• Own CSL shares? Here’s a look at the biotech’s balance sheet

    A man sitting at his dining table looks at his laptop and ponders the CSL balance sheet and the value of CSL shares todayA man sitting at his dining table looks at his laptop and ponders the CSL balance sheet and the value of CSL shares today

    Shares in biotech giant CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) have rerated in FY23. In fact, they have now pushed just over 8% into the green since the start of the month.

    That’s ahead of the 6% return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) over the same period.

    CSL shares finished the session on Tuesday at $290.66 — down 2.02% for the day.

    Following the company’s announcement of its acquisition of Vifor Pharma AG last year, current global supply chain headwinds, and (hopefully) a wind back in global COVID-19 cases, let’s take a look at CSL’s financial position and the book value of CSL shares.

    CSL balance sheet

    From its semi-annual report in December 2021, CSL reported cash & equivalents of $8.7 billion. Notably, some of this will have been allocated to the acquisition.

    It had total assets of more than $32 billion, or around $24 billion minus the cash and marketable securities.

    On this amount, it held debt of around $7.6 billion. The interest on this debt was covered more than 32 times from operating income.

    This gives CSL a total debt ratio of around 24%. Its total capital base is financed at around 28% with debt.

    Meanwhile, short-term obligations are covered 5 times from liquid assets, and around 3.4 times when separating CSL’s inventory. This means it should meet its financial obligations as they come due.

    As such, it had around $13.6 billion in working capital as at December 2021. That’s up from $5.7 billion in the prior half.

    Book value of CSL shares

    With this, shareholders held equity of more than $19.3 billion in the biotech giant. That provides a book value per share of $32.

    This year to date, CSL shares have fallen 1.8% but are up 1.46% over the past 12 months.

    TradingView Chart

    The post Own CSL shares? Here’s a look at the biotech’s balance sheet appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “The worst thing you can do is nothing”

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer says right now is not the time to sit on your hands…
    As inflation eats away at cash balances Scott Phillips reveals three stocks for investors to consider that could help fight rising prices…
    … And Csl Limited isn’t one of them.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#FFF”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/oCLRisu

  • Down 40% in 2022: Is the Liontown share price a bargain buy?

    Man drawing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    Man drawing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    The Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) share price was out of form on Tuesday.

    The lithium developer’s shares ended the day 2% lower at $1.01.

    This means the Liontown share price has now lost 40% of its value in 2022.

    Is the Liontown share price in the buy zone?

    According to a recent note out of Bell Potter, its analysts believe the weakness in the Liontown share price is a buying opportunity.

    Its analysts currently have a speculative buy rating and $2.87 price target on the company’s shares.

    Based on where its shares currently trade, this implies potential upside of ~180% for investors over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Bell Potter notes that Liontown has approved the development of its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia.

    This follows a major deal with auto giant Ford for both offtake and financing and means the tier-1 project is now fully funded.

    Combined with other offtake agreements, including one with Tesla, the broker is very positive on Liontown’s outlook.

    It commented:

    LTR has announced a Final Investment Decision (FID) for its flagship hard-rock lithium project in Western Australia’s northern goldfields, Kathleen Valley. The FID coincides with announcing a $300m debt finance facility with Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and a further 150ktpa spodumene (SC6) binding offtake agreement.

    LTR has provided updated Kathleen Valley capital estimates of now $545m (previously $473m) and an estimate of working capital requirements of $93m. With the Ford debt facility and existing cash ($466m at 31 March 2022), Kathleen Valley is now fully funded. Further supporting the project, LTR has full-form binding offtake agreements covering over 80% of production in the first five years with LG Energy Solution, Tesla and Ford.

    The post Down 40% in 2022: Is the Liontown share price a bargain buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    3 Stocks for Runaway Inflation

    As the world suffers price shocks… and the cost of everything seems to be ticking higher…
    These 3 ASX stocks could be the answer to runaway inflation. Boasting key qualities companies need to not only survive but actively thrive when costs surge.
    Act fast – because in times of inflation, the worst thing you can do is… nothing.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/5HWVtLl

  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    a woman with a broad smile on her face holds up ten fingers .a woman with a broad smile on her face holds up ten fingers .

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped lower on Tuesday despite a strong performance by energy shares. The index closed down 0.56% at 6,649.60 points.

    The market was dragged lower by the S&P/ASX Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). The tech sector dumped close to 3% following a dire Monday on Wall Street.

    The NASDAQ Composite dipped 0.8% overnight while the S&P 500 slumped 0.8% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell around 0.7%.

    On the other end of the spectrum, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) gained 2.45% today, likely on the back of surging oil prices.

    The price of Brent crude oil lifted 5.1% overnight to reach US$106.27 a barrel and the US Nymex crude price rose 5.1% to US$102.60 a barrel.

    Come the end of Tuesday’s trade, only two of the ASX 200’s 11 sectors were in the green.

    So, which ASX shares managed to defy the market’s downturn to scrape together the biggest gains today? Let’s take a look.

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown

    The top performing shares of the ASX’s 200 biggest companies by market capitalisation may not come as a surprise on Tuesday.

    The market was led by ASX 200 energy giant Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC). Find out what the coal producer has been up to lately here.

    Meanwhile, Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL) outperformed the market despite spending much of today’s session frozen. The stock was put in the freezer this morning as the company prepared to announce it’s in discussions with Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT) regarding a potential transaction.  

    Today’s biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) $6.75 4.66%
    Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL) $4.29 4.38%
    New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) $4.47 3.95%
    Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU) $1.6575 3.59%
    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) $32.39 3.48%
    Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) $2.76 3.37%
    GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) $1.385 3.36%
    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) $12.56 3.29%
    Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) $1.7625 2.77%
    Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) $0.9375 2.46%

    Data as at 3:59pm AEST.

    Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares 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 July 7 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/gWsG51j

  • These are the stocks making hay from the Bitcoin price upturn

    A woman works on her desktop and tablet, having a win with crypto.

    A woman works on her desktop and tablet, having a win with crypto.The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price is up 3% over the past 24 hours, currently trading for US$22,024 (AU$32,123).

    The latest gains put the world’s top token by market cap up 10% since this time last week and at the highest level in a month.

    Though, as you’d expect with cryptos, the gains haven’t come in any kind of straight line. The Bitcoin price traded as low as US$19,000 and as high as US$22,795 over the week, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

    While the past week’s gains will certainly be welcomed by crypto investors, a handful of companies have ridden the token’s uptick to far greater heights.

    Making hay from the Bitcoin price upturn

    Not unlike gold miners, Bitcoin miners are leveraged to the price of the virtual tokens they earn as rewards for securing the blockchain.

    And with retail investors closely following the sector, the miners have been subject to some outsized price swings as the Bitcoin price rises and falls.

    Take Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ: RIOT), for example. The Bitcoin mining company gained 12% in yesterday’s trade (overnight Aussie time) and is now up 30% since this time last week.

    Fellow crypto miner Marathon Digital Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: MARA) had an even better day on Monday, closing up 21%. That puts the Marathon Digital share price up 29% since last Tuesday.

    You’ll find a similar story playing out with most of the big crypto miners.

    Mind you, though, that despite the past week’s upturn, the Bitcoin price remains down 54% since 1 January.

    As for the miners, the Riot Blockchain share price is down 73% year-to-date, while the Marathon Digital share price is down 70%.

    Resilient and perhaps signs of early decoupling?

    Following last week’s release of sizzling hot inflation figures out of the United States, many analysts had forecast a tough few days for the Bitcoin price.

    We know now that didn’t transpire.

    Commenting on the token’s resilience in the wake of the inflation data, GlobalBlock analyst Marcus Sotiriou said (courtesy of Bloomberg), “When the market starts reacting positively to negative news, this is a signal that a local bottom could be in for now, as fear may have caused the news to be priced in.”

    eToro’s market analyst and crypto expert Simon Peters added that the relative strength of the Bitcoin price and most top cryptos over the past week could be the vanguard of a potential decoupling from equity market moves.

    “The events of the past few days have shown crypto assets moving above the gain lines of equities, with major indices relatively flat,” Peters said. “While not necessarily showing a decoupling of recent performance mirroring, divergence over a longer time frame could mark a significant shift.”

    The post These are the stocks making hay from the Bitcoin price upturn appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Bitcoin, you’ll want to hear this.

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/iJqlwM0

  • Why did the Xero share price have such a lousy session today?

    A geeky-looking young man with glasses bites down onto a computer keyboard in frustration or despair.A geeky-looking young man with glasses bites down onto a computer keyboard in frustration or despair.

    The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price closed well in the red on Tuesday amid a rough day for ASX tech shares.

    At market close , Xero shares finished at $83.00 each, a 5.71% fall. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished 0.56% lower today.

    So why did Xero have such a tough day on the market today?

    Xero shares close lower

    Xero shares struggled today but they were not alone. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) also closed 2.2% in the red.

    Other ASX tech shares that took a hit included Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), down 4.29%, and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), down 4.91%. Meantime, Altium Ltd (ASX: ALU) shares fell 1.09% while Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) descended 2.93%.

    Xero is a New Zealand technology company with a global presence providing accounting software to small and medium-sized businesses.

    Today’s fall follows a tough night on US markets. The technology-heavy NASDAQ fell 1.46% on Monday’s trade, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.84%. Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares dropped on the back of a Reuters report that the tech giant plans to slow hiring and spending next year.

    Nonetheless, Citi has a buy rating on Xero’s shares with a $108 price target. Citi recently said:

    We see Xero’s decision to increase prices in ANZ and UK as an indication of the company’s confidence in its position in its core markets.

    Goldman Sachs also has a buy rating on the company’s shares with a $113 price target.

    Share price snapshot

    Xero shares have declined 40% in the past year while they have fallen nearly 42% year to date.

    In the past week, the company’s share price has dropped 1.5% although it’s gained nearly 13% in a month.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slid about 9% in the past year.

    Xero has a market capitalisation of about $12.4 billion based on today’s share price.

    The post Why did the Xero share price have such a lousy session today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “The worst thing you can do is nothing”

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer says right now is not the time to sit on your hands…
    As inflation eats away at cash balances Scott Phillips reveals three stocks for investors to consider that could help fight rising prices…
    … And Xero Limited isn’t one of them.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#FFF”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 Altium, Block, Inc., Goldman Sachs, MEGAPORT FPO, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc., WiseTech Global, and Xero. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/oKUtV35

  • Top broker gives its verdict on ANZ’s Suncorp Bank acquisition

    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.The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price remains out of action.

    The banking giant’s shares are currently in a trading halt until Thursday while it undertakes a $3.5 billion capital raising.

    These funds will be used to acquire the banking operations of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) for $4.9 billion.

    What are analysts saying about ANZ’s Suncorp Bank acquisition?

    This morning the team at Goldman Sachs gave their verdict on the Suncorp Bank acquisition.

    According to the release, the broker sees both positives and negatives from the acquisition.

    The positives are the expectation that the deal will be earnings per share accretive post synergies and boost to its domestic retail/commercial banking. Goldman said:

    Strategically, the proposed acquisition somewhat improves ANZ’s relative lack of scale in domestic retail/commercial banking. Based on APRA’s monthly ADI statistics, ANZ’s market share should increase c.2% in home lending and c.3% in retail deposits.

    Whereas the negatives are the elevated operational risks associated with the delivery of the aforementioned synergies and competition concerns. Goldman explained:

    We see operational risk as elevated, given i) management’s expected A$260 mn of pre-tax synergies largely rely on getting SUN’s 1.2 mn customers on to its still yet to be completed ANZ Plus platform, and ii) potential competition concerns.

    This synergy assumption looks high versus previous in-market financial transactions, which tend to see 25-30% of the target’s cost base as synergies.

    Is the ANZ share price good value?

    The note reveals that Goldman Sachs has held firm with its neutral rating.

    However, even after trimming its price target by 8% to $27.44, this still implies potential upside of 27% for investors over the next 12 months. That’s not bad for a neutral rating!

    In addition, it is worth noting that Goldman hasn’t incorporated the Suncorp Bank acquisition into its estimates. This will happen once the deal completes and could give its valuation a boost when it does.

    The post Top broker gives its verdict on ANZ’s Suncorp Bank acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Three inflation fighting stocks no ones’ talking about

    Savvy Motley Fool investors may have already found three stock moves to help fight inflation.
    Three ASX stocks that could be hiding right under your nose.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/nbkhw75

  • 3 highly rated ETFs for ASX investors to buy now

    Man looking at an ETF diagram.

    Man looking at an ETF diagram.Are you wanting to make some new additions to your portfolio? If exchange traded funds (ETFs) are of interest to you, then you may want to look at the three listed below.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF (ASX: CRYP)

    The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF. As you might expect, this ETF has been hammered this year amid the collapse in the crypto market. But if you’re a crypto-believer and feel that this is just a small blip then this ETF could be worth considering. It provides investors with exposure to crypto miners, neobanks, trading platforms, and mining equipment providers.

    Among its holdings you’ll find Coinbase, Silvergate, and Riot Blockchain. These companies look well-placed for growth over the next decade if the crypto industry proves not to be a fad.

    BetaShares Global Banks ETF (ASX: BNKS)

    Another ETF for investors to look at is BetaShares Global Banks ETF. As its name implies, this ETF gives investors exposure to many of the world’s largest banks. And as it excludes Australian banks, it could be a good option if you’ve already got reasonable exposure to them in your portfolio.

    Among the banks included in the fund are Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, HSBC, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo.

    BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF (ASX: FUEL)

    A final ETF for ASX investors look at is the BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF. This ETF provides investors with exposure to many of the world’s largest energy companies. This could make it a top option for investors that are wanting to gain exposure to sky high oil prices.

    Among the 50+ shares included in the fund are energy giants such as BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell. These all appear well placed to deliver bumper profits and dividends in the near term thanks to favourable oil prices.

    The post 3 highly rated ETFs for ASX investors to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Our #1 Strategy for today’s inflation drenched markets

    The ABC recently reported that inflation in the UK has hit an eye watering 40 year high.
    Meanwhile the Reserve Bank believes that by the end of the year inflation in Australia will climb to levels not seen since 1990.
    As prices surge we’ve uncovered 3 “inflation fighting” stocks we think could hand investors outsized returns as the market recalibrates.
    And as Scott Phillips put it
    “There’s one thing to avoid at all costs when inflation hits.
    And that’s doing nothing.”
    We reveal details on these three “inflation fighting” stocks here.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Banks ETF – Currency Hedged, BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF – Currency Hedged, and Betashares Crypto Innovators ETF. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/xFsIpCb

  • Up 9% in FY23, what’s next for the Pilbara Minerals share price?

    a man wearing a hard hat and a high visibility vest stands with his arms crossed in front of heavy equipment at a mine site.a man wearing a hard hat and a high visibility vest stands with his arms crossed in front of heavy equipment at a mine site.

    The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is struggling today. At the time of writing, the lithium share is 2.46% lower at $2.38 apiece.

    After a rocky period to finish FY22, Pilbara has started the new financial year well on the chart. It is up 4% in July, having bounced from six-month lows on 23 June.

    In broader market moves, the S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining index (ASX: XMM) is also down 0.52% on Tuesday.

    TradingView Chart

    What’s in store for the Pilbara Minerals share price?

    Last week, Pilbara announced a drop in lithium prices via its battery materials exchange (BMX) auction process. This is the first dip since the BMX began.

    The price nudged down 2.5% month on month to approximately US$6,841 per dmt [dry metric tonne] on 5.5% lithia. This was for a 5,000 dmt cargo of lithium for delivery in August.

    Still, just a month earlier, the company advised it had accepted a record pre-auction offer of US$7,017 per dmt on the same specifications.

    Still, brokers are bullish on the Pilbara share price. According to a note from Macquarie, its analysts rate Pilbara a buy on a $4.20 per share valuation.

    Curiously, despite the lower BMX auction price, Macquarie was still impressed by the prices Pilbara has received – higher than the broker’s estimates.

    Pilbara is also rated a buy from around 86% of brokers covering the share, with the remainder suggesting to hold, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.

    From this list, the consensus price target is $3.13 per share. That’s roughly 28% return potential from the current market price.

    Pilbara share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, the Pilbara share price has recorded a 58% gain but has lost 26% year to date.

    The company has a current market capitalisation of just over $7 billion.

    The post Up 9% in FY23, what’s next for the Pilbara Minerals share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Inflation pressures and bear market opportunities

    According to The Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips, how investors handle their investments right now could have a massive impact on their wealth in years to come.
    While many investors will turn to real estate, gold and other commodities in times of inflation, Scott is quick to point out another way…
    Get the details now…

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/oGSAEka

  • What might ANZ’s Suncorp deal mean for competition among ASX 200 banks?

    Friends at an ATM looking sad.Friends at an ATM looking sad.

    A planned merger between Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)’s Suncorp Bank will undoubtably bring about a major shift among ASX 200 bank shares.

    If successful, the $4.9 billion takeover proposal will see one of Queensland’s regional lenders incorporated into the ‘big four’ bank. Commentators believe that would put focus on a potential merger between the state’s remaining regional majors, reports the Australian Financial Review.

    Looking beyond potential roll-on mergers, the takeover also represents a test for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It will also shrink the already tiny playing field in which ASX 200 banks operate.

    Let’s take a look at what ANZ’s proposed merger with Suncorp Bank could mean for other ASX 200 bank shares.

    Are more ASX 200 bank mergers on the cards?

    ASX 200 banking giant ANZ proposed to snap up Suncorp’s banking business for $4.9 billion on Monday in a move that could leave the Queensland-based financial services company an insurance pure play.

    And that could start the ball rolling for some big changes on the ASX 200. According to the AFR, it has the potential to turn attention to a merger between Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN). The pair are valued at around $4.6 billion and $5.5 billion respectively.

    The deal could also put such smaller ASX 200 bank shares further on the back foot. It would, of course, see a member of the ‘big four’ carving out a larger slice of the market. That could concern the ACCC and its recently appointed chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb.

    Though, it’s worth mentioning that ANZ is by far the smallest member of the quartet. It boasts a market capitalisation of around $60 billion, $100 billion less than that of the largest ‘big four’ bank.

    Additionally, ANZ held just 14% of the Australian mortgage market in 2021, while Suncorp Bank had a hold of around 2%, according to research by Statista.

    Even combined, their market position would be dwarfed by that of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) (26%) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) (22%).

    Suncorp Bank’s potential shift from Suncorp’s Brisbane office to ANZ’s Melbourne headquarters has also raised eyebrows.

    The CEO of Queensland lender Heritage Bank Peter Lock told the AFR the merger would further remove banks from lenders outside of Sydney and Melbourne, thereby potentially disadvantaging customers.

    The post What might ANZ’s Suncorp deal mean for competition among ASX 200 banks? 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 July 7 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/mURZJqp

  • This is what analysts are forecasting for the Westpac dividend through to FY24

    A man thinks very carefully about his money and investments.

    A man thinks very carefully about his money and investments.

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) dividend is one of the most popular options for income investors on the Australian share market.

    Over the years, Australia’s oldest bank has shared a large portion of its profits with shareholders.

    The good news is that this trend is expected to continue in the future according to a number of analysts.

    What are analysts saying about the Westpac dividend?

    While opinion is divided on the exact value of the Westpac dividend in the coming years, one thing that analysts agree on is that the yield on offer with its shares will be generous.

    One of the more cautious brokers is Macquarie, which has a neutral rating and $22.00 price target on its shares.

    Its analysts are forecasting fully franked dividends per share of $1.22 in FY 2022, $1.23 in FY 2023, and $1.25 in FY 2024. Based on the current Westpac share price of $20.20, this will mean yields of 6%, 6.1%, and 6.2%, respectively.

    What else?

    The team at Goldman Sachs, which also has a neutral rating but lofty $27.29 price target, expect even bigger dividends for Westpac.

    The broker has pencilled in fully franked dividends per share of $1.24 in FY 2022, $1.29 in FY 2023, and $1.46 in FY 2024. This implies yields of 6.1%, 6.4%, and 7.2%, respectively.

    Finally, over at Citi, its analysts are bullish on Australia’s oldest bank and expect the Westpac dividend to be much larger than the others in the coming years.

    Citi is forecasting fully franked dividend of $1.23 in FY 2022, $1.53 in FY 2023, and then $1.85 in FY 2024. If these forecasts are accurate, it will mean very generous yields of 6.1%, 7.6%, and 9.15%, respectively.

    In addition, its analysts have a buy rating and $29.00 price target on the company’s shares. This suggests material upside potential over the next 12 months.

    The post This is what analysts are forecasting for the Westpac dividend through to FY24 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “The worst thing you can do is nothing”

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer says right now is not the time to sit on your hands…
    As inflation eats away at cash balances Scott Phillips reveals three stocks for investors to consider that could help fight rising prices…
    … And Westpac Banking Corp isn’t one of them.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#FFF”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/n5WdzcF