If you’re looking for dividend shares to buy, then you may want to check out the ones listed below that are rated as buys by the team at Morgans.

Here’s what its analysts are saying about these ASX 200 dividend shares:

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

The first ASX 200 dividend share that Morgans is bullish on is Transurban. It is a toll road operator with a portfolio of key roads in Australia and North America. Morgans likes Transurban due to its exposure to a number of growth drivers.

It explained: “We view TCL as a high quality pure-play toll road infrastructure portfolio benefitting from employment and population growth, urbanisation, and the value of time, with particular exposure to the east coast capital cities in Australia.”s

Its analysts are forecasting dividends per share of 35 cents in FY 2022 and then 55.3 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.87, this implies yields of 2.5% and 4%, respectively. Morgans has an add rating and $14.57 price target on its shares.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Another ASX 200 dividend share that Morgans rates as a buy is Westpac. Its analysts believe the recent weakness in the Westpac share price has created an opportunity for income investors.

Morgans commented:: “WBC shares have been sold off heavily following the FY21 result announcement, such that out of the major banks, WBC is now trading on the lowest FY22F P/NTA multiple, the lowest FY22F P/E multiple and the highest FY22F dividend yield. Such multiples or yields could only be justified if WBC is a value trap, which we think it is not. We believe the challenges facing WBC are not severe enough for WBC to be thought of as a value trap.”

The broker is forecasting fully franked dividends 123 cents per share in FY 2022 and then 162 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Westpac share price of $21.51, this will mean yields of 5.8% and 7.6%, respectively. Morgans has an add rating and lofty $29.50 price target on the banking giant’s shares.

The post Morgans names 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Top ASX shares to buy in January 2022
• These ASX mining, tech, and bank shares could be buys in 2022
• ASX 200 falls on Friday but records 13% gain in 2021
• Morgans names 2 blue chip ASX 200 shares to buy
• Is the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price a buy for dividends?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Westpac Banking Corporation. 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 Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) listed miners broadly underperformed the index in 2021.

While the ASX 200 gained 13% in the year gone by, mining giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) slipped 2%.

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) had a more difficult year, seeing its share price fall by 12%.

Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) trailed the other big ASX 200 miners, closing the year down 18%.

There were numerous factors impacting the companies’ share prices over the year which go beyond the scope of this article. But the price of iron ore, a major contributor to their bottom line, was certainly a large one.

Iron ore kicked off 2021 trading for some US$158 per tonne. In July it hit record highs of US$220 per tonne before dropping sharply into November when it reached US$92 per tonne.

Despite some bearish analyst predictions, the metal bounced back in December and is currently worth US$120 per tonne.

That’s above consensus expectations for the average price in 2022. But those expectations may be on the pessimistic side, which would be welcome news to the ASX 200 miners.

ASX 200 mining shares eyeing iron ore prices

Ben Cleary is the portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners’ Global Natural Resources Fund.

As the Australian Financial Review reports, Cleary “is confident iron ore majors such as BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group will enjoy another strong year”.

That’s referring to their longer-term performance.

Over the past 5 years the ASX 200 has gained 31% while BHP is up 66%, Rio shares have gained 67% and the Fortescue share price has soared 223%.

Cleary’s optimistic outlook for the ASX 200 miners stems from his belief that consensus views for the iron ore price in 2022 are too low, just as consensus views came in well below the realised average price in 2021.

Consensus expectations for 2022, as measured by Bloomberg, are for iron ore to average US$90 per tonne.

But Cleary disagrees. He said (quoted by the AFR):

I think iron continues to rally in the first quarter to $US150 a tonne or higher, well above current consensus expectations of $US100 a tonne [for the quarter]. China’s credit impulse is starting to expand after mostly contracting in 2021 and infrastructure demand for iron ore should be particularly strong.

Advantage Fortescue

As mentioned above, Fortescue widely outperformed both the ASX 200 as well as BHP and Rio over the past 5 years, gaining an impressive 223%.

And Cleary believes the miner’s bull run could keep on going. Pointing to its advantages in the green hydrogen space, he said:

Fortescue is the pure-play iron ore exposure and comes with the added benefit of a green hydrogen call option that you are getting for free at current levels. Fortescue is well ahead of peers in terms of hydrogen and ammonia production, and this could be worth $50 a share or more if they execute.

The post Here’s why the ASX 200 miners’ 2022 outlook could be in for a boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy
• Here’s why the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price has leapt 12% in December
• Analysts rate these ASX 200 dividend shares as buys
• Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) shares are enjoying a Santa rally of their own this month. Here’s why

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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Despite the threat of persistent inflation and rising interest rates hanging over the sector’s head, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) managed to eke out a 3.72% return out of 2021.

But of course, some of those ASX shares fared better than others.

We’ve already taken a look at the 5 best-performing ASX tech shares from last year. 

Now it’s time for the dreaded worst performing stocks from 2021.

Whether it’s due to governance scandals, financial downgrades, industry consolidation, or COVID-19 impacts, these businesses have copped the proverbial cold shoulder from investors as the year wore on.

Here are the 5 worst tech shares from 2021 from the ASX All Tech index:

Company	2021 share price change
Laybuy Holdings Ltd (ASX: LBY)	(82.31%)
Splitit Ltd (ASX: SPT)	(80.69%)
Bill Identity Ltd (ASX: BID)	(79.32%)
Damstra Holdings Ltd (ASX: DTC)	(77.77%)
Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)	(73.33%)

Foreign BNPL businesses bleeding badly on the ASX

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) started 2021 as the hot sector with limitless potential.

While that might still be the case for the concept, investors have cooled on BNPL shares since the revelation in August that US giant Block Inc (NYSE: SQ) would wholly acquire market leader Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT).

That’s been the turbulent background for New Zealand’s Laybuy Holdings Ltd‘s (ASX: LBY) listed life since floating on the ASX in September 2020.

This ASX tech share landed on the bourse with high hopes and an initial public offer price of $1.41 per share.

But after a shocking 82% fall over last year, Laybuy stocks closed 2021 at 24 cents.

At the time of listing, founder and managing director Gary Rohloff told The Motley Fool his company’s payment cycle would be its competitive edge.

“We’re the only buy now, pay later provider in the market that offers a weekly payment option,” he said.

“We’re very simply weekly pay in 6 [payments]. We own that weekly space in New Zealand, I’d argue we own it in Australia, and we definitely own it in the UK.”

Another BNPL provider, New York’s Splitit Ltd (ASX: SPT), was not far behind Laybuy as the worst ASX tech share of 2021.

The stock price had plunged an eye-watering 81% over the year, leaving it with a market capitalisation of just $117.34 million.

Coverage is scarce on the business. But according to CMC Markets, at least Canaccord Genuity analysts currently rate it as a “strong buy” based on its bargain share price of 25 cents.

‘The market appears to have lost short-term confidence’

Microcap Bill Identity Ltd (ASX: BID) saw its share price fall more than 79% over 2021, leaving it to say goodbye to the year at 24 cents.

The Melbourne business automates bill payment processes through its cloud software.

Rounding out the worst 5 honour roll are Damstra Holdings Ltd (ASX: DTC) and Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL), which saw their shares shrink 78% and 73% respectively.

At its annual general meeting in November, Damstra’s language was far from positive.

The workplace management software company stated “the market appears to have lost short-term confidence” in the business and that it is sharing “the disappointment in [its] share price performance with other investors”.

Yikes.

Nuix’s problems have been all over the front page of not just financial publications like The Motley Fool, but also mainstream newspapers.

After a much-hyped listing in December 2020, the shares peaked at $11.86 in late January.

It’s all been downhill since for this ASX tech share, with a series of governance scandals, alleged insider trading, and financial underperformance. In November, Nuix’s own shareholders started suing it.

The stock farewelled the forgettable year at $2.20.

The post 5 worst ASX 200 tech shares of 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These were the 5 worst performing ASX BNPL shares of 2021
• Insiders have been buying Nuix (ASX:NXL) and this ASX share
• 4 cheapest cloud software ASX shares right now
• Why is the Laybuy (ASX:LBY) share price rocketing 42% today?

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited, Block, Inc., and Damstra Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Nuix Pty Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited and Damstra Holdings Ltd. 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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At lunch on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start 2022 in a very positive fashion. The benchmark index is currently up 1.3% to 7,541.1 points.

Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

Coal miners rise

It has been a great start to the year for coal miners. With Indonesia banning thermal coal exports, coal prices have risen and are being tipped to continue rising if the ban continues. The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price jumped as much as 95% on the news. Morgan Stanley commented on the news, stating: “Losing 40% of the seaborne market overnight, in the midst of peak winter demand, could set us up for another coal price spike.”

Pilbara Minerals share reach new high

Another ASX 200 share rising strongly today has been Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS). The lithium miner’s shares jumped 9% to a record high of $3.51 this morning. This is despite there being no news out of the company. However, as mentioned previously, the team at Macquarie recently reiterated its outperform rating and lifted its price target to $3.70.

Energy share rise

It has been a good start to the year for Australian energy shares. The likes of Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are pushing higher today following a rise in oil prices overnight. News that Libyan output will drop 200,000 barrels per day for one week due to pipeline maintenance gave prices a boost. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is up 3%.

Best and worst ASX 200 performers

The best performer on the ASX 200 on Tuesday has been the Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price with a gain of 9.5% on no news. The rare earths producer’s shares were among the best performers on the ASX 200 in 2021. The worst performer today has been the St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) share price with a decline of almost 4% after weakness in the gold price.

The post ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: Pilbara Minerals hits record high, energy shares rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• These were the 5 worst performing ASX 200 shares in 2021
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• These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in December

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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The Imricor Medical Systems Inc. (ASX: IMR) share price is starting 2022 with a bang. This follows the medical device company’s latest announcement that it has further expanded its geographical presence.

It sent Imricor shares soaring to $1.09, up 8.46%, on opening. At the time of writing, they’ve settled to trade at 1.045 apiece, up 3.98%.

What’s driving the Imricor share price higher?

Investors are buying Imricor shares after the company announced it has expanded access for its iCMR ablation solutions.

In its release, Imricor advised that the Henry Dunant Hospital Centre in Athens, Greece will perform iCMR cardiac ablation procedures.

Constructed in 2000, the Henry Dunant Hospital Centre is one of the largest and most technologically advanced hospital centres in southeast Europe.

This is significant as it’s Imricor strategic goal to grow the number of sites performing real-time iCMR cardiac ablation procedures in Europe.

An Equipment and Disposable Pricing Agreement was signed by both companies on 31 December.

Imricor will outfit an existing MR facility for iCMR procedures which are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022. This will be under the direction of electrophysiologist Professor George Andrikopoulos.

The agreement will see a one-time purchase of capital equipment needed to outfit an iCMR lab at the site. It also includes Imricor’s Advantage-MR EP Recorder/Stimulator as well as other third-party equipment sold by Imricor.

The term of the deal is valid for three years.

Imricor chair and CEO Steve Wedan commented:

We are very excited to work with Professor Andrikopoulos and his world-class team at Henry Dunant to bring iCMR cardiac ablations, for the first time, to patients in Greece.

More broadly, we are very pleased to see the acceleration in our rate of site adoption, adding four sites in the last quarter of 2021, and we remain focused on growing our installed base across Europe, as we enter 2022 with great enthusiasm.

About the Imricor share price

The Imricor share price has failed to take off in the past year, falling more than 50%. Despite being up today, its shares have been on a continuing decline.

Based on current share price levels, the company commands a market capitalisation of around $150 million.

The post Here’s why the Imricor Medical (ASX:IMR) share price is surging 8% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Imricor Medical (ASX:IMR) share price spikes 6% after expanding trial sites

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

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Shares in minerals and gold explorer Firefinch Ltd (ASX: FFX) are climbing today and now trade almost 3% higher at 88.75 cents apiece.

In the last 12 months, the Firefinch share price has soared almost 380% and the company’s shares are already in hot demand to start off the trading year.

This upward momentum came as shares popped off a low of 68 cents in December and leapt northwards to close out the year at 86.5 cents apiece.

Today Firefinch shares are lifting as investors respond positively to a company announcement on its Goulamina Lithium project. Here are the details.

Why is the Firefinch share price lifting today?

Firefinch announced that a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Goulamina Lithium Project has been approved.

The company gave an update that demonstrated a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $4.1 billion and a post-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 83%.

Following these “overwhelmingly positive” results, the boards of both Firefinch and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. have now approved the FID.

The pair have agreed to waive a final US$91 million payment that was baked into the FID upon the formation of the Goulamina Joint Venture (JV).

Firefinch says the major remaining condition precedent to the formation of the JV is the “transfer of the Project Exploitation Licence to a single purpose Malian subsidiary as required by Malian legislation”.

The transfer is expected in early 2022 and, upon the satisfaction of other condition precedents, will allow the
formation of the Goulamina JV per the release.

Final payment of Ganfeng’s US$130 million contribution and the US$39 million first payment made last year are expected in early 2022.

Ganfeng has also agreed to either provide $40 million of provided debt or to arrange up to US$120 million in third party debt (previously agreed up to US$64 million).

This decision came about after the feasibility study on the JV increased capital costs from US$194 million to US$255 million.

Management commentary

Speaking on the announcement, Firefinch Managing Director, Dr Michael Anderson, said:

The approval of FID represents yet another major milestone for the Goulamina Project. Clearly the outcomes of the DFS Update have been extremely compelling to the Boards of both companies and it is a testimony to the project’s credentials that the partners have moved so quickly and collaboratively to commit to the development of Goulamina. We sincerely look forward to maintaining the positive momentum into the New Year as site-based activities increase.

What’s next for Firefinch?

Firefinch says it will continue working with Gangfeng to move forward with early-stage engineering, drilling and various community and environmental works in order to fast track the development of the project.

Firefinch’s costs will also be reimbursed by the Goulamina JV once it is established, the release notes.

The post Here’s why the Firefinch (ASX:FFX) share price is flying higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The author has no positions 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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The price action of ASX biotech shares was nothing short of a mixed bag in 2021.

Several of the majors underperformed the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology index (AXPBJD), whereas many small-cap names came through the ranks to shine brightly ahead of peers.

The broad index itself was choppy throughout 2021, taking a deep plunge throughout December to finish just 2.1% higher for the year.

Investors watching the ASX biotech space will be keen to see how the sector rolls out of the blocks this year.

Commentary on the broader healthcare sector points to a decade of accelerated growth and heavy capital investment, thrust forward by policies bought on by COVID-19.

With these points in mind, we take a look back and see the year that was for the best performing ASX biotech shares.

Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price was a star performer in 2021 and rallied 300% across that time. The biotech finished the year strongly with a set of positive announcements regarding its clinical trial pipeline.

Imugene first advised it had received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational New Drug (IND) approval to initiate a phase I clinical trial of its oncolytic virotherapy candidate called VAXINIA.

It then advised the FDA had awarded IND approval for Imugene to initiate a new phase 2 clinical trial of its immunotherapy drug candidate, HER-Vaxx.

Announcements and updates concerning the HER-Vaxx segment were the major driving force for Imugene’s share price in 2021.

For instance, the company announced it formed a strategic partnership with clinical-stage biotechnology company Eureka Therapeutics in November.

The pair will investigate the therapeutic potential of combining their technologies for the treatment of solid tumours.

Just after this, Imugene announced it had signed a clinical supply agreement with pharmaceutical juggernauts Merck KGaA (ETR: MRK) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE).

Together the group will investigate Imugene’s HER-Vaxx therapy in combination with Avelumab – a label developed by Pfizer and Merck – as a combination therapy in a certain type of gastric/gastroesophageal cancer.

Avelumab works by blocking a certain molecule that suppresses the immune system, whereas HER-Vaxx is specifically designed to treat tumours.

Following these announcements, the Imugene share price spiked towards new 52-week highs.

In early trading on Tuesday, the Imugene share price is up 6.75% to 42.7 cents.

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

Shares in global biotech juggernaut CSL finished in the green in 2021 – but not before undergoing some downside volatility in December.

Just prior to this, CSL had fallen sharply off its 52-week high of $318 in November, as concerns around blood plasma collections in the US surmounted and the new Omicron COVID-19 variant began its impulse throughout financial markets.

After thrusting past this 1-year high, this ASX biotech share reversed course and bottomed at $272 by the middle of December, a substantial drop of $46 per share in less than a month.

However, news of the company’s acquisition of Swiss-based biotech company Vifor Pharma for $17.2 billion in cash sent CSL’s share price bouncing off this low.

By the time the company completed its capital raising round for the purchase, investors had already driven CSL shares back to $290 and change to finish the year.

Aside from this momentum to close out 2021, CSL share price action was quite volatile across the year, with a spread of 29% between minimum and maximum closing prices in that time.

Nevertheless, analysts at several investment banks are bullish on the company following its recent acquisition. Citi upgraded its recommendation on CSL shares to a buy and values the company at $340 per share. Morgans is equally as bullish and assigned a price target of $334 per share.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Shares in oncology company Telix Pharmaceuticals traded in a relatively narrow ascending channel during most of 2021 after popping in May last year.

The company finished the year up 96% and closed the final session at $7.75 apiece.

News around Telix’s novel imaging platform for prostate cancer, Illuccix, was the major catalyst that saw investors screaming to secure a spot in the company’s growth engine last year.

Adding to the company’s flywheel in 2021 was the FDA approving its Illuccix technology for use as a diagnostic imaging platform for prostate cancer.

The company also now expects European approval for registration status no later than 23 March 2022 for the Illucix platform. This comes after it was awarded marketing authorisation application (MAA) in the bloc.

The team at Bell Potter has Telix as a buy and values the company at $9.65. Meanwhile, Wilsons’ recently upgraded its price target on the company to $10.35.

Both Jarden and Jefferies also reckon Telix is a buy, valuing the company at $8.50 and $7 respectively.

Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NSB)

Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals was a decent performer among ASX biotech shares in 2021, gaining 36%.

Flying largely under the radar, the company traded as high as 51.5 cents in September last year, before levelling off and fetching 33.5 cents apiece to close out the final session of 2021.

This price action came after investors bid up NSB’s share price from a low of 21 cents back in February, and then got ahold of it once more in September.

During that time NSB advised that AusIndustry approved an Advance and Overseas Finding under the R&D tax incentive program (TIP) for the development of the company’s lead drug candidate, EmtinB.

The studies will investigate EmtinB as a novel therapeutic treatment for ocular conditions that damage the optic nerve.

Meanwhile, the tax program enables the company to receive R&D tax incentive rebates on up to $25 million of R&D expenditure incurred during 2021, 2022, and 2023. Investors drove up NSB shares in a linear fashion following the release.

Then, in December, the ASX biotech share released positive study readouts from a safety assessment of EmtinB following an in vitro screening program.

Specifically, the researchers were examining ways to predict “drug-induced toxicities in humans prior to first-in-human Phase I clinical studies”.

Why is this relevant? It boils down to the fact some drug interactions produce unintended adverse side effects in humans.

This interplay has regulators advocating drug makers such as NSB to produce known “anti-targets” – like the screening program in this latest update – as part of risk mitigation in drug development.

Doing so improves the known safety and risk profiles of various drugs to improve patient outcomes.

The market sent the Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals share price 11% higher on the day of the announcement.

Memphasys Ltd (ASX: MEM)

Shares in ASX biotech Memphasys finished 2021 marginally in the red. However, considering its performance in the final quarter of 2021, it is a worthy mention.

Memphasys started 2021 trading up around 11.5 cents apiece before taking a massive plunge to land just below 6 cents in March.

It stayed around those levels for the bolus of the year, trading sideways in a narrow channel with a spread of just 1.3 cents.

That was before shares popped in November after Memphasys received validation and verification for its Felix device.

Shares in the medical device and biotechnology company subsequently closed out the month 58% in the green after peaking at 11 cents apiece.

Its share price has since reverted back to its current levels at 9.3 cents. However, it has found support around this level and is trading sideways once more.

Furthermore, the company announced it made its first commercial sale of the Felix System for clinical IVF use in December. The order was made from a women’s centre in Coimbatore, India, marking the first steps in cash flow receipts for this segment.

The post Here are the 5 best performing ASX biotech shares of 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy
• Analysts name 3 ‘must have’ ASX shares for buy and hold investors
• 3 ASX biotech shares rated as buys in 2022
• Top broker tips CSL (ASX:CSL) share price to climb to $340

The author has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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

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

The stock market has been roaring ahead in the last part of December, with investors taking full advantage of a Santa Claus rally to enjoy further gains. The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) has been lagging behind the record performances of its fellow benchmarks, but even the Nasdaq saw solid gains on Thursday afternoon, rising more than half a percent as of 1:30 p.m. ET.

Nasdaq stocks have pulled back somewhat in the past month, but the index has nevertheless been a stellar performer in 2021. That has many investors wondering whether 2022 could bring even better gains for the index — or whether they should tone down their expectations after such an impressive run.

Huge gains continue

There’s still more than a day of trading before Wall Street closes the books on this year. But based on where the Nasdaq stands today, 2021 will go down as another successful year that defied many people’s expectations.

The Nasdaq is up more than 22% so far for the year. That marks the ninth gain in the past 10 years for the index. Over that span, the Nasdaq has risen more than 500%, for an average gain of almost 20% per year.

What’s especially impressive about the Nasdaq’s performance this year is that it followed two even stronger years. The index rose 35% in 2019 and then 44% in 2020, despite seeing a big bear market move downward at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This year’s economic rebound has helped bolster sentiment about the stock market generally, and even a cooling of interest in high-growth tech stocks hasn’t hurt the Nasdaq dramatically.

What will 2022 bring?

It’s tempting to think that after three strong years that have produced gains of almost 140%, the Nasdaq is due for a downward year. It’s true that there’s always a chance of an extended stock market pullback. There’s no question that valuations are at levels that many investors find stretched at best, with some seeing the potential for a crash being well above average.

However, the same arguments have been true in the past, and the Nasdaq hasn’t always done what investors feared. 2021 is a great example, as some believed that the pandemic merely pulled forward demand rather than creating sustained growth. Many Nasdaq stocks are well off their highs from earlier in the year, but on the whole, the index has defied bearish calls.

The Nasdaq’s run of gains in the 2010s is an even stronger example of how betting on a pullback can be costly. Three years of double-digit percentage returns from 2012 to 2014, including a 38% rise in 2013, led many investors to believe a pullback in the Nasdaq was imminent. However, the index continued to rise for the next three years, including a 28% jump in 2017. When the decline came in 2018, it was mild, with investors suffering losses of just 4%.

What to watch

Even with those long-term assurances, you can bet that investors will watch certain things closely. The Federal Reserve could play a key role, with its interest rate policy decisions having a big impact on high-growth stocks. Also, those who own individual stocks will look for the companies most likely to outperform the index.

Trying to guess whether a given year will be a winner or a loser is usually more costly than successful. The best way to proceed is to keep a mindset that puts you into top-quality stocks that you can hold for the long haul. 

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

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Dan Caplinger 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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The US tech giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) has done it again. Not only is the world-famous iPhone maker still reigning supreme as the world’s largest publically-traded company, it also just passed another major milestone in US trading last night (our time).

During intra-day trading on US markets, Apple hit a new all-time high, reaching US$182.88 a share. That share price put Apple stock at a market capitalisation of US$3 trillion for the first time ever. It also marked the first time that a publicly-listed company has ever commanded a market cap of this magnitude.

Apple hits US$3 trillion market cap

Even though Apple hit this new milestone during intra-day trading, it’s worth noting that the stock closed at US$182.01 by the end of the session, giving it a market cap of US$2.99 trillion. It’s been a long time coming for Apple, but also highlights this company’s neck-cracking growth over the past few years in particular.

Remember, it was only in August 2018 that Apple first hit the US$1 trillion marker, the first time any US company has had ‘the big T’ in front of its market cap. It only took another two years for Apple to double, hitting US$2 trillion in August 2020. It has taken even less time again for Apple to add the additional ‘tril’ that we saw this morning.

As it stands today, Apple shares are now up a very pleasing 517.4% over the past five years.

So now that Apple has hit this latest milestone, what next for this tech giant? Is this just a pitstop on the way to a US$4 trillion market cap for Apple? Its performance over the past few years might give the impression that it’s only a matter of years, if not months, away.

Is the big 4 next?

Our Fool colleagues over in the US reckon the stars might have aligned for Apple to have a 4 in front of its market cap in the not-too-distant future. In some analysis done last week, they argued that Apple stock could gain another US$1 trillion in market cap through valuation expansion alone. Pointing out that Apple’s tech rival Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) currently trades on a free cash flow multiple of 42, Apple’s ~31 multiple could leave a lot of runway for growth.

But the company could also be assisted by pure fundamentals too. Here’s what US Fool contributor Daniel Sparks had to say on that:

But even without this much multiple expansion, strong fundamentals could lift Apple shares meaningfully in 2022 and beyond. Consider that the company is seeing strong double-digit revenue growth recently, with record fiscal fourth-quarter revenue across every geographic and product segment…

Suffice to say, Apple’s business is firing on all cylinders. With momentum in every geographic and product segment, it wouldn’t be surprising to see double-digit growth rates in the company’s revenue and free cash flow in fiscal 2022, providing solid substance for more share gains.

But, as with anything in the investing world, nothing is certain. It’s possible that this is just the latest stop on Apple’s journey to a US$4 trillion market cap. it’s also possible that last night’s new highs prove to be Apple’s peak. But no one can deny this world-famous company has had an amazing run over the past decade.

The post Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares jump to surpass landmark US$3 trillion market cap. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. 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 last year has been sensational for Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) investors.

The crowning glory perhaps was that the investment firm actually became the 4th largest bank in Australia, ushering it into what many thought was an unbreakable club — the big four.

The milestone was achieved through a spectacular rise in share price over the course of 2021. 

Macquarie stocks climbed an awesome 48.3% for the 2021 calendar year. 

That’s while giving out what would be a 4.4% dividend yield for those who owned Macquarie shares at the start of that period.

Macquarie shares closed 2021 on $205.40 after starting the year at $138.48.

Macquarie is the ASX share to hold for years

Perennial Value Management portfolio management director Stephen Bruce picked the share as one he would be happy to hold onto for years to come.

“If you want to pick a stock which will adapt to whatever the environment is presenting, I think Macquarie Group have demonstrated that they’re an organisation that… [has] still managed to maintain that flexibility and nimbleness and adaptability to see where opportunities are and take them,” he told The Motley Fool last month. 

“And similarly, to see when things are on the decline and to move out of things that have seen their best days.”

While the other big banks remain static with their market dominance, Macquarie has benefitted from investor confidence in their growth prospects.

The financial powerhouse, long dubbed ‘The Millionaires’ Factory’, is seen as heavily investing in green energy and carbon reduction themes in recent years.

Bruce told The Motley Fool that the way Macquarie invests has also slightly changed over the years.

“If we think about the outlook now and what we think it might be like in 4 years, if you continue on with the green and energy transition theme, Macquarie [has] largely invented it,” he said.

“They were the leaders in infrastructure as pioneers of infrastructure-as-an-asset class. And now that’s obviously becoming a very crowded space, but they’ve proactively moved down the value chain into greenfield developments and actually creating the assets rather than just buying them.”

Macquarie shares are still good value to start 2022

This “early mover position” has Macquarie well prepared for further growth despite its valuation ballooning the past 12 months.

“It’s nowhere near the value it was when it was $140, but you can make an argument that if we look at it now, it’s probably operating in the best conditions you can imagine really across all of its businesses,” said Bruce.

“People are fighting for infrastructure assets so prices are really, really high. There’s heaps of money flowing into the funds they manage. The performance bids will be good.”

Alphinity Investment Management client portfolio manager Elfreda Jonker also told The Motley Fool that Macquarie shares remain decent value.

“If you look at the valuation, it’s trading on a PE [ratio] of around 19 times, so that’s ahead of its long term average of around 16,” she said. 

“But in our view, we do think that the way they are busy changing the business model and really just expanding the different business avenues that they’re in, we think this company can continue to generate really strong earning scores, particularly over the next number of years.”

The post How the Macquarie (ASX: MQG) share price went in 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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