• Origin (ASX:ORG) share price falls as climate goals put to shareholder vote

    asx share price vote represented by lots of hands up in the air

    Following a strong start to the week, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is slipping in late afternoon trading. This is its second consecutive day of losses.

    The Origin share price is down 1.84% at the time of writing, leaving shares flat for the full week.

    Shareholders to vote on climate change reporting

    This morning, in an ASX release unlikely related to Origin’s share price sliding today, the energy company revealed it will submit its climate change reporting for a shareholder advisory vote. That vote will occur at its 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

    Commenting on the upcoming vote, Origin’s chairman Scott Perkins said:

    The non-binding, advisory vote will complement the continuing conversations we are having with our shareholders and stakeholders about the risks and opportunities climate change presents for the business.

    Origin is looking to reduce carbon emissions across Australia’s economy by delivering clean energy and technology solutions.

    “Origin has been planning for a low carbon future for a long time and has included climate strategy, climate change risk, and scenario analysis in our reporting for many years,” Perkins said.

    “In addition, Origin continues to progress work on the development of more ambitious emissions reduction targets consistent with a 1.5-degree pathway.”

    According to the release, in 2017, Origin became the first Aussie company to set science-based targets to cut its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% by 2032.

    The company also adopted measures to lower its Scope 3 emissions by 25% over the same timeframe.

    To achieve these goals, the company has added additional solar and wind power generation. It reports that renewables currently account for almost 20% of its owned and contracted generation capacity.

    With longer-term ambitions to be net zero emissions by 2050, Origin reiterated its intent to close its last remaining coal-fired power station in or before 2032.

    Origin share price snapshot

    The Origin share price has been on a bit of a rollercoaster this past full year.

    With more downs than ups, the Origin share price has lost 26% over the past 12 months. This compares to a gain of 24% on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Year to date, the Origin share price has continued to struggle, down 11.7% in 2021.

    The post Origin (ASX:ORG) share price falls as climate goals put to shareholder vote 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

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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 has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • If you invested $1000 in CSL (ASX:CSL) shares a decade ago, this is how much they would be worth now

    man laying on his couch with bundles of money and extremely ecstatic about high dividend returns

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has been a major ASX winner over the past decade. Plus, it’s got the results to prove it.

    Whereas the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained 83% over the past 10 years, CSL shareholders have enjoyed far healthier gains.

    We’ve done the math to show you the possible benefits of long-term investing, using CSL as a case example.

    Invest with a long-term horizon in mind

    Biotechnology player CSL has been in the vaccines market for more than 25 years. Since listing in 1994, its shares have exhibited tremendous long-term capital appreciation.

    Imagine we are a prudent investor with a long-term forward way of thinking. Next, imagine we invested $1,000 in CSL shares at the closing price of $28.39 per share back on 5 August 2011. That’s roughly 35 shares.

    The first way we need to examine our return is to calculate the capital gains on our shares. In doing so we realise a return on investment of 943%, which is quite handy given the broad index’s return.

    CSL share price over last 10 years — now

    Source: The Motley Fool

    That implies our original position is now worth approximately $9,430. However, that ignores one half of the equation. We also need to factor in the effect of CSL’s dividend, in order to assess our total return.

    The effect of CSL’s dividend

    Over the course of our examination period, CSL has returned $17.90 per share to shareholders by way of its dividend.

    CSL has grown its dividend payment at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% since 2011.

    However, taking out the significant down-step in 2021, it has grown its dividend at a CAGR of approximately 14% over the same period.

    CSL dividend history

    Source: The Motley Fool

    Adding in CSL’s dividend schedule, our total return mushrooms to more than 1005% over the previous 10-year period. This implies our position is now worth $10,056.

    Some very interesting outcomes arrive when we make a few tweaks to our calculations. Let’s assume we reinvested the dividends received to buy more CSL shares along the way.

    Harnessing the value of this dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) yields a total return of 1,124% on our original investment.

    Therefore, it suggests long-term investing can have tremendous payoffs, if done correctly.

    Foolish takeaway

    Several things to always remember when investing.

    First, long-term investing can work. While past returns are no guarantee of future performance, the ASX 200 has risen 83% over the past 10 years. 

    Second, always complete due diligence and the necessary research before allocating hard-earned capital. Finally, risk management is paramount. Maintaining an investment with conviction over a long-term horizon can be a winning formula, as evidenced through the case of CSL shares.

    The post If you invested $1000 in CSL (ASX:CSL) shares a decade ago, this is how much they would be worth now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider CSL , you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CSL wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

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

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  • Why the EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) share price has soared 50% in a month

    Woman attached to rocket flies into air

    The EcoGraf Ltd (ASX: EGR) share price is racing to a 5-month high despite no news being released by the company today.

    At the time of writing, EcoGraf shares are up 7.51% to 93 cents. This means that the graphite producer’s share price has rocketed to more than 50% in the space of a month.

    Let’s take a quick recap of the events that have led to the company’s shares pushing higher.

    Expanded market presence

    In its most recent update provided to the ASX, EcoGraf advised it had signed a land reservation agreement in Sweden.

    Essentially, this allows EcoGraf to secure the 65,000-kilometre industrial site, while it evaluates the feasibility to build a battery anode materials facility. The company previously explored a number of sites across Europe, including Germany.

    Located in the Vasterbotten region, Sweden, the area is said to benefit from ample clean and renewable energy. In addition, it is considered to have the lowest industrial power costs in all of Europe.

    Quarterly results

    The week prior to the land reservation announcement, EcoGraf reported its fourth quarter results to the ASX.

    Over the 3-month period, the company revealed that it spent $553,000 in operating activities. This was made up of exploration programs, staffing expenses, as well as administration and corporate costs.

    Pleasingly, EcoGraf received a total of $374,000 of government grants and tax incentives.

    At the end of the quarter, the company had a healthy cash balance of $52.6 million.

    Funding update

    In that same week of releasing its activities statement, EcoGraf provided an update on its funding facilities. It noted that the Australian Government’s export credit agency is set to lend the company US$35 million. EcoGraf will use these funds to build its battery anode material facility in Western Australia.

    EcoGraf share price snapshot

    Over the last 12 months, EcoGraf shares have rocketed 1,229% higher, with year-to-date up almost 447%. The company’s share price reached a 52-week high of $1.10 in February before profit takers swooped in.

    EcoGraf presides a market capitalisation of roughly $416 million, with approximately 450 million shares on its registry.

    The post Why the EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) share price has soared 50% in a month 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia 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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  • Netflix’s subscriber growth is predicted to accelerate through 2025

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

    woman watching netflix on her phone

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

    Investor fears about Netflix‘s (NASDAQ: NFLX) future subscriber growth are very real. After a monster year in 2020, the company added just 5.5 million members in the first six months of this year. And the stock, a big outperformer over the last decade, is up only 4% in the past 12 months. 

    But forecasts from MoffettNathanson, a research firm, indicate user growth is actually going to accelerate over the next five years. Netflix bulls, rejoice. It appears that the streaming entertainment pioneer’s expansion days are far from over. 

    A global opportunity 

    Netflix is certainly dealing with a hangover after its performance in 2020. In the most recent quarter, the business lost 430,000 customers in the lucrative UCAN (U.S. and Canada) region, something that hasn’t happened in two years. Concerns about saturation domestically, particularly with increased competition from the vast number of new services out there, mean future gains will probably come from overseas markets. 

    Based on MoffettNathanson’s projections, Netflix will add 30 million subscribers next year after it adds 20 million in 2021. And the growth will accelerate. Through 2025, Netflix could see its total membership count exceed 360 million, a huge surge from the 209 million it currently has. 

    Of the $7.3 billion in revenue Netflix generated in the second quarter, 55% was derived outside the U.S. and Canada, a figure that has been steadily rising over the years. Excluding UCAN, 2 million subscribers joined the service in the three-month period. And most of the future expansion for Netflix will come specifically from Asia (but not China, where the service isn’t available). 

    This is definitely not a surprise. Co-CEO Reed Hastings previously mentioned that India could produce 100 million customers over time. A country with nearly 1.4 billion people that could have 900 million internet users by 2025 is a massive opportunity. Netflix launched a low-cost mobile-only plan there in 2019 and will spend even more than the $400 million it spent in 2019 and 2020 to produce 40 local shows and movies over the coming year. 

    Japan is also important for Netflix’s ambitions in Asia. Media Partners Asia, a consultancy, believes that the country will become the largest revenue generator in the Asia-Pacific region for the company this year, surpassing Australia. Netflix’s ability and willingness to produce high-quality, local-language content is propelling it in markets far from home. 

    Investors worried about recent slowing membership growth need to consider the remarkable potential overseas. Not only is Netflix focusing on productions tailor-made to a specific geography, but some of its hits, like the Spanish series Money Heist, have universal appeal. Compelling stories transcend borders and language barriers, something Netflix is banking on as it looks toward the future. 

    What’s this mean for investors? 

    Let’s be clear: Wall Street firms often make forecasts that end up being wildly incorrect. What happens with Netflix’s subscriber numbers is really just a guess. What does seem apparent with each passing quarter is that growth outside UCAN will be key to it becoming a truly global media business. 

    I hope I’ve relieved some concerns about Netflix’s prospects. As previously mentioned, the stock has been a dud since last summer. Shrewd investors could take this chance to dig deeper on it and consider buying shares. 

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

    The post Netflix’s subscriber growth is predicted to accelerate through 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Netflix, 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 Netflix 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

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    Neil Patel 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 Netflix. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Netflix. 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.

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  • Why the Kogan (ASX:KGN) share price is soaring 10% this week

    Cheering woman shopping online with credit card

    Shares in Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) are soaring this week despite no news being released by the online retailer.

    The Kogan share price is currently trading at $11.41 apiece. That’s almost 10% higher than it was at last Friday’s close.

    Historically, Kogan has been a COVID-19 winner. With lockdowns currently ongoing in Australia’s 3 most populated states, could the market be expecting Kogan’s profits to spike once more?

    Let’s take a closer look at what might be driving Kogan on the ASX.

    COVID-19 winner?

    The Kogan share price is rallying this week, and while it’s not gaining with the same intensity it did in March 2020, this latest lift may be happening for the same reasons.

    Kogan shares started 2020 trading at $7.47. They slumped in the March COVID-19 market meltdown but, by the end of the 2020 financial year, had bounced up to $13.91. The upward trajectory didn’t stop there either, with the Kogan share price hitting a 52-week high of $25.57 in October.

    Back then, Kogan’s gains were spurred by a series of record sales. There’s no news of the same right now.

    However, Victoria last night joined Sydney and Southeast Queensland in locking down against the Delta variant.

    Past lockdowns have spurred a switch in consumer retail habits from traditional brick-and-mortar to online shopping. As Kogan is the self-proclaimed largest online retailer in the country, investors might be rallying in case these lockdowns extend beyond their estimated endpoints.

    Additionally, the company recently reported that it had solved inventory issues plaguing the Kogan share price.

    That might also help to remove the brake on Kogan’s shares.

    Kogan share price snapshot

    Even with this week’s uptick, the Kogan share price is well below its golden days.

    It has slipped 41% since the start of 2021 and is 39% lower than it was this time last year.

    The company has a market capitalisation of around $1.1 billion, with approximately 106 million shares outstanding.

    The post Why the Kogan (ASX:KGN) share price is soaring 10% this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Kogan, 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 Kogan 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

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

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  • Here are the top movers in the ASX 300 today

    Five stacked building blocks with green arrows, indicating rising inflation or share prices

    The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is flat today, despite some strong movers amongst the more popular companies.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 300 is up 0.03% to 7,507 points.

    It’s worth noting that the index hit a record high of 7,519 points yesterday.

    Let’s take a look at which top ASX 300 shares are picking up steam during mid-afternoon trade.

    Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

    The first major mover in the ASX 300 is none other than Vulcan Energy. So far, this lithium company is continuing its positive run, surging 15.77% higher to $13.29. That means Vulcan Energy shares are now up 30% over the past week.

    The company announced a 5-year partnership with major automobile manufacturer, Renault on Monday. In addition, Vulcan Energy also stated that its Zero Carbon Lithium project achieved a negative carbon footprint.

    Z Energy Ltd (ASX: ZEL)

    Another ASX 300 mover today is New Zealand-based fuel retailer, Z Energy, climbing 6% to $2.92. This comes despite the company not releasing any news today.

    Z Energy’s last price sensitive announcement came back in late May regarding an agreement to an in-principal deal with The New Zealand Refining Company on import terminal conversion.

    It appears investors are buoyant on the ASX 300 company’s share price, sending it 13% higher over the month.

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    Next up, the ASX 300 darling, Afterpay. The buy now, pay later (BNPL) giant is up 4.97% to $131.48.

    Afterpay shares have been on the move this week following a takeover offer from Square Inc (NYSE: SQ) for $39 billion. As the United States payment company surged overnight, so too has Afterpay today.

    Since 2 August, Afterpay shares have risen 14%, reflecting upbeat investor sentiment that the deal will go through. The Afterpay board unanimously voted in favour of the transaction.

    The post Here are the top movers in the ASX 300 today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in right now?

    Before you consider , 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 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 Aaron Teboneras 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. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T 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 ASX 200 lithium shares are charging higher on Friday

    asx share price increase represented by golden dollar sign rocketing out from white domes of lithium

    The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) lithium shares are top performers on Friday following a solid session for the lithium sector overnight.

    The largest ASX 200 lithium miners Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY)Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) are retesting all-time highs again, up 2.31%, 2.48% and 2.41% respectively.

    Why ASX 200 lithium shares running higher

    The broader lithium and renewables sector is a hot space right now with no shortage of positive news.

    On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order with hopes of making at least half of all new vehicles sold in 2023 electric, according to Reuters.

    “The 50% target, which is not legally binding, won the support of U.S. and foreign automakers, which said that achieving it would require billions of dollars in government funding.”

    Reuters quoted statements from major US automakers, with General Motors commenting it “aspires to end sales of new U.S gasoline-powered light duty vehicles by 2035” and Ford saying it plans “at least 40% of our global vehicle volume being all-electric by 2030.”

    Many ASX 200 lithium shares have been calling out global electric vehicle adoption as a catalyst to drive a lithium demand surge.

    Galaxy’s capital raising presentation back in November cited that “global EV sales [are] forecast to grow as high as 30% CAGR in the next decade” and also anticipated “robust demand for lithium in the mid-long term.

    More recently, Pilbara Minerals set up an auction for 10,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of lithium spodumene concentrate on its Battery Material Exchange platform.

    The company said that it received 62 online bids ranging from US$700/dmt to US$1,250/dmt free on board (FOB) during the three-hour auction window.

    Pilbara Minerals accepted the highest bid of US$1,250/dmt.

    By comparison, Pilbara Minerals said that spodumene prices were fetching between US$700 to US$975/dmt back in June this year.

    Encouragingly, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) reported more than 200,000 vehicle sales during its second quarter results last week. The figure represents a 121% year-on-year increase, helping the company surpass US$1 billion in net income for the first time on record.

    The post Why ASX 200 lithium shares are charging higher on Friday 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

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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 Tesla. 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 Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price is down 11% in the last 2 months

    barrel of oil sitting on top of falling red arrow representing asx energy shares downgrade

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price has faced headwinds over the year to date. Over the last 2 months, Woodside shares have slipped around 10% into the red.

    Whereas the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for instance, has spent the entire year in the green.

    Here we uncover some of the pressures Woodside shares have faced over the last few months.

    Conservation report findings

    Back in early June, the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) released its report on Woodside’s Scarborough project.

    In it, the CCWA said the project will have significant adverse impacts on WA’s environment and World Heritage sites.

    For instance, it projects that Scarborough will produce as much greenhouse gas as 15 coal fired power stations, and will expand WA’s emissions by approximately 5%.

    As a result, the CWWA has commenced court proceedings through the WA Supreme Court, in order to overturn the approvals granted at Scarborough.

    The Woodside Petroleum share price has slipped around 10% into the red following this announcement.

    Corrections and volatility in the price of oil

    Woodside’s share price seemed to make a small recovery on the charts in the short time after the CWWA report was released.

    However, in mid-June, the price of US Brent oil made a price correction back down from its soaring 2-year highs.

    Recent strength in the US dollar has led to a cooling effect in the oil markets, as US monetary policy continues to remain in the spotlight.

    The entire ASX-listed oil basket slipped into the red on the back of oil’s price correction. Given Woodside’s exposure to three offshore oil assets in Australia, it was a major under-performer during the back end of June.

    Following the volatility of oil spot prices, Woodside shares sunk 8.5% into the red, reaching a low of $22.21.

    In contrast, when the price of oil made its run back up to 3-year highs towards the beginning of July, the Woodside share price had climbed back up a further 8.5%, signifying the correlation between the two securities.

    Exhibit 1. Woodside share price: Observe the Volatility From 4 June 2021 – Today

    Source: Google Finance

    As the saying goes, history doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. Alas, as we walked through the final stages of the second quarter, the price of black gold tumbled again, and Woodside shares tanked once more.

    From their last peak in early July, Woodside shares have since fallen a further 9.5% to today’s trading.

    Production updates didn’t go down well

    Woodside also reported a 4% sequential decline from the quarter prior in its activities report back in July.

    The decrease was put down to scheduled maintenance and the impact of adverse weather events.

    On the contrary, Woodside realised a 15% quarter on quarter rise in its sales revenue to $1.285 billion. This boiled down to a 9% increase in delivered sales volume.

    Despite hot oil markets and above-market realised oil prices, this wasn’t enough to sway investor sentiment. Woodside shares have edged around 6% lower since the announcement.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Woodside share price has been on the back end of several headwinds over the past few months.

    These headwinds have undoubtedly carried through until today, where the company’s shares have lagged the broad index’s return.

    Despite the volatility this year, Woodside shares are still up 6.5% over the past year.

    The post Here’s why the Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price is down 11% in the last 2 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These 5 Cheap Shares Could Be Set For Huge Gains (FREE REPORT)

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can find out the names of these stocks in the FREE stock report.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of February 15th 2021

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    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 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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  • Why BHP, Northern Star, REA, & ResMed shares are dropping

    white arrow dropping down

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up slightly to 7,515.1 points.

    Four ASX shares that are acting as a drag on the market today are listed below. Here’s why they are tumbling:

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

    The BHP share price is down 2.5% to $51.84. This follows a pullback in iron ore prices overnight. According to CommSec, the spot iron ore price tumbled US$13.10 a tonne or 7.2% to US$170.05 a tonne. This was driven by concerns that Chinese regulators will increase production limits on steel producers.

    Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

    The Northern Star share price is down 3% to $9.97. This appears to have been driven by a decline in the gold price overnight. Traders were selling the precious metal amid fears the US Fed will begin tapering its asset purchases later this year. Northern Star isn’t the only gold miner falling today. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is down 1.9%.

    REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

    The REA share price is down 5% to $158.87. Investors have been selling the property listings company’s shares following the release of its full year result. For the 12 months ended 30 June, REA posted a 13% increase in revenue to $928 million and an 18% jump in net profit to $318 million. While this was in line with the market’s expectations, its outlook commentary may have spooked investors. Management revealed that listing volumes were down year on year in July due to lockdowns.

    ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

    The ResMed share price is down 1% to $36.78. This follows the release of the sleep treatment company’s full year result this morning. According to the release, ResMed reported an 8% increase in full year revenue to US$3.2 billion and a 13% jump in non-GAAP net income to US$780.6 million. Once again, this was in line with the market’s expectations. Investors may be slightly underwhelmed with management’s guidance for steady growth in FY 2022.

    The post Why BHP, Northern Star, REA, & ResMed shares are dropping 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 recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended REA Group Limited and ResMed Inc. 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 Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price perform during lockdowns?

    A man holds his baby on his lap at the dining room table while he looks at his laptop screen earnestly.

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is surging to record highs today, touching a milestone of $63.75 in morning trading.

    At the same time, more than 15 million Australians are today in some form of COVID-related lockdown.

    Wesfarmers is a retail conglomerate that operates household banners including Bunnings, K-Mart, Officeworks, Target and online retailer Catch.

    Depending on individual state governments, most of these retail businesses are classified as consumer staples.

    With many people forced to work or learn from home, could these outlets see a surge in consumer demand?

    It’s likely that prudent investors will be asking whether there is a correlation between the Wesfarmers share price and lockdowns.

    Does lockdown impact Wesfarmers shares?

    Australians have been through a myriad of lockdowns since the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off in March last year.

    Like most companies on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), the Wesfarmers share price was pummelled during the initial nationwide lockdown in 2020, plummeting to a low of $32.25 on 27 March.

    In August 2020, Victoria declared a ‘state of emergency’ as COVID-19 cases rocked the state.

    By this time, the Wesfarmers share price had recovered strongly and was nudging record highs around $48.  

    Fast-forward to 2021 and the COVID-19 outbreak during mid-June in New South Wales.

    The Wesfarmers share price bolted more than 11% after the state announced stay-at-home orders.

    However, this does not mean there’s a direct correlation between lockdowns and the Wesfarmers share price.

    In its recent strategy update, Wesfarmers management noted that retail and online sales experienced a boom in spending. Particularly in hardware, homeware and technology.

    However, the retail conglomerate also noted that sales would come under pressure the longer lockdowns persisted.

    What else has been fueling the Wesfarmers share price?

    The Wesfarmers share price also appears to have been boosted by the company’s renewed strategy.

    The conglomerate is focused on investing in new growth platforms and selling unwanted assets.

    Over the next 12 to 24 months, Wesfarmers plans to invest an additional $100 million in developing a market-leading data and digital retail ecosystem.

     In addition, Wesfarmers has also made its intentions clear about expanding into the beauty and pharmaceutical sector. This was illustrated by the company’s $687 million offer for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API).

    Many investors will tune in to the August reporting season for greater insight into how Wesfarmers has performed over the past financial year.

    Wesfarmers is slated to report its earnings on Friday 27 August.

    The post How does the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price perform during lockdowns? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    Motley Fool contributor Nikhil Gangaram has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia 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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