• Why are these ASX 200 mining shares behind the eight ball today?

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is climbing 1.25% today, but some ASX 200 mining shares are underperforming the index.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) and Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) are all in the red at the time of writing.

    So why are these shares having a tough day on the market?

    Iron ore prices

    BHP shares are 0.72% in the red, while Mineral Resources shares are descending 1.62%. Iluka Resources shares are slipping 0.26%.

    The iron ore price dropped 3.67% in global markets on Friday, trading economics data shows.

    BHP and Mineral Resources are iron ore producers. Iluka also receives iron ore royalties.

    Iron ore prices dropped on recession fears, according to a report from Reuters.

    Commenting on this fall, ING commodities strategy head Warren Patterson said:

    It’s not just China where steel output is under pressure.

    Expectations of slowing economic growth, and the growing risk of recession, are clearly not great for global steel demand.

    Meanwhile, iron ore prices are predicted to fall from the “extraordinary levels” of the past two financial years, a new Resources and Energy quarterly report states.

    Commenting on the iron ore prices in the report, the Industry, Science and Resources department said:

    The price has steadied in a US$110-140 a tonne range in recent months, as China’s government continues to support economic activity.

    However, the ongoing recovery in Brazilian supply, and gains in output elsewhere, are set to push iron ore prices down over the outlook period.

    Share price recap

    BHP shares have lost 8% in a year, while Mineral Resources shares have shed 18%. In contrast, Iluka Resources shares have jumped 12% in the past year.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost more than 9% in a year.

    The post Why are these ASX 200 mining shares behind the eight ball 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 Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why are ASX 200 retail shares getting bought up today?

    A laughing woman pushes her friend in a supermarket trolleyA laughing woman pushes her friend in a supermarket trolley

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) retail shares are leaping today amid news shopping spending jumped in the final week of June.

    Retail shares rising today include JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

    Let’s take a look at what is impacting these retail companies today.

    ASX 200 retail shares rise

    Harvey Norman shares are leaping 1.47% today, JB Hi-Fi shares are rising 2.39%, while Wesfarmers shares are jumping 2.75%.

    Consumer shares are rising amid positive news for the retail sector. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has released figures showing shopping jumped 7.7% in the last weekend of June, the Australian Financial Review reported.

    In quotes cited by the AFR, the ANZ also predicts a 50 basis rate rise is a “done deal” due to this consumer spending. ANZ economist Madeline Dunk said:

    The RBA has noted it will be ‘watching consumer spending carefully’, and solid June spending only reinforces the case for a 50bp rate hike on Tuesday, as do strong job vacancies, a very tight labour market and still very negative real interest rates.

    ANZ Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence data released on Friday showed 7% of Australians rated “now” as a decent time to buy an item for the home in June. The release stated:

    The proportion of people who believe it is a good time to buy a major household item, the best indicator for spending, was up 7% points to 28% while there were now 49%, down 2% points, who said now is a bad time to buy a major household item. 

    Overall, the consumer confidence index dropped 1.8 points in June. The authors noted households are “dealing with a lot right now”.

    This includes incomes struggling to keep up with inflation, interest rate rises, house prices descending, and COVID and economic uncertainty.

    Share price snapshot

    The JB Hi-Fi share price has descended more than 22% in the past year. Meanwhile, Wesfarmers shares have leapt 27% and Harvey Norman shares are up 32%.

    For perspective, the ASX 200 has lost 9.4% in the last 12 months.

    The post Why are ASX 200 retail shares getting bought up 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 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 Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. and 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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  • ‘Well progressed’ share buyback puts Whitehaven Coal shares on the front foot

    A female coal miner wearing a white hardhat and orange high-vis vest holds a lump of coal and smiles as the Whitehaven Coal share price rises todayA female coal miner wearing a white hardhat and orange high-vis vest holds a lump of coal and smiles as the Whitehaven Coal share price rises today

    The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is advancing today following the company’s update regarding its share buyback programme.

    At the time of writing, the pure play coal miner’s shares are up 3.42% to $4.84.

    Whitehaven Coal increases share buyback size

    According to its release, Whitehaven Coal advised that its $400 million on market buyback is progressing well.

    Since commencing the programme on 8 March 2022, management has spent $362.6 million acquiring back 76.4 million Whitehaven Coal shares. The average price paid is around $4.75 apiece which is slightly under the current share price.

    This means that another 26.9 million shares are still yet to be bought back under the company’s 10% buyback programme.

    Nonetheless, to complete the proposed buyback, the board has approved an increase of the current cap to $550 million. This represents an increase of 37.5% from the original $400 million programme.

    The company noted it won’t be buying back any shares from 1 July, ahead of its June quarter production report and FY22 results. They are scheduled to be released on 18 July, and 25 August, respectively.

    However, Whitehaven Coal will recommence its share buyback activities on 26 August before moving into another blackout period from 30 September.

    The company is expected to deliver its September quarter production report on 19 October and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 26 October.

    Around this time, it is estimated that the 10% share buyback programme will be completed.

    What did management say?

    Whitehaven Coal CEO and managing director, Paul Flynn commented:

    We are pleased with the progress of our share buy-back programme, which is an efficient way of returning capital to our shareholders.

    It supports our ambition to reduce share count and deliver sustainable benefits for our shareholders who continue to hold shares in Whitehaven. With fewer shares on issue, the buy-back is an effective way to improve return on equity, earnings per share and dividends per share.

    While we have seen solid capital growth in the stock in recent months the share buy-back remains a value creating and highly attractive opportunity for the Company, and we expect it to remain a feature of our capital management programme going forward.

    Whitehaven Coal share price snapshot

    Adding to today’s gains, the Whitehaven Coal share price has accelerated more than 140% in the past 12 months.

    A boom in energy prices from March 2022 led its shares to travel 50% higher in the space of 3 months.

    Whitehaven Coal commands a market capitalisation of about $4.9 billion and has approximately 979.62 million shares on its registry.

    The post ‘Well progressed’ share buyback puts Whitehaven Coal shares on the front foot 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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  • Here’s how the Woodside Energy share price performed over FY2022

    Female oil rig worker wearing high vis vest, red gloves and hardhat smiles at camera with a green painted oil rig in the background

    Female oil rig worker wearing high vis vest, red gloves and hardhat smiles at camera with a green painted oil rig in the background

    Although it passes without the fanfare and fireworks that accompany a new calendar year, we’ve just celebrated the end of the 2022 financial year, and the dawn of a new one. Yes, FY2023 kicked off on Friday. This makes it a good time to pause and reflect on the financial year that was, and how it treated ASX shares. So today, let’s check out the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price.

    Woodside has had a big year, perhaps one of the biggest in its history. That’s because FY2022 saw Woodside Petroleum (WPL) merge with the petroleum division of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and transform into the Woodside Energy Group we see today.

    This saw a complex scheme of arrangement that resulted in BHP shareholders issued with new Woodside Energy shares. This came at an arguably fortuitous time for the energy company. 2022 has seen a dramatic escalation of global energy prices. This was largely fuelled by the war in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions on Russia — formerly a global powerhouse when it came to energy exports.

    According to Business Insider, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price was around US$75 a barrel at the start of 2022. Today, it remains above US$108 a barrel after rising as high as US$123 in early March.

    As an energy share, Woodside shares are arguably influenced by the price of oil itself more than anything else. But let’s see how this company really fared over FY2022.

    How did the Woodside Energy share price perform over FY2022?

    So, Woodside shares started FY2022 on 1 July 2021 at $22.21 each. Last Thursday, Woodside shares closed at $31.84. That means that the Woodside share price gained 43.36% over the 2022 financial year. For some context, FY2022 saw the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) go backwards by a painful 10.19%.

    But shareholders also enjoyed some dividend returns over FY2022 as well. Woodside paid out two dividends over the last financial year. The first was the interim dividend of 42.03 cents per share, fully franked, that was paid out on 24 September 2021. The second was the fully franked $1.4616 per share final payment that investors received on 23 March 2022.

    Together, these two dividend payments give Woodside shares a trailing yield of 6% on the current Woodside share price. So investors can add those hefty dividend returns to the company’s FY2022 performance as well.

    So, all in all, it has been a very successful financial year for Woodside shares and investors.

    The post Here’s how the Woodside Energy share price performed over FY2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside Energy 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 Woodside Energy 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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    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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  • 5 surefire investments you’ll thank yourself for later

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

    two colleagues high five each other as they sit side by side at a long desk in front of their laptop computers in an office environment.

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

    There’s no such thing as a guarantee when it comes to investing. Whether you’re investing time, money, or energy, there’s always a risk that things won’t work out.

    That being said, there are some things that are no-brainers for investors looking to get ahead.

    In a rough stock market, here are five investments you can make that are nearly guaranteed to produce net positive returns in your life.

    1. The S&P 500

    It might not be tomorrow, next week, or even next year, but if history is any indicator, the S&P 500 is headed to higher ground over the long run.

    When the market turns sour, like it has recently, it’s helpful to look at a historical chart of the S&P 500 for some much-needed perspective.

    ^SPX data by YCharts

    The takeaway is pretty simple: Investing in the 500 largest companies in the U.S. proves to be a net positive if you give it enough time.

    2. Side hustles

    Side hustles are one of the easiest ways to increase your income. From walking dogs to driving for Uber or Lyft, imagine what you could do with an extra 10% to 15% more every month. That money could mean a much-needed vacation, strengthening your emergency fund, or extra cash to invest for your future.

    Side hustles are also a great entryway into entrepreneurship. The risk of quitting your job to start your own businesses is high, but working a side hustle on the weekends is relatively low risk, and if you’re willing to put in the work, it certainly can become a full-time gig someday.

    Twitter, Slack (now part of Salesforce), and Craigslist are some notable companies that started off as side hustles for their founders.

    3. A higher salary

    One of the quickest ways to increase your wealth is to increase your salary. The problem is, most people approach this investment the wrong way.

    Instead of simply asking for a raise, you should approach the issue in a more strategic way.

    Even if your boss is sympathetic to predicaments such as higher costs of living, companies are in the businesses of making money, so the boss will likely not be compelled to give you a raise. You’re much more likely to be successful by pitching an idea to your boss that will add value to the business and make everyone’s life easier. The two most obvious ways of doing this are cutting costs and increasing sales.

    The simple pitch might look something like this: “If I can accomplish X, which will bring in more money for the company, can I get a raise?”

    You’ll have to be creative, but if you can figure out how to add more value to the business, a higher salary is likely to follow.

    4. Investing knowledge

    Stock market crashes can be humbling. Many decide to leave the markets for good, but smart investors use bear markets as an indication to get smarter about investing.

    Increasing your knowledge on topics like writing an investment thesis, analyzing financial news, and researching stocks will have a huge positive impact on your long-term portfolio performance.

    5. Things that bring you joy

    While it might not show up on a profits and losses chart, investments in things that bring enjoyment into your life can certainly pay dividends for your health and overall happiness. 

    Pursuing new hobbies, spending time with family and friends, or starting new non-work-related projects not only adds variety and balance to your life, but it also lets your brain get away from the markets for a while. And for long-term investors, getting away from the constant short-term-focused stock market coverage can be a powerful advantage.

    Whenever we allocate resources, we are investing

    Buying stocks or other assets is not the only definition of investing. Whenever you allocate resources into something, that’s an investment. Along with money, our most precious resources are time and energy, and the way we spend them can have massive implications for our overall health and happiness.

    The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, said it best: “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.”

    Investing in yourself is at the heart of becoming smarter, happier, and richer. 

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

    The post 5 surefire investments you’ll thank yourself for later 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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    Mark Blank 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 Salesforce, Inc. and Twitter. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Salesforce, Inc. 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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  • The Block share price plummeted 28% in June. Here’s why

    A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.

    Last month was a rough one for S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tech giant Block Inc (ASX: SQ2).

    While there was no direct news to explain the payment services provider’s share price plunge, the broader tech sector also tumbled in June.

    As of the close of trading last month, the Block share price was $90.50 – 28.17% lower than it was at the end of May.

    For context, the ASX 200 dipped 8.9% in June. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) fell 11%.

    Let’s take a closer look at what might have gone wrong for the company that acquired BNPL share and former ASX market darling Afterpay.

    What dragged the Block share price lower last month?

    Shares in ASX 200 giant Block tumbled along with the broader tech sector in June. And the blame might lie with inflation, interest rates, and a similar downturn in the US.

    The Nasdaq Composite slipped 8.7% in June. The downturn saw it enter bear market territory – falling more than 20% from its March high amid rising rates and high inflation.

    As my Foolish colleague Sebastian reported last week, tech stocks are particularly vulnerable to inflation as their often future-derived valuations and lack of present profitability pose greater risks in inflationary environments.

    In fact, the Block share price plunged 15% the same day data outlining a surprise increase in US inflation was released.

    Still, Block’s stock suffered a greater blow than the embattled ASX 200 tech sector last month. However, when compared to the overall performance of ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) stocks, its share price actually outperformed.

    Shares in the likes of BNPL favourites Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) and Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) plunged around 50% last month.

    As of the end of June, the Block share price was 48% lower than it was when it hit the Aussie market in mid-January.  

    The post The Block share price plummeted 28% in June. Here’s why 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 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 Block, Inc. and ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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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  • The Zip share price lost 94% of its value in FY22

    Man open mouthed looking shocked while holding betting slip

    Man open mouthed looking shocked while holding betting slip

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 index during the 2022 financial year.

    Over the 12 months, the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares dropped from $7.57 all the way down to just 45 cents.

    That represents a very disappointing 94% decline from top to bottom.

    Why was the Zip share price sold off in FY 2022?

    After going sideways for the first few months of the financial year, the Zip share price started its long slide in late October.

    This followed the release of its first quarter update. While the initial reaction to this update was positive, it didn’t take long for cracks in investor sentiment to show.

    Although Zip continued to deliver strong top line growth, its transaction per customer metric in the United States disappointed the market. Combined with slowing customer growth following its rebrand in the key market, this sparked fears that Zip could have a significant number of inactive customers on its books that will eventually drop off.

    The next lowlight for the Zip share price came after the eventual release of its half year results in February. Those results were delayed so that the company could also launch a ~$200 million capital raising relating to the acquisition of smaller rival Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL).

    However, this capital raising was not being used to fund the acquisition of Sezzle, but rather to support the two businesses post-acquisition.

    Management explained that the proceeds would be used to “strengthen its balance sheet and positions Zip for sustainable growth by providing more capital runway to execute on the potential synergies from its proposed acquisition.”

    However, retail investors weren’t biting. The company successfully raised approximately $150 million from institutional investors at a big discount to the prevailing Zip share price, but only $24 million of the $50 million sought from retail investors. Concerns over the price Zip was essentially paying to acquire Sezzle’s customers didn’t help. Especially given potential customer overlaps.

    Those that didn’t take part may well be thanking their lucky stars now considering how much the Zip share price has fallen since then.

    What else?

    There are a number of other factors that have weighed heavily on its shares over the last 12 months.

    This includes rising interest rates, the market’s aversion to loss-making companies, weakness in the tech sector, rising bad debts, recession concerns, and an increase in competition.

    The latter includes the arrival of tech giant Apple in the space with the launch of its BNPL service.

    Apple’s BNPL service works with any merchant that already supports Apple Pay and does not require a new payments terminal. Furthermore, consumers can use the service even if the merchant doesn’t actively offer BNPL.

    Here’s hoping the next 12 months are better for shareholders.

    The post The Zip share price lost 94% of its value 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 June 1 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 ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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 Magellan share price fall 17% in June?

    Bored man looking at his iMac with his head held in one hand feeling dismayed at AGL Energy's lower dividendBored man looking at his iMac with his head held in one hand feeling dismayed at AGL Energy's lower dividend

    The Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price fell by more than 17% in June. Ouch.

    That came after a series of declines over many of the previous months.

    Don’t forget that Magellan is, or was, one of the biggest fund managers in Australia. So, movements in its total funds under management (FUM) can impact revenue, profit potential and investor sentiment.

    With Magellan managing many billions of dollars of funds, if share markets fall, then the amount of funds it manages goes down. There’s also a potential risk that investors using Magellan’s investment services could get nervous about falling markets and take their money out of the fund manager.

    Let’s look at the company’s latest update.

    Latest FUM update

    The company announced its May 2022 monthly FUM update at the start of June.

    At 31 May 2022, Magellan’s total FUM fell to $65 billion, down from $68.6 billion at the end of April 2022. There was a reduction of both its retail and institutionally managed FUM, down to $23.6 billion and $41.4 billion, respectively.

    Its global shares investment strategy saw FUM fall by almost $3 billion to $35.2 billion, infrastructure shares saw flat FUM of $20.7 billion, while Australian shares saw a reduction of $800 million to $9.1 billion.

    Quite a lot of the FUM decline for the global shares strategy came from declines for the investment funds. For example, the Magellan Global Fund Open Class (ASX: MGOC), a $10 billion fund, saw a net return of negative 2.2% for May 2022.

    The benchmark that the Magellan Global Fund tracks, the MSCI World Net Total Return Index (which tracks the global share market), suffered a 0.9% drop. So, while global shares declined, the Magellan Global Fund fell by more.

    Interest rates and inflation

    Magellan also has to contend with a rapidly changing investment environment.

    Inflation is elevated in many countries, including the United States and Australia. Central banks are increasing interest rates to try to bring inflation under control. This could be one of the factors hurting the Magellan share price.

    While interest rates returning to a more normal level was likely to happen eventually – emergency support settings don’t usually last forever – the rate of interest hikes may have surprised many investors.

    Time will tell what happens next with the global share market, but it may make it harder for Magellan to attract more FUM or achieve good returns if these difficult investment conditions continue.

    Hamish Douglass to resume work

    Magellan also announced on 9 June 2022 that Magellan co-founder Hamish Douglass will resume work in a new consultancy role on 1 October 2022. He is tasked with providing investment insights, including geopolitical and macroeconomic views.

    But, he will no longer be a permanent member of Magellan’s staff.

    Magellan share price snapshot

    Since the beginning of 2022, Magellan shares have dropped around 35%.

    The post Why did the Magellan share price fall 17% in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Magellan Financial 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 Magellan Financial 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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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Magellan Financial Group. 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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  • RPMGlobal share price strengthens 5% on software sales improvement

    Two miners wearing hard hats standing at a mining site in front of a laptop computerTwo miners wearing hard hats standing at a mining site in front of a laptop computer

    The RPMGlobal Holdings Ltd (ASX: RUL) share price is rebounding today after tanking more than 6% the past three consecutive trading days.

    This comes after the mining software company announced a sales update for the 2022 financial year.

    At the time of writing, RPMGlobal shares are up 4.43% to $1.65 each after reaching a high of $1.70 apiece this morning.

    How is RPMGlobal performing?

    Investors are bidding up the RPMGlobal share price as investors digest the company’s latest financial performance report.

    In an announcement today, RPMGlobal revealed that trading conditions continued to be positive, bringing an overall stronger FY22 result.

    As such, total contracted value (TCV) from its software license sales topped $55.9 million for the 12 months ending 30 June. This represents an increase of $5.6 million from the company’s previous market update on 27 June.

    Furthermore, RPMGlobal stated that perpetual software licenses revenue came to $1.8 million, despite less one-off product licenses sold in FY22. This is opposed to the $5.2 million that was achieved in the previous corresponding period.

    Despite that fall, revenue from recurring subscription license sales improved by $6.4 million to $54.1 million in FY22.

    The company noted the successful transition from perpetual license sales to subscription license sales over the past 12 months.

    Lastly, annually recurring revenue (ARR) from software subscriptions totalled $32.8 million, up $10.9 million from the start of FY22.

    Management advised that there is now $95.5 million in pre-contracted non-cancellable software subscription revenue. This is 45% higher than the $65.7 million recorded from the same time last year.

    Investors might want to keep a close eye on RPMGlobal shares as the company expects to release its FY22 audited results next month.

    RPMGlobal share price summary

    Regardless of today’s positive outcome, the RPMGlobal share price has struggled to take off over the last 12 months.

    The company’s shares have mostly traded sideways to register a loss of 9% for the period.

    Although, when looking year to date, RPMGlobal shares are down 23% due to a broader market decline across the ASX.

    Based on its current share price, RPMGlobal has a market capitalisation of roughly $383 million.

    The post RPMGlobal share price strengthens 5% on software sales improvement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Rpmglobal Holdings Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

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

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

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 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 positions in and has recommended RPMGlobal Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended RPMGlobal Holdings. 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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  • Hoping to bag the next Graincorp dividend? Read this

    An older farmer stands arms outstretched in a field with a big smile on their face.

    An older farmer stands arms outstretched in a field with a big smile on their face.

    Hoping to bag the next dividend payment from Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) shares? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Grancorp shares are having a steady start to the trading week so far this Monday. The ASX 200 agricultural company is marginally lower at $9.49 a share at the time of writing, down 0.52%.

    Still, this puts Graincorp shares at a gain of 16% for 2022 so far and an even more impressive rise of around 89% over the past 12 months.

    But Graincorp shares are probably going to go backwards this week – on Wednesday to be precise. That’s when Grancorp is scheduled to trade ex-dividend.

    When a company announces a dividend, it must also announce the date when new shareholders have to own the shares by to receive the payout. This date is known as the ex-dividend date. So even though Graincorp won’t be paying out its next dividend until 21 July, any investor who wishes to receive it must own Grancorp shares by this Wednesday.

    But because any new shareholders who buy Graincorp shares after Wednesday won’t be eligible to receive the payment, the company’s shares will likely drop in value upon market open that day to reflect this. This is normally what happens when a share trades ex-dividend. So expect a fall in the Graincorp share price this Wednesday.

    What can investors expect from the Graincorp dividend?

    So what is Grancorp’s latest dividend worth? Well, this latest dividend will come in two parts. The first is the ordinary interim dividend. This payment will be worth 12 cents per share and will come fully franked.  This represents a healthy rise from Graincorp’s last interim dividend which came to eight cents per share.

    The second is a special dividend, also worth 12 cents a share and fully franked. The special dividend was announced back in May and reflects the company’s bumper 382% rise in net profits after tax (NPAT) to $246 million over the six months to 31 March 2022.

    So investors can look forward to a total dividend payment worth 24 cents per share, fully franked, on 21 July.

    Since Graincorp’s last payment was the final dividend of 10 cents per share that investors received back in December, the company will have a trailing yield of 2.27%, not including the special dividend. It will be 3.51% including the special dividend on 21 July when these dividends hit shareholders’ bank accounts.

    The post Hoping to bag the next Graincorp dividend? Read this appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Graincorp 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 Graincorp 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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    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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