• This ASX 200 share delivered the highest share price gains this earnings season

    A boy is excited because he won the computer game.

    The ASX 200 share that delivered the highest share price gains this earnings season goes to… WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

    Why WiseTech topped the ASX 200 last month

    The WiseTech share price surged sky high on 25 August after the company released its FY21 results.

    It would rally as much as 58.7% to an all-time high of $57.31 before lunchtime, before closing 28.5% higher at $46.50.

    Perhaps what’s equally as impressive is the fact that WiseTech shares have managed to steadily grind higher post-earnings.

    Tuesday marked a record close for the company’s shares, lifting 5.73% to $48.34. That’s a cool 57% increase in August.

    The race for the best performance last month was close. We saw Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) lift 39% following its takeover offer from Square Inc (NASDAQ: SQ). And Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd. (ASX: DMP) ran 34% higher after an upbeat FY21 results announcement.

    How did WiseTech perform in FY21?

    WiseTech emerged as the best performing ASX 200 share this earnings season after its FY21 results topped its own expectations.

    Revenue increased 18% to $507.5 million, at the top end of its guidance range of $470 million to $510 million.

    Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 63% to $206.7 million, exceeding its guidance range of $165 million to $190 million.

    In addition, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) doubled to $105.8 million, while free cash flow also delivered a triple-digit increase of 149% to $139.2 million.

    WiseTech founder and CEO Richard White commented on the improving logistics market and tailwinds for the business.

    We have continued to see a ‘goods-led’ recovery in global trade resulting in tighter capacity, congestion and higher rates in global logistics channels. Whilst these higher rates do not translate into immediate revenue growth for WiseTech, we are benefiting from the acceleration of the longer-term structural changes that they are driving. In particular, we are seeing consolidation within the sector and increased investment in replacing legacy systems with integrated global technology, such as CargoWise, that drives productivity and facilitates planning, visualisation and control of global operations.

    WiseTech provided a positive outlook ahead, forecasting 18% to 25% revenue growth and 26% to 38% EBITDA growth for FY22.

    The post This ASX 200 share delivered the highest share price gains this earnings season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in WiseTech Global right now?

    Before you consider WiseTech Global, 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 WiseTech Global 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. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Square, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises 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 Imugene (ASX:IMU) share price is tumbling 7%

    a doctor with stethoscope around neck sits as a computer with head in hand, looking despondent.

    The Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU) share price is on the move on Wednesday morning.

    In early trade, the clinical stage immunooncology company’s shares were down 7% to 38.5 cents.

    The Imugene share price has now rebounded and is trading largely flat.

    Why is the Imugene share price bouncing around?

    Investors were selling down the Imugene share price despite the release of a positive announcement relating to its HER-Vaxx immunotherapy in HER-2 positive gastric cancer trial.

    The Phase 2 HER-Vaxx clinical trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immune response in metastatic gastric cancer overexpressing the HER-2 protein. Imugene’s study is randomised into two arms of either HER-Vaxx plus standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy or SOC chemotherapy alone.

    The primary endpoint is overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoint includes progression free survival (PFS) by independent central review.

    What’s the latest?

    According to the release, 36 patients have been enrolled and 24 have achieved a PFS event in this signal generating study. Imugene is still awaiting the events needed for OS evaluation and will subsequently analyse all data when available.

    In respect to its PFS data, while Imugene’s PFS hazard ratio was higher than the initial interim data from last year, it was comparable to the landmark Genentech/Roche registrational ToGA study. This study also examined the effect of Herceptin plus chemotherapy versus SOC chemotherapy alone in advanced HER-2 positive gastric cancer.

    Based on these results, Imugene now plans two further company sponsored Phase 2 studies and one Investigator Sponsored Study with HER-Vaxx in early and late stage gastric cancer. No details have been provided in regard to who is sponsoring one of the studies.

    Imugene’s Managing Director and CEO, Leslie Chong, commented: “We are encouraged by the PFS and anticipated primary OS clinical data to commence three new HER-Vaxx trials, to be called NextHERIZON, NeoHERIZON and NeuHERIZON, in early and late stage gastric cancer including combination with PD-1 and PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors. These studies will be conducted in the US, Australia and South Korea.”

    Why are its shares trading lower?

    The weakness in the Imugene share price today could be due to its higher hazard ratio or concerns over the costs the company will incur undertaking these new trials.

    Though, it is worth noting that the Imugene share price is still up almost 300% in 2021.

    The post Why the Imugene (ASX:IMU) share price is tumbling 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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

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  • Here’s why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is sinking today

    shadow of a man looking out a window with arrows signifying falling share price

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is falling on Wednesday.

    In morning trade, the conglomerate’s shares are down 3% to $58.16.

    Why is the Wesfarmers share price sinking?

    The good news is that the weakness in the Wesfarmers share price today has nothing to do with its operational performance or a broker note.

    Instead, the company’s shares are falling after trading ex-dividend this morning for its final dividend of FY 2021.

    What dividend is Wesfarmers paying?

    Last month Wesfarmers released its full year results and revealed a 10% increase in revenue to $33,941 million and a 16.2% lift in net profit after tax to $2,421 million.

    This allowed the Wesfarmers Board to declare a fully franked final dividend of 90 cents per share, which took its full year dividend to 178 cents per share.

    This morning Wesfarmers’ shares are trading ex-dividend for this final dividend. This means that new buyers of the company’s shares will not be entitled to the dividend when it is paid on 7 October. As a result, the Wesfarmers share price has dropped to reflect this.

    What else?

    Earlier this year Wesfarmers completed the demerger of the Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) business. This saw Wesfarmers shareholders receive shares in the drinks business.

    This morning the Endeavour share price is trading lower after it went ex-dividend as well. It is paying an inaugural final dividend of 7 cents per share to shareholders.

    This means that investors that held onto their Endeavour shares following the demerger can look forward to receiving both dividends in the coming weeks. The Endeavour dividend is being paid a little earlier than the Wesfarmers dividend on 22 September.

    But wait there’s more

    Investors that hold onto their Wesfarmers shares can also look forward to a potential return of capital of 200 cents per share.

    The Board-recommended distribution remains subject to shareholder approval at the 2021 Annual General Meeting on 21 October 2021. However, the market is expecting the vote to be a mere formality.

    If all goes to plan, Wesfarmers intends to pay this capital return on 2 December.

    The post Here’s why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is sinking 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 August 16th 2021

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

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  • The Blackmores (ASX:BKL) share price surged 35% in August to a 52-week high. Here’s why.

    Ansarada share price Businessman doing superman and rocketing into the sky

    The Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) share price just wrapped up an impressive month of trading. Shares in the Aussie supplements company are up 35.8% in the past month and sitting at a new 52-week high of $99.80 per share.

    The significant gains came late in the month following Blackmore’s results for the year ended 30 June 2021 (FY21).

    Blackmores share price surges 35% in August to 52-week high

    From Monday 2 August to Monday 23 August, shares in the natural health company climbed 4.1% higher. That’s not bad, but the real gains were yet to come.

    Blackmores reported its full-year results on August 26. The update was punctuated by a 51.7% surge in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $25.4 million. That came after Blackmores’ revenue increased by 1.3% on FY20 to $575.9 million despite a 14.0% decline in its Australian segment revenue.

    The Blackmores share price initially edged lower following the result before rocketing through to the end of August. The group also announced a 42 cents per share, fully franked dividend for FY21.

    Blackmores said it remains on track to achieve its strategic and financial objectives by FY24 as planned. The improved earnings profile, including strong China sales at a time of heightened trade tensions, was a particular positive.

    While shares in A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) and Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) have suffered due to Chinese restrictions, Blackmores reported a 17.7% increase in its China segment revenue for the year.

    Positively, Blackmores said the outlook for its international and China segments remain positive with significant momentum in the early part of FY22.

    The Blackmores share price ultimately surged in the days immediately before and after the results’ release. From Monday 23 August through to Tuesday’s close, shares in the supplements group rocketed 30.5% higher.

    That means the group’s shares climbed 35.8% higher in August and are now up 65.4% in the last 12 months.

    The post The Blackmores (ASX:BKL) share price surged 35% in August to a 52-week high. Here’s why. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Blackmores, 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 Blackmores 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 Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Blackmores Limited and Treasury Wine Estates Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk. 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 Brickworks (ASX:BKW) share price is now trading on a forecast 2.5% fully franked dividend yield

    A woman cheers in front of brick wall.

    The Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) share price has gained more than 35% since this time last year. This comes as the building products company continues to navigate its way around the COVID-19 pandemic.

    During Tuesday’s market session, Brickworks shares finished 2.12% higher to $24.10.

    Why is the Brickworks share price pushing higher?

    Investors are pushing the Brickworks share price up despite no market-sensitive news coming from the company since August.

    According to its last update, Brickworks noted that operations had been curtailed at a number of its facilities in New South Wales. This is due to the latest outbreak, which has affected brick sales by up to 80% in July.

    The partial recommencement of construction activity in August resulted in some improvement. Brick sales remained at 50% when compared to pre-lockdown levels. The knock-on effect is that its storage yards have reached capacity.

    The business update sent Brickworks shares south from the time of the release and in the following weeks.

    However, with vaccination rates accelerating across Sydney, the state government has signed a partial reopening of businesses. In turn, this would allow Brickworks to resume its operations and service the construction market.

    How much is Brickworks forecast to pay in dividends?

    With the company scheduled to report its full-year results on 23 September, investors may be wondering about the dividend payments.

    Brickworks paid a fully franked dividend of 21 cents per share in April for the first half of FY21. This was slightly above the 20 cents recorded in the prior corresponding period (1H FY20).

    Goldman Sachs is forecasting a total FY21 dividend payment of 61 cents, implying a 40 cents per share final dividend payment. This would give Brickworks a fully franked current dividend yield of 2.53%. Not a bad return when including the strong Brickworks share price rise.

    It’s worth noting that the company has either maintained or increased its dividend payments consistently over the last 45 years.

    Brickworks has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.60 and commands a market capitalisation of roughly $3.6 billion.

    The post The Brickworks (ASX:BKW) share price is now trading on a forecast 2.5% fully franked dividend yield appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Brickworks, 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 Brickworks 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 owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks. 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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  • BHP (ASX:BHP) share price history: The major highlights (and low points)

    A man leaps as high as he can over his friends into a pool.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is an ASX staple.

    To many, it may be the epitome of an Australian share. Focused on iron ore and, until recently, gas and oil production, the blue chip has been a core stock on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for years.

    BHP’s stock finished yesterday’s session trading at $46.61. But when was the best time to buy into the resource company?

    Let’s take a look at the highs and lows of the BHP share price.

    The BHP share price’s best, and worst, days on the ASX

    Highest highs

    On 4 August 2021, the BHP share price hit its highest closing price ever when the company’s shares finished the day at $54.06.

    That day, the price of iron ore was lifting for the first time after a considerable slide. Additionally, as The Motley Fool reported at the time, some brokers had touted BHP’s interest in offloading its oil and gas assets as a good omen.

    Prior to the last 12 months, the BHP share price’s highest close occurred on 3 July 2019 and it was – you guessed it – spurred by rallying iron ore prices.

    Believe it or not, back then we reported the price of iron ore had hit a multiyear high of US$120 a tonne.

    Since then, demand for the steel-making ingredient has surged and is still trading well above ‘normal’ levels. Right now, a buyer can get their hands on a tonne of iron ore for US$158.58.

    Lowest lows

    The lowest close the BHP share price has experienced in the last 10 years saw it finishing the day at $14.21.

    That was on 20 January 2016, following the release of BHP’s half-year operational report.

    In the report, BHP noted its production of coal, oil, and copper had each dropped. It also downgraded its full-year iron ore production. Not to mention, it had struggled against weak oil prices through the first half of 2016.

    The fateful report saw the BHP share price hit a 10-year low, which has turned out to be its lowest point since.

    BHP’s lowest close in recent times occurred in the midst of the COVID-19-induced recession. On 16 March 2020, the ASX 200 Index crashed 6% on open. As we reported at the time, many blue chip stocks were hit hard, and BHP didn’t escape the carnage.

    The BHP share price finished that day at $25.20.

    The miner’s shares have since made up ground to the current price of $46.61.

    The post BHP (ASX:BHP) share price history: The major highlights (and low points) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BHP 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 BHP 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 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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  • August was a great month for the Xero (ASX:XRO) share price

    A hand hovers over a laptopn sparkling with tech symbols, indicating ASX technology shares

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price was on form again in August.

    During the month, the cloud-based accounting platform provider’s shares rose 8.2% to $151.82.

    This means the Xero share price is now trading within sight of its record high of $157.99.

    Why did the Xero share price outperform in August?

    The Xero share price outperformance in August appears to have been driven by a positive reaction to the launch of its app store.

    Last month the company launched the Xero App Store across the ANZ and UK markets. This is part of the company’s plan to streamline and simplify access to the ~1,000 apps currently available in its ecosystem.

    This App Store has a similar model to the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It charges a 15% fee for app subscriptions purchased through it store.

    What was the reaction?

    The team at Goldman Sachs were pleased with the move. They have long spoken about the significant growth opportunity the company has if it can successfully monetise its app ecosystem.

    As a result, the broker has retained its buy rating and $165.00 price target.

    Based on the latest Xero share price, this implies potential upside of 8.7% over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Goldman said: “We see this as a positive step from Xero, which is increasingly focused on monetizing its strong market positions within the ANZ and UK markets, with the incremental revenues used to accelerate its ongoing global expansion.”

    “We previously outlined our belief that a 10-15% app-store fee was possible for Xero, given this would provide consistency across the Xero app developers to incentivize continued investment, while being comparable to a number of digital marketplaces globally who have app fees ranging from 12% (Epic Games) to 30% (Apple, Google, Steam, etc).”

    “Although the quantum of app attachment rates is uncertain, we estimated that a 15% app store fee could open up an incremental NZ$1.4bn of TAM, with these earnings likely to be 100% margin,” it added.

    This latest gain means the Xero share price is now up 55% over the last 12 months. However, Goldman appears to believe there’s still more to come.

    The post August was a great month for the Xero (ASX:XRO) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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  • These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in August

    group of friends jump on the beach

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again in August and recorded its 11th consecutive month of gains. The benchmark index rose 1.9% to end the period at 7,534.9 points.

    While a good number of ASX 200 shares climbed higher last month, some climbed more than most. Here’s why these were the best performing ASX 200 shares in August:

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

    The WiseTech share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in August with a whopping 57% gain. The main driver of this gain was the release of a stronger than expected full year result for FY 2021. For the 12 months ended 30 June, the logistics solutions company delivered an 18% increase in revenue to $507.5 million and a 63% jump in EBITDA to $206.7 million. This was in line with its revenue guidance of $470 million to $510 million and well ahead of its EBITDA guidance of $165 million to $190 million. Pleasingly, more of the same is expected in FY 2022. Management has provided EBITDA guidance of 26% to 38% growth.

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    The Afterpay share price wasn’t too far behind with a gain of 39.2% over the month. Investors were buying the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares after it received a $39 billion takeover proposal from US payments giant Square. The Afterpay Board is recommending investors accept the offer of 0.375 shares of Square Class A common stock for each Afterpay share they hold. On the day of the offer, this implied a transaction price of approximately $126.21 per Afterpay share.

    Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL)

    The Blackmores share price was on form last month and recorded a 37.4% gain over the period. Investors were buying the health supplements company’s shares following the release of its full year results. For the 12 months ended 30 June, Blackmores reported a 1.3% increase in revenue to $575.9 million and a 51.7% jump in underlying net profit after tax to $25.4 million.

    Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV)

    The Clinuvel share price was a strong performer in August, rising a sizeable 35.6%. The catalyst for this was the biopharmaceutical company’s full year results for FY 2021. For the 12 months ended 30 June, Clinuvel reported a 43% increase in revenue to $48.5 million and a 63.5% jump in net profit after tax to $24.7 million. This went down well with analysts at Jefferies. In response, the broker upgraded the company’s shares to a buy rating with a $36.80 price target.

    The post These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in August appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor 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 AFTERPAY T FPO and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Blackmores Limited, and WiseTech Global. 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 Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price is down in the last 3 months

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

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has been surging higher in the last 12 months. Shares in the Aussie bank are up 51.4% over that time and outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by a significant margin.

    However, investors looking a little more closely would see the last 3 months haven’t been so good. Since the start of June, the Westpac share price is down 1.5% to $25.82 per share.

    Here’s what’s weighing on the ASX bank share at the moment.

    Why the Westpac share price is down in the last 3 months

    It’s certainly not all doom and gloom for shareholders right now. In fact, the main share price declines came in a one-month period from June 22 to July 20. The Westpac share price fell 7.9% lower in that time to hit its lowest point since March 2021.

    Shares in the Aussie bank slipped lower after an update on its New Zealand operations. Westpac advised that it would hang onto its Westpac New Zealand business after a review of the business and its fit within the broader group.

    That was a period that coincided with some big announcements from the bank. Among those, there was the 2 July announcement that Westpac had uncovered a potential fraud.

    The Aussie bank commenced proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Forum Finance after discovering a “significant potential fraud”. Westpac reported a potential exposure of around $200 million after tax from the alleged fraud.

    The Westpac share price was again in focus after announcing it would pay $87 million in compensation after failing to provide necessary information to customers.

    Finally, Westpac also announced the sale of its Westpac Life NZ business to Fidelity Life Insurance for $373 million while selling its general insurance business to Allianz in July.

    Foolish takeaway

    That June/July period was a busy one for the bank. The Westpac share price slipped lower before rebounding strongly in August.

    All in all, the ASX bank share is up 31.5% in 2021 and outperforming the ASX 200.

    The post Here’s why the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price is down in the last 3 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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  • These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in August

    asx share price falling lower represented by investor wearing paper bag on head with sad face

    It was another good month for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in August. The benchmark index recorded its 11th consecutive monthly gain with a 1.9% rise to 7,534.9 points.

    Unfortunately, not all ASX 200 shares climbed higher with the market last month. Here’s why these were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in August:

    Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

    The Champion Iron share price was the worst performer in August with a decline of 22.5%. Investors were selling the Canadian iron ore producer’s shares after the price of the steel making ingredient dropped materially. Concerns over steel production curbs in China and rising supply have been weighing on prices.

    Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO)

    The Rio Tinto share price was out of form last month and tumbled 16% lower over the period. There were a couple of catalysts for this share price decline. One was the aforementioned weakness in the iron ore price, the other was the mining giant’s shares going ex-dividend in August for its interim and special dividends. Rio Tinto is paying its shareholders fully franked dividends totalling 760.06 cents per share. This comprises an interim dividend of 509.42 cents per share and a special dividend of 250.64 cents per share.

    Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

    The Fortescue share price wasn’t far behind with a decline of 15.7% in August. Once again, weakness in the iron ore price and a widening discount for low grade ore weighed on its shares. In addition to this, the mining giant was the subject of a number of bearish broker notes. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Morgans all have the equivalent of sells ratings on the mining giant’s shares.

    Boral Limited (ASX: BLD)

    The Boral share price was out of form and sank 15% over the month. This building products company’s shares have been on a downward trajectory since Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) completed its takeover bid with a holding of ~70%. In addition, Boral’s full year results fell short of expectations last month. It also revealed that the quarterly impact of lockdowns will be ~$50 million.

    The post These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in August 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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