Tag: Motley Fool

  • Atlas Arteria share price halted amid $2.9 billion acquisition

    Man with his hand out the front, symbolising a trading halt.Man with his hand out the front, symbolising a trading halt.

    The Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price is frozen today amid news of a major acquisition.

    Before being placed on ice, the toll road company’s share price was trading at $7.81.

    So what is going on at Atlas Arteria?

    Atlas to acquire Chicago toll road

    Atlas Arteria plans to acquire a 66.67% majority interest in the Chicago Skyway in the city of Chicago, Illinois.

    The 12.5-kilometre toll road connects the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago’s south side.

    The toll road has 81 years of concession life remaining. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan will retain a 33.3% interest in the toll road.

    Atlas has gone ahead with the acquisition despite threats from IFM Investors to spill the board if it purchases the US toll road, the Australian Financial Review reported.

    The acquisition, subject to regulatory approvals including from the City of Chicago, is valued at US$2,013 million. This is equivalent to about $2.92 billion Australian dollars, based on the current exchange rate.

    Atlas requested a trading halt on Tuesday morning while the company finalises details of an entitlement offer to fund the acquisition.

    The trading halt is expected to end once Atlas has completed the institutional component of the offer. UBS and RBC Capital Markets are managing the capital raising on behalf of Atlas.

    Meanwhile, Atlas has also announced a 20-cent per share unfranked dividend for FY22. Atlas will trade ex-dividend on 21 September and the dividend will be paid on 3 October.

    Share price snapshot

    The Atlas Arteria share price has soared 16% in the past year while it has climbed nearly 13% year to date.

    However, in the last month, Atlas shares have lost nearly 2%.

    Atlas Arteria has a market capitalisation of $7.48 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Atlas Arteria share price halted amid $2.9 billion acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/Sxj0cs5

  • MA Financial share price leaps 8% following Monday’s bloodbath

    Man pointing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    Man pointing an upward line on a bar graph symbolising a rising share price.

    The MA Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MAF) share price is charging higher today.

    Shares in the ASX financial services company closed yesterday trading for $3.99 and are currently trading for $4.28, up 7.3% after earlier posting gains just north of 8%.

    The welcome rebound follows Monday’s bloodbath, which saw the MA Financial share price close down 21.8%.

    What happened on Monday?

    MA Financial shares plunged 20% on open yesterday before trading was halted in the early morning. Trading resumed in late afternoon after the company responded to the rapid price moves and later released a market update.

    It appears investors were spooked by news that Australia’s Significant Investors Visa (SIV) scheme is under review by the government. And the outlook for the SIV scheme doesn’t look rosy, with Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil saying, “At the moment, I can’t see a lot of reasons to maintain it as part of our [migration] program.”

    That news sent the MA Financial share price tumbling, as wealthy international clients contribute a significant percentage of the company’s total assets under management.

    However, that percentage isn’t as high as some media outlets reported.

    In its market update, MA Financial reported that 63% of its assets under management (AUM) are non-migration related. The company also soothed investor nerves by reaffirming its guidance for the 2022 financial year “for 30% to 40% underlying earnings per share growth on FY21”.

    MA Financial share price snapshot

    Despite today’s strong bounce back, the MA Financial shares remain down 52% year-to-date. That compares to the 9% 2022 loss posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

    The post MA Financial share price leaps 8% following Monday’s bloodbath appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Moelis Australia Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/RkTjZb6

  • Why is the Neometals share price in the spotlight on Tuesday?

    green batterygreen battery

    The Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) share price has jumped today after it took a step closer to building a battery recycling plant in Germany.

    Management released the Engineering Cost Study (ECS) for the first stage shredding plant (Spoke). The first stage Spoke has the potential to process 50 tonnes per day of lithium-ion battery scrap.

    The company said that the plant will be Europe’s first integrated discharging and disassembly operation. As such, the facility can process larger modules from electric vehicles (EVs) and cell production scrap.

    Neometals share price powers up on ECS details

    The Neometals share price rallied 3.5% in early trade to $1.64 but has slipped 0.3% to 1.58 at the time of writing. In contrast, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has added 0.7%.

    The operating cost is estimated at US$1,400 per tonne of feed. This assumes a mix of 70% modules from EVs and 30% cells.

    The capital cost of the project is forecast at US$103.9 million, which includes buildings, plant and equipment, installation, infrastructure, pre-production and owner’s costs – such as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC).

    The capital cost estimate also has a 20% contingency, in case things don’t go to plan as often the case.

    Second ECS expected by year end

    The plant is owned by Primobius GmbH, which is a 50-50 joint venture between Neometals and MS group GmbH.

    Investors’ love for all things lithium has benefited the Neometals share price. The surging popularity of EVs will mean demand for battery recycling plants is set to grow strongly.

    The ECS comprises two parts. The first is the Spoke and the second is the hydrometallurgical refinery Hub. The Hub will be co-located with the Spoke on a greenfields industrial park. The second part of the ECS is scheduled to be completed in December this year.

    Lining up customer agreements

    Primobius is looking to strike supply agreements with Mercedes-Benz and Stelco Holdings. The JV is hoping to have the signed agreements in place in 2023.

    Neometals’ managing director Chris Reed said:

    The addition of a large manual discharging and disassembly operation for modules comes at a cost, that is outweighed by access to a larger market in the medium to long-term. It is also worth noting that we currently get paid to process modules whereas many American recyclers compete to buy purchase individual cells.

    Our proprietary refining Hub is the largest value generator for Primobius and its customers. The Hub processes Black Mass into high-purity and higher-value battery materials which can be used in production of new batteries.

    Neometals share price snapshot

    The Neometals share price has jumped 92% over the past year compared with a 6% decline in the All Ordinaries.

    Other ASX lithium-exposed shares have also outperformed on expectations that demand for the commodity will outstrip supply for years to come.

    The post Why is the Neometals share price in the spotlight on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/GFCK1y5

  • Lithium spin-off? UBS tips 80% upside for Mineral Resources share price

    A statuesque woman throws earth in the air in front of a rocky outcrop.A statuesque woman throws earth in the air in front of a rocky outcrop.

    A UBS broker has given Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) a huge upside of 86% if its demerger plans go ahead, as originally reported by the Australian Financial Review yesterday afternoon.

    The broker assumed that its enterprise value trades six times its earnings bere interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). Furthermore, a price target of $83 was provided along with a rating of buy.

    Other trading desks have different takes on their valuations of the company, with some stating that its lithium operating segment is worth as much as the company itself. The Australian Financial Review reported that the business is likely trading at three times forward EBITDA.

    Using comparables analysis of similar companies in its peer universe, AFR said it could potentially be rated as worth $10 billion.

    Rumours have circulated about a potential spin-off of Mineral Resources. If that comes to fruition, Mineral Resources’ lithium operating segment will be spun-off to become an independent entity.

    As my Fool colleague Mitch noted last Friday, the benefit of this spin-off is that the entity would have a concentrated focus on unlocking value purely from lithium extraction, which may lead to gains in internal efficiency and, ultimately, a better share price performance.

    Mineral Resources share price snapshot

    The Mineral Resources share price made a new all-time high yesterday, with shares closing at $73.08 each for the day. They have since reached a newer all-time high of $75.65 this morning.

    Shares of the mining services company are trading for $74.99 at the time of writing, a rise of 2.61%.

    The company share price is up 33.91% year to date. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 5.94% over the same period.

    The company’s market capitalisation is $13.84 billion.

    The post Lithium spin-off? UBS tips 80% upside for Mineral Resources share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Mineral Resources Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Matthew Farley 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/wkN6AVc

  • Why is the Link share price crashing 20%?

    The Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) share price is having a day to forget on Tuesday.

    In morning trade, the administration services company’s shares have returned from their trading halt and are down a massive 20% to $3.55.

    Why is the Link share price crashing?

    The weakness in the Link share price on Tuesday has been driven by the release of an update on the proposed takeover of the company.

    As you might have guessed from the share price reaction, things are not looking good for the transaction.

    This is due to Link’s Link Fund Solutions Limited (LFSL) business and its dealings with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regarding LFSL’s role as authorised corporate director to the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund. LFSL managed the now-collapsed Woodford Equity Income Fund.

    According to the release, the FCA has approved Dye & Durham’s proposed acquisition of LFSL. However, this is subject to a requirement that Dye & Durham commits to make funds available to meet any shortfall within LFSL in the amount available to cover the redress payments LFSL may be required to make.

    The FCA’s current view is that the redress payment in relation to the Woodford matters may be for an amount up to 306 million pounds (approximately A$519 million).

    If Dye & Durham does not accept the requirement, then a condition under the scheme implementation deed may not be satisfied and the transaction could collapse.

    As things stand, Dye & Durham has not yet indicated its position in relation to the FCA’s requirement and Link will update the market as appropriate.

    It is also worth noting that the FCA has revealed that this is not a final decision. Furthermore, LFSL does not agree with the FCA’s view and intends to explore all options, including challenging any warning notice that may be issued.

    The post Why is the Link share price crashing 20%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Link Administration Holdings Ltd. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/UItAW8Z

  • Why Tuesday could be a huge day for the US stock market

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    A person sinks their face into a large, round, white inflatable ball.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The stock market has been a fickle place in 2022, with investor sentiment constantly changing by the day, week, and month. Inflation, which has been hovering near a 40-year high, has become the center of attention, as the market tries to figure out how high inflation might go and when it may peak.

    The elevated inflation indicators over the past year or so are the main reason the Federal Reserve has had to raise interest rates so intensely this year, which has roiled markets and led to the worst first half of a year for stocks in about five decades.

    On Tuesday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics will release more inflation data — in this case, the change in prices for the month of August — which could have a big effect on the stock market. Let me explain.

    More evidence to help guide actions

    A major way that investors, economists, and policymakers measure inflation is through the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the prices on a basket of daily consumer goods and services. This figure indicates how much change occurs in the price year over year. The CPI has really shot up this year.

    Chart showing steep rise in the US Consumer Price Index since early 2021.

    US Consumer Price Index YoY data by YCharts

    In June (released in mid-July), the CPI clocked in 9.1% higher than one year prior, spooking investors and making them wonder just how aggressive the Fed might have to be with rate hikes to bring down inflation. But in July (released in mid-August), the market got some reprieve when the CPI came in about 8.5% higher on a year-over-year basis and remained unchanged from June on a monthly basis. The decline was led by a big drop-off in energy and gasoline prices, which have been surging all year long.

    Stocks rallied after the July report on the belief that inflation might have peaked, but since that report, there have been a number of comments from the Fed and conflicting data points that have created a topsy-turvy market. The Fed is still currently on track to raise its benchmark overnight lending rate by 0.75 percentage points at its meeting later this month, in what would be its third such accelerated move in a row.

    Now, the big question is: could August CPI data released on Tuesday provide further evidence that inflation has peaked and is now headed downward, or will it throw a wrinkle in the market and shoot higher?

    Most economists seem to think that the data will be favorable. In a recent research note, economists at Morgan Stanley said they think the headline inflation number will drop and come in at 7.9% higher in August on a year-over-year basis, which would be a strong improvement. That drop is expected to once again be led by a decline in energy prices.

    But less favorably, Morgan Stanley also predicted that rent prices would remain “strongly elevated for some time”. Rent is typically a big part of a consumer’s monthly expenses and therefore can cause inflation to linger. 

    There are also other encouraging signs that consumer prices are dropping. Consider, for instance, that wholesale used car prices fell in August, as did airline tickets and global food prices.

    How the report could move the market

    I’m expecting a lower CPI reading in August to move stocks higher, generally, as it would offer investors more proof that inflation is indeed declining and that the Fed may be able to pivot from its aggressive rate-hiking policies sooner than anticipated. But what happens if the headline CPI number jumps and comes in more than 8.5% higher? Well, then I would duck and find cover because it likely means that inflation is more persistent than the market could have imagined.

    However, with CPI estimates already around 7.9%, that may curb expectations and any potential market move. Below that number might be perceived as positive, while above it may be perceived as a negative for the market.

    Ultimately, I would never advise investors to try to play a near-term event like this, because it can be difficult to know how exactly the market will interpret certain data. For instance, if the CPI reading comes in woefully short of estimates, while it may seem like it would be a good thing, that could spook the market into worrying about a sudden drop-off in consumer demand and savings, which could hint that a more severe recession is lurking.

    My advice would be to simply be aware that there could be significant movement on Tuesday, up or down. Don’t panic, and continue to invest in stocks with good long-term prospects and strong fundamentals.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Why Tuesday could be a huge day for the US stock market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() { function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) { if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) { var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0]; button.style[property] = defaultValue; } } setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’); setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’); setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’); })()

    More reading

    Bram Berkowitz 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.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.



    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/UoSfFLa
  • Why is the Grange Resources share price falling in a hole on Tuesday?

    The legs of a person in midair, falling into a muddy puddle.The legs of a person in midair, falling into a muddy puddle.

    You may be wondering why the Grange Resources Limited (ASX: GRR) share price is falling 4.12% to 81.5 cents today.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.65% in early morning trade following upbeat sentiment on Wall Street.

    For context, the Dow Jones rose 0.71% overnight, and is up 3% in the past week.

    Let’s take a look at why the iron ore pellet miner’s shares are losing ground on Tuesday.

    Why are Grange Resources shares in the dirt today?

    Investors are offloading the Grange Resources share price as it trades ex-dividend today.

    This means if you purchased the company’s shares yesterday or before, you will be eligible for the latest dividend.

    When a company’s shares trade ex-dividend, the share price tends to fall in proportion to the dividend paid out. This can also vary on how the market is tracking for the day as well as investor sentiment.

    Grange Resources is set to pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 2 cents per share on 30 September.

    This marks a significant drop from the 10 cents per share declared by the board in the prior corresponding year.

    The company reported double-digit losses across key financial metrics in its half-year results.

    Management blamed the weak performance on soaring energy costs and volatility in iron ore prices.

    While there was no mention of the final dividend, this will largely depend on Grange Resources keeping costs under control.

    However, Goldman Sachs believes iron ore prices have further to fall, which could put pressure on the next dividend.

    Grange Resources share price summary

    After hitting a multi-year high of $1.79 on 8 June, the Grange Resources share price has tumbled more than 50%.

    Nonetheless, the share is still up 8% year to date.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index (ASX: XMM) is down 2% over the same timeframe.

    Grange Resources commands a market capitalisation of approximately $983.7 million and has a trailing dividend yield of 14.2%.

    The post Why is the Grange Resources share price falling in a hole on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/P2slDou

  • Vulcan Energy share price up 5% on lithium project update

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    The Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) share price is having a good day on Tuesday.

    In morning trade, the lithium developer’s shares are up almost 5% to $8.33.

    Why is the Vulcan Energy share price rising?

    Investors have been bidding the Vulcan Energy share price higher this morning in response to the release of an update on the company’s Zero Carbon Lithium Project.

    According to the release, Vulcan has started onsite construction of its Sorption-Demo Plant in Landau, Germany. This follows off site fabrication which has been ongoing since March.

    Vulcan Energy advised that the plant is being built on the premises of Energie Südwest AG (ESW), the local energy utility for Landau, following the completion of FEED studies, mobilisation, and delivery of key components.

    Management highlights that this is a key element of its strategy to de-risk its Zero Carbon Lithium Project. That’s because technical and operations personnel will train in the demo-plant to develop a comprehensive understanding of the process and its operation prior to the construction of the first commercial plant.

    The plant is scheduled to start cold commissioning in late 2022 and start operation in early 2023.

    The release explains that Vulcan Energy has chosen a sorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) approach for its lithium extraction business due to its current successful commercial deployment globally. Furthermore, it highlights that sorption approaches have been shown to optimally produce lithium chemicals from hot brines with low operating cost and sustainable footprint.

    Management commentary

    Vulcan Energy’s managing director and CEO, Dr. Francis Wedin, commented:

    We are excited to begin onsite construction of our Sorption-Demo Plant, which is the logical next step for us to continue upscaling towards commercial production of lithium hydroxide with a net zero carbon footprint. We are also encouraged with continuing receipt of environmental approvals from the authorities, and mobilisation of teams for commencement of “on the ground” seismic survey activities, toward our goal of developing a much larger geothermal renewable energy and Zero Carbon Lithium business.

    One slight but not unexpected disappointment, is that the company is being impacted by supply chain disruption and rising costs. Wedin explained:

    Vulcan, as with almost every developing project the world over, is being impacted by disruptions to supply chains due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, together with the rising cost of raw materials due to global inflation. I would like to thank the entire Vulcan team who, faced with these universal challenges, are working hard to deliver the Zero Carbon Lithium Project at pace and scale. We believe the Zero Carbon Lithium project is crucial for Europe, both from an energy security perspective and due to the need to have a local, reliable supply of critical raw materials like lithium. With these macro-policy tailwinds in our favour, Vulcan looks forward to delivering Zero Carbon Lithium Project as soon as possible.

    The post Vulcan Energy share price up 5% on lithium project update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vulcan Energy Resources Limited right now?

    Before you consider Vulcan Energy Resources Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

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

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/tNuJOPr

  • Supermarket shakeup: Do Coles shares offer better dividends than Woolworths?

    A woman ponders over what to buy as she looks at the shelves of a supermarketA woman ponders over what to buy as she looks at the shelves of a supermarket

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) supermarket shares Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) both upped their dividends in financial year 2022.

    But could the smaller of the two actually offer better value to shareholders? Readers might be surprised by the answer.

    Let’s take a closer look at how the pair’s payouts stack up.

    Do Coles shares offer better dividends than Woolies?

    Those looking to invest in ASX 200 supermarket shares likely end up choosing between Coles and Woolworths.

    While the pair are similar in many ways, they differ in many more. And their dividends represent one measure in which they are markedly different.

    Coles declared a 30-cent final dividend for financial year 2022, bringing its full-year payout to 63 cents per share – a 3.3% year-on-year increase.

    Meanwhile, Woolies upped its final offering to 52 cents per share, bolstering its full-year dividends to 92 cents.

    But bigger dividends don’t necessarily mean better value.

    Considering the current Coles share price – $17.24 – the $23 billion supermarket is trading with a 3.65% dividend yield.

    At the same time, shares in $43.5 billion supermarket goliath Woolworths, currently swapping hands for $35.89 apiece, boast a yield of just 2.56%.

    That means Coles shares offer a better dividend-to-share price ratio for investors.

    It’s also worth noting that both companies offer fully franked dividends. Therefore, their payouts might bring additional benefits to some shareholders at tax time.

    Additionally, both offer a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP), allowing shareholders to receive their dividends in the form of stock rather than cash.

    The Coles share price has also been outperforming that of Woolworths lately.  

    The smaller supermarket giant’s stock has slipped 3.7% year to date and 0.2% over the last 12 months. Meanwhile, Woolworths has dumped 6.7% in 2022 so far and 9.5% since this time last year.

    For context, the ASX 200 has fallen 7.7% year to date and 9.7% over the last 12 months.

    The post Supermarket shakeup: Do Coles shares offer better dividends than Woolworths? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/HULdAeI

  • Why this fundie reckons the Zip share price is a falling knife

    Zip share price Z1P A wide-eyed man peers out from a small gap in his black zipped jumper conveying fear over the weak Zip share price

    Zip share price Z1P A wide-eyed man peers out from a small gap in his black zipped jumper conveying fear over the weak Zip share price

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is up 2.79% in early trade after gaining 2.3% yesterday.

    Traders in the ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) share have certainly had the opportunity to capitalise on some big swings in the Zip share price.

    Traders astute – and lucky – enough to have bought shares on 30 June and sold a month later on 28 July would have made an eye-popping 245% gain.

    On the flip side, anyone who bought shares on 28 July and still holding them today will be nursing a painful loss of 41%.

    That’s the kind of volatility you might normally expect investing in cryptos.

    Anyhow, that’s the short-term picture.

    For long-term investors ignoring the sharp peaks and troughs, the Zip share price has inexorably retreated from its February 2021 all-time highs.

    Even with shares still up 103% from the recent 28 June lows, the current share price is still down 30% from its post-pandemic selloff low on 20 March 2020. And it’s down 87% since this time last year.

    Which is why Christopher Watt of Bell Potter Securities reckons investing in the former BNPL darling is like trying to catch a falling knife.

    Zip share price susceptible to competition and regulation

    As reported by The Bull, Watt has a sell recommendation for Zip shares.

    According to Watt:

    This buy now, pay later company reported a net loss of $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022. Reducing cash burn is part of the company’s strategy. The company has decided to close its operations in Singapore and the UK. The company is winding down non-core products. We view the BNPL sector as highly competitive and susceptible to further regulation.

    Bad debts and rising rates

    The $1.1 billion loss from ordinary activities after income tax Watt mentions was a 63% increase from the losses reported in fiscal year 2021. And that came despite the company reporting record revenue of $620 million, up 57% from FY21.

    Atop these alarming figures, and the cautions Watt notes above, the Zip share price has come under increased pressure this year from fast-rising interest rates. That could see the company continue to struggle with getting their customers to pay back those handy interest-free, instalment loans.

    In FY22, Zip already reported a 110% increase in bad debts and expected credit losses, which reached a staggering $276.1 million over the 12 months.

    The post Why this fundie reckons the Zip share price is a falling knife appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

    (function() {
    function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
    if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
    var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
    button.style[property] = defaultValue;
    }
    }

    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
    setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
    })()

    More reading

    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 ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/zUwAlcY