• How does the HACK ETF get a 19% return every year?

    Male IT engineer shrugs his shoulders as he tries to understand network.

    Male IT engineer shrugs his shoulders as he tries to understand network.

    Out of the myriad of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the ASX, the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) stands out for a number of reasons.

    The first is the most obvious – what a ticker code!

    The second is the fact that the HACK ETF is the only ETF on the ASX that solely covers the global cybersecurity sector. Other ETFs contain many of the same underlying shares as HACK does. But no others can boast the purity of HACK when it comes to the cybersecurity industry.

    The third is HACK’s performance. The BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF has been listed on the ASX since August 2016 – coming up to six years now. Since that time, this ETF has delivered some objectively impressive performance metrics.

    As of 30 April, HACK returned 16.67% over the preceding 12 months. Over the past five years, it has averaged an annual return of 18.83%. And since its inception, it has given investors an average return of 19.02% per annum.

    That’s a performance that few other ASX ETFs could match. And that includes index funds like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), as well as other typical high flyers like the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ).

    So how has HACK er, hacked it? How has this ETF delivered such consistently strong outperformance?

    How has the HACK ETF delivered an annual return of 19% since inception?

    Well, a simple explanation would posit that cybersecurity is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. As more and more of our lives become digitalised, individuals, companies and governments have had to dedicate more and more resources to the protection of their digital assets.

    A deeper analysis tells us more though. At present, the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF holds the following companies as its top five investments: CrowdStrike Holdings, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco Systems Inc, Zscaler Inc and VMWare Inc.

    CrowdStrike shares are up more than 111% over the past five years.

    Palo Alto shares have risen more than 280% over the same period.

    Cisco is more of a laggard, having given investors a return of ‘only’ 44% or so.

    Meanwhile, Zscaler shares are up 375% over the past five years, while VMWare shares are up 50.6%.

    So with returns like those among HACK’s top holdings, it’s perhaps no wonder this ETF has been so successful. No doubt investors will be hoping that the next five years are equally fruitful.

    The BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF charges a management fee of 0.69% per annum.

    The post How does the HACK ETF get a 19% return every year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in HACK EFT right now?

    Before you consider HACK EFT, 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 HACK EFT 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 Sebastian Bowen has positions in Cisco Systems. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS, BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, Cisco Systems, and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended VMware. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CrowdStrike Holdings, 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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  • Can the Evolution Mining share price turn the corner in June?

    Close-up of a smiling man holding a jar containing nuggets of gold representing the half-year results of Northern Star Resources and a record dividend for investorsClose-up of a smiling man holding a jar containing nuggets of gold representing the half-year results of Northern Star Resources and a record dividend for investors

    Is the Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price an opportunity waiting to glitter again? Or has the gold miner lost its sparkle?

    Evolution Mining shares have certainly not shot the lights out in recent times. Since the start of 2022, they have fallen by 9.3%. Over the past year, they have declined by more than 26%.

    But with gold miners somewhat having a reputation as defensive plays during volatility, is it an opportunity after its recent falls?

    What experts make of the Evolution Mining share price

    One of the least optimistic brokers on the business is Credit Suisse, with a price target of $3.75. That suggests that shares will be flat, with the current Evolution Mining share price at $3.70. It suggested that production for the three months to 31 March 2022 wasn’t as good as expected, with a labour shortage and difficult weather hurting operational performance.

    However, other brokers are more optimistic.

    For example, while Citi has a ‘neutral’ rating on the business, the price target is $4.60. That implies a possible rise of over 20% in the next year. It said the Red Lake underground gold mine in north western Ontario, Canada,  is important for Evolution Mining’s performance in the near term.

    One of the most positive experts on the business is Morgan Stanley, which is ‘equal-weight’. This is similar to a hold or neutral rating, however it has a price target of $5.05. That suggests a possible rise of more than 30%.

    Quarterly update

    For investors that didn’t see Evolution Mining’s quarterly update, the gold miner said it produced 148,787 ounces of gold, up from 148,084 ounces in the second quarter of FY22.

    However, as a result of “extreme rainfall events and COVID-19 impacts”, the company reduced its production expectations to 650,000 ounces, down from previous guidance of 670,000 ounces.

    It said that it achieved a sector-leading low all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $990 per ounce. The AISC was down by 27% from the prior quarter.

    Operating mine cash flow was $268.9 million, up 33% on the prior quarter. Net mine cash flow increased by 135% to $124.5 million after mine capital investment of $143.6 million.

    In terms of the rest of the outlook, Evolution Mining said the Cowal underground development in New South Wales remains on budget and on schedule. However, over 25% of the Cowal workforce tested positive for COVID-19 during the quarter.

    While production guidance was lowered, no changes were made to the AISC guidance of between $1,135 and $1,195 per ounce, or capital guidance.

    Gold price

    There are a few different elements that dictate the profit of a gold miner. There is how much gold it produces, the cost of production per ounce, and the price it sells that gold for.

    In the three months to March 2022, Evolution Mining said it achieved a gold price of $2,464 per ounce. That was up compared to $2,378 in the three months to December 2021 and $2,364 in the three months to September 2021.

    A higher gold price means the ASX gold mining share receives more revenue per ounce.

    Evolution Mining share price snapshot

    Over the past month, Evolution Mining shares are up around 1%. However, they are down around 3% over the past week.

    The post Can the Evolution Mining share price turn the corner in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Evolution 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 Evolution 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

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 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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  • Will June be a good month for the Santos share price?

    Workers inspecting a gas pipeline.Workers inspecting a gas pipeline.

    Shares of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) have stretched up almost 36% this year to date as investors continue to wind up the oil and gas trade of 2022.

    Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate futures nudged to 3-month highs in yesterday’s trade as Saudi Arabia signalled confidence in demand for its product and raised the price of its crude to Asia by $2.10 per barrel. The increase was also higher than expected.

    Both now trade around 8 basis points higher at US$119.81 and US$118.91 per barrel respectively, a shade off the multi-year highs obtained in March.

    Meanwhile, investors have rallied Santos to its 52-week highs after a breakout from a 3-month ascending channel in yesterday’s trade.

    Where is the Santos share price headed next?

    Both market and analyst sentiment appears to be strong for Santos at present. On the market side, investors have rallied the stock more than 6% in the same month, with the recent uptick in oil only now being priced in.

    With traders bullish on the outlook of oil, as evidenced by the recent price action and market fundamentals, Santos stands to benefit as investors continue to book gains in oil and gas.

    Recent movements in the prices for each are plotted on the chart below. Noteworthy is the tight dispersion and high correlation between Brent and WTI oil futures and the Santos share price.

    TradingView Chart

    Analysts appear bullish on the company’s income and profitability measures, providing more certainty over the predictability of its future cash flows.

    The JP Morgan team noted in a recent note that Santos reported free cash flow (FCF) conversion of US$865 million in its last filing, implying an annualised FCF yield of 17%. This also reduces the ratio of net borrowing to shareholder equity (gearing) to 26%.

    Another tailwind the JP Morgan team identified is the income to be derived from Santos’ planned asset sales.

    “With management now looking to sell down assets, strong market conditions could lead to elevated valuations and/or adjustments to how much the company will look to sell,” it wrote.

    There is a chance this results in delays to the [asset sale] process but given the strong cash flow being generated and our expectations that all growth capex can be internally funded, we are not concerned by this possibility.

    Overall, we remain positive on the stock with Santos our preferred stock in the sector.

    The broker values Santos at $9.60 per share, a shade off the consensus price target of $9.73 according to Bloomberg data. A closer looks shows that, on average, broker coverage indicates analysts are tilted bullish on the stock.

    There are multiple bullish price targets above $10 per share, and 88% of coverage rating the Santos share price reckons it’s a buy, the remaining coverage a hold. There are no sell ratings, per this list.

    As to where it will head next, only time and the market will have power on that decision. In the last 12 months, Santos shares have surged more than 11% into the green.

    The post Will June be a good month for the Santos share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Santos, 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 Santos 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 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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  • ‘Woodside will distribute US$20bn in dividends over the coming decade’: Morgan Stanley

    man laying on his couch with bundles of money and extremely ecstatic about high dividend returnsman laying on his couch with bundles of money and extremely ecstatic about high dividend returns

    Owners of Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares, rejoice! Morgan Stanley has reportedly tipped the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) company to be a future dividend machine.

    The newly merged energy giant currently has a market capitalisation of more than $60 billion. But that could be just the beginning.

    Let’s take a look at what Morgan Stanley reportedly expects from the fresh-faced juggernaut over the coming years.

    Woodside shares tipped to pay out US$20bn of dividends

    Off-market buybacks, mergers and acquisitions, and US$20 billion (AU$27.8 billion) of dividends, oh my! Morgan Stanley reportedly sees green pastures for Woodside shares.

    The top broker has tipped the ASX 200 company as a “must-own” energy play, particularly for gas-focused investors, The Australian reports.

    “It has some of the strongest leverage to oil and gas prices globally and the structural tailwinds behind gas may see its global discount reverse,” the broker reportedly told clients.

    But what about dividends? Morgan Stanley is said to expect the company to provide billions of dollars in payouts over the coming years. The publication quoted it as saying:

    We forecast Woodside will distribute US$20 billion in dividends over the coming decade, providing it with another US$20 billion to re-invest in growth, diversify, and pursue further capital management.

    In addition, we forecast a strong dividend yield in the 10% [to] 12% range over the next few years should energy prices remain elevated.

    The company is also tipped to start a journey of growth with its newly reset balance sheet.

    The broker reportedly believes the company could execute US$4 billion of off-market share buybacks over the next 18 months. That could lift to between US$6 billion and US$8 billion if it capitalises on potential Asian gas assets.

    And that’s not all. Woodside’s current position means it could be on the lookout for new mergers and acquisitions, according to the broker.

    “A strong balance sheet also puts the company in a position of strength to execute its [merger and acquisition] processes which could potentially provide look-through value to its portfolio,” Morgan Stanley was quoted as saying.

    Morgan Stanley reportedly has a $40 price target and an ‘overweight’ rating on Woodside shares.

    At Monday’s close, the Woodside share price was $32.83.

    The post ‘Woodside will distribute US$20bn in dividends over the coming decade’: Morgan Stanley appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 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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  • AVZ share price suspension: What is the Manono Lithium Project they are fighting over?

    Two people jump in the air in a fighting stance, indicating a battle between rival ASX shares

    Two people jump in the air in a fighting stance, indicating a battle between rival ASX sharesThe AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ) share price is currently suspended and is expected to stay that way for at least the remainder of the month.

    This is due to the lithium developer battling legal proceedings relating to the ownership of the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Last month China’s Jin Cheng Mining Company launched arbitration proceedings in the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. It is seeking to be recognised as a shareholder of Dathcom Mining, which is the owner of the Manono project.

    The worst-case scenario could see AVZ’s shareholding in the project reduced from a majority 75% ownership today to just a minority 36% ownership. This includes the proposed sale of a 24% stake to Suzhou CATH Energy Technologies.

    What are they all fighting over?

    The Manono Project is located 500km north of Lubumbashi in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    It is home to the world class Roche Dure Mineral Resource, which is one of the largest undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits in the world.

    The company highlights that the Manono Project is strategically positioned as a clean, sustainable source of lithium, significantly contributing to the green energy transition and feeding the global lithium-ion battery value chain.

    Initial production is expected to be 700,000 tonnes per annum of lithium spodumene concentrate with 6% lithium oxide content (SC6) and 46,000 tonnes per annum of primary lithium sulphate.

    It also comes with industry-leading ESG credentials and is forecast to be one of the lowest carbon emitting hard rock mines in the world.

    When will the AVZ share price return?

    At present, the AVZ share price will remain suspended until the end of the month.

    However, the reality is that it could come back sooner or later than this date. Given the impact that the loss of a significant share of the project could have on the company’s valuation, it is unlikely to return to trade while this dark cloud hangs over it.

    So, investors may need to be patient and wait for this to be resolved before they see their AVZ shares trading again. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

    The post AVZ share price suspension: What is the Manono Lithium Project they are fighting over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AVZ, 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 AVZ 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 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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  • Can the REA share price turn over a new leaf in 2022?

    A young family with two kids smiling as they stand on the balcony of an apartment they are inspecting after seeing it advertised on REAA young family with two kids smiling as they stand on the balcony of an apartment they are inspecting after seeing it advertised on REA

    The REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) share price has been in a funk since the start of the year, plunging by 34%.

    The property listings business announced its third-quarter results last month and it failed to impress.

    At yesterday’s market close, the REA share price finished at $110.47, down 1.73%.

    REA unveils bold new strategy

    Investors have been selling off REA shares after the company missed its third-quarter estimates due to deteriorating macro trends.

    While it delivered a softer than expected financial performance — which saw the REA share price fall 8% on the day the update was released — this didn’t stop the company from presenting an upbeat strategy last week.

    Management highlighted that the company will evolve from a residential listing portal to a property, finance, and data business. This will see REA diversify its revenue stream and expand into financial services, data, and international operations.

    As such, the upper echelons of REA are targeting “double-digit revenue growth and EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation] through the cycle”.

    REA noted that on average the property cycle is roughly between three and five years.

    Driving the bold forecast will be continued growth in traditional advertising, next-generation marketplaces, scaling adjacent businesses, and bolstering the India portfolio.

    REA has achieved great success in Australia with realestate.com.au becoming the country’s leading residential and commercial property website, according to the company.

    On average there are 127 million monthly visits to the website on all platforms. To put that into perspective, it’s 3.3 times more visits than the company’s nearest competitor.

    As the company states, having a large and highly engaged audience in the marketplace is critical to driving value. This provides REA with strong lead generation to fuel future growth.

    And despite the current environment of rising interest rates and falling property prices, REA is not fazed.

    Management stated that it’s confident sales volumes will remain robust as demand is still apparent.

    What do the brokers think?

    A couple of brokers weighed in on the REA share price last week.

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their price target by 2% to $167. Based on the current share price, this implies an upside of around 51%. Clearly, the broker believes there is still significant value in the property listings business despite the short-term volatility.

    On the other hand, Morgans had a more bearish tone, slashing its 12-month rating by 1% to $144. This represents an upside of 30% from where REA shares last traded at Monday’s market close.

    About the REA share price

    Over the last 12 months, REA shares have dropped by around 33%.

    The company’s share price is treading 5.5% above its 52-week low of $104.37.

    On valuation grounds, REA commands a market capitalisation of roughly $14.85 billion.

    The post Can the REA share price turn over a new leaf in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider REA, 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 REA 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 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 Goldman Sachs. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended REA 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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  • Broker says Aristocrat share price is great value with 27% upside

    gaming asx share price rise represented by slot machine paying jackpot

    gaming asx share price rise represented by slot machine paying jackpotIt has been a disappointing year so far for the Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL).

    Since the start of 2022, this gaming technology company’s shares have lost a quarter of their value.

    Where next for the Aristocrat share price?

    While the Aristocrat share price performance has been very disappointing for shareholders, it could prove to be a buying opportunity for others.

    That’s the view of analysts at Morgans, which have recently named the company among its top picks on the Australian share market.

    According to the note, the broker has an add rating and $43.00 price target on its shares. Based on the current Aristocrat share price of $33.91, this implies potential upside of 27% for investors over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans notes that Aristocrat has a leadership position in two growing markets and is generating significant recurring revenue.

    Pleasingly, the broker expects this to continue and is tipping its pokie machine and digital businesses to continue winning market share. It explained:

    ALL is a global market leader in the rapidly growing land-based gaming and mobile gaming industries. It has delivered revenue growth of 17% pa over the past five years and 80% of revenue in FY21 was recurring. We expect ALL to continue to take market share in all its product segments. Demand for its gaming machines and digital games is resilient to economic cycles.

    Morgans also highlights that the Aristocrat share price has derated to a very attractive level. This is despite its positive outlook and very strong balance sheet, which provides it with M&A opportunities even after its recently announced share buyback.

    The recent underperformance of the shares may have been a function of concern about ALL’s exposure to Ukraine, although it has recently stated that 75% of its staff there have relocated to safer locations and there is no material impact on earnings.

    The underperformance means, however, that ALL’s 1-year forward P/E has derated to less than 20x from a high of 30x last September. With $3.3bn of currently available liquidity, ALL has significant funding capacity for growth, even after the buyback. It has a stated ambition to build a meaningful presence in the rapidly growing online real money gaming segment, which we believe may be achieved both through organic investment and inorganic acquisitions.

    The post Broker says Aristocrat share price is great value with 27% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Aristocrat, 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 Aristocrat 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 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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  • 2 ASX 200 financials shares named as buys

    a couple consider the advice from a man with documents laid out on a table and the man holding a tablet in his hand.

    a couple consider the advice from a man with documents laid out on a table and the man holding a tablet in his hand.If you’re looking for exposure to the financial sector, then it could be worth looking closer at the shares listed below.

    The ASX 200 financials shares have been rated as buys by analysts at Morgans and tipped to provide strong returns for investors. They are as follows:

    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

    Morgans is a fan of this investment bank and has an add rating and $215.00 price target on its shares. Based on the current Macquarie share price of $182.90, this implies potential upside of 18% for investors over the next 12 months.

    The broker likes Macquarie due to its exposure to structural growth markets such as decarbonisation. It commented:

    We continue to like MQG’s exposure to long-term structural growth areas such as infrastructure and renewables. The company also stands to benefit from recent market volatility through its trading businesses, while the company continues to gain market share in Australian mortgages.

    QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

    Another ASX 200 financials share that Morgans is bullish is on this insurance giant. Its analysts currently have an add rating and $14.45 price target on its shares. Based on the current QBE share price of $12.14, this suggests potential upside of 19% for investors.

    Morgans believes QBE is well-placed to grow its earnings thanks to rate increases and cost reductions. It also feels the company’s shares are relatively cheap at the current level. The broker explained:

    With strong rate increases still flowing through QBE’s insurance book, and further cost-out benefits to come, we expect QBE’s earnings profile to improve strongly over the next few years. The stock also has a robust balance sheet and remains relatively inexpensive overall trading on ~14x FY22F PE.

    The post 2 ASX 200 financials shares named 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.

    *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 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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  • Where next for the A2 Milk share price?

    a woman sits with a glass of milk in front of her as she puts a finger to the side of her face as though in thought while her eyes look to the side as though she is contemplating something.

    a woman sits with a glass of milk in front of her as she puts a finger to the side of her face as though in thought while her eyes look to the side as though she is contemplating something.The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price has been struggling again in 2022.

    Since the start of the year, the infant formula company’s shares have fallen 17% to $4.62.

    This means the A2 Milk share price is now down 38% from its 52-week high.

    Where next for the A2 Milk share price?

    According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts feel the A2 Milk share price is about fair value at the current level.

    This morning the broker retained its neutral rating and $4.75 price target on the company’s shares, which is just a touch higher than where it currently trades.

    What did the broker say?

    Bell Potter has been looking at industry data and notes that it paints a mixed picture.

    For example, it highlights that exports from Australia to China were up 25% year on year in April. This data is seen as a proxy for daigou trade, which bodes well for demand from that channel.

    However, conversely, its analysts note that Christchurch exports (sea + air) to China were down 23% year on year in April. This is disappointing given how there has been a high correlation between the value NZ exports to China and A2 Milk’s reported Chinese revenues.

    Another potential headwind that the broker highlights is the cost of ingredients. Bell Potter estimates that its index of ingredients was up 46% year on year in May, averaging out to be a 31% increase year to date. And as there is a lag between when ingredient costs lift and then materialise in its financials, the broker is expecting the majority of its cost of goods inflation to emerge in FY 2023.

    As a result, Bell Potter continues to forecast relatively modest profit growth through to FY 2024. At which point, its net profit estimate of NZ$136.2 million will still be less than half of its pre-COVID FY 2019 profit of NZ$287.7 million.

    In light of this, the broker believes the A2 Milk share price is trading at a fair level and sticks with its hold rating.

    The post Where next for the A2 Milk share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended A2 Milk. 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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  • Forget Terra. ANZ moves ahead with Aussie dollar pegged stablecoin

    surprised shopper, unexpected news, person at computer with payment card,

    surprised shopper, unexpected news, person at computer with payment card,

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) isn’t about to let the ructions surrounding last month’s collapse of Terra’s US dollar pegged stablecoin, TerraUSD (CRYPTO: UST), and its supporting token, Terra (CRYPTO: LUNA), derail its own stablecoin project.

    Word of ANZ’s stablecoin, called A$DC, first broke back in March, as the Motley Fool reported here.

    A$DC is pegged to the Aussie dollar. And unlike Terra’s algorithmic stablecoin offering, which relied heavily on users’ confidence to maintain its peg, ANZ’s token is fully backed by Australian dollars.

    Now you and I won’t be able to transact with A$DC just yet. It’s still undergoing a number of reviews by various financial regulators. But the bank intends to expand the stablecoin to more of its corporate customers in the months ahead.

    ANZ stablecoin will ‘absolutely’ be extended

    Addressing the outlook for A$DC at The Australian Financial Review Banking Summit last week, ANZ banking services lead Nigel Dobson said:

    When you think about stablecoins that are, issued by a commercial bank in Australia, it really is just a different form factor of money. Are we going to extend it? Yes, absolutely we will. And this will be based on our institutional customers demand, as they reveal, increasingly, their own tokenisation strategies.

    The idea is to enable people to buy a range of digital assets with Aussie dollars using A$DC, without having to convert back and forth from US dollars.

    Following an expanded offering to its corporate clients, ANZ hopes to offer its stablecoin to retail customers to buy things like non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

    “We think that the growth area is not going to be so much in crypto, but in NFTs,” Dobson said. “NFTs are already in the market around sports memorabilia and [can extend to] anything digitally created.”

    The bank is also eyeing the potential use of A$DC to streamline the settlement process in the growing carbon trading market.

    According to Dobson:

    We think that’s going to have exponential growth over the next ten years, and the elements of tokenisation that can be applied to that marketplace to make it much more efficient, more global, and frankly, more available to a wider range of consumers but certainly to institutional investors.

    We believe stablecoins form a very important element of the settlement value and the settlement process when it comes to tokenised carbon credit.

    Overall, Dobson added, “We believe that tokenised assets can be inexorably developed, to deliver greater efficiency, speed, transparency and value for customers over time.”

    First, though, there’s a fair bit of red tape to be sorted through yet.

    Bridging the regulatory hurdles

    Speaking at the AFR summit, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) chairman Wayne Byres said stablecoin regulation was being addressed via amendments to “stored value facilities” or SVFs.

    “Subject to the development of the broader legislative and regulatory framework – which will depend on the priorities of the new government – we would hope to consult on prudential requirements for large SVFs in 2023,” he said.

    Dobson welcomed the engagement with APRA and other regulators working on incorporating ANZ’s stablecoin into mainstream use:

    It is nice to see APRA, ASIC and AUSTRAC all on the same virtual call together. We’ve got this kind of coalition of the curious going on at the moment, which I think is wonderful. And you know, the integrated interactions have been incredibly constructive.

    The post Forget Terra. ANZ moves ahead with Aussie dollar pegged stablecoin appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Terra. 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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