• Why the Plenti (ASX:PLT) share price is soaring 7% today

    co-workers wearing headphone and microphones high five in celebration of good news in an office setting.

    The Plenti Group Ltd (ASX: PLT) share price is off to the races today, up 7% at time of writing after earlier posting gains of more than 8%.

    Below we take a look at the ASX fintech lender’s trading update for the quarter ended 30 September 2021 (Q2 FY22).

    (Note that different companies abide by different financial year calendars.)

    What were the growth figures for Q2 FY22?

    The Plenti share price is soaring today after the company reported a 140% increase in quarterly loan originations compared to Q2 FY21.

    The record high $256.4 million of loan originations also represented an 18% boost from the previous quarter (Q1 FY21).

    September, with $95.5 million, proved to be another record month for Plenti’s loan originations. That figure was up 159% from September 2020 which the company said was a record month for loan originations at that time.

    With another strong quarter behind it, Plenti reported its first half of the 2022 financial year (H1 FY22) loan originations leapt to $473 million. That’s up 183% from the previous corresponding period and up 56% from the previous half year.

    The Plenti share price may also be getting a lift from the 110% year-on-year increase in the company’s loan portfolio which stood at $915 million as at 30 September.

    Commenting on the results, Plenti’s CEO Daniel Foggo said:

    I am delighted to report yet another outstanding quarter for Plenti, with record quarterly loan originations across each lending vertical. By continuing to take market share, Plenti has achieved strong growth despite COVID-induced lockdowns.

    This strong growth along with the high level of operational leverage from our technology-led business model has accelerated our targeted timeframes for achieving a one-billion-dollar loan book and reaching Cash NPAT profitability, now targeted by end December 2021.

    Plenti share price snap shot

    The Plenti share price is up 23% in 2021, well outpacing the 9% gains posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) over that same time.

    Over the past month, Plenti’s shares are trading flat.

    The post Why the Plenti (ASX:PLT) share price is soaring 7% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Plenti, 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 Plenti 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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  • Why did the Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price have such a great FY22 first quarter?

    a group of young people dance together with their hands in the air, moving to music.

    The Macquarie Group Limited (ASX: MQG) share price had an amazing first quarter to the new financial year.

    Starting the 3-month period at $156.43, shares rose 16.3% to end the quarter at $182.00 per share. That incredible growth comes despite the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) having a mediocre quarter – rising only 0.26% in that time.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s been happening.

    Macquarie Group performed really well

    The first story that may have had a material impact on the Macquarie share price in the quarter was the positive brokers note out of Morgans in early August.

    As Motley Fool previously reported, Morgans said at the time:

    “We still see MQG as relatively inexpensive and continue to like its exposure to long-term structural growth areas such as infrastructure and renewables. Near term, MQG is likely to face earnings pressures from the impact of soft economic conditions but it remains well-positioned to ride out the current COVID-19 period and seize opportunities on the other side.”

    A pretty mediocre July for the company, from that point, turned into a green August and September. Of course, this is not to say the rise is because of the note, but just to show the growth coincided with the note being released.

    The next big story that seemed to have had a positive impact on the Macquarie share price was the release of its second-half forecast for the financial year – the company gaining 6% on the day.

    At the time, Macquarie advised it expects 1H FY22 results to be “slightly down on 2H FY21”.

    The investment bank gave the following reasons for the outlook:

    • Competition amongst peers driving down margin pressure;
    • Forecasted higher expenses to “support growth and investment”;
    • Commodity income was also “expected to be down following a strong FY21”.

    In the medium-term, Macquarie gave a more optimistic outlook. Macquarie believes it remains “well-positioned to deliver superior performance in the medium term”. That’s a stark contrast to its near term forward estimates at the time.

    Macquarie share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Macquarie share price has risen by 41%. Year-to-date, its shares are up 32%. Its 52-week high is $183.71 (hit yesterday) and its 52-week low is $125.56.

    Macquarie Group has a market capitalisation of approximately $67 billion.

    The post Why did the Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price have such a great FY22 first quarter? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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  • Star Entertainment and SkyCity share prices plunge, Whitehaven Coal up. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips on Nine's Late News

    Motley Fool Australia Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined Nine’s Late News on Monday night to discuss the day on the ASX, including a hit for Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) and SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (ASX: SKC) shares, plus a strong day for mining and oil, and good news for Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

    The post Star Entertainment and SkyCity share prices plunge, Whitehaven Coal up. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News 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 Scott Phillips has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Qantas (ASX:QAN) share price falls amid new budget airline competition

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

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price is in the red today. This comes amid reports a new budget airline is planning to break into Jetstar’s market.

    The new airline is intending to launch in Australia early next year, creating the only direct competition to Qantas’ Jetstar.

    At the time of writing, the Qantas share price is $5.50, 0.45% lower than its previous close.

    For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.1%, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 0.03%.

    Let’s take a closer look at Jetstar’s potential future competition.

    Jetstar might soon face new competition

    The Qantas share price is falling amid news Australia might soon have another budget airline.

    Newcomer Bonza is planning to launch in the country in early 2022, as long as it can get regulatory approvals.

    Bonza will be taking off with a fleet of Boeing 737-8 aircraft, but it hasn’t yet confirmed where it will be flying to. It’s currently in talks with airports around Australia.

    Though, in what might be bad news for budget-conscious international travellers, Bonza has no plans to fly overseas. Thus, Jetstar’s Asia-Pacific routes are safe from domestic competition for now.

    According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, the airline start-up is backed by Miami-based investment firm, 777 Partners.

    Additionally, Executive Traveller reports Bonza won’t be encroaching on some of Australia’s most popular routes.

    Bonza is turning its back on popular routes between Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Instead, it will focus on less traversed and more leisurely routes, many of which aren’t currently serviced by major airlines.

    Additionally, the up-and-coming airline won’t be offering any of the glitz and glam offered by some of its competitors, such as reward systems, airport lounges, or even business class.

    Qantas share price snapshot

    Today’s news of additional competition for Qantas’ Jetstar likely hasn’t impacted the airline’s share price.

    Right now, the airline’s share price is 13% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 29% since this time last year.

    The post Qantas (ASX:QAN) share price falls amid new budget airline competition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Qantas Airways right now?

    Before you consider Qantas Airways, 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 Qantas Airways 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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  • Why has the Australian Strategic Materials (ASX:ASM) share price tumbled 22% since August?

    woman shrugging

    The Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASX: ASM) share price is climbing higher in morning trade and is now changing hands at $10.70 apiece. That’s 4.9% up on yesterday’s close.

    Yet the company has been sailing choppy waters these past few months, having slipped almost 22% off a high of $13.66 on 26 August.

    That’s a curious plunge from a company whose share price had rallied more than 70% in August alone before the drop.

    Australian Strategic Materials shares are also leading the loss in the broader sector, with the S&P/ASX Materials Index (XMJ) slipping just 9% during this time.

    What’s been pushing the Australian Strategic Materials share price lower?

    There’s been no market sensitive information from the company lately that appears remarkable on its share price.

    However, the price of neodymium, the rare earths metal that Australian Strategic has exposure to, has traded sideways the last 2 months.

    Prior to this, the price of neodymium, one of the most common rare earths elements, had soared 36% from June. It also hit all-time highs of $186,713/tonne earlier in the year before cooling off slightly.

    However, since August, it has levelled and currently trades at $163,506/tonne – no real change over the period.

    It seems the price of neodymium is impacting the company’s share price, as Australian Strategic is an ASX resource share that produces the commodity.

    Taking a step back, it also appears there is weakness in the broader sector as well.

    As mentioned, the S&P/ASX Materials Index has slipped into the red lately and is down 5% this past month.

    The index is a good proxy to gauge performance of the wider industry and, based on these measures, it appears there have been headwinds lately.

    ASX 200 materials shares have been on a march down since August when they were trading at 5-year highs.

    Unsurprisingly, investors are reflecting this sentiment too. The VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (NYSEARCA: REMX) – a good proxy to check the growth of shares in the industry – is down 9% this past month.

    So it appears there is a rotation of capital away from ASX rare earths shares that is impacting the wider sector alongside weakness in commodities markets.

    Investors just aren’t chasing ASX materials shares right now. The Australian Strategic Materials share price is set to be on the receiving end of these headwinds.

    Australian Strategic Materials share price snapshot

    It’s certainly not all doom and gloom for the Australian Strategic Materials share price. Zooming out over the longer-term, it has climbed 66% this year to date and 272% in the last 12 months.

    This are impressive returns that far outpace the industry’s return and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s gain of about 20% in that time.

    The post Why has the Australian Strategic Materials (ASX:ASM) share price tumbled 22% since August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Australian Strategic 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 Australian Strategic 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 author Zach Bristow 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 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 NAB (ASX:NAB) shares? What to expect from its FY21 results

    CBA share price money laundering asx bank shares represented by large buidling with the word 'bank' on it

    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares will be one for investors to watch next month.

    This is because the banking giant is scheduled to release its full year results early in November.

    Ahead of the release, I thought I would look to see what the market is expecting from the bank in FY 2021.

    What is expected from NAB in FY 2021?

    According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts are expecting a solid result from the bank next month.

    The broker has pencilled in cash earnings of $6,452 million for the 12 months, up 73.9% year on year. On a per share basis, this is expected to lead to cash earnings of 195 cents, which is an increase of 62% on FY 2020’s numbers.

    As for dividends, the broker is expecting NAB to declare a fully franked final dividend of 60 cents per share. This will bring the company’s full year dividend to 120 cents per share, which is double what it paid in FY 2020.

    Based on where NAB shares are trading now, this represents a 4.2% yield for investors.

    What did the broker say?

    Bell Potter summarised its expectations for FY 2021.

    It commented: “Our forecasts include: 1) statutory earnings $6.30bn; 2) cash earnings $6.45bn; 3) cash EPS 195¢; 4) cash earnings ex-large notable items (i.e. excluding restructuring-related costs and customer-related remediation) $6.52bn; 5) cash EPS ex-large notable items 197¢; 6) fully franked final dividend 60¢; 7) ROE 10.6% (10.7% ex-large notable items); 8) NIM 1.74%; 9) credit impairment charge $0.00bn/0bp GLA; and 10) Level 2 CET1 ratio 11.7%.”

    “The performance reflected better credit impairment outcomes with ongoing momentum across home, SME and New Zealand lending. The bank still remains “optimistic about the long-term outlook for Australia and New Zealand” – still positive overall in the long run,” it added.

    Are NAB shares in the buy zone?

    Bell Potter believes NAB shares are trading at an attractive level.

    The broker has reiterated its buy rating and $31.00 price target on its shares.

    Based on the current NAB share price, this implies potential upside of 9.1%. And if you include dividends, this improves to 13.3%.

    The post Own NAB (ASX:NAB) shares? What to expect from its FY21 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider NAB, 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 NAB 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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  • What percentage of Sydney Airport (ASX:SYD) shares are owned by institutions?

    Young smiling girl stands on the tarmac at an airport with a plane in the background.

    An interesting aspect to inspect when assessing a company is its share ownership breakdown. Today, we’re taking a look at the ownership breakdown for Sydney Airport (ASX: SYD) shares.

    This is quite topical given the acquisition proposals that the airport operator has received so far this year. In any acquisition scenario, shareholder approval is needed to progress and accept a takeover bid. This means understanding who owns shares in a company can be important.

    At the time of writing, shares in Sydney Airport are residing at $8.27 apiece, up about 29% year-to-date.

    Who owns Sydney Airport shares?

    It may not come as a surprise that the company which owns and operates one of Australia’s most critical pieces of infrastructure is popular among retail investors. People like you and I make up the majority of shareholders in the $22.3 billion airport — owning approximately 63.5% of shares on issue.

    Furthermore, a commonly sought-after trait in companies is high insider ownership between the founders and/or management team. However, Sydney Airport counts only 0.04% of its shares as held by individual insiders. Presently, the largest insider shareholder on the registry is chief executive officer Geoffrey Culbert with $1.8 million worth of Sydney Airport shares.

    Meanwhile, the remaining 36.4% of shares are spread across many different institutions. These investors are comprised of mutual and super funds, insurance companies, investment firms, etc. Essentially, these are funds that are pooled together and managed by a third party.

    In the case of Sydney Airport, some notable institutional shareholders include UniSuper (15.28%), The Vanguard Group (2.93%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (2.17%), and Blackrock (2.03%).

    Because of the depth of research applied by institutional investors, their decisions to buy or sell can have a large influence on the broader market’s perception. This is demonstrated by the last time a large institutional transaction occurred in Sydney Airport shares. On 3 December 2020, UniSuper sold more than $66 million worth of shares. What followed was a 17% share price decline over the next 11 weeks.

    What’s the latest?

    After knocking back multiple offers, the board of Sydney Airport has finally allowed the consortium of infrastructure investors to conduct due diligence on a non-exclusive basis.

    To get access to the books, the consortium had to make an offer of $8.75 per share. An outcome from due diligence is expected any day now, as we near 4 weeks since the process commenced.

    The post What percentage of Sydney Airport (ASX:SYD) shares are owned by institutions? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Sydney Airport right now?

    Before you consider Sydney Airport, 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 Sydney Airport wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. 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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  • Minerals 260 (ASX:MI6) shares set to hit ASX boards today

    Two pairs of shoes lined up beside a door mat that says the word 'welcome'

    Minerals 260 (ASX: MI6) will be making its ASX debut at 1:00 pm on Tuesday.

    The company successfully raised $30 million at 50 cents a share following its spin-off from Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR).

    What does Minerals 260 do?

    Minerals 260 is a spin-off of Liontown’s non-lithium assets.

    The exploration company owns a portfolio of prospective gold, nickel, copper and platinum-group elements (PGE) projects across Western Australia.

    Moora Project

    The Moora Project is located in the same geological terrain as the Julimar project, owned by Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN).

    Following Chalice’s “globally significant” discovery at Julimar, the region has become a highly sought-after exploration area with numerous ASX-listed companies actively targeting gold, nickel, copper and PGE deposits, according to Minerals 260’s prospectus.

    A maiden drilling program was completed at Moora in the March 2021 quarter, with proposed follow-up work including diamond core drilling, ground electromagnetic surveys and a detailed aeromagnetic survey on the horizon.

    Koojan JV Project

    Liontown, through its wholly-owned subsidiary ERL, will retain a 51% interest in the Koojan Project.

    The area was described as “effectively unexplored with no prior geochemical sampling or drilling”.

    So far, Metals 260 has completed two phases of geochemical exploration, defining a number of high order PGE and/or gold anomalies.

    Proposed work for Koojan includes follow-up geophysical programs to define bedrock targets for drill testing.

    Dingo Rocks Project

    Dingo Rocks is an early-stage exploration project focused on precious and base metals.

    The company is currently compiling and reviewing previous exploration data to carry out an initial ground reconnaissance.

    Yalwest Project

    Yalwest is another early-stage exploration project focused on precious and base metals.

    The project is in an area where there has been no previous recorded exploration.

    What’s next for Minerals 260?

    Minerals 260 will likely have a busy schedule ahead with a variety of geochemical, geophysical and drilling activities to grow its prospective mineral portfolio.

    According to the company’s prospectus, it has a proposed budget of $14.3 million over the next two years to drive exploration activities across its four projects.

    The post Minerals 260 (ASX:MI6) shares set to hit ASX boards today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Minerals 260 right now?

    Before you consider Minerals 260, 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 Minerals 260 wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor 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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  • Top 5 global shares held by Aussie investors in Q3 revealed: eToro

    Hand writing Top 5 in white pen

    When it comes to global shares, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) is hard to beat.

    The electric vehicle and battery maker, with a market cap of some US$784 billion (AU$1.07 trillion) once again took top spot for most held shares by Aussie (and global) investors on eToro’s investment platform.

    We take a closer look at Tesla and the other 4 top held shares below.

    But first…

    What did eToro’s top held shares list reveal?

    One thing that jumps out from the top 5 held shares is that they can all be labelled as growth stocks. In fact, 9 of the 10 top held shares on the eToro platform in the past quarter ending 30 September were growth stocks.

    On the surface that may be surprising, as more economists are beginning to suspect that the boost in inflation hitting much of the world might not be quite as transitory as they’d been hoping. Meaning the odds of earlier and potentially larger interest rate hikes from the world’s central banks is increasing.

    Higher rates could impact shares like tech companies, which are often priced with future earnings growth in mind. However, investors appear to be shrugging off those fears.

    According to eToro’s global markets strategist, Ben Laidler:

    The fact that growth – and in particular big tech – stocks increasingly dominate portfolios suggests two things: firstly, that investors believe interest rate rises will be slow and steady; and, secondly, that they believe there is still plenty of mileage in growth stock earnings.

    With that said, here are the top 5 shares held by Aussie investors in the quarter just gone by.

    Tesla takes the cake

    As mentioned up top, Elon Musk’s brainchild Tesla, held onto its top spot for most held shares.

    Commenting on Tesla’s resilience among investors, eToro’s Australian market analyst Josh Gilbert, said:

    Australian investors are clearly passionate about investing in EVs, with Tesla once again dominating the local rankings. Despite Tesla’s performance being quite lacklustre at the beginning of 2021, Australian investors have renewed their optimism after the company announced its latest Q2 earnings in Q3 2021.

    The report demonstrated vehicle deliveries were up 122 per cent year-over-year, gross margins were continuing to swell and most importantly, guidance was strong for the rest of the year.

    Staying with the tech theme but moving away from Tesla and EVs, the number 2 most held share by Aussie investors last quarter was Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), with a mind-boggling market cap of some US$2.4 billion.

    Apple moved up from fourth spot in Q2.

    According to Gilbert:

    We can also see that Australian investors have increasingly favoured the defence end of tech with names such as Apple and Microsoft [the number 8 holding]. The balance sheets that these names possess can help Australian investors weather most market storms, whilst also finding growth in the tech space.

    Coming in at number 3 for Q3 was fellow electric vehicle maker, Chinese company Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO), which held the number 2 spot in the previous quarter.

    Indeed, investors appear well attuned to the continuing growth potential of the EV market. And for good reason. EV sales in the first half of 2021 were almost 3 times the number in the first half of 2020, and made up some 7% of all car sales.

    Rounding out the list we have GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) as the fourth most popular share among Aussie investors. That’s down one spot from the number 3 most popular share it held in the second quarter of 2021.

    And Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) came in at number 5, up 1 place from the number 6 spot it held in Q2.

    Will Tesla remain king of the hill in the current quarter or will it be unseated?

    Stay tuned.

    The post Top 5 global shares held by Aussie investors in Q3 revealed: eToro 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

    More reading

    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Amazon, Apple, NIO Inc., and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon, long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon, and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Apple. 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 this leading broker is saying about the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price

    a group of market analysts sit and stand around their computers in an open-plan office environment. The central figures are deep in thought over something appearing on one person's computer screen.

    The Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has been losing ground lately and is down 18% this past month.

    Yet, Fortescue shares finished Monday’s session 5% into the green amid stronger ore pricing and the company’s CEO making a play into hydrogen-based energy.

    Suffice to say, it’s been a bumpy ride lately for the iron ore giant’s share price. It came off a high of $26.30 in July, spiralling downwards ever since to trade at $15.28 at the time of writing.

    What’s up with the Fortescue share price lately?

    The Fortescue share price has been on the slippery slope alongside its business partner, iron ore.

    The price of iron ore has tanked by more than 47% since July, driven largely by efforts out of China to curb steel supply and production.

    According to some reports, more than 80% of China’s domestic steel mills suspended operations for maintenance in September.

    This is coupled with Beijing’s environmental push to curb emissions from fossil fuels. This has seen many steel producers under pressure to lower output levels, or even remain closed.

    Hence, the price of iron ore sunk 49% in Q3 2021, falling from its previous high of US$222/tonne in July to US$116/tonne.

    Curiously, this level is near 5-year highs for the raw material that occurred in May 2021. It corresponded to a 5 year high in the Fortescue share price in the same period as well.

    Prior to this, the company reported record full-year results in its FY21 earnings where it recognised a 117% year on year increase in net profit from revenue of US$22.3 billion – up 74% from the year prior.

    As such, shareholders also enjoyed a $3.58 per share dividend in FY21, up from $1.76 a year ago.

    It begs the question: can Fortescue sustain this momentum? And can its share price deliver the same kind of total return (capital gains + dividends)?

    One leading broker certainly believes so and thinks the company’s recent moves to pivot into renewables may be a bullish signal for its shares.

    Can Fortescue deliver once more?

    Investment bank Macquarie thinks Fortescue shares have more room to grow, given the company’s recent manoeuvre into hydrogen, green ammonia and green steel.

    The broker notes that Fortescue has taken a leading role among its peers to decarbonise its operations. Macquarie also reckons that future climate change disclosures in its reporting may be a bullish signal for its share price.

    Fortescue has taken the initiative to slice carbon from its operations in the next decade and achieve scope 3 carbon neutrality by the year 2040, the broker notes.

    Given it is early days yet, the bank acknowledges “the economics of hydrogen, green ammonia and ultimately green steel remain unclear”. However, it believes Fortescue is well-positioned to be a front runner in providing more clarity on the same.

    Macquarie believes the company’s “ability to provide clarity on these potentially significant investments over time could be a key positive catalyst” for the Fortescue share price.

    Meanwhile, fellow broker RBC Capital Markets is seeking more details from the company’s hydrogen deal announcement yesterday.

    After the iron ore producer announced a total planned investment of US$650 million from Fortescue Future Industries in hydrogen-based energy, RBC Capital Markets analysts think the “capital intensity seems very low”.

    As such, it is choosing to preclude any green hydrogen or green ammonia modelling into its forecasts for Fortescue at this stage.

    The recent hydrogen announcements out of Fortescue’s camp could be a welcome upheaval for its share price, as it has posted a loss of 11% in the past 12 months and is down 36% this year to date.

    The post What this leading broker is saying about the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    The author Zach Bristow 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 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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