• Bellevue Gold (ASX:BGL) share price dives 8% after successful $106 million placement

    gold bars falling to the ground and smashing representing falling prices of ASX gold shares

    The Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) share price opened 8.47% lower to 86.5 cents on Friday after the company completed a $106 million institutional placement.

    At the time of writing, the Bellevue share price is still firmly in the red, trading down 8.25% at 87 cents.

    Bellevue on track to become significant gold producer

    Bellevue announced that it received “firm commitments” for a $106 million institutional placement at 85 cents per share. This represents a 9.9% discount on its last closing price of 94.5 cents on Wednesday, 1 September.

    The company said it would use the proceeds, together with its $200 million debt facility, to fund the development of the Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia.

    According to Bellevue’s current development timetable, the company is targeting its first gold production in the June quarter of 2023.

    Despite today’s sharp decline, the Bellevue Gold share price has managed to bounce off intraday lows of 85 cents on significant volume. At the time of writing, 6.1 million shares have traded hands, compared to its 10-day average volume of 1.9 million.

    Management commentary

    Bellevue managing director Steve Parsons commented on demand for the placement, saying:

    The strong demand from institutions around the world reflects the quality of the Bellevue Gold Project, the exceptional free cash flow generation forecast and the immense potential for further growth.

    With the project fully-funded to production, we will proceed full-steam ahead with development while maintaining a strong emphasis on further growth by increasing and upgrading the mineral resources and ore reserves.

    Parsons said ongoing exploration activities would unlock further value and scale to the project.

    The stage two feasibility study is based on a resource of 1.5Moz, which represents just half of the total 3Moz resource base at Bellevue. We have already announced a host of high-grade drilling results outside that resource, we have another 14,000 samples awaiting assay and there are now two rigs drilling from underground.

    This multi-pronged approach to expanding the resource is aimed at growing the mine life, which will increase the already-strong financial results forecast in this Study

    Bellevue Gold share price snapshot

    The Bellevue Gold share price is down 26.5% year-to-date.

    This performance is in line with the broader ASX gold sector, with high profile names such as Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) down 26.9% and 26.3% year-to-date respectively.

    The post Bellevue Gold (ASX:BGL) share price dives 8% after successful $106 million placement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bellevue Gold right now?

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

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  • Here’s why the ASIA (ASX:ASIA) share price is up 4% in the last week

    the words ETF in red with rising block chart and arrow

    It has been an intense week for the BetaShares ASIA Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA).

    Earlier in the week, heightened scrutiny surrounded the exchange-traded fund (ETF) after China announced tightening restrictions on online gaming for children.

    Despite the government announcement, the value of the ASIA ETF has climbed 4% over the course of the week.

    What’s happening with the ASIA ETF?

    While the China government’s decision initially took a toll on gaming and tech companies, most have sprung back during the latter half of the week.

    According to publications, China has opted to reduce gaming time for people under the age of 18. Under the new rules, minors will only be allowed to indulge in online gaming between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.

    One would assume this would decrease traffic and revenue for gaming giants exposed to China. However, companies and analysts have remarked that these new regulations are unlikely to have a big monetary impact.

    For example, NetEase Inc (NASDAQ: NTES) stated that less than 1% of its revenue is derived from people under 18. Meanwhile, analysts estimate that roughly 5% of Tencent’s gaming revenue is at the peril of the young demographic.

    During the week, Tencent has gained 5.8%, Sea Ltd (NYSE: SE) surged 6%, and NetEase rallied 5.1%. All three of these companies make an appearance in the top 10 holdings of the ASX-listed ASIA ETF.

    Funds sitting on the sideline

    Additionally, Australia’s sovereign wealth fund — the Future Fund — has decided to reduce its positions in China shares. The decision comes as relations between Australia and China are challenged.

    Prior to this statement, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA) and Tencent had been the fund’s sixth and seventh largest positions. One can assume, that may no longer be the case.

    At the time of writing, the ASIA ETF is trading 0.38% lower to $10.48 per unit.

    The post Here’s why the ASIA (ASX:ASIA) share price is up 4% in the last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares ASIA Technology Tigers ETF right now?

    Before you consider BetaShares ASIA Technology Tigers ETF, 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 BetaShares ASIA Technology Tigers ETF wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Sea Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended NetEase. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the BWX (ASX:BWX) share price is moving higher today

    smiling woman with towel on head holds pot of face cream in front of eye

    The BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX) share price is climbing in morning trade today, up 1.36% to $4.85.

    Below, we take a look at the update of the share purchase plan announcement released by the personal care products company this morning.

    What investors need to know about the share purchase plan

    The BWX share price is gaining after the company revealed its share purchase plan (SPP), announced last Friday, opened to eligible shareholders in Australia and New Zealand this morning.

    BWX will issue news shares at $4.85 per share. That’s priced the same as its institutional placement, which was completed on 1 September and raised $85 million. The BWX share price slipped on that day and closed yesterday at $4.79 per share.

    The company notes the issue price of $4.85 per share is an 8.7% discount to the BWX share price of $5.31 at close on 26 August.

    That was the last day of trading before the company went into a trading halt pending its announcement of the placement offer.

    However, the BWX share price closed yesterday 10% below the 26 August close. It was also 1.3% below the share purchase plan offer.

    The company expects to raise $15 million under the SPP. However, it retains the right to increase or decrease that depending on the level of demand.

    Eligible shareholders can subscribe to up to $30,000 of new shares, without paying any brokerage or transaction costs.

    BWX expects to close its SPP at 5pm AEST on Thursday, 23 September.

    What management said

    Commenting on the rationale behind the capital raising, BWX chairman Ian Campbell said:

    The offer is being undertaken in conjunction with the placement to principally fund the acquisition of a 50.1% majority interest in Go To Enterprise Holdings Pty Ltd, the owner and operator of the ‘Go To’ skin care business by the company and associated costs.

    Go-To is an Australian skin care range that provides simple, trusted and effective skin care to the ‘masstige’ market… BWX expects the acquisition of Go-To to be EPS accretive in the first full-year of the partnership with Go-To.

    BWX share price snapshot

    The BWX share price is up 18% in 2021. This compares to a gain of 14% on the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

    Over the past month, BWX shares are down 3%.

    The post Why the BWX (ASX:BWX) share price is moving higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BWX, 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 BWX wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BWX 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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  • Why the Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) share price is lifting today

    Miner team in the caves with their lights on and smiling

    The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price is climbing on Friday morning. This comes after the mining services company provided an update on the Red Iron Ore Joint Venture (RHIOJV) acquisition.

    At the time of writing, Mineral Resources shares are up 3.49% to $55.15. In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.40% to 7,515 points.

    Let’s take a closer look and see what’s driving Minerals Resources shares higher today.

    What did Mineral Resources announce?

    In today’s statement, Mineral Resources advised it has completed the acquisition of RHIOJV, 40% owned by Red Hill Iron Limited (ASX: RHI).

    This follows yesterday’s Red Hill shareholder vote, which approved the conditional RHIOJV interest acquisition.

    Mineral Resources paid Red Hill $200 million in cash without tapping into its debt facilities. It will deliver a further $200 million when the first commercial shipment of iron ore extracted from RHIOJV departs the port.

    In addition to the payments, Red Hill Iron will receive a royalty fee of 0.75% of free on board (FOB) revenue.

    Mineral Resources expects the latest purchase to enhance its strategy on expanding its resource inventory around the Ashburton Hub. This underpins a long-term and sustainable iron ore export business for the company.

    The RHIOJV tenements, located in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia, contain a mineral resource of 820 million tonnes (Mt) with a grade of 56.44% iron ore. It is estimated that the area covers around 1,900 square kilometres along the western margin of the Hamersley Province.

    The remaining 60% interest of the RHIOJV is controlled by the Australian Premium Iron Joint Venture (APIJV).

    Mineral Resources share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Mineral Resources shares have gone strength to strength, rising 80%. In 2021 alone, its shares are travelling 40% higher on the back of surging iron ore and lithium prices.

    Mineral Resources presides a market capitalisation of roughly $10 billion on valuation grounds, with approximately 188 million shares outstanding.

    The post Why the Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) share price is lifting today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Mineral 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 Mineral 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 August 16th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • 3 reasons why Soul Patts (ASX:SOL) could be a great share to own

    outperforming asx share price represented by row of white eggs with cartoon sad faces with one gold egg with happy face and crown

    There are several reasons why Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), AKA Soul Patts, could be a good ASX share to own for the long-term.

    What does Soul Patts do?

    It was set up over a century ago as a pharmacy business. However, the company has since diversified to become a large investment conglomerate.

    Not only is the business old, but it actually has very loyal and long-term serving employees.

    More than 40 employees have worked for the company for over 50 years. Five generations of the Pattinson family have served the company, as have three generations of the Dixson, Spence, Rowe and Letters families.

    But there’s much more to the business than simply long-term management.

    Here are three reasons to consider owning Soul Patts:

    Diversification

    The ASX share may be the most diversified business within the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    It owns a portfolio of different investments that are listed and unlisted.

    The investment conglomerate doesn’t operate as just a retailer, bank or miner. It’s across a broad range of industries including telecommunications, building products, resources, agriculture, financial services and healthcare.

    In terms of the actual listed investments it owns, these are some of the largest holdings: TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), Pengana Capital Group Ltd (ASX: PCG), Bki Investment Co Ltd (ASX: BKI), Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API) and New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC).

    It also has investments in unlisted businesses like Aquatic Achievers (swimming schools), Ampcontrol (electrical products) and Round Oak Minerals (resources).

    A diversified portfolio is meant to reduce risks.

    Effective investment strategy

    Soul Patts aims to have a diversified portfolio of uncorrelated investment across listed shares, private equity and venture capital, property, corporate loans and cash.

    A flexible investment mandate allows Soul Patts to back companies at an early stage and grow with them over the long-term.

    It aims to be counter cyclical and have a value-focused approach.

    Soul Patts also says that it’s a trusted partner that actively assists its portfolio companies in accessing growth capital and undertaking strategic acquisitions.

    At 31 January 2021, Soul Patts reported that its total shareholder returns (TSR) over the previous 10 years had been an average of 11.4% per annum, beating the All Ordinaries Accumulation Index by an average of 3.5% per annum.

    Dividend record

    Soul Patts has a long dividend growth record. It has increased its annual dividend every year since 2000. It has also increased its interim dividend for 23 years in a row.

    The current dividend yield is low after a strong run of the Soul Patts share price. The trailing grossed-up dividend yield is 2.4%.

    The post 3 reasons why Soul Patts (ASX:SOL) could be a great share to own appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Soul Patts right now?

    Before you consider Soul Patts, 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 Soul Patts wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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 Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom 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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  • How does the Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) dividend compare to the materials sector?

    miners at an iron ore site, mining, commodities

    The Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) dividend has been a hot topic since the company released its full year results.

    Just last month, Mineral Resources decided to reward shareholders with a fully-franked dividend of $1.75 per share. This represented an increase of an astonishing 175% on the full year dividend of $2.75 per share.

    While the company is on an attractive 5.02% dividend yield, investors may be wondering how it stacks up against its competitors.

    At the time of writing, the Mineral Resources share price is up 2.65% to $54.70.

    How does the Mineral Resources dividend compare to its sector?

    The Mineral Resources dividend is somewhere in the middle ground compared to its peers, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH).

    For example, Fortescue is scheduled to pay a fully-franked dividend of $2.11 per share this month. Coupled with the previous interim dividend of $1.47, this comes to a total dividend payment of $3.58 for FY21. Based on the current Fortescue share price of $20.85, this implies a dividend yield of 17.17%.

    Next up, NRW is also due to pay a fully-franked dividend of 5 cents apiece in this year’s earnings season. This brings the full-year dividend to 9 cents a pop. Based on the current NRW share price of $1.95, this gives the company a dividend yield of 4.61%.

    Do analysts think the Mineral Resource share price is a buy?

    A number of brokers have weighed in on the company’s share price following its full year scorecard released to the ASX.

    As such, Morgan Stanley cut its rating on Mineral Resources shares by 8% to a bearish price of $45.70. The other brokers had a more bullish view with JPMorgan reducing its outlook by 2.9% to $68. Macquarie on the other hand, raised its assessment on Minerals Resources by 1.4% to a price of $74.

    Based on Macquarie’s appraisal, this implies an upside of around 35.2% on the current Mineral Resources share price.

    The post How does the Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) dividend compare to the materials sector? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Mineral 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 Mineral 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 August 16th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • Leading broker says Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price is a buy

    A man eases back onto his sofa, happy with the relaxed vibe from his furniture.

    The Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) share price has been out of form in recent weeks despite the release of a strong full year result last month.

    Since this time in August, the homewares and home furnishings retailer’s shares are down 9%.

    Is the Adairs share price good value?

    While the decline in the Adairs share price over the last few weeks has been disappointing, one leading broker believes it could be a buying opportunity.

    According to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts have upgraded the company’s shares to an add rating with a $4.20 price target.

    Based on the current Adairs share price of $3.89, this implies potential upside of 8% over the next 12 months excluding dividends.

    And with Morgans forecasting a fully franked 22 cents per share dividend in FY 2022, this potential return stretches to just over 13.5% including them.

    What did Morgans say?

    Morgans was very impressed with Adairs’ performance in FY 2021. And while the start of FY 2022 has been tough for the retailer because of lockdowns, it remains positive on the longer term. It also highlights that the Adairs share price is cheap in comparison to peers.

    The broker said: “ADH’s early FY22 experience is in line with most retailers who have reported to date, as store closures impact in-store sales, partially offset by online growth. There remains a lot to like about this investment case: 80% of sales coming from loyal Linen Lover members; GLA growth via new stores and upsizing; DC cost efficiencies to flow from 2QFY22; and 37% of sales online (inflated in FY21 by lockdowns) combined with a highly profitable store network.”

    “We upgrade to an Add rating (from Hold). Despite EPS revisions in FY22, ADH is one of the cheapest retailers in the sector (CY22F PE of <10x). ADH has a strong BS, loyal customer base and various growth options. There is of course a question mark over whether elevated GMs are sustainable long term, like most retailers. However, at this valuation, we see enough safety in the numbers,” it added.

    The post Leading broker says Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price is a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Adairs, 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 Adairs wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • Why the South32 (ASX:S32) share price is breaking out this week to a 14-month high

    woman puts hands up as she smashes and breaks through glass ceiling

    The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price broke out this week after aluminium prices jumped to 10-year highs.

    At the time of writing, South32 shares are changing hands for $3.26 apiece, up 2.03% from yesterday’s closing price.

    Aluminium prices surge amid China concerns

    The South32 share price is moving out this week. This comes as top producers in China face tougher power controls to meet green targets, according to Reuters.

    “The government in China’s Guangxi region, an aluminium and alumina production hub, on Monday called for tougher controls on energy consumption in a statement issued after a teleconference,” the report said.

    “The region is China’s third-biggest producer of alumina, a primary product of aluminium, with output of 925,500 tonnes in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.”

    Reuters pointed out that China’s aluminium production would still increase year on year, “albeit at a slower pace … its output is about 500,000 — 600,000 tonnes lower than was expected at the start of 2021”.

    Looking ahead, “Consultancy Mysteel said that 8 aluminium smelting companies in Guangxi will have to keep their September production at a maximum of 80% of average monthly output in the first half of the year”.

    South32 share price rallies to 14-month high

    Aluminium prices have been on a tear since 2-year lows of about US$1450/t in May 2020.

    Prices surged to around US$2,550 by the end of FY21. They have pushed to 10-year highs of about US$2,700 in the past week.

    Higher realised aluminium prices were a major contributor to the company’s 89% jump in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to US$844 million in FY21.

    According to the company’s FY21 full-year results, the change in the sales price of aluminium, silver, zinc, and nickel added US$363 million, US$123 million, US$65 million and US$65 million respectively to EBIT.

    This was partially offset by a lower average realised price for other metals in the company’s portfolio. These included metallurgical coal, manganese ore and alumina.

    Overall, shareholders should welcome the higher prices and the recent bullish performance of the South32 share price.

    The post Why the South32 (ASX:S32) share price is breaking out this week to a 14-month high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in South32 right now?

    Before you consider South32, 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 South32 wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • The Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price has gained 17% in the last 6 months

    a woman pushes a man standing in a shopping trolley pointing ahead far off into the distance.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price has delivered the goods to shareholders over the last 6 months.

    During the period, the supermarket giant’s shares rallied 17.7%. At the time of writing, the Woolworths share price is situated at $40.71 apiece.

    Could there be more positive returns to come? Let’s recap what has been going on for the retail conglomerate to grasp the momentum.

    Woolworths’ fresh full-year result

    For the full year of the 2021 financial year, Woolworths performed exceptionally as sales grew and pandemic-related costs declined.

    In FY21, group sales for the company rose 5.7% to $67,278 million compared to the prior year. Part of this strong headline growth figure was the combination of performance from the Australian Food and Big W segments.

    Woolworths reported a group net profit after tax of $1,972 million before significant items, representing an increase of 22.9% on FY20. In addition, shareholders rejoiced in a bumped-up dividend of $1.08 per share for the year. This increase likely attracted some income investors, giving the Woolworths share price a boost.

    Despite the commendable result, it wasn’t enough to impress analysts at Credit Suisse. The broker maintained its underperform rating and slashed its price target to $31.02. In providing reasoning for its move, the broker noted that it struggles to stomach the high price multiples that Woolworths is trading on.

    Letting go of the baggage

    Another possible catalyst for the Woolworths share price over the past 6 months involves its successful demerger from its liquor business. Given growing ESG pressures, Woolworths had decided to separate its Endeavour Drinks business from its core operations.

    Many ESG funds filter out companies that promote the sale of alcohol. Having now removed that segment of the business, Woolworths has opened up the door to more potential investors.

    Additionally, the split came at a time when Woolworths had come under pressure following its proposal to construct a Dan Murphy’s development at the Darwin airport. Following an independent review, it was found that Woolworths had not done enough to adequately consult all stakeholders on the proposal.

    How does the Woolworths share price compare to Coles?

    Both Woolworths and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) have rewarded shareholders over the last 6 months. With regards to Coles, its share price has gained 14.5% during the period.

    Looking at the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios on both companies — Woolworths trades at ~33 times, while Coles is on a ~24 times multiple. While on paper Coles looks ‘cheaper’ compared to the Woolworths share price, the latter posted higher growth than the former.

    The post The Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price has gained 17% in the last 6 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woolworths Group right now?

    Before you consider Woolworths Group, 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 Woolworths Group wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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 wobbles as CEO calls for road-user reforms

    Photo from motorcycle rider's perspective looking at handlebars and road with green fields either side

    The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price is up and down today amid reports the company’s CEO is calling for Australian road users to face a per-kilometre charge.

    Transurban’s CEO Scott Charlton has reportedly claimed the take-up of electric cars has left a gap in the public purse normally filled by excise duties on fuel.

    Right now, the Transurban share price is trading down slightly at $14.36 after opening in the green.

    Let’s take a closer look at Charlton’s calls for a new road-use revenue model.

    CEO calls for per-kilometre fees

    The Transurban share price is in the green today. Meanwhile, Transurban’s CEO is reportedly calling road users to pay up for every kilometre they drive.

    According to reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald, Charlton is backing Infrastructure Australia’s latest 15-year plan, published this morning.  

    This time around, the body is worried Australians might soon be travelling double the kilometres while paying half the fuel excise they were 20 years ago.

    Infrastructure Australia is calling for a “fair pricing regime” to be implemented over the next 15 years.

    The regime may include distance-based road-use pricing reforms. The body states the reforms could be built on heavy vehicle initiatives and proposals from individual jurisdictions.

    Charlton is quoted by the publication as saying if Infrastructure Australia’s proposal was rolled out and successful, Transurban might look to run a similar scheme.

    Such a shift in direction could be something investors interested in the Transurban share price may want to keep an eye out for.

    The road ahead

    Government fuel excise currently sits at 42.7 cents per litre of petrol and diesel. It also adds 13.9 cents to each litre of LPG.

    While a proposal such as Infrastructure Australia’s may seem like a tough slog, it might have some merit.

    A Parliamentary briefing from 2016 stated Australia’s road revenue was decreasing. The drop was mainly due to more fuel-efficient, electric, and hybrid cars hitting the bitumen. At the time, the fuel excise made up 39% of Australia’s road revenue.

    However, as a result, the fuel excise unfairly targeted Australians without the financial means to upgrade their inefficient vehicles.

    Transurban share price snapshot

    The Transurban share price is currently 4% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 0.3% since this time last year.

    The company has a market capitalisation of around $39 billion.

    The post Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price wobbles as CEO calls for road-user reforms appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    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.

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