• Why the K2fly (ASX:K2F) share price is climbing today

    The last piece of the jigsaw being fitted, indicating good news for a share price on merger or acquisition

    The K2fly Ltd (ASX: K2F) share price is lifting today on news the asset management consulting service will acquire Decipher’s mining solutions business.

    The K2fly share price opened at an intraday high of 36.5 cents then plummeted to a low of 34 cents. However, its shares are climbing again in afternoon trade, now up 1.47% to 34.5 cents at the time of writing.

    What’s driving the K2fly share price higher?

    The K2fly share price is climbing higher after reporting a takeover of Decipher to enhance its suite of solution offerings.

    Decipher is a software-as-a-service company developed and operated by CSBP Limited (CSBP), and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers Limited (WesCEF). Decipher offers a cloud-based platform that helps manage a company’s resources to be more sustainable and profitable.

    In its announcement, K2fly advised that it has executed a business sale agreement to acquire the assets of the ‘Decipher for Mining’ business from CSBP and WesCEF.

    As part of the agreement, Decipher CEO Anthony Walker will join K2fly in a senior executive position along with the core Decipher team. It’s expected that the new inclusions will bring added expertise to K2fly’s software solution suite.

    Terms of the deal

    Under the agreement, K2fly will issue 11,366,691 ordinary shares worth $3.7 million to Westfarmer’s subsidiary, CSBP. This will account a holding of 10.13% interest in K2fly upon completion of the transaction, making CSBP its largest shareholder.

    In addition, up to 5,345,633 performance shares can be further issued if performance targets be met. Should this occur, CSBP’s stake in K2fly will increase to 14.22%, pending the conversion of performance shares to ordinary shares.

    Both classes of shares will be subject to voluntary escrow periods for 2 years.

    The company said it will send out a notice of the meeting to all shareholders in the near-term future. K2fly is seeking shareholder support to approve the acquisition which will be held around the middle of March. If successful, it’s estimated that completion of the acquisition would occur within a short time after.

    Management commentary

    Commenting on the acquisition, K2fly chief commercial officer Nic Pollock said:

    We have been partnered with Decipher for nearly a year now and we have found many synergies in our joint offering, go to market capabilities, and operational models that the acquisition was a logical combination.

    We are both lean start-up companies and there is virtually no duplication and many upsides to the deal. We are pleased that Anthony Walker, the Decipher CEO, will be joining K2fly in a senior executive position as well as the core Decipher team.

    Decipher CEO Anthony Walker went on to add:

    We have formed a very close working relationship with the K2fly team, and we all share a passion for delivering better ESG (environmental, social and governance) monitoring and compliance outcomes to the mining industry and the communities in which they operate. This transaction will dramatically increase our pace of delivery on these aspirations.

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 the Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) share price is in a trading halt

    Cut outs of cogs and machinery with chemical symbol for lithium

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price won’t be going anywhere on Monday.

    Prior to the market open, the Northern Territory based lithium-focused mineral exploration company requested a trading halt.

    Why is the Core Lithium share price in a trading halt?

    This morning Core Lithium requested a trading halt pending the release of an announcement in relation to a share placement.

    It has requested that its shares remain in the trading halt until the earlier of the release of its announcement or the opening of trade on Wednesday.

    Why is the company raising funds?

    Management hasn’t provided any explanation for why it is launching the placement. However, it is likely to be related to activities at its 100%-owned Finniss Lithium Project located near Darwin in the Northern Territory.

    Over the last quarter, the company has been busy completing its lithium resource infill and expansion program at the Grants Deposit. This is a key component of the Finniss Lithium Project.

    It had three drill rigs operating at the Grants orebody to a maximum downhole depth of 342.5 metres. This drilling achieved excellent core recovery throughout, with the majority of the planned targets intersected as planned.

    Most of the drill holes intersected over 20 metres of pegmatite, which correlates well with its existing resource model at Grants. It is also expected to result in a high conversion of inferred mineral resource to indicated mineral resource. Management also expects the new indicated mineral resources at Grants to significantly increase the bankable life of mine (LOM) in Core Lithium’s updated Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

    Speaking of which, Core Lithium intends to start the estimation of a new mineral resource in early 2021. It is likely that the funds will be used for this activity and general working capital.

    Now certainly seems like a good time to raise funds. Lithium is one of the hottest sectors around and investors are piling funds into this side of the market en masse. Furthermore, with the Core Lithium share price rising a massive 750% over the last six months, this should give the company more bang for its buck when it comes to raising funds.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 these ASX silver shares are surging today

    asx silver shares represented by silver bull statue next to silver bear statue

    Last week, GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME) shares were in the news. But as we kick off a new week, some investors are focusing on another investment that’s currently kicking up a storm. Yes, silver shares are the talk of the ASX town today.

    Why? Well, as we reported earlier today, the now-famous Reddit group WallStreetBets has been bouncing around the idea that a short-squeeze could send the price of the precious metal to more than US$1,000 an ounce. According to Bloomberg, silver is up 6.64% today to US$28.70 an ounce. That’s up around 13% since 27 January, when it was priced at around US$25.40 an ounce.

    Silver as an investment

    Why silver though? Everyone knows that silver is a valuable precious metal. But gold is normally the ‘investment metal’ that jumps to mind, not silver. So why do people invest in silver in the first place?

    Well, silver has a number of characteristics that make it similar to gold. Like gold, silver has a long history of being used as money (our coins used to have silver in them, after all). Many countries in the past have also used a ‘silver standard’ for monetary policy, such as the United States used to have the gold standard.

    Further, silver is also believed by many to have ‘inflation-proof’ properties in the same way gold is perceived to have. It also has a limited supply and intrinsic value in the same way gold does. Unlike gold, however, silver also has a range of industrial applications as well, such as in rechargeable batteries and solar panels.

    So which ASX silver shares are surging today?

    ASX silver shares rocket

    One of the most popular silver plays on the ASX today is Silver Mines Limited (ASX: SVL). The Silver Mines share price is up an incredible 30.6% today (at the time of writing) to 32 cents a share. Silver Mines describes itself as “a leading silver exploration company” which fully owns the “largest undeveloped silver project in Australia, and one of the largest globally”. Its primary sites are the Barabolar and Bowdens Silver Projects in central New South Wales.

    Another ASX silver share that’s on the rise today is South32 Ltd (ASX: S32), which owns the Cannington Mine located near Mt Isa in Queensland. Cannington is one of the largest silver mines in the world. The South32 share price is up more than 3% today, a more muted response that probably reflects South32’s diversified operations.

    Also lighting up the ASX boards today is Adriatic Metals PLC (ASX: ADT) and Thomson Resources Ltd (ASX: TMZ). The Adriatic share price is up more than 11% at the time of writing, whereas Thomson shares are up a whopping 38.5%.

    The rising silver price is further reflected in the ETFS Physical Silver ETF (ASX: ETPMAG) unit price, which is up around 8% at the time of writing. This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) covers the raw price of silver. Units of this ETF represent ownership of physical silver bullion that is stored in a bank vault.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of ETFS Physical Silver ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The De Grey (ASX:DEG) share price is sliding lower today

    asx share price fall represented by man shrugging in disbelief

    The De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) share price is slipping today after the company announced its quarterly activities report for the period ending 31 December 2020. The De Grey share price is currently trading 2.09% lower at 93.5 cents.

    Shares in the ASX miner shot to fame last year on rising an astounding 1,920% in 2020. However, it has been a different story since the start of 2021, with the share price slumping more than 16% so far this year.

    What’s new?

    In today’s update, De Grey advised that its Hemi discovery in Western Australia continued to grow across multiple zones. The Hemi discovery is an intrusion hosted form of gold mineralisation which has not been previously encountered in the Pilbara region. The high value of the discovery is driven by its size and growth potential. Moreover, the overall Hemi system is now more than 400 metres deep and remains open.

    What more, the company announced that its exploration activity has accelerated. With the number of drills on the site increased to eight. It comes as more than 900 holes remain open on the company’s Mallina gold project.

    As of 31 December 2020, the company was well funded with approximately $103.8 million in cash.

    Growth strategy

    De Grey also released information on the company’s near term growth strategy within the report. According to management, the company aims to expand Hemi and drill mineralised intrusives around the site.

    Furthermore, the company aims to expand the existing resource base and explore untested areas along the company’s 200km of prospective zones.

    About the De Grey share price

    Shares in the ASX miner had a stellar in 2020 being the best performer on the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO). However, as mentioned this trend has not continued in 2021, falling in the first month of the year.

    De Grey has a market capitalisation of $1.21 billion.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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    Motley Fool contributor Daniel Ewing 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 Blackmores, Creso Pharma, Pilbara Minerals, & Zip shares are pushing higher

    shares valuation higher upgrade, growth shares

    In early afternoon trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fought back from a sizeable morning decline and is climbing higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark is up 0.2% to 6,617 points.

    Four ASX shares that have not let that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

    Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL)

    The Blackmores share price is up 4.5% to $76.85. Investors have been buying the health supplement company’s shares and others with high levels of short interest on Monday. It appears as though short sellers have been closing positions in a hurry amid concerns that the GameStop short squeeze could be replicated with their shares.

    Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX: CPH)

    The Creso Pharma share price has jumped 10% to 21.5 cents. This morning the cannabis company revealed that it believes it is well-positioned to benefit from changes in Australian regulations that came into effect this morning. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has downgraded low dose cannabidiol preparations from Schedule 4 (Prescription Medicine) to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicine). This means they can be picked up over the counter from a pharmacy without a prescription.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The Pilbara Minerals share price has surged 9% higher to $1.01. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner. However, last week Tesla blamed an underwhelming result on a lack of lithium batteries. This appears supportive of lithium demand and prices for 2021 and beyond.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

    The Zip share price is up 2% to $7.42. This morning Zip announced that its Chair, Philip Crutchfield, is stepping down from the role after more than five years with the company. He is exiting the role with immediate effect and will be replaced by Ms Diane Smith-Gander AO. Zip believes Ms Smith-Gander is ideally placed to lead Zip as it forges ahead as with its global expansion. The market appears happy with this appointment.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

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    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 and has recommended Blackmores Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The Thomson Resources (ASX:TMZ) share price is rocketing 38% today

    Miner holding a silver nugget

    The Thomson Resources Ltd (ASX: TMZ) share price is rocketing higher today, up 38.4% to 18 cents in late morning trade.

    This follows the company’s market update today on its activities for the December 2020 quarter.

    What did Thomson Resources report?

    Minerals explorer Thomson Resources today reported the advancement of its precious and base metals projects in Queensland and New South Wales.

    Thomson advised it has completed due diligence at the Hortons Gold Project near Tenterfield, New South Wales. It’s acquiring the project from Syndicate Minerals, a private company. According to the release, Hortons has “multiple intrusion related gold targets across multiple prospects” for future drilling.

    Thomson has also started auger drilling at its Chillagoe Gold Project. Assays are pending for 465 samples taken from 10 prospect areas. It noted that rock taken from its Laverock workings contained copper oxide azurite, which is a surface indicator of weathered copper sulphide ores.

    Meanwhile, the company revealed it had completed the phase 2 reverse circulation drilling program at its Yalgogrin Gold Project, totalling 6 holes for 720 metres. This follows up the “significant intercepts” from its July 2020 maiden drilling program.

    It also completed 2,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling at its Harry Smith Gold Project, testing a range of targets. One of the targets was a follow up from previous high-grade results including, 17m at 5.2 g/t Au from 28m, 9m at 9g/t Au and 54m at 1 g/t Au.

    Thomson also provided updates on its silver projects, including the Cannington Silver Project in Queensland.

    In November, Thomson announced that it had submitted an EPM application for 6-blocks 10kms west of the Cannington Silver mine owned by South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). In November Thomson also entered into a binding term sheet to acquire 100% of Caesar Resources, which holds around 90 sqkm of land near the Cannington Silver mine. That acquisition was completed in December. Thomson reports it now has a land area of 111.5sqkm in “this prolific silver region”.

    The company had cash of $5.4 million as at 31 December.

    Thomson Resources share price snapshot

    Thomson Resources shareholders have certainly had a happy new year so far.

    Including today’s 38.4% intraday gains, the Thomson Resources share price is up 47.5% in 2021. Investors who bought shares 12 months ago are sitting on a tidy gain of 450%.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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    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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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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  • On fire! 2 reasons why the Afterpay (ASX:APT) share price rocketed 12% in January

    ASX shares rise

    The Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price is not having a good day today. It’s not even lunchtime (at the time of writing), and yet Afterpay shares are currently down 0.81% to $134 a share.

    In fact, it hasn’t been a great week for the buy now, pay later (BNPL) pioneer, period. Since Wednesday last week, Afterpay shares are down more than 11%.

    But zooming out, it’s a different story. Over the month of January, Afterpay shares rose more than 13% (13.53% to be precise). On days like today, it can be easy to forget Afterpay made a new all-time high of $151.22 less than 2 weeks ago. Even after today’s fall, Afterpay shares remain up more than 9% year to date, not a bad way to open 2021.

    So why did Afterpay have such a good start to the year?

    Well, there are 2 possible reasons:

    1. Positive sentiment for Afterpay shares

    Afterpay has developed a reputation as a gift that keeps on giving. Think about it, this ASX share has delivered double- or triple-digit returns every year for the last few years to its loyal investors (despite some healthy volatility along the way). And many investors are reluctant to kill the golden goose, as it were.

    Further, as my Fool colleague James Mickleboro reported last week, Afterpay has recently also been upgraded by several brokers who expect Afterpay’s strong growth in subscribers and transaction volumes to continue unbridled in 2021 and beyond.

    Add to this a hugely successful US IPO for fellow BNPL company Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: AFRM) and you can see why investors might have wanted to keep jumping on the bandwagon in January with this one.

    2. A rising market lifts all boats

    When looking at the Afterpay share price over January, it pays to remember that the broader markets also had a top month…. until 25 January that is.

    Yes, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has come off the boil since then. But between New Year’s Day and 25 January, the index was up a healthy 2.1%. And that’s when Afterpay did most of its heavy lifting, share price wise.

    A growth stock like Afterpay tends to outperform the broader market when positive sentiment is strong. And it’s clear that this sentiment was strong enough to keep the Afterpay share price relatively high, even after the broader market sell-off over the past week or so.

    Remember, Afterpay investors, are probably used to volatility by now. And most of them have probably learnt that selling out on a dip has historically been a bad idea.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

    Returns as of 6th October 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.

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  • ASX 200 0.2%: Zip Chair steps down, Worley crashes, Blackmores & InvoCare jump

    ASX share

    At lunch on Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has recovered from its lows but is still trading slightly in the red. The benchmark index is currently down 0.2% to 6,593.7 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the market today:

    Zip Chair steps down

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price is pushing higher today despite announcing that its Chair, Philip Crutchfield, is stepping down from the role after more than five years with the company. Mr Crutchfield is exiting the role with immediate effect and will be replaced by Ms Diane Smith-Gander AO. Ms Smith-Gander is a seasoned professional non-executive director with chair experience. The company believes she is ideally placed to lead Zip as it forges ahead as with its global expansion.

    Worley update disappoints

    The Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) share price is crashing lower today following the release of a trading update. That update revealed that the engineering company’s performance has been impacted negatively by COVID-19. Combined with foreign exchange headwinds, Worley expects to report half year aggregated revenue of $4.4 billion to $4.5 billion and underlying EBITA of $200 million to $210 million. This compares to $5,998 million and $366 million, respectively, from the prior corresponding period.

    Shorted shares rise

    A number of ASX 200 shares that have been targeted by short sellers are on the rise today. This includes Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL), InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC), and Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB). They are all outperforming the market average by some distance at lunch. At the last count, these companies had 4%, 7.9%, and 10.3% of their shares in the hands of short sellers, respectively. These short sellers appear to be closing positions in a hurry following the GameStop short squeeze.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Monday has been the Blackmores share price with a 4.5% gain. Short sellers appear to be buying shares to close positions. The worst performer by some distance has been the Worley share price with a 14.5% decline following its disappointing update.

    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 June 30th

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    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 and has recommended Blackmores Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended InvoCare 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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  • Worley (ASX:WOR) share price crashed on profit warning

    Worley share price profit update

    The Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) share price took a dive this morning after issuing a disappointing profit update.

    It looks like the oil price recovery from COVID-19 may be slipperier to grasp than investors had originally thought!

    The WOR share price crashed 13.2% to a three month low of $9.91 at the time of writing. This makes the engineering contractor the worst performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) by a country mile.

    The next worse ASX stock is the Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price with a 5.7% plunge followed by the Janus Henderson Group CDI (ASX: JHG) share price with its 4.7% drop.

    WOR share price hit by profit downgrade

    The Worley share price is worse for wear as its first half profit is expected to be way down from the same time last year.

    Management is predicting that group revenue will range between $4.4 billion and $4.5 billion in 1HFY21.

    Interim underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) will fall to $200 million to $210 million.

    This compares to 1HFY20’s revenue of $6 billion and EBITA of $366 million. The impact of COVID is laid bare for all to see!

    Big drop from pre-COVID

    Management is blaming the pandemic for the poor result. It noted that several projects have been deferred but tried to put a positive spin on things.

    While project commencements have been pushed back, Worley is seeing few cancellations. Management is convinced these deferred projects will restart when the global economy improves.

    Worley taking a spin on the poor update

    It also was quick to point out that the group “continued to generate strong operating cash flow” and cut net debt by $1.2 billion to its lowest since its ECR acquisition in 2018.

    Further, the earnings weakness is partially offset by cost savings from a headcount reduction of around 47,600 and synergies from the ECR transaction.

    If that wasn’t a “rosy” enough picture, management believes the new US Biden presidency is great for its business.

    Worley’s energy transition

    Worley is in the process of pivoting towards renewable energy projects and away from carbon.

    “The clear shift in the political environment in the USA as well as ongoing policy rollout and anticipated increases in investment in the UK, Europe and Canada provide near-term opportunities in hydrogen, electrification, carbon capture, offshore wind and nuclear, while North America remains buoyant in renewable fuels and circular economy projects,” said Worley.

    Foolish takeaway

    While the medium- to longer-term outlook is positive for Worley, the trouble is the near term uncertainty.

    The pivot takes time and the global economic recovery from COVID remains highly uncertain.

    What’s more, while the positive operating cash flow is reassuring, it’s still down from the $277 million it generated in 1HFY20.

    Investing in Worley requires a lot of patience, in my view. And after three years of disappointments, that’s a lot of ask of shareholders.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

    Returns as of 6th October 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Lynas Limited and WorleyParsons Limited. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

    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 Link (ASX:LNK) share price is edging higher today

    hand on touch screen lit up by a share price chart moving higher

    The Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) share price is edging higher today following two positive updates.

    While the broader ASX market has fallen heavily in the past few days, the administration services company’s shares are pushing 1.67% higher to $4.86.

    What’s new?

    The Link share price is on the move today after the company provided investors with updates on its previously announced Pepper European Servicing (PES) takeover, and demerger of its investment in Property Exchange Australia Limited (PEXA).

    PES

    In today’s release, Link advised that it will exercise its right to terminate the binding agreement to acquire PES. This comes after the transaction, pending regulatory approvals and commercial conditions, lapsed the expiry date.

    Previously, Link entered into a binding agreement on 30 January, 2020, to takeover PES from the Pepper Group for £165 million.

    Based in London, PES provides end-to-end loan servicing and asset management in residential and commercial sectors throughout Europe.

    PEXA

    In additional news, Link also revealed that the trade sale process of PEXA is tracking along well.

    The company stated that it will put forward the trade sale process to maximise value for shareholders. Link will demerge its investment in PEXA through the sale of its shares and shareholder loans. Furthermore, the company said that the refinancing of its external debt will no longer go ahead.

    Words from the head of Link

    Commenting on the updates, Link Group CEO & managing director Vivek Bhatia said:

    The Link Group business is resilient with strong foundations. We have a clear strategic focus to simplify the business, deliver the global transformation program and maintain a strong balance sheet. As a result of the termination of the PES transaction, we will preserve the capital for future growth opportunities.

    The board is committed to maximising the value of its interest in PEXA for Link Group’s shareholders. PEXA’s cash balance continues to strengthen month-on-month highlighting the strong cash-flow conversion of this investment.

    About the Link share price

    The Link share price has underperformed over the past 12 months, with its shares down 25%.

    Having reached a 52-week high of $6.65 last January, the company’s shares took a steep dive in the following months. During the coronavirus-led market meltdown in March, its shares hit an all-time low of $2.64 before gradually climbing over time.

    Based on the current share price, Link commands a market capitalisation of roughly $2.5 billion.

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    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 Link Administration Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Link Administration Holdings Ltd. 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 Link (ASX:LNK) share price is edging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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