• 3 reasons to treat a market correction like a cup of burnt coffee

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

    Womann holding a coffee mug and smiling.

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

    Stock market corrections are a part of investing. The emotions of fear and greed rule Wall Street on a daily basis, and the tug of war between them creates a roller coaster of gains and losses that make the occasional correction inevitable.

    Smart investors recognize that reality and prepare for it. If you have a solid end-to-end plan in place, a market correction might still be painful, but you could very well emerge in a better spot on the other side of one. With that in mind, here are three reasons to treat a market correction like a cup of burnt coffee. 

    No. 1: It’s an unpleasant experience, and you’re out some money

    If you buy a cup of burnt coffee, the taste can be nasty, and you’re out the money you spent. In addition, especially if you’re on the run, there might not be much you can do about it except choke it down and move on with your life.

    Similarly, when the stock market corrects, it can leave a dent in your wallet and a bad taste in your mouth. In addition, there’s a good chance that once the correction takes place, there’s little you can do aside from accept it and figure out what to do next.

    The common thread is the need to accept the situation, and figure out what to do next. Just like you can’t really go back in time and undo the coffee, you can’t really go back in time to undo a market correction. Still, if you recognize the possibility of a market correction in advance, you can prepare yourself so that the long-term impact to your finances is not much worse than a bad cup of coffee.

    The key is to recognize that money you need to spend within the next five years or so does not belong in stocks. With that long-term horizon, you give the market time to stage a recovery, and you give yourself a chance to adjust your spending should it appear that a recovery may take longer to happen.

    No. 2: This, too, shall pass

    One of the nicer things about burnt coffee is that the experience passes. Once it does, you can move on with your life, largely no worse off for the experience. Similarly, every market correction that we’ve had so far has been temporary, with the market ultimately coming back stronger. Unless there’s a complete breakdown in society or a socialist economic takeover, there is every reason to believe that the trend of recoveries will continue.

    Consider, for instance, the dot-com bust, when all sorts of high-flying internet-first companies completely vanished after the market collapsed. That didn’t mark the end of the internet, but rather the emergence of a much stronger breed of businesses that learned from the mistakes and built upon the successes of their predecessors.

    In a healthy market, that’s exactly the sort of thing that market corrections enable. Indeed, one of the biggest problems our economy currently faces is that there’s a slew of zombie companies out there, surviving only because of cheap debt. Those zombie companies are consuming resources and brainpower that could otherwise be used more productively. As painful as the near-term disruption might be, history shows that the eventual recovery makes the survivors and new entrants that much stronger.

    No. 3: There could be some good to come of it after all

    If there’s an upside to burnt coffee, it’s that it still tends to have about the same amount of caffeine as the unburnt variety. So if you’re into coffee more for the pick-me-up than for the taste, even the burnt kind can serve that purpose.

    Taking that perspective to the stock market, if there’s an upside to a market correction, it’s that corrections often open up some of the few opportunities to buy strong businesses at value-stock prices. This is because when fear is actively winning the market’s battle of emotions, even great companies tend to see their share prices drop.

    The lower the per-share price of a company, the more shares you can pick up for any given dollar amount invested. That can serve you well in any subsequent market recovery, as you can keep those shares, even if their prices do go back up. After all, fortunes aren’t made in bull markets — that’s just when they get revealed. Value investors like Warren Buffett, who are able to buy strong companies at cheap prices during market corrections, show just how powerful that process can be.

    Get yourself ready for the market’s next correction

    Like the occasional burnt cup of coffee, market corrections are inevitable. The better prepared you are for a correction, the easier it is for you to handle it when it happens. Make today the day you start preparing for the next correction, and you’ll improve your chances of being able to make it through intact. 

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

    The post 3 reasons to treat a market correction like a cup of burnt coffee 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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    Chuck Saletta 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 Bruce Jackson.

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

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  • Why is the Appen (ASX:APX) share price having such a dire start to 2022?

    a woman wearing a close-sitting hat featuring wires and thick computer screen glasses clutches her computer monitor and looks shocked and disturbed as she reads old-fashioned computer text from the screen.a woman wearing a close-sitting hat featuring wires and thick computer screen glasses clutches her computer monitor and looks shocked and disturbed as she reads old-fashioned computer text from the screen.a woman wearing a close-sitting hat featuring wires and thick computer screen glasses clutches her computer monitor and looks shocked and disturbed as she reads old-fashioned computer text from the screen.

    The Appen (ASX: APX) share price has been struggling this year amid a tough time for ASX tech shares.

    Appen shares have fallen 27% since market open on 4 January. Appen shares finished Tuesday’s session at $8.14.

    Let’s take a look at what might be impacting this artificial intelligence (AI) data service company.

    Why has the Appen share price fallen?

    The Appen share price has been descending since the start of the year, shedding nearly 22% since market close on 1 February.

    Appen shares took a major hit in early February amid an earnings release from global tech giant Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: FB). Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

    Meta reported Facebook had experienced weaker advertising demand and revenue. As my Foolish colleague James reported, Facebook uses Appen services to support its advertising operations.

    Analysts at RBC Capital Markets also alluded to the impact of Meta’s earnings on Appen in a broker note in February.

    The broker stated Appen’s AI-powered search relevance accounts for more than 80% of domestic revenue, as my colleague Zach reported.

    Broader technology sector weakness also may have impacted the Appen share price. Since market open on 4 January, Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares have dropped nearly 35%, Altium Limited (ASX:ALU) has slipped 29% and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) is down nearly 33%.

    For perspective, the S&P ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has plunged 24% in the same time frame.

    Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector Index (NASDAQ: NDXT) in the United States has also fallen nearly 17% in the year to date. ASX tech shares often follow in the footsteps of their US counterparts. Rising interest rate speculation is among the reasons for the tech share fall.

    Appen share price snapshot

    The Appen share price has plunged 60% in the past year. In the past month alone, Appen shares have fallen almost 20%.

    For perspective, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned around 6% over the past year.

    Appen has a market capitalisation of about $1 billion, based on its current share price.

    The post Why is the Appen (ASX:APX) share price having such a dire start to 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Appen, 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 Appen 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

    Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Altium, Appen Ltd, MEGAPORT FPO, Meta Platforms, Inc., and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Appen Ltd and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT FPO and Meta Platforms, Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Altium (ASX:ALU) dividend

    A florist gets some good news on his laptop and tablet, a big smile on his face as he is surrounded by flowers.A florist gets some good news on his laptop and tablet, a big smile on his face as he is surrounded by flowers.A florist gets some good news on his laptop and tablet, a big smile on his face as he is surrounded by flowers.

    The Altium Ltd (ASX: ALU) share price has plunged since announcing its FY22 half-year results on Monday.

    The electronic design software company delivered strong earnings growth along with a bumper dividend. However, it was management’s outlook on achieving the low end of its margin guidance range that spooked investors.

    At yesterday’s market close, Altium shares finished the day 2.77% lower to $31.54. This means that this week alone, its shares have lost around 8.7%.

    Below, we look at the details regarding Altium’s latest dividend.

    What’s the go with the Altium dividend?

    In the half-year report for the 2022 financial year, Altium reported strong performance across key metrics.

    In summary, revenue surged by 28% to US$102 million in H1 FY22. The company benefitted from its core board and systems business which lifted by 16% to US$79.17 million. Double-digit growth was achieved across all regions, except for China. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment (EMEA) rose by 25% to US$23 million.

    The group also reported operating cash flow of US$33.28 million, up 33% on the prior corresponding period. 

    Overall, the company finished the first half with a net cash balance of US$195 million. This represents an increase of 120% from the prior year (H1 FY21 US$88.49 million). It’s also worth noting that the company remains debt free.

    The board declared a fully-franked (30%) interim dividend of 21 cents per share, up 11% on the previous comparable period. The latest dividend amounts to US$19.9 million based on the total number of shares outstanding.

    Altium was able to fully frank the interim dividend as a result of tax paid on the successful sale of the tasking business.

    When can Altium shareholders expect payment?

    Altium will pay the interim dividend to eligible shareholders on 22 March.

    To be eligible for the latest dividend, you’ll need to own Altium shares before the ex-dividend date of 7 March. This means if you want to secure the dividend, you will need to purchase Altium shares on or before Friday 4 March.

    In case you are wondering, the company is not offering a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) to shareholders.

    The post Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Altium (ASX:ALU) dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Altium, 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 Altium wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras owns Altium. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Altium. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • WiseTech (ASX:WTC) share price on watch after strong half and FY22 earnings guidance upgrade

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price will be on watch on Wednesday.

    This follows the release of the logistics solutions company’s half year results.

    WiseTech share price on watch after upgrading guidance

    • Revenue up 18% over the prior corresponding period to $281 million
    • Recurring on-demand revenue up 25.4% to $225 million
    • EBITDA up 54% to $137.7 million
    • Underlying net profit after tax up 77% to $77.3 million
    • Fully franked interim dividend of 4.75 cents per share
    • FY 2022 EBITDA guidance upgraded

    What happened during the first half?

    For the six months ended 31 December, WiseTech was on form again and delivered an 18% increase in revenue over the prior corresponding period to $281 million.

    This was driven by increased market penetration, customer usage and adoption of its technology, as well a price change to CargoWise reflecting increased investment in product research and development (R&D), data centre hardware, and cyber security. Management notes that it has also made considerable progress with its cost reduction initiatives to drive operational efficiencies and acquisition synergies across the business.

    Supporting its strong performance has been the stickiness of its CargoWise product. Management notes that its attrition rate for the CargoWise platform remains below 1%. In fact, this is a level its attrition rate has been at for almost 10 years. Management notes that its customers are staying and growing their transaction usage due to the productivity and deep capabilities of the platform.

    Management commentary

    CEO Richard White commented: “The ongoing growth of eCommerce and strong demand for goods, coupled with the challenges posed by outbreaks of new COVID variants, has resulted in continued capacity constraints, port congestion, supply chain labor shortages and higher freight rates.”

    “From WiseTech’s perspective, whilst higher freight rates do not result in immediate revenue growth, we are benefitting from the acceleration of the longer-term structural changes they are driving. In particular, we are seeing increased investment by logistics companies in replacing legacy systems with integrated global technology, such as CargoWise, to drive productivity, and facilitate planning, visualization and control of global operations.”

    “We are also seeing continued consolidation within the logistics sector. Over the past two years Top 25 Global Freight Forwarders such as DHL, DSV6 , CEVA Logistics, Kuehne + Nagel and JAS Worldwide have embarked on acquisitions with consolidation activity intensifying in the second half of calendar 2021, ” he concluded.

    Outlook

    The good news for shareholders and the WiseTech share price today is that management appears confident that its strong form can continue.

    On the basis that market conditions do not materially change, the company has reaffirmed its revenue growth guidance of 18% to 25% in FY 2022. This will represent revenue of $600 million to $635 million.

    In respect to its earnings, management has now upgraded its EBITDA growth guidance to 33% to 43%, which represents EBITDA of $275 million to $295 million. This compares to its prior guidance of 26% to 38%, which implied EBITDA of $260 million to $285 million.

    The post WiseTech (ASX:WTC) share price on watch after strong half and FY22 earnings guidance upgrade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider WiseTech, 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 WiseTech 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. owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The iron ore price outlook could be darkening amid China’s latest plans

    The yellow stars of China's flag painted on a red wall next to a padlock, indicating the risk of trading with China

    The yellow stars of China's flag painted on a red wall next to a padlock, indicating the risk of trading with ChinaThe yellow stars of China's flag painted on a red wall next to a padlock, indicating the risk of trading with China

    The iron ore price outlook may be darkening with China’s latest plans for the commodity.

    It has already been a tricky couple of weeks for iron ore as the price has dropped over US$10 per tonne over the last 10 or so days.

    The Australian Financial Review reported that “China’s state planner and the market regulator told some iron ore traders to release excess inventory and reduce stocks to reasonable levels following a joint investigation in Qingdao, one of the country’s largest iron ore ports.”

    But there’s more potential change on the cards.

    China’s platform plans to control the iron ore price

    According to reporting by Bloomberg Quint, China wants to regain control of iron ore prices with a platform where all transactions have to be done through a single state-backed platform that is being worked on.

    The current laws are that Chinese businesses, such as the steel producers, can make their purchases independently.

    This platform aims to increase China’s ability to influence the price of commodities.

    It was reported by Bloomberg Quint that Chinese officials want to ensure limited inflation with possible upcoming stimulus measures that may lead to higher steel demand.

    It wouldn’t be unique

    Iron ore wouldn’t be the only commodity that centralised negotiations happen with, if this went ahead. There is reportedly a group of leading copper smelters in China that already do this for their annual supplies. This method could be tricky for how many buyers may be involved.

    Other tactics to control the iron ore price

    Bloomberg Quint also referred to some other strategies that China may pursue to control and reduce the iron ore price. The government wants the big steelmakers to become bigger by making corporate deals like acquisitions or mergers. Other ideas included more domestic output and the buying of stakes of mines outside China.

    Which ASX mining shares could this impact?

    Time will tell how this impacts the ASX miners.

    But there are some very big iron ore mining businesses on the ASX like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN).

    As commodity businesses, the price of iron ore can have a major impact on the movements of share prices and the profit-making potential of each company. Will each of those miners have to use that new platform? And what will the cost of using that platform for businesses be?

    The post The iron ore price outlook could be darkening amid China’s latest plans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue, 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 Fortescue 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 Tristan Harrison owns Fortescue Metals 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 small-cap ASX shares that the market hasn’t woken up to yet

    a cute jack russell dog closes its eyes and yawns as if waking up from a long sleep underneath a doona cover next to a pair of feet with an old-fashioned alarm clock nearby.a cute jack russell dog closes its eyes and yawns as if waking up from a long sleep underneath a doona cover next to a pair of feet with an old-fashioned alarm clock nearby.a cute jack russell dog closes its eyes and yawns as if waking up from a long sleep underneath a doona cover next to a pair of feet with an old-fashioned alarm clock nearby.

    Ask A Fund Manager

    The Motley Fool chats with fund managers so that you can get an insight into how the professionals think. In this edition, Red Leaf Securities chief executive John Athanasiou explains why he loves the themes driving his 2 favourite ASX shares.

    Hottest ASX shares

    The Motley Fool: What are the 2 best stock buys right now?

    John Athanasiou: Well, the two best buys are Singular Health Group Ltd (ASX: SHG) and Mad Paws Holdings Ltd (ASX: MPA)

    I’ll kick off with Mad Paws, which is actually raising equity now as we speak. The reason why we love Mad Paws is it’s the leading online participant in Australian pet care. And we expect them to make significant earnings over the medium term. 

    We all know tailwinds in the industry of increased levels of pet ownership. Everyone bought a pet during lockdown to have some company. And they’re not shy about spending a dollar when it comes to pets.

    Now, Mad Paws has got a growth-by-acquisition strategy and they’re currently in the process of buying a business as we speak that we believe is very value creative. They’re acquiring Pet Chemist, which happens to be Australia’s leading online supplier of pet health care products. They’re raising $5.5 million at 18 cents as an SPP [share purchase plan] attached to that. So we’ll be telling existing shareholders to participate in that.

    There are not many pet service companies out there and that’s why we really like it, because it’s one area we think is going to really grow.

    MF: It only listed March last year, didn’t it?

    JA: Yeah. The reality is, it hasn’t done anything. It IPOed at 20 [cents]. It fluctuated around 25, 18, 17. It hasn’t done too much. But we do believe that the market will come around.

    MF: Did your team buy during the initial public offer?

    JA: Yeah, we participated in the IPO. When it pulled back, we picked up more, so we’ve been big supporters of it.

    And Singular Health Limited, we believe that metaverse is a long-term trend. Now, obviously, that gained investor attention thanks to [Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: FB) chief] Mr Zuckerberg. There are only about half a dozen of these metaverse companies on ASX. Obviously, that’ll probably grow.

    Singular Health is our preferred company in this space, given its low market cap and its disruptive radio technology, which converts 2D medical images into 3D models that you can view on your mobile desktop, virtual reality devices. So very clever technology with plenty of upside there. We all know that the health sector will continue to grow, so it benefits from that as well.

    MF: So Singular Health is using the metaverse to perform diagnosis?

    JA: Correct. Correct.

    The post 2 small-cap ASX shares that the market hasn’t woken up to yet 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

    More reading

    Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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. owns and has recommended Meta Platforms, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Meta Platforms, Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Morgans names 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy right now

    An executive in a suit smooths his hair and laughs as he looks at his laptop feeling surprised and delighted by the VAS ETF share price gains on the ASX

    An executive in a suit smooths his hair and laughs as he looks at his laptop feeling surprised and delighted by the VAS ETF share price gains on the ASXAn executive in a suit smooths his hair and laughs as he looks at his laptop feeling surprised and delighted by the VAS ETF share price gains on the ASX

    Are you looking for dividend shares to buy? If you are, then you may want to look at the ASX 200 dividend shares listed below that have recently been named as buys by the team at Morgans.

    Here’s why these ASX dividend shares could be worth considering right now:

    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is this retail conglomerate.

    Its shares have been sold off recently due to a disappointing, but not unexpected, half year result caused by COVID headwinds. Importantly, though, the company’s growth on a two-year basis has been strong, with double-digit like for like sales growth achieved across its BCF, Rebel, and Supercheap Auto businesses.

    The team at Morgans believe this recent weakness is a buying opportunity for investors and have just upgraded its shares to an add rating with a $13.80 price target.

    It commented: “We believe today’s [Monday’s] 9.5% fall in the share price creates an opportunity to buy shares in a well-run retailer at attractive multiples of 12.3x FY23F P/E and 10.3x FY23F EV/EBIT.”

    As for dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 59 cents per share in FY 2022 and 61 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Super Retail share price of $11.35, this will mean yields of 5.2% and 5.4%, respectively.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Another ASX dividend share that Morgans is positive on is Transurban. It is one of the world’s leading toll road operators and the owner of a portfolio of key roads in Australia and North America.

    Transurban also has a pipeline of development projects that should support its growth over the next decade and a technology business focused on researching and developing innovative tolling and transport technology that makes travel easier for everyone.

    Morgans recently retained its add rating with a price target of $14.29. The broker was pleased with the company’s half year results and expects even better as Australia’s COVID recovery continues.

    Its analysts said: “We retain an ADD rating, viewing TCL as a high quality toll road portfolio that provides long-dated resilient cashflows with leverage to a COVID recovery.”

    In respect to dividends, Morgans expects dividends per share of 35 cents in FY 2022 and then 53.7 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Transurban share price of $12.74, this will mean yields of 2.7% and 4.2%, respectively.

    The post Morgans names 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy right now 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

    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. owns and has recommended Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Worried young male investor watches financial charts on computer screen

    Worried young male investor watches financial charts on computer screenWorried young male investor watches financial charts on computer screen

    On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was sold off amid escalating tensions in the Ukraine. The benchmark index sank 1% to 7,161.3 points.

    Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to fall again

    The Australian share market looks set to fall again on Wednesday following a tough night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 15 points or 0.2% lower this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 1.7%, the S&P 500 is down 1.3%, and the Nasdaq has tumbled 1.45%.

    Rio Tinto half year results

    The Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price will be one to watch this morning when the mining giant releases its full year results. According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, the broker is expecting the miner to report EBITDA of US$38 billion and net profit after tax of US$21 billion. This is slightly lower than the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of US$38.5 billion and US$21.7 billion, respectively. The market is also expecting a final dividend of 484 US cents per share.

    Oil prices rise again

    Energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a good day after oil prices rose again. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.5% to US$92.38 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 1.7% to US$96.97 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher after Ukraine-Russia tensions escalated.

    Gold price edges higher

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a decent day after the gold price edged higher. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.3% to US$1,905.1 an ounce. Demand for the safe haven asset has risen amid developments in the Ukraine.

    Woolworths half year results

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price will be on watch on Wednesday when the retail giant releases its half year results. According to CommSec, the market is expecting Woolies to report a profit of $878 million and a fully franked final dividend of 48 cents per share.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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.

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

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  • 2 ASX growth shares with huge upside potential

    happy investor, share price rise, increase, up

    happy investor, share price rise, increase, uphappy investor, share price rise, increase, up

    Looking for growth shares to buy? Two that could be worth considering are listed below.

    Both look well-placed for growth during the 2020s. Here’s what you need to know about these ASX growth shares:

    Allkem Limited (ASX: AKE)

    The first ASX growth share to consider is Allkem. It is the top five global lithium mining company that was created with the merger of Galaxy Resources and Orocobre. The company owns a collection of high-quality assets including Olaroz, Mt Cattlin, and the Sal de Vida brine project.

    With lithium prices at sky high levels, demand outstripping supply, and plenty of production growth opportunities, Allkem looks well placed to generate strong sales growth in FY 2022 and beyond.

    Bell Potter is very positive on Allkem and believes it is the “go-to stock for multi-project exposure to lithium markets.” Last week it upgraded the company’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $17.51. This is almost double the current Allkem share price of $8.78.

    The broker explained: “The higher lithium price outlook has resulted in large upgrades to our AKE earnings outlook and valuation. EPS changes in this report are: FY22 +12%; FY23 +76%; and FY24 +131%. Our target price is now $17.51/sh (previously $11.00/sh). We have upgraded our recommendation to Buy.”

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    Another growth share to look at is this pizza chain operator. It could be a top option due to its strong brand, investment in technology, and bold expansion plans. The latter sees the company aiming to more than double its network to 6,650 stores in existing markets over the next 10 years.

    Domino’s also has a strong balance sheet and the flexibility to make acquisitions that could increase its store target even further.

    Combined with its long track record of same store sales growth, this bodes well for its sales and profit growth over the next decade. In the meantime, the team at Goldman Sachs is forecasting an operating earnings compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% for the next three years.

    In light of this strong growth, its analysts have a buy rating and $136.20 price target on the company’s shares. This compares to the latest Domino’s share price of $100.18.

    The post 2 ASX growth shares with huge upside potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Allkem. 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 Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Analysts name 2 ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    If you’re wanting to boost your portfolio with some blue chip ASX 200 shares then you may want to consider the two listed below.

    Both are high quality companies and have been rated as buys recently. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    The first blue chip ASX 200 share to look at is this leading integrated commercial and industrial property company.

    Goodman has been growing at a solid rate over the last decade thanks to its successful strategy of focusing on investing in and developing high quality industrial properties in strategic locations. These are close to large urban populations and in and around major gateway cities globally.

    Pleasingly, this strong form has continued in FY 2022, with Goodman recently handing in another impressive report card.

    The team at Citi is positive on Goodman and has named the company as its top pick in the sector. Citi has a buy rating and $29.50 price target on its shares.

    Its analysts commented: “GMG’s 1H22 EPS of 41.9c was 12% ahead of Visible Alpha consensus (37.3c) and 6% ahead of Citi (39.5c). FY22 EPS guidance was upgraded for the 2nd time in 6 months to 20% growth, or EPS of 78.7c, +1.5% ahead of ingoing consensus of 77.5c. FY22 DPS guidance was retained at 30c. We continue to see guidance as conservative, with our EPS estimates rising 5% in FY22 and c. 6% thereafter. We now forecast c. 23% EPS growth in FY22 and c. 19% EPS CAGR from FY21-FY24. Our TP increases 5% on higher asset values and higher earnings. GMG remains our top pick in the sector.”

    REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

    Another blue chip ASX 200 share to consider buying is this digital advertising company.

    REA is the operator of Australia’s leading property website, realestate.com.au, and a range of complementary businesses both at home and internationally.

    It was also a strong performer during the first half, delivering a 37% increase in revenue to $590 million and a 27% lift in EBITDA to $368 million. The latter was ahead of the market consensus estimate of $350 million.

    This result went down well with the team at Goldman Sachs, which has put a buy rating and $167.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Goldman said: “REA also delivered strong 1H22 earnings growth which was broadly in-line with our expectations, but was weaker in the core Australia business. With a strong start to 2H (i.e. listings +14% in Jan), and continued pricing/depth residential tailwinds, we expect solid 2H momentum.”

    The post Analysts name 2 ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    *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 REA Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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