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The Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price has been having a tough time over the last 12 months.

So much so, the lithium developer’s shares were the worst performers on the ASX 200 index.

During the period, the company’s shares lost a whopping 68% of their value. This means that if you had invested $10,000 into Liontown at the start of the financial year, you would have ended up with just $3,200.

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

Liontown share price could jump 25%+

Analysts at Goldman Sachs have been looking at the company following its recent funding update.

And while the broker is not willing to put a buy rating on its shares right now, it does see a lot of value in the Liontown share price at current levels.

The note reveals that Goldman has reaffirmed its neutral rating with a trimmed price target of $1.15 (from $1.35). Based on its current share price of 91 cents, this implies potential upside of 26% over the next 12 months.

Goldman believes funding risks are now out of the way and cost and ramp up risks are priced in. It said:

Though perceived funding risks are largely alleviated, and cost/ramp up risks appear increasingly priced in, we rate LTR a Neutral on valuation, where LTR is trading at a discount to our revised NAV at ~0.85x, and an implied LT spodumene price of ~US$1,070/t (in line with peers at ~0.85x & ~US$1,080/t), though with significant potential valuation uplift from de-risking/valuation roll-forward.

Speaking of costs, the broker went into further detail about its operating costs, which are expected to be updated in the near future. It adds:

While the ramp up of the underground (UG) mine (first ore late CY24) and associated costs remain a key perceived risk for the stock (from our investor discussions), we see this risk as more modest and increasingly priced in on the current mine development/extraction plan. While LTR has not given updated cost estimates (noting processing is set to start in July and optimisation studies are ongoing; last update Oct-23), we update our estimate of underground mining/unit costs based on our bottom-up quarterly analysis of listed Australian gold assets, where we find escalation of underground mining costs has begun to ease, on average, with underground unit costs showing signs of broadly flat to only modest increases since LTR’s last cost update.

All in all, things could be looking up for Liontown and its share price. Though, investors may want to keep their powder dry until the company updates its costs and ramps up production successfully.

The post Why the Liontown share price could jump 25%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Which ASX lithium shares are financially primed to survive this rut?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Should you buy Liontown shares after its update?
• Is it time to buy FY24’s worst-performing ASX shares?

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.

The Australian share market is a great place to generate passive income.

However, if you want a reliable source of income, you will need to choose your ASX shares carefully.

After all, failure to do so could mean you end up with far less income one year than you were relying on.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three ASX shares that could be worth considering as part of a balanced income portfolio. They are as follows:

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX share to look at for passive income is APA Group. It is an energy infrastructure business that owns, manages, and operates a diverse portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets.

These assets generate a reliable and growing source of income for the company each year. So much so, it is on course to increase its dividend for 20 years in a row.

Analysts at Macquarie believe the company will achieve this. The broker is forecasting APA Group to increase its dividend to 56 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 57.5 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current APA Group share price of $7.90, this equates to 7.1% and 7.3% dividend yields, respectively.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $9.40 price target on the company’s shares.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Another ASX share that could offer a reliable source of passive income is supermarket giant Coles.

Given the company’s strong pricing power, defensive earnings, market leadership position, and favourable dividend policy, it appears well-positioned to continue paying attractive dividends long into the future.

Morgans thinks this will be the case. Its analysts are forecasting Coles to pay fully franked dividends of 66 cents per share in FY 2024 and 69 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Coles share price of $17.03, this implies yields of approximately 3.9% and 4.1%, respectively.

Morgans has an add rating and $18.95 price target on its shares.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Finally, Suncorp could be another good option for passive income. It is the insurance company behind brands including AAMI, Apia, Bingle, GIO, Shannons, and Vero, as well as the eponymous Suncorp brand.

Goldman Sachs is positive on the company. It believes some attractive dividend yields are coming for buyers at current levels.

The broker is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 78 cents in FY 2024 and then 83 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Suncorp share price of $16.68, this will mean dividend yields of 4.7% and 5%, respectively.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $17.54 price target on its shares.

The post Australian dividend machines: 3 ASX shares that generate reliable passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 stock slips on $145 million impairment
• Why APA Group, Chalice Mining, Guzman Y Gomez, and Monadelphous shares are falling
• 9 ASX All Ords shares lifted to ‘strong buy’ consensus ratings in June
• Why these losing ASX stocks could be a better buy than AI right now
• These were the five best ASX bank shares to own in FY24

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

You won’t find many All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) companies with a 10% dividend yield and a fast-rising share price, which is why I think this ASX All Ords stock is a brilliant bargain.

The company in question is ASX coal stock Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL).

And for passive income investors who don’t object to funding Aussie coal miners, this is one to run your slide rules over.

A juicy dividend yield AND tremendous share price growth

When you’re on the hunt for passive income stocks with an exceptionally high dividend yield, you’ll often run into stocks that have seen their share prices collapse in recent months. That will drive up the trailing yield, but it can also indicate that future dividends are set to take a dive as well.

Occasionally, you’ll also uncover stocks that have been on a tear and still offer a market-beating dividend yield.

As for Yancoal, the ASX All Ords coal stock has rocketed 52% over the past 12 months. In fact, yesterday, shares closed at a new all-time high of $7.17.

And as for that dividend yield, Yancoal paid a fully franked interim dividend of 37 cents a share on 20 September. Passive income investors will have received the final dividend of 32.5 cents a share on 30 April.

That equates to a full-year payout of 69.5 cents a share.

At yesterday’s closing price, this sees Yancoal shares trading on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 9.69%.

What’s been going right for Yancoal shares?

The Yancoal share price and dividend yield have remained resilient despite coal prices tumbling from their record highs in 2022. However, the thermal coal price has found support over the past 12 months, broadly trading in the mid-US$130 (AU$195) a tonne range.

At its March quarter report, Yancoal reported receiving an average realised price of AU$180 a tonne. That’s almost double the $89 to $97 a tonne in cash operating cost the miner is targeting in 2024.

On the production side, the ASX All Ords coal stock is forecasting full-year production in the range of 35 million to 39 million tonnes.

After paying shareholders the $429 million in final dividends, Yancoal still held a very impressive $1.2 billion in cash.

I believe these strong metrics, along with strong ongoing global coal demand, should see this passive income star continue to offer a market-beating dividend yield in the year ahead.

The post A 10% dividend yield! Is this ASX All Ords stock a brilliant bargain? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX coal shares smashing new 52-week highs on Wednesday
• The Yancoal share price just rocketed to new 52-week highs. Here’s why
• Beat the ASX with these cash-gushing dividend stocks
• Is the 11% dividend yield from Yancoal shares too good to be true?
• How to earn $1,900 in passive income with just $10,000 in savings

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 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.

Many investors have steered clear of discretionary retail shares this year, sending the Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) share price down 14% since January. In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted 1.5% year-to-date.

After the recent decline in its share price, S&P Capital IQ currently values Super Retail Group shares at 13x FY25 earnings estimates.

Historically, Super Retail Group shares have traded at both single-digit and higher multiples, including during the COVID-19 crisis. The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around the mid-point of its trading range of 8x to 18x.

At the current share price, Super Retail offers a fully-franked dividend yield of 5.6%. While this yield may not be the highest on the ASX, investors should consider the company’s earnings resilience and dividend outlook.

Given these factors, is Super Retail Group the optimal ASX dividend share to consider for investment today?

Resilient earnings

Super Retail Group operates a diverse portfolio of retail brands — including Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF, and Macpac — across Australia and New Zealand.

Despite challenges in the retail sector, Super Retail Group has demonstrated robust earnings resilience.

The company reported mixed sales growth in its second-half trading update, with Supercheap Auto sales increasing 1% and BCF sales falling 5%.

In the longer term, its earnings per share (EPS) have increased from 41 cents in FY15 to $1.15 in the last 12 months to December 2023.

While its earnings inevitably swing through ups and downs of economic cycles, the company shows a relatively stable trend compared to other ASX consumer discretionary shares. For example, its EPS fell from 70 cents in FY19 to 55 cents in FY20 during the COVID-19 crisis before recovering to 1.32 in FY21.

The company’s ability to maintain stable earnings amidst fluctuating consumer sentiment and economic conditions highlights its effective management of costs and strategic positioning in essential retail segments.

This resilience underscores Super Retail Group’s capability to navigate market uncertainties and sustain shareholder value over the long term.

What about Super Retail’s dividend history?

Super Retail Group’s commitment to paying consistent and fully-franked dividends, even in tough economic conditions, demonstrates its dedication to shareholder value.

The company has a strong track record of consistently paying dividends to its shareholders. Over the years, its dividend per share (DPS) has increased from 40 cents in FY15 to 76 cents in the last 12 months ending December 2023.

The company maintains generous dividend payout ratios of between 50% to 90%. Even during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in FY21, Super Retail Group paid out 51% of its earnings as dividends.

Additionally, the company has always provided 100% franking credits on its dividend payments, enhancing the returns for its shareholders.

Foolish takeaway

Despite some concerns over economic uncertainty and consumer spending, I believe Super Retail Group remains one of the top choices among ASX dividend shares today.

The post Is this the best dividend share in the ASX 200? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 cheap ASX passive income shares I’d buy to target $1,000 a month
• 3 ASX income shares to buy this month
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy Coles and these ASX 200 dividend stocks
• Top ASX passive income shares to buy before June 30

Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee 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 Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.3% to 7,739.9 points.

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

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set to jump on Thursday following a decent night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 74 points or 0.95% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.05%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.9% higher.

Oil prices storm higher

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a great session after oil prices stormed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.1% to US$83.71 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.1% to US$87.16 a barrel. A large drop in US crude and gasoline inventories boosted oil prices.

Buy Premier Investments shares

Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $35.00 price target on the retail giant’s shares. It said: “We view PMV’s P/E multiple of ~15x (FY25e, BPe) as attractive, considering the value that we see emerging from the potential demerger of PMV’s two key brands, Smiggle and Peter Alexander which are global roll-out worthy somewhat similar to some of the dominant players such as LOV and LULU, highly profitable in comparison to the peer group (EBIT margins wise).”

Gold price jumps

It could be a great session for ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price raced higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 1.3% to US$2,364.2 an ounce. Soft economic data out of the US boosted hopes of interest rate cuts.

Liontown rated neutral

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have been given a neutral rating by analysts at Goldman Sachs this morning. In response to the lithium developer’s funding update, the broker has reiterated its neutral rating and cut its price target to $1.15 (from $1.35). Goldman is feeling cautiously upbeat about Liontown. It highlights there is “significant potential valuation uplift from de-risking/valuation roll-forward.”

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

More reading

• Are Woodside shares a better buy than rival Santos?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Which ASX lithium shares are financially primed to survive this rut?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• ASX 200 stock slips on $145 million impairment

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa and Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group, Lovisa, and Lululemon Athletica. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) gained a healthy 8.3% in FY 2024, but these top performing ASX All Ords shares left those gains in the dust.

Here’s how they managed to rocket in the financial year just past.

Three top gaining ASX All Ords shares in FY 2024

The third-best performing ASX All Ords share in FY 2024 is Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC).

Shares in the telecommunications infrastructure company closed out FY 2023 trading for 58 cents apiece. 12 months later, on 28 June, those same shares were worth $1.61, up 178%.

The stock was in a solid uptrend for most of the financial year. But the Superloop share price really began to take off on 22 February following the release of the company’s results for the half year ended 31 December.

Highlights included revenue of $198 million, up 32.7% year on year, while underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) leapt 83.3% to $23 million.

And after posting a loss of $8.3 million in H1 FY 2023, H1 FY 2024 saw Superloop report profit after tax (before amortisation) of $1.2 million.

Moving on to the second-best performing ASX All Ords share, we have Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

Shares in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company closed FY 2023 trading at 41 cents. Shares closed last Friday, the final trading day of the financial year, swapping hands for $1.46. That put the Zip share price up a very impressive 256%.

Zip shares were in a downtrend for the early months of FY 2023 before taking a sharp turn upwards in late October.

That was spurred by the company’s strong first-quarter results.

Investors sent the ASX All Ords share soaring after Zip reported a 15% year-on-year increase in transaction volume to $2.2 billion, with active customers up by 17% to 7.4 million. This helped drive a 19% increase in revenue to $163 million.

But the good times didn’t stop there.

The Zip share price got another major boost following its half-year update on 22 January.

Commenting on those results at the time, Zip CEO Cynthia Scott said:

Zip delivered an outstanding Group cash EBTDA result for the second quarter, underpinned by a particularly strong seasonal performance in US TTV, the resilience of the ANZ business, improved margins and continued cost discipline.

Group cash EBTDA for 1H24 is expected to be between $29.0m and $33.0m, compared to ($33.2m) in 1H23.

This brings us to the top-performing ASX All Ords share in FY 2024 — drum roll, please: Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL).

Shares in the investigative analytics and intelligence software provider closed out FY 2023 at 85 cents apiece and finished FY 2024 trading hands for $3.08. That saw the Nuix share price edge out Zip with a whopping 12-month gain of 262%.

Nuix shares trended higher through most of the year, with the stock gaining another big boost in late May after releasing a bullish earnings update.

The ASX All Ords share forecast FY 2024 statutory EBITDA will increase by more than 35% from the prior year in the range of $47 million to $52 million. Management also anticipates topping the company’s 10% full-year revenue growth target.

The post The three best ASX All Ords shares to buy and hold in FY 2024 unveiled appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Ora Banda, Superloop, and Whitehaven Coal shares are rising today
• 2 ASX All Ords shares smashing new multi-year highs on big news
• The ASX tech stock with ‘a significant growth opportunity ahead’
• Could Apple’s latest move boost Zip shares?
• Has the Zip share price ‘risen too rapidly’?

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 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.

I recently came across this humorous insight: ‘My wallet is like an onion. Opening it makes me cry.’ This perfectly captures the challenges of managing expenses as living costs continue to rise.

Recent statistics show that inflation is eroding purchasing power, making it crucial to ensure your super balance is growing at a pace that will support a comfortable retirement.

This raises an important question: Is your superannuation balance growing fast enough to keep up with rising living costs?

How much has inflation impacted living costs in retirement?

In May, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) published the ASFA Retirement Standard report for the March 2024 quarter.

According to the ASFA report, the cost of funding a comfortable lifestyle rose 3.3% from a year ago to a record high of $72,663 per year for couples and $51,630 per year for singles.

ASFA CEO Mary Delahunty says:

Retirees continue to feel considerable cost of living pressure on their household budgets. Fortunately, in the past three months, we’ve seen the pace of price rises ease somewhat in key spending categories, namely food and fuel.

Here are the key points from the report by spending category:

• Medical and hospital services increased by 2.3% in the March 2024 quarter, higher than the 1.2% rise in the previous quarter.
• Insurance prices rose sharply by 3.7% from the previous quarter and 16.4% annually, driven by higher reinsurance and claims costs, marking the strongest annual increase since 2001.
• Annual food costs increased by 3.8%, down slightly from 4.5% in the previous quarter. Bread and cereal prices rose by 7.3% annually, and dairy products by 4.1%, partially offset by a 0.7% decrease in meat and seafood prices over the quarter.
• Automotive fuel prices decreased by 1.0% on average in the March quarter, with an average unleaded petrol price of $1.94 per litre.
• Electricity prices rose moderately by 2.0% annually, but excluding Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates, prices increased by 17.0% over the period, impacting many self-funded retirees.
• Domestic travel and accommodation costs increased by 1.3% in the quarter, reflecting sustained demand and elevated prices for domestic accommodation and airfares.

Investment returns in superannuation

The good news is that the average investment returns from superannuation funds have generally kept pace with inflation.

ASFA estimates that, based on historical data, superannuation funds achieved an average annual return of 7.4% over the last 10 years to June 2023. This comfortably exceeds the average consumer price increase of 2.8% during the same period.

Period (% pa)	Fund returns to June 2023	Real returns (vs CPI)
1 year	9.2%	3.0%
5 years	5.8%	2.3%
10 years	7.4%	4.6%
20 years	7.1%	4.3%
30 years	7.3%	4.5%

These average returns include all asset classes, such as shares, bonds, and alternative investments. Interestingly, the average return is similar to that of the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which delivered 7.85% per year over the last 10 years to May 2024.

While real returns, meaning the growth in purchasing power, are under pressure, the golden rules for a comfortable retirement remain simple: spend less, save more, and keep investing.

The post Is your super balance growing fast enough to keep up with rising living costs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Woodside shares a better buy than rival Santos?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Down 70% in a year, this ASX stock has just entered voluntary administration
• AML3D share price surges another 38% today! What’s going on?
• 3 top ASX retirement shares to buy for FY25

Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee 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.

Keen-eyed investors will have noted Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares curling off their 3-month lows at the end of June. After a difficult past year of trade, the ASX energy stock has now clipped a 4% gain in the past month.

Many investors may wonder how Woodside compares to some of its ASX energy peers, particularly its competitor Santos Ltd (ASX: STO). As of today, Woodside shares trade at $29.06 per share, while Santos shares are priced at $7.68 per share.

Brokers rate both Woodside and Santos as potential buys in the energy sector. But which stock might be the better investment? Let’s take a look.

Why consider Woodside shares?

Woodside shares have faced a challenging past year, dropping 16% into the red. However, some experts see this as a buying opportunity.

Bell Potter recently suggested that Woodside shares could be “pretty good buying at these levels,” even projecting a potential rise above $30 in the next three to five months.

The firm highlights a seasonal trend where investors shift into underperforming stocks in July, potentially boosting Woodside’s price.

Analysts are also optimistic about Woodside’s major growth projects like the Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 developments. Morgans rates Woodside a buy with a price target of $36.00 per share, implying a 24% upside.

Goldman Sachs, while maintaining a neutral rating on the stock, further acknowledges Woodside’s stable project pipeline.

“Key projects are progressing well”, it said in a February note, “with Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 expected to deliver the first LNG cargo in 2026.”

Additionally, Woodside’s trailing dividend yield currently stands at 7.43%, with the last dividend being $2.16 per share.

Is Santos a stronger buy?

Santos shares have performed better than Woodside shares over the past year, up 0.79%.

Despite the relative gains, investors have valued the company at a lower multiple compared to Woodside shares.

Santos trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.85 times, cheaper relative to Woodside’s P/E of 22.30 times. This says investors are paying $11.85 for every $1 of Santos’ earnings versus $22.30 for Woodside.

Additionally, Santos offers a trailing dividend yield of 3.67% with its trailing payout of 40 cents per share.

Goldman Sachs reinstated Santos as a buy with a price target of $8.35 in February. It forecasts 10% annual production growth over the next 3 years, which it says could translate into growth in market value.

It expects 2024 “to be the trough for Santos production and earnings”, as it sees startup at its Barossa and Pikka sites throughout 2025-2026.

Goldman sees Santos trading at a significant valuation discount (it was at 0.8 times its net asset value in the February note). Its price target could provide an upside of around 7.7% from current levels.

The bottom line

The consensus among analysts is that both stocks have potential upsides. CommSec rates both Santos and Woodside shares as a buy based on the consensus rating of analyst estimates. Meanwhile, Goldman’s buy rating on Santos is backed by expectations of robust production growth offsetting global gas price weakness.

Both Woodside and Santos have their strengths. Woodside offers a higher dividend yield and promising long-term projects. Santos, on the other hand, appears to be trading at a more attractive valuation with significant production growth expected in the coming years. As always, remember to conduct your own due diligence.

The post Are Woodside shares a better buy than rival Santos? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Could beaten-up Woodside shares offer ‘Safe buying with limited downside’?
• What is the outlook for ASX 200 dividend shares in FY25?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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 post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX coal shares smashing new 52-week highs on Wednesday
• Which ASX lithium shares are financially primed to survive this rut?
• ASX 200 stock slips on $145 million impairment
• This ASX stock just announced a special dividend with a 20% yield
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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 Altium. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Retail data released today shows a boost in sales, but the news offers little comfort for one troubled ASX stock.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, retail turnover increased 0.6% in May. As my colleague Bernd Struben noted, retailers won’t be celebrating yet, with much of the growth attributed to shoppers cashing in on discounted end-of-year sales.

It’s a relatively uninspiring update for ASX retail shares. The data indicates an industry still hobbled by high interest rates, an environment that has partially slain another Australian business today.

Which ASX stock is looking for a lifeline?

The outcome of a strategic review at Booktopia Group Ltd (ASX: BKG) has been announced after the company entered a trading halt on 13 June.

Australia’s largest online bookstore has entered voluntary administration.

As per the announcement, Booktopia is now in the hands of specialist advisory and restructuring firm McGrathNicol.

Partners Keith Crawford, Matthew Caddy, and Damien Pasfield are the acting administrators conducting an ‘urgent assessment’ of Booktopia’s options, including a sale or recapitalisation of the company.

The dire situation follows more than three years of lacklustre performance since the stock popped onto the ASX. During this time, the company’s debt has grown alongside a dwindling cash pile, consumed by unprofitable operations, as depicted in the chart above.

On 31 March 2024, Booktopia had $212,000 in cash and $959,000 in undrawn finance facilities. However, based on recent negative free cash flows, this would be enough to last a month or two.

What’s next?

Trading in Booktopia shares will remain suspended while the administrators try to revive the struggling business. By Monday, 15 July, a meeting with creditors, entities to which Booktopia owes money, will occur.

The ASX stock is down 72% over the last year. For those who have been invested since its public debut, shares are 98.4% lower, last trading at 4.5 cents apiece.

The post Down 70% in a year, this ASX stock has just entered voluntary administration appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• AML3D share price surges another 38% today! What’s going on?
• 3 top ASX retirement shares to buy for FY25
• Down 22% in FY24, what’s in store for Domino’s Pizza shares in FY25?
• Why the CSL share price could be ‘undervalued’ at $293
• 2 ASX coal shares smashing new 52-week highs on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Booktopia 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.