• ‘Enormous opportunity’: Calix share price lifts as founder flaunts decarbonising technology

    Miner standing and smiling in a mine field.Miner standing and smiling in a mine field.

    The Calix Ltd (ASX: CXL) share price is 2.2% higher at the time of writing to trade at $5.58.

    The price boost for this small-cap ASX share comes as the Calix founder discusses his patented kiln, which is currently being trialled by some mining companies to create low-carbon or ‘green iron’.

    What does Calix do?

    Calix is an Aussie company that has developed a kiln capable of extracting substantial amounts of carbon dioxide from metals and minerals.

    The company was founded in 2005 by its chief scientist Dr Mark Sceats and the late Connor Horley. Dr Sceats invented the kiln.

    According to an article in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) today, Sceats hopes his kiln technology will be used across many industries to help the world decarbonise.

    The kiln enables metals and minerals companies to decarbonise the stuff they dig out of the ground.

    This includes being able to create low-carbon iron ore, which could then be turned into low-carbon steel. Game changer.

    Mining companies trialling Calix technology

    The kiln that Sceats invented has already proven itself in Europe’s cement industry. It can extract 95% of the carbon dioxide in cement.

    According to the article, Sceats has spent the past year adapting his kiln technology for iron ore processing.

    The article states: “Dr Sceats, 73, has spent the past year focused on developing a low-carbon, affordable method for removing the oxygen from iron ore in the hope that he can help Australia’s biggest export industry start selling “green iron” rather than iron ore.”

    In an interview on the Tech Zero podcast, Sceats declined to say which mining companies were trying his kiln out in current green iron trials.

    But the AFR points out that Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) have publicly said they want to sell more green iron to reduce their customers’ scope three emissions when they heat the iron ore to make steel.

    ‘Enormous’ opportunity

    Sceats has also adapted the kiln technology for other industries, including lithium mining, agriculture, and water treatment. But he says the massive global iron ore and steel industries potentially present Calix’s biggest opportunity.

    Sceats said: “It’s enormous. It’s got too many zeroes after it for me to make any sense of it at all.”

    Dr Sceats’s kiln requires less expensive fuel for combustion and is able to use renewable energy to create heat. The kiln also provides better control over that heat to ensure maximum carbon dioxide extraction.

    The kiln essentially heats minerals to their exact unique temperature at which gases escape. This escape makes the remaining mineral substance purer, while the extracted oxygen turns into harmless steam.

    Australia could make its own steel

    Sceats told Tech Zero that he could imagine an electric arc steel furnace in every major iron ore mining town in Australia by 2050.

    Sceats said: “There is no impediment to Australia making steel, really. Shipping is going up, so the cost of transporting ores throughout the world is going up. Why not make the product here? The skills are here.”

    What else is happening at Calix?

    The most recent price-sensitive news from Calix came on 1 June when Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) announced that key commercial terms had been agreed for a joint venture.

    The JV involves the development of a demonstration plant and potential future commercialisation of Calix’s technology for lithium refining processes at Pilbara’s Pilgangoora Project.

    The Federal Government awarded them a $20 million Modern Manufacturing Initiative Grant to help fund the project.

    Pilbara Minerals Managing Director and CEO, Ken Brinsden, said their common goal was “to further decarbonise lithium raw material supply chains”.

    Calix share price snapshot

    The Calix share price has risen by more than 75% over the past 12 months.

    In 2022, the share price is down 14.3%.

    The post ‘Enormous opportunity’: Calix share price lifts as founder flaunts decarbonising technology 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(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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/jp084dN

  • Could this be why the Lynas share price is rallying 6% today?

    Female miner smiling while inspecting a mine site with another miner as the Lynas share price rises todayFemale miner smiling while inspecting a mine site with another miner as the Lynas share price rises today

    The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is lifting on Thursday despite no news from the miner.

    At the time of writing, the share is trading 5.74% higher at $8.11 apiece. Today’s trading volume is roughly 65% of the four-week average at 3.08 million shares.

    Meanwhile, the price of the rare earth, neodymium is trading lower today at US$170,250 per tonne.

    In broad market moves, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials index (ASX: XMJ) is strengthening today. It’s trading 2.2% in the green.

    What’s up with the Lynas share price?

    Despite no market-sensitive updates today, it’s noteworthy that the Sydney Energy Forum is on its final day.

    The event brings together a raft of key stakeholders. These range from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to industry specialists and company executives.

    US Energy Department secretary, Jennifer Granholm, is among an extensive list of speakers that also includes Lynas CEO, Amanda Lacaze.

    China’s domination in rare earths a risk

    Rare earths was discussed at yesterday’s forum. International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Dr Faith Birol was critical of China’s dominance in the global supply of rare earths, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

    Birol argued the country’s dominance could be a risk. She advocated for countries like Australia to speed up the development of the renewables supply chain.

    Other speakers at the event echoed this sentiment on Wednesday. Various experts said the world needs to bump up its production of renewable energy and diversify the supply of key materials.

    The opportunity for Lynas

    Lynas is the only producer of rare earths at scale outside China. So, this kind of sentiment potentially bodes well for the Lynas share price.

    It’s unlikely any speech at the event will impact the Lynas share price. However, it’s worth thinking about the content of the presentations given.

    Combined with new government initiatives to support mineral exploration and discovery, it appears there’s a push to get resources out of the ground and into production.

    The Lynas share price has held a 34% gain in the past 12 months despite a 26% loss in the year to date.

    The post Could this be why the Lynas share price is rallying 6% 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 Lynas Rare Earths Ltd 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 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/Jniyzjr

  • These ASX 200 mining shares are bolstering the market today

    Three miners wearing hard hats and high vis vests take a break on site at a mine as the Fortescue share price drops in FY22Three miners wearing hard hats and high vis vests take a break on site at a mine as the Fortescue share price drops in FY22

    Multiple ASX 200 mining shares are in the green today. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) shares are rising 2.59% and 2.97% respectively.

    Meanwhile, the Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price is jumping 2.47% and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares are up 2.57%. For perspective, the  S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently up 0.45%.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening with these mineral explorers today.

    Why are these ASX 200 mining shares rising?

    Iron ore prices may be impacting multiple ASX 200 mining shares today. Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue are all major iron ore producers.

    The iron ore price jumped in global markets on Wednesday. It leapt 0.93% to US$108.5 per tonne, Trading Economics data shows.

    ANZ economist Madeline Dunk said iron ore futures were steady after trade data from China showed imports of iron ore were “better than expected”.

    In a research note, she added: “China’s imports of the steel-making raw material were down only 0.5% y/y in June to 89mt.”

    Silver and gold prices also jumped in global markets overnight, although they are pulling back now. South 32, Rio, and BHP all produce silver. Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue all explore and produce gold.

    As my Foolish colleague Bernd noted, US inflation has rocketed to 9.1%, according to the latest figures from America.

    Gold can go up when inflation rises as it can be considered an inflation hedge. On the flip side, high rate rises can lead to a higher US dollar. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is jumping 1.86% today.

    Meanwhile, looking at the bigger picture for ASX 200 mining shares, Japan Institute of Energy Economics chairman Tatsuya Terazawa has warned China is dominating global supply chains for rare earths used in batteries. He said in comments quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald:

    Frankly, we’re not aware that we were so dependent on Chinese rare earths. The embargo almost paralysed entire industrial activities, and the prices of rare earths skyrocketed quickly.

    Share price snapshot

    The BHP share price has fallen nearly 17% in the past year, while Fortescue has descended nearly 31%. Rio Tinto shares have fallen nearly 25%, while South32 shares have risen 23%.

    For perspective, the ASX 200 has lost nearly 10% in the past year.

    The post These ASX 200 mining shares are bolstering the market today 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(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/pAI0VfL

  • Aurizon share price sinks despite ‘transformative’ acquisition win

    Rail worker in hard hat kneels over train tracks inspecting tracksRail worker in hard hat kneels over train tracks inspecting tracks

    The Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) share price is in the red despite a big win for the company’s planned acquisition of One Rail.

    The $2.35 billion purchase has been given the tick of approval from Australia’s competition watchdog.

    At the time of writing, the Aurizon share price is $3.75, 2.09% lower than its previous close.

    The company is currently its sector’s worst performer, helping drag the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) 0.1% lower.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s major news from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rail freight operator.

    Aurizon share price slips despite ACCC win

    The market is bidding the Aurizon share price lower on Thursday despite the company’s multi-billion-dollar acquisition passing a notable hurdle.

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) won’t oppose Aurizon’s purchase of One Rail if the ASX 200 company divests its east coast business.

    One Rail operates the 2,200-kilometre Tarcoola-to-Darwin railway line. It also controls an east coast haulage business in New South Wales and Queensland.

    “Without the divestment of One Rail’s east coast business, the ACCC considered that the proposed acquisition would reduce the number of main competitors in the supply of coal haulage in New South Wales and Queensland from three to two, likely resulting in higher prices or decreased service levels,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Aurizon now expects to finalise the acquisition by the end of this month. It will get started on the demerger immediately afterwards.

    The company plans to integrate the remaining One Rail assets into its bulk business.

    Aurizon managing director and CEO Andrew Harding commented on today’s news of the “transformative” acquisition, saying:

    The transaction secures one of Australia’s most important infrastructure assets, connecting regions rich in resources and agricultural commodities with Darwin, the closest port to Asia.

    In addition, the business includes bulk haulage operations, facilities, and a 400-strong workforce in South Australia and the Northern Territory to serve existing customers and growth opportunities in base metals, agriculture, iron ore and for new economy metals such as manganese and copper.

    The Aurizon share price slumped 6% when Aurizon’s planned acquisition of the business was announced in October 2021.

    Then, One Rail was described as a “strong, profitable business”. It had aggregate estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $220 million for 2021.

    Around $140 million of that was expected to come from the east coast rail business.

    The post Aurizon share price sinks despite ‘transformative’ acquisition win appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Aurizon Holdings Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Aurizon Holdings Ltd, 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 Aurizon Holdings Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that 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(“#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 recommended Aurizon Holdings Limited. 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/p9FzxlD

  • Why Aurizon, Bega Cheese, Flight Centre, and Lake Resources shares are sinking

    Red line going down on an ASX market chart which symbolises a falling share price.

    Red line going down on an ASX market chart which symbolises a falling share price.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decent gain despite weakness on Wall Street overnight. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.45% to 6,652.2 points.

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

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

    The Aurizon share price is down 2% to $3.75. This is despite the company revealing that the ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of One Rail by Aurizon. However, the rail freight operator will have to divest One Rail’s east coast business to complete the deal.

    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

    The Bega Cheese share price is down 7.5% to $3.28. This morning the food company released its FY 2023 guidance and revealed that it expects to report EBITDA of $160 million to $190 million. This will mean no growth and potentially even a decline year on year based on FY 2022’s guidance of $175 million to $190 million. A note out of Bell Potter today reveals that it was forecasting EBITDA of $195 million in FY 2023.

    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

    The Flight Centre share price is down 3% to $16.53 despite there being no news out of the travel agent. However, it is worth noting that other travel shares are also falling on Thursday. Investors may be concerned that rising inflation could impact consumer spending on travel.

    Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE)

    The Lake Resources share price is down 5% to 64 cents. This morning this lithium developer’s shares returned from a trading halt after responding to a scathing report from J Capital. Although management said that the report “puts forth incorrect information on technical matters and inaccurate assertions on Lake Resources’ progress to date,” it hasn’t stopped investors selling down its shares today.

    The post Why Aurizon, Bega Cheese, Flight Centre, and Lake Resources shares are sinking 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(“#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 recommended Aurizon Holdings Limited and Flight Centre Travel Group Limited. 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/nBHEcV1

  • TPG share price rises as telco hits back at Optus over ‘factual errors’

    Cute little child dressed in a suit talking on his smartphone representing a young telco that is targeting ASX company TelstraCute little child dressed in a suit talking on his smartphone representing a young telco that is targeting ASX company Telstra

    It’s been a positive day so far this Thursday for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). The ASX 200 is up a pleasing 0.5% or so as it currently stands. But it’s been an even better day for the TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) share price thus far.

    TPG shares are rising robustly today. This ASX 200 telco is currently up 3.5% at $6.06 a share, well outperforming the broader market. So what’s going on with TPG that might be eliciting this share price reaction today?

    Well, it could be the result of a statement TPG put out this morning. TPG and its telco peer Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) are currently involved in a tussle with rival Optus. Back in February, Telstra and TPG surprised investors by announcing a partnership.

    This will see TPG gain access to roughly 3,700 of Telstra’s mobile network assets in regional and suburban areas, resulting in the company boosting its 4G coverage from 96% to 98.8% of the Australian population. In return, Telstra is expecting to bank an extra $1.6-$1.8 billion in revenues over the next decade.

    TPG share price climbs as telco bites back

    But TPG and Telstra rival Optus is not happy about this tie-up. Last month, the Singaporean telco put out a press release calling on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to reconsider the deal.

    It stated that if the arrangement were to proceed, it would “lead to a loss of competition and material consumer and public detriment… [and] ‘locking’ competition out of the regional market and eliminating choice in regional Australia”.

    Well, today, TPG has exercised its right of reply. According to reporting in The Australian, TPG has issued a rebuttal. It described Optus’ comments as “scaremongering” and stated they were based on “factual errors”.

    Here is some of what TPG executive James Rickards went on to say:

    Contrary to the assertions of Optus, this is not a merger… To suggest otherwise is an attempt to mislead the public, industry and key stakeholders in the hope of creating controversy where none exists.

    This is an infrastructure sharing agreement in the interests of all Australians... Similarly, statements regarding the arrangements for pooling of spectrum in the shared network have seemingly been twisted intentionally.

    So perhaps investors have been comforted by this defiant statement from TPG today. Whatever the reason, it’s certainly been a pleasing day for the telco.

    At the current TPG share price, this ASX 200 telco has a market capitalisation of $10.97 billion, with a dividend yield of 2.83%.

    The post TPG share price rises as telco hits back at Optus over ‘factual errors’ 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 Tpg Telecom Ltd 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 Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom Limited. 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/KfDSuLQ

  • 1 green flag for eBay, and 1 red flag

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

    three hands painted red, amber and green making different signals

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

    Investors have mixed feelings about eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY). The e-commerce website and platform thrived at the pandemic’s onset when hundreds of millions wanted to avoid shopping in person. As a result, sales and customer signups surged. The economic reopening has had the opposite effect. After being cooped up at home for over a year, people want to get out of the house. 

    However, it’s not all bad news for eBay from now on. The company is implementing a strategy to boost revenue, even as customer spending is falling. Let’s take a closer look at eBay’s green and red flags below. 

    Green flag: Increasing the take rate

    Notably, eBay does not own any inventory for sale on its platform. Instead, it encourages buyers and sellers to meet on its website to make transactions. eBay makes money by taking a percentage of each sale (its “take rate”).

    Similarly, eBay leaves shipping and handling to buyers and sellers. That way, it doesn’t need to own or operate fulfillment centers. It’s an asset-light business model that works to deliver higher profit margins than if eBay were to participate in owning inventory or fulfillment centers.

    Indeed, eBay’s operating profit margin in the past decade has increased from 20.5% to 29.6%. Meanwhile, rival Amazon, which famously owns its fulfillment network, generated a measly operating profit margin during the same period.

    EBAY Operating Margin (Annual) data by YCharts. 

    The good news for eBay investors is that the company has been increasing its take rate in recent quarters. Between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2022, eBay’s take rate rose from 10% to 12.1%. Furthermore, considering that Etsy, a competitor with a similar business model, has sustained and increased its take rate in its previous five quarters at over 17%, suggests that eBay has room to expand its take rate further. 

    eBay’s rising transaction take rate has prevented revenue from falling as consumers return to shopping in person. The potential for more increases on this front is surely a green flag. 

    Red flag: Declining customer spending

    As mentioned earlier, people want to leave their homes and shop more in person. That means less money is available to spend at online stores like eBay. As a result, eBay’s gross merchandise value (GMV), a metric that measures overall customer spending on its site, has declined for four consecutive quarters, starting with Q2 2021.

    GMV fell from $24.1 billion in Q1 2021 to $19.4 billion in Q1 2022. The dramatic fall is not entirely due to economic reopening. The first quarter of 2021 held a major fiscal stimulus package, which boosted consumer spending in the U.S.

    Still, the economic reopening is a significant headwind for eBay. Folks have more options on what to do with their time and money, and they’re choosing to take dollars away from eBay and allocate them elsewhere. There’s no telling how far or how long this transition will be, adding an element of risk to the situation.

    This red flag can primarily explain why eBay’s stock is off 47% from its highs. While the risk should not be ignored, it’s no reason for shareholders to sell eBay stock. The majority of the bad news is arguably priced into the stock, while the potential to continue increasing the take rate could boost revenue, even as customer spending falls. 

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

    The post 1 green flag for eBay, and 1 red flag 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

    Parkev Tatevosian has positions in eBay. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon and Etsy. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended eBay and has recommended the following options: short July 2022 $57.50 calls on eBay. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. 

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/G0S6ojR

  • 2 ASX All Ords mining shares smashing the benchmark on Thursday

    Man in an office celebrates at he crosses a finish line before his colleagues.Man in an office celebrates at he crosses a finish line before his colleagues.

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is currently up 0.5% in afternoon trading.

    The All Ords has broadly shrugged off the shockingly high inflation data reported overnight by the United States, with prices in the world’s top economy rising at the fastest pace in 40 years.

    While that 0.5% gain is nothing to complain about, these two ASX All Ords mining shares are smashing those returns today.

    2 ASX mining shares charging higher

    First, we have Talga Group Ltd (ASX: TLG).

    The technology minerals company is primarily focused on graphite exploration and development in Sweden.

    Talga shares closed yesterday trading for $1.10 and are currently trading for $1.16, up 5.9%.

    The latest price-sensitive news from the ASX mining share was released last Wednesday, when it reported intersecting high-grade graphite zones at its Swedish Vittangi graphite project during the initial drill campaign.

    At the current share price, Talga has a market cap of $351 million.

    The second ASX All Ords mining share rocketing higher today is Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX: TIE). Tietto is primarily focused on gold exploration and production in West Africa.

    The company’s shares closed yesterday at 37 cents and are currently trading for 41 cents, up 11.0%.

    Investors look to be bidding up the ASX mining share after it provided a construction update for its 3.45-million-ounce Abujar Gold Project, located in Côte d’Ivoire.

    The company said that construction is on schedule and budget, and it expects the first gold pour to occur in the December quarter. Concrete works at the project are now 80% complete, with the bulk of the remaining work set to be finished in July.

    Talga and Tietto share price snapshots

    Despite today’s lift, both ASX mining shares remain down for the calendar year. Year-to-date, the Tietto share price is down 17% while the Talga share price is down 32%.

    Longer-term, both miners have delivered strong returns.

    Over the past five years, the Tietto share price is up 76% while the Talga share price has gained 69%.

    That compares to an 18% five-year gain for the All Ords.

    The post 2 ASX All Ords mining shares smashing the benchmark on Thursday 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 Tietto Minerals 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

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/74Of1MR

  • Why Data#3, Netwealth, New Hope, and Pilbara Minerals shares are pushing higher

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has defied the selling on Wall Street and pushed higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.45% to 6,652.2 points.

    Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

    Data#3 Limited (ASX: DTL)

    The Data#3 share price is up almost 11% to $5.36. Investors have been buying this business technology solutions company’s shares following the release of a trading update. That update reveals that Data#3 expects to report a full-year profit before tax of $44 million in FY 2022. This is up 19% year on year.

    Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

    The Netwealth share price is up 5.5% to $13.14. This follows the release of a trading update which revealed that the investment platform provider achieved annual net inflows of $13 billion for FY 2022. This was its highest ever annual net inflows and an increase of 32.4% on last year’s numbers. This led to Netwealth’s funds under administration (FUA) reaching $55.7 billion at the end of June.

    New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC)

    The New Hope share price is up 6.5% to $4.28. Investors have been buying New Hope and other coal shares this week after coal prices continued to rise. In addition, the company’s shares were given a boost from a broker note out of Credit Suisse on Wednesday. Its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $4.90 price target on its shares.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The Pilbara Minerals share price is up almost 3% to $2.43. After a poor start to the day, this lithium share is rebounding. Although Pilbara Minerals reported its first decline in the price received from a BMX lithium auction, it is still commanding a price that is materially higher than 12 months ago.

    The post Why Data#3, Netwealth, New Hope, and Pilbara Minerals shares are pushing higher 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(“#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 positions in and has recommended Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth. 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/AVByTlE

  • Here are 3 ASX 200 shares tumbling to new 52-week lows today

    A man sits wide-eyed at a desk with a laptop open and holds one hand to his forehead with an extremely worried look on his face as he reads news of the Bitcoin price falling today on his mobile phoneA man sits wide-eyed at a desk with a laptop open and holds one hand to his forehead with an extremely worried look on his face as he reads news of the Bitcoin price falling today on his mobile phone

    Overall, it’s been a rather happy day for ASX shares so far this Thursday. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is gaining a robust 0.4% and is back over 6,640 points.

    But that goodwill hasn’t extended to all ASX shares. In fact, there are now three ASX 200 shares that have already hit new 52-week lows today. Let’s check them out.

    3 ASX 200 shares hitting new 52-week lows today

    Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

    Our first ASX 200 share to check out is copper miner Sandfire Resources. Sandfire shares are down 0.77% at the time of writing to $3.86 a share. But earlier today, this miner dropped as low as $3.79. That’s this company’s new 52-week low.

    Sandfire shares are now down 43% in 2022 so far. This appears to be the result of copper prices sinking to near-two-year lows in recent weeks, which is obviously bad news for Sandfire.

    Pendal Group Ltd (ASX: PDL)

    Our next share worth taking a look at is Pendal Group. This fund manager has had a wild few months. It was over $5 a share at the start of June but has since dipped to the new 52-week low of $4 that we saw earlier this morning. This is all despite the absence of any major news or developments out of the company for some time.

    Pendal even impressed investors when its interim results were released back in May, which saw the company post a 59% surge in underlying profits. So clearly investors have deduced that things are less rosy for Pendal today. At the time of writing, the Pendal share price is down 2.27% at $4.10.

    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

    Our third ASX 200 share today is none other than Bega Cheese. This consumer staples company has had a clanger today, with the Bega Cheese share price down a nasty 7.61% at the time of writing at $3.28 a share.

    Earlier this morning, Bega dipped as low as $3.20, which is now the company’s new 52-week low. In this case, it seems the trading update the company released this morning is responsible for this latest low.

    As we covered at the time, Bega announced that its farm gate milk prices in Victoria have jumped 30% over FY 2022’s prices, which is more than the rise of 15-20% that it previously expected. Investors obviously haven’t taken kindly to this news, and have evidently punished Bega shares accordingly.

    The post Here are 3 ASX 200 shares tumbling to new 52-week lows 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 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/0Y6N8gV