• 2 ASX dividend shares with big yields

    Are you looking for some dividend shares to boost your income portfolio? If you are, then you might want to look at the ones listed below.

    Here’s why these high yield ASX dividend shares could be in the buy zone:

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    The first dividend share to look at is Adairs. It is a leading retailer of homewares and home furnishings in Australia and New Zealand through both retail stores and online channels.

    It has been in fine form over the last 12 months thanks to a redirection in consumer spending and the housing market boom. This led to Adairs reporting a 28.5% increase in sales to $499.8 million and the almost doubling of its earnings before interest and tax to $109.1 million.

    While it will be hard to top this in FY 2022, the team at UBS are still expecting a generous dividend. Its analysts are forecasting fully franked dividends of 19.6 cents per share in FY 2022 and then 29.9 cents per share in FY 2023.

    Based on the current Adairs share price of $3.91, this will mean yields of 5% and 7.6%, respectively. UBS has a buy rating and $5.40 price target on its shares.

    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

    Another ASX dividend share to look at is mining giant. South32 has exposure to a range of commodities such as alumina, aluminium, energy coal, metallurgical coal, manganese ore, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc. The key commodity right now is arguably aluminium.

    This is because analysts at Goldman Sachs believe aluminium is in the early stages of a multi-year bull market. This bodes well for South32 and could underpin strong earnings and free cash flows in the coming years.

    As a result, the broker has put South32’s shares on its conviction buy rating with a $3.80 price target.

    In addition to this, the broker is forecasting some very generous dividends in the coming years. Goldman has pencilled in dividends per share of 29 US cents in FY 2022 and 31.9 US cents in FY 2023. Based on current exchange rates and the latest South32 share price of $3.51, this will mean fully franked yields of approximately 11% and 12%, respectively.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares with big yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS 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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  • Why the Worley (ASX:WOR) share price finished the day lower today

    Upset man in hard hat puts hand over face

    The Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) share price continued its negative run today, falling lower throughout the day.

    At the end of Thursday’s market session, Worley shares finished down 2.3% to a year-to-date low of $9.79.

    It was also the most heavily traded stock on the ASX 200 today, with more than 59 million Worley shares swapping hands.

    What did Worley announce today?

    Investors offloaded their holdings in Worley shares after the company provided the ASX with a disappointing update.

    According to the release, Worley advised it received a note from Jacobs Engineering Group Inc last night after market close.

    Jacobs notified Worley that it had entered into a block trade agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Australia to sell all of its shares in Worley. This translates to roughly a 9.85% stake in the company.

    Jacobs became a Worley shareholder following Worley’s acquisition of the Jacobs Energy, Chemicals and Resources division in October 2018. However, Jacobs was released from the lock-up of Worley shares in late December 2019, removing any share-trading restrictions.

    Worley’s CEO Chris Ashton aimed at appeasing existing investors, saying: “We welcome the shareholders who will join our register.”

    Are Worley shares a buy?

    A number of brokers weighed in on the Worley share price following the release of its full-year results last month.

    Morgan Stanley cut its rating on Worley shares by 2.7% to $11.00 per share. Citi also followed suit, reducing its price target by 4% to $12.28.

    The last broker note came from Credit Suisse, which raised its outlook by 4% to $10.40.

    About the Worley share price

    A leading global engineering company, Worley provides design and project delivery services, including maintenance, reliability support services, and advisory services. The business operates in the energy, chemical, and resources sectors.

    Over the past 12 months, Worley shares have been on a rollercoaster ride, recording gains of just 3%. In 2021, the Worley share price has fallen almost 15%, brought on by uncertainty in the economy due to COVID-19.

    Based on today’s price, Worley commands a market capitalisation of roughly $5.1 billion, with approximately 522 million shares on issue.

    It’s worth noting the company’s shares can be considered expensive, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 59.33.

    The post Why the Worley (ASX:WOR) share price finished the day lower today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Worley, 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 Worley 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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  • CSL (ASX:CSL) share price lifts amid ASX 200’s best day in 8 weeks

    Lab worker puts hands in the air and dances around

    The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price edged higher today despite no news having been released by the global biotech.

    However, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has had its best day over the past 2 months, buoyed by positive investor sentiment.

    At the closing bell, the CSL share price finished up 1.13% to $308.32. In comparison, the ASX 200 Index ended the day 0.58% higher at 7,460 points.

    A recap on CSL’s performance

    Last month, CSL provided investors with its full-year scorecard for the 2021 financial period.

    The group delivered a strong result against a backdrop of very challenging conditions brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    Regardless of the uncertainty and complexities faced, CSL’s Behring and Seqirus businesses recorded robust growth. However, the CSL share price fell on the result.

    CSL Behring revenue rose by 6% thanks to strong demand for its immunoglobulin portfolio. This was led by its market-leading subcutaneous product, Hizentra. Sales rose 15%, driven by a preference for home administration and uptake for the treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP).

    On the other hand, its influenza vaccines business, Seqirus, recorded an exceptionally strong performance with revenue up by 30% (constant currency). This was driven by record demand for seasonal influenza vaccines.

    CSL noted that COVID-19 presented challenges for the collection of plasma, an essential raw material used in the production of its therapies.

    Current plasma numbers are said to be around 20% below the levels recorded in FY20.

    While plasma collections across the industry were adversely impacted, the company implemented multiple initiatives to mitigate this. As such, 25 new facilities were opened to attract lapsed and new donors through its doors.

    Furthermore, marketing initiatives were also implemented to draw back its existing customer base.

    In FY22, the company plans to open another 40 centres, expanding its presence mostly across the United States.

    More on the CSL share price

    Uncharacteristically, it has been a turbulent year for CSL shareholders. The CSL share price has recorded a modest gain of around 6% over the past 12 months. Year-to-date, the company’s shares are up by around 8%.

    CSL has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 38.55 and commands a market capitalisation of roughly $140.4 billion.

    The post CSL (ASX:CSL) share price lifts amid ASX 200’s best day in 8 weeks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider CSL, 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 CSL 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 owns shares of CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended CSL Ltd. 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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  • Cryptocurrency stereotypes are challenged as more female investors join

    person dancing in bitcoin spectacles wearing a gold outfit with hands up.

    There has long lingered the notion that those investing in cryptocurrencies are nearly all men. Some reports go as far as branding it a “boys club”.

    While the male demographic makes up the majority of people dabbling in cryptocurrencies, recent data shows there is an increasing trend towards more involvement from females. This is based on the findings from BTC Markets’ inaugural annual investor report.

    Breaking stereotypes

    Although it might have been true of the past, the cryptocurrency community is fast outgrowing a concentrated demographic. Yesterday, we covered how more people of retirement age are entering the market. At the same time, the balance between genders participating is also equalising.

    According to data from BTC Markets, females now make up 23% of all users on its cryptocurrency exchange. During the last financial year, the exchange witnessed a significant uptick in female investors signing up to the platform. In numerical terms, new female investors increased at a rate of 172%. This compared to a 79% increase in new male investors.

    Not only that, females tended to initially deposit larger amounts than males — potentially demonstrating a higher degree of confidence and conviction in their investment behaviour.

    On closer inspection, BTC Markets is not the only one citing this trend. A study conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, published in July 2021, found that 41% of crypto ‘traders’ were women. Interestingly, the study found this to be higher than the number of women invested in stocks, at 38%.

    Cryptocurrencies are opening up investing opportunities for more diverse investors, which is a very good thing.

    Angela Fontes, Vice president in the economics, justice, and society department at NORC

    Australia isn’t the only geography seeing more females investing in cryptocurrency. According to the Economic Times, Indian crypto exchanges are witnessing at least half of all new signups being women in the last 3 to 4 months.

    Not only investing in cryptocurrency

    The cryptocurrency space has not only been ripe for investing, but it is also teeming with talented developers and entrepreneurs.

    Many females are playing important roles in building the new digital finance world. For those interested, CryptoWeekly has a full list of the top 50 most influential females in crypto for 2021.

    Examples of females making valuable contributions include:

    • Elizabeth Stark: cofounder and CEO of Lightning Labs – a network client that scales and speeds up the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) network.
    • Cathie Wood: CEO and chief investment officer of ARK Invest – an advocate of Bitcoin and blockchain innovation
    • Galia Benartzi: cofounder of the Bancor Protocol and CEO and founder of Particle Code
    • Vansa Chatikavanij: CEO and founder of OmiseGo, a second layer scaling solution for Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)

    Finally, the company, whose data kicked this whole article off, BTC Markets’ CEO Caroline Bowler leads Australia’s largest digital asset exchange.

    Bowler commented on the increase in females investing/trading in cryptocurrency, stating:

    More women trading cryptocurrency dispels misconceptions around cryptocurrency investors being risk lovers. This is because behavioral finance studies have found women to be more risk-averse in their investment decisions than men. It also shows a calculated appetite for the volatility that is still a feature of this asset class.

    The post Cryptocurrency stereotypes are challenged as more female investors join appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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  • Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) share price leaps 14% on rising oil prices

    people leaping in celebration against a blue sky

    The Elixir Energy Ltd (ASX: EXR) share price has jumped into the green today, finishing up 14.29% to 28 cents.

    Let’s have a look at what’s been fuelling Elixir Energy’s share price today.

    What’s been happening Elixir Energy?

    There has been no market-sensitive information released by the company in September.

    However, Elixir shares have been on the up since the company announced it had extended the area of discovery in the Kingston sub-basin back on 25 August.

    After a short selloff in the couple of days after this announcement, Elixir shares have been regaining steam ever since.

    One other factor that could be aiding this recovery is the recent price rally in the oil markets.

    Crude oil has jumped from US$62 a barrel on August 20 to US$72.66 a barrel today. Additionally, the price of Brent crude has edged higher on the day to US$$75.45 a barrel.

    Elixir is an ASX resource share that produces a commodity, meaning it is considered a price taker. As such, its share price will fluctuate with volatility in the broader commodities markets.

    With this relationship in mind, and given the recent strengths in oil pricing described above, it starts to make sense why the Elixir share price has soared by 14% today.

    In the absence of any other market-sensitive information, it appears investors could be buying Elixir shares on the back of strengths in the underlying oil markets.

    Elixir Energy share price snapshot

    The Elixir Energy share price has climbed 124% this year to date, and 86% over the past 12 months.

    These returns have outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO)’s climb of around 25% over the past year.

    Despite the recent rally, Elixir shares are still off their 52-week high of 51 cents. However, they are aloft the 52-week low of 9.8 cents.

    The post Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) share price leaps 14% on rising oil prices 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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    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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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today

    Model bear in front of falling line graph, cheap stocks, cheap ASX shares

    Yesterday I looked at three ASX shares brokers have given buy ratings to this week.

    Unfortunately, not all shares are in favour with them right now. Three ASX shares that have just been given sell ratings by brokers are listed below. Here’s why these brokers are bearish on them:

    Jupiter Mines Ltd (ASX: JMS)

    According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have downgraded this manganese mining company’s shares to an underperform rating and cut the price target on them to 22 cents. The broker made the move in response to weak prices of lower grade manganese products and higher shipping costs. The Jupiter Mines share price is currently fetching 22 cents on Thursday afternoon.

    Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

    A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their underweight rating and $11.40 price target on this property company’s shares. The broker believes Lendlease should sell its communities business rather than pursue an alternative capital structure. It notes that this segment has not performed well in recent years, when compared to rivals. In addition, the broker has recently spoken about concerns over the sustainability of Lendlease’s production targets. The Lendlease share price is now trading below this price target at $11.22 but Morgan Stanley isn’t in a rush to change its rating.

    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

    Another note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their underperform rating and $130.00 price target on this cloud accounting company’s shares. Macquarie notes that rival Intuit (Quickbooks) has acquired email marketing company Mailchimp for US$12 billion. The broker has concerns that Intuit may remove Mailchimp’s integration with Xero. If this happens, it suspects that some subscribers may jump ship. In addition, it feels that Intuit’s stronger offering could help it with its global expansion and dampen Xero’s growth. The Xero share price is currently fetching $150.79.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Downer (ASX:DOW) share price hits 52-week high, up 16% since reporting

    Man looking excitedly at ASX share price gains on computer screen against backdrop of streamers

    The Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) share price soared to a new 52-week high today.

    Its gains came about despite the company not having released news to the market in more than a month. Though, the market’s excitement over Downer’s financial year 2021 earnings might be continuing to boost its shares.

    At the final bell today, the Downer share price is $6.67, 1.52% higher than its previous close. However, earlier today it reached $6.79, which represented a 3.3% gain and a new 52-week high.

    Let’s take a look at the latest news from the integrated service provider.

    The latest from Downer

    The Downer share price is in the green today despite the company maintaining its silence.

    The last time the ASX heard price-sensitive news from Downer was when it released its earnings for financial year 2021 (FY21).

    Then, the company reported its statutory net profit after tax returned to profitability with a bang over the year ended 30 June 2021. Downer’s statutory net profit after tax for FY21 came to $230 million, up from FY20’s $105 million loss.

    The increased profits came despite the company’s revenue slipping 8% to $12.2 billion. Though, its bottom line was likely helped along by a 12% decrease in total expenses, which came to around $11.2 billion.

    On the back of the company’s FY21 results, the Downer share price gained a respectable 4%. It continued to gain another 10.7% over the following 4 trading sessions.

    Additionally, the company has managed to hold onto those gains, and its shares are now up around 16% since it reported its results.

    All-in-all, FY21 was a good one for Downer, and its stock has borne the fruit of its strong performance.

    Downer share price snapshot

    The Downer share price’s recent gains have added to its strong performance on the ASX.

    Right now, the company’s stock is 22% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 57% since this time last year.

    The post Downer (ASX:DOW) share price hits 52-week high, up 16% since reporting appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Downer, 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 Downer 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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  • Broker tips Suncorp (ASX:SUN) share price to shoot higher

    A smartly-dressed businesswoman walks outside while making a trade on her mobile phone.

    The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price has been on form in 2021.

    Since the beginning of the year, the banking and insurance giant’s shares have risen 28% to $12.59.

    This means the Suncorp share price is now trading within sight of its 52-week high of $13.26.

    Where next for the Suncorp share price?

    The good news for shareholders is that one leading broker not only believes the Suncorp share price can go higher, but also that it can make a new 52-week high.

    According to a recent note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have a buy rating and $13.74 price target on the company’s shares.

    Based on the current Suncorp share price, this suggests that there’s still 9% upside over the next 12 months before dividends.

    In addition, the broker is forecasting a 61 cents per share fully franked dividend in FY 2022. Combined, this brings the total potential return to just under 14%.

    What did the broker say?

    Goldman Sachs was pleased with Suncorp’s performance in FY 2021 and notes that it delivered earnings ahead of expectations.

    And while it acknowledges that the Suncorp share price has rallied hard this year, it still sees enough value to maintain a buy rating.

    Goldman explained: “While it is now harder to argue that SUN is cheap, we have nonetheless maintained our Buy rating, where we see good momentum in the business, plus near-term earnings risks as skewed positively.”

    There are four reasons why it believes the risks are skewed to the upside.

    They are: “1) provided pressure does not mount on the industry to return recent motor frequency benefits, SUN will almost certainly record gains in 1H22 (potential for c.5% upside in EPS), 2) SUN’s recent reserve development remains well above its normalised 1.5% release assumption and noted relative comfort in the outlook (GSe 1.5% assumed, and a result closer to FY21 experience would equate to c.3% upside), 3) scope for further banking collective provision release (A$60m of A$155m COVID overlay released in FY21), and 4) into FY23 if we were to calibrate to the mid-point of SUN’s insurance margin targets alongside the bank cost/income ratio target we would see c.10% upside.”

    The post Broker tips Suncorp (ASX:SUN) share price to shoot higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Suncorp, 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 Suncorp 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    Golden top 10 - asx today

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) moved upwards with all sectors showing green. The benchmark index climbed 0.58% higher to 7,460.2 points.

    While there were still some shares in the red, the broader market was glowing green at the end of the Thursday session.

    The question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the ten stocks that rose to the occasion:

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the mining company rose 5.83% despite no announcements. Find out more about Chalice Mining here.

    The next biggest gaining ASX share today was Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL). The chemical company’s shares rallied 5.09% to $2.89, once again, without any news or announcements. Uncover the latest Incitec Pivot details here.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) $7.81 5.83%
    Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) $2.89 5.09%
    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) $3.51 4.15%
    Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) $5.03 3.93%
    Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS) $2.23 3.72%
    Altium Ltd (ASX: ALU) $35.82 3.41%
    Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) $2.66 3.10%
    Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) $9.40 2.85%
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) $3.105 2.82%
    Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX: WPL) $21.06 2.58%
    Data as at 3:44pm AEST

    Our top 10 ASX shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check-in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 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 Altium. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Altium. 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 Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price has a new 52-week high. Here’s why

    Man puts hands in the air and cheers with head back while holding phone and coffee

    The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has a new yearly high.

    At close of trade, shares in Australia’s largest telco were trading for $3.95 – up 0.51%. Earlier in the day, shares hit the 52-week milestone of $4.05 each. For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the day 0.58% higher.

    Let’s take a closer look at what could have been driving the Telstra share price today.

    What did Telstra announce?

    As Motley Fool reported, Telstra released its T25 strategy today. It also told the market about its dividend intentions.

    The telco told investors about 4 areas on which it wants to focus in the coming years. This may have excited shareholders and boosted the Telstra share price. These areas are:

    1. Telstra is targeting a compound annual growth rate of mid-single digits for underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) and high teens for underlying earnings per share (EPS) from FY21 to FY25.
    2. The company is also looking to become a market leader in customer service. Telstra wants to expand into the energy sector and says customers should be able to talk to someone in an Australian call centre or local expert at a Telstra store.
    3. Telstra wants to extend its 5G coverage to 95% of the population and remain a market leader in the mobile space.
    4. Finally, the telco wants to be in the 90th percentile for employee engagement.

    Also in today’s announcement, Telstra says it is “confident” it can maintain a minimum 16 cent per share dividend, fully franked, for its investors into the foreseeable future.

    What else is affecting Telstra shares?

    Another possible reason for the record-setting Telstra share price may be positive broker notes about the company. Goldman Sachs is putting a price target of $4.30 per share on the telco.

    As Motley Fool has covered before, the brokers at Goldman Sachs believe the telco’s mobile business will continue to drive growth for the company.

    Looking a little further back, another reason for the rising Telstra share price may be continuing momentum from its full-year results.

    Despite a 10% drop in EBITDA to $6.7 billion, net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 3.4% to $1.9 billion. The company paid a 16-cent full-year dividend and announced a $1.35 billion on-market share buyback.

    Looking forward, Telstra said it expects EBITDA to rise to $7 billion in the next financial year.

    Telstra share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Telstra share price has increased by almost 40%. It has overperformed the ASX 200 by about 14 percentage points.

    Year-to-date, shares in the telco are up by around 32%, which is a 21-percentage point advantage over the benchmark index.

    Telstra has a market capitalisation of about $47 billion.

    The post The Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price has a new 52-week high. Here’s why 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 owns shares of and has recommended Telstra Corporation 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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