• 2 of the top ETFs for diversification

    close up of buy, sell and etf keys on a computer keyboard

    There are some really good exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that could be good options to provide diversification.

    Why are they useful for diversification?

    One of the main benefits of ETFs is that with just one investment you can buy a whole group of businesses. That can be really useful to gain diversification quickly.

    There are some particular ETFs that provide excellent global diversification, which might be exactly what some ASX investors need:

    Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    This ETF is about giving investors exposure to the global share market with businesses listed in developed countries.

    Numerous markets are given allocations with this ETF including: the US, Japan, the UK, France, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Singapore.

    This ETF has over 1,500 holdings across all of those different countries, so it’s extremely diversified. As its largest holdings, it has all of the major global US businesses including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, Tesla, JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, Visa and Walt Disney.

    It’s also well diversified when it comes to sector allocation, with five sectors having a weighting of more than 10%: IT, financials, healthcare, consumer discretionary and industrials.

    Over time, the best businesses will become larger parts of the portfolio and generate more of the return.

    During the five years to 28 February 2021, the ETF generated average net returns per annum of 12.4% – that’s after the annual management fee of 0.18% per annum.

    According to Vanguard, the portfolio’s return of equity (ROE) ratio is 15.9%. Its dividend yield is 1.8%.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    In some ways, this investment is similar to the first one – it has a similar top holdings list of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Alphabet, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, JP Morgan Chase and Johnson & Johnson.

    But there are a few key differences. As the name might suggest, this ETF has 500 holdings – significantly less. This means that the weightings to the big tech companies is higher, if that’s what you want. Also, all of the businesses are listed in the US.

    With the iShares S&P 500 ETF, the cost is actually lower. It’s one of the cheapest investment options on the ASX with an annual management fee of just 0.04%.

    The low management fees and strong performance of the underlying shares has helped the ETF deliver net returns of 17.3% per annum over the last decade and a net return of 25.4% over the last 12 months.

    As you might expect, the portfolio is more weighted to technology shares, with IT making up more than a quarter of the fund. The ‘communication’ sector, which includes Facebook and Alphabet, makes up another 11.2% of the portfolio.

    Bearing in mind the effects of COVID-19, the trailing yield of the ETF over the last 12 months has been 1.24%.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares Trust – iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post 2 of the top ETFs for diversification appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • LIVE COVERAGE: ASX to slide; tech shares on watch

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Kate O’Brien owns shares of Apple and Rio Tinto Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post LIVE COVERAGE: ASX to slide; tech shares on watch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • 2 excellent ASX dividend shares to buy today

    man handing over wad of cash representing ASX retail capital return

    With interest rates likely to remain low for some time to come, the dividend shares listed below could be top options for anyone seeking a passive income stream.

    Here’s why these dividend shares are rated as buys:

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    This supermarket operator has been on form in FY 2021 after benefiting greatly from a shift in consumer behaviour caused by the pandemic.

    And while trading conditions are now normalising, Coles remains well-placed for long term growth thanks to its strong market position, Refreshed Strategy, and focus on automation.

    This should put the company in a position to continue growing its earnings and dividend at a solid rate over the 2020s.

    One broker that believes the Coles share price is in the buy zone is Goldman Sachs. Its analysts currently have a buy rating and $20.70 price target on its shares.

    Goldman is also forecasting a 62 cents per share dividend in FY 2021. Based on the current Coles share price of $15.87, this represents a fully franked 3.9% yield.

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    Another ASX dividend share to consider is Westpac. Although the banking giant’s shares have just hit a 52-week high, it isn’t too late for income investors to snap them up.

    For example, analysts at Morgans currently have an add rating and $27.50 price target on the bank’s shares. This compares to the latest Westpac share price of $25.16.

    But even better, is that the broker is forecasting dividends of $1.32 per share in FY 2021 and then $1.43 per share in FY 2022. This represents very attractive fully franked yields of 5.2% and 5.6%, respectively, over the next couple of years.

    Another positive is that due to its very strong capital position, there is speculation that it could return funds to shareholders via capital management initiatives in FY 2022. This could mean special dividends or share buybacks.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 15th February 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post 2 excellent ASX dividend shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2PNTaS3

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

    hand restin g on laptop computer keyboard with stock prices on screen

    On Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again and stormed notably higher. The benchmark index rose 1% to 6,998.8 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Friday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to edge lower

    The Australian share market looks set to end the week in a subdued fashion. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 5 points or 0.1% lower this morning. This is despite a solid night of trade on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones rise 0.2%, the S&P 500 climb 0.4%, and the Nasdaq storm 1% higher.

    Oil prices mixed

    Energy producers including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) will be on watch after a mixed night of trade for oil prices. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is flat at US$59.77 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.2% to US$63.30 a barrel. An unexpected surge in US gasoline inventories held back oil prices.

    Gold price storms higher

    Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could have a solid day of trade after the gold price stormed higher. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.9% to US$1,757.40 an ounce. The precious metal climbed close to its one-month high after US bond yields softened.

    Tech shares to rise?

    It could be a good day for tech shares such as Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) after their US counterparts on the Nasdaq index raced higher overnight. The tech-focused index outperformed with a 1% gain. This appears to have been driven by a pullback in bond yields.

    Dividends being paid

    It is pay day for the shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares on Friday. Among the companies paying dividends are Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX), Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC), Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK), and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    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 Appen Ltd, Link Administration Holdings Ltd, Reliance Worldwide Limited, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Link Administration Holdings Ltd and Reliance Worldwide Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2Q6DAkz

  • 2 brilliant blue chip ASX 200 shares to buy

    asx blue chip shares represented by pile of blue casino chips in front of bar graph

    If you’re wanting to construct a balanced portfolio, having a few blue chip ASX shares in there could be a smart move.

    But which blue chip ASX 200 shares should you buy? Two that could be in the buy zone are listed below:

    Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

    Ramsay Health Care could be a blue chip to buy. It is a leading private healthcare company that provides services via a network of facilities across 10 countries. At the last count, the company was recording over eight million admissions/patient visits per annum to its facilities in over 500 locations.

    Trading conditions have been hard for Ramsay over the last 12 months because of the pandemic’s impact on surgeries. However, with its Australian operations operating largely as normal now, this segment looks set to benefit greatly from a backlog in procedures. And given how this side of the business generates around two-thirds of its earnings, this is a very positive thing.

    Looking ahead, its international operations shouldn’t be far behind now vaccines are being rolled out. After which, Ramsay looks well-placed to continue its growth over the long term thanks to numerous tailwinds such as ageing populations.

    Macquarie currently has an outperform rating and $75.00 price target on its shares.

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    Another blue chip to look at is this medical device company. Unlike Ramsay, ResMed has been able to continue its strong form in FY 2020 and FY 2021 despite the pandemic.

    In respect to the latter, during the second quarter ResMed posted a 9% increase in quarterly revenue to US$800 million and a 17% increase in net profit to US$206.4 million. This was driven by strong demand for respirators and its sleep treatment portfolio.

    Positively, due to the enormous sleep disorder market, ResMed has a significant runway for growth over the next decade. Another positive is its digital health ecosystem, which looks well-placed to benefit from the shift to home healthcare. At the end of December, its ecosystem reached over 12 million cloud connectable medical devices.

    Morgans is positive on ResMed. It currently has an add rating and $30.09 price target on its shares.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ramsay Health Care 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.

    The post 2 brilliant blue chip ASX 200 shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • ASX 200 climbs 1%, Westpac rises, Western Areas jumps

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) went up by around 1% today to 6,999 points.

    However, the ASX 200 did actually surge beyond 7,000 just before midday.

    Here are some of the other highlights from the ASX:

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    Westpac was in the news today for two different reasons. On the positive side of things, the Westpac share price went up 1.5%, making it one of the largest contributors to the ASX 200 today.

    However, it also made some headlines for the wrong reasons.

    The major bank announced that ASIC has started proceedings against the company in relation to the sale of consumer credit insurance (CCI) products to 384 customers.

    ASIC’s proceedings relate to allegations that Westpac supplied CCI to certain customers who had not requested or agreed to acquire the product.

    Westpac said that ASIC is seeking declarations of contraventions of certain civil penalty provisions and unspecified monetary penalties relating to the period from 7 April 2015 to 28 July 2015.

    The bank is carefully considering these claims and is committed to working constructively with ASIC through the court process.

    Westpac has not sold CCI products since 2019.

    Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA)

    The Western Areas share price went up around 6% today in reaction to a preliminary March quarter production for the Forrestania operations, and is pleased to report an improvement in both mine and milled physicals.

    Western Areas reported that total nickel mined increased 20% quarter on quarter to 4,236 tonnes. The mined ore grade was 3.6%, up 27% quarter on quarter. Nickel produced in concentrate was 4,267 tonnes, up 21% as a result of higher mined grades and mill recoveries.

    Dan Lougher, the managing director of Western Areas, said that the March quarter production was a significant improvement quarter on quarter:

    As previously flagged to the market, we re-entered the higher-grade areas of the Flying Fox mine this quarter, and saw improved mined nickel grades from Spotted Quoll. This result was setup by the significant development and rehabilitation of existing ore drives achieved during the previous December quarter, which allowed access to and mining of higher grade ore tonnes in the March quarter.

    We remain focused on continuing this positive momentum into a strong final quarter for the year, and expect that the development and rehabilitation work already undertaken will contribute to that goal.

    Vitalharvest Freehold Trust (ASX: VTH)

    The Vitalharvest share price climbed again today after another bid for the agricultural real estate investment trust (REIT).

    Roc has decided to increase its offer again to $1.16 per unit, equating to an offer of $329.6 million for the assets.

    The Vitalharvest board has determined that the modified Roc offer is superior to the Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management (MAFM) offer and is on terms capable of acceptance.

    This offer performs the payment of the 2.5 cent per unit interim distribution for rent received to 31 December 2020.

    MAFM has until 5pm on 14 April 2021 to provide a matching or superior further revised offer.

    Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

    The Scentre share price went up after the business gave some comments about leadership remuneration as well as giving some distribution guidance at its AGM.

    Scentre said that it had an average of 46 million customer visits per month in the last quarter.

    The business said that cashflow momentum has continued into 2021 with gross rental cash inflow for the three months to 31 March 2021 being more than $600 million.

    Scentre said that it expects to distribute at least 14 cents per security for 2021 and that the distribution will grow in future years.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 ASX 200 climbs 1%, Westpac rises, Western Areas jumps appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3t0TRWI

  • Here’s how much Telstra’s (ASX:TLS) dividend is worth right now

    little pig piggy banks falling from the blue sky, indicating a windfall of income from ASX dividend shares

    The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has been a surprisingly good performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) of late. As we reported last week, Telstra shares rose 11% over the month of March. That’s a pretty decent move for an old ASX blue chip like Telstra.

    Further, the Telstra share price is also having a top day today. At the time of writing, Telstra is up a healthy 1.77% to $3.45 a share. That’s getting tantalisingly close to the company’s 52-week high of $3.54 a share. Year to date, Telstra shares are now up a robust 14%.

    So what’s been driving investors to Telstra? A few things have gotten investors hot under the collar in that regard.

    Most prominently has been the announced restructure that Telstra unveiled last month. This will result in the company being split up on paper into 4 separate divisions. These four divisions – InfraCo towers, InfraCo Fixed, ServeCo and Telstra International – will all house different aspects of Telstra’s business, all while still coming under the ‘Telstra Group’ umbrella (so no share market spinoffs). Many investors are predicting this move will unlock significant value for the company.

    But perhaps the biggest underlying factor outside this restructure is Telstra’s dividend. Telstra has paid out 16 cents per share in annual dividends for a few years now. That 16 cent dividend consists of an ordinary dividend of 10 cents per share and a special dividend of 6 cents per share that is funded by nbn payments.

    Despite predictions Telstra would cut this dividend last year, it has managed to hold it steady. And management committed to keeping 16 cents again this year in 2021 a few months ago.

    How much is Telstra’s dividend worth today?

    Now as we mentioned earlier, the Telstra share price has appreciated significantly in 2021 so far. And rising share prices mean lower starting dividend yields. Even so, Telstra is still an ASX 200 leader when it comes to its yield. On the current share price, 16 cents per share annually equates to a dividend yield of 4.65%. Including Telstra’s full franking credits, which grosses up to 6.64%. That’s a lot better than most ASX 200 shares, including the big four banks, have on offer right now. Not to mention what’s on offer from savings accounts, term deposits and other ‘safer’ cash-based investments.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 15th February 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Telstra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Telstra Limited. 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 how much Telstra’s (ASX:TLS) dividend is worth right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • 2 ASX dividend shares rated as strong buys by brokers

    janus henderson share price increasing represented by pile of australian one hundred dollar notes

    The two ASX dividend shares in this article are rated as buys by brokers and they offer attractive potential yields.

    Just because a business pays a dividend doesn’t mean that it’s automatically worth owning. Some yields can be traps if a dividend cut is incoming.

    However, the below two businesses are expected to pay good dividends and potentially see good capital growth over the next 12 months:

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

    Aurizon is Australia’s biggest rail freight operator and it’s also one of the larger companies on the ASX.

    Every year, the company’s trains carry hundreds of millions of tonnes of commodities for domestic and international markets.

    It’s currently rated as a buy by at least four brokers, including Morgans which has a price target of $4.56 on the ASX dividend share.

    At the current Aurizon share price, Morgans thinks that the business will pay a partially franked dividend yield of 7.4%.

    In the FY21 half-year result, it saw a 2% decline of revenue to $1.5 billion, a slight decline of underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT), but a 22% drop of statutory NPAT to $267 million and a 18% decline of statutory earnings per share (EPS) to 14.1 cents.

    The half-year dividend was grown by 5% to 14.4 cents. The coal price has seen a recovery in recent months, so this may be able to help future earnings.

    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

    Super Retail is a large retailer with several businesses including BCF, Macpac, Rebel and Supercheap Auto.

    The ASX dividend share is currently liked by at least four brokers at the moment, including Credit Suisse which has a price target for the business of $14.64.

    Super Retail generated large profit growth in the first six months of FY21 off the back of strong sales growth. Total group sales went up 23% to $1.78 billion, with online sales growth of 87% to $237.4 million.

    Operating leverage was on display with the profit lines growing quickly. The segment EBIT margin went up from 6.4% to 14.4%. This helped underlying NPAT rise by 139% to $177.1 million and statutory NPAT grew by 201% to $172.8 million.

    The board of Super Retail decided to pay an interim dividend of 33 cents per share. Credit Suisse is expecting the ASX dividend share to pay a dividend of 64 cents per share, which translates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.6%.

    In the first seven weeks of the second half of FY21, Super Retail has seen like for like sales growth of 30.5%. Management expect to revert to normal levels of promotional activity in the second half as inventory levels are restored. Expenses are also expected to catch up on projects deferred during COVID-19.

    These Dividend Stocks Could Be Your Next Cash Kings (FREE REPORT)

    Motley Fool Australia’s Dividend experts recently released a brand-new FREE report revealing 3 dividend stocks with JUICY franked dividends that could keep paying you meaty dividends for years to come.

    Our team of investors think these 3 dividend stocks should be a ‘must consider’ for any savvy dividend investor. But more importantly, could potentially make Australian investors a heap of passive income.

    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 15th February 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aurizon Holdings Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares rated as strong buys by brokers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2OB5oNy

  • Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) share price lifts after lithium update

    Cut outs of cogs and machinery with chemical symbol for lithium

    The Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) share price rose today. The positive price movement comes as the ASX lithium miner gave an update on operations at its Western Australia mining site.

    At market close, shares in the company were trading for 45.5 cents each – up 1.11%. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 1.02%.

    Let’s take a closer look at Liontown’s update.

    Liontown share price up on lithium update

    In a statement to the ASX, Liontown says it has identified a number of additional project improvements for its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in WA.

    The improvements in question include an upgrade in the categorisation of minerals, sustaining capital savings, and “simplification of the process flowsheet…”

    The company has also conducted a feasibility study at the site. Parts of the study include:

    • A review of environmental policies and their application at the site, including impacts on Traditional owners, minimising land and water usage, and lowering its carbon footprint.
    • A mineral resource estimate update.
    • Geotechnical modelling for improved economic results.
    • Process flowsheet enhancements.
    • “Detailed” metallurgic test work with a focus on greater ore processes
    • Successful hydrological drilling.

    So far, the company believes there is a total lithium output of 156 million tonnes at the site, which bodes well for the Liontown share price as the price of lithium continues to increase. As of writing, lithium is trading on the commodities market for a 52-week high of US$90,000 a tonne.

    ASX lithium stocks in general have been doing tremendously well over the last year. One such reason is because of the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles – of which lithium is a core component.

    Management commentary

    Liontown Managing Director, David Richards, says the progress outlined today will put Kathleen Valley into the forefront of lithium projects.

    We are continuing to see excellent progress, with ongoing work reinforcing Kathleen Valley’s attributes as a high-grade, large-scale, long-life lithium project in a Tier-1 location.

    Kathleen Valley is ideally placed to be a key player in the global energy transformation, which is gaining momentum as major auto-makers and players in the lithium-ion battery supply chain continue to ramp-up their commitments to help reduce the global carbon footprint.

    Liontown share price snapshot

    Like other ASX lithium miners, the Liontown share price has gone gangbusters over the last year. If an investor bought in the company 12 months ago today, they would be sitting on a tidy 505.26% return on investment.

    On current prices, Liontown Resources has a market capitalisation of $834.5 million.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Marc Sidarous 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 Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) share price lifts after lithium update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3wBiAD6

  • 4 exciting small cap ASX shares to watch

    asx share price on watch represented by investor looking through magnifying glass

    Are you looking to add a small cap share or two to your portfolio? If you are, then you might want to consider one of the shares listed below.

    Here’s what you need to know about these exciting small cap shares:

    Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX: ALC)

    The first small cap share to watch is this informatics solutions company. Alcidion provides software which has been designed to improve the efficacy and cost of delivering services to patients and reduce hospital-acquired complications. It looks well-positioned for growth because of the shift to a paperless environment in the healthcare sector. Positively, Alcidion has announced a number of major contract wins this financial year.

    IntelliHR Ltd (ASX: IHR)

    IntelliHR is a cloud-based human resources technology business that is developing and marketing a next-generation cloud-based people management and data analytics platform. The company notes that its disruptive and advanced technology leverages artificial intelligence, is highly scalable, and industry agnostic. Demand has been growing for its platform, leading to strong annualised recurring revenue growth in FY 2021.

    Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO)

    Nitro Software is another small cap ASX share to watch. It is a software company that is aiming to drive digital transformation in organisations around the world. Its key solution is the Nitro Productivity Suite. This provides integrated PDF productivity and electronic signature tools to customers through a horizontal, software-as-a-service, and desktop-based software solution. Nitro counts a number of the largest companies in the world as customers.

    Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT)

    A final small cap ASX share to watch is Volpara Health Technologies. It is a provider of software that uses artificial intelligence imaging algorithms to assist with the early detection of breast and lung cancer. Volpara has been growing at a rapid rate in recent years thanks to market share gains and its expanding average revenue per user (ARPU) metric. Thanks to acquisitions and its growing product portfolio, the latter metric is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. This could be supportive of further stellar growth over the 2020s.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    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 VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Alcidion Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd, Nitro Software Limited, and VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post 4 exciting small cap ASX shares to watch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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