• Income booster: Here’s an ASX dividend stock that yields 6% and provides quarterly cash payments

    Man holding Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.

    Investors seeking stable income in a volatile market often turn to dividend stocks. One such compelling option on the ASX is Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), a real estate investment trust (REIT) specialising in agricultural assets.

    With an attractive distribution yield of approximately 6% and the benefit of quarterly cash payments, Rural Funds offers a unique opportunity for income-focused investors.

    Even better, Rural Funds is set to pay its quarterly dividends next week. Is now the perfect time to buy Rural Funds shares ahead of its ex-dividend date on 27 June?

    Understanding Rural Funds Group

    Rural Funds Group is Australia’s only diversified agricultural REIT. It owns a portfolio of high-quality agricultural assets, including almond orchards, vineyards, cattle and cotton properties, macadamia orchards, and water entitlements.

    These assets are leased to experienced operators under long-term agreements, providing a stable income stream and potential for capital growth.

    Farmland has been a valuable asset for centuries, and it is likely it will remain so for the foreseeable future. The long-term stability appeals to many investors, as my colleague Tristan highlighted. Additionally, the ongoing growth of both Australian and global populations is a significant tailwind for the business.

    Why Rural Funds stands out for dividend investors

    The Rural Funds unit price has dropped 35% from its all-time high of $3.18 in January 2022 and has hovered around the $2 mark over the past year.

    At the current price, Rural Funds offers a distribution yield of 5.67%, higher than many other dividend-paying stocks on the ASX.

    Unlike many ASX dividend shares that pay dividends semi-annually, Rural Funds provides quarterly distributions. This regular income can be especially beneficial for retirees who rely on passive income for their living expenses.

    Rural Funds’ diversified portfolio across different agricultural sectors reduces the risk associated with any single commodity or market. The REIT’s properties are leased to reputable operators under long-term agreements, often with built-in rental escalations.

    Trading below its book value

    After the recent weakness in its unit price, Rural Funds is trading below its book value. Rural Funds is trading at a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 0.73x based on its reported number. However, this includes its water entitlements at their book values. Adjusting for this, reflecting the estimated market value of these assets, the company estimates its net asset value (NAV) at $3.07 per unit as of 31 December 2023. This makes its adjusted P/B ratio even lower, at 0.67x.

    Such attractive valuations caught eyes of some analysts. Bell Potter highlighted its attractive valuation and high distribution yield as the reasons to like Rural Funds, as my colleague James said.

    The Rural Funds Group share price finished Friday’s trading up 0.98% at $2.07.

    The post Income booster: Here’s an ASX dividend stock that yields 6% and provides quarterly cash payments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Rural Funds 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 Rural Funds 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 Kate Lee 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 Rural Funds Group. 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 next week

    Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.

    It has been another busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

    Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this location technology company’s shares with an improved price target of $17.75. Bell Potter notes that Life360 has announced that its Life360 app has now surpassed 2 million paying circles. This was notably ahead of the broker’s expectations. In fact, Bell Potter was only expecting 1.98 million paying circles at the end of the first half. It feels this bodes well for the company going into the seasonally strong third quarter of the year. As a result, its analysts appear confident that the company is destined to deliver another strong result this year. The Life360 share price ended the week at $15.66.

    Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

    A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have initiated coverage on this gambling products and services provider’s shares with an add rating and $172.00 price target. According to the note, the broker has been impressed with Light & Wonder’s restructuring and rebranding. It notes that this has resulted in the significant capture of land-based market share in Australia. While that is positive, the real reason Morgans is bullish is that it believes Light & Wonder can replicate this in the massive United States market. In addition, its analysts highlight that its digital segments are performing well, with its social casino division, SciPlay, significantly outpacing the rest of the market. The Light & Wonder share price was fetching $152.18 at Friday’s close.

    Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley have upgraded this supermarket giant’s shares to an overweight rating with an improved price target of $37.00. According to the note, the broker made the move in response to the release of the results of a major household survey. These results have made the broker more positive on the supermarket industry. This is because it feels that the survey points to consumer trends that will lead to better than expected same store sales in FY 2025. In addition, Morgan Stanley believes the survey point to Woolworths being the biggest winner from these trends. As a result, it has promoted the company to be its top industry pick. The Woolworths share price ended the week at $33.63.

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • ASX passive income: Earn $1000/month

    A smiling woman with a handful of $100 notes, indicating strong dividend payments

    Having passive income would certainly be very helpful in the current environment.

    Unfortunately, unless you’re lucky enough to already have a bank account filled to the brim with cash, it’s going to be too late to generate a sizeable income from the share market immediately to combat the cost of living crisis.

    However, don’t let that stop you from making it a long term goal, so that you are ready to tackle any cost of living shocks that could happen in the future.

    Generating $1,000 of monthly passive income from the ASX

    If you wish to pull in $1,000 of monthly passive income from the ASX, you’re going to need to generate $12,000 of dividends each year.

    The good news is that there are a fair number of ASX shares on the local bourse that analysts are forecasting to provide 6%+ yields. This includes the likes of APA Group (ASX: APA), Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP), and Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1).

    If you are able to build a diversified portfolio of ASX shares that provides you with an overall yield of 6%, you would need a portfolio valued at $200,000 to generate total dividends of $12,000 a year.

    Investors that already have this amount of cash to invest can now do this and relax and watch the passive income come in. But if you’re starting from zero, you will need a plan.

    How to get started

    The first step for passive income investors to take is to make consistent investments in the share market.

    For example, if you can invest $5,000 into the share market each year, your portfolio would grow to be worth $200,000 in 16 years if you achieved an average total return of 10% per annum. This is broadly in line with historical averages, so not guaranteed but certainly possible.

    After which, investors will need to find a high quality group of ASX shares to invest these funds into.

    Investors may wish to build a diverse portfolio by splitting their $5,000 investment across a number of ASX shares. This could also include ETFs, which allow investors to buy large groups of shares in one go.

    Next, let compounding work its magic. This is what happens when you earn returns on top of returns. It essentially supercharges your wealth, particularly the longer you leave it.

    For example, 10 years of investing $5,000 and earning a 10% per annum return would turn into $88,000. But if you keep going just six more years, you will have grown your portfolio by a further $112,000 to the target amount of $200,000.

    At that point, you now have enough to start generating material passive income from the ASX.

    Overall, by following these steps, you could turn the ASX into your own personal ATM.

    The post ASX passive income: Earn $1000/month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Apa Group shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • 7 excellent ASX growth shares to buy next week

    Five young people sit in a row having fun and interacting with their mobile phones.

    If you’re a fan of ASX growth shares, then you will be pleased to know that analysts are predicting great returns from the seven listed below.

    Here’s what you need to know about these top shares:

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    The first ASX growth share that could be a buy is Aristocrat Leisure. It is one of the world’s leading gaming technology companies with a portfolio of pokie machines, digital games, and a fledgling real money gaming business.

    Analysts at Citi are very positive on the company and have a buy rating and $53.00 price target on its shares.

    Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

    Another ASX growth share to look at is Lovisa, which is a rapidly growing fashion jewellery retailer.

    Bell Potter is very positive on the company due to its global expansion. In fact, it believes Lovisa can grow its network by 10% per annum between FY 2023 and FY 2034. This is expected to support strong earnings growth over the next decade.

    The broker currently has a buy rating and $36.00 price target on Lovisa’s shares.

    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    Another ASX growth share that is rated as a buy is NextDC. It is one of Asia’s most innovative data centre-as-a-service providers.

    Morgan Stanley is very positive on the company’s outlook. This is thanks to its belief that the data centre market will grow materially over the remainder of the decade.

    The broker currently has an overweight rating and $20.00 price target on its shares.

    Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

    Another ASX growth share to look at is Temple & Webster. It is Australia’s leading online furniture and homewares retailer.

    Temple & Webster has been growing strongly in recent years thanks to the structural shift online. But the good news is that this shift is still in its early stages in this category compared to other Western markets.

    As a result, the team at Morgan Stanley believes there’s still plenty more growth to come. It has put an overweight rating and $12.25 price target on its shares.

    Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB)

    A fifth ASX growth share that could be a buy is online travel booking company Webjet.

    Morgans is bullish on the company due partly to its key WebBeds B2B business. It notes that there is still “significant market share still up for grabs,” which leaves Webjet well-positioned for the future.

    Morgans has an add rating and price target of $11.20 on Webjet’s shares.

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

    Another ASX growth share that has been tipped as a buy is WiseTech Global.

    It is the logistics solutions company behind the CargoWise One logistics management platform. This platform is integral to the global logistics industry, allowing users to execute complex logistics transactions and manage freight operations from a single, easy-to-use platform.

    Demand continues to grow for CargoWise One, which is supporting very strong recurring revenue growth. It is partly for this reason that UBS currently has a buy rating and $112.00 price target on its shares.

    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

    A final ASX growth share that could be a buy is Xero. It is a cloud accounting platform provider with an estimated global market opportunity of 100 million small to medium sized businesses. This compares to its current subscriber base of approximately 4.2 million.

    Goldman Sachs believes this gives the company a multi-decade growth runway. Its analysts have a buy rating and $164.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 7 excellent ASX growth shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Aristocrat Leisure 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 Aristocrat Leisure Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Here’s how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week

    A young woman carefully adds a rock to the top of a pile of balanced river rocks.

    ASX 200 utilities shares led the market sectors last week, with an impressive 4.21% lift over the five trading days.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained 1.02% over the week to finish at 7,796 points on Friday.

    Eight of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

    Let’s review.

    Utilities shares led the ASX sectors last week

    Among the largest of the 22 ASX 200 utilities companies, the outperformer for price growth this week was Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG).

    Origin shares rose by 5.85% to finish at $10.76 on Friday. There was no price-sensitive news from Origin this week.

    The AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price lifted 3.03% to $10.55 this week, also on no price-sensitive news.

    APA Group (ASX: APA) shares rose 0.12% over the five trading days to finish at $8.40.

    On Friday, the energy infrastructure business announced an estimated final distribution of 29.5 cents per share. The record date is 28 June and the payment date is 18 September.

    Utilities small-caps Frontier Energy Ltd (ASX: FHE) and Duxton Water Ltd (ASX: D2O) had a great week.

    Frontier Energy shares gained 7.95% to finish at 48 cents on Friday.

    Last week the company announced it had signed contracts with Western Power to begin detailed design and procurement work for stage one of its Waroona Renewable Energy Project.

    Duxton Water shares lifted 6.55% to close at $1.47 on Friday. The company did not release any news last week.

    The second strongest sector last week was financials, up 2.08%.

    The ASX 200 bank stocks continued to test multi-year high prices last week.

    On Friday, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares reset their record high yet again. The biggest ASX 200 bank stock peaked at $128.25 per share on Friday but closed the week at $127.68.

    Also last week, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares reached a nine-year high of $36.42.

    Also, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) hit its highest price in almost five years at $11.42.

    ASX 200 market sector snapshot

    Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

    Over the five trading days:

    S&P/ASX 200 market sector Change last week
    Utilities (ASX: XUJ) 4.21%
    Financials (ASX: XFJ) 2.08%
    Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) 1.92%
    Communication (ASX: XTJ) 1.86%
    Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) 1.71%
    Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) 1.03%
    A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) 0.76%
    Energy (ASX: XEJ) 0.75%
    Industrials (ASX: XNJ) (0.24%)
    Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) (0.62%)
    Materials (ASX: XMJ) (1.08%)

    The post Here’s how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Agl Energy 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 Agl Energy 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 Bronwyn Allen has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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 Apa Group and Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • A US Navy carrier strike group is headed home after months battling the Houthis in the Red Sea

    Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian navy in the Red Sea on June 7.
    Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian Navy in the Red Sea.

    • A US Navy carrier strike group that's fought the Houthis for months is finally returning home.
    • The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group left the Middle East on Saturday, the Pentagon said.
    • It will soon be replaced by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.

    The US Navy carrier strike group that's been battling the Houthis in the Red Sea is finally heading home after spending months in the region protecting shipping lanes from relentless attacks by the Iran-backed rebels.

    The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group left the Middle East on Saturday and will remain briefly in the US European Command area of responsibility before returning stateside. It will not see its deployment extended for a third time.

    Its departure follows "more than seven months deployed in support of US regional deterrence and force protection efforts," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced in a statement.

    The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, operating in the Indo-Pacific region, will soon head to the Middle East to replace the strike group.

    The Eisenhower strike group — which consists of the aircraft carrier Ike and several other warships — originally deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean in October but was quickly redirected to the Middle East to defend shipping lanes from unrelenting Houthi attacks.

    Since then, the Eisenhower strike group has intercepted scores of missiles and drones — both in the air and in the water — and also targeted the rebels directly in Yemen. These have been a mix of joint strikes alongside the British military and preemptive strikes designed to eliminate a threat before the Houthis can launch it.

    "During its deployment, the IKE CSG protected ships transiting the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Gulf Aden, rescued innocent mariners against the unlawful attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthis, and helped to deter further aggression," Ryder said.

    The reshuffling of American naval assets comes amid concerns over the long-term sustainability of the counter-Houthi operations. US intelligence suggested last month that the Houthi threat is likely to remain active for some time, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had already extended the Eisenhower strike group's deployment twice.

    During its time in the Red Sea, the strike group fired off more than 500 munitions, totaling some $1 billion, and sailed more than 55,000 miles. Its aircraft have also flown over 30,000 hours.

    Despite the Eisenhower's presence, the Houthis continue to attack shipping lanes. The rebels have already struck multiple commercial vessels in June alone, including one with a naval drone for the first time since they began their campaign in the fall.

    Ryder, meanwhile, said the Roosevelt strike group will leave the Indo-Pacific region next week upon completion of a scheduled exercise and sail for the Middle East "to continue promoting regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Is the FY25 outlook for Fortescue shares compelling?

    Female miner standing next to a haul truck in a large mining operation.

    The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has slid 20% over the past month, as the chart below shows. With this lower market capitalisation, investors are being offered better value when buying Fortescue shares. Does the FY25 outlook mean it’s a good time to dig into the ASX iron ore share?

    It’s not surprising that investors aren’t feeling as optimistic – the iron ore price has dropped from US$117 per tonne at the end of May to US$107 per tonne now.

    A decline in the commodity price is bad news for miners – mining costs don’t usually change much from month to month, so a reduction in revenue for the same amount of production usually results in a large decline in net profit.

    Where will the iron ore price go next? No one can know for certain – commodity prices are both unpredictable and sometimes cyclical.

    Iron ore price to rebound?

    Trading Economics recently reported that economic data from China is adding to pessimism about the outlook for iron ore demand.

    Chinese house prices in 70 cities declined by 3.9% year over year in May, the largest decline since 2015.

    Another negative was that ‘fixed asset investment’ was lower than expected, which Trading Economics said unscored the “rout in the property market and consumers’ reluctance to purchase real estate.”

    Chinese officials have been trying to reduce the country’s growing housing inventory with various measures rather than supporting Chinese property developers in financial strife. Those developers are typically some of the world’s largest users of steel and, therefore, iron ore, so their struggles can have a knock-on effect on the iron ore industry.

    Finally, Trading Economics noted there was “muted” industrial demand in China, which was another headwind for iron ore because the hope was that “higher manufacturing growth would drive infrastructure-stemmed steel demand to offset the rout in construction.”

    However, it’s worth noting the iron ore price has fallen to approximately US$100 per tonne (or below) a number of times over the past five years and then rebounded, though past performance is not a reliable indicator for the future.

    Having said that, Trading Economics’ macro models and analyst expectations suggest the iron ore price could reach US$126 per tonne in 12 months. If that happens, it could increase the company’s profitability and fund larger dividends.

    FY25 earnings estimate

    The broker UBS, which is less optimistic about the iron ore price, has outlined in a note its expectations for Fortescue’s FY25 numbers. UBS thinks the iron ore price will be around US$113 per tonne over the rest of the 2024 calendar year.

    UBS forecasts Fortescue could see revenue of US$17.1 billion and net profit after tax (NPAT) of US$5.3 billion in FY25, with that profit forecast representing a possible year over year decline of 15%. The dividend per share could fall more than 23% year over year to A$1.28 per share.

    Fortescue isn’t expected to be producing green hydrogen meaningfully in FY25, so its efforts with green energy may not be material yet for Fortescue shares.

    If the iron ore price is stronger than expected during the 2025 financial year, it could mean better financials than what UBS is predicting, but that would likely require an uptick in demand from China, which doesn’t seem certain at this stage.

    The post Is the FY25 outlook for Fortescue shares compelling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Fortescue Metals 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 Fortescue Metals 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 Tristan Harrison has positions in Fortescue. 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.

  • Buy these ASX income shares next week

    There are a lot of ASX income shares out there for investors to choose from at present.

    Two that are highly rated are named below. Here’s what analysts are saying about them:

    Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)

    Analysts at Morgans are positive on this property company and think it could be an ASX income share to buy.

    The broker has Cedar Woods’ shares on its best ideas list with an add rating and $5.60 price target.

    Its analysts believe the company’s shares are undervalued and deserve to trade on higher multiples. They said:

    CWP is a volume business and the demand for lots looks to be improving, with margins to invariably follow. CWP’s exposure to lower priced stock in higher growth markets sees further potential to drive earnings. On this basis, we see every reason for CWP to trade at NTA and potentially at a premium, were the housing cycle to gain steam through FY25/26.

    In respect to income, Morgans is forecasting dividends per share of 18 cents in FY 2024 and then 20 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Cedar Woods Properties share price of $4.60, this will mean dividend yields of 3.9% and 4.35%, respectively.

    Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

    Another ASX income share that could be a buy next week is the Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT.

    Bell Potter is a big fan of the health and wellness focused property company and has a buy rating and $1.50 price target on its shares.

    It believes that recent weakness has created a compelling buying opportunity for investors. The broker said:

    HCW has underperformed the REIT sector last 3 months (-10% vs. +22% XPJ) following bond yield reversion and is attractively priced at 20% discount to NTA (but only REIT to record flat to positive valuation movement at 1H24) with double digit 3 year EPS CAGR given high relative sector debt hedging and ability to grow its $1bn development pipeline via attractive YoC spread to marginal cost of debt. Longer term, HCW has significant scope for growth with an estimated $218 billion addressable market where an ageing and growing population should underpin long-term sector demand.

    As for dividends, Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2024 and then 8.3 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $1.15, this would mean generous yields of 6.95% and 7.2%, respectively.

    The post Buy these ASX income shares next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Cedar Woods Properties Limited right now?

    Before you buy Cedar Woods Properties 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 Cedar Woods Properties 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 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.

  • What’s ahead for ASX 200 travel shares in FY 2025?

    With just one week left in FY 2024, we polish our crystal ball to gauge what investors can expect from S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) travel shares in FY 2025.

    Before we turn to that, though, here’s how ASX 200 travel shares have performed over the past 12 months:

    • Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares are down 5%
    • Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares are up 1%
    • Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB) shares are up 25%
    • Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) shares are down 27%.

    This very mixed bag of results compares to a one-year gain of 6% posted by the ASX 200.

    Now, here’s what could help or hinder the big Aussie travel companies in the year ahead.

    A new financial year for ASX 200 travel shares

    Looking ahead to FY 2025, each of the ASX 200 travel shares will obviously face its own company-specific headwinds and tailwinds.

    But all of them depend on a robust travel sector to keep their customers and revenue flowing.

    With that in mind, the first thing to keep an eye on is fuel costs. Jet fuel accounts for some 20% of airlines’ annual expenses, so higher or lower fuel costs will impact Qantas shares directly.

    But Webjet, Corporate Travel Management and Flight Centre will also be impacted as airlines will pass on any major cost increases or declines to travellers, influencing the amount of business these companies can expect.

    On that front, the Brent crude oil price ended the week back above US$85 per barrel. With record US output balancing out the current OPEC+ production cuts, and with OPEC+ intending to ease out of those cuts in Q2 FY 2025, I don’t expect the oil price will sustainably hold above US$90 in the year ahead. Keeping a cap on fuel prices should help support the outlook for ASX 200 travel shares.

    The industry is also susceptible to what happens with the global conflicts currently raging in various corners of the world. Should these escalate or new conflicts erupt, that would likely put a dent in international travel. And it could drive energy costs higher as well.

    Growing tailwinds?

    All of the ASX 200 travel shares are likely to get a boost from various government cost-of-living relief measures and the stage 3 tax cuts in FY 2025. If inflation comes down and the RBA begins to cut interest rates, it could usher in a big boost for the sector.

    And another potential boost across the board for ASX 200 travel shares in FY 2025 is the potential for a big uptick in travellers to and from China.

    This comes after China just agreed to add Australians to those citizens who can travel to the Middle Kingdom visa-free for up to 15 days. Australia’s government is offering some reciprocal measures.

    The post What’s ahead for ASX 200 travel shares in FY 2025? 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 Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Trump thinks he can peel voters away from Biden in Democratic-heavy Philadelphia. Here’s how he plans to do it.

    Donald Trump
    Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally in Pennsylvania.

    • Trump on Saturday is headlining a rally at Temple University in deep blue Philadelphia.
    • The former president hopes to make inroads with Biden's base of Black voters.
    • Trump has focused his campaign message on the economy. But Biden retains deep ties to the city.

    For former President Donald Trump, few states anchor his potential path back to the White House more than Pennsylvania.

    The former president lost the Keystone State to Biden by 1% in the 2020 election after narrowly winning the state over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.

    And a huge part of why Biden won in 2020 was his strong margins in the Philadelphia area — the city and its affluent suburbs — which offset the substantial edge Trump enjoyed.

    But Biden has struggled over the past year to reactivate the liberal-leaning coalition that sent him to the White House four years ago. Support among Black and Hispanic voters is particularly shaky.

    It's part of why Trump will speak at Temple University on Saturday in Philadelphia. He hopes to woo voters who may not have considered him in the past and may be up for grabs in November. He'll also be joined by Pennsylvania GOP Senate nominee David McCormick, who'll face veteran Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. in the fall.

    Here's a look at how Trump is looking to win over these voters and the deep challenges that he faces in doing so.

    It's all about the economy…

    Pennsylvania's unemployment rate has sat at 3.4% for eight consecutive months as of May 2024, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

    That's below the current US unemployment rate of 4%.

    But similar to most national polls, Trump leads Biden on the question of which candidate would better handle the economy. In the most recent New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena College poll conducted in late April and early May, Trump had a 12-point advantage over Biden on the issue among registered voters. And only 21% of respondents said the US economy was "good" or "excellent," while 78% described it as "fair" or "poor."

    Trump is banking that many Democratic-leaning voters, who rate inflation and elevated housing costs as major concerns, could give him a lift in Philadelphia — a city where voters gave 81% of their votes to Biden in 2020.

    In 2020, Biden won Pennsylvania by roughly 80,000 votes out of more than 6.9 million ballots cast. And over 604,000 of those ballots cast for Biden came from Philadelphia voters. So any small movement toward Trump, especially among Biden's base of Black support in the city, could have dramatic implications for the statewide results.

    … but Biden's Philly ties run deep

    There's perhaps no city outside of Delaware that Biden loves to visit more than Philadelphia.

    He's lavished attention on the City of Brotherly Love — paying particularly close attention to its Black voters and union workers — before and during his presidency. As a US Senator from Delaware who resided in Wilmington, he was only miles away from Pennsylvania's largest city.

    So he has a natural relationship with many elected Democrats and union leaders. He can easily find himself among receptive audiences in the city's numerous Black churches, where a loyal base of older Black voters are overwhelmingly supporting his bid for a second term.

    Biden has stumbled with younger Black voters over issues like the conflict in Gaza and student-loan debt relief. And many young voters overall are largely unaware of his work on climate issues. But it would take a huge electoral shift — which can often take several cycles to come to fruition — for Biden to be seriously in danger of losing a large chunk of his Philadelphia base.

    So far, many down-ballot Senate Democratic candidates like Casey are outperforming their GOP challengers in critical races across the country. It's something that the Trump campaign is surely noticing as they look to flip Pennsylvania.

    Right now, the statewide race is incredibly tight. And Philadelphia is poised to once again have its say in the outcome.

    Read the original article on Business Insider