• These ASX growth shares have massive global opportunities: Goldman Sachs

    A man in a suit stands before a large backdrop of a blue-lit globe as the man smiles and holds his hand to his chin as though thinking.

    A man in a suit stands before a large backdrop of a blue-lit globe as the man smiles and holds his hand to his chin as though thinking.

    If you’re wanting to pick up some ASX growth shares, then you may want to consider the two listed below.

    Both of these growth shares have been tipped as buys by analysts at Goldman Sachs partly due to their massive global market opportunities.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    Life360 could be a quality ASX growth share to buy according to Goldman.

    This rapidly growing location technology company is responsible for the Life360 mobile app. This freemium app is hugely popular and currently boasts almost 50 million global active users.

    The company also added to its arsenal with recent acquisitions of wearables company Jiobit and items tracking company Tile, which are opening the door to cross and upselling opportunities.

    Overall, Goldman estimates that “Life360 is exposed to a US$12bn global TAM with a large opportunity to expand its product suite, grow average revenue per paying circle (ARPPC), increase payer conversion, and lift penetration rates outside of the US.”

    It also highlights that it believes “Life360 is approaching an inflection point as it proves the pricing power of its subscription business model and moves out of the non-profitable tech basket.” This could be supportive of a re-rating in the near future.

    Goldman has a buy rating and $7.90 price target on Life360’s shares.

    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

    Another ASX growth share that Goldman Sachs believes is in the buy zone right now is Xero.

    It is a fast-growing cloud-based accounting solution provider to ~3.3 million small and medium sized businesses globally.

    Although this is a large number, it is still on a fraction of its overall market opportunity. This gives Xero and its highly rated and sticky platform a major runway for growth over the next decade and beyond.

    Goldman Sachs believes Xero is “very well placed to take advantage of the digitisation of SMBs globally, driven by compelling efficiency benefits and regulatory tailwinds.”

    It estimates that “>100mn SMBs worldwide represent[s] a >NZ$76bn TAM”, which it feels makes Xero “a compelling global growth story.”

    Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $115.00 price target on Xero’s shares.

    The post These ASX growth shares have massive global opportunities: Goldman Sachs 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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

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  • The Flight Centre share price has made a flying start to 2023! Should I buy?

    A smiling boy holds a toy plane aloft while a girl watches on from a car near an airport runway.

    A smiling boy holds a toy plane aloft while a girl watches on from a car near an airport runway.

    Despite being the most shorted share on the Australian share market, the Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price has started the year strongly.

    As you can see below, with another gain under its belt today, the travel agent’s shares are now up almost 10% in 2023.

    Where next for the Flight Centre share price?

    Unfortunately, I’m not aware of a single broker that has a buy rating on Flight Centre shares.

    However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that analysts don’t believe they can climb higher from here.

    For example, Goldman Sachs has a neutral rating and $16.10 price target and Morgans has a hold rating and $18.25 price target on its shares.

    Based on the current Flight Centre share price of $15.79, the latter implies potential upside of 13% for investors from here.

    Morgans highlights that the company is recovering from the pandemic, but also notes that uncertainty remains. It is for that reason that the broker only has a hold rating on its shares at present. It recently explained:

    FLT is targeting further bottom-line improvement during FY23 and heavily skewed to the 2H. It said that it is too early to provide specific market guidance given normal travel patterns (local v long haul, holidaymakers v VFR) are yet to resume; China is yet to reopen; airline capacity is restricted; and its revenue margins are yet to stabilise and normalise.

    The broker also believes that revenue margins may be softer in the near term but expects them to improve once capacity normalises and competition increases. It said:

    FLT’s revenue margin is expected to remain below pre-COVID levels in the near term because of cyclical factors (higher airfare prices), planned business mix changes (growth in lower margin channels/businesses) and the lower commissions.

    While capacity is restricted and the airlines load factors are high, we think FLT has reduced bargaining power with the airlines. However over the medium term, as capacity normalises and there is increased competition, we think the airlines will rely more on FLT as one of the world’s largest travel groups and will thus reward the company for its efforts.

    All in all, the future is looking brighter for Flight Centre, but it may just have a few more dark clouds to get through first.

    The post The Flight Centre share price has made a flying start to 2023! Should I 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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

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  • Did Woolworths just become 18% more valuable?

    A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is in the green today and the supermarket giant is Australia’s most valuable brand, according to a study.

    Brand Finance Australia has ranked Woolworths first in its annual Australia 100 report for 2023.

    Brand Finance is one of the world’s leading independent brand valuation consultancies. The company values the Woolworths brand at $16.2 billion in 2023, which is 18% higher than last year.

    This is the fourth consecutive year that Woolworths has taken out the top place for value.

    Brand Finance explains that brand value refers “to the present value of earnings specifically related to brand reputation”.

    Why is Woolworths Australia’s top brand?

    According to the report:

    Woolworths has continued its focus on customer experience, including the roll out of curated ranges tailored to local communities, and offering more inclusive experiences to a wider range of consumers.

    Woolworths also continued to manage the impacts of climate change, working to reduce emissions from its own operations through green electricity and electric vehicle trials, as well as the phasing out of some plastic use.

    These factors continued to maintain the brand’s strong reputation and loyalty amongst Australian consumers …

    Which other ASX shares made the top 10 brands?

    Woolworths’ closest competitor, Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) held onto fourth place, with its brand value up 10% to $10.9 billion.

    The report said: “Over the last year, Coles has continued to demonstrate flexibility and innovation, with improved scores for quality and value for money.”

    Here are the top 10 ASX-listed brands by value.

    Ranking Company name
    1 Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)
    2 Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)
    3 Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
    4 Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)
    5 National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)
    6 BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)
    7 ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)
    8 Bunnings (owned by Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES))
    9 Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)
    10 Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO)

    Out of the 100 companies listed, 74 experienced an increase in brand value, while 21 saw a fall over the year.

    The companies that saw a decline in their brand value included Optus, which is owned by Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SGX: Z74).

    Optus experienced a 19% fall in brand value to $3.3 billion due to the cyberattack.

    What does this mean for Woolworths shares?

    Mark Crowe Managing Director, Brand Finance Australia, said quantifying brand value helped businesses attract investors, secure financing, and influence mergers and acquisitions.

    Crowe said:

    A strong brand can lead to improved business returns in several ways. First, a brand can help a business differentiate itself from its competitors and establish a unique identity in the market, which can lead to increased customer loyalty and retention. This, in turn, can drive higher sales and revenue.

    A strong brand can command a higher price or premium for products or services, as consumers are willing to pay more for a brand they perceive as high-quality, value for money and trustworthy.

    Finally, a strong brand can provide a competitive advantage and help insulate a business from economic downturns or industry disruptions.

    Crowe said brand value also helped businesses understand where brand fitted into their earnings.

    In FY22, Woolworths’ revenue was $60.84 billion, indicating its brand power contributed 26% to earnings.

    According to the ASX, Woolworths shares have a market capitalisation of $42.28 billion.

    The post Did Woolworths just become 18% more valuable? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    One “Under the Radar” Pick for the “Digital Entertainment Boom”

    Discover one tiny “”Triple Down”” stock that’s 1/45th the size of Google and could stand to profit as more and more people ditch free-to-air for streaming TV.

    But this isn’t a competitor to Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video, as you might expect…

    Learn more about our Tripledown report
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Anz Group, BHP Group, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, and Westpac Banking. 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 Coles Group, Telstra Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday

    a man sits at a computer amid piles of papers to each side and behind him

    a man sits at a computer amid piles of papers to each side and behind himIt’s turning out to be another rather lacklustre day for ASX shares and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Wednesday.

    After a weak showing yesterday, the ASX 200 is back in the red zone again this session, currently down 0.02% at just over 7,384 points. That’s despite the ASX 200 being in the green for most of the morning. So let’s see where it ends up.

    But rather than trying to figure all of that out, let’s instead take a gander at the shares presently at the top of the ASX 200’s share trading volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Wednesday

    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

    First up today is the ASX 200 lithium stock Core Lithium. This Wednesday has seen a decent 19.82 million Core shares find a new owner on the share market thus far. This is almost certainly the result of the sizeable share price jump we’ve seen with Core shares today.

    The lithium producer is currently up a solid 3.63% at $1.057 a share after climbing as high as $1.08 earlier this afternoon. My Fool colleague covered why Core shares are so in demand today earlier, but it looks like this big rise is to thank for the high volumes we are witnessing.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    The next ASX 200 share up today is the telco Telstra. This Wednesday has seen a weighty 21.01 million Telstra shares change hands as it currently stands. We haven’t heard much in the way of news or announcements out of Telstra today. Or indeed this year so far.

    So this volume is probably a byproduct of the volatility we have seen in the telco’s shares this session. Telstra is currently 0.12% in the green at $4.095 a share. But the share price hit a high of $4.12 in early morning trading before dropping this afternoon.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Another ASX 200 lithium share rounds out our list today with Pilbara Minerals. A whopping 34.04 million Pilbara shares have been bought and sold on the ASX so far this Wednesday.

    Unlike Core Lithium, Pilbara shares have been shunned by investors this session. The company has lost a rather painful 1.23% of its value so far today, putting the company at $4.02 a share.

    Again, we’ve seen some volatility with Pilbara today, with stints in both positive and negative territory and a day range of $3.94 to $4.12 a share. This is probably what has elicited the high volume numbers on display.

    The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Group. 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.

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  • This All Ords share is booming 9% after turning cash flow positive

    Two happy scientists analysing test results in a labTwo happy scientists analysing test results in a lab

    The share price of All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) medical-technology company Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT) is soaring on news of its maiden positive cash flow.

    It comes just one week after the company announced five new contract wins with a combined value of NZ$12.3 million, or around $11.35 million.

    The Volpara share price soared 9% on open this morning to reach 77 cents before continuing on its upwards trajectory, hitting a high of 81 cents – marking a 15% increase.

    It has since slipped slightly to trade at 78 cents. Though, that’s still 10.6% higher than its previous close.

    All Ords share Volpara rockets 11% on record cash receipts

    Here are the highlights from the provider of breast cancer screening software’s December quarter.

    All results have been converted from New Zealand Dollars to Australian Dollars at today’s exchange rate (NZ$1 to 92 Australian cents):

    • $10.3 million of quarterly cash receipts – a new record and a 60% year-on-year improvement
    • Maiden $1.2 million cash flow – up from a $3.5 million outflow in the September quarter
    • Added around US$1.5 million of contracted annual recurring revenue (CARR)
    • Average revenue per account increased to US$35,900 at the end of the quarter – up from US$31,900 at the end of the September quarter
    • Ended December with $11 million of cash and no debt

    At the end of the December quarter, the company’s unaudited financial year to date cash receipts came to $26.38 million – a 39% year-on-year increase, or a 23% increase on a constant currency basis.

    Its CARR is now around $37.1 million while its annual reoccurring revenue is approximately $28.8 million.

    What else happened in the quarter?

    The company reached its maiden cash flow well ahead of guidance. The milestone was previously tipped to be achieved in the final quarter of financial year 2024.

    An increase in cash receipts due to improved debtors days, costs reductions, government grants, and around $830,000 of research and development tax credit all helped the company hit positive cash flow.

    Meanwhile, the final bonus plan payment to CRA employees – worth around $461,230 – was more than offset.

    What did management say?

    Volpara Group CEO Teri Thomas commented on the news driving the All Ords share higher today, saying:

    We are happy to show successful execution of our strategy focused on profitable growth. As planned, our top line continues to increase while our cost base has declined.

    We continue to emphasise sales and positive engagements with our customers alongside settling into our streamlined operations.

    What’s next?

    The All Ords company didn’t provide any new guidance today. However, it did note it doesn’t expect the current quarter’s receipts to match those of last quarter. Though, they are expected to show consistent growth.

    It also said its improved cash flow position has led management to believe it’s holding enough cash to fund it through to maintainable cash flow break-even.

    It previously expected to post between $30.9 million and $31.8 million of revenue in financial year 2023 – up from around $15.6 million in financial year 2022.

    Volpara share price underpeforms All Ords

    The Volpara share price has underperformed the All Ords over the last 12 months.

    The stock has tumbled nearly 18% since this time last year. Meanwhile, the index has slipped 1.6%.

    The post This All Ords share is booming 9% after turning cash flow positive 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Volpara Health Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Volpara Health Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    Broker looking at the share price on her laptop with green and red points in the background.

    Broker looking at the share price on her laptop with green and red points in the background.

    Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models again, leading to the release of a number of broker notes this week.

    Three ASX shares brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    Data#3 Limited (ASX: DTL)

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $8.95 price target on this information technology solutions provider’s shares. This follows the release of a trading update which revealed that Data#3 expects to deliver first half profit before tax at the top end of its guidance range. Goldman notes that this is ahead of its estimate and implies year over year growth of at least 24%. Outside this, Goldman is positive on its outlook thanks to government and enterprise IT spending and its position as an expert in cloud migrations, software, and cybersecurity. The Data#3 share price is trading at $7.30 on Wednesday.

    JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH)

    A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this retail giant’s shares to $55.00. This follows a half year trading update that was well ahead of Citi and consensus estimates. Combined with the update from Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), the broker believes consumer health is better than the market’s thinking heading into the second half. The JB Hi-Fi share price is fetching $47.95 this afternoon.

    Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

    Another note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this mining giant’s shares to $134.40. This follows the release of the company’s latest quarterly update. Goldman was pleased with Rio Tinto’s record iron ore production in the quarter and its guidance for an 8% increase in FY 2023. The Rio Tinto share price is trading at $121.78 at the time of writing.

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

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    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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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 positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • How to prepare your portfolio for the ‘old normal’: Scott Phillips

    A couple sits in their lounge room with a large piggy bank on the coffee table. They smile while the male partner feeds some money into the slot while the female partner looks on with an iPad style device in her hands as though they are budgeting.A couple sits in their lounge room with a large piggy bank on the coffee table. They smile while the male partner feeds some money into the slot while the female partner looks on with an iPad style device in her hands as though they are budgeting.

    Searing inflation, unrelenting interest rate rises, and an economy walking a recessionary tightrope. The landscape of 2023 is an unfamiliar one for anyone that began building a portfolio this side of the GFC.

    Many have resorted to labelling this tightening environment as the ‘new normal’. But for it to be new, it needs to be the first of its kind — but is that really the case for the set of conditions investors are now facing?

    The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer, Scott Phillips, suggests otherwise. In chatting with Nabtrade’s Gemma Dale on the latest Your Wealth podcast, Phillips gives his reasoning on why this might be more suitably dubbed the ‘old normal’.

    So, how can we better prepare our portfolios for a return to a more conventional share market?

    Inflation and interest rates matter

    If you were hoping that the New Year marked the end of inflation’s influence on ASX shares, you might be disappointed.

    In answering Gemma Dale’s question on whether the hidden tax — alongside interest rates — will make an impact on investments this year, Phillips responded:

    [Interest] rates matter to the price of the assets that I buy […], rates matter to the amount of debt a company can affordably carry, and what it can do with that debt; and what my investment thesis looks like with those rates.

    Inflation matters because pricing power matters. If you are a business that can’t pass on higher costs, you have no choice but to deliver lower margins, [and] lower profits.

    While this might seem like uncharted territory for some, Phillips says this is more akin to the ‘normal economic circumstance’ of the 1980s and early 1990s. A period of time where some level of ongoing inflation was expected and interest rates moved up and down — not just down.

    So, what does that mean for investing in ASX shares and portfolio construction?

    Build a resilient portfolio

    Importantly, the answer isn’t to try and predict winners based on a specific economic situation a year from now. Instead, Phillips opined that a more reasonable approach to this ‘old normal’ is by taking a holistic view of the companies you’re investing in.

    Think about the sort of companies you own or might want to invest in. Think about their resilience in the face of a range of economic circumstances. If you look at your company and say, if this happens, it’ll be great… but if that happens, it’ll be terrible. […] I don’t think that’s the smartest way to go about it because I don’t think you want to be in a situation where you you have only one way to win and a very clear way, unfortunately, also to lose.

    Essentially, the best companies to invest in are those that can continue to grow through most — if not all — environments that they are faced with. Whereas, companies that are dependent on ultra-low interest rates for their survival are, by nature, less resilient.

    Finally, the Motley Fool CIO highlighted some ASX shares that could be well-placed to grow through this ‘old normal’ during the podcast. Companies such as Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD), and Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH).

    On the flip side, Phillips cautioned listeners on price takers, saying “I’d be really careful of businesses that don’t bring pricing power to the table.”

    The post How to prepare your portfolio for the ‘old normal’: Scott Phillips appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Lovisa, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, and Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Are NAB shares a good investment ahead of earnings season?

    The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is in the green today and up almost 5% over the past month. NAB shares are currently trading at $31.74, up 0.22% for the day so far.

    As we head into the February/March earnings season, the big four ASX bank share is due to release its first-quarter FY23 trading update on 16 February.

    Meantime, we await the Reserve Bank’s first interest rate decision of 2023 on Tuesday 7 February.

    Most commentators predict another 25-basis point increase. Generally speaking, rate rises can be good for bank shares because it means the banks can charge their home loan borrowers more interest.

    The downside of rate rises is fewer new home loans are taken out as more buyers fail serviceability requirements, and it can raise the number of bad debts too.

    The case for buying NAB shares

    As my Fool colleague James reports, Goldman Sachs is a fan of NAB shares. The broker rates them a buy with a 12-month price target of $35.41.

    In addition, Goldman is expecting NAB shares to deliver a $1.73 per share dividend in FY23.

    Last week, the broker gave three reasons to buy NAB shares, starting with its large commercial lending exposure.

    Goldman said:

    Our Buy rating on NAB is predicated on: i) NAB providing the best leverage to the thematic that domestic volume momentum will favour commercial over housing volumes over both the short- and medium-term, ii) our expectation that commercial lending will be better insulated from competitive pressures particularly prevalent in mortgage lending.

    The broker also said the bank has made superior strides in its cost management initiatives compared to its peers. Goldman said this has “allowed the highest levels of productivity over the last three years”.

    About $400 million in productivity savings is expected in FY23.

    Another big four bank is better, says this broker

    According to The Australian, Morgan Stanley reckons Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are a better choice than NAB shares.

    The broker thinks that banks’ profitability and valuations are “harder to predict” in today’s inflationary economy.

    In a recent note, Morgan Stanley said:

    For now, margin expansion and resilient credit quality underpin the earnings outlook. However, the size and speed of the tightening cycle creates the prospect that weaker volume growth, declining margins, higher costs and rising loan losses weigh on the banks’ share price performance in the second half.

    In terms of NAB shares specifically, Morgan Stanley has an equal-weight rating and a $30 price target.

    The broker likes NAB’s growing track record of execution, its operating performance, and margin improvements.

    In its full-year results released in November, NAB reported an 8.3% bump in its statutory net profit. It also reported an improving net interest margin (NIM) with a final quarter exit margin of 1.72%.

    Several other banks also recorded raised exit NIMs as a result of rising interest rates.

    Morgan Stanley has given Westpac shares an overweight rating and a price target of $24.

    The broker likes Westpac’s “upside to consensus margin estimates from higher rates, a differentiated cost outlook and good progress on the cost reset plan”.

    It also notes “signs of improving franchise performance, a relatively low risk profile, low investor expectations and supportive trading multiples”.

    The post Are NAB shares a good investment ahead of earnings season? 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Westpac Banking. 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 recommended Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 4 ASX All Ordinaries shares hitting new 52-week highs today

    Arrows pointing upwards with a man pointing his finger at one.Arrows pointing upwards with a man pointing his finger at one.

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is back in the green on Wednesday, driven higher by four shares leaping to new 52-week highs.

    Right now, the All Ordinaries Index is up 0.12%, trading at 7,606.9 points.

    Let’s take a closer look at four shares trading at their highest point in more than a year today.

    4 ASX All Ordinaries shares soaring to 52-week highs

    The Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR) share price is on the up and up today, gaining 5% at its intraday peak to hit an all-time record high of $3.55.

    The coal miner has been on a major roll over the last 12 months, gaining more than 230% in that time.

    Joining the coal miner in the green is All Ordinaries biopharmaceutical share Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV). It soared 3% earlier today to reach $26.65 – the highest it’s been since this time last year.

    The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster for the healthcare stock. Six months before it soared to today’s high, the stock hit a low of $13.16.

    Clinuvel isn’t the only All Ordinaries biopharma share posting 52-week highs today.

    The share price of Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) also surged to a multi-year high of $9.08 earlier today. That marked a 1.6% gain on its previous close.

    The last time the stock traded at such levels was in 2007 – before the Global Financial Crisis took hold of markets around the world.

    The final ASX All Ordinaries share soaring to long-forgotten highs is Aroa Biosurgery Ltd (ASX: ARX). It surged to $1.20 in afternoon trade – a 1.7% gain on its previous closing price.

    The company listed on the ASX following its $45 million initial public offering (IPO) in mid-2020. Investors who got on board in its IPO did so for just 75 cents per share.

    The post 4 ASX All Ordinaries shares hitting new 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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.

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  • Why is the Core Lithium share price rebounding 5% today?

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is heading in the right direction at last on Wednesday.

    In afternoon trade, the lithium developer’s shares are up 5% to $1.07.

    Though, as you can see on the chart below, the Core Lithium share price is still trading 43% lower than its November peak of $1.88.

    Why is the Core Lithium share price rebounding?

    Investors have been snapping up shares today despite there being no news out of the company.

    Though, it is worth noting that a number of developers are rising this afternoon. This includes Argosy Minerals Limited (ASX: AGY), Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE), and Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA).

    This may potentially have been driven by the release of a quarterly update out of Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE), which revealed that it has continued to command strong prices for its lithium.

    Allkem reported an average of US$46,706 per tonne for its lithium carbonate during the second quarter, which was up 16% from the first quarter. In addition, the lithium giant’s spodumene concentrate came in 5% higher quarter on quarter at US$5,284 per tonne.

    In addition, Allkem revealed that third party lithium carbonate sales commanded a price of US$53,013 per tonne and it expects similar pricing for the current quarter. This is the price the company is getting for uncontracted lithium.

    Investors may be optimistic that Core Lithium will be commanding similarly strong prices for its lithium by the time its Finniss Lithium Project in the North Territory is up and running.

    The company is aiming to commence spodumene concentrate production at Finniss in the first half of 2023.

    The post Why is the Core Lithium share price rebounding 5% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Allkem. 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.

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