• ASX’s first cryptocurrency ETF is listing Thursday

    a pile of bitcoins with a bitcoin resting against it stands in front of an Australian flag.

    It’s finally happening.

    After much scrambling this year, a cryptocurrency-themed exchange-traded fund (ETF) will list on the ASX on Thursday.

    While several vendors are understood to be working on the concept, the first to market will be BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF (ASX: CRYP).

    The Motley Fool has confirmed that shares for the fund will be publicly tradable on Thursday.

    Mainstream acceptance has taken off this year

    It was only in January that an expert declared it “unlikely” that a cryptocurrency ETF would debut this year on the stuffy old ASX.

    “Many nations will look to the [US Securities and Exchange Commission] for leadership and it has a strong incentive not to rock the boat right now,” Kraken managing director Jonathon Miller said at the time.

    “We will get there in the end, but it will be the growing understanding of cryptocurrency amongst progressive institutional investors that will make it happen.”

    But industry developments have zoomed ahead at warp speed since, especially in the past month or so.

    One massive milestone a couple of weeks ago was the listing of US ETF ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (NYSE: BITO).

    That fund tracks Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) futures contracts and became the second-most traded ETF on its debut day.

    Such a fund traded on the NYSE had as much symbolic significance as financial.

    It represented yet another step in ‘mainstream’ acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

    Closer to home, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on Friday released its guidance on cryptocurrency-related investment products.

    BetaShares chief Alex Vynokur welcomed the nod from the corporate watchdog for Australians seeking cryptocurrency exposure but afraid of trading on “unregulated exchanges”.

    “ASIC has taken a significant step in providing a clear path for established cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether to be made available to Australian investors via a familiar ETF structure,” he said.

    “In many ways, the inherent benefits of a regulated ETF — convenience, transparency and cost-effectiveness — are additive for many investors seeking exposure to cryptocurrencies.”

    What does the BetaShares CRYP ETF invest in?

    The new BetaShares fund, like the ProShares one in the US, will not directly plough its money into cryptocurrencies.

    Instead, it will “aim to track” the Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators 30 Index before fees and expenses.

    “CRYP’s index is designed to capture the full breadth of the crypto ecosystem by providing exposure to pure-play crypto companies, those whose balance sheets are held at least 75% in crypto-assets, and diversified companies with crypto-focused business lines,” states the BetaShares website.

    According to Bitwise, the top 3 holdings in the index as of October 28 were:

    • Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd (TSE: GLXY): 12.95%
    • Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN): 11.15%
    • MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR): 9.79%

    The post ASX’s first cryptocurrency ETF is listing Thursday 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns shares of Bitcoin and Coinbase Global, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Bitcoin. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended MicroStrategy. 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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  • Top ASX shares to buy in November 2021

    Two men excitedly cheering at a horse race

    With 2021 galloping ever closer to the finish line, we asked our Foolish contributors to compile a list of some of the ASX shares experts are picking as front runners in November.

    Bernd Struben: Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

    Aurizon Holdings is Australia’s largest rail-based transport company. It provides integrated logistics services for numerous miners and agricultural companies and holds a near-monopoly position in Queensland. The company recently acquired One Rail Australia for $2.35 billion.

    The Aurizon share price has seen some big swings over 2021 and is currently down by almost 13% year to date. That leaves it trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 10.5. It also gives it a trailing dividend yield of around 8.4%, 70% franked.

    Aurizon is listed on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), with a market capitalisation of approximately $6.3 billion. The Aurizon share price closed Friday’s session 1.75% lower at $3.37.

    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Aurizon Holdings Ltd.

    Mitchell Lawler: Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)

    While the Nanosonics share price has largely gone nowhere for the better part of two years, the company’s operating conditions could be rounding a corner as vaccination rates reach reopening levels.

    The infection prevention company’s flagship product is the trophon®2, an automated disinfection device for ultrasound probes. Nanosonics derives a large portion of revenue from the sale of consumables and services for the device.

    Due to the widespread suspension of elective surgeries caused by COVID-19 over the past 18 months, there has been a significant reduction in the need for these consumables and services. Company shareholders will no doubt be hoping that the recent easing of restrictions will result in an increase in demand.

    Broker Morgans has an add rating on Nanosonics shares with a price target of $6.97. Based on the Nanosonics share price of $5.92 at Friday’s close, this suggests an upside of more than 17%.

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Nanosonics Ltd.

    Sebastian Bowen: Australian Ethical Investment Limited (ASX: AEF)

    Australian Ethical Investment is a rapidly-growing fund manager with a total portfolio worth more than $6 billion. Its products include managed funds, pensions and superannuation.

    Just last month, the company reported the largest fund inflows in its history, with no signs of slowing down. The last few years have seen more and more investors seeking to put their money where their mouths (and ethics) are, and this trend appears to show no sign of abating anytime soon.

    As long as ethical/ESG investing remains a concern for investors, this company appears well placed with a healthy tailwind. It also pays a small, but growing, dividend. The Australian Ethical share price closed 2.55% on Friday at $13.69.

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Australian Ethical Investment Limited.

    James Mickleboro: CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    This biotherapeutics giant’s shares could be a top option for investors in November. Although COVID-19 headwinds are expected to weigh on its profits in FY22, the company’s longer-term outlook arguably remains as bright as ever.

    This is due to strong demand for its life-saving therapies and vaccines, easing plasma collection headwinds, and its lucrative product pipeline. The latter contains a number of exciting products with the potential to generate billions of dollars in sales over the long term.

    The team at Morgans are positive on CSL. The broker currently has an add rating and a $324.40 price target on its shares. The CSL share price closed 0.22% higher on Friday at $300.49.

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares of CSL Limited.

    Tristan Harrison: Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    Adore Beauty is a leading online-only beauty retailer that sells thousands of products across hundreds of brands.

    Broker Morgan Stanley currently rates the company’s shares as a buy, with a price target of $6. The broker expects continuing higher levels of growth over the rest of FY22, even as lockdowns come to an end.

    FY21 saw Adore Beauty’s revenue rise 48% to $179.3 million and its gross profit margin increase 1.2 percentage points to 33.1% — indicating growing profitability. The FY21 second quarter showed revenue growth of 25% to $63.8 million. The company says it continues to benefit from the ongoing shift to online sales.

    The Adore Beauty share price closed Friday’s session 1.95% higher at $4.70.

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of Adore Beauty Group Ltd.

    Brendon Lau: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

    The ANZ Bank share price could be well-placed to outperform following the company’s better than expected full-year results.

    Goldman Sachs noted that FY21 second-half cash earnings were 11% ahead of its expectations and the share price is trading at more than one standard deviation cheaper than the sector. Macquarie also believes the ANZ Bank share price is cheap as it’s trading around 11% to 34% below its peers. Both brokers rate the stock a buy.

    The ANZ share price closed Friday 1.61% lower at $28.14.

    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

    The post Top ASX shares to buy in November 2021 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.

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Australian Ethical Investment Ltd., CSL Ltd., and Nanosonics Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie Group Limited and Nanosonics Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited, Aurizon Holdings Limited, and Australian Ethical Investment 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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  • Brokers name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy

    A woman holds a lightbulb in one hand and a wad of cash in the other

    Are you looking for some dividend shares to buy in November?

    If you are, then you might want to look at the ones listed below. Here’s why these ASX 200 dividend shares could be in the buy zone:

    Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX: ANZ)

    If you don’t already have exposure to the banking sector, then it may be worth considering ANZ.

    The banking giant has recently released its full year results and outperformed the market’s expectations. For the 12 months ended 30 September, the bank reported a 72% jump in statutory profit after tax to $6,162 million and a 65% increase in cash earnings from continuing operations to $6,198 million.

    This strong profit growth was underpinned by a significant reduction in provisions compared to the prior corresponding period, tightly managed expenses, and profit growth in Australia Retail and Commercial.

    The team at Morgans were pleased with the result and remain positive on its outlook. The broker has an add rating and $31.00 price target on the company’s shares. In addition, it is forecasting a 147 cents per share dividend in FY 2022 and a 164 cents per share dividend in FY 2023.

    Based on the current ANZ share price of $28.14, this will mean yields of 5.2% and 5.8%, respectively, for investors.

    DEXUS Property Group (ASX: DXS)

    Another ASX 200 dividend share to look at is this Australian real estate company. DEXUS has a focus on owning, managing, and developing office, industrial and retail properties.

    The company has recently added to its portfolio with the acquisition of $900 million of industrial assets. This includes a logistics facility leased to Australia Post and a majority stake in Jandakot airport.

    Analysts at Macquarie were pleased with the acquisitions. In response, the broker retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target on the company’s shares to $11.90.

    As for dividends, Macquarie is forecasting dividends per share of 53.7 cents in FY 2022 and 58.1 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Dexus share price of $10.87, this will mean yields of 4.9% and 5.3%, respectively.

    The post Brokers name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy 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.

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

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  • Brokers think these 2 top ASX shares are buys in November 2021

    ASX shares Business man marking buy on board and underlining it

    There are some high-quality ASX shares that may be worth pursuing in November 2021 according to some brokers.

    Those brokers are always on the lookout for potential investments that they believe are opportunities.

    Share prices are constantly changing, so it can open up a potential investment quite quickly, if investors are able to jump on them.

    With that in mind, the below two ASX shares are highly rated by brokers at the moment:

    Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    Nextdc operates as a data centre-as-a-service provider. It says that it is building the infrastructure platform for the digital economy, delivering critical power, security and connectivity for global computing providers, enterprise and government.

    It’s currently rated as a buy by at least five brokers, including the analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), which currently rates it as a buy with a price target of $16.10. That suggests the broker believes that Nextdc could rise by around 37% over the next 12 months, if the broker is right.

    Macquarie thinks that Nextdc may be able increase its profit margins and it also thinks that the ASX share may be able to expand offshore.

    In FY21, Nextdc’s data centre services revenue grew by 23% to $246.1 million. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 29% to $134.5 million, beating the top end of management’s guidance.

    The operating cashflow surged 148% to $133.2 million, whilst capital expenditure was down 18% to $301 million with a “strong ongoing focus on capital management”.

    Contracted utilisation and the number of customers continues to increase as it makes progress developing its new data centres.

    Nextdc is expecting more growth in FY22. Data centre services revenue is expected to grow to a range of between $285 million to $295 million. That means it’s expecting growth of at least 15.8%.

    Meanwhile, underlying EBITDA is expected to be in the range of between $160 million to $165 million. That suggests an increase of at least 19%.

    Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

    Bapcor is one of the largest auto parts businesses in the Asia Pacific region. It has numerous businesses including Burson, Autobarn, Midas and a number of specialist wholesale businesses like Truckline. The ASX share also has a growing presence in Asia with the purchase of a quarter of Tye Soon as well developing a (currently) small network of Bursons in Thailand.

    It’s currently rated as a buy by at least seven brokers. One of the brokers that likes Bapcor is Citi, which has a price target of $8.75 on the business. That suggests a potential rise of approximately 10% over the next 12 months.

    Citi thinks the FY22 first quarter update showed how reliable Bapcor’s demand is. The broker points to various growth plans that Bapcor has in place including growing in Asia and its plans to keep increasing its network of outlets.

    In that quarterly update, Bapcor said that it has seen a “solid” start to FY22, with the overall group revenue flat in the first quarter of FY22 compared to the first quarter of FY21. Whilst stores are/were affected by the lockdowns in NSW, Victoria, the ACT and NZ, management think the result demonstrated the “resilience and non-discretionary nature of Bapcor’s businesses”.

    Margins have been slightly hurt at the start of the financial year, but it’s expecting margins to revert when lockdowns cease, which they predominately now have.

    The ASX share itself said that it’s working on three core areas. It’s driving the expansion of its network footprint, both physical and online. Next, it is supplementing market-leading brands with Bapcor’s own brand products. Finally, the auto parts business is looking to realise the benefits and efficiencies across the company.

    Based on Citi’s numbers, the Bapcor share price is valued at 20x FY22’s estimated earnings.

    The post Brokers think these 2 top ASX shares are buys in November 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Nextdc, 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 Nextdc 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 Bapcor and 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

    Investor sitting in front of multiple screens watching share prices

    On Friday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week on a very disappointing note. The benchmark index sank 1.45% to 7,323.7 points.

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

    ASX 200 expected to storm higher

    The Australian share market looks set to have a very positive start to the week. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 68 points or 0.9% higher this morning.  This follows a solid end to the week on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones rise 0.25%, the S&P 500 climb 0.2%, and the Nasdaq push 0.3% higher.

    Westpac full year results

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price will be on watch today when it releases its full year results. According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts are expecting cash earnings of $5,237 million. But perhaps more importantly, the broker continues to expect the banking giant to announce a $5 billion off-market share buyback.

    Oil prices rise

    Energy producers such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a solid start to the week after oil prices pushed higher on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.9% to US$83.57 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 0.1% to US$83.72 a barrel. Oil prices were down over the week amid rising oil inventories in the US.

    Gold price sinks

    Gold miners Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could start the week in the red after the gold price sank on Friday night. According to CNBC, the spot gold price fell 1% to US$1,783.90 an ounce. A rallying US dollar weighed on the price of the precious metal.

    Macquarie shares rated neutral

    The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price could be fully valued according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. According to the note, the broker has retained its neutral rating and lifted its price target to $196.80. Goldman was impressed with its half year results but feels its shares are expensive at 21x forward earnings.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday 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.

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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 owns shares of and 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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  • 2 leading ASX e-commerce shares that could be buys in November 2021

    There are a few e-commerce ASX shares that are growing very quickly that may be worth considering in November 2021.

    At the moment, some of these companies are investing heavily to achieve high rates of long-term growth. However, the underlying profitability could be quite high. Cutting out the large network of physical retail stores (and all the associated costs of running shops) could be really helpful.

    That’s why these two ASX e-commerce ASX shares could be interesting ideas:

    Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

    Temple & Webster is already a leading online retailer of furniture and homewares. But the company is nowhere near done, it wants to become the largest player in the whole industry, both online and offline.

    It’s growing very quickly. In FY21, revenue rose 85% year on year to $326.3 million. In the period of 1 July 2021 to 27 August 2021, revenue had increased another 49%.

    The business said that it’s experiencing four different tailwinds at the moment. There’s the ongoing adoption of online shopping due to structural and demographic shifts. Next, these trends are being accelerated because of COVID-19. There is the benefit of an increase in discretionary income due to travel restrictions. Finally, there has been strong housing market growth.

    This e-commerce ASX share is focused on strengthening its customer proposition, built around having the biggest and best range of furniture and homewares, combined with a “great” customer service experience.

    It’s investing heavily in marketing to win new customers and grow its brand awareness. But the 12-month marketing return was “healthy” at 2.3x. This is helping increase the value of each customer. In FY21, revenue per active customer rose 12% year on year due to customers repeat buying more often and spending more when they do.

    Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    Adore Beauty is another e-commerce ASX share that is growing very quickly. It says that it sells around 10,800 products from approximately 260 brands.

    It’s now a business that offers an integrated content, marketing and retail platform.

    Just like Temple & Webster, Adore Beauty is growing rapidly. In FY21, its revenue grew 48% to $179.3 million. Then, in the first quarter of FY22, revenue grew by another 25% to $63.8 million.

    Its customer numbers continue to climb. Active customers increased by 24% to 874,000 in the FY22 first quarter and there was returning customer growth of 63% year on year. Management believe that returning customers provide a strong foundation for future growth. Those returning customers become more valuable each year as they spend on the platform, increasing both their basket size and order frequency over time.

    There are a number of areas that Adore Beauty is working on including scaling its mobile app, building owned marketing channels and community, and expanding its loyalty program.

    Adore Beauty says that it continues to benefit from the ongoing structural shift to online, which has been accelerated by the recent COVID-19 lockdowns.

    The e-commerce ASX share wants to grow and cement its online market leadership, whilst also expanding its range of products. Connecting with potential consumers is a large part of the strategy, which is why the company was pleased that its Beauty IQ podcast surpassed three million downloads.

    Another way that Adore Beauty plans to grow scale and profit margins is by launching a private label brand, which is on track to be launched in the third quarter of FY22.

    The business believes it’s in a large and growing $11 billion market.

    It’s currently rated as a buy by the broker UBS, with a price target of $6 with expected continuing growth in FY22.

    The post 2 leading ASX e-commerce shares that could be buys in November 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Temple & Webster right now?

    Before you consider Temple & Webster, 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 Temple & Webster 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

    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. owns shares of and has recommended Temple & Webster Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited and Temple & Webster Group 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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  • Here’s why the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price tumbled 5% in October

    a man in a business suit slides down the handrails of a bank of steel escalators, clutching his documents and telephone.

    The Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) share price fell around 5% in October 2021 in a month that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was largely flat.

    During the month, the regional bank released its FY21 result. Often, investors like to partly base their thoughts on a business on how it performed in the latest financial year.

    Here are some of the highlights from BOQ’s FY21 report:

    BOQ’s FY21 result

    The regional bank reported that its statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) jumped 221% to $369 million. Cash earnings after tax also rose quickly, going up 83% to $412 million. In earnings per share (EPS) terms, it rose by 51% to 74.7 cents.

    This profit result was driven by increased net interest income and a credit to the loan impairment expense of $21 million. However, this was partly offset by higher operating expenses. Excluding the ME Bank acquisition, total income rose 5% to $1.18 billion.

    BOQ’s net interest margin (NIM) increased by 1 basis point to 1.92% including ME Bank and grew 4 basis points to 1.95% excluding ME Bank. The improvement was largely driven by lower funding costs and deposit mix, partially offset by market competition and the ongoing impact of a low interest rate environment.

    The actual net interest income, excluding ME Bank, rose by 6% for the year.

    Operating expenses rose due to higher business volumes and the building of its new digital bank and other technology projects.

    The loan impairment expense improved thanks to a better economic outlook and improvements in data quality relating to collateral. Concerns about loan impairments seemingly had a major impact on the BOQ share price during the COVID-19 crash.

    The bank said it has made progress to sustainable profitability and the result showed momentum with four consecutive halves of improving performance.

    ME Bank was bought for $1.325 billion during the year. The aim is to create an alternative to the big banks. It’s expecting to add low double digits to cash EPS, including the synergies, in FY22.

    BOQ said that ME Bank brings together strong complementary trusted brands and it broadly doubles the retail bank and provides geographic diversification.

    Outlook for the BOQ share price

    Firstly, the bank said that it’s cautiously optimistic that Australia remains well placed for economic recovery, characterised by house price rises and growth in consumer spending and business investment. It remains focused on sustainable profitable growth.

    Whilst it is expecting lending volume growth, the NIM could decline by between 5 basis points to 7 basis points as competition continues and the low interest rate environment remains. Expenses are expected to grow by 3%, which will be offset by accelerated integration synergies.

    It’s going to remain prudent with capital and provisioning. Management said that the business has a strong capital position and expects its CET1 ratio to remain above 9.5%.

    In terms of broker opinions, Citi rates the BOQ share price as a buy, with a price target of $10.50. The broker believes that BOQ is priced at 12x FY22’s estimated earnings with a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.7%.

    The post Here’s why the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price tumbled 5% in October 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 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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  • 3 fantastic ASX shares that could be buys in November

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

    Are you interested in adding some more ASX shares to your portfolio?

    Three ASX shares that could be worth considering next month are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

    The first ASX share to consider is Appen. This tech company has a million-plus team of crowd sourced experts preparing the data that goes into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models. It does this for some of the biggest tech companies in the world such as Google and Facebook. Unfortunately, COVID-19 impacted demand materially, leading to a sharp slowdown in its growth. However, things appear to be improving. For example, Facebook has just announced plans to increase its AI and ML spending materially.

    Citi remains positive on the company. It has a buy rating and $17.10 price target on its shares.

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    Another ASX share to look at is Aristocrat Leisure. It is one of the world’s leading gaming technology companies. During the pandemic its poker machine business struggled because of casino closures, whereas its digital business flourished and delivered strong growth. Pleasingly, now casinos are open again, both businesses are pulling together, which appears to have positioned the company well for growth over the 2020s. As has the recently announced plan to acquire London-listed leading global online gambling software and content supplier, Playtech, for $5 billion.

    Morgans was pleased with the acquisition. It currently has an add rating and $52.50 price target on the company’s shares.

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    A final ASX share to consider buying is Goodman Group. It is a leading integrated commercial and industrial property group that owns a high quality portfolio of global assets. Positively, many of Goodman’s properties have exposure to structural tailwinds such as ecommerce and the digital economy. As a result, they look likely to be in demand with customers for a long time to come. This should be supportive of strong rental income and distribution growth over the next decade.

    Citi is also a fan of Goodman. The broker currently has a buy rating and $26.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 3 fantastic ASX shares that could be buys in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Goodman, 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 Goodman 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

    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 Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Appen 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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  • Here’s a highly rated tech ETF for ASX investors in November

    Monadelphous share price rio tinto A small rocket take off from a laptop, indicating a share price surge

    If you’re wanting to invest in the tech sector but aren’t sure which shares to buy, then you might want to consider exchange traded funds (ETFs).

    There are a number of ETFs out there that allow investors to buy a slice of some of the world’s biggest and brightest tech companies.

    One that could be worth considering is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA).

    Why this tech ETF?

    The the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF gives investors exposure to some of the largest tech companies in the Asian market.

    Due to how technological adoption in Asia is surpassing the West, the companies included in this ETF could be well-placed for growth over the next decade. At present there are a total of 50 companies included in the fund. Among its largest holdings you’ll find Alibaba, Infosys, JD.com, Meituan Dianping, Pinduoduo, Samsung, and Tencent.

    In respect to the latter, Tencent is a multinational technology conglomerate and one of the largest companies in the world. It is best known for its communication and social platforms, Weixin, WeChat and QQ. In August, Tencent reported a 23% increase in half year revenue to US$42.3 billion. Underpinning this growth was a total of 1.251 billion monthly active users across its Weixin and WeChat platforms and QQ’s 590.9 million monthly active users.

    Another company in the fund is Meituan Dianping. It was founded in 2010 by Wang Xing as a copy of group buying company Groupon. Since then, it has shaken off its tag as the Groupon of China and now dwarfs it in size. During the June quarter, the company reported 628.4 million transacting users on its platform. They use its app to connect with local businesses for food deliveries, hotel bookings, movie tickets, and countless other services.

    Concerns over a crackdown in the Chinese tech sector has dragged the ETF lower this year. While this is disappointing, it could be a buying opportunity for long term investors.

    The post Here’s a highly rated tech ETF for ASX investors in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF right now?

    Before you consider BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers 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 BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers 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

    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 shares of and 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 that could be buys in November 2021

    share price rise

    November 2021 might be a good month to think about some potentially exciting ASX growth shares.

    Businesses that are growing quickly might be able to give shareholders an opportunity to achieve good returns.

    Companies that are launching more products or expanding geographically give themselves a bigger addressable market to target.

    With that in mind, here are two to think about:

    Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

    Bubs is a leading goat milk infant formula business. It also sells adult goat milk products, infant food and cow milk infant formula. Most recently, Bubs launched a range of cow milk powder products for the whole family.

    The business is currently experiencing a turnaround after some difficulties relating to demand for its infant formula.

    The ASX growth share’s FY22 first quarter for the three months to 30 September 2021 showed several statistics of high growth. Total gross revenue of $18.5 million was up 96% year on year and 45% quarter on quarter.

    Bubs infant formula gross revenue increased 124% across all markets year on year. It was up 64% year on year. Infant formula is the high margin part of the business.

    Adult goat milk powder total gross revenue increased 100% year on year and 61% quarter on quarter.

    Looking at some of the more specific growth areas, in Australian grocery and pharmacy retailers, Bubs infant formula went up 35% year on year. China gross revenue grew 156% (making up 53% of quarterly revenue), with Bubs infant formula daigou sales increasing 648% year on year and 265% quarter on quarter.

    International (excluding China) gross revenue went up 489%, contributing 24% of quarterly sales. Currently this predominately relates to south east Asia, but it has established a business in the USA too.

    City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX)

    City Chic is fast becoming one of the world’s biggest specialty retailers of clothing, footwear and accessories for plus-size women.

    The City Chic share price has risen by 144% over the last year. But several brokers still rate it as a buy, including Citi and Morgan Stanley, which have price targets on the ASX growth share of $7.20 and $6.65 respectively.

    Those brokers think that City Chic has a good growth opportunity in the US, particularly as one of its competitors (called Torrid) is doing well there too.

    Another positive from Citi is that City Chic is doing well at turning itself into an international force with a high level of online sales.

    The company has acquired a few good businesses in recent times, including Evans in the UK, Avenue in the US and Navabi in Europe. City Chic’s global customer base grew 61% year on year to 1.07 million and the website traffic grew 68% to 58.1 million.

    In terms of the digital sales, online revenue grew 49.3% and made up 73% of total sales. City Chic’s FY21 sales revenue increased 32.9% to $258.5 million whilst underlying profit rose 80.6% to $24.9 million.

    Morgan Stanley thinks that the City Chic share price is valued at 34x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    The post 2 ASX growth shares that could be buys in November 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in City Chic right now?

    Before you consider City Chic, 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 City Chic 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

    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 BUBS AUST 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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