• 2 ASX shares that could be takeover targets: expert

    Business executive aiming bow and arrow at target.Business executive aiming bow and arrow at target.

    In turbulent times when no one knows whether the market will be up or down next week, next month or next quarter, you may have to think laterally.

    One outside-the-box strategy might be to figure out which ASX shares have been hammered so much that buying out the entire company might be an absolute bargain.

    If a business is in this position, it can attract acquisition interest from other ASX-listed companies or even private capital.

    Sydney Airport is a prime example of this. Australia’s busiest airport was delisted from the ASX earlier this year after it was bought out by a consortium that included giant superannuation funds.

    So if you want to take this line of thinking, Shaw and Partners senior investment adviser Adam Dawes this week had a couple of ASX shares in mind.

    Last infrastructure stock left standing on the ASX

    Dawes nominated APA Group (ASX: APA) and Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC) as potential acquisition targets.

    APA Group is a gas and electricity infrastructure company that’s seen its shares rise more than 13% year-to-date, all while handing out a nice 3.9% dividend yield.

    Infrastructure is seen by many as a defensive holding through economically difficult times. Plus gas and electricity are at record prices courtesy of the war in Ukraine.

    “There’s no [other] infrastructure stock on our market anymore,” Dawes told Switzer TV Investing.

    “APA is one of those ones that I think is fairly ripe for a takeover.”

    Could the demerger become a merger?

    The Lottery Corporation has only been on the ASX since late May after it was demerged from Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH).

    Ever since it was spun off, experts have commented on how cheap it is for a defensive business that boasts long-term client contracts and very resilient revenues even through economic downturns.

    “There’s been a little of scuttlebutt around the market around [how] The Lottery Corporation is going to be a potential takeover target,” said Dawes.

    He explained that Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) appointed a new chief executive this month in Robbie Cooke. Cooke was formerly the boss of Tatts Group, which was the lotteries business that originally merged into Tabcorp.

    “He was instrumental in the merger of Tabcorp and Tatts in the heyday,” said Dawes.

    “I think that’s why Star potentially might have a look at The Lottery Corporation.”

    He noted, though, that this is pure market speculation. No actual interest has yet been expressed by Star or Cooke.

    “Please seek professional advice before you do anything!”

    The post 2 ASX shares that could be takeover targets: expert 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

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    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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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 positions in and has recommended APA Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Here’s why experts are tipping these ASX growth shares as buys

    Big green letters spell growth, indicating share price movements for ASX growth shares

    Big green letters spell growth, indicating share price movements for ASX growth shares

    Looking for growth shares to buy when the market reopens? Well, look no further, listed below are two ASX growth shares that are rated as buys by experts.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    The first ASX growth share to look at is data centre operator NextDC. It has been tipped as a buy by analysts at Goldman Sachs, who believe the company is well-placed for growth thanks to the structural shift to the cloud.

    And while the broker acknowledges that growth shares have been out of favour with investors, it believes its digital infrastructure characteristics are hard to ignore. Goldman said:

    Although acknowledging the ongoing rotation towards value may impact NXT shares, we believe the company has a compelling growth profile, a proven and profitable business model, and digital infrastructure characteristics that continue to attract significant strategic interest. Hence we re-iterate our Buy (on CL) for NXT.

    Goldman Sachs is positive on the company and has a conviction buy rating and $14.20 price target on its shares.

    Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

    Treasury Wine could be another ASX growth share to buy. This wine giant has been tipped for strong growth by analysts at Morgans.

    And with its shares trading at a very attractive level compared to peers, the broker believes now could be an opportune time to make a move. Its analysts said:

    TWE owns much loved iconic wine brands, the jewel in the crown being Penfolds. We rate its management team highly. The foundations are now in place for TWE to deliver strong earnings growth from the 2H22 over the next few years. Trading at a material discount to our valuation and other luxury brand owners, TWE is a key pick for us.

    Morgans has an add rating and $13.93 price target on the company’s shares.

    The post Here’s why experts are tipping these ASX growth shares as buys 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

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    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in NEXTDC 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 recommended Treasury Wine Estates 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 are the worst-performing ASX ETFs of FY 2022

    A young couple look upset as they use their phones.A young couple look upset as they use their phones.

    The financial year that just ended on 30 June was a tough one for ASX shares. Over FY 2022, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 10.19%. So it goes without saying that any ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the ASX 200 gave investors a similar loss.

    But were there any ETFs that did even worse? Let’s check out the five worst-performing funds of the year.

    The 5 worst-performing ASX ETFs of FY 2022

    BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

    Our first laggard is this tech-focused fund from provider BetaShares. ATEC tracks one of the newer ASX indexes in the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX). It holds many of the ASX’s largest tech shares, including Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) and Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR).

    Unfortunately, ASX tech shares were some of the hardest-hit companies last financial year, as we can see this in this fund’s performance. Over FY 2022, ATEC units lost 35.7% of their value.

    BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF (ASX: CLDD)

    Another BetaShares ETF, CLDD has only been around since February 2021. But it has certainly had a rough time over its short life. As the name implies, this fund focuses on global companies that operate in the cloud computing arena.

    You might know some of its larger holdings such as Zoom Video Communications and Netflix. But having such a potent exposure to tech has also hampered CLDD, with this fund losing 35.79% over FY 2022.

    BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

    Tech is certainly featuring prominently in this list. RBTZ is such an ETF, and one that concentrates on robotics and artificial intelligence companies from around the world. It includes companies such as NVIDIA and Yaskawa Electric Corp. RBTZ took a beating over FY 2022, losing 36.01% for its investors.

    ETFS S&P Biotech ETF (ASX: CURE)

    A tech ETF of a different kind, this fund from provider ETFS focuses on US biotechnology companies. You’ll find COVID-19 vaccine provider Novavax here, as well as Twist Bioscience and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. But CURE investors were left wanting in FY 2022, with this fund going backwards by 40.51%.

    ETFS Ultra Long NASDAQ 100 Hedge Fund (ASX: LNAS)

    Our final and worst-performing ETF of FY 2022 is an index fund of sorts. LNAS tracks the US NASDAQ-100 (INDEXNASDAQ: NDX), giving investors exposure to 100 of the largest companies on the NASDAQ exchange.

    However, LNAS is also leverage, meaning it is designed to amplify the gains or losses of the index it tracks. Sadly for investors, FY 2022 was a negative one for the NASDAQ. And due to LNAS’s leveraged nature, investors suffered a 49.99% loss as a result.

    The post Here are the worst-performing ASX ETFs of FY 2022 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Nvidia, Netflix and Zoom Video Communications. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Netflix, Nvidia, Xero, and Zoom Video Communications. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Netflix, Nvidia, Zoom Video Communications, and carsales.com 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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  • ASX battery metals shares trying to power up after a horror June

    Pilbara Minerals share price ASX lithium shares A stylised clean energy battery flexes its muscles, indicating a strong lift in share price for ASX energy companiesPilbara Minerals share price ASX lithium shares A stylised clean energy battery flexes its muscles, indicating a strong lift in share price for ASX energy companies

    ASX battery metals shares – once the darlings of the ASX – are trying to make a comeback after their shock June performance.

    These shares include miners that produce metals like lithium and nickel, which are key ingredients in batteries.

    ASX battery metal shares getting a recharge

    The Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) share price surged 7.37% to $1.02 and the Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price jumped 5.23% to $10.46 at market close on Friday.

    This makes them the third and fifth best performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this morning.

    These aren’t the only ASX battery metal shares that are shot the lights out today. The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price finished up at 6.82% at $2.35 and the IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price finished up 3.21% at $9.97.

    Powering off in June

    The bounce stands in contrast to the horror June for the sector. These shares tumbled between 8% and 16% during that month alone.

    There are a few factors that have triggered the sell-off. Fears of a global recession have weighed on commodity prices. Demand for these inputs would slow significantly if economies contract.

    Further, ASX battery metal shares were looking overbought as they have rocketed over the past year. Investors may have gotten overexcited about the structural change from electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage facilities.

    Electrification trend intact

    But regardless of these headwinds, the global trend towards EVs and battery farms remains intact. The bright outlook is due in no small part to government policies and decarbonisation ambitions.

    The more environmentally friendly Labor federal government also has plans to boost EV adoption in this country.

    Even if the world experiences a recession, it is unlikely to make much of an impact on battery metals demand over the medium to longer term.

    Should you buy ASX battery metal shares?

    This means the dip in ASX battery metal shares could be a buying opportunity for more patient investors.

    That’s the view of UBS, which sees value in ASX lithium miners despite its cautious stance towards the broader mining sector.

    The broker noted that even if record high spot lithium prices were to tumble by up to two-thirds by end of calendar year 2023, several of these miners will still make “exceptional cash flows that fund transformational growth”.

    UBS is recommending investors buy the IGO share price, Allikem share price and the Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) share price.

    The post ASX battery metals shares trying to power up after a horror June 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau has positions in Allkem Limited and Independence Group NL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why did the ANZ share price plunge 22% in FY22?

    A woman dressed in red and standing in front of a red background peers thoughtfully at a piggy bank in her hand.A woman dressed in red and standing in front of a red background peers thoughtfully at a piggy bank in her hand.

    The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) last financial year.

    The ANZ share price closed financial year 2022 (FY22) trading at $22.03. That marked a 21.7% fall over the 12 months prior. In comparison, the ASX 200 slipped around 10% over FY22.

    So, what dragged on the ASX 200 banking giant last financial year? Let’s take a look.

    What weighed on the ANZ share price in FY22?

    The ANZ share price suffered amid rising inflation and interest rates in FY22. But it wasn’t all dire for the big four bank.

    The good

    ANZ announced plenty of exciting news last financial year.

    First up, was a $1.5 billion on-market buyback announced as part of its capital management plan. The bank announced the buyback in July and completed the activity in March.

    It also stepped into the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space with a new offering available to its credit card customers courtesy of a partnership with Visa.

    Finally, the bank underwent a $1 billion capital raise through a capital notes offering in February.

    The bad

    But, perhaps unsurprisingly, FY22 wasn’t all sunshine for ANZ.

    The bank was hit with legal action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in May.

    The watchdog alleged system errors at the bank saw customers’ bank balances misrepresented. The bank also purportedly charged fees based on the incorrect balances.

    Additionally, broader macroeconomic events seemingly weighed on the institution.

    The ANZ share price plunged 19.3% over May and June as the Reserve Bank of Australia implemented consecutive rate hikes in an effort to control inflation.

    Rising rates generally allow banks the reprice loans, thereby increasing their net interest margins. But it also ups the risk of foreclosures and can weigh on house prices, both of which spell bad news for banks’ home loan books.

    And the earnings

    Finally, the ANZ share price lifted on the back of the bank’s most recent full and half year results.

    ANZ dropped its results for FY21 in October 2021. It posted a 72% increase in statutory after-tax profit and a 65% increase in cash earnings.

    Then, in May, the bank released its earnings for the first half of FY22, posting yet another strong result. Its statutory after-tax profits rose 10% over the six months ended 31 March on those of the prior comparable period. It also boasted a 4% increase in cash earnings.

    On top of that, ANZ offered shareholders $1.44 in fully franked dividends last financial year – representing a 27% increase on those of FY21.

    The post Why did the ANZ share price plunge 22% in FY22? 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Visa. 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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  • How did ASX cannabis shares perform in FY22?

    A woman wearing a pink blouse and straw hat holds up a cannabis leaf with tall green cannabis plants in the backgroundA woman wearing a pink blouse and straw hat holds up a cannabis leaf with tall green cannabis plants in the background

    There were mixed fortunes for ASX cannabis shares in FY22. Among the bunch there were winners and losers, all while investors navigated broad-market volatility.

    However, the sector wasn’t immune to selling pressure. Like most pockets of the market, cannabis stocks, on the whole, finished down last financial year despite the industry’s achievements.

    Let’s take a look at three selected shares from the bunch to see how they went in FY22.

    Emyria Ltd (ASX: EMD)

    Shares of Emyria finished FY22 around 5% higher.

    The share raced to its 52-week high of 49.5 cents in November 2021, only to gyrate downwards for the remainder of the year.

    Back in February, Eymyria announced it had broadened its MDMA analogue library. This was in collaboration with the University of Western Australia.

    Then in May, it provided an update on this partnership, noting the pair had agreed to “substantially expand their collaboration” to develop novel MDMA-like medicines.

    “To date, 85 compounds have been successfully screened with several compounds being prepared for preclinical testing to determine their therapeutic potential,” Emyria said.

    This year to date, the Emyria share price is down around 43%.

    Incannex Healthcare Ltd (ASX: IHL)

    At the other end of the spectrum is Incannex Healthcare, which lost 16% in FY22. The share rallied from lows of 24 cents in August 2021 and surged to highs of 70 cents by January.

    From there, it was a series of peaks and troughs with the ASX cannabis share trading as low as 42 cents and as high as 73 cents and everywhere in between from January to April.

    After a rollercoaster of volatility, investors finally unloaded their positions en masse in April and the trend continued until the financial year’s end.

    Around the time of its rapid decline, news the company executed a term sheet to acquire APIRx Pharmaceutical USA, LLC was received poorly by investors.

    Alas, the downtrend has continued and Incannex hit its 52-week lows last week at 21 cents. It now trades at 24.5 cents apiece.

    Cronos Australia Ltd (ASX: CAU)

    Another ASX cannabis share worth mentioning is Cronos. Out of the three names mentioned here, it was the top performer, and managed to secure a 127% gain in FY22.

    It has since slipped from those levels and trades at 20 cents apiece, having dipped 20% this week. Zooming out, however, the share has continued its upward trajectory over the past year or so.

    Investors rewarded Cronos throughout the year after it provided a series of positive updates including a solid first half of FY22.

    It realised cash flow from operations of $9 million for the half, after producing around $28 million in cash receipts for the six months.

    Perhaps the larger news however was the merger with CDA Health Pty Ltd.

    That was in December 2021 and made CDA the owner of Cronos. CDA is an importer, exporter and wholesaler of cannabis products in Australia. It’s been around since 2017.

    Investors must have seen the upside in the transaction, judging from the share’s performance on the chart in FY22.

    TradingView Chart

    The post How did ASX cannabis shares perform in FY22? 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

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    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.

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  • Where’s the Westpac share price heading in July?

    questioning whether asx share price is a buy represented by man in red shirt scratching his head

    questioning whether asx share price is a buy represented by man in red shirt scratching his head

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price had a tough time in June.

    During the month, the banking giant’s shares lost 18% of their value.

    Investors were selling down the Westpac share price last month in response to market volatility and the Reserve Bank’s cash rate hike.

    Will July be better for the Westpac share price?

    The good news is that July has started well for the Westpac share price. Since the start of the month, Australia’s oldest bank has seen its shares rise 2.3%.

    But that could be just the beginning of greater gains if the team at Morgan Stanley are on the money with their recommendation.

    Last week the broker retained its overweight rating and $22.30 price target on the bank’s shares. Based on where its shares are trading currently, this suggests that there’s potential upside of 12% for investors.

    In addition, Morgan Stanley is expecting a $1.25 per share fully franked dividend in FY 2022. This represents a 6.25% dividend yield at current prices.

    Is anyone else bullish?

    Elsewhere, analysts at Citi still have a buy rating and lofty $29.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    While that price target might prove a touch ambitious given the potential threat of a recession, if the Westpac share price were to reach that level it would mean a staggering return of approximately 45% for investors.

    Even Goldman Sachs, which has a neutral rating, sees plenty of upside in the company’s shares with its $27.29 price target.

    All in all, it does appear that all is not lost for Westpac’s shares after last month’s disappointment. This could make it a bank share to consider in July.

    The post Where’s the Westpac share price heading in July? 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

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    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.

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  • Top broker names the ASX travel shares to buy before it’s too late

    a tourist complete with suitcase and backpack with ticket in hand jumps for joy with his feet off the ground against a brightly coloured background.

    a tourist complete with suitcase and backpack with ticket in hand jumps for joy with his feet off the ground against a brightly coloured background.

    If you’ve been considering investing in the travel sector, then I have good news for you. The team at Morgans believes that now could be the time to pounce after the recent derating of ASX travel shares.

    What did the broker say about travel shares?

    While Morgans acknowledges that the travel market recovery is taking longer than expected and has reduced its earnings estimates to reflect this, it believes a lot of value has emerged and investors should act before a potential rerating happens.

    The broker commented:

    Despite travel demand recovering strongly, in recent months the travel sector globally has derated due to concerns about a weak macro outlook. We think share price weakness represents a buying opportunity and see the quarterly reporting season in the US and Europe during July and then the Australian reporting season in August as a catalyst for a rerating.

    Which shares is the broker recommending?

    Morgans’ number one pick in the sector at the moment is Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD). It has an add rating and $25.85 price target on the corporate travel specialist’s shares. This compares to the latest Corporate Travel Management share price of $19.67.

    In second place is online travel agent Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB). It has an add rating and $6.55 price target on its shares. This compares to the current Webjet share price of $5.50.

    Another ASX travel share that the broker is positive on is Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO). It has an add rating and $2.72 price target on its shares. This is notably higher than the current Helloworld share price of $1.67.

    But what about Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)? Unfortunately, the broker only has a neutral rating and $19.60 price target on its shares. It is expecting Flight Centre’s earnings to come in below consensus estimates in FY 2023 due to “limited ANZ international airline capacity, China’s strict travel restrictions and the need to rehire and train staff.”

    The post Top broker names the ASX travel shares to buy before it’s too late 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

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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 Helloworld Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Helloworld Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited, Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, and Webjet Ltd. 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 brokers rate these ASX dividend shares as buys

    Man holding different Australian dollar notes.

    Man holding different Australian dollar notes.

    Looking for dividends shares to buy for your income portfolio? Then take a look at the two listed below which are rated as buys.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is Dicker Data. It is a leading technology hardware, software, and cloud distributor.

    Dicker Data has been a real star of the Australian share market over the last decade, delivering solid earnings and dividend growth on a consistent basis whatever happens in the economy. This has been the case again in FY 2022, with the company reporting a 50.5% increase in revenue to $673.6 million and a 22.7% lift in profit before tax to $23.8 million during the first quarter.

    The team at Morgan Stanley expect this positive form to continue. As such, the broker has retained its overweight rating and $16.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    In addition, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 41.4 cents in FY 2022 and 48.5 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Dicker Data share price of $11.95, this will mean yields of 3.5% and 4.1%, respectively.

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Another ASX dividend share that has been rated as a buy is telco giant Telstra.

    It has started to gain favour in the broker community this year after returning to underlying growth following years of earnings declines. And while it may be too soon to start thinking about dividend increases, the market appears confident that the cuts are long gone.

    This is thanks to the success of its T22 strategy, optimism over its impending T25 strategy, its leadership position in 5G, and rational competition in the mobile market.

    Morgans is very positive on Telstra and has an add rating and $4.56 price target on its shares.

    As for dividends, it is forecasting 16 cents per share dividends through to FY 2023. Based on the current Telstra share price of $3.86, this will mean a 4.15% yield.

    The post Here’s why brokers rate these ASX dividend shares as buys 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

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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 Dicker Data Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Treasury Wine Estates 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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  • Why did the Mineral Resources share price fall 10% in the 2022 financial year?

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    The Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) share price endured some serious volatility in the 2022 financial year.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining services company and resource producer dipped as low as $37.05 on 10 November, only to rocket to new all-time highs of $65.97 by 20 January.

    As for the full 12-month period, the Mineral Resource share price ended FY21 at $53.73 and finished the last financial year at $48.27, down 10.2%. That compares to a 9% loss posted by the ASX 200.

    Here’s what happened…

    Iron ore and lithium

    Mineral Resources is highly exposed to the prices of, and sentiment surrounding, iron ore and lithium.

    The company’s Wodgina Project, located in Western Australia, is among the largest hard rock lithium deposits in the world, with a production life of more than 30 years. There’s also the Mt Marion Lithium Project along with producing iron ore mines, including its 50% interest in WA’s Marillana and Ophthalmia iron ore projects.

    In its half-year report, released in February, the miner reported it exported 9.9 million wet metric tonnes (wmt) of iron ore and 207,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene over the six-month reporting period.

    The half-year report also showed the Mineral Resources share price had come under pressure from plummeting iron ore prices. The industrial metal traded above US$219 per tonne in July then tumbled to US$92 by November. (Iron ore is currently trading for US$115 per tonne.)

    Mineral Resources reported a 12% year-on-year decline in revenue, to $1.4 billion, and did not pay an interim dividend.

    To give you some further idea of the big price swings impacting the ASX 200 resource producer, on 31 May, 11 months into the FY22 financial year, shares closed at $63.85, up 19%.

    Then June rolled around.

    The last month of FY22 not only saw another big dip in iron ore prices, it also saw investor sentiment turn skittish around ASX lithium shares. That came after analysts, including those at Goldman Sachs, reported that an overabundance of investment was likely to lead to an oversupply of the battery metal in the medium term.

    Most lithium shares fell hard in June, though they’ve been rebounding strongly so far in FY23.

    Mineral Resources share price snapshot

    After hitting all-time highs in January, 2022 has been tough for the Mineral Resources share price, down 19% since the opening bell on 4 January. By comparison, the ASX 200 is down 12% year-to-date.

    Longer-term, shares are up 293% over the past five years.

    The post Why did the Mineral Resources share price fall 10% in the 2022 financial year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Mineral Resources Limited right now?

    Before you consider Mineral Resources Limited, 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 Mineral Resources Limited 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

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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 positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs. 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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