaningful passive income is an aspiration shared by many Australians.

And it isn’t hard to see why. Having money roll in each month without having to lift a finger is hard to say no to.

Well, the good news is that it is possible to achieve this goal with ASX shares.

That’s because many companies share a portion of their profits with their shareholders each year in the form of dividends.

$1,200 of monthly passive income from ASX shares

Let’s assume you already have a $20,000 ASX share portfolio. How could you turn that into passive income of $1,200 a month?

The first step would be to actually do nothing. This is assuming you own a diversified portfolio filled with high quality ASX shares that have sustainable competitive advantages. Like the companies found in the popular VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT).

If it isn’t both of these, you may want to consider reshaping it over a period of several months to give yourself the best chance of success.

Once the portfolio is in order, you can then sit back and let compounding do its thing.

If you want $1,200 of monthly passive income, you are going to need to generate $14,400 of dividends each year.

That is of course quite a big ask from a $20,000 investment, but history shows that in time you can get there. Especially with 5% dividend yields easy to find on the Australian market.

If you were to average a 5% dividend yield across your ASX share portfolio, you would need to grow it to approximately $290,000 to generate the desired about of passive income.

Growing your portfolio

Over the last 30 years, the Australian share market has generated a total return of 9.6% per annum.

If you made a single $20,000 investment and left it to earn that level of return, it would take 29 years to get to your target level.

At that point, you could reshape your portfolio again to have a focus on passive income and then sit back and watch the dividends come rolling in.

But if 29 years is too long for you, it would be possible to get there sooner if you can add to your portfolio on a regular basis.

For example, if you were to make an additional $500 investment to your portfolio each month, you would get to $290,000 in just 15 years. And if you could afford to contribute $1,000 a month to your portfolio, you would get there in 11 years.

Overall, the key is to find an investment plan that works for you and then stick with it through the years.

The post How I’d aim to turn $20,000 invested in ASX shares into passive income of $1,200 a month! 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 recommended 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.

Ever heard of the ‘miracle of compound interest‘ when it comes to investment?

Legend has it that Albert Einstein once declared: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it”. 

Let’s explore this further, and we’ll also take some tips from a professional financial advisor on how to leverage compound interest across a range of investment asset classes.

What is compound interest?

Compound interest is basically earning interest on interest. It means you keep reinvesting the returns you make on your investments to make the next set of returns even higher.

Raj Pradhan, an advisor at Findex, says:

Harnessing compounding interest to grow your retirement savings could open the door to a world of financial possibilities and see your superannuation balance and investment returns multiply over time. 

Pradhan explains compound interest as follows:

… suppose you invest $10,000 in an asset that generates a 7% annual return. In the first year, you earn $700 in interest, bringing your total investment value to $10,700.

In the second year, the 7% return is applied to the new total ($10,700), resulting in a higher interest amount.

Over time, this compounding effect can help accelerate wealth creation and, subsequently, enhance your retirement fund.

Pradhan says an effective compound interest investment strategy begun at a young age reduces the need to add more money to your investments to achieve significant growth.

He says this makes the goal of building wealth more efficient, which is good news for most Australian investors who tend to have longer-term goals.

According to a recent Findex survey, planning for retirement (54%) and building wealth (53%) are the top two reasons Australians invest regardless of the investment asset classes they choose.

However, time is a key factor in maximising investment returns from compound interest.

Starting young will mean someone on an average wage can still amass good savings because they’re leveraging the benefit of time.

But if you can, ploughing spare money into your investments along the way will turbocharge the compound interest effect.

5 investment strategies using compound interest

Here are Pradhan’s five investment strategies to help you leverage the power of compound interest.

1. Regularly contribute to your superannuation fund

Pradhan says one of the most significant applications of compounding interest is in building retirement savings via superannuation.

He says:

Imagine starting to invest in your superannuation fund early in your career. By consistently contributing and reinvesting earnings, you harness the power of compounding interest to grow your future nest egg.

For example, let’s consider a scenario where you start investing $10,000 in your superannuation fund at age 25. Assuming an average annual return of 7% compounded annually, by the time you reach age 65, your investment could potentially grow to over $150,000.

2. Reinvest dividends earned from ASX shares or managed funds

Investing in a diverse range of quality ASX shares or international stocks can provide opportunities for capital appreciation and dividend reinvestment, Pradhan says.

Most ASX dividend shares offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs), which makes reinvestment an automatic process. The company will simply use your dividends to buy more shares for you.

Pradhan also says choosing professionally managed funds that reinvest dividends and distributions can compound investment returns over time.

3. Allocate funds to other asset classes to diversify

Besides ASX shares, Pradhan suggests investing in other assets like property or bonds to leverage compound growth and achieve diversification, which lowers risk.

He says: “Utilising leverage through property investment can amplify compound returns through rental income reinvestment and property value appreciation.“

Check out the returns from shares vs. property over a 10-year period here.

4. Open a high-interest savings account

Pradhan recommends leaving earnings in your high-interest savings account so they can compound for the long term.

According to RateCity, the highest interest rate available in the marketplace today is 5.75%. That’s well above the current inflation rate of 3.6%.

5. Prioritise low-cost and tax-efficient investments

Pradhan points out that minimising expenses and taxes will allow more capital to compound efficiently.

In The Fool’s Education Centre, you can learn about many low-cost investment options, such as index funds. We also recently profiled the 10 cheapest ASX ETFs on the market today.

In terms of tax efficiency, franking credits are a huge tax benefit for ASX shares investors.

You can also earn yourself a helpful tax deduction by contributing extra funds to superannuation each year. Just make sure you don’t exceed the threshold for concessional (pre-tax) personal contributions.

For FY24, the concessional contributions cap is $27,500. This includes your employer’s Superannuation Guarantee payments, any salary sacrifice amounts you’ve organised with your boss, and any personal contributions you make into your superannuation fund directly. In FY25, the cap moves up to $30,000.

Here are 4 other ways to get money into your superannuation before 30 June.

The post Expert reveals 5 investment strategies using compound interest appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Last week was an unnerving one for borrower. A hotter than expected Australian inflation reading sparked fears that interest rates will have to go higher before they go lower.

In case you missed it, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose to 3.6% for the 12 months to April 2024. This was up from 3.5% in March and 3.4% in January and February.

Economists had been expecting CPI to fall to 3.4%, so a surprise increase shook financial markets.

The economic team at Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has been running the rule over the report. Commenting on April’s CPI reading, the bank said:

By subcategory, there were various differences relative to expectations which offset one another – a notable increase in prices for clothing and footwear (+4.0%mth) and a pull-forward of the health insurance premium increase met by another fall in electricity prices, principally due to another round of energy rebates in Tasmania (–1.9%mth).

What does this mean for interest rates?

Westpac’s chief economist, Luci Ellis, notes that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will be watching the data very closely and acknowledges that rate cuts could be pushed back. But Ellis feels the central bank can’t wait too long. She said:

With the RBA in data-dependent mode, surprises in the data flow could change the timing of rate cuts, but not the underlying decision process. The RBA Board recognises that monetary policy is currently contractionary. At some point, it must reduce that restrictive stance and return to something closer to a level it considers to be ‘neutral’. Otherwise, inflation would eventually decline below the target range. Because monetary policy works with a lag, rate cuts need to start before inflation has returned to target.

The good news for homeowners is that Ellis continues to believe that interest rates will start heading lower from around November. The chief economist adds:

The question the RBA Board will be asking itself is what it needs to see to be confident that inflation will return to target soon. The likely trajectory of disinflation from here precludes a rate cut much before November. Trimmed mean inflation was still a full percentage point above the top of the target range over the year to the March quarter. Services inflation – a key focus for the RBA Board at present – remains elevated. It will take time for enough evidence to accumulate to convince the Board that the disinflation is on track.

But if things turn out as we expect, a forward-looking central bank would want to start reducing the restrictiveness of policy by about November.

This will see interest rates end the year at 4.1%. After which, Westpac is forecasting rates to fall to 3.85% by March 2025, 3.6% by June 2025, and then 3.1% by December 2025.

The post Here’s when Westpac says the RBA will now cut interest rates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buying ASX 200 bank stocks? Here’s why they could keep outperforming
• Do the dividends from Westpac shares still come fully franked?
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• Planning your retirement? Here are the most popular investments outside superannuation
• Are CBA share buyers getting the highest growth in return for being the most expensive?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Despite the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) rising 7.5% in the last 12 months, many shares with strong fundamentals are still trading at attractive valuations.

Among these, Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) stands out as an excellent choice, according to one top broker.

As my Foolish colleague James covered this week, analysts at Goldman Sachs believe Qantas shares remain undervalued. In a recent note, they set a price target of $8.05 apiece, with an upside potential of 33% over the next 12 months.

Why this ASX 200 share is a bargain

Goldman Sachs analysts reckon that the market is underestimating Qantas’ stronger earnings potential.

The broker cites Qantas’ $1 billion cost reduction program and improved operational performance as key drivers of future growth.

In particular, it projects “earnings capacity to structurally improve… with FY 2024 estimated [profit before tax] 51% ahead of pre-COVID levels”.

The current undervaluation is a prime buying opportunity, Goldman says, noting “[t]he discounted valuation versus peers and its own history implies that the market is pricing in a trade-off between investment (fleet and customer) and capital returns (dividends & buybacks)”.

Qantas’ loyalty division is another key growth driver. In the first half of FY 2024, the division contributed $270 million in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), up 23% year-on-year.

The airline aims to boost this segment’s EBIT to $800 million to $1 billion by FY 2030, enhancing overall profitability.

Add dividends to your Qantas shares

Moreover, Goldman Sachs anticipates the return of this ASX 200 shares’ dividend soon, adding to the bullish potential for Qantas shares.

Moving forward, Goldman Sachs expects Qantas to maintain a strong balance sheet, allowing for capital returns alongside fleet renewal. This, it says, should support healthy dividends and share repurchases.

The company has already announced an increase in its on-market share buyback by up to $400 million in its H1 FY 2024 results.

Analysts at Goldman now forecast a total of $1.6 billion in buybacks and dividends over FY 2025-2027. This includes $1.2 billion in dividends (73.6 cents a share).

If this were to materialise, it would translate to a forward dividend yield of 12.4% at Qantas’ current market capitalisation of $9.6 billion at the time of publication.

Goldman isn’t the only broker bullish on Qantas. The total 17 brokers covering the stock listed on Bloomberg are either neutral or bullish on the company – but none bearish – according to The Australian Financial Review.

How attractive is the valuation vs. ASX 200 shares?

Currently, Qantas trades at a price-earnings ratio (P/E) of 6.6 times — significantly below the current ratio of 18 times for the exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the benchmark index, iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ).

This represents value, as investors are paying $6.60 for every $1 in Qantas’ earnings versus $18 per dollar of earnings for the ETF.

In return, you are potentially buying shares in a company that recently produced $1.25 billion in underlying profit before tax. Qantas is also in “new identity” mode after recent scandals tarnished the brand. And, it is projected to return $1.6 billion of capital to shareholders in the next three years.

Foolish takeaway

Qantas could be an interesting investment opportunity due to potential valuation mismatches if analysts are right. Strong earnings potential and the imminent return of dividends are two factors that could make Qantas a top pick for savvy ASX investors looking for growth and income.

Qantas shares are trading 13% higher this year to date but are down 9% on this time 12 months ago.

The post ASX 200 shares are still cheap! Here’s one to consider buying now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top ASX shares to buy in June 2024
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• Qantas shares maintain altitude amid ‘historic’ $5 billion deal
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Catapult, Clarity, Pro Medicus, and Qantas shares are rising today

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.