• Why is the Virgin Money UK (ASX:VUK) share price down 11% today?

    man grimaces next to falling stock graph

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is well on the way to ending the week on a strong note. The ASX 200 is presently up a healthy 0.54% to 7,467 points. But one ASX 200 share isn’t joining the party this Friday. That would be the Virgin Money UK (ASX: VUK) share price.

    Virgin Money UK shares are, at the time of writing, down a nasty 11.27% to $3.15 a share. That puts this quasi-ASX bank at an 8-month share price low, seeing as the company was last at these levels way back in February.

    So what’s gone so wrong for Virgin Money today?

    Virgin Money UK share price slumps on FY21 update

    Well, this steep share price drop seems to be the result of a trading update the bank released yesterday evening after the market closed.

    This update provided some guidance on what Virgin Money expects the company to deliver for its FY21 earnings results.

    Virgin Money told investors that its statutory profit before tax is expected to be 417 million British pounds. Underlying profits before tax are expected to grow to 801 million pounds, up 546% from the 124 million pounds of the previous period. the company says this improvement is due to “strong financial momentum and improved macro outlook”.

    Meanwhile, the bank’s income grew by 2% to 1.57 billion pounds, mainly helped by higher net interest income.

    Virgin Money UK also announced a 1 pence per share dividend (final amount to be determined for the ASX shares) for investors, subject to the finalisation of FY21’s results, as well as shareholder approval.

    Here’s some of what management had to say of these numbers:

    Our strategy has continued to deliver improved financial momentum throughout the year, with support from an improved economic backdrop. Underlying profit is expected to be stronger at [801 million pounds, against 2020’s 124 million pounds] and the Group expects to return to statutory profit in FY21, delivering [417 million pounds] of PBT [profits before tax].

    So why are Virgin Money UK shares falling so much today? Perhaps the most likely explanation is that investors were expecting more. Especially seeing that the United Kingdom relaxed most of their COVID-related restrictions back in June.

    At the current Virgin Money UK share price, this bank has a market capitalisation of $5.11 billion.

    The post Why is the Virgin Money UK (ASX:VUK) share price down 11% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Virgin Money UK right now?

    Before you consider Virgin Money UK, 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 Virgin Money UK 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 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 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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  • Why Afterpay, Clinuvel, Inghams, and Virgin Money UK shares are tumbling

    Scared, wide-eyed man in pink t-shirt with hands covering mouth

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a solid gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.6% to 7,471.6 points.

    Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are tumbling:

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    The Afterpay share price is down 4.5% to $118.71. Investors have been selling this payments company’s shares following a pullback in the Square share price overnight. The US payments giant’s shares were sold off after its third quarter result fell short of expectations. As Square is acquiring Afterpay in an all-scrip deal, the value of the takeover rises and falls with its share price.

    Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV)

    The Clinuvel share price is tumbling 10.5% to $36.36. This decline appears to have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Jefferies this morning. According to the note, following some strong gains in recent months, the broker has downgraded this biopharmaceutical company’s shares to a hold rating from buy. The Clinuvel share price is still up over 50% in 2021.

    Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

    The Inghams share price is down a further 3.5% to $3.47. Investors have been selling this poultry producer’s shares since the release of its annual general meeting update on Thursday. That update revealed that Inghams’ performance is being impacted by sustained input cost pressures. In response, this morning Macquarie retained its neutral rating but cut its price target down to $3.70.

    Virgin Money UK (ASX: VUK)

    The Virgin Money share price has sunk 11.5% to $3.14. This UK based bank’s shares are being sold off today following the release of its full year update. Virgin Money advised that it expects to record an underlying profit before tax of 801 million pounds. This will be up 546% from the 124 million pounds recorded a year earlier. However, taking the shine off this was management revealing that it will incur 275 million pounds in restructuring costs over the next three years. This was approximately double what the market was expecting.

    The post Why Afterpay, Clinuvel, Inghams, and Virgin Money UK shares are tumbling 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 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.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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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 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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  • Why the Pure Hydrogen (ASX:PH2) share price is leaping to a multi-year high today

    ASX Hydrogen shares represented by floating bubble containing letters H2

    The Pure Hydrogen Corporation CDI (ASX: PH2) share price is surging today following an update on its H2X Global transaction.

    During mid-afternoon trade, the energy company’s shares are up 8.60% to a multi-year high of 50.5 cents.

    What did Pure Hydrogen announce?

    Investors are pushing Pure Hydrogen shares higher on news of the company’s positive release.

    In a statement to the ASX, Pure Hydrogen advised that it has completed the transaction of H2X. This means that the company now holds a 24% interest in H2X Global with options to increase its ownership to 48%.

    H2X is a hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturer that is currently building Australia’s first hydrogen fuel cell cars. The company aims to market everything from all-electric utes, SUVs, vans and minibuses.

    In addition to the update, H2X signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). The latter is an arm of the State Government of Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Under the framework, H2X will establish a joint venture with SEDC Energy to produce long haul vehicles. However, in the near-term it will begin with assembly of utes to city buses, and also H2X hydrogen powered generators.

    This follows the decision by the Sarawak government which first introduced hydrogen powered vehicles in 2019. The agreement could further lead to H2X supplying and assembling more vehicles including buses to meet the growing demand.

    H2X CEO, Brendan Norman commented:

    Sarawak was already well ahead of most States in the region and was well advanced establishing long term hydrogen production for both domestic and export markets.

    We are been honoured to be selected to work with SEDC. It is likely that Sarawak will not only produce vehicles for its own use but will become a major supplier to other States in Malaysia and countries in the region.

    Pure Hydrogen share price summary

    Since the beginning of 2021, Pure Hydrogen shares have taken off, accelerating by more than 470%. When zooming out to the last 12 months, its shares have further accelerated to a gain of 515%.

    Pure Hydrogen presides a market capitalisation of around $158.5 million, with more than 313.8 million shares on hand.

    The post Why the Pure Hydrogen (ASX:PH2) share price is leaping to a multi-year high today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pure Hydrogen right now?

    Before you consider Pure Hydrogen, 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 Pure Hydrogen 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 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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  • Why is the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price underperforming Corporate Travel lately?

    Teenager holds model plane in the air against the background of a blue sky.

    Both domestic and international travel is back on the cards for millions of Australians. So why is the Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price struggling compared to that of its business-focused peer, Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)?

    Despite plenty of positive news regarding the Australian travel sector, the Webjet share price has fallen 4.3% over the past month. Shares in the online travel agent are currently trading for $6.33 apiece.

    That’s a notably worse performance than that of the Corporate Travel share price. It has gained 0.5% in the same time frame to reach $24.60.

    Though, both are underperforming against the broader market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 3% over the last month.

    Australia’s return to travel

    On Monday, international borders reopened in Victoria and New South Wales after both states agreed to scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals. Additionally, residents eager to head overseas once more have been given the green light to do so.

    And in more good news for wandering Aussies, travel between Victoria, New South Wales, and the ACT resumed today.

    Though, the news hasn’t been enough to boost the Webjet share price back into the green.

    What’s weighing on the Webjet share price?

    There’s no news on which to pin the recent poor performance of the Webjet share price compared to that of Corporate Travel.

    It could be due to the market believing business travel will restart quicker than leisure travel. Though, that doesn’t take into account the online travel agent’s business-to-business branch, WebBeds, which services the travel industry.

    Additionally, Webjet has previously predicted it will be turning a profit at the same time as Corporate Travel.

    At Webjet’s annual general meeting, the company’s managing director said the business is expected to be cash-flow positive in the first half of financial year 2022.

    Whereas, Corporate Travel recently predicted it will return to profitability in the final quarter of the 2021 calendar year.

    Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer as to why the Webjet share price is underperforming that of Corporate Travel.

    But, at least Webjet’s stock isn’t alone in its struggles. Plenty of ASX travel shares are battling to get back into the green.

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price has fallen 2.1% over the last month, while that of Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX:  FLT) has slumped 17.6%.

    The post Why is the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price underperforming Corporate Travel lately? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Corporate Travel Management right now?

    Before you consider Corporate Travel Management, 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 Corporate Travel Management 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 owns shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited and Webjet Ltd. 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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  • Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    ASX shares Business man marking buy on board and underlining it

    It has been another busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a large number of broker notes.

    Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

    AVITA Medical Inc (ASX: AVH)

    According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $9.80 price target on this regenerative medicine company’s shares. This follows news that the US Centre for Medicare has approved a new reimbursement code that will provide separate payment for AVITA’s Recell devices used in the outpatient setting. Bell Potter feels this represents an important breakthrough for the company and further validation of the clinical benefit of the Recell technology. It notes that this new code is only granted to devices that offer substantial clinical improvement over the standard of care. The AVITA share price is trading at $5.12 today.

    Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG)

    A note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this tradie platform provider’s shares to $4.90. This follows news that the company has acquired a 25% interest in property management technology platform, Bricks + Agent. Goldman notes that this gives Hipages exposure to the A$21 billion Residential and Commercial Property Management channel. Goldman also expects the investment to expand Hipages’ ability to capture a greater share of tradie spend. The Hipages share price is fetching $4.02 on Friday.

    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

    Analysts at Citi have upgraded this banking and insurance giant’s shares to a buy rating with a $12.80 price target. The broker notes that Suncorp’s hazards claims have overrun in FY 2022. This has led to the broker downgrading its earnings estimates for the current financial year. However, Citi remains positive on the medium term and believes recent share price weakness has left its shares trading at an attractive level. The Suncorp share price is trading at $11.51 this afternoon.

    The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Suncorp, 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 Suncorp 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 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 Avita Medical Limited and Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical Limited and Hipages Group 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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  • Why the Lake Resources (ASX:LKE) share price hit a record high today

    red arrow representing a rise of the share price with a man wearing a cape holding it at the top

    The Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE) share price is on the rise today following the company’s latest positive announcement.

    At the time of writing, the clean lithium developer’s shares are flat at $1.01 a pop. But, during early morning trade, its shares reached an all-time high of $1.185.

    What did Lake Resources announce?

    Lake Resources shares are climbing after the company provided an update on the bonus options and funding facility.

    According to its release, Lake Resources advised around 78% of shareholders took up the 1-for-1 additional bonus options. This resulted in 86.1 million new shares being issued to participating shareholders, providing around $30 million for the company.

    If listed on the ASX, these options if converted will add a further $64 million to Lake Resources’ coffers by mid-next year.

    The company declared that at the end of October it had about $63 million in cash reserves.

    Lake Resources managing director, Steve Promnitz stated that the company is progressing its flagship Kachi Lithium Brine Project. It aims to have the final investment decision wrapped up and construction beginning next year.

    In addition, the company extended its Controlled Placement Agreement (CPA) with Acuity Capital to 31 January 2023. The funding amount increased to $80 million, giving ample firepower to pursue growth opportunities.

    Successful drilling has continued at the Kachi project and Lake Resources plans to upgrade and expand the resource. This will see the site move from Inferred Resources to Measured and Indicated (M&I) Resources.

    The term Inferred Resources refers to quantity, grade (quality) and mineral content that is estimated with a low-level of confidence. On the other hand, M&I Resources is a reasonable to high-level of confidence based on enough samples being collected.

    If this can be achieved, Kachi would become a significant producer globally. The company would bring high purity lithium carbonate to the market with a low carbon footprint.

    About the Lake Resources share price

    The Lake Resources share price has been one of the best places to invest in the past year, zooming an incredible 1,940%. While renewed investor sentiment within the battery industry has helped support the share price, the company has been making significant tailwinds.

    Based on today’s price, Lake Resources commands a market capitalisation of roughly $1.35 billion, with approximately 1.2 billion shares outstanding.

    The post Why the Lake Resources (ASX:LKE) share price hit a record high today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lake Resources right now?

    Before you consider Lake Resources, 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 Lake Resources 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 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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  • Own CBA shares? Here’s how the share price performed in October

    Adult man wearing a black suit and necktie calculating via old fashioned calculator, surrounded by newspapers.

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is handily beating the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in afternoon trade. CBA shares are up 0.9% compared to a 0.5% gain for the ASX 200.

    Today’s outperformance was mirrored in October.

    Last month CBA shares gained 0.3%, closing October at $104.68. The ASX 200 went the other way, losing 0.1% for the month.

    What happened with CommBank’s share price in October?

    In the middle of the month, the bank held its annual general meeting (AGM).

    Addressing CBA shareholders, chairman Catherine Livingstone underlined the $6.2 billion in dividends the bank paid during the 2021 financial year.

    And she pointed to the fact that CBA shareholders received another $6 billion from the bank’s off-market share buyback.

    Livingstone also highlighted CommBank’s healthy profit margins. “Cash net profit after tax was up 19.8% on the prior year, reflecting an improvement in economic conditions, and the strong operating performance of our core banking businesses,” she said.

    CBA shares receive conflicting broker forecasts

    ASX investors looking for guidance from brokers received some widely conflicting forecasts for the outlook for CBA shares.

    Bell Potter came out with a bullish outlook for CommBank for the full 2022 financial year. Bell Potter’s analysts forecast a 9.6% year-on-year increase in the bank’s full-year cash profit for FY22. The analysts also predict a 16% lift in CBA’s FY22 dividend payout. Bell Potter listed a price target of $118 per share.

    On the other side of the coin, Morgans had a very bearish outlook for CommBank, with a price target of $80. At the current price of $109.58 per share, that implies a share price fall of some 27%.

    Later in October, Morgan Stanley joined the bearish bandwagon. The broker had a sell rating on CBA shares, with a price target of $90 over the next 12 months.

    How have CBA shares performed longer term?

    That’s the snapshot for October.

    Longer-term, CBA shares are up 57% over the past 12 months, compared to a gain of 22% posted by the ASX 200.

    Year-to-date the CommBank share price is up 31%.

    The post Own CBA shares? Here’s how the share price performed in October 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

    More reading

    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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  • Why Jumbo, Link, News Corp, and REA shares are storming higher

    green arrow representing a rise in the share price

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on form again and on course to end the week on a positive note. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.55% to 7,468.5 points.

    Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are storming higher:

    Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

    The Jumbo share price is up 7.5% to $17.10. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley this morning. Its analysts were pleased with the lottery ticket seller’s performance during the first quarter. In response, the broker retained its overweight rating and $18.50 price target.

    Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK)

    The Link share price has jumped 11% to $4.81. Investors have been buying the administration services company’s shares after it received a takeover approach from Carlyle Group. The private equity firm has made a conditional, non-binding indicative proposal to acquire Link for $5.38 per share. This comprises $3.00 cash per share and a pro rata distribution of Link’s shareholding in PEXA Group Limited (ASX: PXA) valued at $2.38 per share.

    News Corp (ASX: NWS)

    The News Corp share price has surged 9% higher to $34.62. This follows the release of the media giant’s first quarter update. According to the release, News Corp reported an 18% increase in revenue to US$2.5 billion and a 53% jump in EBITDA to US$410 million during the quarter. One of the drivers of this strong result was its Dow Jones media segment. It recorded its highest quarter of revenue and profitability since acquisition.

    REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

    The REA share price is up 5.5% to $176.52. This follows the release of the property listings company’s first quarter update. For the three months ended 30 September, REA delivered a 35% increase in revenue to $264 million and a 25% lift in EBITDA including associates to $158 million. This was driven by growth across all Australian segments, underpinned by an increase in national listings. Management also revealed that the second quarter has started strongly, with national listings up 16% year on year in October.

    The post Why Jumbo, Link, News Corp, and REA shares are storming higher 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 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.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Jumbo Interactive Limited and Link Administration Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Jumbo Interactive Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended REA Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why has the ETFS Semiconductor ETF (ASX:SEMI) leapt 14% in a month

    Businessman in suit and holding a briefcase jumps into the sky celebrating the rising Enero share price

    The ETFS Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI) has performed exceptionally since it was listed a little over two months ago. Since listing, the semiconductor-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) has delivered a return of 5.3%. In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.8% during that time span.

    Even more impressive, the ETF has rebounded off a slight dip to climb over 14% in the last month. Such a high monthly return from an investment vehicle that contains 29 holdings is quite an achievement.

    So, let’s find out more about this new ETF that is taking the market by storm.

    What is the ETFS Semiconductor ETF?

    Put simply, the SEMI ETF is an ASX-listed ETF offered by etf Securities that gives investors exposure to 29 companies involved in the production of microchips. This opens up the opportunity to capitalise on advancements in modern computing, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and electric vehicles.

    While the fund is dealing in a high-growth industry, there are no highly speculative microcaps within the ETF. In fact, a criterion for inclusion is a market capitalisation of more than US$1 billion and a minimum average daily trading value of US$1 million over 3 months.

    Although the ETF contains 29 holdings, it is heavily weighted towards its largest 10, making up approximately 70% of SEMI ETF’s portfolio. You might recognise some of the names in the fund’s top holdings listed below in order of weighting (largest to smallest):

    • ASML Holding NV (AMS: ASML)
    • Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)
    • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TPE: 2330)
    • Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC)
    • Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO)
    • Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ: TXN)
    • Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ: QCOM)
    • Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ: AMD)
    • Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT)
    • Analog Devices Inc (NASDAQ: ADI)

    As you might be able to tell from the holdings above, the ETF is heavily weighted towards companies based in North America. Meanwhile, nearly 20% are companies situated in Asia, with the remainder 12.8% being European companies.

    What are the costs of the SEMI ETF?

    As with all ETFs, there are costs associated with the management of the fund. The SEMI ETF is no different and currently carries a management fee of 0.57%. In other words, $10,000 invested in this ETF would incur a $57 management fee over a one-year period.

    For comparison, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) has a management fee of 0.18% per annum. However, this ETF is far broader and larger which allows for it to charge a lower fee. For instance, this particular Vanguard fund has $25.4 billion worth of assets under management (AUM). The SEMI ETF, on the other hand, has only $54.3 million worth of AUM.

    The post Why has the ETFS Semiconductor ETF (ASX:SEMI) leapt 14% in a month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in ETFS Semiconductor ETF right now?

    Before you consider ETFS Semiconductor ETF, 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 ETFS Semiconductor ETF 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 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 Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares 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 sell today

    stylised silhouette of a bear on financial graph background

    On Wednesday I 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 ASX shares that have just been given sell ratings by brokers are listed below. Here’s why these brokers are bearish on them:

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    According to a note out of Credit Suisse, its analysts have retained their underperform rating and cut their price target on this pizza chain operator’s shares to $77.73. This follows the release of a trading update which revealed a sudden deterioration in the company’s performance in the Japan market. The broker believes this highlights just how difficult it is to forecast post-COVID sales. In addition, Credit Suisse has concerns over the availability of workers and suspects it could impact the company. The Domino’s share price is trading at $117.34 this afternoon.

    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

    A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their sell rating but lifted their price target on this fund manager’s shares slightly to $29.50. This follows the release of Magellan’s latest funds under management update. UBS continues to see risks to fund outflows and pressure on its fees. Particularly given the ongoing underperformance of its global fund. The Magellan share price is fetching $35.19 today.

    Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: PAR)

    Analysts at Morgans have downgraded this biopharmaceutical company’s shares to a reduce rating with a $1.68 price target. The broker made the move largely on valuation grounds following a strong gain after the company was granted approval by the US FDA to undertake a major knee osteoarthritis major trial. In addition, Morgans has concerns that the trial may have been adjusted unfavourably in respect to marketability to gain approval from the regulator. The Paradigm share price is trading at $2.44 on Friday.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today 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 Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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