• Healius (ASX:HLS) share price falls despite $300m acquisition

    a group of medical researchers stands side by side with each other wearing white coats in their research laboratory with scientific equipment in the background.

    The Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) share price is on course to end the week in the red.

    At the time of writing, the healthcare company’s shares are down 2% to $5.17.

    Why is the Healius share price falling?

    Investors have been selling down the Healius share price today after it announced an agreement to acquire the entire issued capital of Agilex. It is one of Australia’s leading bioanalytical laboratories.

    According to the release, the transaction values Agilex at an enterprise value of $301.3 million.

    The release explains that Agilex has a high margin and capital-light business model with immediate and long-term growth potential. This will be enhanced by Healius’ experience operating laboratory businesses and by increased financial capacity to support the delivery of the growth strategy.

    Management sees Agilex as a long-term strategic acquisition that provides the company with a platform for growth into the global clinical trials sector and a structurally attractive, higher growth, higher margin adjacency.

    Agilex is expected to generate revenue and EBITDA in the range of $36-40 million and $14-16 million, respectively, in calendar year 2022, with strong future earnings growth anticipated. Judging by the Healius share price reaction, investors may believe this makes the transaction value a little on the rich side.

    Nevertheless, the acquisition is expected to deliver low single digit earnings per share accretion in the first full year of ownership.

    Healius’ Managing Director and CEO, Dr Malcolm Parmenter, said: “The acquisition of Agilex is an exciting opportunity for Healius. Agilex has a talented scientific team with state-of-the-art laboratories and culturally complements Healius. It’s a logical entry point for Healius into the attractive global bioanalytical laboratory services market, and one in which Australia and Agilex, in particular, is wellplaced to service.”

    “We see Agilex as a long-term strategic acquisition that adds a global orientation to the Healius network. A business that is growing fast, in a fast-growing market. Agilex is well placed to realise a material step-change in earnings growth over the near to medium-term,” he added.

    The post Healius (ASX:HLS) share price falls despite $300m acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Healius, 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 Healius 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. 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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  • Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) price dips again. Could it be set for a bounce?

    A Bitcoin symbol atop a spring, indicating the uncertain direction of cryptocurrency as a commodity

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price dipped again, down 2% in the past 24 hours.

    It’s currently trading for US$48,175 (AU$66,908).

    While the crypto remains up 63% year-to-date, it’s now down 30% from its 10 November all-time high of US$68,789. At the time it had a market cap of some US$1.2 trillion.

    At the current Bitcoin price, the market cap has fallen to US$905 billion.

    With the world’s first digital token now in retreat for 5 weeks running, crypto investors are wondering what’s next.

    Could the Bitcoin price be set for a bounce?

    One thing analysts look at when forecasting the next moves for the Bitcoin price is the 200-day moving average. It’s a technique used for forecasting share price movements as well.

    If an asset falls below its 200-day moving average it’s seen as a bearish signal. For Bitcoin, that currently stands at around US$46,000.

    Damanick Dantes, a crypto market analyst at CoinDesk, notes that the Bitcoin price (in US dollars) “continues to hold support above $46,000″.

    As to what crypto investors can expect next, Dantes forecasts:

    Price momentum is starting to turn positive on the daily chart for the first time since October, which preceded a price recovery. This time, however, the uptrend is slowing on the weekly chart, which means upside could be limited beyond $55,000 to $60,000.

    A note of caution

    Alex Kuptsikevich, analyst at FxPro, sounds a more cautious note on the outlook for the Bitcoin price and the wider crypto market.

    He points to tightening monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve and other leading central banks as likely to impact demand for high-risk assets like Bitcoin.

    According to Kuptsikevich (quoted by CoinDesk):

    Long-term investors should not lose sight of the natural tightening of financial conditions because of these moves, which will slowly but persistently reduce demand for risky assets. The main risk for the crypto market is that we have seen a monetary regime switch in the last couple of months, which promises to take some of the demand for crypto away.

    The post Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) price dips again. Could it be set for a bounce? 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 and recommends Bitcoin. 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 Solana jumped 17% today

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

    ASX bank profit upgrade Red rocket and arrow boosting up a share price chart

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

    What happened 

    The world of cryptocurrencies was on fire this morning, and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) was leading the way. Solana jumped as much as 17.5% in trading over the last 24 hours and as of 11:30 a.m. ET is up 15.1% on the day. 

    So what 

    The biggest news to hit Solana in the last day is word of a $150 million gaming fund from Forte, Griffin Gaming Partners, and Solana Ventures. As the companies backing cryptocurrencies aim to build utility, using games has become a popular growth strategy, and this is a very large fund to build games for Solana. This follows a $100 million fund by Solana Ventures, FTX, and Lightspeed Venture Partners in November to invest in play-to-earn games. 

    Another big announcement came from former first lady Melania Trump, who is launching an NFT on Solana. People can buy a Trump NFT for 1 SOL or $187 on a credit card through MoonPay, and funds will support the Be Best initiative. In a statement, Trump said she hopes to release more tokens in 2022.

    Now what 

    The theme here is that Solana is becoming a go-to cryptocurrency for utility projects and low-cost NFT sales. Selling a sub-$200 NFT on a blockchain like Ethereum is too expensive, and it’s a race to build lower-cost alternatives. Solana appears to be winning that race against other cryptocurrencies, which is why its value is up sharply today. 

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

    The post Why Solana jumped 17% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for 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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    Travis Hoium owns Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended 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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  • What are experts saying to expect for the IAG (ASX:IAG) share price in 2022?

    Man sits at computer and analyses stock graphic

    So far, 2021 has been brutal for the Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) share price.

    The company has battled against paying business insurance claims for COVID-19 disruptions and intense storm activity.

    Additionally, IAG’s subsidiary and operator of NRMA Insurance is facing a lawsuit brought about by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), while the company is the subject of a shareholder class action.

    As of yesterday’s close, the IAG share price is $4.25, 9.96% lower than it was at the start of this year.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 9.15% year to date.

    But does the future look greener for the insurance company’s stock? Here’s what experts are saying.

    What might 2022 bring for the IAG share price?

    For bullish investors, experts’ outlook for the IAG share price in 2022 could be worrying.

    Morgans slapped the stock with an ‘underweight’ rating and a $3.75 price target last week. However, earlier this month, the broker weighed in on the company’s growth strategy.

    IAG recently outlined its plan to generate a cash return on equity of 12% to 13%, driven by customer growth. It’s also aiming for a $250 million profit improvement for its Intermediated Insurance Australia (IIA) business and $400 million of value creation for its Direct Insurance Australia (DIA) division.

    Morgans analyst, Richard Coles commented on the company’s plan, saying:

    IAG’s overall strategy sounds logical, although history shows it is one thing improving margins in IIA and another thing being able to maintain them. We also retain some skepticism on customer growth targets given IAG has been losing personal lines market share in recent times.

    UBS is also feeling bearish.

    The broker recently dropped its price target for IAG shares to $4.20 – 21% lower than its previous prediction, made in October – popping a ‘sell’ rating on the stock.

    UBS is reportedly worried about ASIC’s lawsuit, which came about due to NRMA overcharging some customers. It’s also concerned about a “substantial ‘claims catch up’” that could hit the company as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

    All in all, the two brokers predict the IAG share price currently has a downside of between 1% and 11%.

    However, as Livewire reports, Perpetual Investment Management, alongside its portfolio manager and head of equities, Paul Skamvougeras has picked the stock as a winner for 2022.  

    The fund believes next year will see fewer major weather events, leading to higher margins for the insurance group.

    The post What are experts saying to expect for the IAG (ASX:IAG) share price in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Insurance Australia Group right now?

    Before you consider Insurance Australia Group, 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 Insurance Australia Group 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 and has recommended Insurance Australia Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Is it a buy? Here’s what Macquarie is saying about the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price

    A male investor sits at his desk looking at his laptop screen with his hand to his chin pondering which shares to buy

    Shares in Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) finished up the trading day on Thursday less than 1% in the red at $20.96.

    It’s been a choppy week for the bank following its AGM on Wednesday, considering that shareholders gave the board its first strike by rejecting its remuneration proposal.

    Yet, in amidst chairman John McFarlane apologising “unreservedly on behalf of the board”, plus the bank’s $8 billion cost reduction target, Westpac shares have held up well this week and are less than 1% down over the past 5 trading days at the time of writing.

    The team at Macquarie have now weighed in on the investment debate and offered some insights into the outlook for the bank’s investors. Could Westpac be a buy right now? Let’s take a look and see.

    Is Westpac a buy?

    Analysts at Macquarie reckon that Westpac is set to lift its performance in FY22 and that revenue growth could be improved next year.

    The firm acknowledges Westpac’s net interest margin (NIM) headwinds that have resulted in a number of analyst downgrades and downward revisions on its earnings outlook.

    However, Macquarie reckons this period of compressed margins and lumpy revenues could be finished for Westpac, and believes its home loan division will begin to match its peers from FY22.

    With the spread between new home loans to existing loans narrowing for Westpac, this could set the stage for an improved growth outlook at the top for Australia’s oldest bank, it says.

    In turn these improving fundamentals could bode in well for Westpac’s share price, according to Macquarie. The firm notes that “while we recognise other challenges, including persistently unrealistic consensus expectations, we see scope for Westpac to unwind some of its recent underperformance”.

    Despite its positive tone, the firm remains neutral on its stance and values the bank at $25.50 per share, implying around 22% upside potential at the time of writing.

    What are other brokers saying?

    Meanwhile, the team at Bell Potter also hold a neutral sentiment on the outlook of the Westpac share price. In a recent note, the broker – like many of its colleagues – reckons Westpac’s ambitious cost reduction of $5 billion by 2024 is a mighty task.

    Following the bank’s AGM, Bell Potter says Westpac might have some room to grow in its transformation before it books ongoing revenue growth.

    It says that “while profit increased mainly due to an easing off in Covid-19 issues, there is still a lot of work to be done in driving change”.

    Bell Potter goes on to note the regulatory challenges Westpac has faced this year alongside its time spent on remediating customer issues and risk budgeting, alongside a shift in strategy.

    As such the broker rates Westpac neutral and assigns a $22 price target on its share price, a step in behind Macquarie’s valuation.

    In the past 12 months the Westpac share price has gained just 4% after climbing more than 8% this year to date. Over the past month, shares have reversed course and are down 8% in that time.

    The post Is it a buy? Here’s what Macquarie is saying about the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These 5 Cheap Shares Could Be Set For Huge Gains (FREE REPORT)

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can find out the names of these stocks in the FREE stock report.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of February 15th 2021

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    The author has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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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  • Why Tesla stock is down sharply today

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

    Tesla stock represented by inside of the Tesla factory at work

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

    What happened

    Shares of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) tumbled on Thursday, declining more than 4% as of 12:40 p.m. ET. The stock is likely down because of knee-jerk selling in many growth stocks on Thursday, following the Federal Reserve’s commentary yesterday about its expectations to raise interest rates next year.

    The growth stock’s decline extends a bearish trend for the electric car maker’s shares recently. Share have fallen a total of 15% in December alone.

    So what

    Many growth stocks were trading lower on Thursday. This is partly evidenced by the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite‘s near-2% decline as of this writing. The index has more growth stocks in it than the S&P 500, which was down a lesser 0.5% as of this writing.

    While Tesla stock has been battered and bruised in recent trading days, the stock is still up a market-beating 32% year to date. And that’s on top of a nearly 700% gain in 2020. Shares, therefore, may simply be taking a breather after an epic run-up over the last two years.

    Now what

    Looking ahead, investors will be looking for Tesla to report strong vehicle deliveries for its fourth quarter. The company typically reports fourth-quarter deliveries within the first three calendar days of each year. So, investors can expect an update on Tesla’s quarterly deliveries by Jan. 3, 2022. Analysts are largely expecting record deliveries for the period.

    Tesla will need to continue growing its vehicle deliveries rapidly in order to justify its high valuation. As of this writing, the stock trades at about 300 times earnings. Though earnings have notably been growing very rapidly. 

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

    The post Why Tesla stock is down sharply today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Tesla, 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 Tesla 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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    Daniel Sparks has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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

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  • What’s the outlook for the AMP (ASX:AMP) share price in 2022?

    woman shrugging

    It is fair to say that 2021 has been another very disappointing year for the AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price.

    Since the start of the year, the financial services company’s shares have lost a massive 42% of their value.

    This means the AMP share price is now down 82% over the last five years.

    What’s the outlook for the AMP share price in 2022?

    Next year looks likely to be a very eventful one for the AMP share price due to its planned demerger of the Private Markets business.

    This will see the company split into two and the Private Markets business trade separately on the ASX boards.

    Last month management revealed the rationale for the demerger. It is to enable the two businesses to increase focus on their respective markets and growth opportunities.

    This is AMP Limited as a retail wealth manager in Australia and New Zealand, and PrivateMarketsCo as a global manager of infrastructure and real estate investments with a growing focus on international institutional clients.

    What do brokers think?

    The team at Citi see potential for the AMP share price to rise meaningfully in 2022. However, they still believe it is too soon/risky to recommend it as a buy.

    Following its investor day update, the broker retained its high risk neutral rating and $1.25 price target.

    Based on the current AMP share price of 91 cents, this implies potential upside of 37% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Citi commented after the event: “There is a lot to digest and it is difficult to factor all guidance provided into existing forecasts given recuts to occur once GEFI is sold, etc. However, from what we can tell, we highlight no investment income from Resolution in 2H21, lower AMPC fee income due to margin pressure, etc. and ~A$20m of stranded FY22 costs as near-term negatives. There will also be incentive costs for Private Markets Co.”

    “However a potential halving of the normalised advice loss in FY22E and targeted cost saves in PrivateMarketsCo are more positive factors. We lower our FY21 EPS by 6% but lift our FY23E EPS by 4%. While the material provides welcome further transparency and on FY23 earnings the stock looks inexpensive, there remain a lot of moving parts. So, for now, we retain our Neutral, High Risk call and A$1.25 TP,” it added.

    The post What’s the outlook for the AMP (ASX:AMP) share price in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AMP, 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 AMP 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. 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 excellent ASX growth shares analysts are excited about

    a business person in a suit and tie directs a pointed finger upwards with a graphic of a rising bar graph and an arrow heading upwards in line with the person's finger.

    The Australian share market is home to a number of companies growing at a rapid rate.

    Three that could be well-placed for growth are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about these ASX shares:

    Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE)

    The first growth share to look at is Allkem. It is a top five global lithium mining company that was formed following the merger of Galaxy Resources and Orocobre. The company has a collection of high-quality assets including Olaroz, Mt Cattlin, and the Sal de Vida brine project. And unlike the many lithium explorers and developers on the ASX, Allkem is already producing lithium and benefiting from the sky high lithium prices. With production rising and demand tipped to outstrip supply for many years to come, the future looks bright for Allkem.

    Macquarie is bullish on and has an outperform rating and $12.00 price target on its shares.

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    Another ASX growth share to look at is IDP Education. It is a provider of international student placement services and English language testing services. For obvious reasons, it was hit hard by the pandemic. However, the company has been tipped to win market share once the crisis passes and trading conditions return to normal. It has also boosted its future growth with a key acquisition in the lucrative India market.

    Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating and $40.20 price target on the company’s shares.

    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

    A final growth share to look at is Megaport. It is a fast-growing provider of elasticity connectivity and network services interconnection across any location, to any services by Software Defined Networking (SDN). Megaport’s SDN allows customers to connect to hundreds of leading service providers in a flexible, on-demand, and cost-effective way. This service is resonating with customers across the globe as the shift to the cloud accelerates, which has underpinned very strong recurring revenue growth.

    Macquarie appears to believe this strong form will continue. As a result, it recently put an outperform rating and $24.00 price target on its shares.

    The post 3 excellent ASX growth shares analysts are excited about 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 owns Allkem Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Idp Education Pty Ltd and MEGAPORT FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT 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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  • How might the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price perform in 2022?

    A woman wearing a mask at the airport gets ready to travel again with Qantas

    The Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price’s performance in 2021 was often mixed.

    The company’s stock hit a low of $4.36 in May and a high of $6.89 in October.

    At market close on Thursday, the Webjet share price finished trading at $5.19, just 2% higher than it was at the start of this year.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 11% year to date.

    So, with the company’s share’s value staying relatively stagnant on the whole in 2021, what might 2022 have in store?

    Here’s what the experts predict.

    What might 2022 bring for the Webjet share price?

    In good news for the online travel agent’s shareholders, brokers’ consensus seems to be that the company’s shares will be moving upwards next year.

    Goldman Sachs popped a $6.90 price target on the Webjet share price earlier this month, maintaining its ‘buy’ rating.

    Additionally, it predicted dividends will be resumed in financial year 2023, giving hope for a payout in the final leg of 2022.

    It also wasn’t worried about the Omicron variant, noting the company doesn’t have much exposure to the world’s most impacted regions.

    UBS is also targeting $6.95 for the company’s shares while Morgans’ target is slight lower at $6.60.

    That means the three leading brokers all believe that the Webjet share price has an upside of between 26% and 33%.

    That bullishness is mirrored by Ausbil chair, chief investment officer, and head of equities Paul Xiradis.

    Xiradis believes Webjet – as well as other travel shares – will see increased earnings in 2022 as borders continue to reopen.

    Finally, the company itself is also predicting a successful 2022.

    In its results for the first half of its financial year – which runs from 1 April to 31 March – the company predicted that over the course of its financial year 2022, its WebBeds business will become the leader in its market, its online travel agency will increase its market share, and that its GoSee business will undergo a “transformational opportunity”.

    The company expects it will reach pre-COVID-19 booking volumes sometime between October 2022 and March 2023.

    Still, the company continues to routinely come in as one of the ASX’s most shorted stocks.

    That means not everyone is optimistic about the Webjet share price’s future.

    The post How might the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price perform in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Webjet, 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 Webjet 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 recommended Webjet 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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  • Where are Xero (ASX:XRO) shares headed in 2022?

    digitised face hovering above share investor looking at computer screens

    New Zealand accounting software provider Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) has served investors pretty well over the years.

    Its shares first floated on the NZX, but even during its 9-year ASX life, the stock has returned more than 2,900%. The last 5 years has seen the shares rise 750%.

    But 2021 was a bit rough.

    Xero shares are 5.5% down on the year, closing Thursday at $X.XX. The stock price flew as high as $157.99 and as low as $104.44 over 2021, taking shareholders on a stomach-churning ride.

    So has the cloud software maker run out of steam? Is it one to have in your portfolio for the new year?

    ‘Best to be patient’

    Medallion Financial managing director Michael Wayne told The Motley Fool that his clients were holding onto Xero.

    “It has been a good performer over a long period of time. We are drawn to the capital-light and scalable software-as-a-service attributes of the business,” he said.

    “We continue to be encouraged by the sticky nature of the product.”

    However, he wouldn’t actively buy at the current prices. Perhaps one of the dips in 2022 will present an opportunity.

    “We feel it best to be patient as the share price is prone to volatility,” he said. 

    “All else remaining equal, we would look at buying around the $110 to $115 level.”

    The Motley Fool analyst Chris Copley said much the same last month.

    “There’s a lot of lofty expectations built into the [current] share price that investors should be wary of when investing in Xero,” he said in a video.

    While its most spectacular years might be behind it, Copley reckoned it would still be a “market beater” in the long run.

    “Its tail is long, which means I think it can get double-digit growth for a long period of time,” he said.

    “You really do need to look well long term into the future for this one because even in 3 to 5 years, it’s still going to probably have quite a lofty multiple.”

    Analysts divided on Xero shares 

    According to CMC Markets, analysts don’t have a consensus view on Xero shares.

    Eight out of 16 do currently rate them as a “strong buy”, but that’s somewhat cancelled out by 3 who classify the stock as a “strong sell”, and another 3 who recommend to hold.

    The team at Credit Suisse likes the look of them heading into the new year. It rates Xero stocks as a buy, with a price target of $160, which is more than a 13% upside.

    The Motley Fool’s Tristan Harrison reported Credit Suisse liked “the strong margins at Xero”.

    “In the FY22 first half, its gross profit margin improved from 85.7% to 87.1%,” he wrote last week.

    “Xero continues to see its annualised monthly recurring revenue (AMRR) increase, showing what the next 12 months of revenue could be. HY22 AMRR went up 29% to NZ$1.13 billion.”

    The post Where are Xero (ASX:XRO) shares headed in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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