• Volpara share price up on record full-year results

    A doctor sits with a patient and uses a pen to point to certain parts of her mammogram scanA doctor sits with a patient and uses a pen to point to certain parts of her mammogram scan

    Shares in Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT) jumped out of the gates on Thursday and are now trading 2% higher at 75 cents.

    Investors are bidding up the Volpara share price following the release of the company’s full-year results.

    Volpara achieves record revenue

    Key takeouts from the period include:

    • Record revenue from customer contracts, up 32% to NZ$26.1 million
    • Revenue result exceeds guidance of between NZ$25 million and NZ$26 million
    • Subscription revenue up 37% to NZ$24.8 million
    • Gross margin remained consistent at more than 91%
    • Net loss for the year after tax improved 6% to NZ$16.4 million
    • Normalised non-GAAP EBITDA loss declined 13% to NZ$14.1 million.

    What else happened this period for Volpara?

    Volpara achieved record full-year revenue for the year ending 31 March 2022, scoring NZ$26.1 million, which is a 32% year-on-year (YoY) gain.

    Subscription revenues saw higher leverage this period and “continue to grow at a faster rate than total revenue”, Volpara says.

    In total, revenue from subscriptions increased to NZ$24.8 million, a 37% YoY gain.

    Margins were held tight at the gross level at roughly 91% in FY22, in line with the previous year and guided ranges.

    “Although further cost reductions were achieved through the continued work on the scaling of Microsoft Azure services, some one-off or non-standard costs were incurred during the year.”

    Finally, the group’s net loss after tax (NLAT) improved 6% from NZ$17.5 million to NZ$16.4 million.

    Over the 12 months to 31 March 2022, the Volpara share price dropped by more than 30%.

    Management commentary

    Speaking on the announcement, Teri Thomas, Volpara’s CEO, said:

    FY22 has been a great year for Volpara, with strong forward momentum in spite of Covid-driven uncertainties. Volpara has amassed a talented team of individuals who are passionate about our purpose, saving families from cancer. I’m honoured to lead this team forward into our next year of
    making a positive impact on our customers and communities and for our shareholders.

    Volpara share price snapshot

    In the past 12 months, the Volpara share price has collapsed 40% into the red. It is down 28% this year to date.

    The post Volpara share price up on record full-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Volpara Health Technologies right now?

    Before you consider Volpara Health Technologies, 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 Volpara Health Technologies 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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 VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended VOLPARA FPO NZ. 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 Nitro Software share price leaping 8% today?

    Man looking excitedly at ASX share price gains on computer screen against backdrop of streamersMan looking excitedly at ASX share price gains on computer screen against backdrop of streamers

    Shares of Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO) are surging higher on Thursday and now trade 8% in the green at $1.35 apiece.

    Despite no market-sensitive updates from the company, Nitro shares have jumped out of the gates today and rallied to an intraday high of $1.36 before heading sideways to their current levels.

    In wider market moves, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has also jumped around 1.5% higher on the day on last check.

    What’s up with the Nitro share price?

    Investors are bidding up tech and software shares on Thursday with the tech index outstripping most other sectors in trading today.

    The moves come after a bloodbath on the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite on Tuesday, seeing the drop 407 points to its lowest point.

    However, ASX tech shares appear to have pushed through the selloff, with the index tracking the sector holding up well amid the selling pressure.

    Nitro appears to have matched this performance and gains have been carried through until today’s session.

    Aside from the market mechanics, Nitro also released the chairman’s address of its annual general meeting (AGM) today.

    Whilst the release isn’t price-sensitive at all, the company’s chairman, Kurt Johnson, gave a walkthrough of the company’s performance during the period.

    “Last year was an exciting time for Nitro and one of the most dynamic years in our history as we
    purposefully scaled to drive even stronger growth in the years to come,” Johnson said.

    “Across 2021, we significantly expanded our product offering and addressable market with the
    two game-changing acquisitions of PDFpen and Connective NV driven by the desire to add
    technical capabilities to the Nitro Productivity Platform,” he added.

    Johnson then went on to talk about this year’s results to date:

    Turning now to 2022, we were pleased to announce strong Q1 results, with continued high revenue growth and record cash receipts. ARR, including Connective, was up 61% year-on year, and was driven by the continued success of our Nitro Productivity Platform and the Connective e Sign offering.

    In the last 12 months, the Nitro Software share price has faltered more than 51% after a 45% loss this year to date.

    The post Why is the Nitro Software share price leaping 8% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nitro Software right now?

    Before you consider Nitro Software, 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 Nitro Software 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    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 recommended Nitro Software 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 is the Yancoal share price on ice today?

    A man using a phone shouts and puts his hand out in a stop motion indicating the Yancoal trading halt todayA man using a phone shouts and puts his hand out in a stop motion indicating the Yancoal trading halt today

    The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price won’t be going anywhere on Thursday.

    Australia’s largest pure-play coal producer has requested a trading halt pending an announcement.

    The Yancoal share price was $6.08 at yesterday’s close. It’s worth noting the shares touched a multi-year high of $6.19 yesterday following a bullish run for coal prices.

    Why are Yancoal shares in a trading halt?

    According to the release, the company is planning to make a statement relating to a potential market transaction.

    The trading halt will remain in place until Monday 30 May, or when the announcement is made, whichever comes first.

    Media speculation on what it’s all about

    While no details have been given by Yancoal, several media outlets have indicated what could be happening behind the curtain.

    According to the Australian Financial Review, Yancoal may be subject to a potential bid by its parent company, Yankuang.

    Yancoal ownership comprises Yankuang 63%, China Cinda Asset Management 16%, and Glencore 6%.

    Should a non-binding proposal be offered, it could be one of the biggest takeovers on the ASX this year.

    Yancoal reported a stellar result for FY21, with record revenue of $5.4 billion for the 12 months ending 31 December. This reflected an increase of 56% over the prior corresponding period.

    In addition, Yancoal’s net profit after tax (NPAT) surged to $791 million, well above the $1.04 billion loss in FY20.

    Yancoal share price snapshot

    Since this time last year, Yancoal shares have travelled north to register an incredible gain of 190%.

    In 2022, the company’s shares have zipped 133% higher on the back of positive investor sentiment as commodity prices boom.

    Based on valuation grounds, Yancoal presides a market capitalisation of roughly $7.88 billion.

    The post Why is the Yancoal share price on ice today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Yancoal, 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 Yancoal 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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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  • ASX 200 midday update: Appen rockets, Westpac super update

    Man looks shocked as he works on laptop on top a skyscraper with stockmarket figures in graphic behind him.

    Man looks shocked as he works on laptop on top a skyscraper with stockmarket figures in graphic behind him.

    At lunch on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is under pressure due to weakness in the resources sector. The benchmark index is currently down 0.45% to 7,122.4 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    Appen rockets on takeover approach

    The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price is rocketing higher on Thursday after the artificial intelligence services company received a takeover approach. Appen revealed that it has received an unsolicited, conditional, and non-binding indicative proposal from Canada’s TELUS International to acquire it for $9.50 per share. This values Appen at approximately $1.2 billion. Management has engaged with TELUS but appears to be looking for a better offer.

    Champion Iron falls on full-year results

    The Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) share price is falling on Thursday. This is despite the Canadian iron ore miner delivering a solid full year result which was largely in line with expectations. Champion reported a 14% increase in revenue to C$1,460.8 million and a 13% lift in EBITDA to C$925.8 million. This was underpinned by stronger iron ore prices, which offset softer production and higher costs.

    Westpac super update

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is pushing higher on Thursday. This follows news that Westpac and BT Funds Management have signed an agreement to merge BT’s personal and corporate superannuation funds with Mercer Super Trust. In addition, Westpac has agreed to sell its Advance asset management business to Mercer. Combined, the bank expects to record an after-tax gain of $225 million.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the Appen share price by some distance. Its shares are up 27% following the receipt of a takeover approach. Going the other way, the worst performer on the ASX 200 has been the Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price with a 9% decline. A number of coal miners are tumbling lower today.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Appen rockets, Westpac super update 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 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 positions in and has recommended Appen Ltd. 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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  • Why Snap shares were bouncing back today

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

    woman using snapchat on her smartphone

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

    What happened

    A day after Snap (NYSE: SNAP) plunged 43% on a guidance cut, the social media stock was bouncing back as investors seemed to spy an opportunity in the sell-off. 

    As of 12:22 p.m. ET today, the stock was up 9.8%.

    So what

    On Monday night, Snap issued a filing saying it now expected second-quarter revenue and EBITDA to come in below the bottom end of its previous guidance due to a deteriorating macroeconomic environment. In other words, the company now expects revenue growth of less than 20% in the second quarter, and to report an EBITDA loss for the quarter. 

    That warning was enough to sink the whole tech sector yesterday with a number of digital advertising stocks falling double digits. However, today investors seemed to spy a buying opportunity in Snap stock, and it’s easy to see why.

    If Snap’s argument about macro conditions is correct, then a 43% sell-off in the stock seems excessive. The company isn’t losing market share and its long-term growth plans are still intact. However, there are a number of signs that the overall economy is decelerating. The Federal Reserve is aggressively raising interest rates. Inflation is at a 40-year-high, and a number of tech companies have announced layoffs or hiring freezes.

    After yesterday’s plunge, the stock trades at a price-to-sales ratio of just five, the cheapest it’s been since it went public.

    Now what

    Advertising is cyclical, so it makes sense that companies like Snap would see demand falling in a weakening economy. However, the overall business still looks solid as it continues to grow its user base and remains popular with teens even as TikTok has grown.

    While the next few quarters could be tough for Snap, there’s a decent chance the stock could be significantly higher in a few years. 

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

    The post Why Snap shares were bouncing back today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Snap , 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 Snap 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Jeremy Bowman has positions in Snap Inc. 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. 

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

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  • Why I think these 3 ASX shares are top-quality buying at today’s prices

    Smiling man sits in front of a graph on computer while using his mobile phone.Smiling man sits in front of a graph on computer while using his mobile phone.

    If you have any spare cash sitting in your account, I believe now would be the time to invest in these ASX shares.

    While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has tumbled heavily in recent times, there are some ASX shares that could be cheap.

    Below, I have picked out what I think are the best three ASX shares to own at today’s prices.

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    The Altium share price hasn’t fared too well amid the constant beating of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX).

    The 3D printed circuit board maker revealed a solid performance across its half-year results for FY22.

    Altium reported US$102 million in revenue, an increase of 28% on the prior comparable period.

    On the bottom line, net profit after tax (NPAT) lifted by 38% to US$23 million.

    The ASX share upgraded its revenue guidance to the high-end of the range for FY22.

    As such, management is targeting revenue between US$213 million to US$217 million. This represents a growth of around 18-20%.

    In addition, underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margin is expected to be roughly 34-36%.

    The company said that it’s planning to scale up its leadership recruitment including new cloud and enterprise sales roles.

    The Altium share price is trading at $27.78, a 36% discount from its all-time high of $45.30 reached in December.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    This global biotech leader in developing and delivering life-saving medicines has seen its shares tank over the past few months.

    In February, the CSL share price touched a 52-week low of $240.10 before moving in circles. This is in stark contrast to when its shares were trading above the $300 mark towards the backend of last year.

    Despite keeping a relatively quiet front on the news side, CSL has been restoring its plasma collections to pre-COVID levels.

    When the ASX share reported its half-year results, management said that plasma numbers were 18% higher than H1 FY21.

    CSL opened 18 new facilities in the first half of FY22 to attract lapsed and new donors through its doors.

    There are plans to open another 35 centres, expanding its presence, mostly across the United States.

    Possibly weighing down CSL shares is the announced delay in completing the acquisition of Vifor Pharma. Originally, the deal was due to be wrapped up by June 2022, however, receiving regulatory approvals is taking a little longer.

    At the time of writing, CSL shares are down 0.64% to $271.86.

    Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST)

    Every portfolio should have at least one established gold company, and I believe Northern Star should be on your list. 

    The current environment is extremely fluid, given the number of macro factors that are occurring on the world stage.

    Inflation, rate hikes, geopolitical tensions, and the unpredictability of global markets are influencing the price of gold.

    Northern Star is one of the biggest gold miners in Australia, and could benefit from the bullish run on the precious yellow metal.

    The market appears to have already priced in potential interest rate rises, which may lead to gold prices surging yet again. This is because of the extremely high levels of inflation which could dent economic growth, leading to slower-than-expected rate hikes.

    With this in mind, Northern Star might be in for a bumper result when it reports in August this year.

    The Northern Star share price is down 5% in 2022 and 17% over the past month but has began to recover some lost ground in the past week. At the time of writing, it is down 2.4% on the day to $8.89.

    The post Why I think these 3 ASX shares are top-quality buying at today’s prices 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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

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  • Galileo Mining share price surges another 25% on ‘very important’ drill results

    Two excited mining workers in yellow high vis vests and hardhats shake hands to congratulate each other on a mineral discovery that is making the Galileo Mining share price rise todayTwo excited mining workers in yellow high vis vests and hardhats shake hands to congratulate each other on a mineral discovery that is making the Galileo Mining share price rise today

    The Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX: GAL) share price is rocketing higher again on exciting news about the Norseman Project.

    Assay results from drilling at the project’s Callisto palladium, platinum, copper, and nickel discovery have confirmed significant zones of mineralisation.

    At the time of writing, the Galileo Mining share price is $1.19, 25.93% higher than its previous close.

    Let’s take a closer look at the results dubbed “a very important step forward” by the company’s managing director.

    Galileo Mining breaks trading halt with assay results

    The market is bidding the Galileo Mining share price higher after the company exited a trading halt this morning on the release of assay results from the Callisto discovery.

    Assays from six drill holes have confirmed the presence of palladium, platinum, gold, copper, and nickel in the area.

    Galileo Mining managing director Brad Underwood commented:

    The assays from all drill holes undertaken at Callisto contain significant zones of mineralisation and confirm initial results from the discovery drill hole …

    Today’s results are a very important step forward as we have now shown the sulphides are carrying high value metals in all six drill holes completed …

    The extensive prospective strike, combined with the thick and consistent mineralisation drilled to date, indicates the potential for a large mineralised system.

    The company will begin another round of reserve circulation drilling next week. That will see a further 20 drill holes undertaken, focusing on drilling across the strike to find the thickest, highest grades.

    The program will focus on the area east of the six drill holes, labelled a priority target. It will also continue north.

    The company is ultimately aiming to move the company’s discovery drilling to advanced and detailed resource drilling.

    Additionally, samples from the discovery’s initial drill hole are still being tested for rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and iridium.

    Finding rhodium or other platinum group element metals could add significant prospectivity to the area.

    Galileo Mining share price snapshot

    The Galileo Mining share price has been roaring higher this month following the announcement of the Callisto discovery.

    The stock is currently trading 417% higher than it was at the start of 2022.

    The company has a market capitalisation of about $159 million.

    The post Galileo Mining share price surges another 25% on ‘very important’ drill results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Galileo Mining right now?

    Before you consider Galileo Mining, 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 Galileo Mining 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

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

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  • Low on milk? Fear not, here’s why Citi is bullish on the A2 Milk share price

    smiling child drinking milk from a glass, A2 milk share price rise, increase, up, A2 sales to chinasmiling child drinking milk from a glass, A2 milk share price rise, increase, up, A2 sales to china

    The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price has been on a tumultuous ride these past 12 months, sliding 17% in that time.

    Downward trends have prevailed this year to date as well with the dairy nutrition company’s shares down by 19%.

    But one broker is taking a glass-half-full approach to the future of A2 Milk.

    TradingView Chart

    Broker weighs in on A2 Milk share price

    Purveyors of infant formula in the US have been biting their nails since February after one of the largest domestic manufacturers made large recalls on its product line.

    Abbott Laboratories was forced to immediately shut a manufacturing facility after it discovered bacteria on the site, while simultaneously recalling shelved product and inventory from the market.

    The result has been a dramatic wind back in the domestic production of infant formula in the US, resulting in a dislocation between demand and supply.

    For these reasons analysts at investment bank Citi are flagging a potential entry into the US market for A2 Milk – something the company has been trying to secure for years.

    Previously, Citi says, the US infant formula market has been ring-fenced from outside entrants such as A2 Milk, but that could all be set to change amid the latest challenges.

    In a recent note, Citi analysts covered both BUBS Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) and A2 Milk and reckon both are well positioned to take on a US entry.

    As a result, the investment bank revised its targets upwards for the A2 Milk share price, lifting its rating from a sell to neutral in the process.

    With that, it values the company at $4.64 per share, well behind the consensus price target of $5.83 apiece, according to Bloomberg data.

    From this list of analysts, per Bloomberg, roughly 27% say to buy A2 Milk, whereas 60% say it’s a hold right now. The remaining coverage urges clients to sell their positions in the company.

    At the time of writing, the A2 Milk share price is down 0.68% today at $4.38.

    The post Low on milk? Fear not, here’s why Citi is bullish on the A2 Milk share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in A2 Milk Company right now?

    Before you consider A2 Milk Company, 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 A2 Milk Company 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 recommended A2 Milk and BUBS AUST FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Champion Iron share price falls on FY22 results

    Miner looking at his notes.

    Miner looking at his notes.The Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) share price has dropped into the red on Thursday.

    In morning trade, the iron ore miner’s shares are down 3% to $7.51 following the release of its full-year results.

    Champion Iron share price falls on FY 2022 results release

    • Revenue up 14% year on year to C$1,460.8 million
    • Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) up 13% to C$925.8 million
    • Net income up 12.5% to C$522.6 million
    • Cash on hand and restricted cash of C$396.4 million

    What happened in FY 2022?

    For the 12 months ended 31 March, Champion Iron delivered a 14% increase in revenue to C$1,460.8 million and a 13% lift in EBITDA to C$925.8 million.

    This was driven by a 14% increase in net average realised iron ore price to C$190.9 per dry metric tonne, which more than offset a small production decline and higher costs.

    The company’s production of high-grade 66.2% iron ore fell 1.1% to 7,907,300 wmt during the 12 months, whereas its cash costs rose 8.7% to C$58.9 per dmt.

    Champion’s CEO, David Cataford, was pleased with the company’s performance during the 12 months. He said:

    Delivering robust operational and financial results for our 2022 fiscal year, while completing our Phase II expansion project is a significant achievement highlighting our team’s professionalism and perseverance.

    This year we will work to double Bloom Lake’s nameplate capacity and further position our Company’s contributions towards green steelmaking solutions. In addition to ongoing feasibility studies for our DR pellet feed project and the Kami Project, we also partnered with a global leader in the steel industry, in order to evaluate the opportunity to re-commission our recently acquired Pellet Plant in Pointe-Noire and produce DR pellets.

    How does this compare to expectations?

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, it was expecting Champion to report revenue of C$1,466 million and EBITDA of C$924 million. This means the company has fallen short on revenue but beaten on earnings.

    In light of this, the pullback in the Champion Iron share price is likely to have been driven more from sector weakness rather than these results. A number of iron ore miners are also trading notably lower today.

    The post Champion Iron share price falls on FY22 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Champion Iron right now?

    Before you consider Champion Iron, 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 Champion Iron 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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 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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  • Guess which ASX 200 shares UBS just added to its ‘best ideas’ list

    Two young boys sit at a desk wearing helmets with lightbulbs, indicating two ASX 200 shares that a broker has recommended as buys todayTwo young boys sit at a desk wearing helmets with lightbulbs, indicating two ASX 200 shares that a broker has recommended as buys today

    It isn’t easy to decide which horse to back during these volatile times, but top broker UBS has just added two ASX 200 shares to its ‘best ideas’ list.

    The list reflects its most preferred and least preferred ASX shares for the next 12 months. The names on the list take into account UBS analysts’ views of individual shares and a macro view of the sectors.

    Geopolitical conflict, runaway inflation, supply chain chokes, and rising interest rates are some of the many factors hanging over equities today.

    Stagflation risk casts a long shadow

    The bad news is that UBS believes the risk of stagflation is increasing. This is when inflation is high but economic growth is low to non-existent.

    Such an outcome would be terrible news for ASX 200 shares. But there are some that are well placed to outperform.

    In fact, UBS reckons a handful of ASX companies can even deliver solid earnings growth in such an environment.

    Why some ASX 200 shares can thrive in the volatility

    There are four themes that the broker is expecting. The first is a persistently tight global commodities market. Prices of metals to food have been surging higher and there is no relief in sight in the short to medium term.

    The reopening of our domestic economy will also throw up some winners on the ASX 200. This is despite the threat of a global economic slowdown.

    Our record low unemployment rate is another tailwind that is hard to ignore. Combined with the high levels of savings that households and businesses have hoarded, you can see why Australian consumers are sitting in a pretty good spot.

    The ASX 200 shares to buy in 2022

    Based on these factors, UBS has added Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) to its best ideas list. The broker did this not so much for the conglomerate’s retail operations, but more for its commodities businesses.

    Wesfarmers operates chemical, energy, and fertiliser businesses that service a range of sectors in both domestic and international markets. It also owns lithium assets, such as the Mt Holland mine, and is looking to build a lithium refinery in Western Australia.

    The second ASX 200 share to make it onto the list is Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN).

    The broker explained:

    “Qantas is also added to our most preferred as a means to fully capture the domestic economy’s reopening momentum, and the strength in Airlines globally.”

    Least preferred ASX 200 shares

    On the flipside, the two least preferred ASX 200 shares for the next 12 months are Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC) and Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING).

    This is largely because of the broker’s expectation that they will be most impacted by rising input prices.

    The post Guess which ASX 200 shares UBS just added to its ‘best ideas’ list appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Wesfarmers, 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 Wesfarmers 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau 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 Wesfarmers 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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