• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

    Red buy button on an apple keyboard with a finger on it representing asx tech shares to buy today

    Red buy button on an apple keyboard with a finger on it representing asx tech shares to buy today

    Last week saw a number of broker notes hitting the wires once again. Three buy ratings that investors might want to be aware of are summarised below.

    Here’s why brokers think investors ought to buy them next week:

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    According to a note out of Ord Minnett, its analysts have resumed coverage on this electronic design software company’s shares with a buy rating and $32.00 price target. Ord Minnett believes Altium will fall well short of its aspirational US$500 million FY 2026 revenue target and is forecasting revenue of US$387 million instead. Despite this, the broker remains bullish on Altium due to its leading position as a provider of an essential tool in electronic design. The Altium share price ended the week at $25.60.

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating but cut their price target on this appliance manufacturer’s shares to $25.00. Although UBS acknowledges that Breville is operating in a challenging environment at present, it doesn’t expect these headwinds to last for too long. Furthermore, it believes that management has the option to pull back on its research and development spending if necessary to support margins. The Breville share price was fetching at $17.00 at Friday’s close.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    Analysts at Macquarie have retained their outperform rating but cut their price target on this biotherapeutics giant’s shares to $312.00. According to the note, Macquarie is confident that CSL can deliver solid earnings growth in the coming years. This is being underpinned by improving plasma collections, solid demand for immunoglobulins, the proposed acquisition of Vifor Pharma, and the introduction of the Rika platform. The latter has been developed to collect plasma quicker and more comfortably. The CSL share price ended the week at $255.99.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week 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 January 12th 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 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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  • Can Woodside shares deliver an attractive dividend yield AND 16% upside in 2022?

    A woman looks quizzical while looking at a dollar sign in the air.A woman looks quizzical while looking at a dollar sign in the air.

    The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price could have a bright future, according to brokers.

    The dividend-paying energy stock has reportedly been tipped to gain more than 16% by a top broker.

    At Friday’s close, the Woodside share price was $31.92, down 0.87% on the day.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) also finished in the red on Friday, sliding 1.76%. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was down 1.59%.

    Let’s take a closer look at what the future might bring for the ASX 200 energy giant.

    Could Woodside offer a 16% upside and 2.35% yield?

    The Woodside share price could reach $37 in the relatively near future, a top broker has reportedly tipped.

    The bullish prediction was tabled by JPMorgan, according to The Australian.

    Excitingly, that would still leave the stock boasting a respectable dividend yield of 2.35%.

    That takes into account the company’s previous two dividend payments — a 41.03 cent interim dividend paid in September and a $1.46 final dividend handed out in March.

    However, Morgan Stanley is expecting the stock to trade with a dividend yield of 10% to 12% over the coming years following the company’s merger with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)’s petroleum assets. Though, it noted that prospect is reliant on energy prices remaining strong.

    In fact, the broker reportedly expects Woodside to pay out US$20 billion of dividends over the coming decade.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, Morgan Stanley is said to be more bullish on Woodside, slapping it with a $40 price target.

    Wilson Asset Management (WAM) also likes the newly merged company.

    As my colleague Tristan Harrison recently reported, the fund believes that by merging Woodside and BHP’s petroleum business the former’s balance sheet has been “de-geared”, allowing it to push forward with major projects.

    Woodside share price snapshot

    Friday’s dip wasn’t enough to dint the Woodside share price’s impressive year-to-date performance.

    Right now, the stock is trading for 40% more than it was at the start of 2022. It’s also 37% higher than it was this time last year.

    The post Can Woodside shares deliver an attractive dividend yield AND 16% upside in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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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  • Why I would invest $10,000 in these 3 ASX shares

    Three young people in business attire sit around a desk and discuss.Three young people in business attire sit around a desk and discuss.

    While I think the market volatility could continue for a little while to come as investors wait to see if interest rate hikes cause the global economy to fall into a recession, it could still be a good time to start looking at the ASX shares you would want to own when the rebound inevitably comes.

    Among the many options out there, three stocks stand out for me. These are the shares that I believe could generate strong returns for investors over a period of three to five years.

    Here’s why I think they would be top options for a $10,000 investment when the market volatility eases:

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    The first ASX share I would invest $10,000 into is CSL. I believe it is Australia’s highest-quality company and a great long-term pick for investors.

    This is due to the biotherapeutics giant’s world-class portfolio of plasma therapies and vaccines and its huge ongoing investment in research and development. Combined with the impending acquisition of Vifor Pharma, strong demand for immunoglobulins, and major improvements in plasma collections, CSL’s outlook appears very positive.

    So with its shares trading below historical averages at 20x enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation), it could be an opportune time to invest.

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    Another ASX share to consider buying when the market settles is Goodman.

    It is one of the world’s leading integrated industrial property companies. Over the last three decades, Goodman has grown from one industrial building in South Sydney to 400 properties in 14 countries across the world.

    Pleasingly, demand for its properties remains as strong as ever, thanks to structural drivers. This is supporting stellar rental growth and underpinning a huge development pipeline valued at $13.4 billion across 89 projects.

    Given this positive outlook, I think Goodman’s shares look great value at 18x estimated FY 2023 earnings. Especially in comparison to its five-year forward average of approximately 24x earnings.

    ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

    A final option for that $10,000 investment could be ResMed. This ASX share is one of the world’s leading sleep treatment-focused medical device companies. This is a great side of the healthcare sector to be in, with studies estimating that there are likely to be almost one billion people suffering from sleep apnoea globally.

    This means that ResMed’s industry-leading products have a huge market opportunity to grow into over the next decade and beyond as more and more sufferers are diagnosed and seek treatments.

    And, as with the others, the ResMed share price is trading on below-average multiples at present. Its shares are changing hands for 28x estimated FY 2024 earnings, which is lower than its historical average of 32x forward +2 earnings.

    The post Why I would invest $10,000 in these 3 ASX shares 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 January 12th 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 CSL Ltd. and ResMed Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed 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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  • Is the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF now trading at bargain levels?

    the australian flag lies alongside the united states flag on a flat surface.

    the australian flag lies alongside the united states flag on a flat surface.Investors of US shares have seen a painful drop in the last few weeks. This is reflected in the price of Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS), down around 20% since the start of 2022 amid inflation and rising interest rates.

    However, the last 12 months show less of a decline – it’s only down by around 8%. Interestingly, the VTS ETF is now back at the price that it was just before the COVID-19 crash.

    But after such a hefty decline in 2022, could the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF price be good value? Some investors have been looking at the US share market and are starting to see opportunities.

    The US share market could be nearing the bottom?

    According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, Warren Pies from 3Fourteen Research has suggested it could be time to look at the US share market and think about buying.

    The call is based on looking at the forward price to earnings (P/E) ratio and interest rates. In his eyes, the US stock market is underlying by “about 10% at present”. He wrote:

    Historically, bear market bottoms occur when this discount moves to between 15 and 20 per cent.

    During a big sell-off, we find ourselves — like most investors — a bit paralysed. Pulling the trigger is difficult. It’s always darkest before the dawn, and every 20% sell-off feels like it could go another 20%.

    In hindsight, it’s easy to see the signs of a low — cheap valuations, washed out sentiment and policy support define most bottoms. Yet, trading bear markets is easy in theory but difficult in practice.

    He also said that energy remains a market hedge and that 3Fourteen Research are buyers of the dip.

    What is Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF?

    For readers that haven’t heard of the VTS ETF before, it’s an exchange-traded fund (ETF) offered by Vanguard.

    The idea is that it gives exposure to most of the US share market. It’s actually invested in more than 4,100 businesses.

    However, it does give the biggest exposure to the largest businesses on the US share market. These include Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, UnitedHealth, Johnson & Johnson, Meta Platforms and Nvidia.

    It comes with an annual management fee of 0.03% per annum, which is one of the lowest for ETFs in Australia.

    In terms of sector diversification, Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF has double-digit sector allocation to five industries: technology (26.4%), consumer discretionary (14.8%), healthcare (13.8%), industrials (12.8%) and financials (11.1%).

    While past performance is no guarantee of future performance, the VTS ETF has produced an average return per annum of 12.6% per annum over the last three years.

    The post Is the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF now trading at bargain levels? 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 January 12th 2022

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    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth Group and has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2023 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2023 $265 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and Nvidia. 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 best months of the year for share market gains

    a woman sitting at a desk checks an old fashioned calendar resting against her wall as she sits with documents in front of her.a woman sitting at a desk checks an old fashioned calendar resting against her wall as she sits with documents in front of her.

    We’ve all heard of the Santa Rally and the dictum “sell in May and go away”.

    But is it just a silly superstition that some months are better or worse for the share market?

    While past performance is no guarantee of what will happen in the future, Schroders (LON: SDR) recently compiled the historical statistics to see just what the deal is.

    The team crunched the numbers based on 31 years of performance on four major indices:

    • MSCI World Index (.WORLD:MSCI)
    • S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX)
    • FTSE 100 Index (FTSE: UKX)
    • EURO STOXX 50 (INDEXSTOXX: SX5E)

    And these were the results, as published by Visual Capitalist:

    Rank Month Years when shares went up Percentage point diff from average
    7 January 57.8% (1.3)
    8 February 57.0% (2.1)
    9 March 56.3% (2.8)
    2 April 74.3% +15.2
    5 May 58.6% (0.5)
    12 June 36.7% (22.4)
    4 July 61.7% +2.6
    11 August 49.3% (9.8)
    10 September 51.6% (7.5)
    3 October 68.6% +9.5
    6 November 58.4% (0.7)
    1 December 79.0% +19.9
    Average 59.1% 0

    Santa Rally and ‘sell in May and go away’

    The best month for share price growth seems to be December, in a phenomenon affectionately known as the Santa Rally.

    “One theory is that the holiday season has a psychological effect on investors, driving them to buy rather than sell,” said Visual Capitalist writer Marcus Lu.

    “We can also hypothesise that many institutional investors are on vacation during this time. This could give bullish retail investors more sway over the direction of the market.”

    April is also a strong month. In the US, this is when many citizens receive their tax refunds. 

    In Australia, the numerous public and school holidays may have a similar festive effect to December.

    On the other end of the ladder, June seems to be historically a poor month for stock prices.

    In Australia, June is the final month of the financial year, causing retail investors to perform tax-loss selling and fund managers to tidy up their portfolios.

    “The data does show a convincing pattern. It’s for this reason that the phrase ‘sell in May and go away’ has become popularised.”

    Perhaps the most heart-warming part of the analysis is that overall 59.1% of the months see the share market winning than losing.

    This indicates how long-term investing in shares can increase the chances of a portfolio expanding in value.

    Have ASX shares in 2022 followed the pattern?

    As for this year, a recent Market Matters report claimed the Australian share market has so far stuck to the script.

    “The local market has followed its seasonality clock perfectly in 2022,” read the document.

    “But we feel it’s likely to be harder to maintain over the next 6 months.”

    The reason for the doubt for the second half of 2022 is it’s expected to be a turbulent time with the Reserve Bank raising rates dramatically.

    “Seasonally June often forms a platform for a run up into Christmas, which does dovetail with our current bullish stance towards stocks,” read the report.

    “Although it’s very hard to imagine risk assets losing the shackles of a rising interest rate environment in a meaningful manner anytime soon.”

    The post The best months of the year for share market gains 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 January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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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  • Experts rate these ASX 200 blue chip shares as buys

    Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.

    Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.

    The Australian share market is home to a large number of ASX 200 blue chip shares. But which ones are in the buy zone right now?

    Two that have just been tipped as buys are listed below. Here’s what analysts are saying:

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

    The first blue chip ASX 200 share that analysts are positive on is ANZ Bank. It is of course one of Australia’s big four banks.

    It has been tipped as a buy by analysts at Macquarie. The broker currently has an overweight rating and $34.00 price target on the bank’s shares. This compares very favourably to the latest ANZ share price of $21.16, which suggests potential upside of 60% for investors.

    Macquarie believes that the banks could get a boost to their margins from customers that don’t chase new term deposit rates. It explained:

    While competition for ‘hot’ term deposits (TDs) is intensifying, banks’ ‘lazy’ customers (who are not chasing ‘special rates’ offered by banks) contribute to margin upside. We estimate that ‘lazy’ term deposits are currently one of the more profitable bank segments and should provide [approximately] 4-9bps [basis points] tailwind over the next twelve months.

    Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

    Another blue chip ASX 200 share that is rated as a buy is hearing solutions company Cochlear.

    The team at Goldman Sachs are bullish and have a buy rating and $237.00 price target on its shares. This compares to the latest Cochlear share price of $188.98, which implies potential upside of 25% for investors.

    The broker believes that Cochlear is well-placed to at least meet its guidance in FY 2022. It explained:

    Whilst the recovery [from the pandemic] will still be mixed, we believe the steady declines in hospitalisation rates across key markets, supportive backlog volumes and improved margin trajectory support a much improved picture from here. [..] As such, we believe current targets for FY22 offer the best chance in several years for COH to deliver at/above the top-end of its guided range (GSe: A$297m).

    The post Experts rate these ASX 200 blue chip shares as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of January 12th 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 Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 3 things to look for with inflation-fighting stocks

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

    A businesswoman pulls her glasses down in shock to look at the bad news on her computer.

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

    With the Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 8.6% over the past 12 months, inflation is the word of the year, and many portfolios aren’t fully ready for it. Rising costs give way to thinner margins, and growth-stage companies are getting hit by the market’s reaction particularly hard. 

    But you aren’t powerless in the face of inflation. Understanding how to hunt down inflation-resistant stocks is half the battle, and they’re more common than you might think. Let’s take a look at three things to look for when you’re scouting for the stocks that’ll anchor your portfolio’s value during the ongoing inflationary storm. 

    1. How necessary are the products for potential buyers?

    The first thing to look for when you’re evaluating a stock’s ability to hold value through a patch of inflation is whether its products are something that buyers will be able to do without. For instance, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) sells a huge number of consumer health items that people need no matter their cost, like contact lens fluid and antacids. That means even if prices rise, consumers will still be buying the products, though they may look for substitutes or cheaper alternatives than what CVS might carry.

    Another good example of highly necessary products are many of the life-saving prescription medicines made by Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). In Pfizer’s case, its customers are pharmacies like CVS as well as healthcare systems, which in the U.S. are counterparties to insurers.

    If Pfizer hikes the price of a drug that it sells to hospitals to keep pace with inflation, the hospitals can then pass the additional cost on to insurers. What this means is that the company’s primary customers aren’t about to balk at a higher price point for the medicines they need to treat patients, so its base of revenue is unlikely to budge by much.

    2. Steady cash flows over time

    Stable businesses can weather different economic environments without significant negative impacts to their cash flows. The best way to find a business with steady cash flows is to look at a company with a highly needed group of products and examine its financial performance over a very long period. Take a look at this chart. 

    CVS Revenue (Annual) data by YCharts

    As you can see, CVS’ revenue and free cash flow (FCF) smoothly and slowly increased over the last 30 years. There were a trio of recessions in that period, as indicated by the shading on the chart, and plenty of different economic forces (including inflation) affecting it over time — but none of that stopped the company’s upward march for very long. And all that needed to happen was executing on its business model of building out retail pharmacies and then selling consumer health goods to people who go there to get their prescriptions filled. 

    3. Having a clever plan to deal with inflation

    Companies that have an inflation strategy are better equipped to deal with rising input prices and potential softening of demand than those that don’t. For many, the strategy may simply be to “increase prices as much as our customers will tolerate,” but that could easily end up destroying demand and causing revenue to fall.

    One innovative strategy used by Costco (NASDAQ: COST) is to keep certain prices, like the price of its hot dog and soda combo in its food court, at a fixed level that doesn’t change in response to inflation, but to let other prices float as needed. Since the 1980s, the combo costs only $1.50, and there are no plans to change that amount.

    While it’s true that this means the business will have an ever-poorer margin on the combo, which still faces rising supplier costs, it helps to mitigate the sticker shock that customers experience when buying something familiar. And when competitors are unashamedly hiking prices by significant amounts, it makes those that don’t hike 100% of their prices look all the better — even if some products do end up being marked up. 

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

    The post 3 things to look for with inflation-fighting stocks 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 January 12th 2022

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    Alex Carchidi has positions in Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended CVS Health. 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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  • Have ASX 200 shares bottomed? Experts weigh in

    A male investor wearing a white shirt and blue suit jacket sits at his desk looking at his laptop with his hands to his chin monitoring the CBA share price today

    A male investor wearing a white shirt and blue suit jacket sits at his desk looking at his laptop with his hands to his chin monitoring the CBA share price today

    It’s been, frankly, a horror end to the trading week this Friday, in what has been in itself a horrible week to have been invested in ASX shares. At market close, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost another painful 1.77%. That puts the ASX 200’s falls for the past week at a depressing 7.76%.

    But is this the bottom for ASX 200 shares? After all, the old saying goes that it is always darkest before the dawn. And it certainly feels dark on the ASX right now.

    Well according to reporting in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) today, one analyst reckons we could indeed be near the bottom of this market correction. That’s Fundstrat Global technical strategist Mark Newton.

    Is the ASX close to a bottom yet?

    Newton reckons that last night’s (our time) sell-off on the US markets has brought share prices closer to a bottom. He also added the following:

    Evidence of bearishness turning to capitulation has been growing, and I’m confident that markets are nearing a bottoming process which should be in place by the end of June… Cycles, counter-trend exhaustion tools, and very bearish sentiment are all coming together, suggesting markets can make a low in the near future, despite evidence of downward earnings revisions starting to just begin to ramp up…

    While a choppy period over the next month might need to happen before a larger rally can happen, it looks right to position long into end of month, and initial lows could be in place by next Friday.

    So this is certainly good news for ASX shares if Newton’s predictions turn out to be accurate. The US markets and the ASX are closely correlated, and it’s highly likely that if the US markets started to recover, the ASX would be close behind.

    Inflation concerns continue to weigh on the share market

    This sentiment is not universal though. The AFR also reported on another, less-bullish outlook, this time from AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) chief economist Shane Oliver. Oliver reckons there is still a 50-50 chance of a global recession in the next 12 months thanks to the actions of central banks around the world in raising interest rates. “Either way it’s still too early to say that shares have bottomed,” he told the AFR. Here’s some more of what Oliver said:

    Energy prices – particularly for oil – are yet to put in a decisive top and it’s hard to be confident that the worst is over for inflation until they decisively stop rising…

    When combined with the surge in fixed mortgage rates, it would likely cause real problems for consumer spending, a big spike in mortgage stress and push property prices down by 20 to 30 per cent… which indicates it’s unlikely to happen as it would crash the economy and ultimately push inflation back well below the RBA’s target.

    So some divergent outlooks on the ASX share market going forward. No doubt investors will be hoping it’s the former opinion that prevails over 2022 and into next year. But we shall have to wait and see what happens.

    The post Have ASX 200 shares bottomed? Experts weigh in 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 January 12th 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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  • Analysts name 2 ASX dividend shares with attractive yields to buy next week

    Calculator on top of Australian 4100 notes and next to Australian gold coins.

    Calculator on top of Australian 4100 notes and next to Australian gold coins.

    If you’re looking for dividend shares with attractive yields to buy, then you may want to look at the two listed below.

    Here’s why analysts rate these dividend shares highly:

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

    Charter Hall Long Wale REIT could be an ASX dividend share to buy. It is a property company with a focus on office, industrial, and retail sectors.

    Its portfolio includes 78 hotel properties leased to ALH Group that were acquired from ALE Property with Hostplus for ~$1.7 billion earlier this year. Combined with its other properties, the company now has a lengthy weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of 12.2 years.

    One broker that is particularly positive on Charter Hall Long Wale REIT is Citi. It currently has a buy rating and $5.71 price target on its shares. Citi likes the company due to “the appeal of secure income in uncertain times.”

    As for dividends, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 30.8 cents in FY 2022 and 30.9 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.25, this will mean yields of ~7.2%.

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    Another ASX dividend share for income investors to consider is Coles. It is of course one of Australia’s big two supermarket operators.

    It could be a top option due to its defensive qualities and the positive outlook of its sprawling network of supermarket, convenience stores, and liquor stores. The latter is being supported by its refreshed strategy, which is focusing on cutting costs through automation and efficiencies.

    Morgans is a fan of Coles and has an add rating and $20.65 price target on its shares.

    In respect to dividends, the broker is expecting fully franked dividends of 61 cents per share in FY 2022 and 64 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the latest Coles share price of $16.76, this will mean yields of 3.6% and 3.8%, respectively.

    The post Analysts name 2 ASX dividend shares with attractive yields to buy next week 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 January 12th 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 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 20% in a month, is the Breville share price a bargain buy or a falling knife?

    Woman in mustard yellow blouse on laptop holds both hands out to either side with graphic illustration of question marks above themWoman in mustard yellow blouse on laptop holds both hands out to either side with graphic illustration of question marks above them

    The Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) share price fell further on Friday to finish the session at $17, down 1.28%.

    This equates to a 21% dip over the past four weeks for the kitchen appliances manufacturer.

    That’s more than twice the fall of the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has shed almost 10% over the same time frame.

    Is the Breville share price a falling knife?

    In August 2021, the Breville share price was at an all-time high of $33.61. So now, there’s an almost 50% discount going on the shares of this iconic Australian global brand.

    But is it a bargain or a falling knife?

    Greg Canavan from Fat Tail Investment Research reckons it’s the latter. In a recent column on Livewire, Canavan said it’s not the right time in the cycle to buy ASX retail shares.

    Canavan said:

    Well-run retailers are generally excellent businesses to invest in. They generate high returns on equity with minimal debt requirements. They also generate strong cash flows, which enables them to reinvest in growth or pay healthy dividends. And living in a consumerist society with significant asset wealth…no wonder retailers do well.

    But over the past 12 months or so, the sector has been under the pump. The Consumer Discretionary index peaked in August last year. It’s down nearly 25% since then. Some stocks are down much further over that time frame.

    After declines like this, I start to get interested in a sector. After all, these are quality companies. Bought at the right time of the cycle, they have the ability to provide a real boost to your portfolio. But here’s the problem: it’s not the right time in the cycle for retailers. Not yet, anyway.

    Regarding the Breville share price, Canavan said:

    Breville is a quality business where the share price has come back into what I would consider an interesting long-term buying range. But momentum is to the downside. Who knows how long it could last? That’s why you’re better off waiting for the trend to exhaust itself before jumping in.

    Or a bargain buy?

    As my Fool colleague James reported last month, Macquarie has been bullish on Breville shares. In May, the broker had a share price target of $34.80 for Breville, with an outperform rating.

    At the end of the month, the broker downgraded the target to $24.65. It reduced it slightly again last week to $23.80. But the Macquarie team still reckons Breville will outperform.

    Dow Jones Newswires summarised Macquarie’s recent note:

    Breville’s decision to build up inventory levels as a buffer against potential supply-chain disruptions doesn’t concern Macquarie’s analysts, who maintain an outperform rating on the stock.

    The analysts say in a note that the small-appliance supplier only pulls forward inventory into the June half from the December half. The timing doesn’t raise any concerns about product obsolescence, they add.

    They trim the stock’s target price by 3.4% to A$23.80, but say that reflects the acquisition of Italian coffee-machine manufacturer Lelit. The stock last traded at A$18.01, down 16% over eight straight losing sessions.

    Global expansion

    Breville is one of the few truly global Australian companies. It was founded in 1932 but the company reckons it’s still got oodles of room left for growth.

    Expanding globally is a key component of this long-term goal.

    In a recent investor presentation, Breville said it has “a long way to go” with “large, untapped opportunity” that it intends to plug into as soon as possible.

    It’s continuing its expansion into new countries, including South Korea this month and Poland next month.

    In FY22, Breville has also opened in Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden.

    Next, they’ve got their sights set on Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, Mexico, and Italy.

    A key plank in their plans for Italy entails the 100% acquisition of the Italian prosumer specialty coffee group LELIT. Breville is paying 113 million euros for the company.

    The deal is expected to be done and dusted on 1 July, according to an update from Breville last week.

    What’s next for the Breville share price?

    Breville recently reaffirmed its previous guidance for FY22.

    The company is expecting earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) “to be consistent with the markets’ consensus forecast of [approximately] $156 million”.

    The FY21 EBIT was $136.4 million.

    Breville will report its full-year earnings on 23 August.

    The post Down 20% in a month, is the Breville share price a bargain buy or a falling knife? 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 January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group 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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