Tag: Fool

ASX lithium shares counted among the worst stock market performers in the year just past.

Taking a look at the share prices over the past 12 months, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained a respectable 8%. And that’s not including the dividends a number of those stocks pay out.

As for ASX lithium shares, here’s how some of the top names performed over this same period:

• Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are down 41%
• Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are down 91%
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares are down 62%
• Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares are down 67%
• Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) shares are down 83%
• Lake Resources (ASX: LKE) shares are down 87%

I think we can all agree these are some fast falling knives.

What’s happening with lithium prices?

As you’re likely aware, lithium producers and explorers across the globe have come under heavy selling pressure as the price of the battery critical metal crashed from all-time highs of more than US$8,000 per tonne in November 2022 to just under US$1,000 a tonne this week.

The massive retrace that’s been pressuring ASX lithium shares came as rapid global supply growth outpaced slower than expected demand growth.

On the demand side, EV growth rates in the EU and US have dropped markedly as electric vehicles struggle to compete with cheaper combustion powered rivals.

What’s next for ASX lithium shares?

Whether ASX lithium shares represent screaming bargains after the past year’s dismal performance or remain falling knives hinges on what we can expect for lithium prices.

And on that front, the medium-term outlook looks grim, with most analysts forecasting subdued prices for several years to come.

According to UBS analyst Levi Spry (quoted by The Australian Financial Review), “With a view that lithium markets remain well to over-supplied, we expect prices to stay lower for longer.”

UBS rates lithium producers a sell “where valuations still appear stretched”. The broker estimates that markets are still pricing lithium in the range of US$1,200 to US$1,480 per tonne.

Commenting on what drove the boom in ASX lithium shares, NabTrade’s head of investor behaviour Gemma Dale said (quoted by ABC News):

Seeing Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) go to the Moon, there was just a lot of heat in that sector. And what it meant was that investors were chasing a lot of companies that were not hyper viable. There was a lot of hype.

Falling knives or screaming bargains?

Over the short to medium-term, then, ASX lithium shares look more like falling knives that could pare down your initial investment.

However, long-term investors may well look back at today’s beaten-down prices as screaming bargains.

“Those [lithium stocks] who have sort of strong, viable business models will perform in the long run. The ones that were a little bit more speculative might not play out quite so well,” Dale said.

Earlier this week, Richard Coppleson, director of institutional sales and trading at Bell Potter, labelled ASX lithium share Pilbara Minerals “a super buy at these levels”.

Coppleson said, “When lithium does recover, this is back to $5; only question is when will that be?”

Pilbara Minerals shares are currently trading for $3.05 apiece.

Now, whether you’re looking to buy ASX lithium shares or any other stocks, be sure to do your own research first. If you’re not comfortable with that or don’t have the time, just reach out for some expert advice.

The post ASX lithium shares: Screaming bargains or falling knives? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 EV trends Tesla and Rivian investors should understand now
• Why Tesla shares kept rallying today
• Down 42%: Are Pilbara Minerals shares good value now?
• Why the Liontown share price could jump 25%+

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Are you on the lookout for some big dividend yields? If you are, then it could be worth checking out the three ASX dividend stocks in this article.

That’s because they have been named as buys and tipped to offer yields of greater 7%+ in the near term. Here’s what analysts are forecasting from them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

Accent Group could be a great ASX dividend stock to buy according to analysts at Bell Potter. It is a leading leisure footwear retailer with a large network of stores across multiple brands. This includes HypeDC, Platypus, and The Athlete’s Foot.

Bell Potter likes the company. It notes that it remains “constructive on AX1 given the scale & exposure in terms of channels, brands & size as the overall industry navigates a challenging retail spend environment.”

The broker expects this to allow the company to pay fully franked dividends per share of 13 cents in FY 2024 and then 14.6 cents in FY 2025. Based on the latest Accent share price of $1.88, this represents dividend yields of 6.9% and 7.8%, respectively.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $2.50 price target on its shares.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

Another high-yield ASX dividend stock for investors to consider buying is APA Group. It is an energy infrastructure company that owns, manages, and operates a portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets.

Macquarie is positive on the company and expects its long run of dividend increases to continue. It is forecasting dividends per share of 56 cents in FY 2024 and then 57.5 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current APA Group share price of $7.88, this equates to 7.1% and 7.3% dividend yields, respectively.

Its analysts currently have an outperform rating and $9.40 price target on its shares.

Dexus Convenience Retail REIT (ASX: DXC)

A third ASX dividend stock that could be a great option for income investors is Dexus Convenience Retail REIT. It owns a portfolio of service station and convenience retail assets across Australia.

Morgans believes the company is positioned to reward shareholders with some big dividends in the near term. It is forecasting dividends per share of 21 cents in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $2.62, this implies dividend yields of 8% for both years.

The broker currently has an add rating and $3.23 price target on its shares.

The post Analysts say these ASX dividend stocks with ~7% yields are top buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Australian dividend machines: 3 ASX shares that generate reliable passive income
• ASX 200 stock slips on $145 million impairment
• Why APA Group, Chalice Mining, Guzman Y Gomez, and Monadelphous shares are falling
• 3 cheap ASX passive income shares I’d buy to target $1,000 a month
• Which ASX dividend shares are predicted to have the highest yields in FY25?

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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When reviewing some of the best performers of the ASX All Ords in FY24, it can seem deceptively easy to make major money on the share market, can’t it?

While past performance is never a guarantee of future performance, let’s take a look at some of the ASX All Ords shares that went gangbusters in FY24, delivering some mesmerising share price gains.

5 ASX All Ords shares that skyrocketed in FY24

Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

ASX All Ords healthcare share Clarity Pharmaceuticals screamed 674.29% higher in FY24. Excitement is building around Clarity’s highly targeted radiopharmaceuticals that can be used for both the diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases, including cancer.

The bulk of the stock’s meteoric price rise in FY24 began in April. The company announced that the first patient ever to be dosed with two cycles of 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA at 8GBq achieved a complete response to treatment based on RECIST criteria. That meant the patient had maintained undetectable levels of prostate cancer for almost six months.

Droneshield (ASX: DRO)

The share price of ASX All Ords defence company Droneshield went skyward in FY24, rising 647.83%.

The stock got a substantial lift in January after the company launched its Expeditionary Fixed-Site (EFS) Kit for the DroneSentry-X Mk2, which provides AI-driven detection, identification and defeat capabilities for mobile and expeditionary uses.

Another game-changing announcement came in May when Droneshield revealed a repeat order of A$5.7 million from a US Government customer for several of its CUxS (Counter-UxS) systems.

Spartan Resources Ltd (ASX: SPR)

ASX All Ords gold miner Spartan Resources (formerly known as Gascoyne Resources) had a fantastic year in FY24, with the share price rising 482.35%. Spartan owns the Dalgaranga Gold Project, located 65km northwest of Mt Magnet in Western Australia’s Murchison Region.

The stock moved up steadily all year but got a good bump in March when the company released assay results showing the Never Never Gold Deposit was 1km deep. In May, further drilling results also excited the market and put the stock on a steeper upward trajectory through to the end of FY24.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

ASX All Ords technology stock Nuix edged higher all year, racking up a 262.35% share price gain for FY24.

The analytics and intelligence software provider released a bullish FY24 earnings update in May. Nuix was forecasting that its FY24 statutory earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) would increase by more than 35% to be in the range of $47 million to $52 million. Just two weeks later, the company updated those forecasts again and is now expecting EBITDA of $55 million to $60 million.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Shares in this ASX All Ords buy now, pay later (BNPL) company zipped 256.1% higher over the course of FY24.

The stock began a gradual lift in value from October, brought about by strong first-quarter results. The Zip share price got another boost on the back of the half-year update released in January.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The BNPL stock gave back 10.5% of its gains on 16 April, the day it released its third-quarter results. The Zip share price then recovered to finish the year a few cents shy of its 52-week high.

The post 5 ASX All Ords shares that rose 250% to 700% in FY24 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Zip shares surge 10%, bringing gains to 55% in a month
• DroneShield share price roars to yet another all-time high in 2024 surge
• The three best ASX All Ords shares to buy and hold in FY 2024 unveiled
• Move over DroneShield: This ASX defence stock is up 67% in a month!
• 2 All Ords ASX defence shares ‘poised to thrive’

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Zip Co. 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.

Looking for some big returns? Then check out the two ASX shares listed below.

The team at Bell Potter is positive on them and is tipping their shares to rise over 25% from current levels. Here’s what the broker is saying about these shares:

Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)

The first ASX share to look at is Smartgroup. It is a leading fleet management and salary packaging company.

The broker highlights its undemanding valuation and sees plenty of near-term catalysts that could drive its shares higher. It explains:

We are attracted to the significant earnings leverage via novated and see the current 10.5x EV/EBITDA as less demanding. Catalysts to drive share price appreciation in the near-term include (1) Revenue uplift from tender wins in FY25e; (2) Introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard from 1 January 2025, with forthcoming PHEV models specific to the Ford Ranger and BYD Seal U; and (3) The announcement for 671 EV charging ports to be installed across 391 sites in NSW.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.95 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 28% for investors. In addition, dividend yields of ~6% are expected through to FY 2026.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Bell Potter also sees big return potential from this ASX share. Universal Store is a youth focused apparel, footwear and accessories retailer in Australia. It operates under the flagship Universal Store brand and is expanding its private label brands by growing the stand-alone formats of Perfect Stranger and Thrills.

The broker is feeling very positive about the company’s growth trajectory. This is due to its store rollout plans and margin improvement opportunities. It said:

Management execution remains a key strength for UNI and we see good growth trajectory for the name given the building of core brands while growing its store rollout. In our view, the higher margin sales from the majority of private label sales should become a major driver of margin improvement and earnings growth, in an expanded store footprint. While we remain cautious on the overall consumer sentiment, given the return to positive comps while cycling elevated pcp through Jan-Feb, we think UNI is well placed as comps become supportive through the 2H.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $6.15 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 27% is possible over the next 12 months. In addition, 5%+ dividend yields are expected in the coming years.

The post Broker says these ASX shares can rise 25%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• ASX passive income: How to make $1,000 per month
• Bell Potter names the best ASX retail stocks to buy in FY25
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy Rio Tinto and these ASX dividend shares in July

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. 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 positions in and has recommended Smartgroup. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In this article, we examine the best ASX 200 healthcare shares of FY24 based on share price growth.

Here are the best performers, according to data from S & P Global Market Intelligence.

The top 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares of FY24

Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price was the No 1. stock of the entire S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in FY24, not just the top riser among healthcare shares. Pro Medicus shares surged 118.3% in FY24.

As my colleague Bernd reports, the imaging company moved higher all year thanks to a record number of new contracts. Most recently in May, Pro Medicus announced five new contracts worth $45 million.

Pro Medicus CEO Sam Hupert said the pipeline for other contract opportunities “remains strong with a broad range of opportunities both in terms of size and market segments”. Investors are also excited about the company’s plans to leverage artificial intelligence to reduce costs and improve its products.

The Pro Medicus share price finished the session on Thursday at $129.41, down 5.12%.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The second top-performing ASX 200 healthcare share in terms of share price growth was Neuren Pharmaceuticals, up 73.6% in FY24.

The last piece of price-sensitive news from Neuren was the top-line results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of its second drug candidate, NNZ-2591. The drug treats Pitt Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), which is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes developmental delays in children. The top-line results showed a “statistically significant improvement” across all four efficacy measures.

In 2023, the company’s US marketing partner, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, reported the first full quarter of sales for Neuren’s first approved drug, Daybue, which treats Rett syndrome. Net sales totalled US$66.9 million.

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price closed at $19.97, up 0.35% on Thursday.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Rounding out the top three ASX 200 healthcare shares of FY24 is Telix Pharmaceuticals, up 66.2%. Telix shares began a steady northbound trajectory in November 2023.

Telix develops highly precise diagnostic and therapeutic products to treat cancer using targeted radiation. Its diagnostic imaging can precisely locate tumours and its therapeutics can deliver isotopes directly to the cancerous cells.

Telix shares surged in April after the company released its 1Q FY24 revenue and business update. Telix was upgraded to strong buy status last month.

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price closed at $18.18 yesterday, down 0.76%.

The post Best 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares for price growth in FY24 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Dimerix, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and West African Resources shares are sinking today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 Pro Medicus and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had one of its best days of the year and stormed higher. The benchmark index rose 1.2% to 7,831.8 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set to end the week on a subdued note despite a positive session in Europe. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 7 points or 0.1% lower this morning. Wall Street was closed for Independence Day, but the FTSE rose 0.85% and the DAX climbed 0.4%.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices pushed higher again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.2% to US$84.06 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.25% to US$87.55 a barrel. Summer fuel demand optimism has boosted oil prices this week.

Buy Smartgroup shares

The Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ) share price could be great value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating on the salary packaging and fleet management company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $10.95 (from $11.00). It said: “We have reviewed the June VFACTS data and updated our forecasts to reflect new vehicle sales and other industry developments. The YTD achievement marks a record and surpasses the previous best result in June 2018.”

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have an underwhelming finish to the week after the gold price softened overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.2% to US$2,365.3 an ounce. This may have been driven by profit taking after a strong gain on rate cut optimism.

New Hope to make acquisition?

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares will be on watch amid speculation the coal miner is planning a major acquisition following its $300 million convertible note issue. Bell Potter commented: “In our view, NHC are capitalising on a relatively cheap source of funding, and a recent uptick in share price to secure additional cash liquidity. We see inorganic growth as key to NHC’s long-term growth outlook. The company is open about pursuing M&A opportunities within the coal sector, of which there are currently some well publicised sale processes.” Bell Potter has a hold rating and $4.70 price target on its shares.

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

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is the New Hope share price plunging today?
• Why Dimerix, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and West African Resources shares are sinking today
• 2 ASX gold shares going gangbusters (and one crashing 11%!)
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 positions in and has recommended Smartgroup. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares have soared in 2024, clipping a 20% return since January. They have also rallied 31% over the past 12 months and now fetch $8.94 per share at the time of writing.

The recent surge in Whitehaven shares can likely be attributed to an increase in the price of coal. It bounced from lows of US$115 per tonne before peaking at US$147 per tonne in May. Whilst it has come down from that level, coal producers have held gains.

Whitehaven is a price taker on coal, meaning its share price is highly sensitive to fluctuations in coal’s market price.

With the black rock currently priced at US$135 per tonne, analysts are turning more bullish on Whitehaven, with consensus rating the ASX coal stock a buy, according to CommSec.

Morgan Stanley is bullish on Whitehaven shares

Morgan Stanley has joined the buy club on Whitehaven shares. It ranks them – along with fellow ASX coal share Yancoal Ltd (ASX: YAL) – as its top picks in the space.

Morgan Stanley identifies metallurgical coal as its top pick amongst all the commodity groups, according to The Australian. It sees both Whitehaven and Yancoal well positioned to benefit from potential tailwinds.

For one, the broker expects the price of metallurgical coal to rise by 15% to US$290 per tonne by the end of the year.

It says underground fires at two key coal mines, that make up 2.5% of coking coal supply, – the Grosvenor mine in Australia and the Longview mine in the US – may cause supply imbalances, and be a tailwind for prices.

Analyst Sara Chan said the firm sees “a near-term opportunity in coking coal, especially after the recent share price pullback”, per The Australian.

“Our recent China coal trip suggests the market is under-appreciating the supply constraints for met coal in the country”, Chen advised investors.

If coal prices head towards these levels, Whitehaven shares could be a beneficiary. But, we shall see.

Some analysts are split

There are other tailwinds to coal pricing as well. China plans to add 70 gigawatts of coal capacity this year, while India’s coal imports increased by 25% in 2023.

Meanwhile, Whitehaven has received mixed reviews from some analysts.

While Morgan Stanley has a bullish outlook, Goldman Sachs maintains a neutral rating on Whitehaven shares, citing potential challenges in achieving its medium-term guidance without requiring significant capital investment.

This could reduce its readily available cash flows for growth and to fund dividends.

In a July note, it said:

We continue to rate WHC Neutral based on: (1) Fully valued, (2) Thermal Coal market to soften further in 2024, (3) Negative FCF over FY25 & FY26 and low dividend yield while degearing, (4) But Met coal price well-supported at US$250/t near to medium term.

Time will tell what the impact of these market forces will have on Whitehaven shares.

Foolish takeaway

Whitehaven shares have experienced significant gains in 2024, driven by strong demand for coal and positive market sentiment.

Remember that analyst ratings are just opinions, and always conduct your own due diligence.

The post Broker sees Whitehaven shares and one other coal stock as top buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A 10% dividend yield! Is this ASX All Ords stock a brilliant bargain?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX coal shares smashing new 52-week highs on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Ora Banda, Superloop, and Whitehaven Coal shares are rising today

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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.

The BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) has been a standout on the ASX in 2024, given its direct exposure to markets in the United States.

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracks the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), net of fees and costs.

The NASDAQ is a basket of the top 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the US exchanges. Since its formation in 1985, its composition has been heavily weighted toward technology.

The ASX NDQ ETF has rallied around 30% over the past year and closed trading on Thursday at $44.64 per share.

With this impressive run, many investors may be wondering if now is the right time to buy or if they should wait for a better opportunity.

Asset management giant Lazard released its half-yearly market commentary. Here’s a look at what the firm said and what it means for the ASX NDQ.

Why the ASX NDQ ETF is thriving

The ETF is heavily weighted in technology and innovation, which have been key drivers of its performance.

Specifically, it has benefitted from the robust performances of major tech giants in the US in 2024.

Dubbed the Magnificent 7 among market commentators, companies like Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) are a few of the tech darlings that have driven the fund’s growth – with Nvidia almost tripling in value over the year.

But Lazard sees potential risks in this trend continuing at the same rate of dominance.

According to Ronald Temple, Lazards’s chief market strategist, the ongoing technology and artificial intelligence (AI) boom has contributed significantly to the market’s recent gains.

That’s great, but it might not last forever, Temple warns. This could impact the ASX NDQ ETF.

If this overall market growth is to be sustainable, tech companies must demonstrate a return on investment from their tech and AI expenditures.

Other non-tech companies must start to pull their weight as well, Temple says:

From my perspective, the only way the mega-cap tech companies can continue to deliver market-beating earnings growth is if their customers realize a return on investment from buying their goods and services…

… Upside from current levels will need to be driven by earnings growth and a broadening of the equity market rally beyond a small number of technology-related companies.

Despite these concerns, the long-term outlook for tech remains positive. Slowing US inflation, which Lazard expects “to decelerate” by the end of 2024, supports this outlook.

Is now the right time to buy?

With its FY24 performance, the question is whether investing in the NDQ ETF right now is a smart move.

Many are looking into the coming 12 months as well. Additionally, there are interest rate decisions. There is also inflation. Furthermore, unemployment rates are a factor. There are also trade deficits. You name it.

But all of this is just noise for the patient, long-term investor.

Attempting to time the market is a fool’s game (and not our kind of Fool!). Lazard’s Temple agrees. He says that owning stocks over the long term is “among the best” investment strategies.

“[B]ut”, he adds, ” it is important to be fully invested through the cycle and to not try to time the markets.”

In fact, one recent analysis indicated that over the 20 years from 2003 to 2022, investors who missed the 10 strongest up-days in the US equity market forfeited over half of the total return from the entire investment period.

While no one likes to buy at the peak, it’s also important to recognise that five years from now, such a purchase, if targeted based on the quality of the investment and the valuation thereof, will often be seen as a wise decision.

Foolish takeaway

The ASX NDQ ETF has shown remarkable growth. If you’re looking to add a tech-heavy ETF to your portfolio, this might be a good option. It depends on your view of the sector.

However, keep an eye on market conditions and consider your personal financial circumstances, always seeking professional advice.

The post ASX NASDAQ (NDQ) ETF: Up 30% in a year, should you buy now or wait? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy these market-beating ASX ETFs in FY25
• Top ASX shares to buy in July 2024
• Could these be the best ASX tech ETFs to buy for FY25?
• Here’s how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week
• How do you spot an innovation stock?

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price couldn’t quite match the gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in the financial year we just said goodbye to.

Shares in the ASX 200 biotech stock closed out FY 2023 trading for $277.38. On 28 June, the final trading day of FY 2024, shares closed at $295.21 apiece.

That put the CSL share price up 6.4% for the full financial year, trailing the 7.8% gains posted by the ASX 200 over this same time.

Of course, that doesn’t include the record $3.81 in partly franked dividends that CSL paid out over the year. If we add those back in, the ASX 200 biotech stock gained 7.8% in FY 2024, right in line with the benchmark index.

Here’s what investors were considering over the past year.

Headwinds and tailwinds for the CSL share price

Among the headwinds impacting the CSL share price in FY 2024 were the unsatisfactory trial results for its CSL112 product.

CSL112 is intended to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

But the phase 3 AEGIS-II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of CSL112 failed to meet the primary efficacy endpoint of MACE reduction at 90 days. This saw the ASX 200 biotech stock shelve its plans for a near-term regulatory filing.

However, CSL’s head of R&D, Bill Mezzanotte, highlighted that the study had provided valuable insights and “enhanced capabilities”.

Mezzanotte said on the day:

AEGIS-II is the most ambitious study in our company’s history, and we are proud of the quality of the study we delivered and the enhanced capabilities we developed to do so.

We plan to apply these capabilities as well as our plasma protein platform to future unmet medical need in cardiovascular and metabolic conditions as well as those in our other strategic therapeutic areas.

The CSL share price closed down 4.8% on the day.

February also saw CSL report its half-year financial results. While investors had high expectations and didn’t immediately reward the stock, the results were solid.

Highlights included an 11% year on year increase in revenue in constant currency to US$8.05 billion. And net profit after tax in constant currency leapt 20% to US$1.94 billion.

This saw management up the unfranked interim dividend by 11% to $1.80 per share.

As for the nascent FY 2025, the CSL share price is up 0.78% so far in the new financial year.

The post What happened with the CSL share price in FY 2024? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The best ASX 200 shares to buy when interest rates fall
• Broker upgrades CSL shares to ‘buy’ — could they hit $335?
• 3 top ASX retirement shares to buy for FY25
• Why the CSL share price could be ‘undervalued’ at $293
• What’s the outlook for ASX healthcare shares in FY25?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

While it is looking like there may yet be one more interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia, it won’t be long until rates then start to ease.

For example, according to the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) economics team, it is forecasting the cash rate to fall from 4.35% today to 3.1% by the end of 2025.

In light of this, analysts at Bell Potter think investors should be preparing their portfolios for when interest rates start to fall. Particularly given that US interest rates may start falling earlier and could put a rocket under global share markets.

But which ASX 200 shares should investors buy? Three of the best to buy according to the broker are as listed below. But firstly, here’s what the broker is saying about which stocks to pick. It said:

The anticipated earlier rate cuts by the US Fed compared to the RBA will be more of an imminent catalyst for the Australian market. As a result, our stock ideas are focused on sectors within the Australian market that stand to gain the most from a US rate cut and that still look attractive from a valuation perspective.

Now, let’s move onto the shares it rates as buys. They are as follows:

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Bell Potter is very positive on this leading biotherapeutics company and thinks now is the time to buy. Particularly after a few years of its shares going nowhere.

This is because it feels that CSL is going through a margin recovery phase which will underpin strong earnings growth. It said:

CSL presents an attractive buying opportunity. CSL has been in a holding pattern since 2020, and for good reason. COVID hit the business with higher collection costs for plasma, depressing margins. We anticipate the start of a margin recovery phase for CSL, driving above-market earnings growth. CSL trades at a 12-month forward PE of ~28x, representing a discount to its 10- year average of ~31x. With consensus expecting mid-teen earnings growth over the next few years, CSL trades on a PEG ratio of 1.7x, which looks attractive vs peers.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

Another ASX 200 share that gets the thumbs up is building materials company James Hardie.

Bell Potter likes the company due to its strong market position, premium brand, and pricing power. It also sees rate cuts as an important catalyst. The broker explains:

James Hardie Industries (JHX), the leading global player in fibre cement, offers a compelling investment opportunity at current levels. 80% of JHX’s earnings are from North America, so US Fed cuts will be an important catalyst for the stock. With a strong market position, premium brand, and pricing power, JHX is poised to capitalise on structural growth in the fibre cement market and cyclical tailwinds from potential US rate cuts. Following a recent pullback, JHX is trading at an attractive 12-month forward PE of ~19x. Considering the company’s strong earnings growth prospects and robust fundamentals, this represents an appealing entry point.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Finally, Bell Potter thinks Transurban is an ASX 200 share to buy for when interest rates fall. It said:

Transurban (TCL) is a high-quality infrastructure stock poised to benefit from interest rate cuts. TCL can deliver consistent, low-risk cash flows over the long term, backed by its 30-year concession durations and proven ability to maintain earnings even during economic downturns. Strong population growth in key markets, margin expansion, and robust project pipeline should enable continued dividend growth over the medium to long term.

The post The best ASX 200 shares to buy when interest rates fall appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What happened with the CSL share price in FY 2024?
• Broker upgrades CSL shares to ‘buy’ — could they hit $335?
• 3 top ASX retirement shares to buy for FY25
• Why the CSL share price could be ‘undervalued’ at $293
• Buy these ASX income shares in July: Analysts

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.