• These 3 ASX All Ordinaries shares are hitting new 52-week lows today

    Kid with a brown paper bag on his head which has a sad face on it sits in front of an old style computer representing falling ASX 200 tech shares todayKid with a brown paper bag on his head which has a sad face on it sits in front of an old style computer representing falling ASX 200 tech shares today

    It’s a rough day on the market, and these All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares are suffering more than most.

    They’ve each slumped to new 52-week lows on Wednesday. Let’s take a look at what’s dragging them downwards.

    The All Ordinaries Index is down 1.23% at the time of writing.

    3 ASX All Ords shares slipping to 12-month lows

    Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR)

    The Tyro Payments share price tumbled 20% on Wednesday from its previous close, sliding to an all-time low of 62 cents.

    The downturn came after the financial technology company announced its CEO and managing director Robbie Cooke is stepping down. Cooke has provided the company with six months’ notice.  

    Meanwhile, Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) announced Cooke will be stepping up to the top job at the casino operator in the near future, subject to regulatory approvals.

    Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL)

    Another ASX All Ords share sliding to a new 52-week low today is Piedmont Lithium.  

    The lithium developer’s share price fell 7.9% to trade at 58 cents late morning on Wednesday. That’s despite news that production at the North American Lithium project is set to restart in the first half of 2023.

    Piedmont has a 25% stake in the project. The other 75% is owned by Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA).

    Sayona announced the news yesterday afternoon, while Piedmont released its announcement on the restart this morning.

    BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX)

    Finally, ASX All Ords share BWX tumbled another 5% at its intraday low to trade at 66 cents. That marks a new all-time low for the company behind skincare and haircare brands like Sukin.   

    The BWX share price plummeted 40.6% yesterday on news of a capital raise offering new shares at a 48.7% discount to the stock’s previous closing price. Today’s fall appears to be a continuation of yesterday’s sell-off.

    The post These 3 ASX All Ordinaries shares are hitting 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

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    *Returns as of June 1 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 Tyro Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BWX Limited and Tyro Payments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 3 ASX financial shares going ex-dividend today

    a man with hands in pockets and a serious look on his face stares out of an office window onto a landscape of highrise office buildings in an urban landscapea man with hands in pockets and a serious look on his face stares out of an office window onto a landscape of highrise office buildings in an urban landscape

    A number of real estate investment trusts (REIT) shares are falling on Wednesday despite no news coming from any of the companies.

    As we draw closer to the end of the current financial year, these ASX shares are trading ex-dividend today.

    The ex-dividend date is when investors must have purchased a company’s shares beforehand to be eligible for the upcoming dividend.

    If an investor buys the shares on or after this date, the dividend will go to the seller.

    National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) shares are down 5.82% to $2.185 after trading ex-dividend today.

    The board previously declared an unranked interim dividend of 5.4 cents per share.

    This represents a gain of 28.5% over the prior corresponding period (4.2 cents).

    The leading self-storage operator will pay out its latest dividend to eligible shareholders on 2 September.

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) shares are also going ex-dividend on Wednesday, backtracking 7.11% to $4.31.

    The board elected to reward investors with an unfranked interim dividend of 7.63 cents per share.

    When comparing this against H1 FY21’s dividend, it reflects a slight increase of less than 1% (7.62 cents).

    The REIT is set to distribute its profits in dividends on 12 August.

    Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF) shares are also trading without the rights to the company’s unfranked final dividend.

    The board opted to deliver 4.15 cents per unit to shareholders, which is the same amount as the prior comparable dividend.

    The Australia-based pure play office REIT’s distribution payment date is on 5 August.

    The post 3 ASX financial shares going ex-dividend 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 June 1 2022

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

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  • Why is the Transurban share price languishing today?

    piggy bank at end of winding road

    piggy bank at end of winding roadIt’s been a day of red ink on the ASX boards so far this Wednesday. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slid by a painful 1.3% and is now back under 6,700 points. But it’s also been a disappointing day for the Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price. Or so it would seem.

    Transurban shares are presently going for $14.33 each. That’s 1.3% down from the $14.52 the toll road operator closed at yesterday. But shareholders shouldn’t be too put out by that. That’s because today is the day that Transurban shares have traded ex-dividend for the company’s upcoming final dividend.

    As we covered earlier this week, investors who wanted to receive the company’s latest dividend had to own Transurban shares before market close yesterday. With the company trading ex-dividend today, it means that any new shareholders from this Wednesday onwards are ineligible to receive this dividend.

    Why is the Transurban share price falling today?

    Because of this, the value of the dividend has now left the Transurban share price. That is why we are seeing a share price fall for Transurban shares today. Interestingly, if today wasn’t Transurban’s ex-dividend date, it’s possible the shares would be in the green. The company had fallen by quite a bit less than the market earlier this Wednesday, even with the weight of the ex-dividend date.

    So Transurban’s final dividend will be welcomed by shareholders on 23 August. This will be a payment of 26 cents per share. That’s a healthy increase over the interim dividend of 15 cents per share that investors received a few months ago on 22 February. It’s also a meaningful rise over 2021’s final dividend of 21.5 cents per share.

    The Transurban dividend has been steadily increasing since the COVID-induced lockdowns forced a meaningful cut in 2020. Even so, this next dividend of 26 cents per share is still a long way from the company’s last pre-COVID dividend of 31 cents per share.

    Even so, this latest payment gives Transurban a dividend yield of 2.85% on current pricing.

    The post Why is the Transurban share price languishing 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 June 1 2022

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

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  • Own BHP shares? Here’s how the ASX 200 miner plans to slash emissions

    Happy woman miner with her thumb up signalling Wyloo's commitment to back IGO's takeover of Western Areas nickelHappy woman miner with her thumb up signalling Wyloo's commitment to back IGO's takeover of Western Areas nickel

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.58% in early afternoon trade.

    This comes amid a wider bout of selling that sees the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down 1.12% at this same time.

    Despite the dip, the BHP share price remains up 7.6% over the past five days.

    But let’s take a closer look at how the ASX 200 mining giant plans to meet its emissions reduction and other social value targets.

    BHP shares looking greener

    It’s been three years since BHP unveiled its preliminary social value plans.

    Yesterday the miner’s chief legal, governance, and external affairs officer, Caroline Cox, provided BHP shareholders with an update on those plans.

    BHP is hardwiring social value into every level of decision-making across our global business, from company strategy and capital allocation to everyday activities at our operations…

    Our new social value framework and 2030 scorecard outline the goals, metrics and milestones against which our investors and stakeholders can measure our progress and performance.

    The scorecard in question has six ESG objectives: decarbonisation, environment, Indigenous partnerships, workforce, communities, and supply chains.

    On the environmental front and adding a tinge of green to BHP shares, the scorecard sets a new environmental goal. By 2030, the miner aims to have at least 30% of the land and water that it holds under “conservation, restoration or regenerative practices”.

    According to Cox:

    By embedding social value into the way we do business, we believe we will further strengthen our relationships and access to the best resources, partners, markets and talent to discover and produce the minerals required for global economic development and decarbonisation, which will in turn create competitive advantage.

    Essential commodities

    Cox also reminded BHP shareholders of the essential nature of the company’s business.

    “The commodities we produce are essential to everyday life,” she said. “From infrastructure that connects us globally to providing the fundamental ingredients for renewable energy and decarbonisation, and food security.”

    Atop that, she pointed to the “significant economic contribution” BHP makes to the nations and communities where it operates.

    “In FY21, we contributed more than 40 billion US dollars in wages, taxes, royalties, dividends, and payments to suppliers,” she said.

    How have BHP shares been performing?

    Taking a longer-term view, BHP shares are up 85% over the past five years. That compares to a 17% gain posted by the ASX 200 over that same period.

    BHP also pays an 11.6% trailing dividend yield, fully franked.

    The post Own BHP shares? Here’s how the ASX 200 miner plans to slash emissions 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 June 1 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 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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  • Can the ASX-listed HACK ETF provide exposure to shares fighting what Warren Buffett calls the ‘number one problem with mankind’?

    Female cyber security expert surrounded by data on glass screens and looking down at a tablet.Female cyber security expert surrounded by data on glass screens and looking down at a tablet.

    A 2020 report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) found that around 1 million new people log onto the internet every day. Other reports predict 7.5 billion people will connect to the internet by 2032.

    Accompanying this growth is a rapid uptrend in the number of cyber threats. These range from attacks on devices to shutting down entire power grids.

    The cost of cybercrime is expected to grow by 15% each year until 2025, hitting US$10.5 trillion annually. That’s an increase from US$6 trillion in 2021.

    Investing phenom Warren Buffett went as far to say that, whilst he didn’t know that much about cybercrime, he did “think that [it’s] the number one problem with mankind”.

    These projected growth numbers in cybersecurity are astronomical. And investors are now surely wondering how to gain exposure to the space.

    With the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK), that is now possible.

    HACK ETF for cybersecurity exposure

    Managers of the HACK ETF aim to track a benchmark that follows companies in the global cybersecurity sector.

    That benchmark is the Nasdaq Consumer Technology Association Cybersecurity Index (NQCYBR).

    With HACK, investors can obtain “diversified, cost-effective exposure to global cybersecurity companies,” according to BetaShares (the licensed distributor of the funds in Australia).

    This is “a sector that is heavily under-represented on the ASX,” it says.

    With that, let’s break down the fund’s asset allocation into its individual components.

    The concentration of holdings is in the United States, with 85% of assets located there. Israel follows with 3.8%, then India with 3%.

    The majority of shares are also within the systems software sector, at roughly 62%.

    Following this, around 12.5% of funds are allocated to communication equipment, then 10% to research and consulting services.

    The ETF has performed to its expectations. It has tracked its benchmark closely over the last 12 months with minimal tracking error.

    HACK is down around 5%, whereas its index is down 13% at the time of writing, and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 7%.

    TradingView Chart

    The post Can the ASX-listed HACK ETF provide exposure to shares fighting what Warren Buffett calls the ‘number one problem with mankind’? 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 June 1 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 positions in and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. 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 the Coles share price stay positive in June while the ASX 200 slumped?

    Happy woman looking for groceries. as she watches the Coles share price and Woolworths share price on her phoneHappy woman looking for groceries. as she watches the Coles share price and Woolworths share price on her phone

    The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price is in the green today, up 0.06% to $17.88 at the time of writing.

    Over a very tumultuous month of trading for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), Coles is one of few ASX shares to remain in positive territory.

    The Coles share price is up 2.05% since the closing bell on 31 May. This compares to a 7.3% dip in the ASX 200.

    What’s protecting the Coles share price?

    Coles is part of the consumer staples group of ASX shares. Consumer staples are the goods and services we can’t live without — groceries, electricity, petrol — these sorts of things.

    We’re going to buy these items no matter what is going on in the economy. That’s the protection that ASX shares in this space enjoy during volatile economic times.

    As such, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) is also up 1.4% over the month. This compares to the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) which is down 6.7%.

    Consumer discretionaries are the goods and services we want and like but don’t need to survive.

    Generally, when costs of living rise like they are now, due to rising inflation and interest rates, people tighten their belts. The first things to go out of their budgets are the little luxuries in life.

    Brokers rate Coles a buy

    As my Fool colleague James reported yesterday, top broker Citi is very positive on Coles and has a buy rating and $19.30 price target on the share.

    Based on today’s Coles share price, that’s a potential upside of 7.9%.

    While that’s not particularly exciting, it certainly puts Coles in safe haven territory while so many other ASX shares are tanking during the current market correction.

    As James reported, Coles has a “strong market position, solid long-term growth prospects, and positive exposure to rising inflation”.

    To clarify, the reason that Coles and other ASX consumer staples shares can manage inflationary pressures better than others is because they can raise their retail prices to offset the impact of higher business costs. After all, customers are unlikely not to buy household essentials because they cost a bit more.

    Coles is also trying to cut costs through automation and enhanced efficiencies, which could boost earnings and margins and enable dividend growth over the next decade. That bodes well for the Coles share price, too.

    U Ethical chief investment officer Jon Fernie told fellow Fool writer Tony Yoo that he likes Coles as a defensive play in today’s market.

    Fernie said:

    … Australian supermarkets are pretty well-placed in the current inflationary environment, so they are going to be impacted to an extent by rising costs. But they’re also able to pass on the higher food inflation to consumers. And I think again, if we have a weaker economic environment, that the company’s got a resilient earnings base. From a valuation perspective, [Coles] looks more attractive than their closest peer Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

    Coles likely to deliver reliable dividends

    Another reason to focus on ASX consumer staples when the market is rough is their usually reliable dividends.

    These companies don’t face the same challenges in terms of sales and revenue as consumer discretionary businesses, so ASX investors can count on reasonable payouts.

    Citi is forecasting that Coles will pay a dividend of 63 cents per share in FY22 and 72 cents in FY23.

    As Coles dividends are fully franked, that means a grossed-up dividend yield of 5% and 5.75% respectively based on today’s share price.

    The post How did the Coles share price stay positive in June while the ASX 200 slumped? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Coles Group Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Coles Group 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 Coles Group 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 June 1 2022

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 positions in and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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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  • Down 6%, what is dragging the Block share price lower on Wednesday?

    Upset woman with her hand on her forehead, holding a credit card.Upset woman with her hand on her forehead, holding a credit card.

    The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price is plummeting today after the company’s US listing tumbled overnight.

    The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) share has dropped 6.65% and is currently trading at $94.01. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is descending 1.33% today.

    Let’s take a look at what is going on with the Block share price.

    What’s going on with Block?

    Block is not the only BNPL share tumbling today. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are sliding 5.26%, while the Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) share price is descending 5.56%.

    Block shares are falling after the company’s New York Stock Exchange listing fell in the United States on Tuesday. Block Inc (NYSE: SQ) shares dropped 5.5% on the New York Stock Exchange.

    Investors in the US sold off shares following concerning consumer confidence data and recession fears, Reuters reported. Chase Investment Counsel president Peter Tuz was quoted as saying:

    Markets were fine today until the consumer confidence number came out. It was weak and markets immediately began selling off.

    BNPL share Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: AFRM) plummeted 9.52%, while the NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index (NASDAQ: NDXT) descended 3.46%.

    ASX technology shares often follow the lead of their US counterparts. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is dropping 3.54% today.

    Meanwhile, a news report from the ABC published last night shows Australia has doubled its spending using BNPL companies to $11.9 billion in the previous financial year.

    However, the publication reported that new Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones has plans to regulate the industry within a year following talks with the industry. He told ABC 7.30:

    I don’t want to have an argument about whether this is credit or not, it clearly is. And I don’t want to have an argument about whether there should be a minimum standard of consumer protection … background credit-worthiness checks.

    Whatever you do in the financial services space, there’s big voices with deep pockets.

    Block completed a takeover of Afterpay early this year and listed on the ASX as SQ2 on 1 February.

    Block share price snapshot

    The Block share price has sunk nearly 47% in the year to date, while it has descended nearly 20% in the past month alone.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 Index has fallen more than 10% in 2022.

    Block has a market capitalisation of about $3.8 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Down 6%, what is dragging the Block share price lower on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Block Inc. right now?

    Before you consider Block Inc., 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 Block Inc. 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 June 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. 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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  • 4 potential winners from Netflix’s advertising plans

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

    woman watching netflix on her phone

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

    Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) surprised investors when management shared its plans to start offering an ad-supported tier of the streaming service in the near future. The company has long eschewed the idea of advertisements on its platform, but it’s gotten to work quickly as it looks to stem subscriber losses.

    Importantly, the company is looking to partner with other companies in order to streamline the operation. “We can be a straight publisher and have other people do all of the fancy ad-matching,” co-CEO Reed Hastings said during Netflix’s first-quarter earnings call. With the massive popularity of Netflix, those “other people” could have a big opportunity ahead.

    Here are four companies that could benefit from Netflix’s advertising plans.

    1. Alphabet

    Alphabet‘s (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google is an absolute beast when it comes to digital advertising. That said, its premium video advertising experience is limited. While YouTube generated $29 billion in ad revenue for the company last year, Netflix might want more premium advertisements than the standard ad seen next to user-uploaded videos on YouTube. Something more akin to television commercials. 

    Google has been pushing into that market. It operates YouTube TV, where it’s tasked with filling a couple of minutes of advertising for every hour of programming. It’s also worked with Disney since late 2018, serving ads across video, desktop, and mobile.

    The real value Google brings to the table is that it has a global user base, just like Netflix. In fact, YouTube is the only streaming service more widely used than Netflix. If the streaming service company wants a simple one-stop shop, Google is it.

    2. Comcast

    Comcast‘s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) media subsidiary NBCUniversal is a massive ad seller and a leader in ad technology for television. Its Freewheel ad technology could be the backbone for streaming ads on Netflix, as it already is on its own Peacock platform and several other streaming services. 

    Moreover, NBCUniversal already has an ad sales team set up in the U.S. and Europe that could source premium ads for all the inventory coming to Netflix. As such, Netflix might be able to generate the highest revenue per ad impression in those regions by partnering with NBCUniversal.

    Despite NBCUniversal’s competitive position against Netflix, its ad-tech platform is widely used throughout the media industry. Disney used Freewheel before it switched to Google, for example. So despite the conflict of interest, it’s capable of supporting other media companies.

    For Netflix to work with NBCUniversal, it may need to find an additional partner or hire some staff in-house for ad sales and integration outside of Europe and the U.S. It’s not clear if that’s something it’s looking to do, but outsourcing could be difficult as The Wall Street Journal reports NBCUniversal is looking for an exclusive contract.

    3. Roku

    Rumors began swirling that Netflix was interested in buying Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU) earlier this month. That might not be the best investment Netflix could make, and partnering with the connected-TV platform could be a much more reasonable choice. 

    Roku could benefit from an ad-supported tier by using it as an opportunity to renegotiate its distribution agreement with Netflix. Roku may look to take a share of the advertising on Netflix, participating in the upside potential of the product instead of taking a flat commission on customers who sign up for the service through its platform. It could also push Netflix to buy ads on its home screen, something it’s managed to get Netflix’s competitors to do in its negotiations. Disney, for example, often does home-screen takeovers for new Disney+ releases on Roku’s platform.

    4. The Trade Desk

    The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD) offers a demand-side platform that connects media ad buyers with premium connected-TV ad inventory. Netflix could offer excess inventory that it or its partners haven’t sold directly through The Trade Desk, enabling it to maintain high-quality ads while keeping a lean advertising sales team. 

    The Trade Desk generates revenue by charging ad buyers a percentage of gross spend on its platform. If it has more premium ad inventory to fill via a partnership with Netflix, it ought to be able to increase revenue. Estimates put the amount of annual advertising spend on Netflix in the U.S. and Canada alone at around $2.5 billion. Granted, that likely wouldn’t all go through The Trade Desk, depending on Netflix’s other ad-tech partners, but a significant chunk could end up coming from its buyers.

    Netflix could be a pivotal partner

    As Netflix moves toward launching its ad-supported tier, investors will want to pay close attention to which company it partners with, as they could provide a significant boost to revenue over time. While it might take some time for advertising to become a significant part of Netflix’s business, the impact could be seen much more quickly for any of the above companies. 

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

    The post 4 potential winners from Netflix’s advertising plans 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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    Adam Levy has positions in Alphabet (C shares), Netflix, Roku, and Walt Disney. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, 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 Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Netflix, Roku, The Trade Desk, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Comcast and has recommended the following options: long January 2024 $145 calls on Walt Disney and short January 2024 $155 calls on Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Netflix, The Trade Desk, and Walt Disney. 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.

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  • Why is the Xero share price slipping 6% today?

    A man sits uncomfortably at his laptop computer in an outdoor location at a table with trees in the background as he clutches the back of his neck with a wincing look on his face.

    A man sits uncomfortably at his laptop computer in an outdoor location at a table with trees in the background as he clutches the back of his neck with a wincing look on his face.The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price is down almost 6% today with the cloud accounting provider losing some of the gains it’s made over the last week.

    At the time of writing, Xero shares were fetching $77.81 apiece, a 5.76% drop on yesterday’s close.

    Overnight, there was pain in the US tech sector. That’s why the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) price is currently down by around 3%. Also last night, the Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) share price dropped around 3% while Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) also dropped by around 3%.

    There has been much volatility on share markets this year amid concerns about inflation and interest rates.

    The Xero share price and other ASX tech shares are often influenced on a day-to-day basis by what happens in the US share market.

    Wider ASX share market fall

    It’s not just Xero that is down. There are plenty of other shares that are in the red. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 1.37%.

    Blue chip shares Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are also down around 1% at the time of writing.

    However, there are many others that are down much further. For example, the Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR) share price is down 12% while Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) is down 6.77%.

    Xero share price snapshot

    Since the beginning of the 2022 calendar year, the Xero share price is down 44%.

    The company has a current market capitalisation of around $11.7 billion.

    The post Why is the Xero share price slipping 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Xero 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 Xero 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
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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, Block, Inc., Microsoft, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, Block, Inc., and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple 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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  • Why the Rural Funds share price is falling today

    farm workers examine an agricultural crop

    farm workers examine an agricultural crop

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is experiencing a bit of a pullback today. At the time of writing, the All Ords has slipped by 1.45% and is back below 6,900 points. But that pales in comparison to the Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) share price today.

    Rural Funds shares are currently down a painful 3.47% to $2.64 each. That comes after the agricultural real estate investment trust (REIT) closed at $2.74 yesterday, but opened at $2.69 this morning.

    So why is Rural Funds underperforming so dramatically today?

    Why is the Rural Funds share price falling on Wednesday?

    Well, it’s for one of the best reasons to have your shares fall in value. Today is the day that Rural Funds shares have traded ex-dividend for the REIT’s upcoming dividend distribution.

    When an ASX share declares a dividend payment for shareholders, it also declares a date that new shareholders are excluded from being eligible to receive the upcoming payment. This is known as the ex-dividend date.

    Seeing as new Rural Funds shareholders from today are ineligible for the company’s next payment, the payment’s value has left the Rural Funds share price. That is why we are seeing such an apparent drop in value for this REIT today.

    So investors can now look forward to the quarterly dividend distribution of 2.93 cents per share that will be paid on 29 July next month. Rural Funds Group typically doles out four quarterly dividend distributions a year.

    This upcoming payment will be the fourth to consist of a 2.93 cents per share payment. June 2021’s distribution was worth 2.82 cents per share, so this payment represents a 3.9% increase over the previous year.

    At the current Rural Funds share price, this agricultural ASX REIT has a market capitalisation of $1.01 billion. Put together, the past four dividend distributions of 2.93 cents per share each now give Rural Funds a trailing yield of 4.44% at this pricing.

    The post Why the Rural Funds share price is falling 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 June 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended RURALFUNDS STAPLED. 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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