• Harmoney (ASX:HMY) share price surges 12% on update

    heavy lifting, lifting index, carrying weight, boy lifting dumbbell above his head

    The Harmoney Corp Ltd (ASX: HMY) share price surged more than 12% in early trade. The bullish price action comes after the company released an update earlier today.  

    At the time of writing, shares in Harmoney are now trading up 7.84%, at $2.20. The Harmoney share price was up more than 12% earlier, after hitting an intra-day high of $2.30.

    Let’s take a look at what Harmoney announced and why investors are scrambling for the company’s shares.

    Harmoney shares soar on strong originations growth

    Earlier today, Harmoney released an update on the company’s performance for the second half of FY21.

    The update was highlighted by a 144% increase in total new originations for the half. In addition, Harmoney noted that Australian new customer originations grew by 260% in the second half to $47 million.

    Overall, Harmoney recorded total group originations of NZ$250 million, compared to $193 million in the first half. The company noted that growth in new customers could lead to a strong increase in repeat customer originations in the following six months.

    Harmoney also noted group receivables of NZ$501 million, yielding a net interest margin of 11%. The company’s Australian receivables also grew by 33% in the 6 months since December 2020.

    Harmoney’s CEO and Managing Director David Stevens noted;

    “It’s pleasing to see Harmoney’s new customer originations have surpassed pre-COVID levels. New customer originations is a lead indicator for receivables growth as more customers become eligible for our 3Rs repeat program.”.

    In addition to its performance in the second half, Harmoney also alluded to forecasts for FY22. The company noted that group receivables are forecast to grow at significantly higher levels in the new financial year. The company cited higher new customer originations and the release of LibraTM 1.7 in Australia.

    Harmoney also noted its strong capital position, with undrawn funding lines of NZ$216 million as at 30 June 2021.  

    More on Harmoney

    Harmoney is an online direct personal lender that operates across Australia and New Zealand. The company provides customers with unsecured personal loans of up to $70,000 that are easy to access and competitively priced.

    Despite today’s jubilant price action, the Harmoney share price remains more than 22% lower for the year.

    The post Harmoney (ASX:HMY) share price surges 12% on update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Harmoney, 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 Harmoney 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3AYDKgL

  • ASX midday update: Afterpay & Zip sink, Orocobre rises on broker upgrade

    man thinking about whether to invest in bitcoin

    At lunch on Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is defying weakness on Wall Street by pushing higher. The benchmark index is currently up 0.35% to 7,358.4 points.

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

    Afterpay sinks amid reports Apple to enter BNPL market

    The shares of Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) are sinking on Wednesday amid speculation that Apple is going to enter the buy now pay later (BNPL) market. Bloomberg understands that the upcoming service, known internally as Apple Pay Later, will allow consumers to pay for any Apple Pay purchase in instalments. The tech giant will use Goldman Sachs as the lender for the instalment loans.

    NAB higher on Citi interest

    The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is edging higher today after it confirmed reports that it is interested in acquiring the Australian Consumer business of Citigroup. NAB advised that it is in discussions with Citi but warned that there is no certainty these discussions will lead to a transaction. A price of $2 billion is expected to be required to snare the business.

    Orocobre shares upgraded

    The Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) share price is rising on Wednesday. This follows the release of a broker note out of Ord Minnett this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the lithium miner’s shares to a buy rating with an $8.45 price target. It believes the company is well-positioned to benefit from favourable lithium prices, particularly if its merger with Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY) completes successfully.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Wednesday has been the Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) share price with a 3.5% gain. This is despite there being no news out of the health supplements company. The worst performer on the ASX 200 has been the Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price with a 9% decline. This follows speculation of Apple’s entry into the BNPL market.

    The post ASX midday update: Afterpay & Zip sink, Orocobre rises on broker upgrade 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Galaxy Resources Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO and Blackmores Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3kdYTO3

  • Why the 29Metals (ASX: 29M) share price has surged 12% since its IPO

    Miner puts thumbs up in front of gold mine quarry

    It’s been an exciting time for fans of 29Metals – its share price has shot up 12% since its Initial Public Offering (IPO) nearly a fortnight ago.

    29Metals shares are currently trading for $2.26, after selling for $2.00 apiece during the company’s IPO.

    Earlier today, the 29Metals share price reached $2.37 – its highest point yet.

    Let’s take a look at what’s been going on with 29Metals since it debuted on the ASX on 2 July.

    Quick refresher

    29Metals is a copper producer with interests in gold, zinc, silver, and lead.

    The company owns the Golden Grove mine in Western Australia. Golden Grove produces high-grade copper, zinc, and precious metals.

    29Metals also holds Queensland’s Capricorn Copper mine which produces high-grade copper and silver, among other ores. Finally, it has an exploration portfolio in Chile.  

    Placing its share price at $2.00 apiece made 29Metals’ IPO the largest ASX mining debut in a decade.

    A good run so far

    Despite gaining 12% on its IPO price, 29Metals has yet to announce any price sensitive news to the market.

    Still, it’s seemingly managed to capture the attention of market watchers.

    29Metal’s IPO saw it raise around $527 million before going to market.

    Additionally, offering its shares for $2.00 apiece saw 29Metals with an expected market capitalisation of around $960 million.

    At its current share price, 29Metals’ market capitalisation is around $1.07 billion.

    Since the company listed, the price of copper has been wavering in a relatively flat trend, so it’s not likely to be driving the 29 Metals share price higher.

    29Metals share price snapshot

    The 29Metals share price has had a dramatic journey already.

    Its shares fell 1.4% over their first 3 sessions on market before gaining a whopping 12.9% over another 4 sessions for no apparent reason.

    They’ve since seemingly stabilised, closing at $2.27 yesterday and opening at $2.29 today.  

    The post Why the 29Metals (ASX: 29M) share price has surged 12% since its IPO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in 29Metals right now?

    Before you consider 29Metals, 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 29Metals 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2UFq8Gu

  • Why is the Eroad (ASX:ERD) share price halted today?

    woman sitting at desk holding hand up in stop motion

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having something of a shaky start to this Wednesday’s trading session. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up 0.39% to 7,361 points after briefly dipping on market open this morning. But one ASX share that isn’t participating much today is Eroad Ltd (ASX: ERD).

    The Eroad share price is currently stuck at $5.78 a share, right where it finished up yesterday afternoon. And that’s where it’s going to stay, at least for a while.

    This morning, Eroad came out and told investors through an ASX release that its shares will be entering a trading halt. On both the New Zealand and ASX stock exchanges. Why? Here’s some of what Eroad had to say:

    We would like the trading halt to commence from the opening of trading on Wednesday 14 July 2021 and be lifted at the opening of trading on Thursday 15 July 2021. Or on any earlier announcement regarding the outcome of the capital raising discussed below

    EROAD is proposing to raise up to NZ$80.5 million of new capital by way of an NZ$64.4 million placementfollowed by an NZ$16.1 million share purchase plan (SPP).

    A new road for Eroad shares

    So Eroad is conducting a concurrent share replacement and share purchase plan (SPP). What will it be spending this NZ$80.5 million on? Well, Eroad has also released another update on this subject this morning.

    The company has told investors it has “entered into a conditional agreement to acquire 100% of Coretex Limited”. Coretex is a “telematics vertical specialist provider delivering enterprise grade solutions”.

    This purchase will cost Eroad NZ$157.7 million in upfront consideration. Plus a further NZ$30.6 million if “certain performance milestones” are met. This share placement and SPP that was also announced today will partly fund this acquisition. That is, if shareholders vote in favour of the plan at the company’s annual general meeting on 30 July.

    The rest of the funding will come from the issuance of new shares (worth NZ$96 million). As well as NZ$11.8 million in cash from Eroad.

    Why is the company buying Coretex?

    So why is Eroad proposing to buy Coretex? The company listed a number of reasons:

    • The Acquisition accelerates EROAD’s key growth metrics by two years enabling it to capture the significant growth opportunity in North America and Australia
    • The Acquisition drives synergies and accelerates revenue growth by adding new strategic verticals, providing broader product market fit and increasing customer base
    • Acquisition is accretive from an earnings basis in FY23, following growth investment in FY22 to drive synergies

    And here’s some of what Eroad CEO Steven Newman had to say on this proposal:

    The acquisition of Coretex is truly transformational for EROAD…

    EROAD and Coretex both aspire to create a safer, more sustainable and more productive society. Combining EROAD’s expertise in broadly adopted regulatory telematics solutions with Coretex’s extensive vertical telematics expertise and products creates an advanced market fit.

    At the current (and frozen) Eroad share price, the company has a market capitalisation of $473.4 million, and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 228.

    The post Why is the Eroad (ASX:ERD) share price halted today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Eroad, 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 Eroad 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/36ygIiH

  • Why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is wobbling today

    Woman with large rollers in her hair and using cosmetics looking frustrated down at the ends of her hair.

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is up and down today after the company’s bid for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API) faces new pressure from shareholders.

    At market open Wesfarmers shares surged to $58.61 before dipping down to $58.01. At the time of writing, the Wesfarmers share price is up 0.47% to $58.70.

    Let’s take a look in a little more detail.

    New pressure from shareholders

    Wesfarmers shareholders are concerned the offer for the pharmaceutical retailer and distributor is too low, and that it opens the gates for rival bids to surface.

    Key stakeholders have been outspoken, advocating to lift the bid. They say the offer, “undervalued [Australian Pharmaceutical] and a counter offer was not impossible,” according to yesterday’s Australian Financial Review.

    The news comes after 19.3% shareholder Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) gave its seal of approval on the $1.38 per share offer.

    Since Monday’s announcement, the API share price skyrocketed almost 20%, reaching a high of $1.38 yesterday.

    API is the owner of Priceline Pharmacy and Clear Skincare beauty clinics, both of which operate throughout Australia.

    Wesfarmers values the company’s assets at $687 million, excluding $135 million debt on its balance sheet.

    As such, the $1.38 per share offer is close to API’s current market price at the time of writing.

    Speaking on the proposal on Monday, Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said:

    If the proposal is successful, API would form the basis of a new healthcare division of Wesfarmers and a
    base from which to invest and develop capabilities in the health and wellbeing sector.

    The offer is still subject to due diligence, clearance from the ACCC, and board approval from API.

    Wesfarmers share price snapshot

    The Wesfarmers share price has posted a year-to-date return of ~16%, extending the previous 12 month’s return of 27.68%.

    These returns have outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s return of ~11.7% since 1 January this year.

    At the time of writing, Wesfarmers has a market capitalisation of $66.5 billion.

    The post Why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is wobbling today 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3r5UPRo

  • Behind the Nearmap share price surge, upgrades for Rio and BHP. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News

    Three happy miners standing with arms crossed at quarry

    Motley Fool Australia Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined Nine’s Late News on Tuesday night to discuss Nearmap’s (ASX: NEA) share price jump, upgrades for BHP (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), Ampol (ASX: ALD) and Viva Energy (ASX: VEA), and a sharp fall in NAB’s business survey.

    The post Behind the Nearmap share price surge, upgrades for Rio and BHP. Scott Phillips on Nine’s Late News appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3kjxs5k

  • Why the Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price is down 10% on Wednesday

    unhappy, sad investor, share price fall, decrease, in the red, sad business person

    The rollercoaster ride for the Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price continues on Wednesday, tumbling 9.2% to $7.50.

    What’s driving the Zip share price selloff?

    Investors might be selling their Zip shares today in response to another giant entering the buy now pay later (BNPL) space.

    This morning, Bloomberg reported that Apple is working on a new BNPL service with classic interest-free instalment features.

    The report said that Apple will be teaming up with another behemoth, Goldman Sachs, to act as the lender for the BNPL loans.

    While Zip might be the second-largest ASX-listed BNPL player, it pales in comparison to the US$2.4 trillion giant that is Apple.

    The broader BNPL sector is also feeling the pressure, with the likes of Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) sliding 8.8% and 9.13% respectively.

    Whipsaw-like action for Zip

    The Zip share price has displayed immense volatility in the last month.

    Looking back, the broader BNPL sector bounced back in late June, with the Zip share price closing at a 2-month high of $8.78 on 24 June.

    By 6 July, Zip shares had tumbled 17.5% to $7.25.

    Just as things began to look bearish for Zip, rumours emerged that a rival BNPL provider had acquired a strategic stake in the company.

    According to the Australian Financial Review, Swedish based rival Klarna acquired a 4% stake in Zip.

    The report suggests this move was “designed to give it options should the buy now, pay later sector consolidate down to two or three main players globally”.

    These rumours sent the Zip share price surging back to 2-month highs of $8.88 by 9 July.

    Today, the Zip share price has tumbled back to $7.50 at the time of writing.

    For investors who purchased Zip shares in late January or May, this would mean returns have slipped back to square one.

    The post Why the Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price is down 10% on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Zip, 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 Zip 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Apple, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3ktxesH

  • As markets fall, big business fights back against disruptive growth stocks

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Buying now and paying later is as easy as using your mobile device. 

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The stock market fell on Tuesday, as investors started to react negatively to sustained inflationary pressure. By the close, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) were modestly off their record levels, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) also gave back some ground.

    Index Percentage Change (Decline) Point Change
    Dow (0.31%) (107)
    S&P 500 (0.35%) (15)
    Nasdaq Composite (0.38%) (56)

    Data source: Yahoo! Finance.

    For a long time, investors have followed the prospects of disruptive small companies seeking to take on some of the giants of their respective industries. Yet skeptics of those disruptors have long argued that it was only a matter of time before Big Business fought back. That happened today to Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ: AFRM), and it’ll be very interesting to see how things play out in a high-stakes battle for supremacy in a fast-growing area of fintech.

    Apple takes on Affirm

    Affirm offers an installment-payment service, known more colloquially as “buy now, pay later.” Affirm’s service allows customers to choose from multiple options about how they want to repay, with some short-term arrangements adding little or no cost to the transaction while some more-extended payment plans come with larger tack-on payments over and above the total cost of the item. Affirm’s service has been highly popular, especially as the company built partnerships with companies like e-commerce platform provider Shopify to give its merchant customers access to Affirm’s installment-plan payment program.

    However, shares of Affirm fell more than 10% by the close today, plunging in the midafternoon once news surfaced that the company would likely face competition from a huge potential rival. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is reportedly planning to come out with its own installment-payment service, using its existing Apple Card relationship with banking giant Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and expanding it to make the new buy now, pay later feature work.

    The move apparently stems from Apple’s current offerings for buyers of iPhones and other Apple products. Apple Card holders can buy iPhones in installments lasting two years, with payments getting coordinated with credit card minimum payments. Doing a broader installment service makes sense and is consistent with in-house solutions expanding to cover larger swaths of promising markets.

    Get ready for more fighting

    Affirm isn’t the only company that’s potentially vulnerable to existing industry giants fighting back against disruptors. Whole hosts of high-flying new companies will likely have to demonstrate their competitive advantages even against massive pressure.

    For instance, Upstart Holdings (NASDAQ: UPST) uses alternatives to the credit scoring systems that FICO (NYSE: FICO) and others offer. Upstart has proprietary artificial-intelligence (AI) powered assessment tools to make better-informed decisions about extending credit to those who are underserved by traditional credit providers. But there’s nothing stopping FICO (also known as Fair Isaac) and other credit-score providers from teaming up with AI-savvy companies to make their own upgraded algorithms.

    Many companies have the same first-mover advantage as Upstart but face similar competitive challenges in the long run. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the disruptors are doomed to failure, but it does mean that investors can’t just assume that massive mega-cap companies in key sectors will just roll over and give way to competition.

    If indeed Apple is looking to go up against Affirm, it could prove to be just an early shot in a larger war between young new disruptive companies and the big businesses they’re trying to make obsolete.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post As markets fall, big business fights back against disruptive growth stocks 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Dan Caplinger owns shares of Apple and Shopify. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Affirm Holdings, Inc., Apple, and Shopify. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $1,140 calls on Shopify, long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2023 $1,160 calls on Shopify, and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3i5Vhec

  • Humm (ASX:HUM) share price dips despite deal with Westpac NZ

    pay by phone, phone pay, BNPL,, digital wallet, woman pays by phone at supermarket

    The Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM) share price is having a subdued day as it announces a partnership with Westpac Banking Corp’s (ASX: WBC) New Zealand division.

    At the time of writing, shares in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider are trading for 99.5 cents – down 1.49%. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), meanwhile, is 0.39% higher.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news.

    The Humm share price is falling

    In a statement to the ASX, Humm Group declared it has “entered into a joint venture agreement with Red Bird Ventures Limited” – a subsidiary of Westpac NZ – to launch its BNPL product, bundll, to the New Zealand market.

    Bundll is a tap and go service on a customer’s phone. Using the Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA) network, it allows the user to use BNPL anywhere and for any amount. Bundll will be available to all New Zealanders, but Westpac NZ customers will receive “preferential” benefits.

    Red Bird has the option to buy equity in bundll New Zealand as part of the deal.

    Investors are not rating today’s news, judging by the drop in the Humm share price.

    Management commentary

    Humm Group CEO, Rebecca James, said

    We are delighted to be partnering with Westpac NZ to bring bundll to New Zealanders. BNPL is one of the fastest growing segments of the financial industry, and with this new arrangement Westpac NZ will reap the benefits of having an innovative and customer driven BNPL offering without having to build the product themselves.

    This is our first deal under our strategic agreement with Mastercard and we are actively in discussions with a number of banks, loyalty programs and financial institutions about similar potential partnerships around the globe.

    Division President of Mastercard Australasia Richard Wormald added:

    With bundll, Humm group have developed a unique solution that easily allows banks, loyalty programs or larger retailers to offer a solution to their customers, without needing to undertake any IT development. We are excited about the potential this has globally.

    Humm share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Humm share price has declined 15.4%. In contrast, BNPL competitors Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) are 61% and 8% higher.

    Humm Group has a market capitalisation of approximately $485 million.

    The post Humm (ASX:HUM) share price dips despite deal with Westpac NZ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has tripled in value since January 2020, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

    Returns as of 15th February 2021

    More reading

    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Mastercard. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Humm Group Limited and Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3kjulKG

  • Why the Bathurst Resources (ASX:BRL) share price is rocketing 63% higher

    Vanadium Resources share price person riding rocket indicating share price increase

    The Bathurst Resources Ltd (ASX: BRL) share price has been an exceptionally strong performer on Wednesday.

    In morning trade, the coal producer’s shares are up 63% to a 52-week high of 70 cents.

    This gain means the Bathurst Resources share price is now up 84% since the start of the year.

    Why is the Bathurst Resources share price rocketing higher?

    The catalyst for the incredible rise in the Bathurst Resources share price on Wednesday has been a favourable outcome in the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

    According to the release, the Supreme Court has upheld Bathurst Resources’ appeal against the case brought by L&M Coal.

    What was the case?

    Back in 2018, legal proceedings were brought against the company by L&M Coal in relation to a US$40 million performance payment. This stems from an agreement that Bathurst Resources signed when it bought the Escarpment mine on the Denniston Plateau.

    That agreement was for an upfront payment of US$35 million and then US$40 million due when Bathurst had shipped 25,000 tonnes of coal and another US$40 million when one million tonnes of coal had been shipped.

    However, although Bathurst Resources had produced 50,000 tonnes of coal from the mine, it claimed that this didn’t trigger the performance payment because it technically was not shipped overseas. Instead, the company had sold the coal to Westport’s Holcim cement plant.

    According to today’s release, the Supreme Court did find that the US$40 million performance payment had been triggered.

    However, the court also ruled, contrary to the prior court judgments, that Bathurst Resources can rely on the Royalty Deed which forms part of the original agreement. This means that for as long as the relevant royalty continues to be paid (even if that sum is zero), payment of the performance payment can be indefinitely deferred.

    Furthermore, the Supreme Court also ruled that Bathurst’s Supreme Court legal costs must be reimbursed by the appellants, together with previous costs re-determined in the High Court and Court of Appeal in light of the judgement.

    The post Why the Bathurst Resources (ASX:BRL) share price is rocketing 63% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bathurst Resources right now?

    Before you consider Bathurst Resources, 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 Bathurst Resources 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/36AijEM