The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is edging lower, down 0.06% in late morning trade.

Woodside shares closed yesterday at $31.75 and are currently trading for $31.73.

This comes after the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy share kicked off its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday (overnight Aussie time).

Why did the company dual list on the US exchange?

If you’re looking to see how the Woodside share price is tracking on the NYSE, it still trades under the same name but with the ticker (NYSE: WDS).

The shares are listed in the form of American Depositary Shares.

What are those?

The company explained:

ADSs are US dollar denominated negotiable instruments represented by American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) issued by a depositary bank that facilitate US trading and investment in shares of non-US companies. The ADRs will be issued under Woodside’s existing ADR program, which is administered by Citibank, N.A.

Each Woodside ADS represents one ordinary Woodside share.

The dual listing comes the day after the merger transaction between Woodside and BHP Group Ltd’s (ASX: BHP) petroleum business was officially completed.

Woodside share price drops on NYSE listing debut

Woodside fluctuated between modest gains and losses for most of its initial day of trading in the US markets. But in the final 30 minutes of trade, selling took over and the stock closed down 1.5% for the day at US$23.15 per share (AU$31.71).

In after hours trading, the Woodside share price has lifted on the NYSE to US$23.35.

Woodside shares gained 6.1% on the ASX yesterday, likely supported by a $1.1 billion block trade the previous night, prior to the release of 900 million new shares related to the merger with BHP.

Woodside share price snapshot

Woodside has been a strong performer in 2022, buoyed by soaring energy prices.

Year-to-date the Woodside share price is up 45%. That compares to a 3% loss posted by the ASX 200 over that same period.

The post Woodside share price edges lower following NYSE debut appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why Bubs, IGO, Strike Energy, and Woodside shares are pushing higher
• Why is the ‘new’ Woodside share price leaping 6% today?
• ASX 200 midday update: Pilbara Minerals names new CEO, Wesfarmers’ strategy update
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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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Shares of Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) have jumped from the open today and now rest at $87.18 apiece.

The Xero share price has struggled in 2022 and having booked extensive losses since trading resumed in January.

Brokers are bullish on Xero

Despite the ASX tech stock’s lacklustre performance this year to date, analyst sentiment appears to be tilted towards the upside for Xero.

JP Morgan identified its reasoning for Xero in a recent note, stating the company “has proven its credentials in the ANZ market and is now looking to replicate its model in its international markets”.

The JP Morgan team added:

In addition, the company is embarking on a ‘platform’ strategy that is expected to lead to higher ARPU [average revenue per user] and growth in LTV [loan-to-value].

We rate Xero overweight with the stock trading below our price target [$97/share].

Meanwhile, around 59% of brokers covering Xero have it rated as a buy right now, whereas around 18% have it rated as a hold, according to Bloomberg data. The remaining coverage urges clients to sell Xero shares.

Within this group, the consensus price target is $100.97 per share, offering around 19% upside potential should the Xero share price surge to that mark.

But the company needs “big customer growth” to first get there, in the opinion of Bloomberg Intelligence senior equity analyst Matt Ingram. He wrote:

Xero needs to sustain its 20% plus 2019-22 customer growth and lift ARPU, while controlling costs to reach a decent level of profit.

ARPU is the key driver; International’s NZ$358, well below QuickBook’s NZ$783 outside the US, needs to improve outside Australia.

Xero also needs to sustain strong subscriber growth outside the US. Operating leverage may boost operating income, but investment will curb profit.

In the last year of trade, the Xero share price has clipped a 34% loss, after heading south a further 6% this past single month.

The post Xero share price has 19% upside potential, top brokers say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why did the Xero share price go backwards in May?
• Best ASX shares to buy in June 2022
• 3 ASX shares I’m telling my clients to buy: advisor
• Xero share price charges higher: Can this tech share keep rising?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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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With Firefinch Ltd (ASX: FFX) shares trading ex-dividend this morning, it won’t be long until we see Leo Lithium Limited (ASX: LLL) shares on the ASX boards.

Ahead of its listing later this month, let’s take a look at the Australian share market’s latest lithium share.

What is Leo Lithium?

Leo Lithium will be home to Firefinch’s demerged lithium operation. This comprises a 50% ownership in the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali. Chinese giant, Ganfeng Lithium, owns the balance.

The company highlights that the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali is one of the world’s largest undeveloped high quality spodumene deposits.

Its recent definitive feasibility study update confirmed Goulamina as a long life, large scale and low-cost open pit project which is expected to produce 726,000 tonnes of annual spodumene concentrate at an average cash cost of US$312 per tonne.

In partnership with Ganfeng, Leo Lithium has commenced initial development activities. If all goes to plan, stage one production of 506,000 tonnes per annum is anticipated to commence during the first half of 2024.

Pleasingly, Ganfeng has contributed US$130 million in equity funding to the joint venture and will either source up to US$64 million in external debt or provide US$40 million of debt itself to fund the development of stage one.

Leading the charge will be Simon Hay. He was previously the CEO of Galaxy Resources prior to its merger with Orocobre, which later became Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE).

When are Leo Lithium shares trading?

There’s still a little time to wait before Leo Lithium shares commence trade on the ASX boards.

According to its most recent timetable, management expects them to start trading on 23 June 2022.

Shareholders will no doubt be hoping the recent volatility in the lithium industry will have calmed down by then.

The post When will Leo Lithium shares be roaring on the ASX boards? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is the Firefinch share price crashing 66% today?
• Why BlueScope, Firefinch, Monash IVF, and South32 shares are pushing higher
• Why is the Firefinch share price shooting 10% higher today?
• Why has the Firefinch share price tumbled 22% in a week?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Allkem shares. 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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The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price has been outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this year. Can the shares keep rising?

In 2022 to date, the ASX 200 has fallen 5%. In comparison, the NAB share price has gone up 6%.

But, as the saying goes, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. So can NAB shares continue to perform?

While it’s impossible to know precisely what a share price is going to do, we can gain insights from what the company says. Analysts can also outline their research and opinions.

NAB commentary

Last month, NAB said that recent data highlighted ongoing strength in the Australian economy. It’s expecting consumption to remain robust, partly supported by a run-down in accumulated household savings.

NAB also said there was a healthy outlook for business investment with high levels of dwelling investment and government spending, supporting forecast GDP growth of 3.4% in 2022 and 2.1% in 2023.

In addition, the big four ASX bank is expecting the unemployment rate to remain low “for some time”.

NAB also said that it’s optimistic about the growth outlook. The bank said that its investments positioned it well, “particularly at a time when business investment intentions are high and business credit is growing at the fastest rate since the GFC”.

It’s focused on cash earnings per share (EPS) growth in a period of higher growth, higher inflation and higher interest rates. Within the business, its lending growth has accelerated and it’s focused on productivity. It’s expecting cost growth of between 2% to 3% in FY22.

Broker opinion on the NAB share price

The broker Ord Minnett does think that NAB shares can keep rising. It has a price target on the bank of $34.50, which implies a possible rise of around 10%.

Ord Minnett thinks that NAB will benefit from rising interest rates, helping the net interest margin (NIM).

Based on the projections, the broker calculates that the NAB share price is valued at 15x FY22’s estimated earnings and 13x FY23’s estimated earnings. The NAB grossed-up dividend yield in FY22 could be 6.8% according to Ord Minnett.

However, it was recently pointed out by the broker Morgan Stanley that the big four ASX banks could be impacted by stressed exposure in the construction sector in the event of a downturn.

The NAB CEO Ross McEwan himself said about the construction industry:

It’s certainly one of the sectors that we are keeping a close eye on very recently.

A lot of them have been having some difficulties there so that is, as a sector, the most worrying part of our bank when we look across it.

We are yet to see that the economy is having difficulty…but as interest rates start to rise, we have to be conscious that there will be some customers who may have some difficulties.

Morgan Stanley’s rating on the bank is ‘equal-weight’, with a price target of $31.80. The rating is essentially a ‘hold’ or ‘neutral’. The price target implies a slight rise over the next year.

The broker’s numbers put the NAB share price at 15x FY22’s estimated earnings and 14x FY23’s estimated earnings. Morgan Stanley’s dividend estimate for FY22 implies a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.8%.

The post What’s the outlook for the NAB share price in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy according to analysts
• What’s dragging on ASX 200 bank shares like NAB on Thursday?
• Why did the NAB share price go backwards in May?
• ASX 200 midday update: NAB completes acquisition, lithium miners sink, Origin tumbles
• NAB share price higher after completing $1.2bn Citi consumer business acquisition

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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The JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) share price is currently rated a buy by multiple brokers.

As investors, it can be worth paying attention to a potential opportunity if more than one analyst thinks that the business is a buy.

JB Hi-Fi is one of the largest retailers in Australia. It operates three different businesses – JB Hi-Fi Australia, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand and The Good Guys.

While the business has seen growth since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is rated as a buy by analysts that think the JB Hi-Fi share price can keep rising.

Buy ratings

One of the latest brokers to rate JB Hi-Fi as a buy is Macquarie. It currently has a price target of $57.80 on the company. That implies a potential rise of around 25% over the next year if the broker is right.

One of the main things that Macquarie noted was a recent trading update which showed growth from JB Hi-Fi. The broker thinks that JB Hi-Fi can continue to benefit from the consumer being in good shape.

Looking at that update for the third quarter of FY22, JB Hi-Fi said that total JB Hi-Fi Australia sales were up 11.9% year on year, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand sales were up 4.8% in New Zealand dollars and The Good Guys sales increased by 5.5%.

That brought the total year-to-date figures to a growth of 1.9% for JB Hi-Fi Australia and 1.1% growth for The Good Guys. However, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand sales were down 1.8% for the nine months to 31 March 2022.

Another broker that currently rates JB Hi-Fi as a buy is Credit Suisse, with a price target of $60.08. That implies a possible rise of the JB Hi-Fi share price of around 30%.

Sizeable dividends expected

Both of these brokers think that JB Hi-Fi is going to pay a fairly substantial dividend in FY22 and again in FY23.

According to Macquarie, JB Hi-Fi could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 8.2% in FY22 and 7.6% in FY23.

Credit Suisse has estimated that JB Hi-Fi is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 8.5% in FY22 and then 6.6% in FY23.

JB Hi-Fi share price valuation

While both brokers may rate the business as a buy, they have different projections on how much net profit after tax (NPAT) the company is going to generate in FY22 and FY23, leading to different forward price/earnings (p/e) ratio estimates.

Using Macquarie’s numbers, the JB Hi-Fi share price is valued at 11x FY22’s estimated earnings and 12x FY23’s estimated earnings.

Credit Suisse’s projections put JB Hi-Fi shares at 11x FY22’s estimated earnings and 14x FY23’s estimated earnings.

The post Why experts rate the JB Hi-Fi share price a buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are ASX 200 retail shares climbing on Friday?
• What’s the outlook for ASX 300 retail shares in June?
• Why are ASX 200 retail shares getting hammered on Thursday?
• ASX 200 midday update: Aristocrat’s earnings beat, Webjet flops, retailers smashed
• Why is the JB Hi-Fi share price being slashed 8% today?

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 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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Shares of Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) closed down in May and finished more than 16% in the red. At the time of writing, the Adairs share price is trading at $2.28.

After nudging past $4.05 in early January, the stock has cratered and formed a series of new lows, as seen below.

Murderous May for Adairs

Adairs shares traded sideways from the period of February–April. By the end of May, sellers had pushed prices to a 52-week closing low of $2.32.

However, zooming out, the downside had been in full force over the previous 12 months, along with weakness in the broad sector.

The S&P/ASX 300 Retailing Index (AXRTKD) has followed a similar fate, tumbling more than 22% in the last year. It also closed 6.5% down in May.

Despite a positive retail outlook in 2022 due to diminishing impacts of Covid-19 and record retail sales of $34 billion in April 2022, KPMG says in writing: “it’s not all beer ant skittles”. That’s because retailers face a series of additional headwinds related to supply chain and cost inflation.

The Producer Price Index (PPIs) rose 1.6% this quarter and has climbed around 5% in the past 12 months, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It has also spiked more than 8.4% since March 2018.

It measures the price change/inflation of products, goods and services for producers. Whereas the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the same for consumers.

Since 2017, both indices have curled up. However, since the pandemic, both have really shot north at a rapid pace, as seen below.

Similar trends appear to have swept through the US and retailers there have experienced symptoms such as inventory overbuild, cost pressures and consumer spending shift.

Evidently, investors appear to be pricing in similar risks for ASX retail and consumer cyclical stocks. It’s now a question of how well companies either absorb these pressures into their margins, or pass them onto consumers.

Plus, Adairs already realised a slowdown in sales and earnings in its latest filings.

Group sales were down 50 basis points from 1H FY21, whilst pre-tax earnings also took a hit due to operational disruptions related to COVID-19.

This is despite Australian Consumer spending increasing to its highest level in two years, per Trading Economics data.

In the last 12 months, the Adairs share price has slipped more than 54% into the red.

The post Why was May such a shocker for the Adairs share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 high-quality ASX 300 shares trading at 52-week lows today
• 3 key reasons why I think the Adairs share price is a buy
• Experts name 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy now
• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 5%
• Top ASX dividend shares to buy in May 2022

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

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The Firefinch Ltd (ASX: FFX) share price has been one of the worst performers on the Australian share market on Friday.

In early trade, the gold and lithium explorer’s shares were down as much as 66% to a 52-week low of 32 cents.

The Firefinch share price has since rebounded a touch but remains down 58% at 40 cents.

Why is the Firefinch share price crashing?

The good news for shareholders is that the sell down of the Firefinch share price today isn’t because something bad has happened.

Today’s decline is due to the company following in the footsteps of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) by undertaking a demerger.

This morning, the company’s shares traded ex-dividend for the in-specie dividend relating to this demerger.

On this occasion, that in-specie dividend relates to shares in the soon-to-be-listed Leo Lithium (ASX: LLL). Eligible Firefinch shareholders will be receiving 1 Leo Lithium share for every 1.4 Firefinch shares they own.

What is Leo Lithium?

Leo Lithium is the owner of 50% of the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali. This is one of the world’s largest undeveloped high quality spodumene deposits.

In partnership with Chinese giant, Ganfeng, Leo Lithium has commenced initial development activities to bring the Goulamina Lithium Project into production.

Ganfeng has contributed US$130 million in equity funding to the joint venture and will either procure up to US$64 million in external debt, or provide US$40 million of debt itself to fund development of Stage 1 of the project.

Leo Lithium is being led by Simon Hay, who was previously the CEO of Galaxy Resources prior to its merger with Orocobre, which became Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE).

Leo Lithium shares are scheduled to commence trade later this month on 23 June 2022.

The post Why is the Firefinch share price crashing 66% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why BlueScope, Firefinch, Monash IVF, and South32 shares are pushing higher
• Why is the Firefinch share price shooting 10% higher today?
• Why has the Firefinch share price tumbled 22% in a week?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Allkem 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 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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The Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price has been up and down in May, but overall it fell slightly.

The lithium explorer’s shares slipped 3% between market close on the last trading day of April and 31 May.

Let’s take a look at what impacted Liontown shares in May.

What has been happening to Liontown shares?

Liontown shares fell 21% between market close on 5 May and 12 May to a monthly low of $1.16.

The company’s share price struggled earlier in the month due to broader market weakness in the lithium industry, my Foolish colleague James reported. ASX lithium shares Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) fell 13% and 16% respectively in the same time frame.

On 12 May, the Liontown share price hit a monthly low of $1.16 before surging 22% to $1.42 by the end of the month.

ASX lithium shares, including Liontown, received a boost on 24 May when news emerged of a bidding frenzy in China. This sparked concerns that demand would outstrip supply and push up lithium prices.

On 25 May, Liontown analysts at Barrenjoey Markets rated the share as a buy. Analysts placed a $1.80 price target on Liontown shares, a massive 51% upside on the current share price.

Finally, to end the month, Liontown shares jumped on news of an extended offtake term sheet with Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA).

The termination date was extended to 6 June to enable the company to complete negotiations for a definitive agreement with Tesla. The deal would involve the supply of 150,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate. This would be sourced from the company’s Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia.

Liontown price snapshot

Liontown shares have surged 135%% in the past 12 months, but have descended 28% in the year to date. Liontown shares fell 19% on 1 June alone, in what was a horror trading day for multiple ASX lithium shares.

For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has shed nearly 1% in the past year.

Liontown has a market capitalisation of about $2.6 billion based on the current share price.

The post It was an eventful month for Liontown shares in May. Here’s what went down appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX lithium shares are rebounding on Thursday, and which are not?
• Is this the real reason ASX lithium shares cratered on Wednesday?
• Why is the Liontown share price crashing 16%?
• Why ASX lithium shares have ‘absolutely more room to run’ in 2022: expert
• Liontown Resources share price leaps 4% amid Tesla offtake extension

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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The market may be storming higher today but the same cannot be said for the Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) share price.

In morning trade, the healthcare company’s shares are down 8% to a 52-week low of $3.82.

Why is the Healius share price sinking?

Investors have been selling down the Healius share price on Friday after the healthcare company released a trading update.

According to the release, Healius revealed that trading has been broadly in line with its update from last month. However, in response to ongoing market volatility and the range of broker forecasts, it has provided more colour on what this means for its earnings.

Healius revealed that its unaudited underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the year-to-date to May is in the order of $473 million.

This means that it has added less than $100 million of EBIT in the second half, with one month remaining. This compares to EBIT of $376.1 million during the first half.

Management advised that it has been facing difficult market conditions in the second half of the financial year. Though, it has been trading slightly ahead of Medicare in its core businesses and COVID testing remains around 15,000 per working day in May.

Adora sale

In other news, the company has advanced its portfolio simplification as a diagnostics operator with the completion of the Adora Fertility sale this week.

Looking ahead, management advised that it remains focused on growing its core pathology and imaging businesses, where it believes it is well-positioned as an incumbent operator with operating leverage. It will also aim to grow its emerging diagnostic positions, underpinned by its market-leading digital program.

The Healius share price is now down 25% in 2022.

The post Why is the Healius share price sinking to a 52-week low today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Expert reveals the dividend ASX share he just bought (and one he dropped)
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
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Motley Fool Australia Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined Nine’s Late News on Thursday night to discuss a fall for the ASX, the ongoing gas shortage and the future for renewables, plus a bumper trade surplus.

The post A fall for the ASX 200, energy prices soar and a win for trade. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Was May a good month for the Pilbara Minerals share price?
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Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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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