• Why this under-the-radar ASX 200 stock is in a trading halt

    A man on a phone call points his finger, indicating a halt in trading on the ASX share market.

    The market is swinging into action this morning, with one exception among stocks inside the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    You’d be forgiven for not noticing. The company isn’t in the same leagues as CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) or Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). However, at a market capitalisation of $3.2 billion, this arguably ‘under-the-radar’ company is hardly any small fry either.

    If you haven’t already guessed, I’m talking about the insurance broker and underwriting agency AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB). Shares in the company are locked at $29.46 this morning after AUB requested a trading halt ahead of the morning bell.

    It turns out that AUB Group has some big news to share.

    Acquisition to fill the gaps

    AUB Group is ready to take its next bite of the merger and acquisition pie.

    A year and a half after engulfing Tysers, AUB is deploying capital again to continue its growth through acquisition strategy. This time, a Melbourne-based specialist underwriting agency is at the centre of attention.

    Pacific Indemnity, founded in 2015 by Jun Acance, has only been in business for eight and a half years. However, the professional indemnity-focused business conducted $177 million in gross written premiums in FY23.

    The ASX 200 stock is acquiring 70% of the equity in Pacific Indemnity for $105 million. The offer values the acquisition target at an enterprise value of $192 million, giving it an enterprise value to FY23 earnings before interest and taxes multiple of 13 times.

    A further $35 million is on the table, depending on the performance of Pacific Indemnity post-acquisition.

    The rationale behind the deal is that Pacific Indemnity will cover gaps in AUB Group’s existing capabilities. Furthermore, the company is said to be achieving high growth and margins, making it an attractive add-on for AUB.

    Detailing the logic further, AUB Group CEO and managing director Mike Emmett states:

    The acquisition of Pacific Indemnity will add scale, diversify our capabilities, and expand our expertise in financial lines. The acquisition also presents opportunities for mutual benefits across the business, through collaboration between Pacific Indemnity and the broader AUB Group.

    Completion of the 70% stake is slated for 1 July 2024.

    Tapping cash for this ASX 200 stock

    AUB Group is also announcing an equity raising to fund the Pacific Indemnity deal.

    The company will tap $200 million via an institutional placement, covering the total outlay for the 70% stake. In fact, $95 million of the placement is earmarked for ‘cash to support M&A pipeline and cost of equity raising’.

    Additionally, AUB Group will contemplate offering a share purchase plan for up to $25 million worth of new shares.

    The post Why this under-the-radar ASX 200 stock is in a trading halt appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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…

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

  • Up 246% in a year, here’s why the Droneshield share price is racing higher again today

    flying asx share price represented by man flying remote control drone

    The Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) share price is leaping higher today.

    Again.

    Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) drone defence company closed yesterday trading for 89 cents. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for 97 cents apiece, up 9.0%.

    That sees the Droneshield share price up an eye-watering 246% since this time last year, when you could have bought shares for 28 cents.

    For some context, the All Ords is up 0.2% today and up 8% over 12 months.

    Here’s what’s got ASX investors excited about the drone defence stock today.

    Droneshield share price soars on US government contract

    The Droneshield share price is flying high today after the company reported it has received a $5.7 million repeat order from a United States government customer.

    The order involves Droneshield’s Counter-UxS systems. This is a counter-drone system capable of targeting multi-domain aerial, ground and maritime surface drones.

    Management expects the repeat US government order, which covers multiple Droneshield product lines, to be completed in several stages throughout the remainder of 2024.

    Commenting on the new order sending the Droneshield share price soaring today, US CEO Matt McCrann said:

    As the drone threat continues to evolve and proliferate across domains in modern conflicts, we are honoured to support the US Government and our allies as they look to meet the growing need for advanced Counter-UxS solutions.

    We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to support our troops and partners wherever possible.

    Tom Branstetter, Droneshield’s director of business development, added:

    Our comprehensive product portfolio paired with high-level manufacturing affords us the ability to rapidly outfit U.S. and partner nations with lifesaving technology, while also addressing a wide range of operational requirements.

    It’s a privilege to assist the US government and our allies in strengthening security both at home and abroad.

    What’s been happening with the ASX tech stock?

    The stellar performance of the Droneshield share price over the past year has been supported by some equally strong growth figures.

    At its most recent quarterly results, released on 15 April, the company reported $16.4 million in revenue for the three months. That’s 900% more than the $1.6 million of revenue in the prior corresponding period.

    And the company’s balance sheet is strong. As at 31 March, Droneshield held $56.4 million in a cash with no debt.

    As for what could impact Droneshield moving forward, the company reported a $27 million contracted backlog along with an impressive sales pipeline of more than $519 million.

    The post Up 246% in a year, here’s why the Droneshield share price is racing higher again today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

  • Here’s why Nvidia stock could sustain its stunning bull run after May 22

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    This year is shaping up to be a record-breaking one for Nvidia (NVDA 0.64%) investors as shares of the semiconductor giant have already shot up more than 91%, and there is a good chance that the stock’s rally could get a nice shot in the arm once Nvidia reports its first-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on Wednesday, May 22.

    Nvidia is heading into its next quarterly report riding on favorable developments within the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor market, which can help it crush Wall Street’s expectations. KeyBanc analyst John Vinh predicts Nvidia will deliver $5.81 per share in Q1 earnings on revenue of $25.6 billion. That’s higher than the consensus expectations of $5.57 per share in earnings and $24.6 billion in revenue.

    Vinh’s forecast also exceeds Nvidia’s revenue guidance of $24 billion, and it won’t be surprising to see the company match the KeyBanc analyst’s expectations considering its immense pricing power and dominant share in the AI chip market. Those are precisely the reasons why Vinh forecasts a serious acceleration in Nvidia’s growth in the current quarter and the second half of the year.

    Nvidia’s new AI chips could push data center revenue to $200 billion by next year

    While Vinh points out that the solid demand for the company’s current-generation Hopper AI chips will allow it to beat Wall Street’s fiscal first-quarter expectations and also deliver better-than-expected guidance, he also claims that the next-generation AI chips from Nvidia are set to drive some serious growth for the company.

    Nvidia’s new Blackwell chips are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2024. Vinh estimates that the new B100 and B200 processors, which will replace Nvidia’s current top-of-the-line offerings, could command 40% higher average selling prices (ASPs) than their predecessors.

    As Nvidia ramps up the production of its Blackwell chips in 2025 and starts shipping the GB200 Superchip — which combines two Nvidia B200 GPUs (graphics processing units) with its Grace server CPU (central processing unit) — the company could pull in a massive $200 billion in data center revenue in 2025 (which will coincide with its fiscal 2026).

    That would be a huge jump from the $47.5 billion in revenue that Nvidia generated in fiscal 2024 and the $87 billion it is expected to generate from AI chip sales this year (fiscal 2025). The company’s terrific pricing power in AI chips could drive such massive acceleration in Nvidia’s data center sales. According to HSBC, the company is expected to price its entry-level B100 GPU between $30,000 and $35,000. However, the GB200 Superchip could command a price in the range of $60,000 to $70,000.

    What’s more, Nvidia’s server systems equipped with multiple CPUs and GPUs are estimated to command prices between $1.8 million and $3 million on average. It is worth noting that Nvidia management pointed out on the company’s February earnings conference call that it expects its “next-generation products to be supply constrained as demand far exceeds supply.”

    So, despite a potential increase in pricing, the demand for Nvidia’s new chips is likely to remain robust. That is a testament to the company’s solid pricing power, as well as its ability to continue maintaining a solid share of the AI chip market. TechInsights estimates that Nvidia’s market share of the AI GPU market increased to 97% in 2023 from 96% in 2022.

    Therefore, the company seems set to benefit from a combination of higher AI chip sales and improved pricing over the next couple of years, which is probably the reason why analysts have been raising their growth expectations for the company.

    Why it would be a good idea to buy the stock

    A closer look at the chart below tells us that Nvidia’s earnings estimates have been heading higher of late.

    NVDA EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

    NVDA EPS ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR DATA BY YCHARTS

    More specifically, the company’s bottom line could jump 52% in a couple of fiscal years from this year’s projected $25.27 per share to $38.30 per share in fiscal 2027. However, if Nvidia’s next-generation AI chips indeed hit gold, the company could end up delivering much stronger earnings growth.

    The stock is currently trading at 38 times forward earnings, just below its five-year average. Investors, therefore, are getting a relatively good deal on Nvidia stock right now, and they should consider buying it since its red-hot rally seems here to stay thanks to the catalysts discussed above.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Here’s why Nvidia stock could sustain its stunning bull run after May 22 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Harsh Chauhan 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 recommends HSBC Holdings. 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.

  • Here’s what $10,000 invested in the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) at the start of 2023 is worth now

    A businessman looking at his digital tablet or strategy planning in hotel conference lobby. He is happy at achieving financial goals.

    Global share markets have been on a tear lately. Bloomberg reported last week that 14 of the world’s largest stock markets were currently “at or near their peaks” — Australia included. In fact, the S&P/ASX 300 index (ASX: XKO) hit an all-time high in March and has climbed 10% since January last year.

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) tracks the performance of the 300 companies listed on the ASX 300. And Aussie investors have long been drawn to the VAS ETF as a low-fuss investment option for growing their wealth.

    Winding back the clock, here’s a look at how a $10,000 investment in the VAS ETF at the start of January 2023 has fared up until the close on Monday.

    The ASX VAS ETF at a glance

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) launched in 2009. It provides exposure to the top 300 companies listed on the ASX, offering a combination of long-term capital growth potential and regular income through dividends.

    When you buy this fund, you are backing the long-term outlook of Australia.

    At the latest count, the VAS ETF has $14.7 billion in funds under management – more than the market capitalisation of some ASX large-cap companies.

    And what does it cost to own a piece of Australia’s largest 300 listed companies in one share? Well, the VAS ETF charges just 0.07% per annum on all funds invested. That’s more attractive than the performance fee charged by some active managers.

    $10,000 investment in VAS ETF in 2023

    If you had invested $10,000 in the VAS ETF at the start of 2023, you would have purchased units at $85.80 each on 3rd January. This investment would have secured you approximately 117 units of the ETF.

    Fast-forward to today. With VAS trading at $97.92 apiece, your initial investment would now be worth $11,452. That’s a reasonable capital gain of about $1,450, or 14.5%, excluding dividends.

    What about dividend income?

    But the story doesn’t end with capital appreciation. VAS also provides regular income through dividends. Since January 2023, VAS has paid total dividends of $4.31 per share. Given the original unit price, this means you would have received a dividend yield of 5% to date when including all distributions paid.

    This amounts to an additional $502.55 in dividend income for your 116.53 units. Combined with your capital gains, the total return on your $10,000 investment would be around $1,952.55, or 19.5%.

    This return excludes the 74.97 cents per share dividend received on 8 January, as the ex-entitlement date fell on 3 January. Including this, total dividends are $5.07 per share.

    Why consider the ASX VAS ETF?

    VAS offers diversified exposure to the Australian market, featuring major players like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), just naming a select few.

    In my opinion, this diversification can help mitigate risk while providing access to the growth potential of these top Australian companies.

    Plus, as you saw earlier, the dividend income adds another source of return to consider. Who doesn’t like passive income?

    Foolish takeaway

    Investing in the ASX VAS ETF has proven rewarding over the past year, delivering both capital growth and steady income.

    Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, the fund offers a balanced way to participate in the Australian share market.

    The post Here’s what $10,000 invested in the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) at the start of 2023 is worth now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Webjet share price rockets 14% on record earnings and demerger announcement

    A female traveller stands in the terminal, ready to board her plane.

    The Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB) share price is surging higher today.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) travel stock closed yesterday trading for $8.44. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are swapping hands for $9.58 apiece, up 13.5%.

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

    This comes following the release of Webjet’s full-year results for the 12 months to 31 March (FY 2024), alongside a potential demerger announcement.

    First, to the full-year results.

    Webjet share price rockets on surging revenue

    • Revenue of $472 million, up 29% year on year
    • Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $188 million, up 40% from FY 2023
    • Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $128 million, up from $70 million in FY 2023
    • 7 million bookings, up 21% year on year
    • Total transaction volume of $5.6 billion, up 29% from last year

    What else happened with Webjet during the year?

    The Webjet share price also looks to be catching tailwinds with all the key financial metrics at its WebBeds hotel distribution solutions businesses well ahead of FY 2023. That includes TTV for the full year of $4.0 billion.

    Booking volumes at WebBeds were up 26% year on year. That drove a 39% increase in EBITDA to $162 million, with an EBITDA margin of 49.5%.

    And Webjet OTA, the company’s online travel agency, reported an ongoing material increase in international market share. That saw this segment deliver a 25% year on year increase in EBITDA of $54 million, with the EBITDA margin at a record 44.7%.

    Across the businesses, Webjet generated $116 million of cash over the year. The company held $630 million in cash as at 31 March.

    Passive income investors will need to wait a while yet for the return of the Webjet dividend.

    No dividend was declared for FY 2024, with management saying dividends will be revisited following the five-year term of the company’s convertible note in April 2026

    Webjet last declared a dividend in early 2020, shortly before the global pandemic brought the travel sector to a grinding halt.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results sending the Webjet share price rocketing today, managing director John Guscic said, “FY 2024 was a fantastic year for the Company with record earnings that were well ahead of last year.”

    Gusic added:

    In transforming WebBeds and increasing Webjet OTA’s market share we have delivered what we set out to do in the post pandemic recovery. We are confident that demand for travel will continue to grow and are excited for the opportunities ahead for both businesses.

    What’s next for Webjet?

    Looking at what could impact the Webjet share price in the year ahead, Gusic said:

    Our key focus going forward is on delivering our $10 billion TTV target in FY30.

    We have a strong track record of delivering organic growth and believe we can grow at least twice the underlying market by focusing on our three pillars of growth – growing our existing portfolio of travel buyers, hotel partners and suppliers; targeting new customers, securing new supply and entering new markets; and continuing to improve conversion rate in order to sell more of what we have to everyone.

    What’s all this about a demerger?

    Also likely impacting the Webjet share price today was the company’s announcement that it may separate its two travel divisions, WebBeds and Webjet B2C, which encompasses Webjet OTA as well as GoSee and its tech platform Trip Ninja.

    Should the demerger go ahead, the company expects both new entities will be listed on the ASX.

    Commenting on the potential demerger, Webjet chairman Roger Sharp said:

    Having carefully weighed up the arguments for and against a demerger, the board sees significant value enhancement through a potential separation of our two industry leading businesses and brands.

    Our B2C businesses will continue to deliver organic growth through the shift to online, while separation will support our WebBeds business in its relentless focus on achieving scale in all markets, in a post pandemic landscape characterised by a reduced number of smaller competitors.

    Webjet share price snapshot

    With today’s big boost factored in the Webjet share price is up 29% so far in 2024.

    The post Webjet share price rockets 14% on record earnings and demerger announcement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • A fire broke out at Tesla’s Fremont factory once again, this time due to an oven

    Elon Musk, Tesla Factory
    A fire broke out at Tesla's Fremont Factory Monday night.

    • Tesla's Fremont, California, plant suffered a 2-alarm commercial fire Monday evening.
    • The Fremont Fire Department reported no injuries and is investigating the cause.
    • The Tesla Fremont factory has seen several fires over the years. 

    On Monday evening, a 2-alarm commercial fire occurred at Tesla's Fremont factory, which has experienced several fires over the past decade.

    Per a press release from the Fremont Fire Department, the fire "started inside an oven" and was extinguished "within less than an hour of crews arriving at the scene."

    The fire department said no injuries were reported by public safety personnel or Tesla employees.

    When reached by Business Insider, the Fremont Fire Department said it could not share any additional information about how the fire started or what kind of oven it originated from. The fire department is investigating the cause.

    Multiple fires have started at the Fremont factory over the years. In 2021, a fire caused by "molten aluminum and hydraulic fluid" occurred in a vehicle manufacturing stamping machine. The FFD, along with Tesla's fire response team, helped bring the fire under control, Business Insider previously reported.

    In 2019, the FFD quickly put out a fire in an area containing hazardous waste. No injuries were reported.

    CNBC reported in 2018 that the Tesla factory's paint shop had experienced four fires in four years.

    The Fremont factory has been mired in other burning controversies.

    Black workers at the factory said they experienced rampant racial abuse and discrimination at the plant — and that CEO Elon Musk failed to step in. Reuters reported that the company now faces a class action lawsuit from 6,000 Black employees, some of whom worked at the Fremont facility.

    And in May, California regulators accused the factory of releasing tons of illegal air pollutants, CBS reported. The factory previously forked over $750,000 to settle dozens of air quality violations at its factory.

    The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is seeking an abatement order to force Tesla to mitigate air pollution. Tesla is also facing a lawsuit from the Environmental Democracy Project for its air quality violations, CNBC reported.

    Representatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Looks like TikTok employees are the latest victims of the tech layoffs, according to new report

    TikTok logo
    TikTok announced layoffs to employees this week, staffers told The Information.

    • TikTok announced layoffs in its operations and marketing departments, staffers told The Information.
    • It's unclear how many employees will be impacted.
    • TikTok also laid off dozens of employees earlier this year.

    The tech layoff wave appears to be continuing with major cuts at TikTok.

    TikTok informed employees this week it plans to lay off a large number of people from its operations, content, and marketing departments, unnamed staffers told The Information, which on Tuesday was the first to report the news. Impacted employees will be notified on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, according to The Information's report.

    It's unclear how many people will be laid off, but unnamed employees told the outlet TikTok is scrapping its global user operations team and that the team members who are not laid off will join other departments.

    The video-sharing app already laid off dozens of employees at the top of the year, but The Information noted TikTok rarely carries out large-scale layoffs like those that have been more common at other tech companies.

    TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • These 2 ASX shares could win big time in the long term

    A happy young boy in a wheelchair holds his arms outstretched as another boy pushed him.

    I’ve invested in two S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that add a particular quality to the balance of my portfolio.

    Australia is a wonderful country, but if a company can successfully expand overseas, it can significantly increase its addressable market.

    That’s why I believe both of the companies below will make a lot more profit in the next three to five years. Let’s take a look.

    Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

    Lovisa is a retailer of affordable jewellery aimed at younger shoppers. The ASX retail share has successfully expanded its store network beyond Australia.

    Its two most significant markets are Australia, with 175 stores, and the United States, with 207 stores. Lovisa has opened at least 10 stores in many other countries, including New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, and Belgium.

    Excitingly, the ASX share has just entered some large markets like China and Vietnam. Lovisa can expand its store network in whichever existing (or new) market it sees opportunities in.

    In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, the business reported its store network grew by 139 stores, helping the HY24 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) increase by 16.3% to $81.6 million.

    As the company grows internationally, I think its store count can double in the next five years, which could lead to roughly doubling of net profit, too, because of the scale benefits of more stores in countries where it’s already operating.

    According to Commsec’s earnings forecast, the Lovisa share price is valued at 27x FY26’s estimated earnings.

    Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)

    Johns Lyng provides building and restoration services across Australia and the US. Its core offering is rebuilding and restoring various properties and contents after damage by insured events, including impact, weather, and fire events.

    It also has a division involved in catastrophe work in Australia and the US.

    The FY24 first-half result saw the ASX share’s insurance building and restoration services (IB & RS) division revenue rise 13.7% to $426.1 million, and the business as usual (BAU) IB & RS earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed 28.1% to $55 million.

    Double-digit growth for the core segment makes me optimistic the company can compound its earnings for several years ahead.

    I think the company’s geographic expansion is compelling. The US is a vast market, and the ASX share was recently appointed to the Allstate emergency response and mitigation panel. Allstate is one of the largest insurance companies in the US.

    Johns Lyng has also recently expanded into the New Zealand market, opening up another growth avenue. I’m not relying on this, but it’s possible the ASX share could expand to additional countries in the future.

    I also like the company’s move to expand into the strata management sector through acquisitions to diversify and grow earnings — it could unlock beneficial synergies between its business segments.

    According to the estimate on Commsec, the Johns Lyng share price is valued at 23x FY26’s estimated earnings.

    The post These 2 ASX shares could win big time in the long term appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Johns Lyng 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 Johns Lyng 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
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    More reading

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

  • A GenX chef says he’s weaning off food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats because of 2 big downsides. Here’s what he’s doing instead.

    Food delivery apps
    Chef Tony Marciante said food-delivery apps were cutting too far into his margins.

    • Tony Marciante is weaning his Maryland restaurants off of popular food-delivery apps.
    • Marciante said the apps were cutting too far into his margins and had quality control issues.
    • He now uses a white-label delivery service to take orders directly and pay a flat fee per delivery.

    Tony Marciante has run Chef Tony's Seafood in Bethesda, Maryland, since 2007. When the food-delivery apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub came out, he signed up, like many restauranteurs.

    "They were a necessary evil," Marciante, 55, told Business Insider.

    But now he's weaning his restaurants off the apps. Marciante, who now has a second Chef Tony's location in Rockville, Maryland, and a couple of pizza concepts, said the tide appears to be turning and that other restaurant owners are also looking for alternatives.

    Food delivery apps have also come under scrutiny for charging customers high fees and underpaying drivers. A recent study found customers who order takeout via Postmates or DoorDash could be paying twice as much for their meal. Meanwhile delivery drivers previously told BI's Alex Bitter that the job isn't as lucrative as it once was.

    From a restaurateur's perspective, Marciante said there were two main drawbacks to using the apps.

    He said one issue was quality control, adding that the food-delivery apps don't always do enough to vet drivers.

    When customers dine in, the chef and restaurant staff can control the speed, presentation, and delivery of a meal from kitchen to table. But with the delivery apps, once the food goes in the takeout bags and into the hands of an intermediary, the restaurant no longer controls if the driver drops or spills the food, has three stops before it gets to the customer, or forgets half the order.

    Even though the driver may have made a mistake, Marciante said some customers blame the restaurant.

    "The drivers are a representation of the restaurant to some degree," he said.

    Cost was another major factor that turned Marciante off from the apps.

    During the pandemic, food-delivery apps gained even more popularity, and customers started ordering food for delivery that they may not have considered getting to-go in the past. With more people ordering delivery from Marciante's seafood restaurants, it started taking a significant toll on his margins.

    "It's a very thin margin business," he said, adding, "every dollar matters."

    It's common for the apps to take a commission fee of 20% to 30% per order from the restaurant, Marciante said.

    But delivery and ordering online have become a big part of his business. Marciante said that at one of his locations, take-out orders often account for 22% to 30% of their business.

    "I started looking at the fees that we were paying and all that money, and I said, as they say, 'There's got to be a better way,'" he said.

    An alternative to the usual food-delivery apps

    To wean off the apps, Marciante now uses a white-label delivery service. Customers place their orders directly on the restaurant's website, and a third-party delivery service picks up and delivers the order.

    Marciante uses Owner.com, a startup that has raised millions in funding to help restaurants ditch the food-delivery apps. The company helped Marciante build out his website and his own app to take orders directly and has its own network of delivery drivers.

    He said he pays about $500 per month per location for all the services and that Owner.com charges a flat delivery fee of $7 per order, which can be paid by the restaurant, charged to the customer, or split between them.

    Marciante said he'd been using Owner.com for less than two months but was already super pleased with it and that he'd recommend it to other restauranteurs looking to get out from under the popular food-delivery apps.

    It's worth noting that some of the apps, like Uber Eats and DoorDash, also offer white-label delivery services, where customers can place orders directly with a restaurant but they can be delivered by the app's drivers. This option will typically save the restaurant money compared to when customers order in the app itself, so it may be another option for restauranteurs to explore.

    Marciante said DoorDash reached out to him after being contacted by BI and that they "offered to up their game" working with him and assigned him a sales executive.

    The other food-delivery apps did not respond to requests for comments from BI.

    The apps are useful for restaurants to get discovered

    While the apps can be costly to restaurants, Marciante said they are still useful tools for restaurants to connect with first-time customers.

    "A lot of people will just pull up their phone and go to Uber and just figure out what they want to eat," he said.

    But after being in business for 17 years, Marciante has plenty of repeat customers, many of whom order takeout or delivery on a regular basis. Now, those customers can go straight to Chef Tony's website or app and place their orders rather than give a third-party app an increasingly high cut each time.

    For now Marciante plans to maintain his presence on the apps in order to keep reaching new potential customers. But now, when those people find him and want to order from him again, they can go straight to his site and cut out the middleman.

    Are you a restaurant owner who wants to share your experience using food-delivery apps? Have you stopped using the apps or are you trying to get off them? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • How much could a $10,000 investment in Qantas shares be worth in 12 months?

    A woman sits crossed legged on seats at an airport holding her ticket and smiling.

    If you are lucky enough to have $10,000 burning a hole in your pocket and no immediate use for it, then it could be worth putting it to work in the share market.

    After all, with an average annual return of 10% per annum, the share market has historically been a great place to put excess cash and grow your wealth.

    A popular option for investors in the past has been Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) shares.

    And while the last 12 months have been underwhelming, could the next 12 months be better for investors? Let’s see what a $10,000 investment in the airline operator’s shares could become if you were to buy at current levels.

    Investing $10,000 into Qantas shares

    With the Qantas share price currently trading at $6.27, with $10,000 (and an extra 65 cents) you would be able to pick up 1,595 units.

    Let’s see what they could be worth this time next year.

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have a buy rating and $8.05 price target on the Flying Kangaroo’s shares.

    This means that if the company’s shares were to rise to that level, your 1,595 shares would have a market value of $12,839.75. That’s a return of greater than 28% or $2,800 on your original investment.

    Will there be any dividends? Goldman doesn’t believe that there will be any payouts to shareholders in FY 2024, but it is expecting them to resume in FY 2025. This means that between now and this time next year there will be an interim dividend paid out.

    Goldman is currently forecasting a 30 cents per share dividend for the full year. If we imagine this means an interim dividend of 15 cents per share, then a $10,000 investment would generate dividends of $239.25. This boosts the total 12-month return to $3,079 or almost 31%.

    That’s triple the historical annual return of the market. Not bad!

    Why should you invest?

    Goldman thinks that Qantas shares are undervalued at current levels. This is particularly the case given its positive outlook and the transformation of its business. It explains:

    Qantas Airways is the flagship carrier of Australia and is the largest airline in Australia by capacity share, serving destinations domestically and internationally. As a key beneficiary of the re-opening of the world post-COVID, we expect the airline’s traffic capacity to return to 95% of pre-COVID levels by FY24e, with the airline’s earnings capacity (EPS) expected to exceed that of pre-COVID levels by ~52%. We forecast a ~24% FY19-24e cumulative uplift in unit revenues (c. 4.4%pa), and ~50% drop-through of QAN’s A$1bn+ structural cost-out program. QAN’s current market capitalisation and enterprise value are 10% below and 11% below pre-COVID levels. As such, we believe QAN is not priced for a generic recovery, let alone prospects for improved earnings capacity. We continue to see upside associated with substantially improved MT earnings capacity.

    The post How much could a $10,000 investment in Qantas shares be worth in 12 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Qantas Airways 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 Qantas Airways 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…

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    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. 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.