• 3 of the best ASX ETFs for investors to buy in January

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop.

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop.

    If you’re looking for exchange traded funds (ETFs) to buy in January, then you might want to look at the three listed below.

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

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    If you’re interested in gaining exposure to the Asian tech sector now that China is finally reopening, then the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF could be worth considering. This ETF tracks the performance of the largest technology companies in Asia (excluding Japan). Among the exciting companies that you’ll be buying are tigers such as Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Tencent Holdings.

    VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

    If you are a fan of legendary investor Warren Buffett, then you may want to look at the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. That’s because when Buffett invests, he looks for fairly valued companies with sustainable competitive advantages or moats. VanEck has taken this into account and made an ETF out of it by bringing together around 50 attractively priced companies with moats. At present, this includes high quality companies such as Adobe, Alphabet, Boeing, Kellogg Co, Microsoft, and Walt Disney.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    A final ETF for investors to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. It could be a great option if you’re looking for an easy way to diversify your portfolio. That’s because this popular ETF provides investors with access to around 1,500 of the world’s largest listed companies. This provides significant diversity and also allows investors to take part in the long term growth potential of international economies. Among the companies included in the fund are giants such as Amazon, Apple, Nestle, Nvidia, Procter & Gamble, Tesla, and Visa.

    The post 3 of the best ASX ETFs for investors to buy in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    ETF for beginners – Building wealth with ETFs – Got $1,000 to invest?

    While ETFs allow you to diversify your asset base, many new investors don’t realise one important thing. Not all ETFs are the same — or as good as you might think.

    Discover the time-tested tactics savvy investors use to build a truly balanced and diversified ETF portfolio. A portfolio investors could aim to hold for years.

    Click here to get all the details
    *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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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 Brainchip, Core Lithium, Deterra Royalties, and Mesoblast 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.

    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.

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a solid gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.9% to 7,343.7 points.

    Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

    Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

    The Brainchip share price is down a further 1.5% to 66 cents. This semiconductor company’s shares have come under pressure this week after it raised capital again. Investors appear concerned that this could mean the company’s latest quarterly sales performance underwhelmed and it needed a cash injection.

    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

    The Core Lithium share price is down 3% to $1.15. This may have been driven by a bearish broker note out of Goldman Sachs this morning. According to the note, the broker has reiterated its sell rating and 95 cents price target on this lithium developer’s shares. Goldman believes Core Lithium’s shares are overvalued at the current level.

    Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

    The Deterra Royalties share price is down 2.5% to $4.68. This may also have been driven by a broker note out of Goldman Sachs. This morning, the broker downgraded the mining royalties company’s shares to a neutral rating with a $4.50 price target. Goldman made the move largely on valuation grounds after a strong gain since October.

    Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

    The Mesoblast share price is down 2.5% to 93.5 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the biotech company. However, with its shares up strongly since the start of the year, some profit taking could be happening. The Mesoblast share price remains up 7% year to date.

    The post Why Brainchip, Core Lithium, Deterra Royalties, and Mesoblast shares are falling appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Turn the market pullback to your advantage today

    The recent market pullback in stocks has been eye watering…

    But there is a silver lining because, historically, some millionaires are made in bear markets.

    And when investors can find world-class stocks at severe discounts you have to wonder…

    Have you got these four ‘pullback stocks’ in your portfolio?

    See The 4 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 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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  • The Whitehaven share price exploded 260% in 2022. Is that all there is?

    a man with a hard hat and high visibility vest stands with a clipboard and pen in front of a large pile of rock at a mining site.a man with a hard hat and high visibility vest stands with a clipboard and pen in front of a large pile of rock at a mining site.

    The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price rocketed ahead in 2022, but could it still go higher in 2023?

    Whitehaven shares soared 261% from $2.61 at market close on 31 December 2021 to $9.42 at market close on 30 December 2022. In today’s trade, Whitehaven shares are up 2%.

    So could the Whitehaven Coal share price still go higher?

    Could Whitehaven go even higher?

    Whitehaven is a major coal producer and global exporter to markets including Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

    The coal price is likely to weigh heavily on investors’ minds this year, since it impacts the company’s profit margin.

    Analysts at UBS have recently predicted coal prices to “stay elevated” for longer. UBS said in January this year:

    High calorific value coal (6,000 kilocalories per kilogram) is likely to remain in short supply, keeping prices of Newcastle thermal coal elevated in 2023. That said, some decline from record levels of above USD 400 per metric ton should still be expected.

    A stronger price decline will probably only happen after 2025, following the next wave of additional LNG supply and additional power supply from renewables.

    Meanwhile, a report from the Office of the Chief Economist is predicting thermal coal prices to rise from US$245 a tonne in FY22 to US$360 a tonne in FY23. However, metallurgical prices are predicted to drop from US$404 a tonne in FY22 to US$262 in FY23.

    Production of coal from Whitehaven’s mines may also weigh on the company’s share price this year.

    In November, Whitehaven “moderated” its guidance for FY23 coal production from its open-cut mines given possible weather impacts and labour constraints. The company is forecasting it will produce 19 to 20.4 Mt of coal in the 2023 financial year. Previously, Whitehaven had guided for 10 to 22 Mt of coal.

    Whitehaven share price snapshot

    The Whitehaven share price has exploded 202% in the last year. However, in the past month, it has slid 6%.

    Whitehaven Coal has a market capitalisation of about $8 billion based on the current share price.

    The post The Whitehaven share price exploded 260% in 2022. Is that all there is? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    FREE Guide for New Investors

    Despite what some people may say – we believe investing in shares doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated…

    For over a decade, we’ve been helping everyday Aussies get started on their journey.

    And to help even more people cut through some of the confusion “experts’” seem to want to perpetuate – we’ve created a brand-new “how to” guide.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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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  • 2 cheap ASX shares I’ve bought to hold for 10 years

    A businessman hugs his computer and smiles.

    A businessman hugs his computer and smiles.

    When I make investments, I make them for the long term. I’m simply not interested in jumping in and out of trades.

    Recently, I saw an opportunity to buy a couple of ASX shares that I think are cheap at current levels.

    Here’s why I plan to hold onto these shares for the next decade:

    Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    As you can see above, this popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) has lost a disappointing 27% of its value over the last 12 months. This has been driven by a tech selloff on Wall Street’s famous NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) after interest rates surged higher to combat sky-high inflation.

    Higher interest rates not only put pressure on economic growth but they cause the risk-free rate to increase. The latter means that investors seek a better risk/reward when buying stocks, which invariably leads to shares de-rating to lower multiples.

    With inflation now showing signs of easing in the United States, I believe the NASDAQ index and this ETF are positioned for a big recovery in the near future. After which, I am confident that the long term is very positive. After all, this ETF includes giants such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla.

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    With the Domino’s share price down heavily from its highs, I believe this pizza chain operator could prove to be a great long-term investment if buying from current levels.

    This ASX share was sold off in 2022 amid concerns over inflationary pressures on the company’s margins and consumer spending. While this will likely lead to sub-par performance in FY 2023, I expect these headwinds to be fleeting and remain confident in its long-term prospects.

    Particularly given its strong market position and bold expansion plans. The latter will see the company double its footprint in existing markets later this decade. Combined with its long track record of same-store sales growth and potential margin improvements from scale benefits, I believe Domino’s could deliver above-average earnings growth from FY 2024 onwards.

    Morgans appears to agree and has an add rating and a $90.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 2 cheap ASX shares I’ve bought to hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Despite what the ‘experts’ may say…

    You may have heard some ‘experts’ tell you stock picking is best left to the ‘big boys’. That everyday investors should stay away if we know what’s good for us.

    However, for anyone who loves the idea of proving these ‘experts’ dead wrong, then you may want to check this out… In fact…

    I think 5 years from now, you’ll probably wish you’d grabbed these stocks.

    Get all the details here.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon.com, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon.com, Apple, and Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. 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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  • 2 ASX 200 dividend stocks I’m running a mile from

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

    There are plenty of good-quality dividend stocks on the ASX. But where there is good, there is also often bad. Choosing the wrong dividend shares can be disastrous for both your income stream and your capital base.

    So today, let’s discuss two ASX dividend stocks that I wouldn’t touch with the proverbial 10-foot pole in 2023.

    2 ASX dividend shares I wouldn’t touch in 2023

    AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

    AGL has been an absolute disaster of an investment over the past five years or so. Back in 2017, AGL shares were trading above $27 each. Today, this energy utility share is under $8:

    That’s not quite as bad as the near-$5 pricing we were seeing back in late 2021. But we are still a long way from this company’s heyday. AGL has been in the eye of the energy storm in recent times.

    The need to rapidly shift away from fossil fuels for energy has resulted in many of AGL’s generation assets losing most of their value. The company’s plans to demerge last year also faced stiff resistance from shareholders and resulted in a big shakeup at the company after the plans were abandoned.

    AGL’s dividends haven’t escaped the pain either. AGL used to be an ASX dividend heavyweight. But the company went from paying out $1.19 per share in 2019 to the 26 cents per share that investors received last year.

    AGL might yet have a strong future in front of it as a renewable energy powerhouse. But I seriously doubt that this company will be anything close to a market-beater any time soon. As such, this is one ASX dividend stock I am staying away from in 2023.

    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

    Another ASX 200 dividend stock I’m avoiding this year is the fund manager Magellan. It was only a few years ago that this company was flying high at over $74 a share. But since then, Magellan has endured one of the most dramatic falls from grace in ASX 200 history:

    First, the company’s popular funds, such as the Magellan Global Fund (ASX: MGF), began lagging behind their benchmarks in terms of returns. But the departure of co-founder and former star stock picker Hamish Douglass really dented confidence in the fund manager. As did the loss of several high-profile clients.

    It didn’t help matters when Douglass began offloading large tranches of shares, after previously saying that any talk of share sales was “absurd”.

    Magellan has since shaken up its management team and promised its investors that it has refocused on delivering outperformance. But the company’s steep losses in funds under management will cripple Magellan’s ability to pay dividends for years.

    As my Fool colleague reported earlier this month, Magellan managed an average of $53.8 billion in funds under management over the six months to 31 December last year. That was less than half of the $112.7 billion it managed over the same period in 2021.

    So this is another ASX 200 dividend stock I would rather not tangle with this year.

    The post 2 ASX 200 dividend stocks I’m running a mile from appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    You beat inflation buying stocks that pay the biggest dividends right? Sorry, you could be falling into a ‘dividend trap’…

    Mammoth dividend yields may look good on the surface… But just because a company is writing big cheques now, doesn’t mean it’ll always be the case. Right now, ‘dividend traps’ are ready to catch unwary investors as they race to income stocks to fight inflation.

    This FREE report reveals 3 stocks not only boasting sustainable dividends but that also have strong potential for massive long term returns…

    See the 3 stocks
    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 did Fortescue shares just crack a new, 52-week high?

    a man in a shirt and tie holds his chin in thoughtful contemplation and looks skywards as if thinking about something while a graphic of a road with many ups and downs unfurls behind him.a man in a shirt and tie holds his chin in thoughtful contemplation and looks skywards as if thinking about something while a graphic of a road with many ups and downs unfurls behind him.

    It’s a good day to be invested in Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) shares. Or, at least, it was.

    The stock soared 0.9% earlier this morning to ink a new 52-week high of $23.12. That’s the highest it’s been in 17 months.

    However, the iron ore giant’s notable gains didn’t last. The Fortescue share price has slipped to trade at $22.91 at the time of writing, 0.04% lower than its previous close.

    For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 0.88% at the time of writing while the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is up 0.76%.

    So, what might be going on with Fortescue shares today? Let’s take a look.

    What’s going on with Fortescue shares today?

    Fortescue popped to long-forgotten heights before dropping to near its previous close on Friday morning amid Goldman Sachs’ backhanded outlook.

    The top broker today said it saw the ASX mining sector as “more fairly valued” amid China’s reopening.

    It also noted it wouldn’t be surprised if share prices in the sector retraced this quarter but was expecting big things for miners in the second half of this year as commodity prices recovered.

    That sounds like good news for Fortescue shares, right? Unfortunately not. The stock has been downgraded by the broker.

    Goldman Sachs is bearish on the iron ore giant, saying spending on decarbonisation will likely take its toll on the company’s bottom line and future dividends.

    The broker now has a $13.40 price target on Fortescue shares – representing a potential 41% downside.

    It’s also worth noting the stock has been on a roll this week. Even considering today’s slump, the company’s share price is still 5% higher than it ended last week.

    That’s despite the company’s chief financial officer handing in his resignation on Monday. Ian Wells is just the latest executive to walk away from the ASX 200 giant.

    The post Why did Fortescue shares just crack a new, 52-week high? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    FREE Guide for New Investors

    Despite what some people may say – we believe investing in shares doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated…

    For over a decade, we’ve been helping everyday Aussies get started on their journey.

    And to help even more people cut through some of the confusion “experts’” seem to want to perpetuate – we’ve created a brand-new “how to” guide.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *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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  • Buy ANZ shares now for 19% upside AND generous dividend income: broker

    A young woman lifts her red glasses with one hand as she takes a closer look at news about interest rates rising and one expert's surprising recommendation as to which ASX shares to buy

    A young woman lifts her red glasses with one hand as she takes a closer look at news about interest rates rising and one expert's surprising recommendation as to which ASX shares to buyANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are pushing higher again on Friday.

    At the time of writing, the banking giant’s shares are up 1.5% to $24.60.

    This means the ANZ share price is now 4% since the start of the year.

    Can ANZ shares keep rising?

    The good news is that it may not be too late to buy ANZ shares.

    According to a note out of Citi this week, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $29.25 price target on the bank’s shares.

    This implies sizeable potential upside of 19% for investors over the next 12 months from current levels.

    But the returns don’t stop there! In addition, the broker has pencilled in a $1.66 per share dividend in FY 2023, up from $1.46 per share a year earlier. This represents a very attractive 6.7% dividend yield for investors to look forward to.

    What did the broker say?

    Citi revealed that it has promoted ANZ to its top pick in the banking sector. This has been driven largely by its exposure to institutional banking. The broker is expecting this side of ANZ’s business to be a strong performer in FY 2023 thanks to the re-emergence of structural tailwinds.

    In addition, Citi highlights that the company’s commercial banking business is well-placed in the current environment.

    As a result, it believes investors should focus less on its retail banking operations and more on its commercial and institutional banking operations. It said:

    The market narrative around ANZ, is in our view, too focused on the retail banking division.

    Citi isn’t alone with its positive view on ANZ shares. Earlier this week, the team at Credit Suisse retained its outperform rating and $29.00 price target on the bank’s shares.

    The post Buy ANZ shares now for 19% upside AND generous dividend income: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    FREE Beginners Investing Guide

    Despite what some people may say – we believe investing in shares doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated…

    For over a decade, we’ve been helping everyday Aussies get started on their journey.

    And to help even more people cut through some of the confusion “experts’” seem to want to perpetuate – we’ve created a brand-new “how to” guide.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *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 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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  • Will Sayona Mining turn a profit in 2023?

    a man with a hard hat and high visibility vest stands with a clipboard and pen in front of a large pile of rock at a mining site.a man with a hard hat and high visibility vest stands with a clipboard and pen in front of a large pile of rock at a mining site.

    This year is shaping up to be transformative for Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA).

    The lithium up-and-comer expects to restart production at its flagship North American Lithium (NAL) project this quarter. That should see the company with saleable spodumene concentrate in its hands.

    No doubt, then, many market watchers might be hopeful the company’s bottom line could end in the green this year. However, there’s likely more to its journey to profitability.

    The Sayona share price is currently 23 cents, 62% higher than it was this time last year.

    For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen around 3% over the last 12 months.

    Let’s take a closer look at what 2023 might bring for the ASX 200 lithium share and when investors might expect it to become profitable.

    What might 2023 hold for Sayona Mining?

    Fans of Sayona Mining may be excited about the company’s plan to kick off production at the NAL operation in the coming weeks.

    It boasts a 75% holding in the operation, with the other 25% owned by Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL).

    The restarting of the NAL operation will see an offtake agreement with Piedmont come into play, entitling it to snap up the greater of 113,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate or 50% of the operation’s production.

    Indeed, Sayona’s first revenue will likely occur this year. Though, there’s more to profitability than a revenue stream. Let’s dive into the company’s balance sheet.

    Breaking down the ASX 200 lithium company’s balance sheet

    Sayona Mining’s net cash flow came to a $25.6 million loss in the September quarter. Of that, $5.1 million went towards exploration and evaluation, while $15.5 million was spent on development activities.

    Sayona Mining is developing its 60%-owned Moblan Lithium Project and its Authier Lithium Project. It’s also exploring a recently acquired parcel of claims to the west of Moblan.

    On top of that, it boasts lithium, gold, and graphite projects in Western Australia. Though, the majority of its Australian lithium assets are subject to earn-in agreements.

    All that exploration activity, as well as upgrades to the NAL operation (tipped to cost around $100 million), mean the company’s expenses are relatively notable.

    It ended the September quarter with $159.2 million of cash and equivalents. The company previously said it had enough cash to fund it through to the end of this financial year.

    After that, it will likely need extra cash to move to the downstream processing of spodumene to lithium carbonate and hydroxide.

    When might Sayona Mining post a profit?

    With all that in mind, while it’s possible Sayona Mining could reveal a profit this year, I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t.

    However, the company is planning to bring its Abitibi hub – comprising the NAL operation and the Authier Lithium Project – into production over this year and next.

    The hub is expected to produce up to 220 kilotons of spodumene 6%, or 30 kilotons of lithium carbonate equivalent.

    The milestone could produce “sustainable cash flows”, putting Sayona “on a fast track to go downstream into value-added lithium carbonate or hydroxide production”, the company said in its latest quarterly update.

    Meanwhile, production at Moblan is tipped for 2025 to 2026, and the company is planning to continue expanding its production capabilities into 2027 and beyond.

    Thus, profitability might not evade the ASX 200 lithium share for much longer.

    The post Will Sayona Mining turn a profit in 2023? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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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  • 3 ASX 200 shares I own for big dividends in 2023

    A person is weighed down by a huge stack of coins, they have received a big dividend payout.

    A person is weighed down by a huge stack of coins, they have received a big dividend payout.

    2022 was a great year for ASX 200 dividend share investors. And here’s hoping 2023 will be equally as lucrative.

    Of course, we can’t know what this year will bring until it’s over. But today, let’s talk about 3 ASX 200 dividend shares that I own which I think will bring home the bacon in 2023.

    3 ASX 200 dividend shares I own for income in 2023

    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

    I have owned NAB for a number of years now, and, while this ASX 200 bank share has had a few ups and downs over that time, no one can deny its dividend chops.

    As a bank share, NAB has always had a reputation for hefty and fully franked dividend income. The pandemic put a bit of a stopper in the dividend cash flowing to investors over 2020 and (less so) 2021.

    But last year saw NAB’s dividends come back with a vengeance. The bank doled out full-year dividends worth $1.51 per share. Some ASX brokers are predicting NAB will keep the pay rises coming over the next few years too. So I’m holding on to my NAB shares this year and beyond in great anticipation.

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    Adairs is another ASX 200 dividend share I’m holding in 2023. Like many ASX retailers, the Adairs share price has had a rough year or so. But this has boosted the company’s fully franked trailing dividend yield to around 6.5%.

    There’s no guarantee that Adairs will pay out the same 18 cents per share this year that it did last year. But I think there’s a strong chance, considering Adairs’ quality and numbers from FY2022.

    Earlier this month, ASX broker Goldman Sachs forecast Adairs’ dividends to hit a total of 20 cents per share in FY2024. So this is another dividend payer that I am very content to have in my portfolio going forward.

    Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

    My final share up for discussion today isn’t really a share. Rather this exchange-traded fund (ETF) from Vanguard is an index fund that covers the 300 largest shares listed on the ASX. That’s a lot of dividend payers to have under one roof.

    2022 was a fantastic year for investors of this ETF in terms of dividend distributions, with the fund forking out its highest annual payouts ever. The way this ETF is weighted basically ensures strong income if the big banks and miners on the ASX pay up.

    I think there is a good chance we will see big dividends out of these companies over the coming year, so I’m happy to stand in line and wait to see what this ETF throws up.

    The post 3 ASX 200 shares I own for big dividends in 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Adairs, National Australia Bank, and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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.

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  • Are nervous investors returning to the ASX stock market right now?

    A worried woman looks at her phone and laptop, seeking ways to tighten her belt against inflation.

    A worried woman looks at her phone and laptop, seeking ways to tighten her belt against inflation.

    The ASX stock market is in the green this morning as investors digest the latest inflation report from the US. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently up by 0.95%.

    This latest boost for the ASX appears to be inspired by overseas events as the S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP: .INX) rose 0.3% in response to positive signs for inflation. The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) (the ASX-listed version) return is negative (by 0.4%) amid a weaker US dollar because it trades in Australian dollars.

    What did the latest US inflation numbers say?

    According to reporting by CNBC, the consumer price index dropped by 0.1% in December, which is what experts were largely anticipating.

    Excluding food and energy, core CPI rose by 0.3% — this was also in line with estimates.

    Year over year, headline CPI rose 6.5% and core inflation was up 5.7%. Prices at the petrol pump dropped by 9.4% for the month and are now down 1.5% year over year, according to CNBC.

    Retail investors predicted to drive the ASX stock market

    In 2020, powered by government stimulus, retail investors collectively played their part in driving the stock market higher after the COVID-19 crash.

    Interestingly, Vanda Research has suggested that small US investors appear to be coming back to the stock market and could help push shares higher in the coming months, according to reporting by the Australian Financial Review.

    Vanda said in a note:

    Retail investors tend to buy equities more aggressively in January and February, following weak net buying in November and December. Moreover, purchases typically see a stronger rebound in January when the S&P500 posts poor returns in December during a down year.

    While it is difficult to imagine retail activity jumping 3-7x given the already fourfold rise post-COVID, the continued downtrend in CPI inflation recorded in today’s print could usher an improvement in risk appetite from very bearish levels, pushing retail flows towards the high end of the monthly purchases range (max $US29 billion in Aug ’22).

    This could set off another short-term virtuous loop for equities, drawing, at a minimum, some participation from rule-based systematic investors.

    The AFR also pointed out that Vanda noted that retail investors reportedly make more investments going into reporting season:

    We expect this historical pattern to repeat over the coming weeks, boosting retail purchases. On the flip side, this means that retail activity could start to wane in mid-February after most of the more prominent companies of the S&P 500 will have reported their Q4 results.

    Foolish takeaway

    The stock market can be influenced by how much demand there is for buying shares. If there’s more demand, it could push up valuations a bit. It’ll be interesting to see if Vanda’s theory plays out in the next few months.

    The post Are nervous investors returning to the ASX stock market right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of January 5 2023

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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 recommended iShares S&p 500 ETF. 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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