Before we start, a heads-up. This isn’t about investing.

It’s far more important.

(There’s a tiny investing-related bit at the end. But if you’re only here for the investing stuff, that’s cool. We’ll resume normal transmission next time.)

Instead, today, I want to share something with you.

A few months ago, regular readers might recall, my family and I were fortunate enough to just beat lockdown, and get away on holidays before restrictions commenced.

I didn’t talk much about it at the time, because I was sensitive about the fact that many were on the other side of that luck, and many holidays had to be cancelled.

It would have been bad form to rub peoples noses in my good fortune and their bad.

We drove through the Flinders Ranges, up to Innamincka, across south-western Queensland and back down through north-western NSW before returning home. 

What I didn’t mention, at the time or subsequently, is that I got a call while I was away.

I’m not a believer in karma, fate, or a higher power, but I got a call from my mother while we were topping up our groceries — during the only hour we’d have mobile reception during the last — or next — few days.

The news was bad. My brother-in-law, Adam, was having chest pains, and Mum was heading to their place to look after the kids. My sister had called an ambulance, just in case.

I was worried, but hopeful.

We continued doing our shopping, while I waited, apprehensive, for more news.

Mum called back.

Her voice was shaky. And — in an unintentional phrasing that would have made a soap opera cliffhanger proud, she gave me the news.

“They lost him in the ambulance…”

Oh, s**t. (I thought worse, but you get the drift)

Then a pause that was probably a fraction of a second, but felt like forever, followed by:

“… but they managed to revive him and he’s at the hospital.”

The chronologically correct, but unfortunate, way she delivered the news was a three act play.

I went from devastation, to elation, and back to concern.

—–

It turns out that he’d had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to hospital. The paramedics had to pull the ambulance over and start resuscitation.

Adam says all he remembers is chatting with one of the ambos, then the next minute waking up with one of them on his chest, giving him CPR.

Had he not suggested my sister call an ambulance, he may well not be with us today.

Had she driven him to hospital, instead, he probably would have had that heart attack in the passenger seat, half way there.

He was lucky. But more than that, he was smart. He did exactly the right thing. 

More on that in a bit.

—–

Alive and breathing was better than not! But he wasn’t out of the woods.

We were a couple of thousand kilometres away. Sydney was going into lockdown, anyway, so there wasn’t much we could have done even if we were home.

I can’t remember much more of the rest of that shopping trip. I think I contacted my sister, but I’m not sure.

And then we were off, out of mobile range, again.

I didn’t sleep very well that night.

Concern, guilt, worry.

I couldn’t have helped, from there, even if I’d wanted to. All I could do was wait and hope that the next day, when I was going to drive to the nearest mobile reception, the news would be good.

But it was a long night.

And the closer I got to mobile signal the next day, the worse the feeling was.

Which, obviously, pales into insignificance compared to how my sister and their kids were feeling.

A small blessing came in the form of an SMS before I had the chance to call anyone.

He was recovering well.

I called my mother, then my sister.

They still needed to do more tests, and he wasn’t out of the woods, but his condition was improving, and the medicos seemed optimistic.

Over the next week or so, we’d go in an out of mobile range, and I got updates.

The news — thankfully — kept getting better. Eventually, he was released from hospital and went home to his family, to rest and recover.

The even better news is that he’s now made a full recovery, and is back at work as a paramedic.

We are all beyond stoked to have him still with us. 

Unfortunately, COVID has meant we still haven’t been able to be in the same place, since, but we’re looking forward to catching up in a couple of weeks.

It is, of course, his story. Not mine.

But I’m fortunate, by dint of my role and my employer, to be able to help people improve their financial lives. It’s my day job.

This time, though, I’m going to use that privilege to hopefully help save a life.

As I mentioned, above, Adam is a paramedic (and a bloody good one). On Saturday, he appeared on The Today Show (he’s the tall bloke on our right) with the ambos who saved his life, to share his story, as part of an effort to get more Australians to learn CPR.

You can click here, or on the image below to watch the segment.

One Sydney paramedic is used to saving lives, but could never have imagined it would be his own team to rescue him. #9Today pic.twitter.com/uFiuHUbRc9

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) October 15, 2021

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

(Turns out one of the paramedics who saved his life – the bloke on the left – was someone who Adam had trained. He did good!)

Normally, I’d be encouraging you to save. To invest. To manage your temperament. And more.

Today, I want to encourage you to do something else.

Have you done a First Aid course? When was the last time you did a refresher?

When was the last time you brushed up on your CPR skills?

Would you know what to do, if a family member, friend or stranger had a heart attack right next to you?

Those of us who’ve been in lockdown are making lists of what we’re going to do once restrictions lift.

Should you put ‘Do a First Aid course’ or ‘Learn CPR’ on your list?

I have.

I’ve done a number of First Aid courses in the past. I’ve learned CPR and earned my Bronze Medallion as a surf lifesaver. But it’s been a while since I brushed up.

I’m not going to just assume it’ll come back to me. I’ll be doing a refresher as soon as I’m able.

Can I ask you to do the same?

I asked Adam for permission to share his story. Characteristically, he was more than happy for me to do so, hoping it would help others:

“That is totally fine,” he said, “the more people who are aware, the better”.

And he added: 

“I guess the key message behind the story would be:

1. Early CPR (compressions)
2. Early defibrillation (the AED devices that are increasingly everywhere these days)
3. Call 000”

I hope you never need to use that information.

But I hope that, if you do, it’ll help you do your best to potentially save a life.

That’s an investment (I told you I’d come back to it) worth making.

Fool on!

The post The most important investment you can make? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Infomedia (ASX:IFM) share price sinks 14% on shock resignation
• Can the Brickworks (ASX:BKW) share price hit $30 by Christmas?
• Top broker says Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) share price is a buy and could rise 21%
• EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) share price lifts 5% on battery anode update
• Why the MoneyMe (ASX:MME) share price is rocketing 10% this Monday

Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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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The Infomedia Ltd (ASX: IFM) share price is falling off a cliff today following the surprise resignation of a senior leadership figure.

During early afternoon trade, the Infomedia share price is down a sizeable 14.63% to $1.40 apiece.

Infomedia CEO and managing director steps down

Investors are heading for the hills, selling Infomedia shares after the company’s head honcho has decided to step down.

According to the company’s announcement, Infomedia advised that its CEO and managing director, Jonathan Rubinsztein, has resigned.

The board highlighted Mr Rubinsztein’s contribution to the company, particularly in executing the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform strategy. This helped the business turn around its fortunes with the development and roll-out of Next Gen and the strategic win of the Ford Europe parts contract.

Mr Rubinsztein will depart Infomedia on 29 October to pursue another opportunity within the technology sector.

Infomedia non-executive director Jim Hassell will step in as an interim CEO from today until a permanent replacement is found.

Infomedia chair Bart Vogel touched on Mr Rubinsztein’s departure, saying:

Jonathan has made a significant contribution to the company and an opportunity has arisen that Jonathan has decided to pursue. This transition comes at a time when the company has strong momentum.

Mr Vogel also went on to add:

The company has performed strongly in the first quarter and remains on track to meet FY2022 revenue guidance. An update will be provided at our Annual General Meeting which will be held on 25 November 2021.

Mr Rubinsztein will work closely with Mr Hassell to ensure a smooth transition and handover until his formal departure.

Mr Hassell has been part of the Infomedia board of directors since May 2021. He brings more than 30 years experience in the technology sector, both in Australia and internationally.

Previously, Mr Hassell held positions as Group CEO of BAI Communications, as well as VP and Managing Director of Sun Microsystems. In addition, he also took up various senior executive roles with NBN Co and Broadcast Australia.

About the Infomedia share price

Over the past 12 months, Infomedia shares have lost 10% in value with year-to-date dropping around 30%.

Based on today’s price, Infomedia has a market capitalisation of roughly $526 million, with approximately 375.76 million shares on issue.

The post Infomedia (ASX:IFM) share price sinks 14% on shock resignation appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. owns shares of and has recommended Infomedia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Infomedia. 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 possible that the Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) share price could rise to $30 by Christmas as an early present for investors?

One broker has had their say on where it expects Brickworks shares to go.

Citi, one of the brokers in Australia, has a price target on Brickworks of $30, rating it as a buy. That suggests the broker thinks that the Brickworks share price is going to rise around 25% over the next 12 months. A price target is for the next year, not just the next couple of months.

But it certainly suggests that the broker feels Brickworks shares could start heading towards $30 in the coming months.

The FY21 result was better than what Citi was expecting, predominately thanks to the strength of the performance of Brickworks’ assets.

FY21 report

The last financial year saw group revenue fall 6% to $890 million. However, the underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 61% to $453 million, whilst underlying profit jumped 95% to $285 million.

As Citi alluded to, the property division generated a record earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $253 million, an increase of 95% year on year. All of the property trust assets were revalued during the year and this resulted in a revaluation profit of $149 million. On top of that, the net trust income increased by 3% to $31 million.

It has a 50% stake in a property trust along with Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). This trust is one of the elements that can help the Brickworks share price over time.

Brickworks said that it has seen unprecedented demand for its industrial property facilities. The “rapid” growth of online shopping has seen an increased importance of well-located distribution hubs and sophisticated supply chain solutions. There were a number of “significant” industrial property transactions in western Sydney over the past six months.

The value of leased assets held within the property trust was $2 billion at the end of the year. It also has another $686 million in land and infrastructure that is currently under development. This increased “significantly” over FY21 due to development works at both Oakdale East and Oakdale West.

Including the development land, the total value of assets within the property trust was $2.7 billion at the end of the financial year. After including borrowings of $845 million, the total net asset value is over $1.8 billion. Brickworks’ 50% share of the net asset value (NAV) was $911 million, up by $184 million during the year.

What does Citi think the Brickworks share price valuation is?

Citi does think Brickworks is a buy. It currently believes that the Brickworks share price is valued at 15x FY22’s estimated earnings and 19x FY23’s estimated earnings.

However, a couple of weeks ago, Brickworks gave an investor presentation. It said that it had an inferred asset backing of $32.01 per share thanks to its property assets, building products assets and the Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares that it owns.

Some brokers aren’t so confident about the next 12 months as Citi. Morgans has a hold rating on the business, with a price target of $25.72.

The post Can the Brickworks (ASX:BKW) share price hit $30 by Christmas? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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The Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price has started the week in a positive fashion.

In afternoon trade, the mining giant’s shares are up 1% to $100.70.

Why is the Rio Tinto share price rising on Monday?

Today’s gain by the Rio Tinto share price appears to have been driven by a positive reaction to its third quarter update from a leading broker.

According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have retained their buy rating and trimmed their price target very slightly to $122.40.

Based on the current Rio Tinto share price, this implies potential upside of 21.5% for investors over the next 12 months before dividends.

And with Goldman forecasting a fully franked ~11% dividend yield in FY 2022, the potential total return stretches to over 32%.

What did the broker say?

Goldman notes that Rio Tinto had a tough quarter operationally. Nevertheless, its performance and downgraded guidance was at least in line with the broker’s expectations.

It commented: “RIO had another tough quarter operationally and has downgraded 2021 guidance for multiple commodities including Pilbara iron ore shipments to 320-325Mt (from 325Mt) and mined copper production to 500kt (from 500-550kt). However, we note the new guidance is in-line with GSe and the Sep Q production was overall in-line or a touch better than GSe.”

In light of this, its analysts remain positive on the Rio Tinto share price and see a lot of value in it at the current level. This is even after reducing long run iron ore price estimates to very low levels as part of the valuation process.

In addition, the broker expects Rio Tinto to generate strong free cash flow in the near term. This is expected to underpin dividend yields of 11% in FY 2022 and FY 2023.

Another reason Goldman is positive on the Rio Tinto share price is the company’s copper production growth potential and its exposure to aluminium.

It said: “In addition to copper production growth, RIO has one of the highest margin, the lowest carbon emission aluminium businesses in the world, with over 2.2Mt of Ali production powered by hydro, and we think ELYSIS inert anode technology could be worth billions, in our view.”

All in all, this could make Rio Tinto one to consider if you’re looking for exposure to the mining sector.

The post Top broker says Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) share price is a buy and could rise 21% 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 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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The EcoGraf Ltd (ASX: EGR) share price is taking off on news the company’s battery anode material has outperformed international hydrofluoric acid-free benchmarks.

According to EcoGraf, a major anode producer put the company’s HFfree battery anode material through performance testing, with the product returning encouraging results.

Unsurprisingly, the market is responding well to EcoGraf’s news. At the time of writing, the EcoGraf share price is 67.5 cents, 4.65% higher than its previous close.

Let’s take a closer look at today’s announcement from the electric vehicle and lithium-ion-focused vertically intergrated battery anode material producer.

EcoGraf’s product outperforms competition

The EcoGraf share price is gaining on news that the material the company will produce at its new Western Australian Battery Anode Material Facility has outperformed international benchmarks.

An unnamed anode producer found EcoGraf’s HFfree battery anode material outperformed reference materials in half-cell electrochemical testing. The battery anode material also satisfied the producer’s physical and chemical specifications.

According to EcoGraf, the test results represent a “critical milestone”.

The company is currently finalising its construction plans for its Western Australian Battery Anode Material Facility. The facility will be the first of its kind, and today’s news further supports EcoGraf’s environmentally-friendly processing technology.

EcoGraf’s HFfree battery anode material is made without hydrofluoric acid. According to the company, hydrofluoric acid is highly toxic and widely used to create battery spherical graphite with 99.95% carbon grade.

Spherical graphite makes up battery anode material.

Previously, EcoGraf has found it can produce spherical graphite with 99.97% carbon grade without using hydrofluoric acid.

The West Australian facility will export the hydrofluoric acid-free battery anode material to battery markets in Asia, Europe, and North America.

EcoGraf share price snapshot

This year has been particularly good to the EcoGraf share price.

It is currently 302% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 280% since this time last year.

The post EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) share price lifts 5% on battery anode update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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

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The MoneyMe Ltd (ASX: MME) share price is shooting straight for the moon.

At the time of writing, shares in the consumer credit business are trading for $2.09 – up 10%. For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.28% higher.

The positive price movement comes as the company releases its trading update for the first quarter of FY22.

Let’s take a closer look at today’s announcement.

What did MoneyMe announce?

The MoneyMe share price may be rocketing today due to the following results:

• $1 billion in customer receivable originations since 2013.
• Originations of $173 million in the quarter – up 283% on the prior corresponding period (pcp) and 7.45% over the previous quarter.
• Gross customer receivables of $452 million – up 227% on the pcp and 26.7% on the prior quarter.
• Record revenue of $23 million – up 92% on the pcp and 21% on Q4 of FY21.

What did management say?

MoneyMe’s Managing Director and CEO Clayton Howes said:

I am delighted to announce that MoneyMe has passed the $1bn origination milestone. This reflects our consistent focus over time to invest in and develop the digital capabilities of our Horizon technology platform, an unrelenting focus on the Generation Now customer and our persistent innovation.

What’s affecting the MoneyMe share price?

Looking deeper into the numbers, MoneyMe says its personal loans and freestyle divisions continue to drive the majority of growth in the business – both being quite resilient during lockdown.

Autopay, MoneyMe’s consumer car financing facility, achieved “significant growth despite the challenges of car buyers during lockdown”.

The MoneyMe share price may also be rising due to its “strong” performing credit and book quality metrics. Net charge-offs were 5.4% down on the pcp and COVID-19 deferrals were low at 0.2% of customer receivables.

MoneyMe share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the MoneyMe share price has increased 36.4%. Year-to-date, shares in the company have appreciated 42.9%.

The 52-week high is $2.48 and the 52-week low is $1.29.

MoneyMe has a market capitalisation of approximately $358 million.

The post Why the MoneyMe (ASX:MME) share price is rocketing 10% this Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Sidarous 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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The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price has moved in circles since the company entered the second-half of FY21.

AMP shares kicked off the second quarter at $1.125 apiece and have travelled sideways for most of the period. At the end of 3 months, the financial services company’s share price closed at 99 cents.

Today, AMP shares are swapping hands for $1.125, down 0.44%.

What happened in Q3 FY21?

The biggest story that affected the AMP share price in the third quarter of FY21 was the company’s half-year results.

AMP delivered a robust scorecard, highlighting a rebound across key financial metrics. This was largely driven by management’s focus on the Australian wealth management net cash outflows and controllable costs.

The board decided to maintain a conservative approach to its capital and dividends until the demerger and future strategies are finalised. AMP did not declare an interim dividend for the period which led to shareholders dumping the company’s shares.

Another story worth mentioning was that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) formally ended its investigation into AMP.

The allegations centred around suspicions of criminal conduct related to AMP’s “fees for no service” conduct. This revolves around charging fees to people who did not have access to a financial advisor.

However, ASIC dropped the case, opting not to pursue criminal charges against AMP.

Lastly, the company’s shares hit a new multi-decade low after three members of the Independent Advisory Committee resigned. The report from the Australian Financial Review stated that GPT Group (ASX: GPT) and Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) “have been shortlisted” for a takeover of the running of AMP’s $7 billion Capital Wholesale Office Fund.

About the AMP share price

In the months following AMP’s results, its shares hit a multi-decade low of 88.5 cents in late September, before rebounding higher.

When zooming out to the last 12 months, the AMP share price has fallen 20%, with year-to-date down around 30%. The company’s shares have lost about 80% of its wealth since early 2018.

In context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 20% from this time last year and is up more than 10% year-to-date. The ASX 200 also reached a record high of 7,632 points in mid-August.

AMP presides a market capitalisation of roughly $3.69 billion and has approximately 3.3 billion shares on its registry.

The post Here’s what happened to the AMP (ASX:AMP) share price in the FY21 third quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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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ASX 200 energy shares opened firmer on Monday as oil prices continued to rally to multi-year highs.

Western Texas Intermediate is currently trading 56 cents higher, or 0.68%, at a 7-year high of US$83.03 a barrel.

Similarly, the global benchmark, Brent Crude, is up 38 cents, or 0.45%, to US$85.27 a barrel.

Just 12 months ago, both oil prices were sitting at around US$40 a barrel.

A solid start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares

The S&P/ASX Energy (INDEXASX: XEJ) is currently the best performing sector this morning, up 0.96%.

The largest oil and gas player, Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) is currently up 0.36% at $25.27.

The Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) share price is currently up 0.88% at $4.56.

Similarly, Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is also trading 0.89% higher at $7.41.

Meanwhile, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) is leading the gains, up 2.94% at $1.48.

What’s next for oil prices?

Positive demand and supply factors have helped drive a sustained push in oil prices.

Analysts believe that oil prices could continue to trend higher amid a recovery in global energy demand.

“Crude prices are rallying after another round of strong earnings and economic data suggests the economy can still handle the current surge in energy prices,” said OANDA senior market analyst Ed Moya, according to S&P Global.

“It will take a trifecta of events to derail this oil price rally: OPEC+ unexpectedly boosts output, warm weather hits the northern hemisphere, and if the Biden administration taps the strategic petroleum reserves,” Moya added.

Analysts at TD Securities also flagged the sharp increase in natural gas and coal prices as another tailwind for crude oil demand.

Gas to oil switching is “particularly fuelling upside momentum in Brent Crude and heating oil, which can be exacerbated by up to 1 million [barrels a day] of incremental winter demand.”

Despite oil prices sitting at multi-year highs, most ASX 200 energy shares remain well below pre-COVID levels.

The post ASX 200 energy shares open higher as oil prices double in past 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun 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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Despite a rally the last few days, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost 3.6% since mid-August.

In such turbulent times, an old investing axiom says gold can be a safe haven.

Whether that’s wise or not is up for debate, as some experts dislike how unproductive gold is as an asset.

But if you decide the precious metal is right for you, there are many ASX shares that can give you exposure.

Fortunately for you, The Motley Fool has dug up a couple of expert “buy” recommendations for you to consider.

Big risk for big reward in Africa

Shares for gold miner Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG) have doubled since May.

Argonaut associate dealer Harrison Massey is a fan of the business which operates gold projects in the West African country of Cote d’Ivoire.

“The company is progressing its 9000-metre air core drilling program, testing 3 kilometres of northern and southern strike extensions at Nyangboue,” he told The Bull.

“The company is led by an experienced mining team.”

As Turaco is in an exploratory stage, Massey acknowledges the risk involved in these shares.

If the company hits gold, shareholders will be bathing in returns. If it doesn’t and goes broke, then the stock could go to zero.

“Recently, the shares have been enjoying favourable momentum, rising from 9.8 cents on September 30 to close at 15 cents on October 14,” he said.

“Explorers carry risk but any encouraging results should paint a brighter outlook.”

Turaco shares were trading for 14 cents on Monday morning.

Digging for gold in Western Australia

Closer to home, Calidus Resources Ltd (ASX: CAI) is in a more mature stage than Turaco.

TradeDirect365 technical consultant Braden Gardiner rates it as a “buy” while the business is building the “Warrawoona” mine in the east Pilbara of Western Australia.

“It has regulatory approvals and finance. The company is on schedule to produce gold in the June quarter of 2022.”

Calidus shares were trading for 60 cents on Monday morning, which is more than 38% up in the past 6 months.

“Buyers supporting higher price levels provide an encouraging outlook,” Gardiner said. 

“We expect positive momentum to drive the price through 75 cents.”

The post 2 gold ASX shares experts are loving right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo 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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The Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) share price is surging higher today after its latest announcement. Eager eyes have turned to the company’s shares after an agreement to sell Superloop’s Hong Kong operations, as well as select Singapore assets.

At the time of writing, shares in the telecommunications infrastructure company are changing hands for $1.18, up 21.65%. For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is trading 0.04% lower in early trade.

Let’s lift the lid on Superloop’s latest transaction.

Superloop share price climbs on offloading

Superloop shareholders are watching on as the company’s value stampedes higher on Monday. It appears investors are supportive of the latest strategic business decision.

According to the company’s announcement, Superloop has entered a binding agreement with funds affiliated with Columbia Capital and DigitalBridge Investment Management. The agreement entails the sale of Superloop’s Hong Kong operations, in addition to select assets of Superloop Singapore.

Positively, the $140 million sale price of these assets represents a 30% premium ($32 million) above the current carrying value.

However, there is more to the announcement than a simple asset sale. As part of the deal, Superloop will enter a 15-year indefeasible right of use on the existing or future expanded Singapore and Hong Kong networks. This will allow the ASX-listed company to continue participating in these geographies through its INDIGO submarine cable.

Under the terms, Columbia Capital and DigitalBridge will become strategic partners with Superloop to expand upon its INDIGO traffic with a preferential supply agreement.

Essentially, this means the investment funds will assist in expanding Superloop’s customers while they become customers at a discounted rate. The terms seem to be looked upon fondly by investors today, with the Superloop share price surging.

Management commentary

Commenting on the asset sale and partnership, Superloop CEO and managing director Paul Tyler stated:

I recognised when I joined Superloop that one of our great opportunities was to look at the invested capital of the business and where appropriate, recycle it and re-invest in areas that will drive greater shareholder returns. This sale of our Hong Kong business and select Singapore assets, at a premium to their carrying values, allows the company to release significant shareholder funds and redeploy them into more strategically aligned assets, higher growth opportunities and markets.

Furthermore, the announcement highlighted that the company will undergo a review of its capital. This will include the proceeds from this sale, gearing level, growth investments, liquidity, etc. Subsequently, Superloop plans to update the market on the outcomes of this review in February 2022.

Finally, the expectation is the company will be in a much stronger net cash position from this sale and review. As a result, Superloop hopes to be better primed for investing in organic growth, as well as merger and acquisition opportunities.

Superloop snapshot

The Superloop share price has outperformed the benchmark index over the past year. Specifically, the telecom offering has surged more than 30% in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the Aussie index has added 18.4% during the same time period.

According to its financial reports ending June 2021, the company held $89.724 million in cash and cash equivalents. On the other hand, its debts totalled $56.134 million at the end of the financial year.

The post Superloop (ASX:SLC) share price soars 21% following asset sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 SUPERLOOP FPO. 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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