• Up 51% from their 52-week low, is it too late to buy Mineral Resources shares?

    A woman sits at her computer with her chin resting on her hand as she contemplates her next potential investment.

    Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares have been on a tear since mid-January, when the ASX 200 mining stock hit a 52-week low of $52.52.

    That was back on 22 January, and since then, Mineral Resources shares have had one heck of a rebound.

    At the time of writing on Friday, they’re up 0.59%, trading at $78.45 after touching a 52-week high of $79.27.

    In fact, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is the only market sector in the green on Friday following news of A$210 billion of economic stimulus in China which is likely to boost iron ore demand.

    The rest of the market seems to be cooling off from yesterday’s excitement. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is limping along on Friday afternoon, carrying a 0.72% loss.

    Now, back to Minerals Resources shares and whether it’s too late to buy them after this recent run.

    Is it too late to buy Mineral Resources shares?

    The answer to this question depends on who you ask.

    First to top broker, Morgan Stanley.

    Earlier this month, the broker upped its share price target on Mineral Resources shares by 24% to $83.

    So by this measure, Mineral Resources shares still have a little bit of upside to offer at 4.8%.

    Next, Bell Potter.

    Its analysts retained their buy rating on Mineral Resources shares in a note published in late April.

    They raised their 12-month share price target to $85. So, the potential upside is a tad better at 7.35%.

    Bell Potter liked the company’s quarterly update released on 24 April.

    The broker noted sales volumes were above its own forecasts and it was happy to see the recommencement of spodumene concentrate sales from the Wodgina lithium mine.

    Mineral Resources also reported an improvement in its spodumene prices at the end of the quarter with a 22,000 tonnes shipment sold at US$1,300 per tonne for SC6 equivalent. This compares to the quarterly average of US$1,030 per tonne.

    Another positive was the Onslow Iron Project remaining on track to export its first ore in June.

    Finally, we look to Goldman Sachs for their view on Mineral Resources shares.

    It’s vastly different from Bell Potter and Morgan Stanley.

    Mining giant has 40% potential downside from here

    Goldman not only has a sell rating on Mineral Resources, it also thinks the shares were too expensive to buy at their 52-week trough!

    The broker has a 12-month share price target of $47 on Mineral Resources today. This implies a significant potential downside of 40% over the next 12 months.

    This broker had a different take on the company’s quarterly report, noting that lithium and iron ore production and realised prices had not met Goldman’s own forecasts.

    However, Goldman still likes the company and its track record for delivering impressive returns.

    The broker commented:

    We continue to highlight that MIN has an impressive 20-yr track record of generating high returns on capital with an average ROIC of >20% since listing.

    This has been achieved through MIN’s ability to build and operate crushing plants and mining projects faster and at lower capital intensity than most other companies.

    Despite this impressive track record, we continue to rate MIN a Sell …

    Goldman said the reasons for its sell rating included Mineral Resources being fully valued compared to its peers. It is also trading well above its net asset value (NAV), which Goldman places at $54.60 per share.

    The broker also cited its expectations of further falls in lithium prices.

    This, coupled with higher capex costs at Onslow, leads the broker to believe that Mineral Resources will generate low or negative free cash flow in FY24 and FY25.

    Goldman also says the company’s balance sheet is “highly geared but debt covenant light”.

    The post Up 51% from their 52-week low, is it too late to buy Mineral Resources shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Mineral Resources 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 Mineral Resources 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 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.

  • How a $9k investment in this ASX All Ords stock ballooned to $35,234 in just 3 years!

    Man holding Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.

    Fancy investing in an ASX All Ords stock that would have seen your investment balloon by an eye-watering 292% in just three years?

    Me too!

    After all, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) returned a far more ordinary 11.5% (excluding dividend payouts) over this same period.

    The star performer in question is ASX coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL).

    Here’s how the company would have grown a $9,000 investment three years ago into a whopping $35,234 today.

    ASX All Ords stock delivers the goods

    Three years ago, in mid-May 2021, you could have bought the ASX All Ords stock for $2.01 a share.

    Meaning your $9,000 investment would have netted you 4,477 Yancoal shares and a bit of pocket change.

    By the end of 2021, your ASX investment would already be up some 30%, while you probably spent that pocket change.

    And things really began to heat up in 2022.

    That year, thermal coal prices more than doubled to reach all-time highs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Yancoal share price also notch its own record highs.

    Although the coal price has tumbled more than 65% since those record highs, the Yancoal share price has held up much better, as the ASX All Ords share continues to be a cash-generating machine.

    In afternoon trade today, Yancoal shares are swapping hands for $5.95 apiece.

    So, the 4,477 shares you bought three years ago would be worth a rounded $26,460 today. Which, you might be thinking, is well below the headline-grabbing $35,234 mentioned above.

    What gives?

    The dividends, of course!

    Don’t forget the passive income

    Over the past three years the ASX All Ords stock has not only seen its share price rocket, it’s also delivered shareholders some seriously outsized passive income.

    If you’d bought shares in May 2021, you have been eligible to receive the past three dividend payouts, all but one of which were fully franked.

    Those four payouts work out to $1.92 per share.

    So, if we add that into the current Yancoal share price of $5.95, the accumulated value of this ASX All Ords stock over the past three years works out to $7.87 per share.

    Meaning your 4,477 shares would have netted you $35,234 by today, with some potential tax benefits from those franking credits.

    Boom!

    Now, as always, before investing in Yancoal shares or any other ASX stock, do your own research or seek expert advice.

    The post How a $9k investment in this ASX All Ords stock ballooned to $35,234 in just 3 years! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Yancoal Australia Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Yancoal Australia Ltd shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor 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.

  • Nvidia stock’s next big catalysts could come on May 22. Should you buy shares before then?

    A man looking at his laptop and thinking.

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

    Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock is having another great year. In 2024, shares of the artificial intelligence (AI) tech giant have gained 91.9% through May 15, crushing the S&P 500 index’s 11.9% return. The stock’s longer-term performance is even more stunning, as it turned an investment of $5,000 into nearly $1 million over the last decade through April 29.

    A catalyst that might propel Nvidia stock higher is coming on Wednesday, May 22, after the market close. That’s when the company is scheduled to release its results for its quarter ended on April 28.

    Given Nvidia stock’s fantastic recent performance, expectations are high and built into the stock price. For the stock to rise after the report, the company will likely have to at least comfortably beat Wall Street’s estimates for the quarter and issue guidance for the next quarter that’s notably higher than analysts are projecting.

    What are Wall Street’s expectations?

    You can use the below chart to gauge Nvidia’s fiscal first-quarter results.

    Metric Fiscal Q1 2024 Result Nvidia’s Fiscal Q1 2025 Guidance Nvidia’s Projected Change Wall Street’s Fiscal Q1 2025 Consensus Estimate Wall Street’s Projected Change
    Revenue $7.19 billion $24 billion 234% $24.57 billion 242%
    Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) $1.09 $5.41* 396% $5.57 411%

    Data sources: Nvidia and Yahoo! Finance. Fiscal Q1 2025 ended April 28, 2024. *Calculated by the author based on the metrics for which management provides guidance. Data as of May 15, 2024.

    The below chart can be used to gauge Nvidia’s guidance for its fiscal second quarter.

    Metric Fiscal Q2 2024 Result Wall Street’s Fiscal Q2 2025 Consensus Estimate Wall Street’s Projected Change
    Revenue $13.51 billion $26.57 billion 97%
    Adjusted EPS $2.70 $5.92 119%

    Data sources: Nvidia and Yahoo! Finance. Fiscal Q2 2025 ends in late July 2024. Data as of May 15, 2024.

    Two reasons Nvidia seems poised to beat Wall Street’s expectations

    The first reason Nvidia looks poised to beat Wall Street’s estimates has to do with management “visibility.” Nvidia’s top management team has said on the company’s recent quarterly analyst earnings calls that it has good visibility into near-term sales in its data center business. That’s because the company has a backlog of orders to fulfill due to demand being so strong for its AI-enabling data center chips and related products.

    Management probably has less of a handle on near-term demand for products in some of its other businesses. But that doesn’t matter much because data center is by far Nvidia’s largest market platform, and so it drives overall results.

    The better management’s visibility into near-term sales, the better idea it has of its near-term financial results. You can be sure Nvidia’s savvy top management team set fiscal Q1 guidance at levels it feels very confident the company will exceed. Wall Street analysts use Nvidia’s guidance to help establish their estimates. For many years analysts have underestimated the company’s growth potential, and my bet is this dynamic will continue.

    The second reason that Nvidia’s upcoming report — including from a fiscal Q2 guidance standpoint — seems poised to be better than analysts expect stems from the recent quarterly reports of several of Nvidia’s biggest customers. Companies such as Facebook parent Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Microsoft are continuing to ramp up their already significant spending on AI initiatives, which is a positive for Nvidia.

    For instance, Meta now expects its full-year 2024 capital expenditures to range from $35 million to $40 million, up from its prior plan of $30 million to $37 billion. This is due to the company continuing to “accelerate our infrastructure investments to support our AI roadmap,” CFO Susan Li said on the Q1 earnings call.

    Should you buy Nvidia stock before May 22?

    Of course, there are no guarantees, but I think it’s more likely than not that Nvidia stock will rise after the upcoming earnings release for the reasons just outlined. And there’s another possible catalyst: The timing seems good for the company to announce a stock split.

    That said, if you’re a long-term investor, you don’t need to concern yourself with trying to time your stock buys. Over the long term, if your bullish thesis is correct for Nvidia, it shouldn’t make that much difference if you paid a bit more or less for its stock many years back.

    Let’s look at an example. Nvidia stock closed at $946.30 per share on May 15. Exactly five years ago, the stock closed at $39.90, adjusted for stock splits. If you invested $1,000 in Nvidia stock five years ago, your investment would now be worth $23,717. Had you invested in the stock about five years ago and its price per share was, say, 15% higher than $39.90, or $45.89, your investment would now be worth $20,621. I’m guessing you’d be thrilled to have turned your $1,000 into nearly $21,000 in five years, and not kicking yourself for not doing a little better.

    A smart way to build your position in any stock is to invest the same dollar amount at regular intervals, such as monthly or quarterly. This method eliminates the potential that you’ll invest your entire amount at what turns out to be a near-term peak for the stock price. 

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

    The post Nvidia stock’s next big catalysts could come on May 22. Should you buy shares before then? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Alphabet 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 Alphabet 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

    Beth McKenna has positions in Nvidia. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Guess which ASX uranium stock is charging higher today

    The uranium industry has been one of the hottest areas of the market this year.

    In light of this, it is hardly surprising that one ASX uranium stock is charging higher today despite the market being a sea of red.

    The uranium stock in question in is Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX: AGE).

    In afternoon trade, its shares are up 5% to 6.2 cents. This means that they are now up over 100% since this time last year.

    Why is this ASX uranium stock charging higher today?

    Investors have been buying the company’s shares today after it released an announcement in relation to the Big Lake Uranium Project in the Cooper Basin, South Australia.

    According to the release, its inaugural stratigraphic drill program for the Big Lake project is now underway.

    The release notes that the Big Lake project is targeting northern extensions of the same Namba, Eyre and Winton sedimentary formations which host the Beverley, Four Mile and Honeymoon In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium mining operations in South Australia.

    The ASX uranium stock has high hopes for the project. It highlights that it has many attributes of similar global hydrocarbon-related ISR uranium fields. Furthermore, an historical drilling program in the region by a previous company ~16 years ago indicated the presence of uranium in thin bands.

    Drilling contractor Wallis Drilling has been engaged to conduct up to 40 aircore holes on 3 to 4 hole fences, with an average depth of 150 metres.

    The good news for shareholders is that they may not have to wait long to find out what lies underground. That’s because subject to final drilling metres, assays and analysis of the results are expected to be available in either August and September.

    After which, management notes that results from this field program will inform a more targeted drilling program focused on the best opportunities to intersect uranium mineralisation within this portion of the Cooper Basin. This is scheduled for either later in 2024 or early 2025.

    Commenting on the drilling program, the ASX uranium stock’s CEO, Greg Hall, said:

    We are very pleased to begin this long-awaited program and are fully appreciative to the Traditional Owners and other Stakeholders that have facilitated access. While at a very early green-field stage of the exploration/resource pipeline, all the signs are there that this has the potential to be a uranium-bearing basin following the Kazakhstan model. This drilling program is the start of our proof-of-concept work.

    The post Guess which ASX uranium stock is charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Alligator 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 Alligator 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 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.

  • TikTok is testing 60-minute videos, which could be a big threat to YouTube

    A composite image of the logos of TikTok and YouTube.
    TikTok is testing a 60-minute video upload, that's bad news for YouTube.

    • TikTok is testing 60-minute video uploads, challenging YouTube's long-form content domain.
    • TikTok has gradually increased its video length limits to 10 minutes for all users.
    • Longer video uploads may shift viewership from streaming services like YouTube.

    TikTok is giving some users the option to upload 60-minute videos to the platform. That could spell trouble for YouTube and streaming giants.

    The pilot was first publicly spotted by tech newsletter writer Matt Navarra. TikTok confirmed the feature to TechCrunch on Thursday.

    It is unclear what regions the update is available in, and if and when it will be accessible to more users. The company told TechCrunch it does not immediately plan to roll out the 60-minute upload function widely.

    The update is the latest effort by the Chinese-owned social media platform to expand its product offerings as user growth slows. When it first launched, the platform only allowed creators to post 60-second videos. The limit is now 10 minutes for all users, and 15 for some creators. TikTok competitors Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts offer similar upload lengths.

    The test puts TikTok in the same weight class as YouTube. It would let content creators upload videos that require longer durations, like in-depth tutorials or family and college vlogs, which are popular on YouTube.

    YouTube beats TikTok in terms of overall users in the US. More than 80% of US adults told Pew Research Center last year that they had ever used YouTube, while 33% had used TikTok. The short-form platform's users skew young: 62% of 18- to 29-year-olds told Pew they use TikTok, and 93% of users in the same age bracket use YouTube.

    But TikTok is ahead of YouTube by minutes watched: Last year, Business Insider sister company eMarketer predicted that in 2024, adult TikTok users would average 55 minutes per day on the platform — five minutes more than YouTube's average.

    "Because of TikTok's shorter content, the platform risks users discovering clipped content and leaving the platform to watch the full version on YouTube," eMarketer analyst Sara Lebow wrote in December. "Increasing video length could prevent a user from watching half of a video essay on TikTok and finishing the content on YouTube."

    Last week, BI reported that Google leaders are encouraging employees who sell ads to capitalize on the possibility of a US TikTok ban by having "thoughtful conversation" with clients about the ban.

    TikTok did not immediately respond for BI's request for comment.

    The longer video feature may also threaten streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. TikTok has a vast library of unofficially uploaded short clips from popular television shows and movies, which users binge-watch to see the show in full. Access to longer videos of shows may make this activity more commonplace.

    Television networks are tapping into TikTok, too. Last year, streaming platform Peacock uploaded a pilot episode of its comedy show "Killing It" to TikTok. The episode, which was uploaded in five parts, received millions of views. A longer video duration would mean episodes can be uploaded in one go, and viewership may shift from streaming services to TikTok.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • AI is leading to the ‘revenge of the liberal arts,’ says a Goldman tech exec with a history degree

    George Lee Goldman Sachs tech banking
    Goldman's George Lee (right) studied history in college.

    • Goldman's George Lee said AI will empower non-technical workers, including those in risk management.
    • The history major turned tech banker said AI enhances skills like critical thinking, creativity, and logic.
    • Banks are increasingly using AI for fraud and credit risk amid rising regulatory demands.

    A longtime tech banker with a history degree says AI could be a boon for non-technical workers.

    George Lee, the co-head of applied innovation at Goldman Sachs, told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday that he thinks AI will lead to the "revenge of the liberal arts" in the workforce.

    "Some of the skills that are really salient to cooperate with this new of intelligence in the world are critical thinking, understanding logic and rhetoric, the ability to be creative," Lee said. "AI will allow non-technical people to accomplish a lot more — and, by the way, begin to perform what were formerly believed to be technical tasks."

    Lee, who studied history at Middlebury College and got an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, sits on liberal arts-focused Middlebury's board of trustees. He joined Goldman in 1994 after his MBA and was previously the firm's co-chief information officer.

    Lee told Bloomberg that AI could help people who are focused on operations and risk management.

    As regulatory requirements have intensified globally and threats like cybersecurity take center stage, banks' risk management teams have swelled. In an annual bank risk management survey by EY and the International Institute of Finance released in February, a majority of banks said they're already using AI to monitor fraud and credit risk.

    AI is increasingly seen as a threat to knowledge workers, including investment bankers. Junior investment-banking analyst classes — a highly-paid, high-stress job — could be cut by as much as two-thirds, while those who make it into the banks could be paid less for jobs assisted with AI.

    As Business Insider has previously reported, banks from Goldman Sachs to Deutsche Bank have been exploring ways to streamline tedious tasks often assigned to junior investment bankers, like updating charts for pitch books or company valuation comparison tables.

    A Goldman spokesperson previously told BI the bank has no plans to scale back its incoming class.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • A top NATO general says Russian troops don’t have the numbers or the skills to mount a strategic breakthrough in Kharkiv

    Russian military personnel at the Moscow Victory Day parade on May 9, 2024.
    Russian military personnel at the Moscow Victory Day parade on May 9, 2024.

    • A top NATO general says Russia won't be able to achieve a "strategic breakthrough" in Kharkiv.
    • US Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Russia just doesn't have the numbers or skills to pull it off.
    • Last month, Cavoli told Congress that the Russian army is 15% bigger than when it invaded Ukraine.

    Russian forces are unlikely to achieve a "strategic breakthrough" in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a top NATO general said on Thursday.

    "The Russians don't have the numbers necessary to do a strategic breakthrough," US Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, per Reuters.

    "More to the point, they don't have the skill and the capability to do it, to operate at the scale necessary to exploit any breakthrough to strategic advantage," Cavoli continued.

    Last week, Russia launched an assault on the northeastern city of Kharkiv, with troops pouring across the border into the region. Ukraine was forced to withdraw its troops from several villages in Kharkiv after sustaining heavy fire from the Russians.

    While the Russians did make some "local advances" in Kharkiv, Cavoli said he is confident that the Ukrainians "will hold the line."

    Representatives for the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

    The past few months have been a tenuous period for Ukraine as it struggles to repel Russia's incursion.

    US military support for Ukraine was held back for months after Republicans delayed the passage of a legislative bill to funnel aid. On April 20, the House of Representatives finally approved more than $60 billion in assistance to Ukraine.

    But the aid will provide little immediate relief to the Ukrainians, who could still face increased attacks from Russia in the meantime.

    "These requirements and the logistics of transporting US materiel to the frontline in Ukraine will likely mean that new US assistance will not begin to affect the situation on the front line for several weeks," the Institute for the Study of War said in a report last month.

    The US think tank said Ukraine would "suffer additional setbacks in the coming weeks," though its forces should still be able "to blunt the current Russian offensive assuming the resumed US assistance arrives promptly."

    On the other hand, Russia appears to have maintained its strength after battling the Ukrainians for over two years.

    During a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 10, Cavoli said that the Russian army is now 15% bigger than when it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

    "In sum, Russia is on track to command the largest military on the continent," Cavoli said. "Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, Russia will be larger, more lethal, and angrier with the West than when it invaded."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Why Clearview, Loyal Lithium, Polynovo, and Weebit Nano shares are falling

    A woman with a sad face looks to be receiving bad news on her phone as she holds it in her hands and looks down at it.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a disappointing finish to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.7% to 7,824.2 points.

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

    Clearview Wealth Ltd (ASX: CVW)

    The Clearview Wealth share price is down 2.5% to 68.5 cents. This follows news that a major shareholder is selling down its holding in the financial services company. It advised that certain funds managed or advised by Crescent Capital Partners have agreed to sell in aggregate 73,114,246 shares to a range of sophisticated and institutional investors by way of a block trade at 59 cents per share. Crescent Funds will be left holding 225,174,975 Clearwiew Wealth Shares, representing approximately 34.59% of the shares on issue.

    Loyal Lithium Ltd (ASX: LLI)

    The Loyal Lithium share price is down 5.5% to 25.5 cents. This morning, the lithium explorer announced that it has received firm commitments to raise $3.3 million through the issue of 7,345,744 new shares at an issue price of ~$0.45 per share. This represents a significant premium to its current share price. However, this premium is the result of the company utilising the “flowthrough shares” provisions under Canadian tax law. These shares provide tax incentives to investors for expenditures that qualify as flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures.

    Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)

    The Polynovo share price is down 3.5% to $2.12. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors during today’s very red session. After all, this medical device company’s shares have been on a great run of late. For example, since this time six months ago, Polynovo’s shares have risen over 50%. Over the same period, the ASX 200 index is up by 11%. Strong sales growth appears to have been the driver of Polynovo’s gains.

    Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)

    The Weebit Nano share price is down a further 7% to $2.26. This is despite there being no news out of the semiconductor company. However, it is worth noting that its shares have been under significant pressure since the release of its quarterly update. So much so, they are down almost 30% since its release. Investors appear to be finally waking up to the fact that it doesn’t deserve to trade with such a lofty valuation when it is pulling in zero cash receipts and burning through cash like it is kindling.

    The post Why Clearview, Loyal Lithium, Polynovo, and Weebit Nano shares are falling appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Clearview Wealth 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 Clearview Wealth Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

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

  • Goldman says these 6 ASX retail shares are a buying opportunity

    A laughing woman pushes her friend, who has her arms outstretched, in a supermarket trolley.

    Top broker Goldman Sachs says its key buy calls among ASX retail shares are now skewed towards consumer staple shares over discretionary shares.

    In a new note to clients this week, Goldman analysts Lisa Deng and James Leigh said they currently “see better value in staples where valuation and earnings expectations are less demanding”.

    Deng and Leigh said consumers were “clearly increasingly value-focused” amid anticipated delays in interest rate cuts or even another hike this year.

    What’s happening in retail these days?

    The latest retail figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed the “weakest growth on record” outside the pandemic and the introduction of the GST.

    Retail turnover has increased by just 0.8% over the 12 months to 31 March, despite massive population growth due to high immigration.

    Turnover fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in the month of March.

    This followed gains of 1% in January and 0.2% in February.

    ABS head of retail statistics Ben Dorber said:

    Consumers pulled back on retail spending in March as cost of living pressures remained high.

    Outside of the pandemic period and introduction of the GST, this is the weakest growth on record when comparing turnover to the same time in the previous year. 

    Turnover was down in every sector in March, except food. The largest declines occurred in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (down 4.3%) and department stores (down 1.6%).

    Goldman’s take on consumer spending

    Deng and Leigh said Goldman Sachs had changed its rate cut projection from August to November and “this is expected to impact discretionary spending” from here.

    They noted recent ABS data showing declining discretionary spending, including a 1.9% annual drop in household goods sales, a 3.5% dip in electronic goods and a 3.7% fall in furniture sales.

    They said:

    Recent 3Q24 results, our deep-dive channel checks and the latest ABS retail data suggest that Australian consumers are increasingly price conscious and selective on spending.

    Conversely for Staples … we continue to believe that market concern on ongoing regulatory inquiries (most important ACCC Inquiry interim report by August 31) is overdone.

    Our latest conversations with key FMCG companies also note that volumes remain positive and while pricing is unlikely to see significant hikes from here, continued portfolio innovation to drive mix remains a growth lever.

    The analysts mentioned ABS data showing a 3.8% lift in supermarket sales in the March quarter.

    6 ASX retail shares to buy

    In light of all this and following third-quarter updates from ASX companies, the analysts have updated their recommendations for ASX retail shares.

    In order of preference, here are the ASX retail shares that Goldman says are a buy today.

    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

    The Super Retail share price is $13.33, down 1.15% currently and 16.1% lower in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $17.80 on the owner of Rebel and Supercheap Auto.

    Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

    The Woolworths share price is $31.80, down 0.16% now and 15.2% lower in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $39.40 on the ASX retail supermarket share.

    Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

    The Endeavour share price is $5.14, down 1.34% currently and down 1.9% in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $6.30 on the owner of BWS and Dan Murphys.

    Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

    The Treasury Wine share price is $11.57, up 0.35% now and 8.2% higher in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $13 on the ASX retail wine share.

    Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB)

    The Webjet share price is $8.47, down 0.76% now but up 14.4% in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $9.20 on the ASX retail travel share.

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    The Breville share price is $25.48, down 2.75% currently and down 5.5% in the year to date.

    Goldman has a 12-month share price target of $28 on the ASX retail share.

    The post Goldman says these 6 ASX retail shares are a buying opportunity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Breville Group Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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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 positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • ASX 200 mining shares charging higher amid China’s $210 billion cash injection

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining shares are racing ahead of the benchmark today.

    In early afternoon trade on Friday, the ASX 200 is down 0.66%.

    Here’s how the big three ASX 200 mining shares are tracking at this same time:

    • Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are up 1.8% at $27.10
    • BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are up 0.99% at $44.98
    • Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are up 0.93% at $131.60

    Here’s what’s happening.

    ASX 200 mining shares lift on China stimulus plans

    ASX 200 mining shares BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are all catching some heady tailwinds today amid a 2.6% increase in the iron ore price. The critical steel-making metal is trading for just under US$117 per tonne.

    Now, that’s well down from the US$144 that same tonne was fetching on 3 January. But iron ore has now surged more than 16% since 4 April, when it was trading for just under US$100 per tonne.

    This once again defies numerous bearish analyst forecasts, which predicted iron ore would be trading at or below US$100 per tonne by now.

    The strength of the industrial metal also lifted BHP and Rio Tinto in US markets, where the ASX 200 mining shares are also listed. BHP shares closed up 1.3% on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) overnight, while Rio Tinto shares gained 2.3%.

    Investor enthusiasm for the big miners looks to be fuelled by China.

    New economic data shows that while parts of China’s economy, like its manufacturing sector, are rebounding, other sectors continue to struggle. Particularly the nation’s sluggish property market.

    In hopes of getting the economy back onto its growth track, the Chinese government said it would commence selling 1 trillion yuan (AU$210 billion) in its ultra-long special sovereign bonds today.

    Much of this cash is expected to flow into the steel-hungry infrastructure sector. Analysts are also forecasting the potential of more monetary easing from the People’s Bank of China to make it, well, easier for banks to buy the bonds.

    Commenting on the Chinese stimulus that looks to be lifting the ASX 200 mining shares today, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) stated (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

    Iron ore rose amid renewed optimism over Beijing’s efforts to tackle property crisis. This follows reports that China will start selling 1 trillion yuan of special bonds this week centred on boosting infrastructure spending.

    The post ASX 200 mining shares charging higher amid China’s $210 billion cash injection appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bhp Group shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor 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.