Tag: Motley Fool Australia

  • Is the Westpac share price too high?

    Holding piggy bank in hands, long term shares, shares to buy and hold

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price had another strong day yesterday, surging 1.28% to $18.18 per share.

    While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) edged 0.84% higher, Westpac was one of the ASX 200 shares leading the way.

    At the time of writing, shares in the Aussie bank were up 5.57% this week, but are they overvalued today?

    Is the Westpac share price overvalued?

    The ASX bank shares have been on a rollercoaster ride in 2020. The Westpac share price slumped as low as $13.47 in mid-March amid the bear market.

    There’s been a strong rebound since, despite weak economic data and Australia heading towards a recession. But Westpac may no longer be the bargain buy it once was. 

    Many, including Westpac, announced billions of dollars of impairments in April and May due to COVID-19. However, loan quality may not deteriorate if the economy bounces back quicker than expected.

    But all of this seems to ignore the impending recession and its impact on the Aussie economy. The share market is inherently forward-looking but I don’t think all economic impacts are fully priced in.

    There’s a lot of cash flying around in markets right now. With interest rates sitting as little as 0.25%, not many people like the idea of savings accounts or bonds for a strong return.

    That means you could look towards ASX shares. The Westpac share price is still a long way down from its $30.05 52-week high. It’s been a big 12 months for the Aussie bank highlighted by its AUSTRAC scandal and the subsequent fallout.

    Foolish takeaway

    I still think the Westpac share price could climb higher and surpass $20 per share in 2020. There could be more volatility ahead, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re a long-term investor who is willing to buy and hold.

    For more ASX shares trading at a good price, check out these 5 cheap shares today!

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    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

    Plus, this free report highlights 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit in 2020 and beyond.

    Simply click here to scoop up your FREE copy and discover the names of all 5 cheap shares.

    But you will have to hurry because the cheap share prices on offer today might not last for long.

    As of 2/6/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post Is the Westpac share price too high? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • The Xero share price just hit a record high: Is it too late to invest?

    xero share price

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price has been a strong performer in 2020 despite the market volatility.

    In fact, on Thursday the cloud-based business and accounting platform provider’s shares raced to a record high of $91.49.

    When Xero’s shares hit that level, it stretched their year to date gain to just under 15%. This compares very favourably to a 10.5% decline by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

    Why is the Xero share price at a record high?

    Investors have been driving the Xero share price higher this year after it continued to deliver strong growth across key metrics.

    In FY 2020 Xero delivered a 30% increase in operating revenue to NZ$718.2 million and a 29% jump in annualised monthly recurring revenue to NZ$820.6 million.

    This was driven by increases in both its average revenue per user and total subscribers. The latter rose 26% to 2.285 million subscribers thanks to the addition of 467,000 net subscribers during the 12 months.

    And due to the benefits of scale, Xero’s earnings grew even quicker. The company reported a 52% increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation to NZ$139.17 million.

    It also recorded its first net profit. Xero’s profit after tax came in at NZ$3.34 million for the year, compared to a loss of NZ$27.14 million a year earlier.

    Is it too late to invest?

    While Xero’s shares certainly aren’t cheap, I would still be a buyer of them if you planned to invest with a long term view.

    At the end of the year Xero had 2.285 million subscribers. Although this is a large number, it is still on a fraction of its addressable market. Management estimates that less than 20% of the English-speaking addressable cloud accounting market has adopted cloud platforms.

    This means there is still a material market opportunity for the company over the next decade. And given the quality of its product, I expect it to capture a growing slice of this market over the long term and drive strong earnings growth.

    As well as Xero, I think these cheap shares could provide strong returns for investors…

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    Our experts at The Motley Fool have just released a FREE report detailing 5 shares you can buy now to take advantage of the much cheaper share prices on offer.

    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

    Plus, this free report highlights 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit in 2020 and beyond.

    Simply click here to scoop up your FREE copy and discover the names of all 5 cheap shares.

    But you will have to hurry because the cheap share prices on offer today might not last for long.

    As of 2/6/2020

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    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Is today’s BHP, NAB or Afterpay share price a good investment?

    crystal ball with bar graph inside, future share price, afterpay share price

    It’s been an interesting time for investors this year. The coronavirus pandemic caused the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share prices to plummet in March. Furthermore, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (INDEXASX: XJO) has fallen 16.47% from its February high. Whilst both BHP and National Australia Bank have gone on to rebound considerably, the Afterpay share price has not only also done this, but actually reached new, all-time highs. 

    Share price falls present an opportunity for anyone considering investing in the ASX 200. When taking on board Warren Buffett’s wise words, investors should “be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy”.

    Even at today’s prices, I believe these 3 ASX 200 shares offer good value and could provide great, long-term returns for investors.

    BHP share price

    BHP is one of the oldest companies listed on the ASX, known for investing in high-quality resource assets. Currently, BHP is involved with iron ore, coal, copper, nickel, potash and petroleum. It has achieved significant growth over 135 years but recent turmoil has seen its share price trade at a hefty discount. The BHP share price has fallen 11.8% from its January high.

    However, I believe BHP’s growth appears set to continue. At the end of March, BHP had 6 projects under development with a combined budget of US$11.4 billion over the life of the projects. These projects mean BHP will continue to maintain and expand its production in the years ahead.

    BHP is committed to paying dividends to shareholders. Its current dividend policy states it will payout 50% of underlying profit in a given period. This means shareholders can expect an ongoing income stream from BHP. The policy should also support continued growth of the BHP share price. 

    At the time of writing, BHP trades on a trailing dividend yield of 6.02% fully franked. This is a huge yield in the current interest rate environment and shows that BHP offers great value to investors at its share price today.

    NAB share price

    NAB has been in the news lately through its recent decision to raise capital from investors. When analysing the bank, however, it could be seen to offer great value. In February, the NAB share price reached $27.31, it now sits at $18.92 which represents a fall of just over 30%. This drop shows the capital raising and the damage to the bank’s balance sheet brought on by the coronavirus crisis. However, it also represents a good opportunity to invest in NAB shares at today’s price.

    If the NAB share price eventually recovers to its previous high, which is very possible assuming no further significant setbacks, shareholders will make a 44% gain on shares purchased at today’s price. This represents great value and suggests that investors can make significant gains from investing in NAB shares.

    NAB has a pro forma CET1 ratio of 11.2% after its capital raising. This suggests that the bank is in good financial health by international standards. If several of NAB’s loans turn bad, it still has a solid capital buffer to remain in business and continue lending.

    NAB trades on a trailing dividend yield of 6.04% fully franked. Following its capital raising, NAB has promised to continue paying dividends to shareholders.

    Afterpay share price

    Investors usually invest either for growth or income. While Afterpay does not currently offer income, it does offer growth. At today’s share price, investors could make considerable gains. Especially if Afterpay is successful in its current growth ambitions. Afterpay has over 8.4 million users worldwide and plans to become a major payment service provider. This would see it rival major industry players like Visa or Mastercard.

    While it is growing rapidly, Afterpay is already offered by 48,400 retailers worldwide. It’s true that this scale may not be up there with the major payment providers, but it does offer room for considerable expansion. When more retailers and, therefore users, take up Afterpay, it could also become a takeover target as major technology or financial companies attempt to capitalise on the platform’s popularity. The likelihood of this is reinforced by an announcement last month which saw Afterpay welcome an investment by major Chinese technology company, Tencent Holdings Ltd (HKG: 0700). 

    Tencent currently has revenue per share of $1.51 which is less than the Afterpay share price. However, it is important to consider the scalability of Afterpay’s platform. If this company becomes a major global player as planned, this figure could grow phenomenally, leaving today’s Afterpay price a distant memory.

    Foolish takeaway 

    BHP, NAB or Afterpay shares could be a great investment at today’s prices. When contemplating which company to invest in, buyers should consider if they are primarily targeting growth or income. In my opinion, both NAB and BHP offer great income at their current share prices. Today’s Afterpay share price, on the other hand, offers the potential for phenomenal growth and the possibility of a takeover in the future. Whilst investors should consider their individual needs and invest accordingly, I believe all 3 of these companies offer great value at today’s share prices. 

    For additional ASX shares to consider for building wealth, take a look at the report below.

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    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off its high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

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    Chris Chitty has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post Is today’s BHP, NAB or Afterpay share price a good investment? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Why today might be a good day to buy NAB and Westpac shares

    big four banks 16:9

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) is poised to open weaker this morning. But the pullback might be an opportune time to buy National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

    The broader market weakness is no thanks to weak leads from Wall Street on worries that stocks have run too far ahead of fundamentals.

    But there’s value to be found in the NAB share price and Westpac share price, at least that’s according to UBS.

    Last few places on the ASX to find value

    The broker just upgraded these stocks to “buy” from “neutral” as the sector is one of the last few places you can find value.

    It isn’t only the COVID-19 pandemic that’s been weighing on bank shares. Competition from fintechs, pressure from the banking regulator to increase their cash buffers, the fallout from the Haynes Royal Commission and tumbling interest rates are just some of the other punishing headwinds.

    Shares in the big banks, excluding Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), are trading at their lowest multiples in 27 years, noted UBS.

    Light at the end of the tunnel

    “However, with the economic outlook less bleak than anticipated even a few weeks ago,” said the broker.

    “The likelihood of a further deterioration in asset quality and RWA [risk weighted asset] inflation driving additional highly dilutive capital raisings has reduced materially.

    “The lower reliance on JobKeeper (wage subsidies) than government expectations also provides some flexibility for further targeted stimulus as current packages, loan deferrals and rental relief expires in October.”

    Banks will recover ahead of the economy

    While we the coronavirus will continue to have an impact on the economy until a vaccine is found, the broker pointed out that the market factor in the recovery before then, barring a sharp deterioration in the economy.

    It’s also worth noting that the damage from the COVID-19 crisis hasn’t been as bad as what many experts (and the government) were expecting. Despite this, the government is adding to its record stimulus to get our economy back on its feet.

    ASX banks could re-rate

    What this means is that the threat of ballooning bad debt shouldn’t be as bad as forecast, and that will be a trigger for a re-rating in the sector.

    “Although sustained low rates will weigh on NIM [net interest margin] and credit growth will be anaemic, a sector ROE of ~9% looks possible,” said UBS.

    “At these levels, the banks could re-rate to around book value, and with an 80% payout ratio offer ~7.2% dividend yield.”

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank Limited, and Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Qantas share price soars on plans to increase domestic flights

    Qantas

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price was a strong performer on Thursday.

    The airline operator’s shares jumped 7% to $4.49 after announcing plans to increase the number of domestic flights in June and July.

    What did Qantas announce?

    With travel restrictions starting to ease across the country, both Qantas and Jetstar will increase their domestic and regional flying for June and July.

    According to the release, the additional services will see capacity increase from 5% of pre-pandemic levels, to 15% by the end of June. This represents an increase of more than 300 return flights per week.

    The company is prepared to further increase the number of flights it operates in July. This will depend on travel demand and the further relaxation of state borders. Qantas revealed that it has the ability to increase the number of flights to upwards of 40% of its pre-crisis domestic capacity by the end of July.

    Where will Qantas be flying to?

    The company advised that the additional flights include more services on capital city routes. This is particularly the case with Melbourne-Sydney and a number of routes to-and-from Canberra.

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

    As you can see above, it will also increase intra-state flights for Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Weekly flights to Broome, Cairns, and Rockhampton will see also receive significant boost.

    In addition to this, flights will resume on eight routes that are not currently being operated. This includes flights from Sydney to Byron Bay, which previously saw its route launch postponed because of the pandemic.

    Will there be enough demand?

    Also supporting the Qantas share price on Thursday were positive comments by Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce.

    Mr Joyce believes Australians are eager to take to the skies again. He commented: “We know there is a lot of pent up demand for air travel and we are already seeing a big increase in customers booking and planning flights in the weeks and months ahead.”

    “We are gradually adding flights in June as demand levels increase, which will go from 5 per cent of pre-crisis levels currently to 15 per cent by late June. We can quickly ramp up flying in time for the July school holidays if border restrictions have eased more by then,” Joyce added.

    Mr Joyce also revealed that Qantas is taking precautions to make the flying experience safe for travellers.

    He explained: “Customers will notice a number of differences when they fly, such as masks and sanitising wipes, and we’ll be sending out information before their flight so they know exactly what to expect and have some extra peace of mind. Importantly, the Australian Government’s medical experts have said the risk of contracting Coronavirus on an aircraft is low.”

    Overall, this looks like a big positive for Qantas and should help limit the cash burn it is currently experiencing.

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    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

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    As of 2/6/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why the Appen share price could come under pressure today

    The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price will be one to watch this morning after an announcement by the global leader in the development of high-quality, human-annotated training data for machine learning and artificial intelligence.

    What did Appen announce?

    Appen’s announcement after the market close on Thursday revealed that a number of executives have been selling shares this week.

    The biggest seller was Non-Executive Chairman, Chris Vonwiller. He offloaded 2 million Appen shares on-market for an average of $29.00 per share. This represents a total consideration of $58 million.

    Also selling shares was the company’s CEO and Managing Director, Mark Brayan. He sold 95,535 shares for an average of $30.60 per share. This equates to a total consideration of approximately $2.9 million.

    And finally, another insider that was selling shares was Non-Executive Director, Bill Pulver. Mr Pulver sold 275,000 shares on-market for an average of $30.6865 per share. This represents a total consideration of $8.4 million.

    Why were they selling shares?

    Appen helpfully provided explanations for each of the sales.

    Mr Vonwiller sold his shares for a number of personal reasons, including philanthropic endeavours.

    Whereas the company’s CEO was selling shares to satisfy tax obligations and diversify personal investments. The latter was the reason Mr Pulver gave for selling his shares.

    It is worth noting that all three directors still have sizeable shareholdings, even after these sales.

    Should you be concerned?

    Insider selling rarely goes down well with investors. The theory is that if a director was confident its shares would go a lot higher from here, they wouldn’t sell them today. So, the decision to sell is often interpreted to be a bearish indicator.

    However, I think the explanations they have given is reasonable. And as I mentioned above, they still have plenty of their wealth tied up in the company.

    In light of this, if the Appen share price were to pullback meaningfully on the news, I would consider picking up shares.

    After all, given the strong growth potential the company has over the next decade, I believe its shares could be a lot higher than this level in 2030.

    As well as Appen, I think these cheap shares could provide strong returns for investors…

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    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

    Plus, this free report highlights 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit in 2020 and beyond.

    Simply click here to scoop up your FREE copy and discover the names of all 5 cheap shares.

    But you will have to hurry because the cheap share prices on offer today might not last for long.

    As of 2/6/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Appen Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Could the Openpay share price signal a wider boom for BNPL?

    man hitting digital screen saying buy now pay later, BNPL, Afterpay share price, Openpay share price

    The Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) share price has rocketed up by 160% since Monday. Followed hot on its heels was Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) which saw its share price rise by 59.95% so far this week. This was after announcing the acquisition of New York-based QuadPay, giving it access to the $5 trillion dollar US retail market. 

    However, the higher Openpay share price rise is more intriguing. At the end of April, the company reported a 113% growth in the number of its active customers before announcing an institutional share placement on 4 June. This would raise over $30 million for the company to use towards further growth and could signal the start of a wider boom across the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector. 

    The largest Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) challenger

    The rise of Afterpay to a $13.98 billion ASX behemoth has been well documented. Not so the rise of its competitors.

    Zip Co is the largest independent challenger of Afterpay. Unlike Afterpay, however, Zip Co credit checks its users. This could prove to be a competitive advantage over the coming months. In times of true recession, when things get tough, unsecured debts could result in increased defaults. 

    Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL)

    The Sezzle share price is up by 41.75% this week. Unlike many of the other BNPL companies on the ASX, Sezzle is headquartered in the United States. So while others are trying to buy their way in, Sezzle is a market native.

    The company already boasts a network of 1.3 million users and 14.9 thousand merchants. It has also secured a fighting fund of US$100 million. In addition, the company is already making moves towards the US$460 billion Canadian retail market.

    Splitit Ltd (ASX: SPT) 

    The Splitit share price is up by 78.26% so far this week. The company announced an increase in merchant sales volume by 321% compared to May 2019. Also headquartered in the US, the company does not have to push its way into a foreign market. With a network of 964 merchants, it is clearly the junior player thus far.

    EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML)

    EML is not immediately recognised as one of the major BNPL players. This company made its name in gift cards sold in supermarkets. However, EML is one of the great enablers of the ASX fintech sector. The EML share price has risen only 9.3% this week. I believe this to be an unfairly small gain when compared to the meteoric rise of the Openpay share price. 

    Its product, ControlPay, is the technology under the hood of many BNPL companies today. It is the platform processing payments for Zip Co’s ‘shop everywhere’ functionality. It is also being used by Sezzle in the US as well as Scalapay in Italy. 

    Foolish takeaway

    The slow death of credit cards is being brought about by Gen Z and Millennials. This is clearly a large-scale business transformation, and one that will likely see many of the companies mentioned above grow significantly.

    Even with the large rise in the Openpay share price, I think EML is best placed to benefit over the medium to long term. By operating the back-end technology that powers some of its cohorts, the company is less exposed to unsecured debt. It also gets to process payments across many companies and countries with little competitive tension. 

    For more shares we Fools think are poised for growth, check out the following report.

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    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off its high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

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    Daryl Mather owns shares of Sezzle Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO, Emerchants Limited, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Emerchants Limited and Sezzle Inc. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post Could the Openpay share price signal a wider boom for BNPL? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 3 small cap ASX tech shares that could be stars of the future

    tech shares

    I’m sure most readers will be very familiar with Australian tech shares such as Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Appen Ltd (ASX: APX).

    These tech shares have been growing at an exceptionally strong rate over the last few years and are now multi-billion dollar companies.

    But it wasn’t always that way. Both companies were at one stage small cap tech shares flying under the radar.

    Anyone that identified them at that stage and bought (and held onto) their shares, will have generated significant wealth.

    With that in mind, I have been scouring the small cap side of the market for tech shares that I think could follow in their footsteps over the coming years.

    Three small cap tech shares that I think investors should have on their watchlists are listed below. Here’s why:

    Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH)

    The first small cap tech share to watch is Bigtincan. It is a fast-growing provider of enterprise mobility software. The company’s software allows sales and service organisations to increase their sales win rates, reduce expenditures, and improve customer satisfaction. Users achieve this through mobile worker productivity improvements. Management estimates that its total addressable market will be worth US$5 billion by 2021.

    ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO)

    Another small cap to watch is ELMO. It is a cloud-based human resources and payroll software company. Its platform has been growing in popularity over the last few years, leading to very strong sales and earnings growth. The good news is ELMO still only has a very small share of an addressable ANZ market estimated to be worth $2.4 billion per year. And given how its platform is jurisdiction agnostic, it could grow its addressable market by expanding internationally in the future.

    Whispir (ASX: WSP)

    A final small cap tech share to watch is Whispir. It is a communications platform as a service (CPaaS) provider. Its industry-leading software platform allows organisations to deliver actionable two-way interactions at scale using automated multi-channel communication workflows. The CPaaS market is growing at a rapid rate and is expected to be worth US$6.7 billion per year by 2022.

    And here are more top shares to consider. All five recommendations below look dirt cheap after the crash…

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    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

    Plus, this free report highlights 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit in 2020 and beyond.

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    As of 2/6/2020

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    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO, BIGTINCAN FPO, and Whispir Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BIGTINCAN FPO, Elmo Software, and Whispir Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post 3 small cap ASX tech shares that could be stars of the future appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • These top ASX dividend shares could be perfect for income investors

    stack of coins spelling yield, asx dividend shares

    Fortunately, in this low interest rate environment, the Australian share market is home to a good number of dividend shares that offer generous yields.

    Two top ASX dividend shares that I would be buying right now are listed below. Here’s why I think they are top options for income investors:

    Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD)

    If you can afford to be patient, then I think Sydney Airport would be a great dividend share to buy. The short term will be difficult the airport operator, but the crisis will pass and trading conditions will eventually return to normal. I believe this makes it worth considering a patient investment in the company’s shares. A recent note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that it expects travel markets to have recovered enough for the company to pay a 29 cents per share distribution in FY 2021. After which, the broker is forecasting a 37 cents per share distribution in FY 2022. This implies 4.75% and 6.05% distribution yields, respectively, over the next couple of years.

    VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

    If you don’t have exposure to the banking sector, then I think it could be worth looking at the VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF. Instead of trying to decide whether to buy Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) or one of the other big four banks for dividends, this exchange traded fund gives you a piece of them all. It also gives investors exposure to the regional banks and investment bank Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) as well. Due to dividend suspensions, cuts, and cancellations, it is hard to forecast what its dividends will be. However, I’m confident the VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF will provide investors with a dividend yield of at least 5% in FY 2021.

    NEW: Expert names top dividend stock for 2020 (free report)

    When our resident dividend expert Edward Vesely has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, he’s the investing genius that runs Motley Fool Dividend Investor, the newsletter service that has picked huge winners like Dicker Data (+92%), SDI Limited (+53%) and National Storage (+35%).*

    Edward has just named what he believes is the number one ASX dividend stock to buy for 2020.

    This fully franked “under the radar” company is currently trading more than 24% below its all-time high and paying a 6.7% grossed-up dividend.

    The name of this dividend dynamo and the full investment case is revealed in this brand new free report.

    But you will have to hurry — history has shown it can pay dividends to get in early to some of Edward’s stock picks, and this dividend stock is already on the move.

    See the top dividend stock for 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post These top ASX dividend shares could be perfect for income investors appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 3 ASX shares to buy and hold for the 2030s

    There are some ASX shares that I’d love to buy today and hold for at least the 2030s in mind. There are others I wouldn’t want to have for 20 minutes. 

    Buying something and thinking you’re going to sell it a few months later isn’t giving your investments long enough to grow your portfolio.

    But if you invest with the long-term in mind then you’re much more likely to generate great returns with your ASX shares. But only buy the best. 

    So, with that in mind, here are three ASX shares I’d buy and hold for the 2030s in mind:

    Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

    In the business world it takes a while for a company’s plan to fully come together. It’s not a quick task when you’re talking about physical products and supply chains. But consumer-focused businesses can turn into very good businesses if they have a good product and brand.

    Bubs is a goat milk product business that is rapidly growing revenue with its infant formula offerings. It’s resonating with consumers in Australia, China and Vietnam. The ASX share is reporting impressive growth every quarter. In the March 2020 quarter it reported positive operating cashflow, which is a great step.

    Why would I hold it for the 2030s? It’s only just getting started in Asia and there are many, many countries that Bubs can target in the future. I’m not necessarily expecting Bubs to turn into a huge business, but it has a very long growth runway if it does well.

    Bubs is regularly growing its profit margins and it has a solid cash balance which can fund its growth for the foreseeable future.

    Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)

    The funeral operator ASX share has certainly been volatile over the past few months. Australia has luckily avoided the coronavirus mortality that has hit other countries. This should mean that the long-term thesis for Propel is intact because of Australia’s ageing demographics. The funeral restrictions lifting helps short-term profit.

    What kind of growth can Propel expect in the future? Death volumes are expected to grow by 1.4% per annum between 2016 to 2025 and then increase by 2.2% per annum from 2025 to 2050. That’s a steady growth runway for the business which is projected to pick up in the later 2020s and in the 2030s.

    All Propel needs to do is benefit from these tailwinds, increase its market share a bit and slowly increase prices to grow profit strongly using the power of compounding. 

    Pushpay Holdings Ltd (ASX: PPH)

    Pushpay is another ASX share with great growth prospects. It services the medium and large US church sector which management believe is a $1 billion revenue opportunity because of how much donations are given. It could possibly be higher than that if Pushpay does very well. 

    If the ASX share can achieve that goal it will become a much bigger business, which should also come with higher profit margins. It’s the type of business model that could see good recurring revenue from regular donations year after year.

    I think Pushpay has a good opportunity by the 2030s to expand to other countries or perhaps grow into other donation areas. This would increase Pushpay’s total addressable market even more.

    A recent acquisition has improved the ASX share’s market position and there is potential for more acquisitions in the future.

    Foolish takeaway

    I think all three of these ASX shares can steadily grow their revenue and profit into the 2030s, yet all three of them are fairly small, so they have a big growth runway. I’d be very happy to buy shares today.

    There are some more ASX shares I’d love to buy for the 2030s and beyond, like these top picks…

    NEW! 5 Cheap Stocks With Massive Upside Potential

    Our experts at The Motley Fool have just released a FREE report detailing 5 shares you can buy now to take advantage of the much cheaper share prices on offer.

    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

    Plus, this free report highlights 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit in 2020 and beyond.

    Simply click here to scoop up your FREE copy and discover the names of all 5 cheap shares.

    But you will have to hurry because the cheap share prices on offer today might not last for long.

    As of 2/6/2020

    More reading

    Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of PUSHPAY FPO NZX. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BUBS AUST FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Propel Funeral Partners Ltd and PUSHPAY FPO NZX. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post 3 ASX shares to buy and hold for the 2030s appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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