• The Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price has just had a great week. What’s next?

    Oil miner with laptop and phone at mine site

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price is staging a rebound of late, following its 12% fall in mid-August.

    At the end of last week, the energy producer’s shares finished at $21.11 apiece.

    Why are Woodside shares pushing higher recently?

    It’s no secret that the spot price of oil has surged lately which has sent the Woodside share price higher. In fact, its shares have climbed 10% in the past five trading days.

    On 14 September alone, the company’s share price soared 6.23% following OPEC’s monthly oil market report.

    The “cartel” highlighted a positive outlook for the global economy, providing a detailed analysis of key developments impacting oil market trends.

    OPEC noted that global economic growth forecasts for 2021 and 2022 remain unchanged from last month at 5.6% and 4.2%, respectively. However, it acknowledged that recovery efforts continue to be challenged by uncertainties. This includes the spread of COVID-19 variants and the pace of vaccine rollouts worldwide.

    There are over 160 different types of oil traded on the global market. Two primary types of crude oil serve as a global benchmark for oil prices, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude.

    The type of crude oil generally depends on the geographical location of the oil field and the characteristics of the oil itself.

    Currently, the WTI is hovering around the $72 mark, approximately 3% higher after OPEC’s update.

    In July, the WTI had been trading above $75, which led Woodside shares to roar past $24. If this feat can be achieved again for WTI, it represents a significant upswing for Woodside shares.

    What’s next?

    For the remainder of 2021, OPEC stated that global oil demand is estimated to average 96.7mb/d (million barrels per day).

    In 2022, oil demand is expected to increase by roughly 4.2 mb/d, about 0.9 mb/d higher compared to last month’s report. This is being underpinned by both the OECD and non-OECD countries. The revival in various fuel prices is expected to be stronger than anticipated and coupled with a steady economic outlook.

    Overall, oil demand in 2022 is projected to reach 100.8 mb/d, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

    If the short-term projections are achieved, it could have a strong effect on Woodside shares in 2021.

    About the Woodside share price

    Despite last week’s surge, the company’s shares are down 7% year-to-date. But when factoring in the past 12 months, Woodside shares are up 15%.

    The company commands a market capitalisation of more than $20.3 billion and has almost 964 million shares on issue. 

    The post The Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price has just had a great week. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 Woodside 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 Woodside Petroleum Ltd. 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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  • Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price halted for $4.2bn WestConnex equity raising

    Two business people shaking hands in an office

    The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price won’t be going anywhere on Monday.

    This morning the toll road operator requested a trading halt.

    Why is the Transurban share price paused?

    This morning the Transurban share price was paused so the company could launch an equity raising.

    According to the release, the company is raising $4.2 billion to support its acquisition of the remaining 49% stake in the WestConnex from the NSW Government for $11.1 billion.

    This will mean Transurban and its Sydney Transport Partners (STP) consortium will now own 100% of WestConnex.

    Transurban’s Chief Executive Officer, Scott Charlton, commented: “WestConnex is one of the largest road infrastructure projects in the world with an enterprise value of $33 billion based on this transaction. WestConnex is a key component of the NSW Government’s integrated transport plan to ease congestion and connect communities in Sydney.”

    “We feel privileged to take Sydney Transport Partners’ holding in this critical asset to 100%. This transaction is expected to support Free Cash growth and distributions for Transurban security holders for the life of the concession,” he added.

    Why acquire WestConnex?

    The company notes that WestConnex has close to 40 years concession life remaining. The additional ownership in WestConnex, including the extension to the M5 West concession from 2026, extends Transurban’s weighted average concession life to approximately 30 years.

    WestConnex is expected to generate significant free cash and support distributions. This is underpinned by strong asset fundamentals with potential upside from future infrastructure development and economic growth across Greater Sydney.

    Management advised that it currently expects to receive more than $600 million of potential capital releases until FY 2025 resulting from its increased stake in WestConnex. This is in addition to more than $2 billion of potential capital releases expected to be achieved between FY 2021 and FY 2025 from a number of assets across Transurban’s portfolio.

    The acquisition is expected to be free cash per security accretive over the near, medium, and long-term when including capital releases.

    In light of this transaction, management has advised that it expects to pay an interim distribution of 15 cents per share for the first half of FY 2022. This is in line with the prior corresponding period.

    Equity raising

    Transurban will raise $4.22 billion of new equity. This includes $3.97 billion through a fully underwritten, 1 for 9 entitlement offer to eligible security holders at an offer price of $13.00 per security. This represents an 8.3% discount to the Transurban share price at Friday’s close.

    The balance will be raised via a placement to STP consortium member AustralianSuper at $13.07 per security to raise $250 million. This is in addition to AustralianSuper taking up its full entitlement under the Entitlement Offer.

    The post Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price halted for $4.2bn WestConnex equity raising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Transurban, 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 Transurban 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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  • The Oil Search (ASX:OSH) share price has jumped 5% since the merger announcement. What’s next?

    Two oil workers with hard hats shake hands in the foreground of oil equipment.

    The Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) share price has been on a bumpy ride recently.

    Shares in the oil and gas company have climbed 5% higher since a merger announcement a couple of weeks back.

    So, what’s the outlook for the Oil Search share price?

    Forecast for Oil Search shares remains cloudy

    Shares in Oil Search have stumbled along since news of its merger.

    The oil and gas company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with fellow energy company Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

    According to Oil Search’s management, the merger could provide a stronger balance sheet, access to broader capital markets, and growth projects.

    Despite the promising potential, shares in Oil Search face some uncertainty as the deal pends approval.

    Several terms need approval before the merger can go ahead, including regulatory hurdles and shareholder approval.

    In addition, many of the prospective growth projects are in Papua New Guinea.

    As a result, the PNG government holds veto power over the deal, which could be a potential deal-breaker.

    More on Oil Search’s merger

    As part of the all-scrip transaction, shareholders will receive 0.6275 new Santos shares for each Oil Search share held.

    Upon completion of the merger, Oil Search shareholders will own approximately 38.5% of the merged entity.

    Overall, the new combined company will boast a forecasted market capitalisation of $21 billion.

    The formal announcement of a merger between Oil Search and Santos is not news to many investors.

    Oil Search received a non-binding merger proposal from Santos in early July.

    Since 6 August both companies have been carrying out due diligence on each other.

    Snapshot of the Oil Search share price

    The Oil Search share price has stumbled along in 2021.

    Since the start of the year, shares in the oil and gas company are trading 3.5% higher.

    In addition to the merger announcement, shares in Oil Search recently received a boost following a positive outlook for oil demand.

    Oil Search shares closed Friday’s trading session at $3.84.

    The post The Oil Search (ASX:OSH) share price has jumped 5% since the merger announcement. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Oil Search right now?

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

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  • The CSL (ASX:CSL) share price has had a good 6 months. Is it a buy?

    four excited doctors with their hands in the air

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has bounced back strongly over the last six months.

    During this time, the biotherapeutics company’s shares have risen 19%.

    This is twice the return of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

    Where next for the CSL share price?

    According to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts believe the CSL share price is still decent value.

    The note reveals that the broker has an add rating and $324.40 price target on its shares at present.

    Based on the current CSL share price of $309.36, this implies potential upside of 5% over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans was pleased with the company’s performance in FY 2021 considering the headwinds it faced. The broker notes that both its revenue and profits were stronger than it was expecting.

    Its analysts commented: “FY21 results were solid, with better than expected top/bottom line growth and improving OCF, but GM contracted on higher plasma costs. Seqirus was the standout, on strong demand for influenza vaccines, while Behring was more modest, as Albumin gains on transition to a direct China distribution and cost-outs were offset by Ig/Specialty/Haemophilia growth flattish to down.”

    However, the broker acknowledges that the near term is uncertain due to plasma collection headwinds.

    It explained: “Improving plasma collections are a prelude to a steepening earnings trajectory, but timing is everything, with a lengthy manufacturing cycle (9-12mos), higher costs and ongoing COVID pandemic, adding uncertainty for a quick turnaround.”

    Nevertheless, it sees enough quality in the company to maintain its add rating on the CSL share price.

    Morgans concluded: “We view CSL as a core holding and best positioned among its peers to meet growing patient demand, but the near term remains challenged, with timing uncertainty around a full recovery in plasma collections and increasing costs.”

    The post The CSL (ASX:CSL) share price has had a good 6 months. Is it a buy? 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 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 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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  • 2 exciting small cap shares tipped as buys

    A woman stares at a computer with her face just inches from the screen, watching the share price.

    The small side of the Australian share market carries significantly more investment risk than other areas.

    However, if your risk tolerance allows for it, having a bit of exposure to this side of the market could be a good thing for a balanced portfolio. This is due to the potential returns on offer if you can find a star of the future in its early days.

    With that in mind, here are two small cap ASX shares that could be worth watching closely:

    Adore Beauty Group Limited (ASX: ABY)

    The first small cap to watch is Australia’s leading online beauty retailer.

    Adore Beauty has been growing strongly over the last few years and continued this positive form in FY 2021. For the 12 months ended 30 June, the company reported a 48% increase in revenue to $179.3 million and a 53% jump in EBITDA to $7.6 million. This was driven by increased repeat sales and a 39% lift in active customers to 818,000.

    Positively, the company still has a long runway for growth in the future. Management notes that the beauty and personal care (BPC) market in Australia is worth $11.2 billion and is expected to grow at a 26% CAGR through to 2024. Furthermore, online sales comprise just 11.4% of the BPC market at present but are expected to grow significantly as more sales shift online.

    Earlier this month the team at Morgan Stanley put an overweight rating and $6.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

    Another small cap ASX share to look at is Clarity Pharmaceuticals. It is a newly listed clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company. Clarity specialising in targeted copper theranostics, for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

    The team at Bell Potter note that this type of molecular targeted radiation offers significant advantages to traditional oncology tools. These include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and has synergistic impacts with hormone therapy, and immunotherapies.

    It also notes that Clarity’s unique platform is based on copper radionuclides. It feels this may offer advantages compared to other frequently used radionuclides.

    The broker currently has a speculative buy rating and $1.77 price target on its shares. Though, Bell Potter believes a fully de-risked pipeline would make its shares worth $3.75.

    The post 2 exciting small cap shares tipped as buys 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 James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The NAB (ASX:NAB) share price has just had a lousy week, what’s next?

    A stressed man sits with head in hands at laptop as small child cries next to him.

    Last week was not a good one for the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price. Shares in the big four bank fell 1.1% lower on Friday to close the week down 1.3% at $27.89 per share.

    Let’s take a look at what’s moving bank shares right now and what could lie ahead for NAB.

    Why the NAB share price is under pressure

    Despite a disappointing week, there were no new price-sensitive announcements from the Aussie bank last week. That didn’t stop investors from selling down and putting the NAB share price under pressure.

    Interestingly, NAB’s value was sliding even as the likes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) edged higher to close the week. However, there were reports of a key change from NAB late in the week.

    NAB has reportedly decided to increase some of its fixed-rate home loan rates. The Aussie bank is set to increase its 3-year rate by 10 basis points (bps) to 2.18% with 4-year and 5-year rates up 25 bps and 30 bps to 2.49% and 2.79%, respectively.

    According to RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall, the rate hikes are no surprise. It comes as banks try to balance competitive market rates with profitability looking ahead to the economic recovery.

    Higher rates may mean fewer borrowers going to the bank compared to its peers. Furthermore, investors could be wary of banks that prematurely increase rates. But at the same time, they may also punish those banks that see their net interest margin (NIM) deteriorate.

    The NAB share price was under pressure last week following the news, but what lies ahead?

    What’s next for NAB?

    The big four banks don’t operate on the same reporting cycle as most other ASX companies. This means investors will be watching closely ahead of NAB’s full-year results release on 9 November.

    As we saw last week, the state of the economy also looms large in 2021. Where the NAB share price is headed next could be determined by the re-opening of the Aussie economy post-COVID and other macro factors such as interest rates and the strength of the housing market.

    The post The NAB (ASX:NAB) share price has just had a lousy week, what’s next? 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 Ken Hall 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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  • These 5 ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this week

    A man takes his dividend and leaps for joy.

    On the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), most companies that pay a dividend do so every six months. That means that every week, there is usually at least one ASX 200 dividend share that is about to trade ex-dividend for its upcoming shareholder payouts.

    An ex-dividend date usually results in a corresponding drop in the company’s share price. So it pays to know when exactly your shares are about to go ex-div. As for this week, these ASX 200 dividend shares are in line to do just that:

    5 ASX 200 dividend shares going ex-dividend this week

    Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB)

    Infrastructure and logistics company Qube is set to trade ex-dividend this week on Tuesday. Shareholders will receive Qube’s final dividend for FY21 of 3.5 cents per share, fully franked, on 22 October.

    At Qube’s last share price of $3.36, this company had a dividend yield of 1.79%.

    Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC)

    ASX 200 construction company Adbri (formerly Adelaide Brighton Cement) is our next ASX share going ex-dividend this week. Adbri will trade without its upcoming dividend included in its share price on Wednesday. This payment will be a 5.5 cents per share interim payment, fully franked, that will hit shareholders’ pockets on 6 October.

    At Adbri’s last share price of $3.48, this company had a dividend yield of 3.66%.

    Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

    Healthcare company Cochlear is also trading ex-dividend this week, also on Wednesday. Shareholders will be receiving Cochlear’s final FY21 dividend of $1.40 per share, unfranked, on 18 October.

    At Cochlear’s last share price of $238.28, this ASX 200 company had a dividend yield of 0.89%.

    NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

    Another ASX 200 construction company to look at today, NRW is going ex-dividend on Wednesday too. This company will be forking out a 5 cents per share final dividend, fully franked, on Friday 13 October (clearly NRW is not a superstitious company).

    At NRW Holdings’ last share price of $1.83, this company had a dividend yield of 4.92%.

    Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

    And last but not least, we have automotive sales company Eagers rounding out our list today. Eagers is scheduled to trade ex-dividend on Wednesday as well for its upcoming payout of 28.4 cents per share, fully franked. Investors can look forward to receiving this dividend on 15 October.

    At Eagers’ last share price of $16.21, this ASX 200 share had a dividend yield of 2.78%.

    The post These 5 ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this week 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 Sebastian Bowen 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 Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear 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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  • The BHP (ASX:BHP) share price is down 5% in a week, what’s next?

    sad looking miner holding his head down

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price slumped 5.4% lower last week in a disappointing week for shareholders. Let’s see what’s moving the Aussie mining giant’s shares right now and what lies ahead in 2021.

    Why the BHP share price is down 5% in a week

    Last week was a relatively big one for the iron ore giant. For starters, BHP provided an update on its Western Canada potash mine on Wednesday.

    The BHP share price slipped lower despite the company outlining what it expects from the Jansen Mine in Saskatoon, Canada.

    BHP expects to generate an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin of circa 70% from the mine, which is forecast to be paid back 7 years after operations commence.

    The company is hoping operations will start in early 2027 and bring a globally diverse customer base, increasing BHP’s operating footprint and providing greater immunity from economic cycles.

    Another factor moving the BHP share price last week was falling iron ore prices. Iron ore prices have now slipped by more than 20% in a month and have nearly halved since hitting US$233 per tonne in May.

    The sharp decline is, perhaps unsurprisingly, largely being driven by China. According to Reuters, China released a report stating its steel output reached its lowest point since March 2020 last month.

    That was disappointing news for the Aussie iron ore giant and its investors with the BHP share price sliding lower to end the week.

    What’s next for BHP?

    Perhaps the biggest news ahead for BHP is its proposed petroleum division merger with Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX: WPL). The two ASX giants are aiming to create a global, top-10 independent energy company by production with the transaction.

    As with any resources share, underlying commodity prices will play a role in how the BHP share price fares in the near term. Investors will be watching China’s next moves closely for signs of strength or weakness in iron ore imports in 2021.

    The post The BHP (ASX:BHP) share price is down 5% in a week, what’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BHP, 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 BHP 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 Ken Hall 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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  • How has the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price been performing since reporting results?

    a woman holds her finger to the side of her face and looks upwards as she thinks about something.

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price edged higher on Friday, up 0.53% to $57.28. In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.76% to 7,403 points.

    However, when looking from late August, the share price paints a different picture.

    Below, we recap on Wesfarmers most recent result and how its shares have performed since.

    What did Wesfarmers report for FY21?

    Wesfarmers delivered its full-year results for the 2021 financial year to investors before market open on 27 August. The Wesfarmers share price closed the previous day at a near all-time high of $63.96.

    Across the board, Wesfarmers recorded a robust performance with growth in several key metrics. This included:

    • Revenue from continuing operations up 10% on the prior corresponding period to $33,941 million;
    • Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) from continuing operations jumped 18.8% to $3,776 million;
    • Net profit after tax lifted 16.2% to $2,421 million; and
    • Fully franked final dividend of 90 cents per share, bringing the full-year dividend to 178 cents apiece, up 17.1% year-on-year.

    The strong result largely came from the company’s Bunnings and Kmart Group businesses, with Officeworks slightly behind.

    Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott commented:

    Bunnings, Kmart Group and Officeworks delivered strong sales and earnings growth for the year. While customer demand remained resilient, sales growth in Bunnings, Officeworks and Catch moderated from mid-March as the businesses began to cycle elevated demand following the onset of COVID-19 in the prior year.

    Pleasingly, sales growth from mid-March remained strong on a two-year basis across all of the Group’s retail businesses.

    How has the Wesfarmers share price reacted?

    On the day of the annual report, Wesfarmers shares fell 2.75% to finish at $62.20. The following week was not so kind to the conglomerate’s shares as they fell consecutively to register a loss of 7.27% from 30 August to 3 September.

    Since then, Wesfarmers shares have had mixed trading days.

    The Wesfarmers share price has lost around 10% over the last 3 weeks, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index(ASX: XJO) has fallen just 1.5%.

    A number of brokers weighed in after the company released its full-year results.

    Analysts at Macquarie slapped a “neutral” rating on the Wesfarmers share price, cutting its outlook by 3.3% to $61.35. On the other hand, Morgans and Credit Suisse raised their price targets by 5.2% to $59.00 and 2% to $59.91, respectively.

    However, the most recent broker note came from Citi which also raised its view on Wesfarmers shares by 4.3% to $49.00. Based on the current share price, this implies a downside of around 15% on Citi’s assessment.

    The post How has the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price been performing since reporting results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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  • The COVID recovery ASX shares to avoid

    A man sitting at his dining table looking at laptop pondering which shares to buy

    With the Delta variant paralysing much of Australia, the market is currently very much focused on COVID-19 recovery shares.

    However, multiple professionals have warned investors not to get sucked in by every pandemic recovery beneficiary.

    Forces at play during the current lockdowns are very different to the investing environment during the first and second waves last year.

    No big government bazooka this time

    According to Ophir Funds co-founders Andrew Mitchell and Steven Ng, companies rebounded quickly during the 2021 financial year because of “mammoth” government stimulus.

    “It was on a scale not seen since World War II,” they wrote in their latest letter to clients.

    “It mostly covered April to September last year and was designed to help get the economy back on its feet given the nationwide lockdown in the June quarter.”

    Despite this, most ASX-listed companies have been reluctant to provide guidance for the 2022 financial year. Mitchell and Ng have no doubt why this uncertainty reigns.

    They wrote: “Australian governments brought the big bazooka in 2020. But so far this year it’s been more like the peashooter!

    “Business support payments are much more targeted at the non-listed SME segment and are a fraction of those provided in 2020. Individual COVID disaster payments, on a per-employee basis, are closer but still trail what was provided last year.”

    While there might be some pent-up consumer demand when the Delta-induced lockdowns end, the Ophir team thinks it might be overstated.

    The ASX shares to avoid for COVID recovery

    While Mitchell and Ng generally reckon ASX shares exposed to the ‘reopening’ economy will be rewarded by investors, they will steer clear of one type of business.

    “We’ve been conscious not to be in positions that are overly reliant on government-supported demand,” they said.

    Sage Capital’s latest memo to clients was along the same lines.

    “With the consumer more supported than stimulated by government spending in this round of lockdowns, consumer discretionary company earnings will suffer for the first half of fiscal 2022.”

    The Ophir team is also avoiding stocks that rocketed up in November last year.

    “We … believe cyclically orientated businesses are unlikely to get the same boost they did last year on the initial vaccine news given earnings and economic growth momentum appears to be peaking, which sees us with a greater balance between these and more defensive type companies.”

    With both the US Federal Reserve and Reserve Bank of Australia planning to reduce quantitative easing, Mitchell and Ng are “more cautious” on high-growth stocks on high valuations.

    So, which ASX recovery shares do we go for?

    Sage Capital is sticking to reopening beneficiaries that have the market power to set their own prices. And one sector stands out with these criteria.

    “In this context, we remain long insurers with the pricing power to drive premiums higher.”

    Ophir agrees with this sentiment, although Mitchell and Ng think the inflated costs will be temporary.

    They wrote: “We continue to scan our portfolios to ensure the companies we invest in have some pricing power in reserve, should these higher costs become more pervasive.”

    The post The COVID recovery ASX shares to avoid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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