• Own IAG (ASX:IAG) shares? Here’s what you’re really invested in

    happy investors around computer, young investors, loans, finance

    If you own Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares, firstly, commiserations are in order. The IAG share price has had a shocker today, falling by a nasty 2.51% to finish the day at $4.27 a share. That almost mirrors the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which finished the trading day down by 2.49%.

    IAG’s recent share price performance hasn’t lit anyone’s eyes up either, I’d wager. The IAG share price remains down by a rather horrible 14.4% over the past 12 months, and down by close to 30% over the past 5 years.

    But let’s not dwell too deeply on those sobering figures, and instead let’s check out what you actually own if you own IAG shares. Remember, this is a company that once attracted the sought-after dollars of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) a few years ago.

    IAG shares: what’s in a name?

    So no doubt the name ‘IAG’ wouldn’t be too familiar with Australians outside the investing space. That’s because IAG doesn’t slap its own brand on most of the insurance policies it sells. Instead, the company uses a number of subsidiary brands to this end. Heard of NRMA Insurance? That’s owned by IAG.

    As is SGIO. SGIO stands for State Government Insurance Office and was an old state-owned company from Western Australia. Today, IAG owns SGIO in full. It’s the same with SGIC (State Government Insurance Commission) in South Australia. IAG acquired both names in 1998.

    Other brands IAG own and offer policies through include Swann Insurance, WFI, CGU Insurance and Lumley Special Vehicles.

    IAG is also the business behind the white-label Coles Insurance, offered, of course, by Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL). When you buy car or home insurance from Coles, you are really buying a policy underwritten by IAG.

    Through this rather large network of businesses, IAG gives its customers insurance on anything from cars, motorcycles and boats to crops and livestock, income protection and home and contents.

    So that’s what you indirectly have a stake in if you own IAG shares.

    At the latest IAG share price, this ASX insurer has a market capitalisation of $10.46 billion, with a trailing dividend yield of 3.3%.

    The post Own IAG (ASX:IAG) shares? Here’s what you’re really invested in appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has 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 owns and has recommended Insurance Australia Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). 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 top international ETFs for ASX investors

    Global technology shares

    If you’re looking for an easy way to invest in international shares for diversification, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be just what you need.

    But which ETFs should you look at? Here are two popular ETFs that could be top long term options:

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. This ETF allows investors to gain exposure to a portfolio of exciting tech shares that are revolutionising the lives of billions of people in Asia.

    One of the shares included in the fund is search engine giant Baidu. As well as dominating search in China, Baidu is making great progress with artificial intelligence and is aiming to be an autonomous vehicle powerhouse.

    Also included in the fund is tech giant Tencent Holdings. It is the tech giant responsible for the hugely popular WeChat app. This app also has a virtual duopoly with Alibaba’s Ant Group in the mobile payments industry in the country. In addition to this, it has a huge online and mobile games business and has just launched into new areas such as advertising, content, and commercial services.

    BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    Another ETF to look at is the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF. This ETF aims to track the performance of the NASDAQ 100. This comprises 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on Wall Street’s famous exchange.

    Among the 100 companies you will find tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Google parent, Alphabet. In addition, investors will be gaining a slice of non-tech companies including Gilead Sciences, Lululemon, Moderna, and Starbucks.

    BetaShares thinks this ETF is a good option for Australian investors as it has a strong focus on technology. It feels this gives investors diversified exposure to a high-growth potential sector that is under-represented on the Australian share market.

    The post 2 top international ETFs for ASX investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. 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 Goldman Sachs rates as buys

    happy investor, share price rise, increase, up

    Are you looking for some growth shares to buy? If you are, you may want to check out the ones that Goldman Sachs has buy ratings on.

    Here are two growth shares it rates highly:

    NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    The first growth share to look at is NEXTDC. It is a leading data centre operator with operations across Australia. It has also recently opened up offices in Singapore and Tokyo, with a view to expanding into these markets in the near future.

    Given the size of these markets, if this expansion proves to be a success, it could take its growth up another level. As could its recent venture into edge data centres. These are centres in regional areas that are designed to directly and seamlessly interconnect regionally located organisations back into NEXTDC’s metropolitan data centre network.

    Goldman Sachs is very positive on its future and has a buy rating and $14.40 price target on its shares. It said: “We see NXT continuing to grow EBITDA at c.20%” through to FY 2024.

    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

    Another ASX growth share that Goldman Sachs is a fan of is Xero. It is a leading provider of a cloud-based business and accounting solution to small and medium sized businesses globally.

    Xero has been growing strongly over the last few years and looks well-positioned to continue the trend in the years to come. Particularly given recent acquisitions, which are strengthening its offering and positioning it for growth.

    In addition, Xero looks well-placed for growth thanks to its international expansion, the shift to the cloud, and the monetisation of its app ecosystem. Goldman Sachs is particularly positive on the latter. It believes Xero could have a multi-decade runway for strong growth if management can successfully monetise its app ecosystem.

    Goldman currently has a buy rating and $158.00 price target on its shares. The broker commented: “We expect XRO revenue to double across FY21-24E (+26% CAGR).”

    The post 2 ASX growth shares Goldman Sachs rates as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns NEXTDC Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Xero. 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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  • PointsBet (ASX:PBH) share price sinks 9% despite launching in New York

    a man sits at a bar leaning sadly on his basketball wearing a US flag sticker on his cheekbone near a half drunk beer and looking despondent as though his basketball team has just lost a game.

    Key points

    • The PointsBet share price has fallen victim to the negative market sentiment on Tuesday
    • Among the selling, PointsBet announced a successful launch in New York
    • The sports betting company is now operational across nine US states

    The PointsBet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) share price has failed to garner excitement on Tuesday following the release of its latest market update.

    In afternoon trade, shares in the sports betting company are down 8.63% to $5.19 apiece. Though, PointsBet is not alone in its disappointing performance. The tech sector is 3.08% down from where it was yesterday as the market nears correction territory.

    Nonetheless, let’s delve into the details of PointsBet’s announcement.

    Another US state chalked up for PointsBet

    At the beginning of today’s session, investors were keeping the PointsBet share price close to its previous close of $5.68. However, this soon deteriorated throughout the morning as the company reached an intraday low of $5.18.

    Shareholders may have thought PointsBet’s announcement, released around 2:30 pm, would revive the company’s shares. Unfortunately, the news appears to have gone unnoticed by the market.

    According to the company’s release, PointsBet has successfully launched its online and mobile sports betting offerings in the US state of New York. Furthermore, the first bet through its platform in the state was recorded at 10:09 pm New York time.

    Additionally, this brings the company presence to nine states across the US where its sports betting is operational. Other states include New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, and Virginia. Yet, looking at the PointsBet share price today, you wouldn’t know it.

    PointsBet’s group CEO and managing director Sam Swanell commented on the news, stating:

    This marks a momentous day for PointsBet in officially launching within the state of New York, poised to be one of the largest markets in the United States. The PointsBet team is excited to prove our reputation and consistent ability to deliver a world-class experience to New York sports bettors.

    Notably, this update comes only five days after the company was awarded a sports wagering license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. In turn, PointsBet will have access to one of the biggest sports betting states in the US.

    Taking a punt on the PointsBet share price

    It has been a brutal start to the year for the PointsBet share price. On a year-to-date basis, PointsBet shares are down roughly 25%. And, when we zoom out to the last 12 months, the pain compounds to a 66% fall in the company’s share price.

    However, one broker is staying on the optimistic side of the fence for this ASX-listed sports betting company. As my colleague James recently covered, Goldman Sachs has reiterated its buy rating on the PointsBet share price. In addition, the broker tagged it with a price target of $11.00.

    This would suggest a potential upside of 108% from the current PointsBet share price.

    The post PointsBet (ASX:PBH) share price sinks 9% despite launching in New York appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in PointsBet Holdings right now?

    Before you consider PointsBet Holdings, 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 PointsBet Holdings 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 Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pointsbet 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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  • Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today

    Business man marking Sell on board and underlining it

    Yesterday we looked at three ASX shares brokers have given buy ratings to this week.

    Unfortunately, not all shares are in favour with them right now. Three that have just been given sell ratings are listed below. Here’s why these brokers are bearish on these ASX shares:

    Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

    According to a note of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have retained their underweight rating and $3.80 price target on this insurance giant’s shares. The broker notes that open banking is moving onto open finance and will include general insurance. Morgan Stanley sees risk from this as it will give consumers better opportunities to compare policies. The IAG share price is trading at $4.26 on Tuesday.

    Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL)

    A note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their sell rating and cut their price target on this gold miner’s shares to $1.90. While Goldman acknowledges that there is some implied upside to its price target, it is holding firm with its sell rating. This is due to its shares trading on a higher NAV valuation to peers, McPhillamys approvals and execution risks, and its out of the money hedge book. The Regis Resources share price is fetching $1.73 today.

    Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

    Analysts at Macquarie have retained their underperform rating but lifted their price target on this shopping centre property company’s shares to $2.82. Macquarie has been running the rule over the property sector and has concerns over the outlook for retail and residential property. In addition, it believes current consumer spending habits could also weigh on Scentre’s performance. The Scentre share price is trading at $2.88 this afternoon.

    The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today 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. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Insurance Australia 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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  • These 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts on Tuesday

    A man is deep in thought while looking at graph and rising and falling percentages.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has had a horror Tuesday so far today, continuing the sell-off pattern we have seen take flight over the past few weeks.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down by a lamentable 2.71% at 6,946 points. In fact, just 10 companies in the ASX 200 are trading in the green.

    But let’s not focus too much on those depressing figures, and instead let’s take a look at the ASX 200 shares that are currently at the top of the ASX’s volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Tuesday

    Sydney Airport (ASX: SYD)

    Sydney Airport is our first ASX 200 share to check out today. This eponymous company has had a hefty 22.3 million shares bought and sold at this point of the trading session. There’s not too much out from Sydney Airport his Tuesday, apart from some routine paperwork showing that UBS Group has increased its total shareholding from 6.07% to 7.17% over the past month or so.

    However, the company did release a traffic update last week that might still be influencing this high volume today. The Sydney Airport share price hasn’t done anything too dramatic either. It’s currently 0.12% down at $8.64 a share after stints in both positive and negative territory today. It’s this combination that is probably behind the elevated trading volumes we are seeing.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Our next share up this Tuesday is ASX 200 lithium producer Pilbara. Pilbara Minerals has had a notable 28.4 million shares bought and sold thus far today. Again, there hasn’t been much in the way of news or announcements out of Pilbara recently, apart from yesterday’s notice that the company’s quarterly activities report will be released on 31 January.

    So it’s probable the high volumes we are currently seeing are the result of the nasty share price fall Pilbara has endured so far today. At the time of writing, Pilbara is down a depressing 5.91% at $3.26 a share.

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    ASX 200 telco Telstra is our final share of the day. A whopping 30.25 Telstra shares have found a new home at this point of the day, topping out the ASX 200 volume charts as it currently stands.

    Again, we can likely point to a big share price movement to explain this high volume. Telstra shares are currently down by a steep 3.33% at $3.92 a share. That puts this company’s 5-day losses at close to 8%. Since Telstra has a relatively low share price compared to most other ASX blue chips, big moves like this can easily result in the company topping the volume tables.

    The post These 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns Telstra Corporation 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 owns and has recommended Telstra Corporation 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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  • Own Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) shares? Work at its major copper project is about to restart

    a close up of two people shake hands in front of the backdrop of a setting sun in an outdoor setting.

    Key points

    • Rio Tinto has announced work at its Oyu Tolgoi project will restart after a deal was forged between stakeholders
    • The agreement followed the waiving of a $3.3 billion debt owed by the Government of Mongolia
    • Despite the news, the Rio Tinto share price is struggling amid a major market selloff event

    While the Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price suffers through a rough day on the ASX, the company has announced it has agreed to restart its Oyu Tolgoi project after a multi-billion-dollar debt was waived.

    Oyu Tolgoi is a Mongolian copper mine. It’s set to be the fourth largest copper mine in the world by 2030, producing around 500,000 tonnes of copper each year from 2028 to 2036.

    At the time of writing, the Rio Tinto share price is $107.11, 0.78% lower than its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 2.54%.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news from the ASX-listed resources giant.

    Work to restart at Rio Tinto’s major copper project

    Owners of Rio Tinto shares rejoice! An agreement has finally been forged with stakeholders, including the Government of Mongolia, to restart work at the Oyu Tolgoi project.

    The decision to move forward comes weeks after Turquoise Hill (NYSE: TRQ) – of which Rio Tinto has a 50.8% holding – announced it would forgive the Mongolian government’s approximate US$2.4 billion (around A$3.3 billion) debt after it failed to pay for its share of the project’s construction costs.

    Turquoise Hill owns 66% of the Oyu Tolgoi project and the Mongolian government holds the other 34%. Rio Tinto manages the project on behalf of its owners.

    Together, the entities have agreed to move the project forward. They have given the green tick to start work on underground operations, unlocking the mine’s most valuable area.

    On top of that, the parties have agreed to an updated funding plan. Under the new plan, until sustainable underground production is achieved, the project will be funded by cash on hand and the rescheduling of existing debt repayments, alongside a pre-paid copper concentrate sales agreement.

    The first sustainable production from Oyu Tolgoi is now expected to occur in the first half of next year.

    Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill have also updated their capital forecast for the project to US$6.925 billion – up from US$6.75 billion. That includes US$175 million of known COVID-19 impacts, up until the end of 2021.

    The pair forecast around US$1.8 billion remains to be spent underground. However, they plan to revise their expectations during the first half of this year. The revisions will reflect any extra COVID-19 impacts, time-based impacts, or risks.

    Finally, it has been decided the mine will be powered by the Mongolian grid. As a result, Rio Tinto has agreed to work with the nation’s government to support the grid with long-term renewable energy generation.

    What did management say?

    Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm commented on the agreements announced today, saying:

    This agreement represents a reset of our relationship and resolves historical issues between the Oyu Tolgoi project partners. We strongly believe in the future of [Mongolia] and I am personally committed to ensuring that the people of Mongolia benefit strongly from Oyu Tolgoi along with our shareholders…

    The Oyu Tolgoi underground development will consolidate Rio Tinto’s position as a leading global supplier of copper at a time when demand is increasing, driven by its role in enabling decarbonisation and electrification in the race to net zero.

    Rio Tinto share price snapshot

    2022 has been good to the Rio Tinto share price so far.

    Right now, the company’s stock is has risen almost 7% year to date. Though, it is 12% lower than it was this time last year.

    The post Own Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) shares? Work at its major copper project is about to restart appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Rio Tinto right now?

    Before you consider Rio Tinto, 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 Rio Tinto wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

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

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  • Here’s a deep dive into the historical returns of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares

    a happy child dressed in full business suit gives the thumbs up sign while sitting at a desk featuring a piggy bank and a sack of money with a dollar sign on it.

    When it comes to ASX blue-chip shares, it doesn’t get too much bluer than Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). Wesfarmers has been around for decades. Indeed, it first opened its doors way back in 1914 – around the same time as the onset of the First World War.

    Since then, Wesfarmers has grown to become one of the most influential shares on the ASX share market. Momentous events in its history – such as the acquisition and later spin-off of Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) – have changed the shape of the entire share market.

    But how have Wesfarmers shares performed as an investment? That’s what we’ll be checking out today.

    How do Wesfarmers sahres measure up against the ASX 200?

    So over the past 10 years, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned an average of 10.73% per annum. That’s based on the performance of the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) to 31 December 2021, and assumes reinvestment of all dividend distributions.

    Wesfarmers actually gives us a returns calculator on its website, so we can estimate how much its shares have returned to investors. This calculator tells us that a $10,000 investment into Wesfarmers shares back on new year’s eve, 2011 would have grown to $26,714 by new year’s eve, 2021.

    That’s a total return of 167% or so, or else an average of 10.32% per annum. But this calculator doesn’t include the impacts of Wesfremrs’ dividends. Since this company has historically paid out an annual dividend that equates to a rough yield of between 2-4%, we can add this to its average annual return. As such, we can say that the Wesfarmers share price has been a healthy market-beating investment over the past 10 years.

    Here’s how that looks in a visual form (price appreciation only):

    Wesfarmers shares performance

    So there you have it, a 10-year look at the Wesfarmers’ share price and its performance. No doubt shareholders will be hoping for at least a repeat over the next decade. But we shall have to wait and see what this old company pulls out of its hat in the 2020s.

    The post Here’s a deep dive into the historical returns of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Wesfarmers, 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 Wesfarmers 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 Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET and Wesfarmers 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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  • The Flight Centre (ASX:FLT) share price just hit a 5-month low. Is now the time to buy?

    Man sitting in a plane seat works on his laptop.

    Key points

    • Flight Centre shares dip following slow recovery of travel market
    • Border closures and restrictions impacting company sales
    • First-half FY22 results anticipated to be released on 24 February

    The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price dropped to a 5-month low earlier today. Although its shares have slightly recovered, could now be the time to pick up a bargain?

    At the time of writing, the travel agent’s shares are swapping hands for $16.06, down 3% for the day. In earlier trade, they slumped to $15.81, their lowest price since mid-August.

    It’s worth noting that since reaching a post-COVID high of $25.28 in October, its shares have fallen by 36%.

    What has happened to Flight Centre shares lately?

    The dumping of the Flight Centre share price is being driven by the sluggish recovery across the travel market.

    The number of Omicron cases across the country has led Western Australia to delay the reopening of its borders. In addition, extended restrictions across the east coast have impacted foot traffic to Flight Centre stores.

    Without clearer visibility surrounding the resumption of travel, Flight Centre could be battling to achieve strong financial numbers for FY22.

    Late last year, the company highlighted a return in leisure and corporate profitability. Corporate transaction numbers were at 50% of pre-COVID levels, representing around 40% of Flight Centre’s total transaction value (TTV).

    On a positive note, the business has a much leaner and more efficient cost base model compared to pre-COVID. This is expected to translate to bumper profits when considering the long-term.

    All eyes will be on Flight Centre’s FY22 half-year results which are expected to be released on 24 February.

    Are Flight Centre shares a buy?

    A couple of brokers weighed in on the Flight Centre share price during the final months of 2021.

    The team at Citi raised its 12-month price target by 8.1% to $18.31 for Flight Centre shares. Based on the current share price, this implies an upside of 14% for investors.

    On the other hand, Goldman Sachs cut its assessment on the company’s shares by 1.4% to $20.40. Its analysts believe there is still value left in the travel agent over the next 12 months. This represents an uplift of 27% for Flight Centre shares at today’s prices.

    Flight Centre share price summary

    It’s been a challenging 12 months for the Flight Centre share price, despite gaining around 7% over the period.

    The company’s shares reached a 52-week high of $25.28 in early October when Australia appeared to be managing the pandemic. However, since the outbreak of the Omicron variant, its shares have nosedived.

    On valuation grounds, Flight Centre presides a market capitalisation of roughly $3.3 billion, with approximately 199.61 million shares outstanding.

    The post The Flight Centre (ASX:FLT) share price just hit a 5-month low. Is now the time to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Flight Centre right now?

    Before you consider Flight Centre, 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 Flight Centre wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel 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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  • Why Accent, BrainChip, Fortescue, and Novonix shares are sinking

    An arrow crashes through the ground as a businessman watches on.

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on track to record a big decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down a sizeable 3% to 6,925.1 points.

    Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    The Accent share price is down over 4% to $2.02 following the release of a trading update. This morning the footwear focused retailer revealed that like-for-like sales across November and December fell 3.4% when compared to the prior corresponding period. Management also warned that January has been challenging due to COVID-19 impacts.

    BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

    BrainChip share price has crashed 16% to $1.39. This is despite there being no news out of the artificial intelligence technology company. This latest decline means BrainChip’s shares have now sunk over 40% from their highs this month. Investors appear to be questioning the company’s sky high valuation in the current environment.

    Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

    The Fortescue share price is down 5% to $19.46 following the release of its second quarter update. Although Fortescue delivered record first half iron ore shipments, the discount for its product continues to widen. In addition, Fortescue revealed that its C1 costs were up 20% year on year. Though, a small positive was that they remained flat quarter on quarter.

    Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX)

    The Novonix share price is down 8.5% to $7.53. This appears to have been driven by broad weakness in the battery materials sector which has offset a positive announcement. In respect to the latter, the advanced battery materials and technology company has signed a letter of intent to enter into investment and supply agreements with KORE Power. This will see Novonix become the exclusive supplier of high-performance graphite anode materials to KORE Power’s U.S. facility.

    The post Why Accent, BrainChip, Fortescue, and Novonix shares are sinking 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. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. 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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