• Nvidia shares are now worth more than 17 times the market cap of BHP. What’s next?

    A woman holds a glowing, sparking, technological representation of a planet in her hand.

    NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) recently posted its Q1 2024 financial results, sending its share price skyrocketing to US$1,064 and its market capitalisation soaring to US$2.6 trillion.

    At the current currency exchange rate, this translates to AUD$3.9 trillion. This massive valuation now dwarfs BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), the world’s largest mining company, with a market value of $226.4 billion at the time of writing.

    In other words, Nvidia is now worth more than 17 times BHP. According to investment strategist Lyn Alden, it is also one of the only assets that has outperformed Bitcoin over a 10-year period.

    Let’s dive into what’s driving Nvidia’s incredible growth and what might come next for the tech giant.

    AI is driving Nvidia shares higher

    The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is a key factor behind Nvidia’s meteoric rise. As tech companies globally invest heavily in AI, Nvidia’s GPUs and chips have become essential components, making it a crucial player in the AI revolution. This is akin to selling shovels to miners during a gold rush.

    For the quarter ending 31 March 2024, Nvidia last week reported extraordinary financial performance. You can see the company’s staggering growth below:

    Item Year-on-Year Growth
    Total Revenue 262%
    Operating Income 690%
    Earnings Per Share 628%
    Source: NVIDIA Q1 2025 financial results.

    In what I consider to be shareholder-friendly actions, Nvidia management announced a ten-for-one forward stock split “to make stock ownership more accessible to employees and investors”. It also increased its quarterly dividend by 150% to $0.10 per share.

    These results stunned Wall Street as if they’d seen a bear in real life. IG Markets analyst Hebe Chen said there was no doubt that Nvidia’s numbers “moved beyond the financial performance of a single company”.

    “From a data standpoint”, Chen said, “today’s results have undoubtedly cleared any remaining doubts in the market about the AI frenzy”, adding this was “a validation of how far the AI stocks’ party can go”.

    What’s next for Nvidia shares?

    Looking ahead, Nvidia’s management projects $28 billion in revenues for the next quarter, with gross margins of 75%.

    Wall Street analysts forecast the company’s annual revenue to hit $120.5 billion, marking a 98% growth from 2023. In the last three months, Nvidia’s full-year revenues have been revised a staggering 41 times, and earnings per share have been revised 38 times.

    But with Nvidia shares trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 62, investors are expecting significant future performance.

    IG Markets’ Hebe Chen warns these high expectations, set by the recently announced stock split and dividend boosts, “sets a dauntingly high bar for future excitement”.

    Foolish takeaway

    Nvidia’s share price rise to US$1,064 marks a staggering 22,150% total return over the past 10 years.

    A $10,000 investment in the tech player a decade ago would now be worth over $2.2 million. Analysts project strong growth for the company in the next 1–2 years. Beyond that, who knows what’s in store.

    The post Nvidia shares are now worth more than 17 times the market cap of BHP. What’s next? 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 Zach Bristow 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 Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Would I buy NAB shares above $33 right now?

    A woman looks questioning as she puts a coin into a piggy bank.

    The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price has risen an impressive 21% in the last six months. After such a strong run, investors may wonder whether the ASX bank share is still a buy. Does it have any more upside?

    When a share price rises rapidly, it increases the price/earnings (P/E) ratio and decreases the dividend yield. This ‘worsening’ of the valuation statistics is not appealing, but if the outlook is promising, the bank stock could still justify an investment.  

    Let’s look at how the company’s operations have been performing recently.

    Earnings recap

    In the FY24 first-half result, NAB reported cash earnings of $3.55 billion, down 3.1% compared to the second half of FY23. And compared to the FY23 first-half, cash earnings were down 12.8%.

    NAB attributed the profit decline to several factors, including the slowing economy, competitive pressures, and a higher effective cash rate.

    Because of competitive pressures, its personal banking segment suffered a significant 29.6% year-over-year decline in cash profit to $553 million.

    NAB reported that its ratio of loans at least 90 days past due increased 13 basis points over a 12-month period to 0.79%. This mainly reflected “higher arrears across the Australian home lending and business lending portfolios”. The credit impairment charge for the HY24 period was $363 million.

    The result showed a decline in profit, so I wouldn’t say the financials justified a higher NAB share price.

    Is the outlook improving?

    Six months ago, there were worries about elevated inflation and interest rates and what that may mean for bank loan books. Then, in the first couple of months of 2024, it seemed the inflation picture was improving.

    More recently, however, headline inflation has remained stubbornly high. Not only could this mean rates stay at this level for longer, but the latest RBA minutes show the central bank has considered increasing interest rates again.

    When NAB announced its HY24 result, it gave this economic outlook:

    In Australia, household consumption growth slowed sharply in the second half of 2023, impacted by interest rates and cost of living pressures. This is weighing on real GDP growth which is expected to remain below-trend over the near term.

    However, some relief is anticipated later this year with expected tax cuts and a forecast easing in monetary policy from November should inflation continue to moderate. Following 1.5% GDP growth over 2023, growth of 1.7% is forecast over 2024, before improving to around 2.25 % in 2025.

    Pressure has eased in the labour market and wage growth is expected to slow from elevated rates in 2023. The unemployment rate is expected to continue to drift higher, peaking at around 4.5% by end 2024, but most indicators of labour demand remain healthy suggesting employment will continue to grow.

    There is a mix of positives and negatives, but the economy is performing better than expected.

    NAB share price valuation

    The broker UBS has forecast that NAB’s cash profit in FY24, FY25 and FY26 will be lower than FY23 profit amid the competitive landscape. UBS predicts NAB could generate $7 billion of net profit in FY24, compared to $7.7 billion of cash earnings in FY23.

    Based on the UBS forecast, NAB’s share price is valued at 15x FY24’s estimated earnings.

    I think NAB is one of the best ASX bank shares, but its P/E ratio seems stretched, considering the weak profit outlook for the next few years. Rising arrears are a worry for me.

    If I were trying to outperform the market, I wouldn’t choose to invest in the ASX bank share at this time. I believe there are better opportunities out there. If NAB shares dropped below $30, that more reasonable valuation could make it more appealing to me.

    The post Would I buy NAB shares above $33 right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in National Australia Bank Limited right now?

    Before you buy National Australia Bank 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 National Australia Bank 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 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.

  • China’s gold rush shows the Chinese still have money to spend — they’re just not into Starbucks or Gucci

    Customers select gold ornaments at a gold jewelry store on April 3, 2024 in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
    China's gold rush has sent gold prices to record highs.

    • China's gold buying is sending prices to record highs amid economic uncertainties.
    • China's consumers are hedging risks, avoiding luxury brands like Starbucks and Gucci.
    • Instead of premium imported brands, they are pivoting to buying cheaper domestic brands for discretionary products.

    China's buying up a lot of gold, sending prices of the precious metal to record highs.

    The consumption trend reflects risk hedging and a lack of confidence in the flagging economy that has been struggling to regain momentum since lifting on-off pandemic lockdowns.

    It also reflects that there's money in the system — but Chinese consumers are just really not that keen on dropping their hard-earned cash at Starbucks or Gucci.

    China's economy is facing multiple risks and uncertainties, including an epic real-estate crisis, stock market volatility, geopolitical headwinds, and demographic challenges.

    "With China's population facing rapidly aging demographics, Chinese households are trying to boost their retirement savings at a time when real estate and equity markets have been weak," Rajiv Biswas, an international economist and the author of "Asian Megatrends," told Business Insider.

    Last year, China's demand for gold jewelry rose 10% from 2022, to 630 tons acquired, making the country the world's largest buyer of the commodity, according to the World Gold Council. China's demand for gold jewelry softened in the first quarter of this year due to the surge in gold prices but was still holding up well, according to the council.

    Gen Z Chinese consumers ditch luxury for gold

    Unlike the rush into gold assets, Chinese consumers are not running out to buy even more stuff, particularly foreign imports.

    This is a problem, particularly for luxury retailers, as China's demand for high-end products fueled supercharged growth in the industry for years.

    This is no longer the case.

    LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury group, reported in April that Asia's revenues outside Japan fell 6% in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago.

    Kering, the luxury retailer that owns brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, issued a profit warning due to the challenging market in China.

    In a reflection of how many shoppers fell out of luxury buying, Chinese shoppers were responsible for about 23% of luxury goods spending at the start of the year — down from 33% pre-pandemic, a Bloomberg analyst said recently.

    China's consumers are buying cheaper domestic products

    Even imports are taking a hit, with coffee chain Starbucks signaling a slower-than-expected recovery in China will lead to lower annual growth this year, the company reported in April.

    Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said in a first-quarter earnings call that many customers are being "more exacting about where and how they choose to spend their money."

    Nomura analysts highlighted in an April report that younger Chinese consumers have become "much less enamored with foreign premium products, and now seem to prefer low-cost domestic substitutes."

    In the case of Starbucks, Luckin Coffee — China's biggest coffee chain — is aggressively putting out beverage deals at attractive prices to beat the American company.

    Patriotism is also playing into the trend. That's true even for some products that are around the same price as imported ones, such as a recent surge in Huawei phone deliveries amid plunging iPhone sales, and a similar trend with Tesla versus BYD electric vehicles, the Nomura analysts added.

    China's painful economic transition, which is causing a bumpy economic outlook for its people, is contributing to this trend.

    "As income growth slows, coupled with heightened unemployment risks, the high premium paid for foreign brands has become increasingly hard to justify," wrote the Nomura analysts.

    China's per capita GDP is still expected to rise

    Despite the gloom, there are green shoots in China's economy.

    April data out of China showed consumers in the country are buying fewer things — such as clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry — but they are spending on experiences.

    Consumption in the "eat, drink, and play" categories of catering, tobacco and liquor, and sports and recreation outpaced headline consumption growth. This signal shows that "consumers have been forgoing big-ticket purchases in favor of spending in these categories in 2024," wrote Lynn Song, the chief economist for the Greater China region at the Dutch bank ING.

    This preference for experience spending also spills over to the consumer sector. LVMH CFO Jean-Jacques Guiony said in April that more Chinese are spending money outside their country as they resume traveling.

    Even so, Chinese consumers are still expected to retain their appetite for gold.

    GDP by capita in the world's second-largest economy is also still expected to rise from $12,700 in 2023 to $18,000 by 2030 — which is likely to boost gold demand in the future, said Biswas, the economist.

    The weak Chinese yuan is leading consumers to buy gold with their savings to hedge against currency risks.

    China's savings rate was around 32% last year — compared to around 4% in the US, according to a McKinsey analysis of official data.

    "As consumer sentiment continues its slump, consumers prefer to sock their cash away in the bank rather than spend it, pushing the savings rate higher," McKinsey wrote in April.

    The spot gold price is around $2,335 per ounce, off the record high above $2,400 hit on May 21.

    There may be more upside for the yellow metal.

    "Chinese households are increasingly confronted by the weak long-term Chinese growth outlook and the slumping prices in China's residential real estate market," said Biswas.

    The economist said those woes will continue to drive investors, especially those looking to boost their retirement savings, to gold.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Should I buy ASX shares now, or wait for a stock market crash?

    a businessman looks into a graph on the floor as a tornado rises, indicating share market chaos

    Stock market crashes can cause a lot of pain when they do occasionally occur. When a crash happens, there’s widespread and indiscriminate selling by fearful investors.

    While living through a bear market is unsettling, it can also often be the time of the cheapest share prices. Hence, there are both positives and negatives to buying today or waiting for a stock market crash, so let’s consider both strategies.

    Wait for a stock market crash

    When we look back at previous bear markets like the GFC, the 2020 COVID-19 crash or the inflation worries of 2022 on a chart, there were significant declines of around 30% for many ASX shares, and some dropped more than 50%.

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price chart below demonstrates the historical volatility share markets can see. Wesfarmers is the owner of Kmart, Bunnings and several other Aussie businesses.

    When we buy shares at a lower price, it means buying them at a lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio and with a higher dividend yield.

    The lower the price we can invest at, the bigger the margin of safety we can give ourselves. Buying during a crash can also unlock significant returns if/when that ASX share recovers.

    For example, if a business had a $10 share price and dropped 50%, it would fall to a $5 share price. If someone invested at $5 and the share price recovers to $10, that would be a return of 100%.

    Sitting on cash, earning interest and investing during a market crash sounds excellent on paper.

    However, we don’t have crystal balls—waiting for the bottom of a market crash carries a lot of execution risk. Investors may hesitate and miss the bottom of the crash by investing too late or we could invest too early, missing out on the best prices. There is also a danger of investing in a very beaten-up business that ends up going bust, resulting in a 100% loss.

    Invest today

    If someone has an investment plan and regularly deploys money into an exchange-traded fund (ETF), like Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS), I think the most effective strategy would be to keep investing regularly and ignore what the market is doing.

    The ASX share market and global stock market have delivered an average annual return of around 10% over the ultra-long term. That return has been achieved despite the crashes, recessions, politicians, wars, pandemics, and every other negative.

    Businesses want to keep growing profits, and this can drive their underlying value higher, even if there is some volatility along the way.

    I’m not suggesting we should buy any share at any price. But over the months and years, notable events alter the valuations of different companies and industries. And sometimes, a bargain can be found.

    If a stock market crash occurs, I’d want to invest as much as possible to take advantage of those lower prices. But, I’m not waiting for a bear market. I regularly invest in the best ASX share opportunities for my portfolio.

    So, for most people, I think the right strategy is to invest sooner rather than wait for an eventual crash.

    The post Should I buy ASX shares now, or wait for a stock market crash? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended 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.

  • Lendlease share price leaps 9% on plans to bring $4.5 billion back home

    A smiling businessman in the city looks at his phone and punches the air in celebration of good news.

    The Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC) share price is charging higher today.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) property and infrastructure group closed on Friday trading for $5.89. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $6.41 apiece, up 8.8%.

    For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.6% at this same time.

    Here’s what investors are considering today.

    Lendlease share price surges amid focus on shareholder returns

    The Lendlease share price is leaping higher after the company released a major strategy update.

    The property developer is moving to simplify its global business and bring costs under control.

    As part of the new strategy, Lendlease will exit its struggling international construction projects and focus on its integrated Australian real estate business with international investment management capabilities.

    Lendlease said it intended to complete the transactions already announced and underway and accelerate the capital release from its offshore development projects and assets to recycle $4.5 billion of capital.

    Management expects to achieve “significant progress” within the next 12 to 18 months.

    The company will prioritise debt reduction and shareholder capital returns.

    In line with that, the Lendlease share price is likely catching some tailwinds after management flagged “a phased return” of capital to shareholders with a planned initial $500 million on-market buy-back.

    As for debt reduction, Lendlease aims to significantly reduce gearing to within a lowered target range of 5% to 15% by the end of FY 2026, down from the current range of 10% to 20%.

    Additionally, the property developer said it would release around $3.42 per share of net tangible assets from a newly established Capital Release Unit (CRU). Most of that is expected by the end of FY 2025.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the strategy changes lifting the Lendlease share price today, chairman Michael Ullmer said, “We recognise that our security price performance and securityholder returns have been poor as we have faced structural challenges and a prolonged market downturn.”

    Ulmer added, “We have thought very carefully about the necessary strategic refocus and made some tough decisions.”

    Lendlease CEO Tony Lombardo said, “Through the decisive actions announced today, a new Lendlease is emerging.”

    Lombardo continued:

    By reshaping the portfolio, concentrating on our core competencies in markets where we have proven we have the right to play, and the competitive advantage to win, the financial and operational risk profile will be lower, and we believe the quality of our earnings ultimately higher and more sustainable.

    Importantly, we do not launch this strategy from a standing start. Significant work has already been undertaken… There is no question that the Australian business of Lendlease is market leading and unique in the breadth and strength of its integrated capability and services…

    The establishment of the Capital Release Unit (CRU) is central to our new strategy. The CRU will facilitate the recycling of $4.5 billion in capital of which $2.8 billion is anticipated by the end of FY25. Our priority will be to pay down debt and efficiently return capital to securityholders.

    The company maintained its previously announced full-year guidance of a 7% return on equity.

    Lendlease share price snapshot

    With today’s intraday gains factored in, the Lendlease share price remains down 18% over 12 months.

    The post Lendlease share price leaps 9% on plans to bring $4.5 billion back home appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Lendlease 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 Lendlease 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.

  • The pros and cons of buying Woodside shares right now

    A miner in visibility gear and hard hat looks seriously at an iPad device in a field where oil mining equipment is visible in the background.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have been on a downward trend over the last year, falling more than 20%, as we can see in the chart below.

    After its sizeable decline in the past 12 months, investors may wonder if this is a buying opportunity.

    There are some compelling reasons to buy Woodside shares, but also other reasons for avoiding it. Let’s look at both sides of the investment equation.

    The positives

    A lower Woodside share price means a more appealing valuation, as shown by its lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio. It’s possible Woodside shares could still go cheaper, but the 27% drop from September 2023 is substantial.

    Broker UBS has forecast Woodside could make earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23, resulting in a forward P/E ratio of 15. This is materially lower than the valuation when the Woodside share price was still above $38, compared to approximately $28 today.

    A cheaper Woodside share price also leads to a larger dividend yield for new investors. UBS suggests the ASX energy share could pay an annual dividend per share of US 98 cents. That translates into a possible grossed-up dividend yield of 7.6%. The dividend return could generate an essential part of the overall shareholder returns in the medium term.

    The third positive I’ll point to is the possibility of growing energy demand. Data centres could drive significant demand growth for greener energy, such as hydrogen, which could help the company find customers for its hydrogen projects.

    Finally, the Australian Federal Government recently announced that gas would remain part of Australia’s energy plans at least until 2050. The government had this to say:

    Reliable gas supply will gradually and inevitably support a shift towards higher-value and non-substitutable gas uses. Households will continue to have a choice over how their energy needs are met.

    Australia is, and will remain, a reliable trading partner for energy, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and low emission gases.

    Negatives about Woodside shares

    An integral negative for me is the company’s profit is closely linked to energy prices, but it has little control over oil or gas prices. It’s a price-taker rather than a price-maker. Price-takers find it challenging to deliver consistently growing profit, so we can often see the Woodside share price bounce around rather than steadily rising over time.

    Consequently, UBS thinks EPS could be higher in FY24 than in FY26 and FY28. Forecasts are just educated guesses, of course — energy prices could be weaker or stronger. However, if EPS doesn’t grow much compared to the estimate for FY24, I can’t see the Woodside share price delivering too much in terms of capital growth.

    UBS also points out that one of Woodside’s projects, Sangomar, has “complicated” geology. The broker is cautious because the ASX energy share has not provided disclosure on its well performance.

    The broker also notes there’s an “increased risk” that the fiscal regime under the Sangomar Production Sharing Contract may be renegotiated to increase the government’s take following Senegal’s change in government.

    Foolish takeaway

    Now may be an opportune time to examine the business after its recent decline.

    However, because of the uncertainty relating to commodity pricing, I don’t think there’s a significant upside for the Woodside share price. I’d rather focus on other ASX shares with a more foreseeable and consistent growth outlook.

    The post The pros and cons of buying Woodside shares right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woodside Petroleum Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Woodside Petroleum Ltd 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 Woodside Petroleum Ltd 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 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.

  • I’m a Google product manager who mentors 10 people a month. Here’s how I pick mentees, based on their messages and attitude.

    Sonakshi Pandey
    Pandey worked at Amazon and AWS before moving to Google in 2021.

    • Sonakshi Pandey transitioned from software engineering to solution architecture.
    • Mentoring has sharpened her leadership skills and exposed her to diverse tech fields.
    • She looks for mentees who are self-driven, prepared, and are willing to be honest and vulnerable.

    This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sonakshi Pandey, a cloud computing product manager at Google in Seattle. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her employment history.

    I was three years into my career as a software engineer when I realized I wanted to challenge myself.

    I loved coding but was keen on a role that was less desk-bound and encouraged me to meet people and speak in public, something that made me anxious because I have always been an introvert.

    I found that a solution architecture role would be a good entry point, and I interviewed to move to Amazon Web Services, from Amazon.com, where I was at the time.

    I got the role and had the opportunity to speak at client meetings.

    But my first few presentations were very rocky: I struggled with confidence, imposter syndrome, and memorizing a script.

    It took hours of practice presentations and guidance from various mentors to help me become a person who speaks comfortably at meetings and tech conferences.

    Now, I'm selective about who I choose to mentor. Here's why I do it and how I pick mentees:

    Being a mentor benefits me

    I mentor interns at Google and a variety of people at various stages of their careers who reach out on LinkedIn or other social media. I am also starting an advisory role at the University of Washington this summer.

    I have found it to be a mutually beneficial relationship, where I get a lot from talking to them as well.

    Having mentees from backgrounds like data analytics, solutions architecture, and people management has exposed me to parts of the tech landscape that I don't know as much about.

    Watching my mentees succeed not only gives me confidence about the impact I can create but has rekindled my passion for my field.

    I have been mentoring for about four years now. Most of my mentorship relationships also turn into professional connections and become good opportunities for collaboration or support.

    What I look for in mentees

    As someone with close to 10 years of experience in Big Tech, I receive a lot of reachouts on social media and my email.

    In the early days of setting up my tech Instagram and YouTube accounts, I was excited to help everyone who reached out and asked for my time.

    I soon realized that I would need a way to filter mentees because not everyone would reciprocate or acknowledge the efforts I put into supporting them. This made me very protective of myself and the hours I was dedicating to mentorship.

    What I look for in cold reachouts

    I find that the best reachouts are the ones that show research and effort.

    I always appreciate when people include something they learned from my content and how it helped them or feedback for my posts. Interactions that start with asking me more details or questions about a topic I mention are also a great way of connecting.

    One of my reachouts introduced themselves by saying they completed a free certification after watching one of my videos and would like my help in using it to land a full time role, which stood out to me.

    I find that it is a great way of establishing a two-way relationship instead of simply introducing themselves and requesting 15 minutes of my time.

    A nice email also seems more thoughtful than a direct message on Instagram or a request to connect on LinkedIn. I naturally get a lot more of those, because they require such less effort.

    Very few people do the hard work of going to my "About" page on YouTube and finding my email.

    Long-term relationship building

    I look for people who appear proactive and self-driven. I love when mentees set ambitious goals and seek resources to achieve them. They come to meetings with thoughtful questions and a desire to learn from my personal stories.

    The mentees I have long-term relationships with are those who approach setbacks with optimism. They are also honest with me and true to themselves.

    I advise those looking to become mentors to seek out similar traits. The best mentees are self-starters who come to meetings prepared and are keen on paying it forward.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • 1 Australian mining stock worth a long-term investment

    A happy miner pointing.

    The Australian mining stock Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) has excellent investment potential because of its copper exposure, I believe.

    Sandfire is one of the largest copper miners on the ASX. Its DeGrussa operations are located 900km northeast of Perth in Western Australia, which is generating “strong cash flows,” according to the company. The ASX copper share also owns the MATSA operations in Spain and the Motheo copper mine in Botswana.

    Here are two major reasons why I think Sandfire Resources has a compelling future.

    Strong growth potential for the Australian mining stock

    The mining company says its MATSA portfolio in Spain offers “exceptional exploration upside”.

    While MATSA is already operational, the surrounding exploration tenure — approximately 3,000sq km in size — offers “substantial long-term exploration upside and organic growth potential”, according to Sandfire.

    If it can find more copper in Spain, the company can lengthen the life of its mining operations and utilise existing infrastructure. The company can also potentially find copper in other locations.

    The outlook for copper itself is another reason to be interested in this Australian mining stock.

    Copper is an essential decarbonisation commodity because of its role in global electrification, including expanding the electrical grid, manufacturing renewable energy generation (like wind power), and the significant use of copper in electric vehicles.

    According to McKinsey, electrification is projected to increase annual copper demand to 36.6 million metric tons by 2031. The research outfit has forecast a possible pathway to 30.1 million metric tons of annual copper supply, but that suggests a deficit of 6.5 million metric tons (or 20%).

    Sandfire Resources is an important global copper player, so the Australian mining stock could benefit from higher copper prices if demand materially outstrips supply in the coming years.

    Sandfire Resources share price valuation

    The broker UBS, has forecast the ASX copper share can generate earnings per share (EPS) of 47 cents in FY26. This puts the ASX mining share at 20x FY26’s estimated earnings.

    With the potential for the copper price to rise in the long term, plus the company’s efforts to grow copper production over time, I think this is a compelling Australian mining stock to consider.

    The post 1 Australian mining stock worth a long-term investment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Sandfire Resources Nl right now?

    Before you buy Sandfire Resources Nl 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 Sandfire Resources Nl 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 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.

  • With a dividend yield over 7%, are Telstra shares a buy for income?

    a man looks down at his phone with a look of happy surprise on his face as though he is thrilled with good news.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have significantly declined over the past year, dropping by 20%.

    This means the Telstra share price currently offers a higher level of dividend income because the dividend yield increases when a share price falls.

    After the valuation decline for the ASX telco share, let’s examine what income Telstra investors are getting now.

    How big is the dividend yield today?

    Telstra told investors that solid cash flow conversion and generation supported “flexibility to grow dividends and invest” and that it wanted to maintain “balance sheet strength and flexibility while seeking to grow dividends”.

    The last two dividends declared by Telstra amounted to 17.5 cents, delivering a fully franked dividend yield of 5.1% and a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.2%.

    But those dividends are history. What could the future payouts be for owners of Telstra shares?

    The broker UBS has predicted Telstra could pay a dividend per share of 18 cents per share in FY24 and 19 cents per share in FY25. That translates into forward grossed-up dividend yields of 7.5% and 7.9%, respectively. That’s much more than what you can get from a savings account.

    But there’s more to a sound investment than just the dividend yield. Ideally, I’d like to see profit growth over the longer term. Profit generation funds the dividend payments, so bigger profits can enable large payouts. Higher profits can also support a higher Telstra share price.

    Are Telstra shares a buy?

    Pleasingly, every six months, Telstra typically reports that it has added significant additional subscribers. In the first half of FY24, Telstra revealed that its mobile services in operation (SIO) grew by 4.6%, or 625,000 subscribers. I believe mobile subscriber growth will be the critical driver of underlying profit.

    Telstra has already spent the capital on its networks and built the infrastructure. The additional subscribers can help boost revenue and margins.

    The company recently acknowledged its enterprise business wasn’t performing and announced job cuts in the division, with up to 2,800 roles to be removed. Most of the cuts are expected to occur by the end of the 2024 calendar year.

    With those cuts and other actions, Telstra expects to achieve $350 million of its T25 cost reduction goal by the end of FY25. One-off restructuring costs are expected to be between $200 million and $250 million across FY24 and FY25.

    The company has guided that its underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) for FY25 is expected to be between $8.4 billion and $8.7 billion. That would be growth compared to the guidance range for FY24 (which hasn’t finished yet) of between $8.2 billion and $8.3 billion.

    At this lower Telstra share price, I think it’s a buy. The underlying profit and dividend are growing, and the lower valuation looks more appealing. According to UBS, the Telstra share price is valued at 19x FY24’s estimated earnings.

    The post With a dividend yield over 7%, are Telstra shares a buy for income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

  • Buy these ASX 200 dividend shares for passive income in June

    There are plenty of quality ASX 200 dividend shares to choose from on the Australian share market.

    But which ones could be buys next month?

    Three that have been tipped as buy in June are listed below. Here’s why they could be worth a look:

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

    Aurizon could be an ASX 200 dividend share to buy according to analysts. It is Australia’s largest rail freight operator and each year transports more than 250 million tonnes of Australian commodities, connecting miners, primary producers and industry with international and domestic markets.

    The team at Ord Minnett thinks income investors should be buying its shares. The broker has an accumulate rating and $4.70 price target on its shares.

    As for dividends, Ord Minnett 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 $3.70, this will mean dividend yields of 4.8% and 6.55%, respectively.

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Another ASX 200 dividend share for income investors to consider buying is Telstra.

    Goldman Sachs remains positive on the telco giant despite being disappointed with its recent guidance update.

    It notes that the “low risk earnings (and dividend) growth that Telstra is delivering across FY22-25, underpinned through its mobile business, is attractive.” It also believes that the company “has a meaningful medium term opportunity to crystallise value through commencing the process to monetize its InfraCo Fixed assets”.

    Goldman expects fully franked dividends of 18 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 18.5 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Telstra share price of $3.45, this equates to yields of 5.2% and 5.35%, respectively.

    The broker has a buy rating and $4.25 price target on Telstra’s shares.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

    A final ASX 200 dividend share that could be in the buy zone this month is Woodside Energy. It is one of the globe’s largest energy producers.

    The team at Morgans thinks that investors should be taking advantage of recent share price weakness. Especially given the quality of its earnings and strong balance sheet.

    In addition, recent share price weakness has boosted the yield on offer with its shares. Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of $1.25 per share in FY 2024 and then $1.57 per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Woodside share price of $27.93, this represents dividend yields of 4.5% and 5.6%, respectively.

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

    The post Buy these ASX 200 dividend shares for passive income in June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Aurizon 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 Aurizon 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 Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool 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.