• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A young woman makes an online travel booking as she sits on some steps with her suitcase next to her.

    It was a wild day for ASX shares and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Wednesday.

    After taking a bath yesterday, the ASX 200 had a strong start this morning, but endured a midday slump which it didn’t recover from by the time the markets closed. As it now stands, the index is at 7,848.1 points, down 0.046% for this hump day.

    This wild Wednesday for ASX shares follows a stronger session over on the US markets overnight.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a decent time, gaining 0.17%.

    It was a similar tale for the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which rose 0.22%.

    But returning to the local markets now, let’s check out what the different ASX sectors were up to today.

    Winners and losers

    We had a fairly even split between the winners and losers today.

    Starting off with the losers, it was communications shares that got the wooden spoon. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) had another rough one, tanking 2.54%.

    Consumer discretionary stocks travelled a little better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) still slumped 1.37%.

    ASX gold shares were also on the nose. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) got a 0.77% markdown from investors.

    Energy stocks weren’t much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) retreating 0.73%.

    Consumer staples shares were another sore spot. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slid 0.5% lower.

    Our final loser was the healthcare space. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) slipped 0.01% by the end of the trading day.

    Turning now to the happier sectors, and none were more ecstatic than utilities stocks today. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) enjoyed a strong 0.9% rise this Wednesday.

    Industrial shares also had a swell time, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) soaring 0.49%.

    Tech stocks had a day to remember as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shot up 0.3% by market close.

    Mining shares weren’t left out either, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)’s 0.27% improvement.

    Financial stocks got an invite to the party as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) banking a 0.26% gain.

    Finally, financials were followed by real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) lifted 0.16% by the closing bell.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Leading the index this Wednesday was travel stock Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB). Webjet shares shot up 7.7% to $9.09 each today.

    This follows an earnings announcement, as well as the company revealing demerger plans for its WebBeds and Webjet B2C businesses.

    Here’s how the rest of today’s winners came out:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB) $9.09 7.70%
    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) $17.86 6.63%
    Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC)
    $1.825 4.89%
    Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) $1.80 3.15%
    Auckland International Airport Ltd (ASX: AIA) $6.98 2.95%
    Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) $15.78 2.53%
    Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) $144.61 2.41%
    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) $12.57 2.36%
    Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN) $1.15 2.22%
    BWP Trust (ASX: BWP) $3.76 2.17%

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

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Auckland International Airport Limited right now?

    Before you buy Auckland International Airport 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 Auckland International Airport 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 Sebastian Bowen 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 Light & Wonder, Technology One, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder, Technology One, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 2 of the best ASX growth shares to buy right now

    a happy investor with a wide smile points to a graph that shows an upward trending share price

    The good news for Australian growth investors is that there are plenty of quality options to choose from on the local share market.

    But which ASX growth shares could be best buys this month?

    Let’s take a look at two growth shares that brokers rate very highly:

    IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

    The team at Bell Potter is feeling very bullish on this distributor of electrical equipment and industrial digital technologies and sees it as an ASX growth share to buy.

    Its analysts expect the company to benefit greatly from the electrification megatrend. The broker explains:

    We view IPG as a high quality play on the electrification growth trend which is emerging as a dominant market narrative. Our favourable investment thesis is based on three key points: (1) product volumes being driven by refurbishment/ upgrade of existing infrastructure and by virtue of relatively low demand risk; (2) IPD’s large turnaround opportunity with a globally leading manufacturer in ABB (market share in Australia of 5-10% compares to Europe of 20-30%); and (3) IPD’s electric vehicle charging opportunity reaching a tipping point in FY24e. Australia is set for a $650m public fast charging investment cycle by 2027 and IPD is engaged with a number of players who we expect to lead this transition (e.g. service station chains and network operators).

    Bell Potter has IPG on its preferred list with a buy rating and $5.90 price target.

    Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

    Analysts at Morgans think that Objective Corp could be an ASX growth share to buy. It is a content, collaboration and process management solutions provider for the public sector in the Asia Pacific and Europe.

    The broker believes that Objective Corp is well-placed to benefit from increased software spending in the global public sector. It explains:

    Global Public Sector software spend is anticipated to grow at a low double-digit rates over the near term as governments look to streamline workflow, improve security, and modernise legacy IT infrastructure. We see Objective as being a beneficiary of this trend. Objective has seen a strategic reset in its earnings in FY23 as it looks to prioritise subscription licencing revenue growth, streamline deployment of its solutions, and invest in product and sales support functions. Whilst this has recently weighed on the company’s share price, we believe Objective should be well positioned to see long-term revenue growth rates and margins return in FY24 and beyond. The company is also strongly capitalised and well positioned to take advantage of M&A opportunities as private market technology valuations have contracted, which in our view could add incremental scale and scope for long-term growth.

    Morgans has Objective Corp on its best ideas list with an add rating and $14.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 2 of the best ASX growth shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

  • Bird flu worries send this ASX 200 stock diving 17%

    An egg with an unhappy face drawn on it lying on a bed of straw.

    The Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) share price is currently down 6.5% amid concerns that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock could be somehow exposed. At one point it had fallen 17% between the day’s high and low. The company has reassured investors it is not affected.

    As the largest poultry producer in Australia, investors are paying close attention to what this could mean for the company.

    Bird flu detected near Ballarat

    According to reporting by the ABC, Agriculture Victoria has confirmed that avian influenza has been detected on a farm in Victoria’s west, at an egg farm near Meredith, south of Ballarat.

    The property has been put into quarantine and samples have been sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. Tests will be carried out to determine what the strain of the disease is.

    This is reportedly the first time the virus has appeared in Australia in four years.

    The ABC reported that consumers “should not be concerned about eggs and poultry products from the supermarkets — they do not pose a risk and are safe to consume.”

    Inghams response

    This afternoon, Inghams commented in an ASX announcement noting it has no commercial broiler farms located in the affected region and “there is currently no impact to Ingham’s operations or its supply chain, and the company continues to supply the market as usual”.

    Inghams pointed out that the Victorian Department of Agriculture has quarantined the infected farm and implemented an exclusion zone around it. The Department of Agriculture is also undertaking a disease investigation, which includes “detailed tracing of all movements related to the infected farm”.

    In response to these developments, the ASX 200 poultry stock has implemented “enhanced biosecurity measures”, in addition to its “already strict standard protocols” throughout its Victorian operations. Those measures include restricting access to all Victorian operations, for both the livestock and processing.

    What next for the Inghams share price?

    The ASX 200 stock has risen around 11% since the low of $3.22, so investors seem more confident about the situation. Time will tell if this has been limited to just one location in Victoria.

    Assuming no worsening of the situation, investors may shift their focus to Inghams’ financial performance in the upcoming FY24 result.

    In the FY24 first-half result, the business said its group core poultry volume was up 2.2% to 240.8kt and revenue increased 8.7% to $1.64 billion. An improvement in costs and margins helped underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grow by 134.2% to $62.3 million.

    However, the ASX 200 stock said market conditions for consumers in the second half of FY24 were expected to remain “challenging” underpinning the shift being seen toward in-home dining and away from the out-of-home channels of fast food restaurants and food service.

    The business said in February that based on current market pricing, it’s expecting some benefit from lower key feed costs in FY25.

    Despite today’s decline, the Inghams share price is up around 20% in the last year, as the chart below shows.

    The post Bird flu worries send this ASX 200 stock diving 17% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Inghams Group 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 Inghams Group 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.

  • Forget Nvidia: This ASX growth stock is poised for its own bull run

    There’s a rising ASX growth stock that I believe has the potential to rival Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA).

    Not Nvidia’s global dominating size, mind you. But the kinds of outsized share price gains the United States-based generative artificial intelligence company has been delivering to shareholders.

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have been hearing plenty about Nvidia this past year.

    And for good reason.

    The Nvidia share price has surged 206% over the past 12 months. That gives the AI chip maker an eye-popping market cap of US$2.35 trillion (AU$3.53 trillion).

    And, to be sure, you’ll be hearing a lot more about Nvidia tomorrow. The company reports its first quarter results in the US on Wednesday (overnight Aussie time).

    But it’s not Nvidia I want to focus on here.

    Rather, it’s ASX growth stock NextDc Ltd (ASX: NXT).

    Here’s why.

    ASX growth stock riding the AI wave

    Nvidia’s remarkable growth story, and that of many international and ASX tech companies, is closely linked to the rapid rise of AI.

    Now, we like to say that all of the phenomenal and ever-growing processing power and data required by AI technology resides in the cloud. But, of course, this really refers to data centres.

    Indeed, analysts have flagged that Nvidia could reap a whopping US$200 billion in data centre revenue in 2025.

    Which offers some strong and ongoing opportunities for ASX growth stock NextDC.

    You see, AI-enabled data centres require far more energy and upgraded technologies than traditional facilities.

    And S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) listed NextDC is the largest listed developer and operator of data centres in Australia.

    In April, NextDC successfully conducted a $1.3 billion capital raising to accelerate the development and fit-out of its key data centre assets in Sydney and Melbourne.

    NextDC CEO Craig Scroggie said, “NextDC continues to see significant growth in demand for its data centre services underpinned by powerful structural tailwinds.”

    As new shares were issued significantly below market price, that initially saw the share price sink. But shares have since recovered and the company is now well capitalised.

    Indeed, shares in the ASX growth stock are up 49% over the past 12 months, giving the company a market cap of $10.6 billion.

    While I can’t foresee the stock overtaking Nvidia’s $3.53 trillion market cap, I believe the ongoing AI-fuelled demand for more and better data centres should set NextDC up for a long period of growth.

    What are the experts saying?

    Earlier this week, Jun Bei Liu, a lead portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners, noted, “We believe AI will be a mega investment trend that permeates every part of human life via business and household adoption.”

    She said that demand for Nvidia’s generative AI chips was “projected to double again in the next six years”.

    She also named ASX growth stock NextDC one of two of the “best-listed players that we believe directly participate in this megatrend here in Australia.”

    Morgans is also bullish on the outlook for NextDC.

    According to the broker:

    Structural demand for cloud and colocation remains incredibly strong. NXT’s new S3 and M3 data centres are now open. Consequently, we expect significant new customer wins over the next six-to-twelve months… Sales should drive the share price higher.

    Morgans has a 12-month target for the NextDC share price of $19.00. That represents a potential 8% upside from the current $17.59 a share.

    But I believe Morgans is being conservative here.

    I don’t make specific share price predictions.

    However, while there are no guarantees, I think that forward-looking, long-term investors who watch this booming mega-trend could send the ASX growth stock significantly higher than $19.00 a share by year’s end.

    The post Forget Nvidia: This ASX growth stock is poised for its own bull run appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Nextdc 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 Nextdc 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 Bernd Struben 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.

  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models and recommendations again. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes this week.

    Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have upgraded this appliance manufacturer’s shares to an outperform rating with an improved price target of $28.60. The broker was impressed with what the company had to say at its recent investor conference. This is particularly the case with its distribution expansion opportunity. Macquarie highlights that there are a number of countries that it is distributing to indirectly but could change to direct distribution and boost its earnings. With that in mind, the broker has lifted its earnings estimates for the near term. The Breville share price is trading at $26.66 this afternoon.

    James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

    Another note out of the Macquarie equities desk reveals that its analysts have upgraded this building materials company’s shares to an outperform rating with a reduced price target of $55.00. Macquarie acknowledges that James Hardie’s fourth quarter update and guidance for FY 2025 was notably weaker than expectations. And while this is understandably disappointing, it believes the selloff of its shares was severely overdone. Particularly given its belief that the company’s competitive position is not weakening. In light of this, the broker believes that investors should be taking advantage of the selloff by snapping up shares while they are down in the dumps. The James Hardie share price is trading at $47.22 at the time of writing.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs have retained their buy rating on this telco giant’s shares with a reduced price target of $4.25. According to the note, the broker was a touch disappointed with Telstra’s guidance for FY 2025. Its analysts note that Telstra’s underlying EBITDA guidance of $8.4 billion to $8.7 billion was below expectations. It was also not a fan of management’s decision to scrap its inflation-linked price increases. However, even after reducing its earnings and dividend estimates to reflect the above, it still sees plenty of value in the telco’s shares at current levels. As a result, it has reaffirmed its buy rating today. The Telstra share price is trading at $3.45 on Wednesday afternoon.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Breville Group 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 Breville Group 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • If I buy 1,000 CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive?

    Investors have been buying Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares for the sole purpose of receiving meaningful dividend income for decades.

    That’s fair enough. Ever since CBA shares were first floated on the ASX back in the 1990s, this ASX 200 bank stock has paid out healthy and fully-franked dividend payments.

    Over the past few years, this passive income from CBA shares has generally increased, aside from the understandable blip during the COVID pandemic. In 2019, CBA shares doled out $4.20 in dividend income per share. By 2023, this had risen to $4.50.

    However, the CBA share price has risen far faster than its dividends have in recent years.  Since May of 2019, investors have enjoyed more than 55.5% in capital gains alone from CBA shares.

    Whilst this has been fantastic for long-term shareholders, it has also had a deleterious effect on the CBA dividend yield. Remember, when a company’s share price increases, the running dividend yield on new share buys goes down.

    So today, let’s talk about how much dividend income one can expect if one buys 1,000 CBA shares at current pricing.

    How much dividend income would 1,000 CBA shares get you?

    So at the time of writing, Commonwealth Bank stock is trading at $121.64 a share, down 0.13% for the day so far. This price is only a whisker from the new all-time high of $122.55 that we saw CBA shares clock only last week.

    At the current price, CBA is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 3.74%. That’s far lower than CommBank’s big four peers. For example, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are presently boasting a far larger 6.18% yield today. But we digress.

    This 3.74% CBA dividend yield comes from the bank’s last two dividend payments. The first was the final dividend worth $2.40 per share that shareholders bagged back in September last year. The second, was the interim dividend of $2.15 a share that was paid out back in March. Both payments came fully franked, as is CBA’s habit.

    That’s an annual total of $4.55 per share in passive income. If an investor owned 1,000 CBA shares today (worth $121,640 at current pricing), they would have received $4,550 in dividend income over the past 12 months.

    Past and future passive income

    Saying that, this just represents what investors would have received over the past 12 months, not what the will receive going forward. No one knows what kinds of dividends any company will pay out in the future until the said company makes the announcement. As such, no one should bank on CBA shares continuing to pay out $4.55 in annual dividends per share going forward.

    However, this is the likeliest scenario, at least according to one ASX expert.

    As my Fool colleague covered earlier this month, ASX broker Goldman Sachs is expecting CBA shares to continue to pay out an annual $4.55 in dividends per share over the coming 12 months. In fact, Goldman has pencilled in $4.55 in dividends per share for FY2024, as well as both the 2025 and 2026 financial years.

    We’ll have to wait and see if Goldman’s predictions prove prescient. But if this expert is on the money, investors can continue to expect to receive $4,550 in dividend income for every 1,000 CBA shares they own for the foreseeable future.

    The post If I buy 1,000 CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

  • Humane AI is reportedly looking for a buyer, just weeks after its disastrous wearables launch

    Humane's Ai Pin device
    Humane started shipping its Ai Pin in April

    • Humane is exploring a sale, seeking $750 million to $1 billion, Bloomberg reported.
    • The AI startup, valued at $850 million in 2023, hired a financial adviser for the process.
    • Humane's AI-enabled wearable pin faced harsh reviews after its April launch.

    On the heels of its widely-panned wearables launch, artificial intelligence startup Humane is looking for a buyer, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

    The company, which The Information reported was valued last year at $850 million, is seeking a price of $750 million to $1 billion, Bloomberg reported. The outlet said Humane hired an unnamed financial adviser for the process and that it may not result in a deal.

    Humane, founded in 2018 by husband and wife duo Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno — both former Apple managers — built an AI-enabled wearable pin that offers smartphone capabilities. It's priced at $699 and has a $24 monthly subscription fee.

    It's supposed to complete daily tasks like making calls, taking photos, and answering your questions. It can even project an interactive screen onto users' palms.

    The pin's April launch, which had been delayed by months, was a disaster. Traditional media outlets and independent reviewers, like YouTube tech king Marques Brownlee, published scathing reviews, saying the pin wasn't yet ready for real-life customers.

    Brownlee titled his video about the pin: "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed… For Now."

    Humane's cofounders said in a statement to Business Insider last month that the device and its operating system are just the "beginning of the story," with updates in the works that would make the pin "smarter and more powerful over time."

    Humane raised a $100 million Series C funding round in March 2023 from investors including Microsoft, Tiger Global, and OpenAI cofounder Sam Altman.

    Silicon Valley and the wider tech world have poured many millions of dollars into developing a new generation of wearables powered by AI. But few products have reached consumers at scale, and it's still too early to tell which companies will emerge as winners.

    Humane did not respond to BI's request for comment about the sale, sent outside standard business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Why Droneshield, TechnologyOne, Telix, and Webjet shares are rising today

    Two smiling work colleagues discuss an investment or business plan at their office.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a small gain on Wednesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.1% to 7,858.8 points.

    Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:

    DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

    The DroneShield share price is up 4.5% to 93 cents. Investors have been buying the counter drone technology company’s shares after it announced a new major contract win. Droneshield advised that it has received a repeat order of A$5.7 million from a U.S. Government customer for a number of its CUxS (Counter-UxS) systems. The delivery, involving multiple DroneShield product lines, is expected to be completed in several stages throughout the remainder of the year.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    The TechnologyOne share price is up 8% to $18.06. This enterprise software provider’s shares have been on fire since the release of its half year results on Tuesday. One broker that was impressed was Bell Potter. In response, the broker retained its buy rating and lifted its price target on the company’s shares to $19.00. It said: “The positive surprise of the result was the full year guidance of 12-16% PBT growth whereas Technology One historically has typically provided guidance of 10-15% growth.”

    Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

    The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is up 4.5% to $16.09. This follows the release of the radiopharmaceutical company’s annual general meeting presentation. At the event, Chairman, Kevin McCann, said: “Despite all that we have achieved, there is plenty more to come. Indeed, it is the view of Management that 2024 is going to be the biggest year yet for Telix. By the end of the year, we expect to have launched new products and territories, reported several key development milestones for our therapy programs and progressed some of our very exciting “next generation” assets – such as TLX592 and TLX300.”

    Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB)

    The Webjet share price is up 8% to $9.14. Investors have been buying the online travel agent’s shares following the release of its full year results. Webjet reported a 29% increase in revenue to $472 million and a 40% jump in underlying EBITDA to $188 million. A key driver of this growth was the WebBeds business, which reported a 26% increase in booking volumes and a 39% jump in EBITDA to $162 million. The company also revealed that it is looking to unlock value by demerging its WebBeds business into a separate ASX listing.

    The post Why Droneshield, TechnologyOne, Telix, and Webjet shares are rising today 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
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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Technology One, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • IAG share price teases 4-year high amid cyber expedition

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

    The Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) share price is nearing a new multi-year high today.

    It’s shaping up to be a good day for the financials sector as we head into the final hours of Wednesday trading. One of the positive performers is Sydney-based IAG, the insurance giant behind well-known names such as NRMA Insurance.

    Shares in the company are within shooting distance of a four-year high after announcing a new product this morning.

    At the time of writing, the IAG share price is fetching $6.47 apiece, only 7 cents away from its highest price since before the COVID crash, as depicted in the chart above.

    Covering a multibillion-dollar market

    Insurance Australia Group, or IAG, has launched Cylo today, a new specialist cyber underwriting agency. The brand-spanking new offering is backed by IAG’s CGU Insurance, a leading commercial, rural, and personal lines insurer with more than 165 years of history.

    On its website, Cylo describes itself as a ‘holistic risk management approach to the growing threat of cyber incidents.’ In essence, Cylo is an amalgamation of insurance and protection. By partnering with UpGuard, a cybersecurity risk management software provider, customers will be assisted in managing vulnerabilities.

    From there, CGU partnered with claims management firm Crawford & Company to carry out the incident response side of the equation.

    However, this new offering has limitations. Big businesses will need to look elsewhere, as Cylo’s protection is only available to small businesses turning over less than $10 million in a year. While those eligible can elect for either first-party or third-party cover.

    As mentioned in the official announcement, the Insurance Council of Australia estimates that cybercrime costs the Australian economy $42 billion a year. Small businesses are the recipients of 43% of those costly attacks, averaging $39,000 in damages per cyberattack.

    Is the IAG share price undervalued?

    With the market approaching a four-year high, is there still enough meat on the bone for a buyer? As my colleague Bronwyn Allen discussed last week, Nigel Pittaway of Citi seems to think so.

    The Citi analyst believes IAG presents better value than Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN). Sticking a $6.75 price target on IAG shares, Pittaway thinks cost-cutting is an avenue for more upside. Meanwhile, analysts at UBS prefer QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) in the general insurance domain.

    IAG shares trade at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of nearly 21 times. However, with earnings forecast to grow over the next 12 months, the forward P/E ratio is sitting at 17 times, which would still value the company at a premium compared to QBE and Suncorp.

    The post IAG share price teases 4-year high amid cyber expedition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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.

  • Why Eagers Automotive, Inghams, Patriot Battery Metals, and Wildcat shares are sinking

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up slightly to 7,857.2 points.

    Four ASX shares that are acting as a drag on the market today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

    Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

    The Eagers Automotive share price is down 14% to $10.51. This follows the release of an update at the auto retailer’s annual general meeting on Wednesday. The company said: “Given the current market and business dynamics, and with a cautious lens on consumer sentiment, we expect to achieve an underlying trading performance for the first half of 2024 that is approximately 85% of the underlying profit before tax for the first half of 2023.”

    Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

    The Inghams share price is down almost 14% to $3.29. Investors have been rushing to the exits today amid reports that bird flu was detected at a farm in Victoria. According to the ABC, this is the first time in four years that bird flu has appeared in Australia and has sparked concerns of a global outbreak. Given how quickly it can spread, investors appear to be fearing that Inghams could soon be impacted. This would likely be very disruptive to poultry sales and supplies.

    Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (ASX: PMT)

    The Patriot Battery Metals share price is down 9% to 90.2 cents. This morning, this lithium developer announced a C$75 million capital raising. Patriot decided to raise funds in response to the current advantageous flow through financing conditions in Canada. The placement received strong demand from existing and new institutional, professional and sophisticated investors. Existing substantial investors also maintained their pro-rata in the placement, which included committing to a four month hold on new securities. Proceeds from the flow through capital raise will be used exclusively on exploration at the Corvette Lithium Project.

    Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

    The Wildcat Resources share price is down 6.5% to 49.5 cents. This is despite the lithium explorer announcing drilling results on Wednesday. Wildcat announced high-grade lithium results from its Luke Pegmatite discovery. It believes this highlights the growing potential of the Tabba Tabba Lithium Project, near Port Hedland, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Managing Director, AJ Saverimutto said: “These latest broad mineralised zones at the Luke Pegmatite are exceptional. We are very excited, as the new results confirm the discovery has broad, high-grade zones sitting directly beneath our Leia Pegmatite body. Luke has potential to have a significant positive impact on the overall system.” Some investors may have been expecting even stronger results.

    The post Why Eagers Automotive, Inghams, Patriot Battery Metals, and Wildcat shares are sinking 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 Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.