Stock Pick

  • BHP share price on watch after record-breaking FY24 iron ore production

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price will be on watch on Wednesday.

    That’s because the mining giant has just released its fourth quarter update.

    Let’s see how the Big Australian performed during the three months ended 30 June.

    BHP share price on watch following Q4 update

    BHP revealed that iron ore production came in at 69Mt for the fourth quarter. This was up 13% from the third quarter. This was driven by record monthly and quarterly production at WAIO as a result of the strong underlying performance at the mines and the benefits of Port Debottlenecking Project 1. This underpinned iron ore sales of 68.4Mt for the quarter.

    For the full year, BHP’s iron ore production increased 1% to a record 260Mt. Sales for the year rose 3% to 260.7Mt with an average realised price of US$101.04 per wmt. This is up 9% from US$92.54 per wmt in FY 2023.

    Also growing quarter on quarter was BHP’s copper production. It reported production of 505kt, which was an 8% increase from the third quarter. This reflects higher concentrator grade and throughput at Escondida and record production at Carrapateena following the commissioning of Crusher 2 in the previous quarter.

    For FY 2024, total copper production increased 9% to 1,865kt with an average realised price of US$3.98 per pound. The latter is up 8% year on year.

    Elsewhere, metallurgical coal and energy coal production was down 18% and 10%, respectively, for the quarter. This reflects divestments and unfavourable weather.

    This ultimately led to metallurgical coal falling 23% year on year. Whereas energy coal production still rose 8% from FY 2023.

    Finally, nickel production was up 22% in the fourth quarter and 2% in FY 2024.

    Management commentary

    BHP’s CEO, Mike Henry, was pleased with the way the miner finished the year. He said:

    We finished the year with a strong fourth quarter, achieving several production records and we are meeting current production and unit cost guidance for all commodities. WAIO continued its strong performance, delivering a second consecutive year of record production on the back of ongoing incremental improvements along its supply chain as we progress toward our medium-term goal of increasing production to greater than 305 Mtpa.

    We achieved a strong performance across our copper business globally, underpinned by the highest production in four years at Escondida and another year of record production from Spence in Chile. Successful integration at Copper South Australia has delivered additional production tonnes, and exceeded the annualised synergies planned at the time of the OZL acquisition.

    FY 2025 guidance

    BHP sees potential for another record year of iron ore production in FY 2025. It is forecasting production of 255Mt to 265.5Mt.

    In addition, copper production could be set for an increase in FY 2025. BHP is guiding to production between 1,845kt to 2,045kt.

    The BHP share price is down 5% over the last 12 months.

    The post BHP share price on watch after record-breaking FY24 iron ore production appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bhp Group shares, consider this:

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. 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 Scott Phillips.

  • Scientists discover an underground cave on the moon where astronauts could live, and suspect hundreds more

    underground lava tube lit by yellow light with low stone ceilings
    Lava tubes, like this one in Hawaii, could exist on the moon.

    George Rose/Getty Images

    • Scientists have the most convincing evidence yet of an underground cave on the moon. 
    • The large cave could be a safe, warm place for astronauts to work and live on the moon.
    • The researchers want to use radar technology to identify even more caves under the lunar surface.

    In the ongoing effort to establish a permanent lunar base where humans can live and work on the moon, scientists have discovered a possible game changer: a large underground cave.

    For decades, scientists have suspected the moon may harbor caves below its surface. Now, a new paper from a team of Italian researchers offers the most convincing evidence yet.

    "Lunar caves have remained a mystery for over 50 years. So it was exciting to be able to finally prove the existence," authors Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento told The Associated Press.

    The team speculates that, given how they think this cave formed, there could be hundreds more hidden under the lunar surface. Instead of building homes on the moon, we could inhabit the existing caverns beneath it.

    How such a large cave formed on the moon

    photo of holes in gray moon surface where lava tubes collapsed in creating dark pits
    The moon is covered in lava tubes, some of which have collapsed over time dotting the surface with deep pits. You can see here a lava tube on the right with multiple collapsed regions.

    NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

    Judging from the data, the researchers estimate the cave is approximately 150 feet wide and up to 260 feet long, which is slightly smaller than an American football field with the end zones cut off.

    The cave sits deep within a pit, called the Mare Tranquillitatis pit, which likely formed when a lava tube collapsed. The moon has no active volcanoes today, but billions of years ago, its surface was covered with lava that flowed down and through valleys, carving tubes across the lunar surface.

    Over millennia, some of those tubes became unstable and collapsed, creating pits, like the one the research team studied from radar images taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. We don't have a clear picture of what the caves look like inside, but lava tubes, like those in Hawaii, can offer some idea.

    NASA's LRO has identified over 200 of these pits on the moon, suggesting there could be hundreds of underground caves, too. These caves could offer future astronauts protection against the extreme conditions on the moon's surface, the researchers reported in the paper published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Astronomy.

    The pros and cons of living in moon caves

    close up of a pit on the moon showing a shadowed region on the pit's bottom with loose debris lining the inside
    Permanently shadowed regions inside lunar pits like Mare Tranquillitatis, shown here, could be a balmy 63 °F.

    Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera

    "The thick cave ceiling of rock is ideal to protect people and infrastructure from the wildly varying day-night lunar surface temperature variations and to block high energy radiation which bathes the lunar surface," Katherine Joy, a professor in earth sciences at the University of Manchester who wasn't involved with the study, told The Guardian.

    Because the moon has no atmosphere to help regulate climate, its surface sees drastic temperature swings. During the day, the sun's heat bakes the lunar surface to about 250 °F and at night it can dip below -200 °F.

    But in underground caves, the temperature would be both consistent and, per past research, very comfortable.

    In a 2022 study of the same region — Mare Tranquillitatis — a separate team of researchers used computer simulations to suggest that permanently shadowed regions within these lunar pits, and any adjacent caves, would remain at around 63 °F.

    Reaching these pits and caves is another matter. The cave inside Mare Tranquillitatis is located over 400 feet from the surface near the bottom of a steep slope lined with loose debris.

    Getting up and down that slope would require some technological ingenuity, whether it's jet packs that can fly us in and out, some type of lunar elevator that can shuttle people up and down, or something else.

    To the moon cave and beyond

    a person in a white spacesuit collects rocks on a mock up of the moon's surface
    Exploring caves on the moon could offer a plethora of scientific data and resources for future space missions.

    Caspar Benson/Getty Images

    Radar technology could help scientists identify even more caves and tubes extending from open pits on the moon's surface. In the future, a spacecraft with a higher-resolution radar could even map the interior of all the pits LRO has identified, according to the Nature paper.

    Such a "complete survey" would allow them to assess the best locations for further exploration and future moon bases, the researchers wrote.

    There's also a chance that moon caves harbor water, which will be a crucial resource for any future moon bases.

    Scientists have long known there's frozen water on the moon — just under its surface, in its permanently shadowed craters, and even in lonely H2O molecules sprinkled across the sunlit lunar dirt, less moist than the Sahara Desert.

    Since underground caves are shielded from the merciless vacuum of space and the radiation of the sun, they could have water ice, Bruzzone told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

    Access to lunar water is key to NASA's plans to establish a permanent base on the moon and, eventually, use it to hopscotch astronauts to Mars. Water wouldn't just be for drinking; it could also be broken down into its elementary components — hydrogen for rocket fuel and oxygen for breathing.

    Bruzzone and his co-authors also noted that caves and lava tubes of different ages may act like fossilized records of the moon's history. Eventually, exploring them up close could help scientists better understand volcanic activity.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Biden is finalizing plans to announce term limits and a new ethics code targeting the Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court building (left) in a composite image next to President Joe Biden (right).

    Getty Images

    • Joe Biden may propose term limits and an ethics code for the Supreme Court, The Washington Post reported.
    • The plan would need congressional approval, and Biden is turning to his allies for help.
    • The president has long rejected calls to expand the Supreme Court, despite pressure to do so.

    President Joe Biden may be preparing to take on the conservative-majority Supreme Court head-on, according to a new report by The Washington Post.

    Biden is planning to announce a proposal to establish term limits and an enforceable ethics code on the high court, the outlet reported, citing people briefed on the plan. Specific details of the proposal — or when it might be officially announced — were not immediately available.

    The Supreme Court has an existing code of conduct, rolled out last November, which outlines when a sitting Justice should recuse themselves from a case and when outside activities may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. However, unlike the code that binds lower court justices, the Supreme Court's ethics code lacks any enforcement mechanism. It requires sitting Justices to regulate themselves, with critics regarding the measures as toothless against the court's lifetime appointees.

    Most changes to the Supreme Court would require congressional approval to enact, so Biden is turning to his allies in the House and Senate for help, the Post reported.

    "I'm going to need your help on the Supreme Court, because I'm about to come out — I don't want to prematurely announce it — but I'm about to come out with a major initiative on limiting the court," the Post reported Biden said, according to a transcript of a Saturday call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "I've been working with constitutional scholars for the last three months, and I need some help."

    Representatives for the Biden administration and Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

    The proposals would appear to be an attempt to restrain the Supreme Court's expanding power and balance the polarized conservative court without adding new Justices to the bench.

    Biden has rejected calls to expand the Supreme Court for years, despite arguments to do so amid ongoing ethics concerns facing the Court.

    Justice Clarence Thomas has been the subject of intense scrutiny following reports that he accepted lavish gifts and vacations from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

    Justice Samuel Alito has also been sharply criticized after it was discovered that a Revolutionary-era "Appeal to Heaven" flag, regarded as a pro-Trump symbol, was flying for weeks over his New Jersey vacation home last summer.

    Two Democratic Senators earlier this month called for a special counsel to investigate Thomas over allegations of tax fraud and failure to disclose gifts from Crow he had been given.

    Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has filed articles of impeachment against both Thomas and Alito on ethical grounds, citing their refusal to recuse themselves from cases they may be connected to, and Thomas' undisclosed gifts. The move followed the Supreme Court's decision granting former President Donald Trump wide-reaching immunity for acts taken during his administration.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighters may carry nuclear-armed missiles

    Pakistan's JF-17 fighter was recently photographed carrying what appears to be a missile that can be outfitted with a nuclear warhead.
    Pakistan's JF-17 fighter was recently photographed carrying what appears to be a missile that can be outfitted with a nuclear warhead.

    Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images

    • Analysts believe Pakistan may be arming its JF-17 fighters with nuclear-armed cruise missiles.
    • Suspicions the JF-17 could be armed with nuclear missiles were speculative until a recent photo.
    • India and Pakistan have fought four wars and clashed repeatedly at their border. 

    The nuclear balance of terror between America and Russia, and now also America and China, attracts the most concern about an atomic apocalypse. But the simmering conflict between India and Pakistan — both of which are nuclear powers — is no less dangerous.

    Now there are indications that Pakistan is arming its JF-17 fighters with nuclear-capable cruise missiles. The JF-17s are replacing older French-made Mirage jets that Pakistan has tasked for nuclear strike missions, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

    "These developments, along with heightened tensions in the region, have raised concerns about accelerated arms racing as well as new risks for escalation in a potential conflict between India and Pakistan, especially since India is also increasing the size and improving the capabilities of its nuclear arsenal," wrote FAS analyst Eliana Johns.

    Not surprisingly given Pakistan's secretiveness over its nuclear program, the evidence for nuclear-armed JF-17s is somewhat circumstantial. Pakistan's current nuclear strike aircraft are the 1960s-vintage Mirage V, armed with nuclear bombs, and the Mirage III, which has been tested with the Ra'ad cruise missile, which can be armed with nuclear or conventional warheads. And a JF-17 in flight was recently photographed carrying what appears to be a Ra'ad missile.

    However, the Pakistani Air Force has at least 130 of the JF-17 Thunder, a joint project between Pakistan and China that created a fighter that is equivalent to the US F-16 (Pakistan also operates 75 F-16s). The aircraft, designated the FC-1 Xiaolong ("Fierce Dragon") in Chinese service, first flew in 2003.

    Suspicions that the JF-17 would be armed with Ra'ad missiles were mostly speculative, until a photo surfaced recently. "During rehearsals for the 2023 Pakistan Day Parade (which was subsequently canceled), an image surfaced of a JF-17 Thunder Block II carrying what was reported to be a Ra'ad ALCM," according to FAS. "Notably, this was the first time such a configuration had been observed in public."

    The Federation of American Scientists "was able to purchase the original image," and compared the Ra'ad mounted on the JF-17 with previous images. One question was which version of the Ra'ad had been fitted to the JF-17. The Ra'ad I (also known as the Hatf-8) is a subsonic air-launched cruise missile with an estimated range of more than 200 miles, and corresponds to other models such as the Europe's Storm Shadow, according to the CSIS Missile Threat defense site. The newer Ra'ad II reportedly has a range of almost 400 miles. Pakistan is also developing the Taimoor, an anti-ship version of the Ra'ad.

    Using tools such as Photoshop Vanishing Point to analyze the images, FAS concluded that JF-17 had been armed with the older Ra'ad I. If true, this would put numerous targets within western and northern India within range of nuclear or conventional cruise missiles.

    "There are several air bases in Pakistan located near the border," Johns told Business Insider. "The aircraft would be able to scramble and fly to dispersal bases within Pakistan's borders to get closer to potential targets inside India at a range of 350 to 600 kilometers if desired."

    There is still considerable uncertainty about the exact capabilities of the Ra'ad. "Observing the differences between the Ra'ad-I and Ra'ad-II missiles raises a few questions," FAS noted. "How was Pakistan able to nearly double the range of the Ra'ad from an estimated 350 kilometers to 550 kilometers and then to 600 kilometers for the newest version without noticeably changing the size of the missile to carry more fuel? The answer could possibly be that the Ra'ad-II engine design is more efficient, the construction components are made from lighter-weight materials or the payload has been reduced."

    Thus for now, Pakistan's air-launched cruise missile capability will remain a mystery. It is "unclear whether either of the Ra'ad systems has been deployed, but this may only be a question of when rather than if," FAS said. "Once deployed, it remains to be seen if Pakistan will also continue to retain a nuclear gravity bomb capability for its aircraft or transition to stand-off cruise missiles only."

    And though the JF-17 is a joint Sino-Pakistani aircraft, Johns doubts that China will try to restrain Pakistan from modifying it into a nuclear strike aircraft. "China and Pakistan have enjoyed economic and technical partnership for a long time," Johns said. "It is suspected that Pakistan received a blueprint for its first nuclear device from China. The JF-17s were not built for a nuclear mission in the Chinese air force. Nonetheless, Pakistan seems to be preparing it for this capability since the Mirage III and V aircraft are aging."

    Pakistan's main delivery system for its estimated 170 nuclear weapons will continue to be ballistic missiles, which include at least six models of road-mobile rockets. But extending the range of Pakistani aerial nuclear weapons will only exacerbate the potential for nuclear war. Both Pakistan and India are already developing multiple warhead, or MIRV, versions of their ballistic missiles, and Pakistan is working on short-range, dual-use ballistic missiles. India and Pakistan have fought four wars — and numerous border clashes — since the Indian subcontinent was partitioned in 1947. In 2019, Pakistan made veiled nuclear threats after Indian aircraft bombed Kashmiri militant bases in Pakistan.

    "This context presents an even greater need for transparency and understanding about the quality and intentions behind states' nuclear programs to prevent mischaracterization and misunderstanding," Johns concluded.

    Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Buy Telstra and these ASX dividend stocks this week

    Man holding different Australian dollar notes.

    If you are on the lookout for new income portfolio additions, then read on.

    That’s because listed below are four ASX dividend stocks that analysts believe could be quality picks for investors this month. Here’s what they are expecting from them:

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

    Over at Ord Minnett, its analysts think that Aurizon could be an ASX dividend stock to buy.

    It is a rail freight operator that transports a range of commodities, including mining, agricultural, industrial and retail products across a network spanning thousands of kilometres.

    Ord Minnett expects this network to support partially franked dividends of 18.6 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 24.4 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Aurizon share price of $3.66, this will mean dividend yields of 5.1% and 6.7%, respectively.

    Ord Minnett has an accumulate rating and $4.70 price target on its shares.

    Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

    Analysts at Morgans think that Inghams could be an ASX dividend stock to buy. It is Australia’s leading poultry producer and supplier.

    It likes the company due to its leadership position and attractive valuation. It also expects some great yields from its shares in the near term. Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of 22 cents per share in FY 2024 and FY 2025. Based on the current Inghams share price of $3.62, this will mean dividend yields of 6.1%.

    Morgans has an add rating and $4.25 price target on its shares.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    The team at Goldman Sachs thinks this telco giant could be a top ASX dividend stock to buy right now.

    Especially after the company increased its mobile plans. The broker believes its mobile business will underpin low risk earnings and dividend growth in the coming years.

    In respect to the latter, Goldman is forecasting fully franked dividends of 18 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 19 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Telstra share price of $3.83, this equates to yields of 4.7% and 5%, respectively.

    Goldman has a buy rating and $4.30 price target on Telstra’s shares.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Finally, analysts at Citi think that Transurban could be an ASX dividend stock to buy.

    It builds and operates toll roads in Australia and North America. Among its portfolio are CityLink in Melbourne and the Eastern Distributor in Sydney.

    Thanks partly to its positive exposure to inflation, the broker is expecting Transurban to be in a position to pay dividends per share of 63.6 cents in FY 2024 and then 65.1 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Transurban share price of $12.94, this will mean yields of 4.9% and 5%, respectively.

    Citi has a buy rating and $15.50 price target on its shares.

    The post Buy Telstra and these ASX dividend stocks this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Aurizon Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Aurizon Holdings Limited shares, consider this:

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aurizon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Should you buy Rio Tinto shares after the miner’s update?

    Miner looking at his notes.

    Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares were out of form on Tuesday. The mining giant’s shares tumbled 2.5% to $116.81.

    Investors were hitting the sell button in response to a second quarter update which fell short of the market’s expectations.

    Has this created a buying opportunity for investors? Let’s see what analysts at Goldman Sachs are saying about the miner.

    What is the broker saying?

    Goldman highlights that Rio Tinto’s update was a touch on the mixed side with positives and negatives. It commented:

    RIO reported Pilbara iron ore shipments of 80.3Mt, ahead of GSe (+2%) but in line with consensus. IOC production missed by c.15% (2.2Mt) on lower mining rates and maintenance; regional wildfires are likely to impact 3Q volumes. Pilbara 1H’24 realised price of US$105.8/t was lower than GSe at US$106.5/t. Pilbara cash cost guidance is unchanged at US$21.75-23.5/t (GSe US$23.3/t) with June H costs expected to be above the top end due to lower 1H volumes.

    The good news is that the broker still believes that Rio Tinto can achieve its guidance for the full year. It adds:

    For RIO to hit the midpoint of Pilbara shipments guidance of 323-338Mt (GSe 331Mt), a 2H run-rate of 345Mtpa is required, which we believe is achievable.

    Are Rio Tinto shares a buy?

    In response to the update, Goldman has reaffirmed its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $136.10. Based on its current share price of $116.81, this implies potential upside of 16.5% for Rio Tinto’s shares over the next 12 months.

    In addition, the broker is expecting dividend yields of approximately 5.5% in both FY 2024 and FY 2025, which boosts the total potential 12-month return to approximately 22%.

    Goldman continues to believe that its shares are good value compared to peers. It said:

    Compelling relative valuation: trading at c. ~0.8x NAV (A$144.0/sh) vs. peers (BHP ~0.9x NAV and FMG ~1.3x NAV) and c. ~5.5x NTM EBITDA at GSe base case, below the historical average of ~6-7x. 2.

    It also highlights its attractive free cash flow (FCF) and dividend yield. The broker adds:

    FCF/dividend yield in 2024E (c. 6%/6% yield) & 2025E (c. 7%/6% yield) driven by our bullish view on aluminium and copper in 2H24 (~30% of group EBITDA in 2024 increasing to 45-50% by 2026) and constructive view on iron ore.

    And finally, Goldman likes Rio Tinto due to its production growth potential. It explains:

    RIO is a FCF and production growth story in our view, with forecast Cu Eq production growth of ~4-7% in 2025 & 2026 driven by the ramp-up of the Oyu Tolgoi UG copper mine & a recovery at Escondida and Bingham, higher Pilbara Fe shipments with the ramp-up of new mines, and a rebound in aluminium production + the acquisition of Matalco.

    The post Should you buy Rio Tinto shares after the miner’s update? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Rio Tinto Limited right now?

    Before you buy Rio Tinto Limited shares, consider this:

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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 Scott Phillips.

  • What’s next for Droneshield stock after Tuesday’s 22% drop

    woman holding man's hand as he falls representing ups and downs of ASX investing

    Yesterday’s ASX session was a fairly muted one for investors. Tuesday saw the All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) Index lose 0.23% of its value to finish at 8,243.3 points. But it was a far more dramatic day for DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) stock.

    Droneshield shares started the day by printing yet another new record high of $2.72 a share. But that was in the first minutes of trading, and it was all downhill from there. By mid-afternoon, the company had seemingly inexplicably lost more than 30% of its value. Droneshield even got down to $1.79 a share at one point.

    The stock was suspended from trading for a couple of hours but returned to trading about an hour before the closing bell. When said bell rang, the company closed at $2.02 a share, down a horrid 22.31% for the day.

    As we covered at the time, it was initially hard to see what was going on with Droneshield stock. There wasn’t any news or announcements from the company we could point to.

    So it was speculated this was just a severe case of everyone trying to take their money off the table at once.

    After all, this was a stock that was up by more than 615% year to date at one point yesterday. The company was also up almost 80% over just the preceding month.

    But now that the dust has settled somewhat, we have a clearer picture of what went on during Tuesday’s trading session.

    What on earth happened to DroneShield stock on Tuesday?

    Naturally, after yesterday’s unexpected stock price plunge, Droneshield was sent a ‘please explain’ share price query by the ASX after its shares were temporarily halted from trading.

    When asked to give its best explanation for what went on yesterday afternoon, Droneshield pointed the finger at an article that was released, discussing its shares. This article, the company asserted, included the following:

    • Share price performance over the recent period;

    • Comparison of DRO’s market cap to several large companies across different industries in the Australian market;

    • Statements by two fund managers on their opinion of DRO’s valuation being overheated;

    • Statements from two stock analysts on their outlook for DRO;

    • Brief summary of DRO’s business;

    • Reference to DRO being a popularly traded stock on several broker platforms; and

    • A historical sale of DRO’s shares held by one of DRO’s Directors’, Jethro Marks.

    The company also told investors that “There is no new information or change of circumstance around the business”. It also affirmed it was complying with all ASX listing rules.

    What’s next?

    Given the rather unusual and unexpected nature of yesterday’s events, we’ll only know how investors will react when the market opens today. It’s arguably possible that we’ll see a big rise upward for Droneshield stock. But then again, it’s equally possible that there will be another sell-off, or not much movement at all.

    It is worth noting that Droneshield shares were still being heavily sold when they returned to trading yesterday afternoon after the company had made its case. But it’s unclear how investors will react today after everyone has had a breather. We’ll soon find out.

    The post What’s next for Droneshield stock after Tuesday’s 22% drop appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Droneshield Limited right now?

    Before you buy Droneshield Limited shares, consider this:

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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 Scott Phillips.

  • 2 ASX tech stocks to buy now: Broker

    Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.

    If you’re looking for some tech sector exposure, then you may want to check out these two stocks in this article.

    That’s because analysts at Bell Potter have just named them as ASX tech stocks to buy. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

    Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

    The first ASX tech stock that Bell Potter is bullish on is Hub24. It is an investment platform provider with $84.4 billion of funds under administration (FUA).

    Bell Potter has been impressed with the company’s growth in FY 2024 and believes it is well-positioned to continue this positive trend in the coming years. In light of this, it feels its shares are undervalued at current levels. It said:

    We reiterate our Buy recommendation. HUB looks cheap relative to other high growth specialist platforms and the outlook for principal net flows should underpin incremental earnings growth. Our preference is predicated on a large exposure to superannuation assets. Delivering on complex integrations is another tick in our view.

    Bell Potter has a buy rating and $53.20 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 14% for investors from current levels.

    Integrated Research Limited (ASX: IRI)

    Another ASX tech stock that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is experience management solutions provider Integrated Research.

    It designs, develops, implements, and sells solutions that optimise business-critical systems. This provides insights, monitoring, and support to keep payment hubs, unified communications ecosystems, and contact centres running as they should.

    Bell Potter was pleased with the company’s performance during the second half and notes that management now expects to hit the upper end of its guidance range for revenue and earnings. This has ultimately boosted the broker’s confidence in the tech stock’s outlook and underpinned an increase in its valuation. It said:

    We have updated each valuation used in the determination of our price target for the forecast changes and also rolled forward the DCF by a year. We have also increased the multiples we apply in the PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations from 9.5x and 7.25x to 10.5x and 7.75x and also reduced the WACC we apply in the DCF from 10.2% to 9.7% due to the strong FY24 result and relatively positive outlook.

    Bell Potter has put a buy rating and $1.05 price target on the company’s shares. Based on its current share price of 90 cents, this suggests that upside of 17% is possible over the next 12 months.

    The post 2 ASX tech stocks to buy now: Broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Hub24 Limited right now?

    Before you buy Hub24 Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Hub24 Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Donald Trump still won’t tweet — even after all Elon Musk has done. It’s kind of funny to watch.

    Donald Trump hasn't posted on Elon Musk's X.
    Donald Trump hasn't posted on Elon Musk's X.

    Win McNamee/Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

    • Elon Musk has endorsed Donald Trump, and he's reportedly giving $45 million a month toward a win.
    • But Trump hasn't really posted on Musk's X since 2021. He has an exclusive deal with his own Truth Social.
    • Gotta admit … LOL.

    Donald Trump hasn't really tweeted since 2021 — even though Elon Musk unlocked his account and has now reportedly pledged $45 million a month toward getting him elected.

    It's kind of funny if you think about it: the richest man in the world, super thirsty for a former president to post — please, just post anything! — on the troubled Twitter, err X. But Trump is so far refusing.

    Of course, there's a reason Trump hasn't tweeted since 2021, save for a picture of his mugshot and a link to his website last August. It's because of his deal with Truth Social, the platform owned by his Trump Media & Technology Group — Ticker symbol DJT. (He has a 60% share.)

    That deal says any of his posts have to be exclusive to Truth Social for six hours before they can be posted elsewhere. Sure, he could post the same thing to X hours after he posts to Truth, but he just hasn't.

    Elon Musk has been good to Donald Trump

    This is even after Musk said he "fully" endorsed Trump after the past weekend's heinous shooting. And after Musk reportedly has pledged about $45 million a month to a new Trump-focused super political action committee.

    The endorsement and donation aren't even the first big things Musk has done for Trump: Soon after taking over Twitter, one of the first things he did was reinstate Trump's Twitter account, which previous owners banned after the January 6 insurrection. Musk took a poll of users and announced, "The people have spoken," when bringing back the former president.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Certainly, Musk would love to have Trump once again posting on X. Trump, when he tweeted, was a juggernaut of attention (for better or worse — I make no claims here that Trump's tweets were "good"). Having Trump tweeting again would be a boon for X. His tweets would attract media hype and bring users to the service.

    And X CEO Linda Yaccarino loves nothing more than to hype up how exciting X is and how engaged its audience is. It's hard to imagine she wouldn't be excited to have the most notable tweeter going hard again.

    And yet … Trump still won't tweet.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Trump hasn't posted to Instagram or Facebook, either, even though Meta — which had also banned Trump's accounts after January 6, reinstated them in 2023. But that might make Meta perfectly happy, since it's less hassle for them to deal with possible content moderation issues.

    But here's why Trump might also be reticent to post — anywhere aside from Truth Social: Trump's deal with the company is highly lucrative. Trump Media & Technology went public via SPAC back in May. The stock has been volatile, but it's up more than 178% over the past year and its market cap is over $7 billion — and Trump owns over 60%, making his stake around $4 billion.

    Trump probably really wants to tweet

    It's hard to imagine Trump not feeling the need to tweet. And it is even harder to imagine Trump playing by the rules and following a contract.

    But indeed — for $4 billion, he's apparently willing to play by the rules.

    For Musk, that's gotta sting.

    To be sure, Musk's endorsement and donation toward his reelection efforts obviously aren't an attempt to get Trump to tweet. Musk has other significant business interests where he'd prefer Trump as president: Tesla in China, government contracts for SpaceX, etc. He also probably just simply believes in Trump's message. I've asked for comment from PR people for both men.

    But you gotta admit: It is pretty funny that Musk is really doing everything he can to appear to suck up to Trump, and Trump isn't doing the one thing that might make Musk very happy: tweeting.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Own Pilbara Minerals shares? Here’s what to expect from next week’s Q4 update

    A man in trendy clothing sits on a bench in a shopping mall looking at his phone with interest and a surprised look on his face.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares will be on watch next week.

    That’s because the lithium giant is scheduled to release its highly anticipated quarterly update on 24 July.

    Ahead of the release of the update, let’s take a look at what the market is expecting from the miner when it hands down its report card.

    What should you expect?

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts are expecting Pilbara Minerals to report stronger than expected spodumene production for the three months ended 30 June.

    It is forecasting production of 194,000dmt, which is up 10.2% quarter on quarter and 19% on the prior corresponding period.

    Whereas the consensus estimate is for a smaller increase in production to 184,000dmt for the fourth quarter.

    What about sales?

    Goldman is expecting Pilbara Minerals’ spodumene sales to also come in ahead of expectations. It is forecasting sales of 209,000dmt, compared to the consensus estimate of 190,000dmt.

    However, the broker believes this will be achieved with a realised spodumene price of US$923 per tonne. This is short of the consensus estimate of US$961 per tonne. It is also down 71.7% from US$3,256 per tonne a year earlier.

    Still profitable

    Despite the collapse in lithium prices, Goldman expects Pilbara Minerals’ operations to remain profitable. The broker has pencilled in unit cash costs (including freight and royalties) of US$489 per tonne. This will be down from US$519 per tonne in the previous quarter.

    At the end of the quarter, the broker expects this to leave Pilbara Minerals with a cash balance of US$1,299 million.

    Should you buy Pilbara Minerals shares?

    Despite its relatively positive view on the company’s operations, Goldman Sachs isn’t recommending Pilbara Minerals shares as a buy.

    It currently has a sell rating and $2.60 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $3.00, this implies potential downside of approximately 14% for investors over the next 12 months.

    It recently commented:

    We see near-term FCF continuing to decline on lithium prices and increasing growth spend (c. -10% FCF yield in FY24E, and c.0% in FY25-27E). Overall, we see PLS spending ~A$0.85bn on P1400, taking total capex spend from FY24E to FY28E on current and P1400 expansions to ~A$3bn, ~A$0.9bn ahead of consensus which already prices further expansion. Furthermore, we see PLS’ net cash declining to ~A$0.8-0.9bn (though still a relatively strong position vs. some peers and defensive into a declining lithium price), where with the stock trading at ~1.2x NAV (peer average ~1.05x), or pricing ~US$1,300/t spodumene (including a nominal value of A$1.1bn for growth) vs. peers at ~US$1,210/t (lithium pure-plays ~US$1,110/t; GSe US$1,150/t LT real), we see PLS as relatively expensive on fundamentals.

    The post Own Pilbara Minerals shares? Here’s what to expect from next week’s Q4 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pilbara Minerals Limited right now?

    Before you buy Pilbara Minerals Limited shares, consider this:

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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 Scott Phillips.