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

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

At Tuesday’s prices, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is up more than 700% in the past year, and 13,500% in the past five years. Those are life-changing returns — and some analysts still see big gains on the horizon.

For instance, investment bank JPMorgan Chase said Bitcoin’s price could hit $146,000, a massive increase from today’s prices around $58,000. More recently, Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood explained how its price could climb to over $400,000. In other words, there’s still time for investors to cash in on cryptocurrency.

Here are three reasons Bitcoin could double your money (and more).

1. Bitcoin is powered by blockchain

Blockchain is the ingenious recordkeeping system behind decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. To understand why that matters, it’s necessary to know how mining works.

As Bitcoin transactions occur, they are grouped into blocks. These blocks are secured by cryptography (i.e. complex math problems) — specifically, all data within a block is run through a cryptographic hash function, which generates a unique signature for that block. Notably, each block’s signature is added to the subsequent block, allowing them to be linked in chronological order.

Miners use expensive hardware to solve these complex math problems. Once they find a solution, it is verified by all other nodes (computers) on the network, and then the validated block is added to the blockchain.

This process is important for two reasons: First, when miners successfully solve the cryptographic puzzles, they are awarded Bitcoin as compensation — and this is the only way Bitcoin can be created. Second, by validating blocks and adding them to the blockchain, miners create a ledger of all past transactions.

In other words, Bitcoin does not need to be (and cannot be) controlled by any central authority. There is no need for a central bank to issue new currency or keep records because the network takes care of both by itself. This system is not only efficient, but it’s also very secure.

If anyone attempted to alter information within an existing block (i.e. fabricate new Bitcoin), it would alter the output of the cryptographic hash function, changing the block’s signature. That means the new signature would no longer match the signature incorporated into the subsequent block.

As a result, the network would recognize the fraudulent change and reject it, reverting to its original state. In fact, in order to successfully hack the Bitcoin blockchain, an individual would need to control at least 51% of all computing power on the network. That’s virtually impossible.

So here’s the takeaway: Blockchain is a highly secure and self-governing database, both valuable qualities in a financial system.

2. Bitcoin benefits from scarcity

The supply of Bitcoin is limited to 21 million tokens. That’s because every 210,000 blocks, the mining reward is cut in half. Currently, miners receive 6.25 Bitcoin for adding a block to the blockchain, but eventually, that figure will drop to zero. After that, miners will only earn transaction fees.

The idea of scarcity may sound trivial, but it’s actually critical to Bitcoin’s long-term value. According to economic theory, supply and price are inversely related. So if supply rises to infinity, the price should fall to zero — that’s the problem with cryptocurrencies that have no supply limits. But if supply is held constant, the price will rise as demand increases, or fall as demand drops.

As a practical example, assets like gold have value because they exist in limited supply. Bitcoin has been called digital gold because it benefits from the same economic principles.

3. Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency

Bitcoin was the first digital currency, and it remains the most popular. In fact, the combined value of all Bitcoin in circulation is now roughly $1.1 trillion — more than four times that of second-place Ether. More to the point, its real-world utility is improving.

Fintechs like Square and PayPal now allow consumers to trade Bitcoin, and PayPal recently launched Checkout with Crypto, making it possible to fund purchases with Bitcoin. Likewise, Mastercard and Visa have launched crypto payment cards, which serve a similar purpose.

These products make one thing clear: Cryptocurrency is gaining popularity. And Bitcoin — the first and largest cryptocurrency — has an advantage over the rest. Going forward, as more payment processors and merchants accept digital currencies, Bitcoin is virtually guaranteed to be their first choice, which should perpetuate its popularity and drive demand.

A final word

Investors should remember Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset. In fact, it has lost over half its value several times over the last decade. For instance, between December 2017 and December 2018, the price of a token fell more than 80% — and it’s possible (perhaps even likely) that a similar event will occur again.

However, for investors who can tolerate that type of risk and volatility, Bitcoin could be a rewarding long-term investment.

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Trevor Jennewine owns shares of Mastercard, PayPal Holdings, Square, and Visa. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Bitcoin, Mastercard, PayPal Holdings, Square, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2022 $75.0 calls on PayPal Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

More reading

• Bitcoin price mania spreads as Ether price hits record highs
• What’s driving the Bitcoin price back towards new record highs?
• Goldman Sachs plans to let wealthy clients invest in Bitcoin
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: ASX 200 gets its mojo back
• Did the Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) price fly too high too fast?

Trevor Jennewine owns shares of Mastercard, PayPal Holdings, Square, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Bitcoin. 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.

The post 3 reasons Bitcoin could double your money (and more) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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The Jatcorp Ltd (ASX: JAT) share price was up 11% over lunch today after the company received approval from China to sell its newly developed skincare product.

However, the Jatcorp share price has since lost much of that ground and is up 3.7% trading at 2.8 cents at the time of writing.

Jatcorp share price higher on Chinese approval 

Jatcorp has been busy making a pivot into new lines of business alongside its traditional infant formula segment. This is in response to a new COVID-19 environment that has seen minimal sales through daigou channels and a lack of international tourism.

On Wednesday, the company announced that its first product, Poupin Silky Brighten Revitalising Serum, has been approved by the Chinese Government authority, CFDA, for sale in China through off-line channels, including local department stores and specialty cosmetics stores. Jatcorp also intends on selling its products through major online platforms, including the most popular social media web influencer sales channels. 

In today’s announcement, Jatcorp also notes that its subsidiary, Sunnya Ltd, has successfully opened its Neurio milk powder range to the Singapore market. The sale of products will now occur in Singapore’s local pharmacies and through online platforms in Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. 

Falling Chinese sales drive pivot

Jatcorp follows a similar narrative as the A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) with COVID affecting its core infant formula business. 

In the company’s 1H21 results, its revenues slumped from $30.6 million in 1H20 to $13.5 million in 1H21. Its decreased revenue was caused by lockdown measures, closed daigou stores and the paused flow of Chinese students and tourists into Australia. Despite its revenues falling by more than 50%, its loss after tax was relatively stable at $2.5 million compared to the $2 million in 1H20. 

Today’s announcement reiterates the company’s strategic decision to diversify its business and seek new opportunities to increase revenues. Jatcorp managing director Wilton Yao commented on the COVID-19 headwinds saying:

To meet this challenge, and considering the negative effect of tensions between Australia and China, the board has taken necessary actions to manage under the difficult situation.

JAT has moved part of its plant-based meat operation into China, appointed new contract manufacturing in New Zealand and other countries and signed agreements with Chinese state-owned companies and large private enterprises to improve the stability of the business operation.

Meanwhile the board is continuing to seek new business opportunities to increase the operational scale and sales revenues.

More reading

• Is there more pain ahead for the a2 Milk (ASX:A2M) share price?
• Is the A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) share price too cheap to ignore?
• These are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX
• 2 ASX growth shares to buy in April
• These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in March

Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun 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.

The post Pivoting from infant formula, what’s next for the Jatcorp (ASX:JAT) share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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One of Australia’s leading broker has released its best ideas for the month of April.

These ideas are the ones that the broker believes offer the highest risk-adjusted returns over a 12-month timeframe and are supported by a higher-than-average level of confidence.

What has changed this month?

The broker has added coal port operator Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI) and online listings company Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd (ASX: FDV) to its best ideas list this month.

Morgans notes that Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure offers a very generous dividend yield which is secured by contracts over the next five years.

Its analysts currently have an add rating and $2.57 price target on Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure’s shares.

In respect to Frontier Digital Ventures, the broker believes it is well-placed for growth. Morgans notes that many of its businesses are facing COVID headwinds, which should ease as vaccines roll out. In addition to this, cost reductions are expected to result in operating leverage, underpinning strong earnings growth.

The broker has an add rating and $1.63 price target on Frontier Digital Ventures’ shares.

They are replacing rail freight company Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) and ecommerce company Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) on the list.

What else is on the list?

Also on the list are Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), among others.

Commenting on Aristocrat, Morgans said: “There are strong product tailwinds for ALL and it is clearly excelling in the land based arena with game content outperforming peers. Digital will continue to improve as it introduces additional content into already successful titles and we believe the company is well placed in the current environment with strong demand expected for their games.”

Morgans has an add rating and $37.31 price target on its shares.

In respect to Coles, it commented: “While vaccines are being rolled out across Australia, we think people will continue to spend more time at home due to the risk of COVID-19 flare-ups with the working-from-home trend also likely to stay for some time. This will be beneficial for the major supermarket operators. We continue to prefer COL (~20x FY22F PE and 4% yield) over WOW (25x FY22F PE and 3% yield) mainly due to valuation.”

The broker currently has an add rating and $19.45 price target on the supermarket giant’s shares.

More reading

• Will the Kogan (ASX:KGN) share price making a comeback in April?
• Why this top broker thinks the Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price can break new record highs
• Beat low rates with these quality ASX dividend shares
• Lynch Group (ASX:LGL) share price falls after completing $206 million IPO
• 2 fast-growth ASX tech shares that have been sold off

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 recommends Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aurizon Holdings Limited and Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

The post Leading broker names its best ASX share ideas for April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The last 12 months on the ASX have been a rollercoaster for the EcoGraf Limited (ASX: EGR) share price. At the time of writing, the EcoGraf share price is trading for 62 cents, down 3.88%. However, overall the share price is up 940% over the last 12 months. As well as 267% year to date.

A year ago, you could have grabbed a share in EcoGraf for a mere 6 cents. Now, the EcoGraf share price is 63 cents apiece.

So, what’s driving the graphite producers share price? Let’s take a deep dive into EcoGraf’s last 12 months on the ASX. 

What does EcoGraf do? 

EcoGraf produces battery graphite for electric vehicles and lithium-ion battery manufacturers.

It also has a leader in the recycling graphite from disused lithium-ion batteries.

The company mines graphite from Tanzania. It is in the process of developing a processing plant in Kwinana, Western Australia.

Battery business boom

EcoGraf’s meteoric share price rise didn’t gain huge traction until January 2021.

Then, with no warning at all, it shot up 116% over a week without a word of news from the company. When questioned by the ASX as to why it answered that growing interest in the lithium battery sector and its purification technology may have been to blame.

Over the next 4 weeks, the EcoGraf share price climbed a monumental 511%. In that time EcoGraf updated its debt facility and completed a capital raising.

Then, at the beginning of last month, the company’s Kwinana facility was awarded major project status by the Australian Federal Government. It then announced the Tanzanian Government had approved its $60 million debt facility for its Epanko Graphite Mine.

Though the EcoGraf share price continues to be one of the ASX huge gainers of 2021, the excitement surrounding it at the beginning of the year seems to have died down.

Since the middle of February, it has dropped by 43%. Whether  EcoGraf shares will regain their spark, we can only wait to find out.

But investors who got on board this time last year can still rub their hands with glee.

EcoGraf Limited share price snapshot

At the time of writing, the EcoGraf share price has fallen by 3% since yesterday’s close. Today’s drop is just the latest, as the company’s shares are down 8% this month.

EcoGraf has a market capitalisation of around $293 million, with approximately 454 million shares outstanding.

More reading

• Which ASX shares with ethical values are seeing returns in 2021?
• Ecograf (ASX:EGR) share price powers up on government approval news

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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.

The post Up 940% since last year: What’s with the EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Australia’s leading investment platform provider CommSec has released data on the most traded ASX shares on its platform from last week.

Here’s the data:

88 Energy Ltd (ASX: 88E)

This oil and gas exploration company’s shares were easily the most traded share on the ASX last week. 88 Energy’s shares accounting for 6.1% of trades on Commsec, with 55% of the volume coming from buyers. Those buyers will have been delighted to see the 88 Energy share price surge 135% higher over the four days amid excitement over its Merlin-1 project in northern Alaska. However, it is worth noting that its shares have come crashing back down to Earth this week following a disappointing update.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

Once again, Zip’s shares were popular with investors last week. The buy now pay later provider’s shares were attributable to 2.1% of trades on the platform, with 52% coming from the buy side. Unfortunately for these buyers, the Zip share price edged lower over the four days. This was its sixth weekly decline in a row.

Red Sky Energy Limited (ASX: ROG)

This oil and gas acquisition and development company is a new entry to the top five. It accounted for 2% of trades on CommSec last week, with buyers making up the majority of the volume. They will have been very pleased to see the Red Sky Energy share price rocket a whopping 250% higher over the period. This strong gain resulted in the ASX giving it a speeding ticket. Management suspects the gains were caused by its 22 March announcement relating to the Killanoola Oil project.

Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

Afterpay’s shares were heavily traded last week. The payments giant’s shares were responsible for 1.7% of trades on the platform. On this occasion, only 44% of these trades were from buyers. Like rival Zip, the Afterpay share price fell slightly over the shortened week.

Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART)

Airtasker shares were popular with investors again last week. The jobs marketplace provider’s shares were attributable to 1.6% of trades on CommSec, with almost two-thirds coming from buyers. Unfortunately for those buyers, the Airtasker was unable to repeat its heroics from the previous week. The company’s shares lost over 19% of their value during the four days.

More reading

• Is Canva coming to the ASX?
• Are ASX tech shares like Afterpay (ASX:APT) back to the races?
• Why Zip (ASX:Z1P) and this ASX growth share could be buys
• Why ASX 200 shares are at a 6-week high
• ASX 200 jumps, Cleanaway’s treasured acquisition, Afterpay soars

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 ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

The post 88 Energy and Airtasker were among the most traded ASX shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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When an ASX investor considers an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for their portfolio, normally the goal is to bring in the market’s average return. The whole point of an index fund is, after all, to mimic the market, nothing more, nothing less. But not all ETFs are index funds. That in itself is a source of danger. Remember, beating the market is hard, and most of us statistically don’t manage it. That includes active fund managers too.

But one ASX ETF has done a pretty good job. That ETF is the VanEck Vectors Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT).

MOAT is an ASX-listed ETF that tracks a basket of US shares. Not just any or all US share though. This ETF holds a basket of roughly 50 companies that all demonstrate one defining feature: the presence of a moat. A moat is a term originally popularised by the great investor, Warren Buffett. The moat Buffett originally described refers to a companies’ intrinsic ability to protect itself from its competition, just as a moat used to do for a castle in days of yore. There are many forms a moat can take, but characteristics such as a strong brand, a cost of stitching away from a company’s products or an ability to profitably sell goods or services at the lowest cost on the market are the most well-known.

All of the companies that the MOAT ETF holds display these characteristics. VanEck describes its selection process as “exposure to a diversified portfolio of attractively priced US companies with sustainable competitive advantages according to Morningstar’s equity research team”.

MOATs float the boat

Here are some of MOAT’s current holdings: Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO), McDonald’s Corp (NYSE: MCD), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Kellogg Company (NYSE: K).

Can you identify what might give some of these MOAT holdings their edge? Well, Facebook is the most dominant social media company in the world by a long shot. Alphabet’s Google has a virtual monopoly on internet search, as well as internet videos with its YouTube platform. Coca Cola and McDonald’s are two of the world’s most dominant food and beverage brands, recognised in almost every country on the planet. Kellogg Co is the name in cereal, with the original Corn Flakes brand. And Amazon is, well, Amazon.

But there is a method in this madness. MOAT has handily outperformed ETFs tracking the ASX market like the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) per annum over the past 3 and 5 years.

It has also dominated its own benchmark, the US-based S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP: .INX). According to VanExk, MOAT has returned an average of 16.86% per annum over the past 3 years, and 17.74% over the past 5. In contrast, the S&P 500 has returned an average of 13.73% and 14.28% respectively. The iShares ASX 200 ETF has returned an average of 9.53% and 10.10% per annum over the same periods.

The numbers are clear here: the VanEck Vectors Wide Moat ETF has smashed the market. Especially where it counts: over the long term.

More reading

• Is GameStop the next Blockbuster, Amazon, or Best Buy?
• Amazon just passed a major milestone in the digital advertising market
• Why Facebook stock gained 14% last month
• Afterpay (ASX:APT) leads Zip by 40% on one critical measure
• 2 quality international ETFs for ASX investors to buy

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Alphabet (A shares), Coca-Cola, Facebook, Kellogg, McDonalds, and VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Amazon, and Facebook and recommends the following options: long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon and short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Amazon, Facebook, and VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

The post This ASX ETF is smashing the ASX 200… and the S&P 500 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price is failing to make a meaningful comeback after spending months moving sideways. The global biotech’s shares finished yesterday market session at $263.60, just 8% above its 52-week low reached in early March. At the time of writing, the CSL share price is up slightly, trading for $263.69.

Below, we take a closer look at what could be weighing down CSL shares.

COVID-19 vaccine delay

While most of the world looks towards advancing past the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has been locked in vaccine holdups. This comes after a reported 2.5 million AstraZeneca doses are being kept in cold storage at CSL’s facilities in Melbourne.

The reason for the postponement is because Europe is undergoing further batch testing of the AstraZeneca vaccine. More and more cases are being reported with blood clotting, including one Melbournian who was found to have abdominal clots and low platelet levels.

AstraZeneca has confirmed that there is a clear link between the vaccine and blood clots but notes that the benefits outweigh the risks. As a result of the serious side effects, Australian health authorities are taking the potential risk very seriously.

The concerning news has ultimately affected the CSL share price, which has remained near its 52-week low.

Currently, 877,790 Australians have received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine since the program began on 22 February. Well and truly behind the government’s original target to have 4 million people vaccinated by the end of March.

Secretary of the Department of Health, Brendan Murphy, reiterated CSL’s commitment to producing over a million doses per week. Mr. Murphy believes that the biotech giant will reach this target in the coming weeks. However, the company is working on the time taken to approve each batch release, without going through international clearance processes.

Furthermore, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison will write to the European Union asking for more COVID-19 doses to be exported. This is all while the majority of the locally-producing COVID-19 vaccines remain on ice until approved for use.

CSL share price review

Over the past 12 months, the CSL share price has backtracked around 15%, particularly heading lower in recent times. The company’s shares reached a 52-week high of $332.68 last April, and have travelled in circles ever since.

More reading

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• Why the CSL (ASX:CSL) share price is going around in circles

Aaron Teboneras owns shares of CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of 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.

The post CSL (ASX:CSL) share price remains near 52-week low on COVID-19 vaccine delays appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX: AZY) share price is going gangbusters today following news of freshly discovered high-grade mineral intersections.

The Antipa share price reached an intraday high of 3.9 cents around midday – a 39% gain from yesterday’s close. Since then, it has retreated to 3.7 cents, up 32%.

Let’s look closer at the miner’s announcement today.

Striking gold

Antipa advised this morning that a drilling program at its 100% owned Minayari and WACA mines has found significant mineral intersections.

These intersections include high-grade gold and copper, as well as significant zones of gold, copper, silver and cobalt. All were found outside existing mineral resource boundaries.

The company considers the newly found mineral resources to be analogues for the nearby Havieron Project.

Of the 6 holes making up the drilling program, only 1 was deeper than the top of the Havieron Project. While the 5 holes were far shallower than the Havieron Project, 4 struck high-grade copper, gold and silver breccia mineralisation.

Antipa plans to conduct a follow-up drilling program this month.

Further drilling and testing will continue at Minayari throughout 2021.

Commentary from management

Antipa’s managing director Roger Mason said the find confirmed the potential for a stand-alone development.

We are  particularly excited given the similarities between Minyari and Havieron (gold-copper development project), with  the  Minyari mineralisation hosted by the same rocks, with intense intrusion related hydrothermal  alteration and very high‐grade gold-copper sulphide breccia style mineralisation occurring over  a similar ‘footprint’ to Havieron.

The mineralisation remains open in all directions which, together with the several untested Minyari geophysical anomalies, provides a very exciting framework for this year’s Minyari Dome  Project exploration programme which will be the largest programme we have ever undertaken  at Minyari.

Antipa Minerals share price snapshot

The Antipa Mineral share price isn’t enjoying 2021 on the ASX. Even with today’s gains, it’s down 10% year to date. Although, it has gained 260% since this time last year.

The miner has a market capitalisation of around $70 million, with 2.5 billion shares outstanding.

More reading

• Is GameStop the next Blockbuster, Amazon, or Best Buy?
• Is Canva coming to the ASX?
• Could the Openpay (ASX:OPY) share price double in 2021?
• ASX stock of the day: Tassal Group (ASX:TGR) shares rise 5%
• Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA) share price sinks as gold estimate grows

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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.

The post Here’s why the Antipa Minerals (ASX:AZY) share price is up 37% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

One thing everybody seems to have an opinion about these days is GameStop (NYSE: GME). The video game retailer is one of this year’s hottest stocks, roughly a 10-bagger in 2021 alone. Bulls think it will keep moving higher as the country warms up to the digital evolution of the throwback strip mall chain. Bears think that it’s a helium-stretched balloon waiting for a pin to pop. 

Both sides can’t be right, at least in the long run. In the end, it all boils down to which trajectory you believe the chain will follow at this point. Bulls will argue that Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is where it’s going given the fresh faces that GameStop has brought in to make it an e-commerce star against the backdrop of its shrinking physical footprint. Bears will argue that GameStop is the next Blockbuster Video, a brick-and-mortar institution dedicated to physical media that’s being inevitably replaced by consumer-direct digital delivery. Both sides may have compelling arguments, but perhaps the more reasonable optimistic scenario is none other than Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), a chain that also seemed to be on the brink of extinction before new leadership turned the consumer electronics superstore concept around. 

Wow, what a difference

Blockbuster is the last thing that GameStop would like to be in the next couple of years, but the similarities are there. Blockbuster was the leader in its specialty retail niche, which in its case was renting out VHS tapes and then DVD and Blu-ray discs. Blockbuster tried to take on disruptors when discs were being rented by mail or out of vending machine kiosks, but the final fight took place on the digital battlefield, where it was unable to compete. 

Under new ownership, Blockbuster shuttered stores and launched an on-demand platform that failed to take off. The retro brand became a liability rather than an asset. It failed to scale in a way that could give it a fighting chance in the new future, where movies and TV shows were being summoned digitally through improving in-home connectivity. Bears see this as the logical trajectory for GameStop. Are they right?

Bulls can point to Amazon as the market-thumping role model. Amazon.com was and continues to be a leading retailer of physical video games and gear. The secret sauce here is that it has spent more than two decades perfecting the fulfilment process for speedy delivery with a nine-figure audience of Prime loyalty shoppers who turn to Amazon first when it’s time to shop for anything. Amazon’s also a leader in e-sports through its Twitch platform, where the world’s top gamers monetize their streams to growing viewers. Last fall it unveiled Luna, a cloud-based gaming service that will compete with existing platforms put out by other tech giants. 

In a dream scenario, GameStop keeps shutting down stores — it has shed 12% of its storefronts over the past year — and becomes leaner so it can compete with Amazon in e-commerce. Trying to take on Twitch as well as the more crowded realm of cash-rich cloud-based gaming services will be more challenging, but GameStop bulls feel that (unlike with Blockbuster) the retro charm of the brand will be an advantage instead of a disadvantage. Are they right?

Talk about what’s possible

Best Buy is a name that doesn’t get mentioned a lot by those sizing up GameStop’s retail persona, but it’s not a bad choice to play the role of the Ghost of GameStop Future. When rival Circuit City liquidated, all eyes turned to Best Buy as the next consumer electronics chain to falter. Best Buy also competes with GameStop as a seller of video game systems, software, and accessories.

The unlikely turnaround at Best Buy began in 2012 when its CEO had to step down following allegations of his having an inappropriate relationship with a fellow employee. Best Buy brought in an outsider who brought in some of his associates to help steer the ship in a new direction — something that recalls GameStop circa today — and this was when CEO Hubert Joly unleashed the Renew Blue initiative. 

Initially mocked by the masses, his approach to beefing up his fading concept’s e-commerce efforts proved revolutionary. Instead of seeing his network of stores as a problem in a digital world, he made them an advantage. He invested in employee training to make his staff smarter. He revamped Best Buy’s archaic inventory system. He used his stores to enable locals to pick up online orders and to expedite delivery in a way that Amazon couldn’t match, and that’s pretty much the model for the real-world chains that are thriving these days. Best Buy also raised the bar by renting out space in its store for brands, even if the “store within a store” call in the Best Buy playbook may not work in small GameStop locations. 

GameStop is far more likely to become the next Best Buy than the next Blockbuster or Amazon. This wouldn’t be a bad compromise for GameStop’s destination in the ranks of retail stocks. Best Buy stock is a 12-bagger since the start of 2013, even though bears will argue that GameStop is already commanding a sales multiple four times greater than where successful Best Buy is today. The valuation concerns are real, but we can’t dismiss the GameStop model itself when Best Buy is proof that fresh thinking can turn a broken concept around.

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

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Rick Munarriz 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.

The post Is GameStop the next Blockbuster, Amazon, or Best Buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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ASX tech investors might be scouring the ASX for a company called Canva today. Before you search for ‘ASX Canva’ though, you might want to read this first.

Canva is one of the biggest Australian tech companies. According to a report from Forbes, this digital design company has just been valued at a whopping US$15 billion ($19.6 billion) after a recent funding round. It was sitting at a valuation of US$6 billion less than a year ago. The new valuation was helped by the company reporting that it is profitable. It also reported that annualised revenues have grown beyond US$500 million. That’s up 130% in a year. Canva now reportedly has 55 million users, including 3 million paying ones.

But unfortunately for ASX tech investors, Canva is not listed on the ASX. This company remains a private one, owned largely by its founders Melanie Perkins, Cameron Adams and Cliff Obrecht. As such, it’s only institutional investors that are privy to owning shares. The report tells us that it’s these investors that are pushing the valuation of Canva to new heights though. The funding round that valued the company at US$15 billion reportedly resulted in Canva raising US$71 million in new funding. That came from a handful of big institutional investors, including fund managers T. Rowe Price, Blackbird Ventures and Dragoneer.

That new valuation has pushed the stakes that Canva’s founders have to new heights as well. Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht both own a little less than 15% each in the company after the funding round. That values their holdings at roughly $2 billion each.

Will Canva IPO on the ASX?

Despite this new valuation, which makes Canva more valuable than listed ASX tech companies Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), Appen Ltd (ASX: APX), Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) put together, there is no talk of an imminent ASX IPO for Canva.

But given the ASX’s enthusiastic accommodation of Airtasker, which rocketed more than 80% when it IPOed last month, I’m sure its founders are thinking about it. If Canva did hit the ASX boards, it would immediately become one of ASX’s most valuable tech companies. But remember, we might not even see Canva on the ASX if it does decide to go public. Australia’s largest tech company is theoretically Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ: TEAM), which is currently valued at US$55.8 billion. But Atlassian decided to list on the US Nasdaq exchange when it IPOed back in 2015, rather than our ASX. Canva could well decide it’s large enough to play in the big end of town now too.

More reading

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• ASX 200 up 0.9%: Cleanaway jumps, tech shares rise, Incitec Pivot sinks
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• 2 beaten down ASX tech shares to buy this week

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

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