Stock Pick

  • The CSL dividend is being dished out today. Here’s the lowdown

    A man smiles as he holds bank notes in front of a laptop.A man smiles as he holds bank notes in front of a laptop.

    Regardless of what the market has in store, it’s set to be a good day for CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) shareholders today. 

    The time has come for the company to pay its latest final dividend. Here’s what you need to know.

    It’s payday for CSL shareholders

    In August, CSL lifted the lid on its FY22 results. In the process, the ASX 200 biotech giant declared a final dividend of US$1.18, partially franked at 10%. 

    For this dividend, CSL has used an AUD/USD exchange rate of 67.11 US cents, so it’s equivalent to around $1.76 in Aussie dollars.

    CSL shares went ex-dividend for this payment back on 6 September. Therefore, any CSL shares bought on or after this date won’t be eligible for today’s payout.

    CSL hasn’t run a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) since 2004, so shareholders will be receiving this dividend in cash.

    Today’s US$1.18 payment is in lockstep with the final dividend CSL declared in FY21. Total dividends were also in line with the prior year, coming in at US$2.22 per share.

    In Aussie dollars, CSL has paid out roughly $3.18 in dividends this year. At current levels, this puts CSL shares on a trailing dividend yield of around 1.1%.

    Looking ahead, broker Goldman Sachs is forecasting CSL to raise its annual dividends by 14% in FY23 to US$2.52. This represents a prospective forward dividend yield of 1.3%.

    How did CSL fare in FY22?

    CSL maintained its annual dividend payouts in FY22 despite its net profit after tax (NPAT) sliding by 6% to US$2.3 billion.

    COVID lockdowns put a clamp on CSL’s plasma collections, which are a crucial component for manufacturing its treatments.

    As a result, the company’s Behring business delivered muted revenue growth of 4% in FY22. What’s more, collections came at a higher cost, which pushed down gross margins.

    CSL’s vaccine business, Seqirus, helped to offset some of this weakness. Seqirus achieved full-year revenue growth of 13%, driven by growth in seasonal influenza vaccines.

    Where to next for the CSL share price?

    CSL shares have held up fairly well so far in 2022, falling by just 1% to currently sit at $287.40.

    They’ve comfortably outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has tumbled 10% since the beginning of the year.

    Taking a look around the grounds, brokers are mostly bullish on the CSL share price.

    Citi currently has a buy rating on CSL shares with a 12-month price target of $340, implying potential upside of 18.3%.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley have an overweight rating on CSL shares and a 12-month price target of $323, which implies potential upside of 12.4%.

    JP Morgan also has an overweight rating on CSL shares, with a price target of $330. This represents potential upside of 14.8% over the next 12 months.

    Meanwhile, analysts at Goldman Sachs aren’t quite ready to press the buy button yet. The broker has a neutral rating on CSL shares and a 12-month price target of $291, roughly in line with where the CSL share price is sitting today.

    The post The CSL dividend is being dished out today. Here’s the lowdown appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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 CSL Ltd., Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase. 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 Twitter stock skyrocketed today

    A woman is very excited about something she's just seen on her computer, clenching her fists and smiling broadly.A woman is very excited about something she's just seen on her computer, clenching her fists and smiling broadly.

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

    What happened

    Shares of Twitter (TWTR 22.24%) soared today after Elon Musk finally agreed to buy the social media company for $44 billion, the original price he offered several months ago. The Tesla CEO’s decision appears to conclude several months of legal wrangling as Musk had sought to get out of the deal by claiming, among other things, that bots were inflating Twitter’s user base.

    The stock popped shortly after noon when Bloomberg broke news of the deal. Twitter finished the day up 22.2% at $52 a share, 4% below the originally negotiated buyout price of $54.20.

    So what

    Seemingly to avoid an upcoming deposition and a court battle, Musk sent a letter to Twitter Monday night saying he intended to close the transaction as the two parties had initially agreed to back in April.

    Twitter said in response that the company intends to close the deal with Musk at a price of $54.20 a share. The news seems to bring a monthslong saga to a close, though the fact that Twitter is still trading at a discount to the buyout offer indicates some skepticism among investors that the deal will close.

    A deal could be completed as soon as this Friday.

    Now what

    A buyout seems to be the best option for Twitter shareholders because the social media platform never really fulfilled its potential as a business. User growth has stalled, and its advertising never developed the kind of targeting and value to small business that Facebook’s did.

    It’s unclear where the company will go in Musk’s hands, but he’s likely to take risks with it that the current management otherwise wouldn’t. 

    The deal hasn’t officially closed. Given that Musk seems to have been backed into a corner, it makes sense for him to finally go through with the purchase.

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

    The post Why Twitter stock skyrocketed today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Jeremy Bowman 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 Tesla and Twitter. 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 ASX healthcare shares to buy that you’ve not heard of: expert

    a biomedical researcher sits at his desk with his hand on his chin, thinking and giving a small smile with a microscope next to him and an array of test tubes and beackers behind him on shelves in a well-lit bright office.a biomedical researcher sits at his desk with his hand on his chin, thinking and giving a small smile with a microscope next to him and an array of test tubes and beackers behind him on shelves in a well-lit bright office.

    Healthcare is one of those industries that enjoys relatively stable demand through tougher economic times.

    With consecutive interest rises forcing Australians to close their wallets, this might be a consideration for the coming period.

    But of course, the well-known ASX shares in the sector are already well bought.

    So one Wilson Asset Management analyst has dug deeper into his research to come up with a couple of buys that are not yet household names:

    ‘This company can re-rate over the next few years’

    Probiotec Limited (ASX: PBP) only has a market capitalisation of $180 million. 

    But for such a small cap it has managed to hold its stock price pretty well in 2022, only down 1.76% so far.

    Wilson senior equity analyst Sam Koch is buying the pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor.

    “We believe the stock offers investors valuation and earnings upside,” he said in a Wilson video.

    “What the market’s missing here is their ability to compound earnings growth at a very high rate, relative to its current valuation.”

    The business’ “strong organic growth” is accompanied by bolt-on acquisitions, he added.

    “Trading at 10 times P/E with over 15% [earnings per share] growth projected, we believe that this company can re-rate over the next few years.”

    While coverage is sparse on Probiotec, at least Shaw and Partners currently agrees with Koch, rating the stock as a strong buy.

    Probiotec hands out a 2.5% dividend yield.

    Share price now below PE ratio of ONE

    CogState Limited (ASX: CGS) is arguably a technology business in addition to its involvement in the health sector.

    That’s because it’s a cognitive science company that provides tech and services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients conducting clinical trials.

    Koch said that big pharma relies on CogState’s technology for their studies into Alzheimer’s Disease.

    “What we’re really attracted to in CogState is that they were one of the first companies to provide the software-first technology, which has accelerated the industry’s push towards decentralised clinical trials.”

    The value of CogState’s services was recognised in one of its largest clients actually taking a 7% shareholding, according to Koch.

    “The company’s trading at below one times earnings-to-price growth multiple with over 15% of the market cap caught up in cash,” he said.

    “We believe that acquisitions and earnings upgrades will drive the stock from here.”

    According to CMC Markets, three of four analysts currently rate the stock as a strong buy.

    The CogState share price has dropped more than 19% so far this year.

    The post 2 ASX healthcare shares to buy that you’ve not heard of: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo 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 CogState Limited and Probiotec Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended CogState Limited. 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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  • ‘Strong buy’: Wilson analyst picks 2 ASX shares to grab right now

    a serious man holds up two fingers and leans forward as if to deliver information.a serious man holds up two fingers and leans forward as if to deliver information.

    Amid the current uncertainty about the economy in the face of rising interest rates, many experts are admitting that even they’re in a holding pattern.

    So high conviction buy recommendations for ASX shares are becoming harder to find as Australians see their mortgage repayments increasing yet again in October.

    But lucky for you, The Motley Fool has dug up a pair of stocks a Wilson Asset Management analyst is currently very much classifying as strong buys:

    Booming US business could see this company grow in multiples

    According to Wilson senior equity analyst Sam Koch, plumbing supplier Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) is a “high quality business” that has been very popular for a long time among fund managers.

    But shockingly its share price has halved since the start of this year.

    Koch said in a Wilson video that presents the perfect buying opportunity for a stock that everyone wants to own.

    “The concerns around the housing market [have] really seen the valuation of this company drop to levels that are quite attractive.”

    In 2018, well before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Reece acquired the US business Morsco.

    This is a long-term growth driver, reckons Koch.

    “If you look at their strong execution in Australia, we’re really backing management to be able to replicate that success into the US,” he said.

    “In our view, their current 200-store network size could be multiples of where it is at the moment. Reece is a strong buy for us.”

    Auscap Asset Management portfolio manager Tim Carleton agreed with Koch, this week naming Reece as a stock he’d happily hold for the next four years.

    “We should see a very, very strong growth profile out of the US business… and really have the potential to become one of the dominant players in that space in the US in what is still a very, very fragmented market,” he told The Motley Fool.

    “It’s a classic bottom-drawer stock [with] high-quality management, a massive opportunity, a very, very profitable business model.”

    Australia’s east coast is its oyster

    Koch also named Tasmanian bank MyState Limited (ASX: MYS) as a buy.

    He likes that it has a large addressable market for future growth.

    “The fact that they’re based in Tasmania is actually their competitive advantage,” Koch said.

    “They’ve got the ability to grow strongly across the east coast of Australia.”

    To anchor the business, MyState has a very “sticky” and “loyal” deposit customer base on the Apple Isle.

    “We see their ability to grow their loan book [and] expand their interest margins across a fixed cost base will drive earnings growth over the next few years.”

    While MyState shares are down 23% so far this year, it is paying out a handy 6.2% dividend yield.

    The post ‘Strong buy’: Wilson analyst picks 2 ASX shares to grab right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo 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 one question to ask before you buy an ASX share: fund manager

    A boy with question mark on his forehead looking up as if watching an ASX share priceA boy with question mark on his forehead looking up as if watching an ASX share price

    Ask A Fund Manager

    The Motley Fool chats with the best in the industry so that you can get an insight into how the professionals think. In this edition, Auscap Asset Management portfolio manager Tim Carleton explains why investors should always ask ‘Do I want to own this business forever?’ before buying an ASX share.

    Looking back

    The Motley Fool: Is there a move that you regret from the past? For example, a missed opportunity or buying a stock at the wrong timing or price.

    Tim Carleton: Well, there’s plenty of regrets. At the end of the day, hopefully, you are always learning and refining your investment approach as an investment manager. 

    If I just limit it to the last 10 years of managing Auscap, I think probably the biggest regrets come from making investments in what you’d classify as traditional value traps. 

    So as a value manager, you can’t help but look at stocks that have declined a long way and they might be reasonably good businesses and you are very confident that the cash flows will continue to come through over time. And you just think that the business is far too cheap for its earnings profile. The problem is often that you have a business that doesn’t necessarily have significant earnings growth. Their existing earnings might be resilient, but maybe they don’t have significant opportunities to grow those earnings, or maybe they’re a cyclical business.

    So what you’re really doing is betting that the market will recognise that the stock is undervalued, compared to what it should be and re-rate the company. The problem with that is that you might be right, but you are very dependent on how quickly the market recognises that in terms of how successful that investment will be. So if I give you an example, if you buy something for 80 cents that you think’s worth a dollar, [if] the market recognises that in a year, that’s a very, very handsome 25% return. But if it takes three years to recognise that then suddenly the annualised return is sub-8% and it’s average at best. 

    Of course, the longer it takes to recognise that, the more you’re at risk that something within the business deteriorates or some negative macroeconomic development occurs and causes the earnings to decline — and suddenly the margin of safety that you thought was there isn’t there at all.

    Again, that’s a problem that’s accentuated in businesses that aren’t growing earnings. Because if you buy into a business that’s growing earnings well, time is your friend because it’s likely that even if the stock stays at the same price, it is becoming a more attractive proposition as time passes. Whereas that’s not the case with the traditional value trap. 

    So if I was going to highlight a mistake it’s, like many value managers, getting involved in value traps. 

    The focus there is more on the value and less on the quality of the business. I always come back to a quote from [Warren] Buffett in what I think was his 1989 letter to his investors, that it’s always far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price. I have learned that painfully through experience.

    MF: It’s easier said than done though, isn’t it? 

    TC: Much easier said than done. At the end of the day, you can’t help you see something that’s fallen 50%, 60%, 70%. You think that business is definitely worth more than that and you can’t help but want to get involved. 

    But you have to resist that temptation and try to limit yourself to businesses where you really do want to own that business for, preferably, forever. And if you start out with that mindset, then you make, I think, fewer regrettable decisions.

    The post The one question to ask before you buy an ASX share: fund manager appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had its best day in a long time when it raced significantly higher. The benchmark index rose a staggering 3.75% to 6,699.3 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to storm higher again

    The Australian share market looks set to continue its recovery on Wednesday after another strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 96 points or 1.4% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 2.4%, the S&P 500 is up 2.7%, and the Nasdaq is up 3%.

    Oil prices jump again

    Energy producers Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a strong day after oil prices continued to rise overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.1% to US$86.25 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 3.1% to US$91.60 a barrel. Traders were buying oil ahead of OPEC’s big meeting. The cartel is expected to cut production materially to boost prices.

    Block shares on watch

    It could be an incredible day for the Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price on Wednesday. The payments company’s NYSE-listed shares are up a whopping 11% in late trade on Wall Street, which bodes well for its ASX-listed shares today. This follows a strong session for beaten down tech stocks in the United States.

    Gold price rises again

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good day after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 1.9% to US$1,734.8 an ounce. Gold hit a three-week high after the US dollar and bond yields softened.

    Dividends being paid

    Today is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares. This includes building materials company Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC), corporate travel specialist Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD), biotherapeutics giant CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), and travel and transport company Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: SLK).

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. and CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited. 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’s why experts rate these blue chip ASX 200 shares as buys

    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 buy

    With so many blue chip ASX 200 shares to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy over others.

    To help narrow things down, I have picked out two that experts rate as buys right now. They are as follows:

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    The first blue chip ASX 200 share to consider is CSL. It is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, comprising the CSL Behring, CSL Vifor, and Seqirus businesses.

    Combined, these businesses have a portfolio filled to the brim with life-saving therapies and vaccines. In addition, they all have burgeoning research and development (R&D) pipelines with potentially lucrative therapies to drive future growth. This is underpinned by CSL’s decision to reinvest approximately 10% of sales into R&D activities each year. This is a significant number and led to an investment of approximately US$1 billion in FY 2022.

    Another positive that bodes well for the company’s performance in the coming years is the recent major improvements in plasma collections and the company’s new collection technology. The latter is expected to collect plasma more efficiently and deliver stronger yields.

    Citi is positive on CSL and currently has a buy rating and $340.00 price target on its shares.

    Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)

    Another blue chip option to consider is Woolworths. It is of course the retail conglomerate behind businesses including Woolworths, Countdown, Everyday Rewards, and Big W.

    It has been tipped as a buy by analysts at Goldman Sachs. They believe its shares are trading at an attractive level after recent weakness. Particularly given its digital and omni-channel advantage, which the broker expects to drive further market share and margin gains.

    In fact, Goldman Sachs is so positive it has put the company on its coveted conviction list. It currently has a conviction buy rating and $44.10 price target on the company’s shares.

    Another positive is that the broker is forecasting fully franked dividend yields of 3%+ in the coming years.

    The post Here’s why experts rate these blue chip ASX 200 shares as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. 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 the Brainchip share price soar 5% today?

    A graphic showing a businessman running up a white upwards rising arrow symbolising the soaring Magellan share price todayA graphic showing a businessman running up a white upwards rising arrow symbolising the soaring Magellan share price today

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished 3.75% in the green today, but the Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) share price lifted even higher.

    The artificial intelligence company’s share price rose 5.33% today to finish at 89 cents.

    Let’s take a look at why Brainchip shares had such a good day.

    Tech shares rise

    The Brainchip share price was not the only ASX tech share to finish the day on a high today. The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price jumped 6.05%, while Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) rose 2.37% and Life360 Inc soared 8.19%. The S&P/All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) surged 4.84%.

    Australian tech shares followed a similar trend to their counterparts in the USA. The technology heavy NASDAQ Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) rose 2.27% overnight.

    Hope that the US Federal Reserve may not raise interest rates as much as expected helped drive market gains in America on Monday.

    CFRA chief investment strategist, in quotes cited by CNBC, said:

    Because the S&P was down more than 9% in September… because the ISM was weaker than expected – ditto for construction spending – people are now surmising – Hey, maybe the Fed won’t be as aggressive.

    Technology shares are especially vulnerable to interest rate rises given their valuations are largely based on future growth prospects.

    Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted interest rates by less than expected today.

    The RBA raised the cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.6%. But, economists had predicted a 50 basis point rise. However, the RBA warned further rate hikes will be needed in the future to bring down inflation. Governor Philip Lowe said:

    The board expects to increase interest rates further over the period ahead. It is closely monitoring the global economy, household spending and wage and price-setting behaviour. 

    Brainchip was added to the ASX 200 in June this year. Brainchip reported a 1% drop in operating loss to US$8.56 million in the half year ended 30 June. Revenue soared 529% year over year to US$4.83 million. Brainchip did not pay a dividend.

    Brainchip share price snapshot

    The Brainchip share price has risen nearly 30% in the year to date, while it has soared 128% in the past year.

    For perspective, the ASX 200 has fallen nearly 8% in the past year.

    Brainchip has a market capitalisation of more than $1.5 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Why did the Brainchip share price soar 5% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Appen Ltd, Life360, Inc., and MEGAPORT FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT FPO. 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 top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Top 10 blank list on chalkboardTop 10 blank list on chalkboard

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) posted its best performance in more than two years on Tuesday. The index closed 3.75% higher at 6,699.30 points.

    The gain came amid news that the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked interest rates by 0.25% in October – just half of what many market participants were expecting. It’s the sixth consecutive month in which the official cash rate has been raised. It now sits at 2.6%.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) led the gains, posting a 4.6% increase. The mining sector was likely boosted by new forecasts from the federal government tipping commodity exports to hit another record high this fiscal year amid rocketing lithium prices.

    On that note, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lifted 3.9% on Tuesday after the government tipped demand for coal to continue while oil prices took off.  

    The Brent crude oil price gained 4.4% to US$88.86 a barrel on Monday while the US Nymex crude oil price rocketed 5.2% to US$83.63 a barrel.

    At the end of today’s session, all 11 of the ASX 200’s sectors were in the green. But which share outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s top performing ASX 200 share was lithium favourite Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE). It gained 14.53% on Tuesday despite only silence from the company.

    Today’s biggest gains were made by these shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) $1.025 14.53%
    Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) $0.255 13.33%
    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) $5.11 12.31%
    Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) $3.47 11.94%
    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) $1.185 11.79%
    Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR) $1.285 10.78%
    Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) $14.49 9.94%
    Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) $4.08 9.68%
    West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) $1.035 9.52%
    Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) $1.59 9.28%

    Our top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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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  • Here’s how ASX 200 bank shares fared in the shocker month of September

    Bank building with word Bank on it.

    Bank building with word Bank on it.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank shares all lost ground in September.

    Though all four of the big banks managed to outperform the benchmark index for the month.

    How did ASX 200 bank shares track in September?

    September lived up to its reputation as a poor month for stock market performance.

    With investors fretting about high inflation, rising interest rates, and the spectre of recessions across major global economies, the ASX 200 finished down 7.3% from the closing bell on 31 August through to the final trading on 30 September.

    As mentioned above, all of the ASX 200 banks beat that performance. Though some only barely.

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) was the best of the lot, down a slender 0.10% in September.

    Part of that may be that ANZ had lost more ground that its peers in the prior months of 2022. So we may have seen some bargain hunting at play.

    The bank also has seen its net interest margins (NIMs) improve amid the rate rises from the RBA.

    In its FY22 third quarter update, ANZ reported a 0.03% lift in NIM. Looking ahead the bank said, “With interest rates projected to increase further in coming months, this is expected to be supportive for margins in the fourth quarter.”

    Having covered the best performing ASX 200 bank share in September, we flip to the worst. Namely Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). CBA saw its share price slide 7% over the month, barely edging out the benchmark index.

    There was no real negative news from CBA over the month. But investors may be concerned over the premium the bank commands.

    At 17.2 times, CBA shares trade with a significantly higher price-to-earnings (PE) ratio than its peers. ANZ, for example, trades at a PE ratio of 10.3. And with competition in the mortgage market heating up, CBA shares have come under some pressure.

    And the other big banks?

    Moving on to our last two ASX 200 bank shares, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) finished September down 4.5% and the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) closed the month down 5.8%.

    Both banks look to have largely gotten swept up in the wider selling that drove the benchmark index lower, with investors concerned about a possible uptick in bad debts and lower levels of new mortgage offerings erasing any benefits from higher NIMs.

    Westpac and NAB trade at a higher PE ratio than ANZ, but significantly lower than CBA. NAB trades at a PE ratio of 14.6 times while Westpac has a PE ratio of 15.4 times.

    The post Here’s how ASX 200 bank shares fared in the shocker month of September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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