The JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) share price is gaining today amid the release of the company’s annual report detailing its chair and CEO’s positivity toward FY22 following a “strong year” and despite “ongoing uncertainty”.

Within the report, the electronics and consumer goods retailer looked back on a financial year in which it achieved record earnings despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. However, the company is seemingly reluctant to say if the current financial year is expected to be so productive.

Right now, the JB Hi-Fi share price is $44.97, 0.29% higher than its previous close.

Let’s look at how financial year 2021 (FY21) played out for JB Hi-Fi and what it expects to achieve in FY22.

No guidance despite strong FY21 and confidence for FY22

The JB Hi-Fi share price is in the green today. Meanwhile, the retailing megalith, which operates both JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys stores, has released its overview of the financial year just been.

The company’s chair, Stephen Goddard, and its newly instated CEO, Terry Smart, noted FY21 was a challenge for the retailer. However, its business model saw it performing better than ever before.

The pair said the company continued to meet demand despite ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. They put FY21’s successes down to the company’s continued focus on its customers and competitive advantage from its multichannel offerings.

Over FY21, consumer demand for JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys products increased. Meanwhile, the retailers took orders online, over the phone, and, when possible, in store.

As JB Hi-Fi reported in its financial year 2021 earnings, the company achieved record profits over the financial year just been. The JB Hi-Fi share price gained 2.5% on the back of its FY21 results, released on 16 August.

Over the current financial year, JB Hi-Fi will be focusing on improving its online stores. The company’s online segments received $780 million in sales last financial year.

It will also be innovating and diversifying its product offerings, supply chains, merchandising formats, and advertising and property locations. Goddard and Smart believe this approach will bring opportunities to increase revenue, margin, and productivity.

However, despite the productive plan, the company has continued to decline giving investors an outlook for financial year 2022. This was said to be due to the uncertainty facing the retail sector.

Instead, Goddard and Smart commented they have “confidence in the outlook for the business [and] look forward to another successful year in FY22”.

JB Hi-Fi share price snapshot

Despite JB Hi-Fi’s “strong” FY21, the company’s share price has been struggling.

It has fallen 10% since the start of 2021. It is also 5% lower than it was this time last year.

The post JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) share price up amid ‘confident’ outlook for FY22 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) share price is down 9% in a month. Is it a buy?
• Got money to invest for dividends? Here are 2 ASX shares that could be buys
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• How have ASX retail shares performed during the August 2021 earnings season?
• Why the JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) share price is edging lower today

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

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The biggest cryptocurrencies Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) hog the limelight in the mainstream media.

However, there is one digital currency that’s risen as much as 17 times its value from the start of the year. In fact, by valuation it’s now the 3rd largest cryptocurrency.

In Australian dollar terms, Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) started 2021 at around 22.8 cents. But earlier this month it touched the $4 barrier.

DeVere Group chief executive Nigel Green said this is only the beginning.

“I believe we can expect Cardano to hit fresh all-time highs, reaching more than US$4 ($5.48) by the end of 2021.”

As of Friday morning, Cardano was valued at $3.32.

Cardano’s growth catalyst just happened

Cardano, unlike Bitcoin, is a system that actually performs a function, rather than just acting as a store of value. 

The Cardano blockchain network allows the implementation of digital contracts. 

Last weekend a major upgrade dubbed ‘Alonzo’ was rolled out, which Green expects will act as an impetus for further growth.

“This overhaul will allow smart contracts to be built on the network, making the Cardano blockchain even more attractive to even more users,” he said.

“The major upgrade will give those who don’t necessarily have technical backgrounds the opportunity to create smart contracts. Smart contracts are pieces of code that allow individuals to enter financial agreements without the need for a centralised party.”

Cardano’s cryptocurrency is actually called Ada, but the public has adopted the system name to refer to the tokens.

While Ada’s value has cooled off this week in line with other cryptocurrencies, its real-life utility will help its long-term valuation.

“There’s no doubt that smart contracts are going to revolutionise most sectors including finance, real estate, legal, healthcare, and gaming,” said Green.

“This is why Cardano is increasingly attractive for forward-thinking investors.”

Shared heritage with Ethereum

Cardano’s utility is similar to Ethereum, which also facilitates smart contracts.

This is no coincidence, as Cardano’s founder Charles Hoskinson is also a co-founder of Ethereum.

The Motley Fool US’ Katie Brockman reported this week that, for now, Ethereum has more real-world uses.

“Ethereum is… home to non-fungible tokens (NFT) and the decentralised finance (defi) movement,” she wrote.

“Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean Cardano won’t find ways to outperform its competitors down the road. It is still a relatively new cryptocurrency with room for growth. Also, cryptocurrency isn’t a zero-sum game, so it’s possible for multiple currencies to coexist with their own advantages.”

Green sounds pretty sure of Cardano’s potential.

“On the back of this considerable [Alonzo] upgrade, it can be expected to grab significant market share and, as a result, its price will continue its upward trajectory for the rest of 2021 and beyond.”

The post This cryptocurrency is a 17-bagger JUST THIS YEAR appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 50% in a month! Bitcoin is back over US$50,000

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns shares of Bitcoin, Cardano, 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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The IRESS Ltd (ASX: IRE) share price has come under pressure on Friday and is deep in the red.

At the time of writing, the financial technology company’s shares are down 13% to $11.82.

Why is the IRESS share price sinking?

Investors have been selling down the IRESS share price today following an update on takeover talks with EQT.

Last week, IRESS rather ominously revealed that it had granted EQT an additional 10 days of exclusivity to complete its due diligence. This came following the conclusion of a 30-day exclusivity period that started on 11 August.

IRESS granted EQT due diligence last month after it increased its takeover approach to $15.91 cash per share.

What’s the latest?

As you might have guessed from the IRESS share price performance today, discussions haven’t gone well.

According to today’s release, the discussions between IRESS and EQT have now concluded and the parties have been unable to agree a transaction.

IRESS’ Chair, Roger Sharp, commented: “In our 11 August announcement, Iress advised shareholders that there was no certainty the indicative proposal would result in a binding or formal offer from EQT. Nevertheless, the Board took the view that it was in the best interests of shareholders to engage further with EQT in relation to the indicative proposal.”

“The announcement today in no way impacts our strategy to accelerate growth and returns to shareholders, as detailed in our announcement of 29 July 2021 and presented at our investor strategy day.”

The company’s Chair remains positive on the future. He added: “Our aim has been and remains, to double net profit after tax by 2025, with potential for further upside. We have built solid foundations to capture more market share in large addressable markets and are focused on executing the plan. With our strong operating businesses, favourable industry trends and growth investments, we have a positive outlook.”

IRESS has reaffirmed its guidance for constant currency segment profit to be between $164 million and $168 million in FY 2021. Though, there will be one-off non-operating costs related to the transaction, which is expected to be in the order of $4 million to $5 million pre tax.

Despite today’s decline, the IRESS share price is still up 10% year to date.

The post IRESS (ASX:IRE) share price sinks 13% after takeover talks end appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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The Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT) share price is on course to end the week on a positive note.

At the time of writing, the lithium extraction technology company’s shares are up 8% to 13.5 cents.

Why is the Lithium Australia share price climbing today?

The Lithium Australia share price is rising today after the release of an apparently price sensitive announcement.

It is worth noting that the ASX has only recently pulled the company up on an announcement for suspected “ramping”.

The ASX commented that ramping involves the release of “an announcement that has no substance but seeks to ride on the back of strong market sentiment in a particular sector.”

What was today’s announcement?

According to the release, in case you hadn’t noticed, lithium prices are rising strongly. It highlights that Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) commanded US$2,500 per tonne for its lithium concentrate via its Battery Material Exchange digital auction this week.

In addition, the company notes that the popularity of cobalt-free batteries continues to grow and its subsidiary VSPC is still progressing its plans to establish a strategic position in the market for cobalt- and nickel-free lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

Management claims that cobalt and nickel-free LIBs are safer, longer-lasting, and require less raw materials. As a result, with lithium prices sky-rocketing, demand for their use in electric vehicles and stationary energy storage is rising.

Lithium Australia’s Managing Director, Adrian Griffin, commented: “To develop renewable energy security, Australia requires a domestic battery supply chain. Pragmatic political policies and government support are a step in the right direction and the Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Collaboration Stream grants will hopefully provide some of that support.”

“The shortage of nickel- and cobalt-free cathode materials outside China is of great concern; however, the possibility of producing such material here in Australia has garnered enthusiastic support – from local miners right through to international battery producers. This country needs to act now, building on its resource base and developing the value-add that can position Australia as a leader in the new energy revolution,” he added.

The Lithium Australia share price has more than doubled in value this year.

The post Why the Lithium Australia (ASX:LIT) share price is up 8% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This cryptocurrency is a 17-bagger JUST THIS YEAR
• IRESS (ASX:IRE) share price sinks 13% after takeover talks end
• The Zoom2u (ASX:Z2U) share price has soared 267% in a week
• To buy, hold or sell? Experts weigh in on the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price
• Is the Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price in the buy zone after its T25 update?

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 Zoom2u Technologies Ltd (ASX: Z2U) share price has had a stellar start to its listing tenure.  

Since debuting on the market late last week, shares in the parcel delivery platform have surged an astronomical 267.5% higher.

Let’s take a look at why investors are jumping to get their hands on shares in Zoom2u.

What’s fuelling demand for the Zoom2u share price?

Shares in Zoom2u received a boost yesterday after releasing an exciting investor update.

The delivery service company announced the signing of its first enterprise customer for its Locate2u platform.

Zoom2u revealed it will provide Amart Furniture access to its software as a service (SaaS) platform for a 24-month term.

In addition, the company also announced an agreement with Bing Lee for access to its Zoom2u platform.

The announcement saw great investor interest, pushing the Zoom2u share price 13% higher for the day.

As a result, shares in the parcel delivery platform have zoomed more than 267% higher since listing and are now changing hands at 73.5 cents apiece.

More on Zoom2u

Zoom2u listed on the exchange via an oversubscribed IPO last week, raising $8 million at 20 cents per share.

The delivery service company has two key operating businesses.

Zoom2u is the company’s largest segment platform that connects customers with local drivers. Locate2u is its second business that offers customers a SaaS product. 

This allows users to manage bookings, optimise routes, and track and share their live locations with customers.

In its prospectus, the company’s chairman addressed the strong growth being witnessed in e‑commerce and the increased outsourcing of delivery services. As a result, Zoom2u has valued the Australian delivery services market at $5.6 billion.

In another possible boost to the Zoom2u share price, the company highlighted the global demand for delivery management software and automation of delivery management.

The company’s Zoom2u platform commenced operations in 2014. It has grown gross merchandise value (GMV) from $0.4 million in FY15 and forecasts $11.1 million for FY21.

It currently has a customer base of nearly 70,000 individuals, SMEs, and enterprise customers who are connected to more than 8,600 drivers.

Locate2u was launched in late 2020 and is still in its early stage of market development.

The company noted that part of the funds raised from the IPO will be used to scale up sales and marketing efforts for both Zoom2u and Locate2u.

The post The Zoom2u (ASX:Z2U) share price has soared 267% in a week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price has been range bound since November last year when Pfizer released its initial COVID-19 vaccine trial results.

Webjet shares have struggled to hold above $6 but managed to find plenty of buying support around the mid-$4 level.

Encouragingly, Webjet shares have pushed 5% higher in September and are testing the upper bound of the range.

In an article featured on Livewire, Nathan Hughes from Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT) and Mike Murray from Australian Ethical Investment Limited (ASX: AEF) were asked about their thoughts on the Webjet share price.

What do experts think about the Webjet share price?

Murray was cautiously optimistic about Webjet, slating it as a “reopening play” but concerned about how much of that was already priced into today’s share price.

“I just wonder how much of the heavy lifting has already been done. There are probably twice as many shares on issue now than there were a couple of years ago.”

“The enterprise value would have recovered back to really pre-COVID levels. And so I don’t really want to pay the current price for it, but it’s an interesting business,” he said.

Perhaps a lower Webjet share price might have earned a more positive view from Murray, but he ultimately said it was a “hold”.

Hughes said that “there’s no doubt they’ll [Webjet] enjoy a really strong recovery” but was far more critical about the company’s valuation and balance sheet.

“But I think those salient points Mike made around the enterprise value and just how much of the recovery is baked into today’s share price. There are a lot more shares on issue and there’s also some convertible debt on the balance sheet, as well, so that gives me some pause,” he said.

Hughes also pointed at Webjet’s business model as a potential red flag in the long-term.

“.. a trend we’ve seen in a lot of industries, is a lot of businesses are going more direct to consumer and controlling their own distribution. And so, from that perspective, I just wonder about the long-term sustainability of Webjet’s B2B model,” he added.

The post To buy, hold or sell? Experts weigh in on the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Webjet 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 Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price will be on watch today.

This is after a number of analysts responded to its T25 strategy.

What was the response?

One of those was Goldman Sachs, which appeared to be very pleased with the telco giant’s T25 strategy.

According to a note released this morning, the key strategic and financial updates given with the strategy were consistent with the broker’s prior expectations.

It commented: “FY25 targets for strong earnings growth were provided, implying a high degree of confidence in the outlook, given expectations for mid-single digit EBITDA growth p.a. and a similar quantum of mobile service revenue growth.”

And while the broker notes that Telstra’s earnings per share targets were slightly lower than it was forecasting, it wasn’t enough to impact its bullish stance.

What about its dividend plans?

Goldman was also pleased with the company’s new dividend policy.

It explained: “Telstra also revised its dividend policy back towards 100% of EPS, as it prioritizes growing franked dividends over time, while using the c.$600mn p.a. (c.5¢ps) of additional FCF to invest for growth or return to shareholders. On-market buybacks & un-franked dividends were highlighted, but we expect buybacks to be prioritized given the focus on growing franked dividends.”

In light of this, the broker is now forecasting 16 cents per share fully franked dividends through to FY 2023. After which, it expects a dividend of 18 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 19 cents per share in FY 2025. Though, it sees upside potential to the latter dividends.

With the Telstra share price currently fetching $3.95, this will mean yields of 4%, 4.6%, and then 4.8%, respectively.

Is the Telstra share price good value?

The team at Goldman Sachs believe the Telstra share price is in the buy zone at present.

The note reveals that the broker has a buy rating and $4.40 price target on the telco giant’s shares.

Based on the current Telstra share price, this implies potential upside of 11% over the next 12 months before dividends. And if you include them, the potential return stretches to 15.5%.

The post Is the Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price in the buy zone after its T25 update? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia 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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The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price closed down 1.5% on Thursday, finishing the day at $6.65.

That came as the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended in the green, up 0.6%.

It’s been just over 3 weeks now since the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company reported its full year results for the 2021 financial year (FY21).

With investors now having had plenty of time to digest those results, we take a look below at how the Zip share price has performed since reporting.

First, a quick recap of those results.

What results did the ASX 200 tech share report for FY21?

The Zip share price was on investor radars on 25 August, the day it released its FY21 results.

Some of the key results Zip reported include a 150% year-on-year leap in revenue, to $403.2 million.

The BNPL company saw its transaction volumes surge to $5.8 billion. That was up 179% from the $2.1 billion reported in FY20.

Cash gross profits also surged, up 147% year-on-year to $198 million. And the company’s active merchants more than doubled, up 109% to 51,300 merchants.

Zip has not historically paid a dividend and did not declare one for FY21.

Commenting on the continuing rise of BNPL methods among consumers, Zip CEO Larry Diamond said:

The trend and shift away from the unfriendly world of credit cards that was the genesis of the Australian business has proven to be a global phenomenon, and Zip continues to accelerate in all our key markets.

How has the Zip share price moved since reporting those results?

Despite its strong growth results, the Zip share price fell 2.6% on the day it reported.

Since market close on 24 August (the day before reporting) Zip’s shares are down 9.2%.

By comparison, the ASX 200 has fallen 0.6% over that same time.

The post How has the Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price performed since reporting results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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If you’re wanting to invest in the small side of the Australian share market, then the two small caps listed below could be worth a closer look.

Here’s why these small caps are rated highly by analysts:

Infomedia Limited (ASX: IFM)

The first small cap share to look at is Infomedia. It is a leading global provider of software as a service solutions to the parts and service sector of the automotive industry.

In FY 2021, the company overcame tough trading conditions to deliver a solid full year result. It reported a 3% increase in revenue to $97.4 million and an 8% lift in net profit after tax to $20 million.

Looking ahead, management is expecting a much stronger performance in FY 2022. It has given revenue guidance of $117 million to $123 million for the year. The mid-point of this guidance range implies revenue growth of 23% year on year.

One broker that is very positive on Infomedia is Bell Potter. It currently has the company as its second favourite pick in the tech sector. The broker has a buy rating and $2.00 price target on its shares.

Over The Wire Holdings Ltd (ASX: OTW)

Over The Wire is a telecommunications, cloud, and IT solutions provider. It offers an integrated suite of products and services to business customers including data networks and internet, voice, data centre co-location, cloud and managed services.

The company has been growing strongly in recent years and this continued in FY 2021. For the 12 months ended 30 June, Over The Wire reported a 29% lift in revenue to $112.7 million and a 36% jump in EBITDA to $23.5 million. Pleasingly, its revenue is now almost entirely recurring in nature. In FY 2021, the company’s recurring revenue grew 38% to $103.2 million.

Looking ahead, management is confident that it will deliver organic recurring revenue growth of at least 15% in FY 2022.

The team at Ord Minnett are positive on the company. The broker currently has a buy rating and $5.06 price target on its shares.

The post 2 top small cap ASX shares analysts rate as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Infomedia and Over The Wire Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Infomedia and Over The Wire Holdings 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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Are you looking for some dividend options for your portfolio in September? if you are, check out the two ASX shares listed below.

Here’s why these ASX dividend shares have been tipped to as buys this month:

Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

The first ASX dividend share to look at is Scentre. It owns and operates the pre-eminent shopping centre portfolio in Australia and New Zealand with retail real estate assets under management valued at $50.1 billion and shopping centre ownership interests valued at $34.3 billion.

This comprises 42 Westfield shopping centres, which management notes have strong franchise value and the ability to attract the world’s leading retail brands.

While lockdowns are weighing on its near term performance, the company’s medium term outlook looks positive. Especially given its leverage to inflation and the very favourable inflation expectations in Australia. This should be a boost to its rental income in the coming years.

It is largely for this reason that Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $3.32 price target on the company’s shares.

In addition, Goldman is forecasting a 14 cents per share dividend in FY 2021 and a 16 cents per share dividend in FY 2022. Based on the latest Scentre share price of $2.99, this equates to 4.7% and 5.4% yields, respectively.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Another dividend share to look at is Suncorp. It offers insurance, banking, and wealth products and services through some of Australia and New Zealand’s most recognised financial brands. These include AAMI, Apia, Bingle, GIO, Shannons, Vero, and the eponymous Suncorp brand.

It was on form in FY 2021, reporting a 42.1% increase in cash earnings to $1,064 million. This was ahead of the market’s expectations. In addition, the company announced a final dividend of 40 cents per share, a special dividend of 8 cents per share, and a $250 million on-market share buyback.

One broker that was very pleased with the result was Goldman Sachs. In response, the broker has put a buy rating and $13.74 price target on Suncorp’s shares.

Goldman is also forecasting a 61 cents per share fully franked dividend in FY 2022. Based on the current Suncorp share price of $12.60, this will mean a 4.8% dividend yield.

The post 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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