• The ASX 200 telco and energy stocks set to benefit from AI

    a smiling woman sits at her computer at home with a coffee alongside her, as if pleased with her investments.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a clear and promising investment trend with long-term tailwinds, according to Wilson Asset Management Lead Portfolio Manager, Matthew Haupt.

    Haupt runs the WAM Leaders (ASX: WLE) listed investment company (LIC). The investment strategy revolves around “picking inflection points and positioning the portfolio ahead of those changes”.

    Haupt has identified one ASX 200 telco stock and one ASX 200 energy stock that he thinks will do well in the rapidly growing AI era.

    Which ASX 200 telco and energy stock?

    Haupt says AI is a valuable productivity tool, particularly in sales operations.

    As AI continues to influence hardware advancements, his team of analysts anticipate significant benefits for ASX 200 telco stock Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and ASX 200 energy stock Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

    He says:

    Investments in companies like Telstra and Santos offers investors an attractive opportunity to participate in the growth of AI, but at reasonable valuations and while benefiting from the certainty of established businesses.

    Let’s dig deeper.

    Why Telstra?

    Haupt says Telstra should be able to capitalise on the business sector’s need for better and faster connectivity to enable their artificial intelligence systems and processes to run smoothly.

    He explains:

    Leading mobile communications provider Telstra commands 99% of data connectivity through its subsea cables and is expanding its infrastructure with fibre optic cables to enhance data transfer speeds and bandwidth.

    With AI driving the need for faster and more robust connectivity, Telstra stands poised to capitalise on this, offering investors exposure to this trend.

    The Telstra share price is $3.60 at the time of writing, up 0.14% for the day so far. The ASX 200 telco stock has lost 17% of its value over the past year.

    According to CBA data, Telstra’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 18.64x.

    Why Santos?

    Haupt says Santos is well-positioned to leverage the surge in electricity demand that will result from AI advancements.

    He says:

    Forecasts suggest electricity demand is set to double over the next decade – a demand Santos can meet with its low-cost energy solutions.

    Renowned for being best in class, and boasting a motivated management team, Santos presents a compelling investment opportunity to capitalise on the evolving AI landscape.

    The Santos share price is $7.46 at the time of writing, down 0.27% for the day so far. The ASX 200 energy stock has risen 2.2% over the past year.

    According to CBA data, Santos shares are trading on a P/E of 12.04x.

    Fellow Wilson Asset Management portfolio manager Oscar Oberg says AI will accelerate revenue growth and/or reduce operational costs for many companies.

    He names 4 other ASX shares that are set to benefit directly from AI.

    The post The ASX 200 telco and energy stocks set to benefit from AI appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • Goldman says this ASX 200 share can rise 20% and offer a juicy dividend yield

    A young man wearing a black and white striped t-shirt looks surprised.

    There are few things better than making an investment in an ASX 200 share that delivers strong returns and an attractive dividend yield.

    Well, the good news is that Goldman Sachs thinks it has found one that does exactly that. In addition, it boasts a market leadership position and defensive earnings.

    Which ASX 200 share offers all this?

    The ASX 200 share in question is Dan Murphy’s and BWS owner Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV).

    According to the note, Goldman was pleased with the company’s quarterly sales update, noting that it revealed a second consecutive quarter of market share gains in the alcohol retail market. It said:

    EDV reported in-line 3Q24 results of A$2.9B sales +2.2% YoY, where the key highlight was Retail reversion back to market share gain vs COL for second consecutive quarter and Hotel gaming revenues turning back into slight positive, implying margin support for 2H.

    In light of the latter, the broker reiterates its view that the market is undervaluing its Hotels business. It adds:

    Bottom line, we continue to believe that EDV’s Hotel’s business is under-valued with current market cap implying 4.0x FY25 EV/EBIT. As company continues to focus on driving higher ROIC from a range of options illustrated at the Hotels Strategy Day, we expect the stock to re-rate.

    Big returns ahead

    The note reveals that Goldman Sachs has reaffirmed its buy rating on the ASX 200 share with an improved price target of $6.30. Based on the current Endeavour share price of $5.24, this implies potential upside of 20% for investors over the next 12 months.

    But wait, there’s more! As I mentioned at the top, Goldman is tipping this ASX 200 share to provide investors with an attractive dividend yield.

    The note shows that the broker is forecasting fully franked dividend yields of 4.1% in FY 2024, 4.2% in FY 2025, and then 4.6% in FY 2026. This boosts the total potential 12-month return beyond 24%.

    Commenting on why it thinks Endeavour would be a top pick right now, the broker concludes:

    Our Buy thesis on the stock is based on the following key drivers: 1) Market share gain (already 40% market share) in defensive alcohol retail from consumer data and loyalty advantages; 2) Organic reopening beneficiary with its hotels/pubs business back to pre-COVID sales/property. We believe EDV is trading at a relatively attractive valuation, with potential downside from EGM tax changes already fully priced in. We are Buy rated on EDV.

    The post Goldman says this ASX 200 share can rise 20% and offer a juicy dividend yield appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • Elon Musk says there are too many non-technical managers at Boeing

    Elon Musk.
    Elon Musk.

    • Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested Boeing has "too many" non-technical managers.
    • Musk's tweet comes hours before Boeing's Starliner makes its first launch attempt.
    • Tesla continued its wave of layoffs over the weekend. 

    Elon Musk is chiding Boeing on social media for employing "too many" non-technical managers amid a wave of ongoing layoffs at his own company, Tesla.

    Musk fired off his thoughts on X this week, responding to reporting on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which is set to make a launch attempt on Monday evening after years of delays and setbacks.

    In 2014, NASA granted Boeing $4.2 billion and Musk's SpaceX $2.6 billion to develop a commercial crew system that could transport astronauts to the International Space Station. Despite working with a little more than half of the money that Boeing received, SpaceX beat the company to launch, testing its Crew Dragon capsule in May 2020.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Musk seemed to imply in his Monday tweet that part of the reason Boeing racked up more than a billion dollars in cost overruns is because of its approach to management.

    "Too many non-technical managers at Boeing," Musk tweeted.

    Technical managers typically oversee technical projects, offering hands-on experience and subject matter expertise in hard skills like coding and software engineering. Non-technical managers, meanwhile, tend to be focused on broader aspects of a company like strategic planning, communication, and decision-making.

    Boeing did not immediately respond to Business Insider's response for comment.

    Musk has opined about non-technical managers in the past, writing in a May 2020 tweet that he "strongly" believes "all managers in a technical area much be technically excellent."

    "Managers in software must write great software or it's like being a cavalry captain who can't ride a horse!" the billionaire wrote.

    Musk's Monday post came just hours after Tesla sent out a fourth round of layoff notices on Sunday evening. The company announced it was cutting more than 10% of its workforce last month. Musk cited a "duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas" as the reason for the cuts.

    The house-cleaning has impacted multiple different teams, including several executives. Musk told higher-ups last week that Tesla needed to be "absolutely hardcore about headcount," The Information reported.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Down 10% since mid-March, are Medibank shares a buy or a sell?

    Shot of a mature scientists working on a laptop in a lab.

    The Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) share price has dropped around 10% in the last couple of months, as we can see on the chart below. In this article, I’m going to look at whether the ASX healthcare share is a buy or if it’s one to avoid after announcing a business update.

    Medibank is the largest private health insurer in Australia, with its Medibank and ahm brands.

    Let’s first consider why some investors may be negative on the company.

    Why be negative on Medibank shares?

    Writing on The Bull, Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth said:

    Group revenue from external customers of $4.024 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2024 was up 3.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Group operating profit of $319.4 million was up 4.2 per cent. Across the industry, our concern is rising premiums may price existing customers out of private health insurance and deter others from joining funds.

    However, there are some reasons to be positive about the business.

    Positive update from the ASX healthcare share

    At the Macquarie Australia Conference, Medibank shared some interesting insights.

    Firstly, it did note that the average health insurance premium increase from 1 April 2024 will be 3.31% but that “remains below inflation and wage growth in Australia.” That suggests revenue growth for the business over the next 12 months.

    APRA statistics released in late February showed “continued industry resilience” with an increase of approximately 277,000 Australians having resident private health insurance hospital cover in the 12 months to 31 December 2023. This included an increase of around 96,000 people under the age of 30, which is “critical to the long-term sustainability of Australia’s health system, reflecting the benefit of recent reform and the growing importance of health among consumers.”

    Resident industry policyholder growth was 2.06% over the 12 months to 31 December 2023 compared to 1.9% growth for the 12 months to 30 September 2023, which it called resilient in the face of ongoing costs of living pressures.

    However, Medibank did note that the industry continues to be competitive, which is expected to persist in the fourth quarter, which is “historically a strong quarter for growth”.

    The ASX healthcare share then said:

    Despite this competition, Medibank remains disciplined in its approach by targeting profitable growth in priority segments, including corporate, families and new to industry customers, where we are seeing continued positive momentum. Based on our performance in the March 2024 quarter, we remain on track in our aim to deliver our resident policyholder growth outlook of 1.2% – 1.5% for FY24.

    For me, that’s a key part of the equation – policyholder growth. If Medibank’s policy numbers are growing, then it can benefit from increased scale and hopefully deliver a bigger profit and dividend.

    Another element of short-term profitability is claims (costs). The company said the risk equalisation outcome in the three months to March 2024 continued to reflect the “benefit of favourable age claiming patterns for Medibank”. Claims growth per policy unit for FY24 among resident policyholders is expected to be at the lower end of its guidance range of between 2.2% and 2.4% for FY24.

    Trends impacting claims in the first half of FY24 have “continued into the second half, including particular softness in non-surgical and extras claims, and this is anticipated to result in claims continuing to be below” expectations in the second half of FY24.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Medibank share price looks relatively attractive to me – revenue is rising, claims are subdued and the company continues to pay a good dividend. The Commsec estimate puts the FY25 grossed-up dividend yield at 6.8%.

    The post Down 10% since mid-March, are Medibank shares a buy or a sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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.

  • ANZ shares tumble despite $3.5b half-year profit

    Man on a laptop thinking.

    ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are falling on Tuesday.

    In early trade, the banking giant’s shares were down almost 3% to $27.99.

    They have since recovered but remain down 0.5% at the time of writing.

    Why are ANZ shares falling?

    Investors have been hitting the sell button today after the bank released its first half results for FY 2024.

    In case you missed it, the bank reported a cash profit of $3,552 million for the six months ended 31 March. This represents a 1% decline compared to the second half of FY 2023.

    Although ANZ’s shares are falling today, this result was actually slightly ahead of the consensus estimate of $3,531 million.

    However, with the bank’s share price rallying this month in response to the release of solid results from other banks, it’s possible that the market had already priced in an earnings beat (and some more).

    Not even a larger than expected interim dividend (85 cents per share partially franked) and a $2 billion on-market share buyback has been enough to keep its shares afloat.

    Broker reaction

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs have had a quick look at the result and appeared to be pleased. While the bank’s profits fell short of their expectations, they note that it was above the consensus estimate. It commented:

    ANZ reported 1H24 cash earnings (company basis) from continued operations were slightly down -7% on pcp to A$3,552 mn, and was -3.5% below GSe and +1% higher than Visible Alpha Consensus Estimates (VAe). The miss to GSe was driven largely by higher expenses, partially offset by a lower BDD charge.

    One disappointment that could be weighing on ANZ shares is the bank’s net interest margin, which fell short of expectations. However, Goldman believes it is a one-off. It said:

    ANZ’s 1H24 group reported NIM was down -9 bp hoh to 1.56% (vs.GSe/VAe of 1.61%/1.62%). However, the miss was predominantly due to the impact of Markets activities, with the NIM ex-Markets activities down -2 bp hoh to 1.63%. The -7 bp drag from Markets activities was split -5 bp from mix (growth in Markets AIEA) and -2 bp from rate (funding costs recognised in NII with associated revenue in OOI).

    Furthermore, Goldman highlights that margin weakness in the retail business appears to have stabilised. Though, other sides of the business are still showing a spot of weakness. It adds:

    ANZ provided an analysis of quarterly NIM trends which suggests ANZ’s Australia Retail NIMs have stabilised while Australia Commercial, Institutional and NZ Divisions continue to deteriorate.

    Finally, the broker was pleased with the bank’s larger than expected capital returns. It said:

    The proposed interim DPS of A83¢ was ahead of GSe/VAe (A81¢), and will be franked at 65%, representing a payout ratio of 70% (GSe 66%). ANZ also announced a A$2 bn on-market buyback (GSe A$1.5 bn in total). ANZ’s pro-forma CET1 ratio also adjusting for the completion of the buyback would be 11.85%. ANZ’s NSFR rose to 118%, from 116% in 2H23, and its LCR was 134% up from 132% in 2H23.

    Goldman currently has a buy rating and $27.69 price target on ANZ’s shares. Though, that could change once it has updated its financial model to reflect this result.

    The post ANZ shares tumble despite $3.5b half-year profit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • One ASX 200 stock that just upgraded earnings guidance (and one that downgraded)

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    A couple of ASX 200 stocks are moving in very different directions on Tuesday morning after updating their respective earnings guidance for FY 2024.

    Let’s now take a look at which stock has upgraded its guidance for the full year and which one has disappointingly downgraded its expectations.

    AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

    The AGL Energy share price is rising on Tuesday after the energy company released an update on its guidance for FY 2024.

    At the time of writing, its shares are currently up almost 7% to $9.95.

    According to the release, the company now expects its underlying EBITDA to be between $2,120 million and $2,200 million in FY 2024. This compares to its previous guidance of $2,025 million and $2,175 million.

    This represents a sizeable 56% to 61.5% increase on FY 2023’s underlying EBITDA of $1,361 million.

    Also getting an upgrade was the ASX 200 stock’s underlying net profit after tax. This is now expected to be between $760 million and $810 million, compared to its previous guidance of $680 million and $780 million.

    In FY 2023, AGL reported underlying net profit after tax of $281 million. This new guidance represents an increase of 170% to 188% year on year.

    Management explained that business has been booming during the second half. It said:

    The update to guidance reflects the continued strong operational and financial performance of the business since the half year results, due to improved plant availability, flexibility and generation, higher consumer demand over the summer period in New South Wales and Queensland, and continued strong Customer Markets performance.

    Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

    The Sims share price is sinking today after the ASX 200 scrap metal stock downgraded its earnings guidance for FY 2024.

    Its shares are currently down a sizeable 9.5% to $10.71.

    Management advised that second-half underlying EBIT will be marginally lower than the first half. This compares to its previous guidance for underlying EBIT “to improve in H2 FY24 compared to HY1 FY24.”

    Commenting on the guidance downgrade, Sim’s CEO and managing director, Stephen Mikkelsen, said:

    Ongoing market challenges have continued across the industry. SA Recycling and ANZ Metal have faced increased challenges compared to the first half. Pleasingly, despite North America Metal facing similar market challenges, we anticipate an improved second-half performance as early positive outcomes of the targeted strategies for margin improvement are emerging. We remain confident in the medium to long-term fundamentals, driven by global decarbonisation efforts.

    The post One ASX 200 stock that just upgraded earnings guidance (and one that downgraded) 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 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 is the NAB share price sinking today?

    A man holds his head in his hands, despairing at the bad result he's reading on his computer.

    The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is falling on Tuesday.

    In early trade, the banking giant’s shares are down almost 2.5% to $33.88.

    This is despite the ASX 200 index pushing 0.5% higher this morning.

    Why is the NAB share price tumbling?

    The weakness in the bank’s share price today could actually be classed as good news for its shareholders.

    That’s because the NAB share price is falling today in response to trading ex-dividend for the bank’s upcoming interim dividend payment. This means pay day is approaching for eligible shareholders!

    Going ex-dividend

    When a company’s shares go ex-dividend, it means the rights to a pending dividend payment are now settled. As a result, anyone buying its shares from this point will not be entitled to receive this payout when it is made.

    Instead, the rights to the dividend remain with the seller, even if they no longer own those shares when the payment date arrives.

    Given that a dividend forms part of a company’s valuation, its share price will tend to drop in line with the value of the payout on the ex-dividend date. After all, new buyers of its shares don’t want to pay for something they won’t receive.

    In the case of NAB, last week it released its half-year results and declared its latest dividend. NAB reported a 0.9% decline in net operating income to $10,138 million and a 12.8% decline in cash earnings to $3,548 million. The latter was largely in line with the consensus estimate of $3,553 million.

    This earnings decline couldn’t stop the NAB board from increasing its interim dividend by 1.2% to a fully franked 84 cents per share. It is this dividend that NAB’s shares are going ex-dividend for this morning.

    Eligible shareholders can now look forward to being paid this dividend in just under two months on 3 July.

    What’s next for the NAB dividend?

    A recent note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts expect another 85 cents per share fully franked final dividend in November. This will bring its total dividends for FY 2024 to $1.68 per share.

    After which, the broker expects the NAB board to keep its dividend on hold at this level for the foreseeable future.

    It is forecasting fully franked $1.68 per share dividends each year until at least FY 2028. Based on the current NAB share price of $33.88, this will mean dividend yields of 5% per annum over the period.

    The post Why is the NAB share price sinking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Elon Musk calls out Boeing’s historic first crewed spaceflight, saying SpaceX beat them to the punch years ago

    elon musk smirking with raised eyebrow in a tuxedo against a dark background
    Elon Musk is CEO of Boeing competitor SpaceX.

    • Elon Musk criticized Boeing on X ahead of its first astronaut flight to space.
    • SpaceX beat Boeing to the punch, flying NASA astronauts to the space station four years ago for cheaper.
    • Musk said Boeing has "too many non-technical managers."

    Elon Musk soured the day of Boeing's first astronaut flight to space by lobbing criticism at the company on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

    Boeing built the Starliner spaceship in collaboration with NASA, and it's set to launch into space on Monday evening, carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station.

    two astronauts in blue spacesuits inside a spaceship holding papers looking at a dashboard
    NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) conduct suited operations in a Boeing Starliner simulator.

    But SpaceX beat them to the punch in 2020 when it became the first private company to fly astronauts in space and ended a nine-year hiatus in US human spaceflight.

    Musk was sure to point this out in an X post on Monday, stating "SpaceX finished 4 years sooner." Boeing did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

    The SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship that accomplished the feat came from the same NASA initiative that's flying Starliner on Monday. The effort, called the Commercial Crew Program, gave Boeing $4.2 billion to design, build, and test its spaceship.

    Not only did SpaceX do it faster — its spaceship was also cheaper, costing NASA just $2.6 billion. Since its first crewed flight in 2020, the company has flown seven astronaut crews to and from the ISS for NASA, with its eighth currently living on the station. It has also flown four private missions.

    spacex nasa astronauts bob behnken doug hurley crew dragon
    NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) were the first people to fly aboard a private spaceship, SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

    With each flight, SpaceX has earned money, while Boeing has been sinking more and more funds into Starliner.

    Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, pointed out the disparity on X on Monday morning. He attributed it to "too many non-technical managers at Boeing."

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Musk was reposting an Ars Technica article by the publication's senior space editor Eric Berger, which laid out in detail how "Boeing decisively lost the commercial crew space race, and it proved to be a very costly affair."

    spaceship grey and white shaped like a gumdrop with Boeing logo and American flag on it hanging above a metal platform with workers in hardhats surrounding a hole with cutaway rocket segment below
    The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is guided into position above an Atlas V rocket for an uncrewed test flight.

    There were clear technical reasons for the delays. During Starliner's first attempt to fly to the ISS without a crew, software errors forced it to return to Earth early. Then a series of issues, including dysfunctional valves in the propulsion system, caused further delays.

    But commentators like Musk and Berger say there's an underlying cause.

    The Commercial Crew Program represents a major shift in how NASA sees its contractors. Going forward, from space stations to the moon to Mars, NASA wants to foster a new competitive economy in space. Rather than the entity running everything, the agency wants to be one of many customers on companies' space stations, spaceships, and lunar bases.

    That's part of why Crew Dragon and Starliner were on fixed-price contracts. NASA set the price, and then SpaceX and Boeing had to build and fly the spaceships to NASA's specifications.

    After all, the companies would have other customers on their spaceships. They weren't building them just for the government. So it's on them if costs start to balloon.

    That's an adjustment for Boeing as a legacy contractor for the Department of Defense and NASA, aerospace expert George Nield previously told Business Insider.

    Boeing was used to the government paying all of its expenses to deliver the best possible product. Under that model, Berger explained, "cost overruns and delays were not the company's problem — they were NASA's."

    Suddenly, with a fixed price, "it's up to the company to figure out what risks to take in terms of new technologies and new approaches," said Nield, who is a former associate administrator of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

    Adjusting to the fixed-price model was a challenge for Boeing, which has long had the luxury of moving slowly. Scrappy SpaceX, however, was "in its natural environment," as Berger put it.

    A spokesperson told Berger that "challenges arise when the fixed price acquisition approach is applied to serious technology development requirements, or when the requirements are not firmly and specifically defined resulting in trades that continue back and forth before a final design baseline is established."

    According to Berger, the spokesperson added: "A fixed price contract offers little flexibility for solving hard problems that are common in new product and capability development."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Is this crushed ASX retail share a buy?

    Modern accountant woman in a light business suit in modern green office with documents and laptop.

    In the bustling world of retail, not all that glitters is gold. The Reject Shop Ltd (ASX: TRS), an established discount retailer, has seen its share price touch 52-week lows recently. A combination of sector-wide and company-specific challenges has driven the stock price down. Investors must now decide if these issues are merely bumps in the road or indicative of fundamental flaws.

    The Reject Shop’s plunge

    The Reject Shop, known for its budget-friendly offerings, has seen its stock price fall to $4.13, down from $5.80 late last year. The fall can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there have been significant changes in the company’s leadership, including the resignation of the General Counsel and Company Secretary, and other shifts within the board. Such leadership transitions can often lead to uncertainty among investors​.

    Despite improvements in earnings per share (EPS) in FY23 compared to the previous year, consensus EPS estimates were adjusted downwards in October 2023, dampening investor sentiment​.Â

    Comparing ASX retail share rivals

    Another contributing factor has been the general challenges faced by the retail sector in Australia. Shifts in consumer behaviour and competitive pressures have impacted the entire industry. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, household spending on discretionary items decreased by 0.1% in the year to March, with rising interest rates forcing households to cut back.Â

    Other ASX-listed retail stocks have also felt the pinch. Take, for example, Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH), which has seen its share price fall more than 5% over the past year. Adairs reported a decrease in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 14.6% in 1H24. The Reject Shop saw a 16% decrease.Â

    Retail is also grappling with broader economic factors such as fluctuating consumer confidence and the undeniable impact of e-commerce. For traditional stores like The Reject Shop and Adairs, adapting to this new digital reality is crucial for survival. Sector-wide, there is a strong push towards adopting digital innovations to enhance efficiency and customer engagement.

    Is recovery on the horizon for this ASX retail share?

    Retailers are expected to continue facing economic pressures such as inflation and high interest rates. This will squeeze profit margins and challenge operational costs. Nonetheless, consumer habits are shifting towards more value-driven purchases due to high living costs. This trend favours discount retailers who can offer compelling price points.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Reject Shop’s recent stock price woes are emblematic of the broader pressures facing the retail sector. The question for investors is not just whether The Reject Shop can adjust to these challenges, but whether it can leverage them as opportunities.

    With consumers increasingly price-conscious, discount retailers like The Reject Shop could be well-positioned to capture market share. To do so, they will need to adapt and innovate effectively.

    The post Is this crushed ASX retail share a buy? 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…

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    Motley Fool contributor Katherine O’Brien 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 Adairs. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Adairs. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 top ASX ETF ideas for investors in May

    The letters ETF sit in orange on top of a chart with a magnifying glass held over the top of it

    If you are on the lookout for some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to bolster your portfolio, then it could be worth getting acquainted with the three that are listed below.

    They have all been tipped as top ideas by analysts at Betashares this year. Let’s dig a little deeper into them and see what they could offer investors.

    BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

    If you are wanting some exposure to the local technology sector, then it could be worth considering the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF. It offers easy access to the leading tech players on the Australian share market.

    This ETF was recently highlighted as one to look at by the team at Betashares. The fund manager commented:

    With the nascent adoption of AI, cloud computing, big data, automation, and the internet of things, there’s a good chance that the next decade’s major winners will come from the tech sector. Despite Australia’s sharemarket skewing heavily towards financials and resources, investors can gain direct exposure to Aussie tech stocks via ATEC.

    Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

    Another ASX ETF that is highly rated by the fund manager is the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF.

    Betashares recently named it as one to consider when interest rates start to fall. It said:

    For those looking for international exposure, Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF focuses on global companies with strong free cash flow. The fund can serve as a core exposure to global equities or alongside existing low-cost passive global ETFs to enhance a portfolio’s emphasis on cash-generating companies.

    Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET)

    Finally, if you are looking for exposure to the decarbonisation megatrend, then the Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF could be for you.

    It provides investors with easy exposure to global producers of copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, silver, and rare earth elements.

    Betashares named it on its list of 12 ASX ETFs ideas for 2024. It appears to believe the companies included in the fund are well-positioned to benefit from increasing demand for these metals. It commented:

    The Earth is blessed with all the minerals we need to power the transition to CO2-free energy. However, defining, extracting, and processing all those deposits is going to require significant new investment. […] Both electric cars and clean energy use notably more metals than their conventional counterparts, and many of these minerals have highly concentrated and insecure supply chains.

    The post 3 top ASX ETF ideas for investors in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 1 February 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.