• Why is the Kogan (ASX:KGN) share price struggling lately?

    Close up of a sad young Caucasian woman reading bad news on her phone.

    The Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price is going around in circles, range bound between highs of $13 and lows of around $9.

    Why is the Kogan share price struggling?

    eCommerce is not a hot space right now

    ASX-listed e-commerce shares have struggled to outperform for the past few months, weighed down by broader themes such as the cycling of elevated sales and supply chain issues.

    Kogan peers such as Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) and Mydeal.Com Au Ltd (ASX: MYD) have also struggled this year, posting major share price declines between February and June.

    After a sharp selloff in the first half, most of these e-commerce shares, including the Kogan share price, have been trading sideways ever since.

    Cycling of elevated sales

    Growth expectations for e-commerce players might have moderated following a strong COVID-19 driven performance in FY20.

    This morning, Redbubble for example, provided a first-quarter trading update that flagged a significant year-on-year decline across key financial metrics.

    For the first quarter ended 30 September, gross transaction values declined 21% on the prior corresponding period, marketplace revenue fell 28% and gross profit was down 34%.

    This might not necessarily be the case for Kogan, as its FY21 full-year results said that its July unaudited gross sales increased 5.1% compared to July 2020.

    Despite a solid FY21 performance and upbeat outlook, the Kogan share price still tanked 15% on the day of its results announcement.

    Headwinds for tech shares

    Another factor weighing on the Kogan share price could be the concerns surrounding higher bond yields and interest rates.

    Tech shares tumbled earlier on in the week following a jump in US 10-year Treasury yields.

    Treasury yields have rallied in recent weeks amid increasing concerns that the US Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in late 2022.

    Richly valued and high growth sectors are most vulnerable to rising interest rates, which make future cash flows appear less valuable in the present.

    The post Why is the Kogan (ASX:KGN) share price struggling lately? 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 Kerry Sun 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 Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Kogan.com 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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  • Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) share price lifts 5% on hydrogen update

    Group of children dressed in green hold up a globe relating to climate change.

    The Elixir Energy Ltd (ASX: EXR) share price is surging forward during early afternoon trade on Thursday. This comes after the energy producer released an update in regards to its hydrogen strategy.

    At the time of writing, Elixir Energy shares are up 5.36% to 29.5 cents apiece.

    What did Elixir Energy announce?

    In a statement to the ASX, Elixir advised progress is being made on its recently announced hydrogen project in Mongolia.

    Elixir executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mongolia’s Ministry of Energy to investigate the opportunity for a hydrogen project.

    Under the framework, the Ministry will be responsible for maintaining security, stability, and efficiency in the energy sector. In addition, the department will seek to develop the new source of energy.

    Elixir will work with the Mongolian government to bring forward expertise in the hydrogen economy in technical, legal, and commercial areas.

    The news follows the company’s commissioned independent report earlier this month from energy analyst, K1 Capital. The report evaluated the wind and solar resource potential of Mongolia’s South Gobi region in regards to the production of green hydrogen.

    It estimated a combined wind and solar utilisation of 79% for Elixir’s project location. In comparison, the Southern Goldfields is generally between 50% and 60%, with the Pilbara region in Western Australia about 45%.

    This means that a location with a capacity factor of 79% will produce around 60% more hydrogen from the same capital investment than an area with a 50% capacity factor.

    A number of contributors underpin the high-capacity factor in the South Gobi region. They include very high wind speeds along with a cold climate supporting enhanced solar efficiencies.

    Management commentary

    Managing director Neil Young spoke about the news possibly fuelling the Elixir Energy share price today:

    We are very pleased to be working with the Mongolian Government to investigate the potentially world class green hydrogen potential of the country.

    The K1 Capital report supports our thesis that the South Gobi region of Mongolia has such potential – not only given its location immediately proximate to markets, but also its superb renewable resources. The wind and solar combination in our project area are as good as we have seen anywhere.

    About the Elixir Energy share price

    Over the past 12 months, Elixir Energy shares have registered gains of almost 130%. In contrast, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has travelled around 20% higher in the same time frame.

    Elixir has a market capitalisation of roughly $267.3 million, with approximately 891 million shares on hand.

    The post Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) share price lifts 5% on hydrogen update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Elixir Energy right now?

    Before you consider Elixir Energy, 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 Elixir Energy wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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

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  • Archer Materials (ASX:AXE) share price leaps 11% on chip update

    Female Archer Materials staffer standing in front of computerised images

    The Archer Materials Ltd (ASX: AXE) share price is surging today, up 5.39% at the time of writing to $1.57 per share.

    In earlier trading, Archer Materials shares hit $1.66, which is 11.4% higher than yesterday’s closing share price.

    Here’s what is driving ASX investor interest in the materials and technology company today.

    What did Archer report to the market?

    Archer Materials told the market it has made further progress with its CQ quantum computing chip technology.

    Its proprietary qubit processor technology could allow for quantum computing-powered mobile devices — a world first.

    In the latest development, Archer said it has validated the robustness of qubit coherence for the first time in an inert atmosphere (nitrogen gas) and at room temperature.

    If you’re wondering what qubit coherence is, the company explains, “Quantum coherence is the fundamental requirement for quantum logic operations that are the basis of any quantum computing qubit processor hardware.”

    Archer said that competing room-temperature qubit projects make use of high vacuum environments, like ion-traps. These, as you’d expect, aren’t as simple to integrate into mobile devices.

    Commenting on the progress, Archer’s CEO Mohammad Choucair said:

    The step-change optimisation that was achieved validates the robustness of the qubit for control measurements and operation that could be compatible with device miniaturisation and, in general, preserving qubit coherence when integrating with semiconductor devices.

    Archer Materials recently raised $15 million via an institutional placement. The company says it is well-funded to progress its chip technology development.

    According to the release, Archer Materials is the only ASX-listed company developing qubit processor chip technology in the semiconductor industry.

    Archer Materials share price snapshot

    The Archer Materials share price has been a stellar performer in 2021, up 217% year to date.

    Archer Materials shares have substantially outperformed the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is up 10% so far in 2021.

    The post Archer Materials (ASX:AXE) share price leaps 11% on chip update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Archer Materials right now?

    Before you consider Archer Materials, 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 Archer Materials 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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    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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  • Evergrande missed another milestone payment, what could it mean?

    a woman leans her back on the glass of an office tower with her arms folded and her eyes closed as if digesting bad news.

    Fears are looming as the Evergrande crisis intensifies this week. The Chinese real estate developer is beginning to stretch its luck as it misses its third interest payment to bondholders. Although, some analysts believe the government is devising ways to conduct damage control on any fallout.

    Despite the heightening troubles among China’s property developers, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is pushing upwards on Thursday. At the time of writing, the Aussie market is up 0.68% to 7,322.2 points.

    Let’s deconstruct the latest details in the Evergrande story.

    Clipping the wings of a shaky industry

    The Chinese property developer, Evergrande, has received its third strike. The company, which is strapped with a burdensome debt of more than $400 billion, was unable to fulfil its recent debt obligations according to bondholders. This included some bondholders not receiving coupon payments to the tune of US$148 million on April 2022, April 2023, and April 2024 notes.

    For Evergrande, this means its grace period is nearing — and if it is unable to pay US$119 million by 23 October, it will default. This potential collapse has many investors around the globe concerned about spill-on impacts. However, analysts believe the Chinese government is planning on a controlled fall to mitigate widespread effects.

    Commenting on this, managing director of Orient Capital Research Andrew Collier, stated:

    What the government is doing is this kind of a managed reconstruction that is trying to scare the property market away from any further debt-fuelled growth by not bailing out Evergrande.

    For instance, Beijing is nudging the banks to release some cash to the property market now to provide padding to the property market. However, it all remains to be one complex balancing act. On the one hand, the government wants to tighten the belt on debt-fuelled property speculation. While on the other, China doesn’t want the entire property sector to falter and bring down economic growth.

    Bigger than Evergrande

    While the media has its teeth deeply sunk into the Evergrande headline, the problems extend beyond the one developer.

    This week, smaller developers Modern Land and Sinic Holdings have motioned to defer repayments due later this month. A request was made to the company’s respective bondholders to delay the US$250 million (each) interest payment for an additional three months.

    Investors will be keeping a close eye on these companies and Evergrande over the coming months. Until then, markets will likely exhibit continued volatility as uncertainty lingers.

    The post Evergrande missed another milestone payment, what could it mean? 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. 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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  • Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) share price slumps despite positive profit outlook

    an unhappy miner poses with gloved hand on face wearing a hard hat with a light and frowning.

    The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is falling today despite the company releasing a positive quarterly report.

    The company states record-high coal prices will see its profits increasing soon, helping it to become debt-free in early 2022.

    That’s particularly impressive given Whitehaven owed $787.5 million at the end of financial year 2020.

    However, the market doesn’t seem to be sharing Whitehaven’s positive sentiments.

    At the time of writing, the Whitehaven Coal share price is $3.25, 1.36% lower than its previous close.

    Let’s take a closer look at the pure-play coal miner’s performance over the September quarter.

    The quarter that’s been for Whitehaven

    The Whitehaven Coal share price is slipping today despite good news for the 3 months ended 30 September 2021.

    The company has announced its bottom line has begun to be bolstered by record-high thermal coal prices, which reached an average of US$167.52 per tonne over the September quarter, according to the GlobalCOAL Index. That represents a 54% increase on that of the June quarter.

    As of 13 October, the GlobalCOAL Index puts the price of thermal coal even higher, at US$232.06 a tonne.

    The increased prices have likely boosted confidence in Whitehaven’s expectation of being in a net cash position in the March quarter of 2022.

    However, Whitehaven didn’t realise such astronomical prices over the quarter just been. The company’s realised average thermal coal price for the September quarter was US$142 per ton – 15% less than the index’s average price.

    The disparity was due to most of Whitehaven’s thermal coal book having been priced in previous periods and its fulfilment of previously agreed-upon fixed-price sales. Additionally, some of its sales were delayed from previous quarters.

    However, the company expects to see its profits boosted in coming months.

    Finally, here’s a breakdown of Whitehaven’s technical performance over the quarter just been:

    • Run-of-mine production of 5.2 million tonnes – up 15% on the prior corresponding period (PCP);
    • Saleable coal production of 4.7 million tonnes;
    • Total managed coal sales of 4.6 million tonnes – down 23% on that of the PCP;
    • Managed own coal sales of 4.2 million tonnes – down 25% on that of the PCP;
    • Total equity coal sales of 3.9 million tonnes;
    • Equity sales of own coal of 3.4 million tonnes –  25% less than PCP; and
    • As of 30 September, it had managed coal stocks of 3.2 million tonnes ­– 80% more than it did as of 30 September 2020.

    Whitehaven Coal share price snapshot

    Despite today’s dip, the Whitehaven Coal share price has been performing well so far this year.

    It has gained 97% since the start of 2021. It’s also 245% higher than it was this time last year.

    The post Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) share price slumps despite positive profit outlook appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Whitehaven Coal right now?

    Before you consider Whitehaven Coal, 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 Whitehaven Coal wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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

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

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  • Own CBA (ASX:CBA) shares? Here’s the bank’s latest stance on climate pressures

    Trees and a road shapes a dollar sign of green, indicating the share price movement of ASX eco companies

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are edging lower in morning trade, down 0.2%.

    This comes as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shakes off its losing streak, currently up 0.6%.

    That’s this morning’s price action.

    Now let’s have a look at the latest on the bank’s climate stance.

    How is CommBank addressing climate issues?

    Corporations across the world are coming under pressure to meet global emissions targets. As are the banks that finance them.

    Speaking to CBA shareholders at the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM), chairman, Catherine Livingstone said:

    We recognise that commercial, environmental and social outcomes are interconnected, and that balancing the interests of stakeholders involves achieving positive outcomes in all dimensions. During the past year, we have strengthened our approach to sustainability, including updating our Environmental and Social Framework, which sets out, for our people, as well as our stakeholders, the standards we have set.

    CommBank’s CEO, Matt Comyn also addressed the bank’s ESG commitments. He added, “We’re also working on initiatives, such as the first sustainability linked bond and loan because we believe that a sustainable future is a critical part of planning for the future economy.”

    Activists demand end to fossil fuel lending

    CommBank’s current sustainability commitments weren’t enough to please some CBA shareholders, with environmental activists Market Forces wanting the bank to cease funding fossil fuel projects.

    However, as the Australian Financial Review reported, Livingstone said CBA needed to continue funding oil and gas companies that were “committed to the transition to a cleaner economy“.

    She did say the bank would take new data from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 report into account, which could potentially see it limit loans to high emitters.

    Livingstone added, “Our philosophy overall is to support the transition, but to make it very science-based and data-based.” She said CBA would only fund fossil fuel projects to companies that “pass an ESG assessment and absolutely demonstrate they are consistent with the transition to Paris”.

    As clients go through their transition, they will need support in terms of capital and lending, and we want to be part of ensuring they can get that funding to make that transition.

    Our philosophy is really to work with our clients and support them through the transition. There is a great deal of transition that has to occur over the next ten years. So, quite apart from 2050, targets to 2030 are really crucial if we are to get to net zero emission in 2050.

    How have CBA shares been performing?

    Though slipping this morning, CBA shares have broadly outperformed the benchmark in 2021. Year-to-date, the CBA share price is up 23%, compared to a gain of 9% on the ASX 200.

    Over the past month CommBank has shaken off the wider market retrace, with shares up just over 1%.

    The post Own CBA (ASX:CBA) shares? Here’s the bank’s latest stance on climate pressures appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider CBA, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CBA wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    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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  • Can the BOQ (ASX:BOQ) share price hit $11 by the end of 2021?

    a small child holds his chin with his head on the side in a serious thinking pose against a background of graphic question marks and a yellow lightbulb.

    Brokers have been thinking where the Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) share price could go.

    The regional bank just released its FY21 result, which showed a recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 in FY20.

    BOQ’s FY21 result

    BOQ announced in its FY21 report that its cash earnings after tax increased 83% to $412 million. Excluding ME Bank, cash net profit was up 73% to $389 million. Cash earnings per share (EPS) grew 51% to 74.7 cents.

    Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 221% to $369 million. Again excluding ME Bank, statutory profit would have risen 206% to $352 million.

    The loan impairment expense was a credit of $21 million in FY21, reflecting “sound credit” and a $71 million reduction in the collective provision from the improved economic outlook and improvements in data quality relating to collateral.

    Turning to the net interest margin (NIM), it rose 4 basis points to 1.95% excluding ME Bank. Including ME Bank it went up 1 basis point to 1.92%.

    BOQ’s capital strength slightly increased, with the common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio rising 2 basis points to 9.80%. The bank said that it has the capital strength to support business growth and transformation. Management said that the asset quality remains “sound” with prudent collective provisioning levels.

    The board decided to pay a final dividend of $0.22 per share, an increase of $0.05 from the first half of FY21. That brought the full year dividend to $0.39 per share, representing a dividend payout ratio of 61%.

    Broker thoughts on the BOQ share price

    A price target signifies where a broker thinks a share price will be in 12 months from now, not just the next couple of months.

    Citi has a price target of $10.50 and Morgans has a price target of $10.80. Both of them rate the BOQ share price as a buy.

    Citi thinks the FY22 outlook is encouraging.

    On Morgans’ numbers, BOQ is valued at under 12x FY22’s estimated earnings with an expected grossed-up dividend yield for FY22 of 7.4%.

    What is the outlook?

    The bank said it was cautiously optimistic that Australia remains well placed for economic recovery.

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

    BOQ did say it’s expecting the net interest margin to decline by around 5 basis points to 7 basis points in FY22, as competition continues and the low interest rate environment remains. It’s also expecting expenses to grow by 3% on an underlying basis to support business growth, which will be offset by accelerated integration synergies.

    Its acquisition of ME Bank and the ongoing focus on its digital bank offering could be sizeable impacts on the BOQ share price in the coming years.

    Management said that the integration of ME Bank is well progressed and it continues to make progress with its transformation roadmap. Over the next 12 months, the second phase of the Virgin Money digital bank will be available to customers and will include home loans and additional deposit products. Work is also well progressed on the first phase of the BOQ digital bank.

    The post Can the BOQ (ASX:BOQ) share price hit $11 by the end of 2021? 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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  • Top broker tips Santos (ASX:STO) share price to climb 17%

    Oil miner with laptop and phone at mine site

    The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has tun out of steam on Thursday.

    At the time of writing, the energy producer’s shares are down 2% to $7.32.

    Despite this, Santos shares are still up an impressive 13% since this time last month.

    Can the Santos share price keep rising?

    The good news for investors is that one leading broker believes the Santos share price could run a lot higher.

    According to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts have an add rating and $8.55 price target on the energy producer’s shares.

    Based on the current Santos share price, this implies potential upside of 17% over the next 12 months.

    In addition to this, the broker is forecasting a fully franked 13.3 cents per share dividend in FY 2022. If we add this into the equation, this brings the potential return to a total of almost 19% for investors.

    Why is the broker positive on Santos?

    There are a few reasons why Morgans is bullish on the Santos share price.

    These includes its growth profile and diversified earnings base. The broker also sees some very big positives from its proposed merger with fellow energy producer Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH).

    Morgans explained: “We expect the resilience of STO’s growth profile and diversified earnings base see it best placed to outperform against a backdrop of a continuing broader sector recovery. STO remains our top preference amongst our large-cap energy universe.”

    “With early indications supportive of our view that material synergies and enhanced growth plans will result from the OSH merger. While in good shape, we expect STO to continue gaining investor support as it executes on the opportunistic OSH merger,” it added.

    The post Top broker tips Santos (ASX:STO) share price to climb 17% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Santos, 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 Santos 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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  • ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: HUB24 & Netwealth impress, A2 Milk surges again

    group of traders cheering at stock market

    At lunch on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and charging higher. The benchmark index is currently up 0.85% to 7,333.3 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    HUB24 and Netwealth impress

    It has been a very good day for the shares of HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) and Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) on Thursday. The shares of both investment platform providers have stormed higher following the release of strong first quarter updates. HUB24 reported net inflows of $3 billion for the three months ended 30 September, whereas Netwealth recorded $4 billion of net inflows for the quarter. Both were first quarter records.

    A2 Milk shares surge again

    The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price is surging higher again on Thursday. Investors have been scrambling to buy the struggling infant formula company’s shares since the release of a first quarter update from smaller rival Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB). That update appears to indicate that the worst may be behind the infant formula market, which may have led to short sellers quickly closing positions.

    South32 shares rise on acquisition news

    The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price jumped to a multi-year high this morning after announcing a new acquisition. South32 has entered into binding conditional agreements with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corporation to acquire a 45% interest in the Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile for an upfront cash consideration of US$1.55 billion. Sierra Gorda is an operating mine in the prolific Antofagasta copper mining region in Chile. Management expects the transaction to be immediately earnings accretive.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the Netwealth share price with a 14% gain. This follows its record first quarter performance. The worst performer on the ASX 200 has been the NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) share price with a 2.5% decline on no news.

    The post ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: HUB24 & Netwealth impress, A2 Milk surges again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Hub24 Ltd and Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk, BUBS AUST FPO, and Hub24 Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the South32 (ASX:S32) share price is jumping 11% to a multi-year high

    a man in a hard hat and overalls raises his arms and holds them out wide as he smiles widely in an optimistic and welcoming gesture.

    The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price has been a strong performer on Thursday.

    At one stage, the mining giant’s shares were up as much as 11% to a multi-year high of $4.07.

    The South32 share price has pulled back since then but remains up 4% to $3.80 at the time of writing. 

    Why is the South32 share price charging higher?

    Investors have been bidding the South32 share price higher today after it announced a new acquisition.

    According to the release, South32 has entered into binding conditional agreements with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corporation to acquire a 45% interest in the Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile.

    The release advises that the parties have agreed an upfront cash consideration of US$1.55 billion for the stake. In addition, South32 has agreed to provide the sellers with a contingent price-linked consideration of up to US$500 million. This is payable at threshold copper production rates and prices in the years 2022-25.

    What is Sierra Gorda?

    Sierra Gorda is an operating mine in the prolific Antofagasta copper mining region in Chiles. It is expected to produce 180kt of copper, 5kt of molybdenum, 54koz of gold, and 1.6Moz of silver in 2021 on a 100% basis.

    Today’s acquisition provides South32 with joint control alongside 55% joint venture partner KGHM Polska Miedz. It is a global miner listed in Poland.

    Management notes that the transaction is expected to be immediately earnings accretive, with the upfront purchase consideration benchmarking favourably to historical investment, production and valuation multiples of 3.3x FY 2021 Underlying EBITDA.

    The deal will be funded via a combination of cash on hand and an underwritten US$1 billion acquisition debt facility. This will maintain the company’s balance sheet strength and flexibility.

    At the end of September, South32’s unaudited net cash balance stood at US$660 million.

    Management commentary

    South32’s Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr, commented: “We are actively reshaping our portfolio for a low carbon world and the acquisition of an interest in Sierra Gorda will increase our exposure to the commodities important to that transition.”

    “Copper is a critical metal in the decarbonisation of the world’s energy networks and has strong long-term market fundamentals. Adding Sierra Gorda further improves our portfolio and is expected to immediately lift Group margins and earnings, supporting future shareholder returns while retaining strength and flexibility in our Balance Sheet,” he added.

    The post Why the South32 (ASX:S32) share price is jumping 11% to a multi-year high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in South32 right now?

    Before you consider South32, 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 South32 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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