• 3 excellent ETFs for ASX investors in December

    ETF spelt out

    If you’re looking for an easy way to invest your hard-earned money, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be worth considering.

    Rather than deciding on which individual shares you should put your money into, ETFs will allow you to invest in a large group of shares through just a single investment.

    With that in mind, here are three ETFs that are popular with investors right now:

    BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    The first ETF for investors to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. This fund provides investors with exposure to the leaders in the global cybersecurity sector. BetaShares notes that this is heavily under-represented on the ASX, making this ETF particularly attractive for local investors. Especially given how the sector is forecast to grow materially in the future due to the increasing importance of cybersecurity. Among the companies in the fund are cybersecurity giants Accenture, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Okta, and Palo Alto Networks.

    BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    Another ETF to consider is the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF. This is one of the most popular ETFs around and it isn’t hard to see why. The BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF gives investors a slice of the 100 largest non-financial shares on the famous NASDAQ index. This means you’ll be buying a stake in tech giants including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, and Tesla, to name just a few.

    VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    A final ETF to look at in December is the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. This ETF gives investors access to a portfolio of the largest companies involved in video game development, hardware, and esports. Among the companies you’ll be buying a slice of are giants such as Nvidia, Roblox, Take-Two, and Electronic Arts. VanEck notes that these companies are in a position to benefit from the increasing popularity of video games and eSports. It also highlights that it gives investors the opportunity to diversify their portfolio by providing tech options outside FAANG stocks.

    The post 3 excellent ETFs for ASX investors in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 more than eight 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.

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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 shares of and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS and BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports 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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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

    ASX 200 shares to buy A clockface with the word 'Time to Buy'

    Last week saw a number of broker notes hitting the wires once again. Three buy ratings that investors might want to be aware of are summarised below.

    Here’s why brokers think investors ought to buy them next week:

    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

    According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this infant formula company’s shares to $7.30. Citi lifted its price target after upgrading its earnings estimates slightly for the coming years. Outside this, the broker has been encouraged by the improvement in A2 Milk’s inventory position, restructured distributor agreements, and the strength of the brand in China. The A2 Milk share price ended the week at $6.00.

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this homewares retailer’s shares to $5.90. This follows news that the company has agreed to acquire furniture retailer Focus on Furniture for $80 million. UBS is a fan of the deal and notes that it means Adairs now has a complete home furnishing offering. It expects the acquisition to support strong earnings growth over the coming years and has upgraded its forecasts to reflect this. The Adairs share price was fetching $3.64 at the end of the week.

    Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)

    Another note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have recommenced coverage on this property listings company’s shares with a buy rating and $6.50 price target. Citi is positive on Domain due to its belief that listings volumes will remain elevated in the near term. In addition, the broker is a fan of Domain’s recent investments in property data solutions to create a property ecosystem and believes its shares trade at a more attractive valuation compared to REA Group Limited (ASX: REA). The Domain share price was trading at $5.38 on Friday.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk and 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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  • Are Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) shares really going to pay a 10% dividend yield?

    a woman with a huge happy smile on her face eyes a jar of coins next to her on a table.

    Is it possible that Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) shares are really going to pay a 10% dividend yield in the next couple of years?

    BOQ is one of the larger banks on the ASX outside of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

    It runs a few different brands including the BOQ brand, as well as Virgin Money Australia and ME Bank after acquisitions.

    But what about this large dividend yield?

    BOQ’s potential 10% dividend yield

    The possible 10% dividend yield refers to the projected annual dividend for the 2023 financial year with analysts giving their best guess as to what the shareholder payment will be for that year.

    The broker Morgans currently has a full year dividend estimate of $0.55 per share for FY23.

    At the current BOQ share price, that translates into a future grossed-up dividend yield of 10.1%.

    That dividend is based off the regional bank generating $0.91 of earnings per share (EPS), which means that the bank would only have a dividend payout ratio of 60%.

    Why is Morgans positive about the future?

    The broker thinks that the bank is going to make higher returns in the future for shareholders and points out that there are expectations for growth in FY22.

    BOQ says that it’s focused on achieving sustainable profitable growth. In FY22 it’s expecting at least 2% jaws, driven by above system growth in its BOQ and Virgin Money Australia brands, and by returning ME Bank to around system growth by the end of year.

    The net interest margin (NIM) is expected to decline mid to high single digit basis points in FY22 because of the ongoing low interest rates and the amount of competition in the space.

    What about the FY22 BOQ dividend?

    The current financial year isn’t expected to be quite as big as 10%.

    Each broker has a different projection, but we’ll stick with what Morgans is thinking.

    The broker has pencilled in an annual dividend of $0.49 per share for the 2022 financial year.

    At the current BOQ share price, that would represent a grossed-up dividend yield of 9%.

    Current focus

    BOQ is focused on business growth as well as the integration of ME Bank, which is “well progressed”. Management say the bank is executing against the strategic transformation roadmap.

    Over the next year, the second phase of the Virgin Money Australia digital bank will be available to customers and will include home loans and additional deposit products.

    Work is also “well progressed” on the first phase of the BOQ digital bank which leverages the investment in Virgin Money.

    The post Are Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) shares really going to pay a 10% dividend yield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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

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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell next week

    Model bear in front of falling line graph, cheap stocks, cheap ASX shares

    Once again, a large number of broker notes hit the wires last week. Some of these notes were positive and some were bearish.

    Three sell ratings that investors might want to hear about are summarised below. Here’s why top brokers think investors ought to sell these shares next week:

    Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

    According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have downgraded this artificial intelligence data services company’s shares to an underperform rating and cut the price target on them to $9.50. The broker notes that there is an emerging trend which is seeing some tech giants bypassing Appen and directly crowdsourcing for data annotation services. In response, the broker has cut its forecasts well below consensus estimates and suspects the company could soon downgrade its guidance. The Appen share price ended the week at $9.45 after falling 19% on Friday.

    DEXUS Property Group (ASX: DXS)

    A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their sell rating and $9.54 price target on this property company’s shares. This follows news that Dexus is selling its 100% owned office asset, 383 Kent Street for $385 million. This is a 1.3% premium to its June book value. While the broker notes that pricing is relatively strong, it highlights Dexus’ active diversification from office properties and sees potential for further weakness in rental markets. It believes this is likely to feed into office asset pricing and weigh on its performance. The Dexus share price was fetching $11.03 at Friday’s close.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    Another note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have downgraded this enterprise software company’s shares to an underperform rating but with an improved price target of $11.00. This follows the release of the company’s full year results last week. While the broker has increased its earnings estimates for the coming years, it wasn’t enough for a more positive recommendation. Macquarie believes TechnologyOne’s shares are expensive in comparison to peers. The TechnologyOne share price ended the week at $11.56.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Morgans rates these ASX 100 shares as buys

    A man with a yellow background makes an annoncement, indicating share price changes on the ASX

    The S&P/ASX 100 Index (ASX: XTO) is home to a number of blue chip shares. Two that have recently been named as buys by analysts at Morgans are listed below.

    Here’s why its analysts are bullish on them:

    Tabcorp (ASX: TAH)

    Morgans is feeling positive about the Tabcorp share price. This is due partly to the belief that the market is undervaluing its Lotteries and Keno (L&K) business.

    The broker currently has an add rating and $5.70 price target on the gambling company’s shares.

    Morgans commented: “While COVID restrictions have impacted the earnings recovery for Wagering & Gaming Co, we continue to view the risk/return profile of TAH as asymmetrically skewed to the upside over the next ~12 months as the demerger of the high quality, infrastructure-like Lotteries & Keno business progresses.”

    “At current levels, we think L&K is trading on ~15x EBITDA and think this multiple can re-rate to between 16-20x on a standalone basis over time, supported by offshore peer comps and domestic infrastructure names,” it added.

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    Another ASX 100 share the broker is positive on is Westpac. Australia’s oldest bank is Morgans’ preferred pick of the majors due to its belief that it offers the most compelling valuation in the group.

    And while there were aspects of its recent full year results that disappointed, Morgans believes the sell off that ensued was an overreaction.

    Its analysts currently have an add rating and $30.50 price targets on the bank’s shares.

    Morgans explained: “We find the management of the margin-volume tradeoff in Australian home lending in FY21 to be disappointing and we hope for better management of this tradeoff going forward.”

    “Having said this, our view has been that the stock was not being priced for perfection and was offering considerable value. While the NIM has now re-based notably lower, we continue to see considerable value in the stock particularly due to our expectation of significant cost out by FY24F,” it added.

    The post Morgans rates these ASX 100 shares as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 more than eight 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of 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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  • Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) plans for e-commerce to fuel Bunnings growth

    A hard hat on a podium.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is planning for online growth and digitalisation with Bunnings.

    That’s according to reporting by the Australian Financial Review. Bunnings is planning to grow its e-commerce operations, invest in new systems and install a new analytics platform.

    How much is Bunnings already selling online?

    Bunnings is one of the biggest businesses in Australia. In FY21 it generated $2.19 billion of earnings before tax (EBT) on $16.9 billion of revenue.

    Its percentage of online sales is steadily growing. In FY20, 0.9% of sales were online. Then in FY21 it had 2.3% of sales come from online.

    At the annual general meeting (AGM), Wesfarmers said that 6% of Bunnings sales had been online in FY22 so far, though lockdowns were impacting the Melbourne and Sydney markets.

    Wesfarmers said that all of its businesses have been effective in managing the disruptions on global supply chains and are well positioned with inventory for the important Christmas trading period.

    Bunnings’ plans

    It was reported that Bunnings wants to improve the customer experience as well as encouraging a friendly atmosphere between people joining the business who are more used to digital things, and existing employees.

    Most of the digital transformation is being done by an in-house Bunnings team, not an outsourced IT provider.

    Michael Schneider, the boss of Bunnings, says that improving its digital operations is not just about growing online sales, but deepening engagement with 53,000 employees and improving the business for the next generation.

    The employee platform that Bunnings is using is Workplace from Facebook, which can create online communities within companies. More than 40,000 employees are using it. Part of the attraction is Bunnings can understand employees better .

    One of the things that Bunning has reportedly has done is lifted its game for helping tradespeople. It recently launched a new website that is mobile friendly, compared to the old process of an email system with a click and collection through a smartphone, according to the AFR.

    Bunnings has updated its product finder app with interactive store maps. It even shows customers “the best and fastest course around the stores to get all the products on their list.”

    It was also reported that lots of commercial customers are using the PowerPass app which allows them to scan as they go around the store and skip the traditional checkout process. In FY21, PowerPass processed 2.2 million transactions, saving 70,000 hours of employee time.

    New cloud-based platform

    Bunnings is transitioning customer data onto an online platform which will be used for operations of the whole business, including inventory management. This is expected to be finished by the end of FY22. It will come with advanced analytical tools, giving management greater insights about the store network, buildings and systems.

    Management commentary

    The boss of Bunnings, Michael Schneider, said that the business wants to feature in graduate minds. The AFR quoted him:

    I would like them to think it’s a pretty nice shopping experience and the team seem pretty engaged, and it’s probably going to be a good place to work

    We are deep in a really genuine tech transformation – we’re going pretty solidly at it, both from a resourcing point of view and an investment point of view.

    Those are the sorts of things that when you’re wanting to build your career in the technology space, you’re really looking for, and Bunnings is providing that, alongside all the things that we’re famous for in terms of culture.

    The post Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) plans for e-commerce to fuel Bunnings growth 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 nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended 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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  • Why CBA (ASX:CBA) is spruiking risks of ‘not participating’ in crypto

    Man holding a bitcoin and looking at the market price.

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is gearing up to launch crypto trading services on its CommBank app. The decision to support crypto and blockchain technology comes as Australia’s largest bank recognises the risks of not participating.

    At Friday’s market close, CBA shares finished the day down 1% to $94.81.

    CommBank set to offer crypto-based services

    Customers will soon be able to tap into the CommBank app and begin trading across 10 crypto assets. This includes popular coins such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)Ether (CRYPTO: ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Litecoin (LTC).

    The first bank to adopt crypto trading among the big four, CBA wants to become a leader in the digital asset sector. It believes the booming industry is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

    In fact, CBA has partnered with the Gemini crypto exchange and blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis to launch its crypto services.

    A pilot is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks for a number of limited customers. A full-service rollout is expected to occur sometime in 2022.

    It’s clear that inaction by the bank could leave it falling behind as the market quickly adopts the decentralised currencies.

    CBA CEO Matt Comyn commented:

    We see risks in participating, but we see bigger risks in not participating. It’s important to say that we don’t have a view on the asset price itself, we see it as a very volatile and speculative asset, but we also don’t think that the sector and the technology is going away anytime soon.

    However, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) remains cautious on crypto and its technology. The national corporate regulator noted that it is unable to oversee the sector and presents risks for investors. This is because the asset class does not come under the banner of “financial products” within Australia.

    ASIC chair Joe Longo recommended that investors refrain from putting all their hard-earned savings in crypto. Instead, they should opt for a diversified approach across a number of different asset classes to safeguard them from volatile movements.

    About the CBA share price

    In 2021, the CBA share price added around 15% in value for investors. However, when looking at this time last year, its shares are up roughly 17%, highlighting modest returns for a blue-chip company.

    On valuation grounds, CBA is the biggest company on the ASX with a market capitalisation of approximately $161.78 billion.

    The post Why CBA (ASX:CBA) is spruiking risks of ‘not participating’ in crypto appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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 The Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Bitcoin and Ethereum. 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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  • When might Fortescue (ASX:FMG) Future Industries become profitable?

    A green-caped superhero reveals their identity with a big dollar sign on their chest.

    Market watchers are likely aware of Fortescue Metals Group Limited‘s (ASX: FMG) now-infamous green-hydrogen-focused, renewable energy branch, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

    The subsidiary has recently signed a contract to build a hydrogen manufacturing equipment facility in Queensland. It has also entered an agreement that will see it selling 10% of its hydrogen output to United Kingdom-based entities.

    But, with Fortescue Metals sinking 10% of its profits into the venture, how long will it take FFI to turn a profit?

    That question was posed to Fortescue Metals’ CEO Elizabeth Gaines at the company’s annual general meeting earlier this month. Here’s how she responded.

    Fortescue Future Industries profitability ‘some time’ away

    Unfortunately, Gaines didn’t provide an estimate for how long it will take for FFI to earn its keep. Instead, she noted, “there will be some time between now and [when FFI becomes profitable]”.

    However, she did say the business isn’t really about profits:

    At the core of the activities of FFI is actually the decarbonisation of Fortescue, and we see that as a very important part of FFI’s activities.

    If you think about our goal to be carbon neutral by 2030, we see that as a significant commercial opportunity for Fortescue to generate more profits, to lower our costs, to get a premium for our iron ore – which will be green.

    Though, Gaines said the company still predicts its green energy leg will generate “significant profits” in the future:

    There’s great reasons to undertake this transition to green energy, but at the forefront of that is the commercial opportunity, and we will use the same discipline we’ve taken in the past to develop in the iron ore business and apply that same rigour and capital discipline to any projects for FFI…

    If we don’t decarbonise… we [risk losing] the diesel fuel rebate, we will see a new carbon charge introduced, the cost of offsets will skyrocket…

    So, not doing it will actually have a significant detriment on our overall profitability.

    Gaines also said the risks facing the company’s bottom line include increasingly volatile fuel costs.

    FFI is working to create a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles to support Fortescue Metals’ iron ore production. The company’s goal is to make sure the hydrogen-powered fleet is cheaper to run than the diesel-powered alternative.

    As of Friday’s close, the Fortescue Metals share price is $17.19.

    The post When might Fortescue (ASX:FMG) Future Industries become profitable? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue Metals, 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 Metals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    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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  • Could the Afterpay (ASX:APT) share price be about to get a boost?

    A woman sits on a chair smiling as she shops online.

    The Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price will be on watch next week as the world holds its Black Friday sales this weekend.

    Shoppers are cashed up and retailers are at the ready for a boom in sales this weekend. Data from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) suggests the four-day period could present another windfall for businesses, with previous years resulting in a 14% boost to spending compared to the prior week.

    With buy now, pay later (BNPL) companies now being a prominent method of payment for online shoppers, Afterpay will benefit from any increase in spending over the period.

    But, what could it mean for the Afterpay share price?

    How have Black Friday sales influenced the Afterpay share price historically?

    In the past, Australia’s biggest provider of BNPL services has informed investors of its trading performance following Cyber Monday. In 2019 the company announced a record November sales performance. Afterpay achieved $1 billion in underlying sales for the month ending 30 November 2019.

    However, between Black Friday and Afterpay releasing this update in 2019, the share price sank 5.8%. Perhaps investors were looking for a sale on the share market. The Afterpay share price proceeded to flounder around aimlessly for the remainder of the year.

    In contrast, last year painted a vastly different picture. What was similar was the BNPL company setting a new monthly sales record with the inclusion of the Black Friday weekend. Afterpay notched up $2.1 billion in underlying sales in a single month — 112% more than the same month in the previous year.

    Though, this time the Afterpay share price responded positively between the commencement of the sales weekend and the company’s trading update. Specifically, shares rose 4% in the space of a few days. More impressively, the share price went on to gain nearly 20% by the end of the year.

    This year, the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan are forecasting a record $5.4 billion in sales for Australia during the shopping frenzy. As such, Afterpay shareholders will be watching with anticipation to see how well the company does from the sale period.

    The post Could the Afterpay (ASX:APT) share price be about to get a boost? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. 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 excellent ASX dividend shares to buy next week

    man handing over wad of cash representing ASX retail capital return

    If you’re looking for dividend shares to buy next week, then you might want to look at the shares listed below.

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

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    The first dividend share to look at is Accent. It is a footwear-focused retailer which owns a collection of popular store brands. The popularity of its store brands and their growing footprints have underpinned strong sales, profit, and dividend growth over the last few years.

    Unfortunately, FY 2022 looks set to be a difficult year due to lockdowns. For example, during the first 18 weeks of the financial year, store closures across ANZ impacted over 60% of Accent’s store portfolio. This resulted in ~$86 million in lost sales and weaker gross margins.

    However, the team at Bell Potter think investors should look beyond this short term headwind and focus on its long term growth potential. As a result, the broker has recently put a buy rating and $3.05 price target on its shares.

    As for dividends, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 9.1 cents in FY 2022 and 13.5 cents in FY 2023. Based on the latest Accent share price of $2.49, this represents yields of 3.65% and 5.4%, respectively.

    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

    Another ASX dividend share to look at is this mining giant. It could be a top option for income investors that are not averse to investing in the resources sector. This is due to its attractive valuation, strong free cash flow generation, and its extremely generous dividend yield forecast.

    Thanks to its exposure to a number of in-demand commodities such as aluminium, the team at Goldman Sachs believe South32’s shares will provide investors with fully franked dividend yields of greater than 11% per annum for the next five years.

    It will therefore come as no surprise to learn that Goldman has a conviction buy rating and $4.40 price target on its shares. This compares to the latest South32 share price of $3.56.

    The post 2 excellent ASX dividend shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended 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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