Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why is the Evolution Mining share price on the rocks today?

    A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.

    Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shareholders might be wondering why the share price is losing ground today.

    The gold miner posted its full-year results on 18 August, reporting a mixed performance across key financial metrics.

    Subsequently, the board elected to slash its final dividend by 40% to 3 cents per share.

    At the time of writing, the Evolution Mining share price is down 1.48% to $2.335 apiece. That means it has slipped by 13% since the release of the FY 2022 results.

    Let’s take a look below at why its shares are falling during morning trade.

    What’s weighing down Evolution Mining?

    Following the release of the company’s FY 2022 results, investors are offloading Evolution Mining shares as they go ex-dividend today.

    The ex-dividend date is particularly important as it determines which shareholders will receive the company’s latest dividend.

    If you held Evolution shares at yesterday’s market close, you will be eligible for the fully franked final dividend.

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

    For those eligible for Evolution’s final dividend, you’ll will receive a payment on 30 September.

    This brings the total dividend for FY 2022 to 6 cents per share, reflecting a 50% reduction from the 12 cents per share declared in the prior corresponding year.

    The company’s dividend policy is, whenever possible, to pay a dividend based on group cash flow generated during a year. The policy is targeting a payout ratio of around 50% of cash flow per annum.

    Furthermore, the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) remains suspended with no indication from the board when it will return.

    Evolution Mining share price summary

    In 2022, the Evolution Mining share price has come under strong selling pressure as the price of gold continues to retreat. Its shares are down 43% year-to-date.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Resources (ASX: XJR) sector has travelled the other way, up 7% over the same period.

    Based on today’s price, Evolution commands a market capitalisation of approximately $4.59 billion and has a dividend yield of 3.20%.

    The post Why is the Evolution Mining share price on the rocks today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Evolution Mining 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 Evolution Mining 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

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    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 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.

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  • Link share price marching higher on revenue boost

    Contented looking man leans back in his chair at his desk and smiles.

    Contented looking man leans back in his chair at his desk and smiles.

    The Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) share price is up 0.93% in early trade.

    Links shares closed yesterday at $4.32 a share and are currently trading for $4.36 each.

    This comes after the company, which provides administration services to the financial services sector, released its full-year results for the 12 months ending 30 June (FY22).

    Here are the highlights.

    Link share price lifts on revenue growth

    • Revenue of $1.18 billion, up 1.3% from FY21
    • Operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $252.3 million, down 2% from the prior year
    • Statutory net loss after tax of $67.6 million, down from a $162.7 million net loss in FY21
    • Operating net profit after tax and amortisation (NPATA) of $121.3 million, up 7% year on year
    • Net debt of $687.9 million, and leverage ratio (net debt/EBITDA) at 2.6 times, in the middle of the guidance range of 2.0 times to 3.0 times.

    What else happened during the year?

    Link explained the divergence from its NPATA of $66.2 million (down 11% from the prior year) and its operating NPATA (up 7%) is because the company’s FY21 earnings have been restated as a result of revised tax accounting within PEXA.

    The company also highlighted the 8.8% year on year increase in operating EBIT, to $153.9 million.

    Link also reported 10% growth of its customer base, administering more than 10 million superannuation and pension accounts across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, and connecting more than 100 million people with their assets around the world.

    And its Global Transformation Program (GTP) delivered $77.9 million of gross annualised cost saving, beating the goal of $75.0 million in savings.

    Perhaps the biggest news, and one likely supporting the Link share price today, came after the end of the financial year. Namely that on 22 August, shareholders voted in favour of Link’s proposed acquisition by Dye & Durham Corporation, which values Link at $4.81 per share.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results that are seeing the Link share price edging higher today, CEO Vivek Bhatia said:

    Link Group has delivered on its upgraded FY 2022 guidance announced on 11 July 2022. The last two years have seen a high level of corporate activity for Link Group in addition to the global pandemic and market volatility associated with higher inflation and higher interest rates.

    Despite these challenging and potentially distracting factors, it has been pleasing to see the resilience of our people and performance of our core businesses which are reflected in today’s results.

    What’s next?

    In FY23, Link forecasts revenue to increase “by a low single-digit percentage”.

    The company is expecting an 8% to 10% lift in operating EBITDA and a 10% to 12% increase in operating EBIT.

    “The operating environment remains challenging with cost pressures from higher inflation, higher interest rates, challenging employment conditions and increased market volatility,” Bhatia said. “We are confident that our businesses provide the diversity and resilience required to navigate these conditions.”

    Link share price snapshot

    The Link share price is down 1% over the past 12 months. That compares to a 7% full-year loss posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    The post Link share price marching higher on revenue boost 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

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    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 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.

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  • Healius share price climbs as profit doubles in FY22

    Two healthcare workers, a male doctor in the background with a woman in scrubs in the foreground,, smile towards the camera against a plain backdrop.Two healthcare workers, a male doctor in the background with a woman in scrubs in the foreground,, smile towards the camera against a plain backdrop.

    The Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) share price is experiencing a healthy rise this morning after the healthcare company handed in its FY22 results.

    While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has climbed 0.3% in early morning trade, the Healius share price is outperforming the market with a 1.4% gain.

    Healius share price rises on healthy profit boost 

    Here are some of the headline results from Healius’ full-year FY22 report:

    • Revenue came in at $2.34 billion – up 23% compared to the prior corresponding period of FY21
    • Underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) jumped 85% to $492 million
    • Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) shot up 108% to $309 million
    • A fully franked final dividend of 6 cents was declared – slightly down from the prior period but for the full year, total dividends lifted by 21%

    Impressively, Healius’ underlying EBIT margins improved from 13.9% in FY21 to 21.1% in FY22.

    This was underpinned by progress in the company’s sustainable improvement program, with nearly half of its phase two initiatives complete.

    Even still, the company’s result on the bottom line fell short of Citi’s forecast, with analysts expecting NPAT of $316 million.

    What else happened in FY22?

    During the year, Healius successfully scaled its operations to satisfy an upswing in COVID-related demand.

    The company conducted extensive COVID testing from July 2021 to January 2022. This contributed to a 40% rise in pathology episodes across the year.

    From there, screening cooled down as the Omicron variant became endemic in the population.

    Healius also provided critical non-COVID pathology testing, maintaining its market share in FY22.

    Meanwhile, the company continued to deliver its imaging and day hospital services. However, throughout the year these were impacted by lockdowns, elective surgery restrictions, and COVID-related cancellations.

    While Healius’ dividend increase in FY22 lagged profit growth, the company returned around $140 million to shareholders through an on-market share buyback. 

    Healius also completed two acquisitions during the year. In July 2021, it purchased Axis Diagnostics, a Queensland-based imaging business with three radiology practices.

    Then, in December 2021, it made a ~$300 million acquisition of Agilex Biolabs, a leading bioanalytical laboratory. At the time, the Healius share price bounced around as the reaction to the acquisition was mixed.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results, Healius CEO Dr Malcolm Parmenter said:

    We have emerged from a period of intense COVID-19 screening with a strong balance sheet, higher free cash flows and good returns to our shareholders. 

    We are also a far better company than we were before COVID-19 due to the actions of the Healius team.

    We have a simplified portfolio, more competitive networks including a more profitable ACC footprint, broader growth options and far more firepower for delivering this growth.

    What’s next?

    Healius refrained from providing FY23 guidance, citing the unpredictability of COVID and the timing of the acceleration in underlying diagnostics.

    Nonetheless, commenting on market conditions, Healius said it expects broad demand for non-COVID services to return. 

    The company noted that the underlying drivers in both pathology and imaging remain strong. These drivers include an ageing population with greater longevity but more complex health issues.

    The company is also expecting a period of catch-up for the backlog in routine care. However, the timing is uncertain while COVID remains endemic.

    Healius share price snapshot

    The Healius share price initially emerged as a COVID beneficiary but ran out of puff at the end of last year.

    The Healius share price has suffered a 27% fall so far this year. But it’s up by the same amount since the beginning of 2020.

    The post Healius share price climbs as profit doubles in FY22 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Primary Health Care Limited right now?

    Before you consider Primary Health Care 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 Primary Health Care 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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.

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  • 3 quality ETFs for ASX investors in September

    Three people in a corporate office pour over a tablet, ready to invest.

    Three people in a corporate office pour over a tablet, ready to invest.

    A new month is upon us, so what better time to look for new portfolio additions.

    If you’re interested in exchange traded funds (ETFs), then the three listed below could be worth getting better acquainted with.

    Here’s what you need to know about these ETFs:

    BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF (ASX: FUEL)

    With oil prices at high levels and supply likely to remain tight for a while to come due to the blacklisting of Russian oil and potential OPEC cuts, energy producers look set to generate big profits in the near term. This could make the BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF a great option for investors that aren’t keen on stock picking in the energy sector. That’s because this ETF provides investors with easy access to many of the largest energy producers in the world. This includes the likes of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    If you’re looking for an easy way to diversify your portfolio in September then you might want to consider the iShares S&P 500 ETF. This popular ETF gives investors access to 500 of the top listed U.S. companies through a single investment. This means that you’ll be buying a slice of companies such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, Facebook, JP Morgan, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Tesla, and Visa.

    VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    Finally, if you’re bullish on the video gaming industry then you might want to look at the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. That’s because this ETF gives investors exposure to the leading companies in the growing video game market. Among the shares included in the fund are hardware giant Nvidia and game developers Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Roblox, Take-Two, and Tencent.

    The post 3 quality ETFs for ASX investors in September 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

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    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 BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF – Currency Hedged. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF and iShares Trust – iShares Core S&P 500 ETF. 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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  • IGO share price moves higher on record earnings

    a miner holds his thumb up as he holds a device in his other hand.a miner holds his thumb up as he holds a device in his other hand.

    The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price is in the green in early morning trading after the company posted its fourth consecutive year of record underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) in FY22.

    The first-year contribution from its lithium joint venture (JV) and a strong performance from its Nova nickel project were key contributors to the results.

    At the time of writing, the battery minerals miner’s shares are up 1.18% to $12.82 apiece.

    Let’s take a look at IGO’s results for FY22.

    IGO share price climbs as revenue, earnings soar

    Highlights of IGO’s FY22 financial results include:

    • Revenue of $903 million, up 34% year over year (yoy)
    • Record underlying EBITDA of $717 million, up 51% yoy
    • Strong first-year contribution from the lithium JV, Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia Pty Ltd (TLEA), delivering IGO a share of net profit of $177 million and an inaugural dividend payment of $71 million
    • Net profit after tax (NPAT) of $331 million, down 40% yoy due to a tax charge on the sale of its Tropicana asset
    • Cash on balance sheet of $367 million and $900 million in new debt facilities following the acquisition of Western Areas
    • Declared a final fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share (cps)

    What else did IGO report?

    The miner’s move to expand its exposure to battery-making minerals has kept the IGO share price well supported.

    To that end, investors will be pleased to hear that its Nova nickel production achieved a better than guided cash costs of $1.95 per payable pound of nickel. Output was within guidance at 26,675 tonnes.

    The profit contribution from TLEA was also above what management was forecasting. The successful commissioning of the first train at the Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Refinery is another highlight. The refinery produced its first battery-grade lithium hydroxide in May 2022.

    Additionally, IGO completed the strategic acquisition of Western Areas on 20 June 2022, delivering an expanded portfolio of nickel assets.

    IGO also declared a fully franked final dividend of 5 cps, bringing the full-year dividend to 10 cps.

    This is the same as the full-year dividend declared in FY21. However, last year’s result included a final dividend of 10 cps and no interim payout.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results, IGO managing director Peter Bradford said:

    Our Nova Operation continued to deliver consistent production and, with the benefit of higher commodity prices, delivered record financial outcomes across all key financial metrics.

    [TLEA] saw significant activity and growth during the year, with commissioning of two new concentrators at Greenbushes resulting in the delivery of record operating and financial results for Greenbushes in FY22.

    The lithium business contributed A$177M of net profit and A$71M of dividends to IGO in the first year of our ownership, which far exceeds our expectations at the time of commitment to the investment, primarily due to the subsequent astronomical growth in spodumene prices.

    Our high-quality nickel and lithium businesses, combined with our portfolio of belt scale exploration projects focused on discovery of nickel, copper, lithium and rare earths, gives IGO a great platform to leverage off the growing demand for clean energy metals that are needed to meet the transition away from fossil fuels.

    What’s next?

    IGO expects to produce between 34,500 and 39,500 tonnes of nickel in FY23 at a cash cost of $4.10 to $4,70 a pound.

    Spodumene production at Greenbushes is forecast at 1.35 to 1.45 million tonnes, with cost of goods sold (excluding royalties) to range between $225 and $275 a tonne.

    The miner is also guiding to produce 900 to 1,000 tonnes of cobalt and 11,000 to 12,000 tonnes of copper.

    IGO share price snapshot

    The IGO share price has outperformed the market over the past year. The miner has gained 35% since this time last year while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost 7%.

    Other ASX lithium shares have also been outrunning the market. The Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price have surged around 60% each over the period.

    The post IGO share price moves higher on record earnings 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau has positions in Allkem Limited and Independence Group NL. 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.

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  • Woodside share price lifts on 400% profit surge

    A man in a hard hat puts his finger up to say 'number one' in front of an oil mineA man in a hard hat puts his finger up to say 'number one' in front of an oil mine

    The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price opened 3.2% higher at $36.50 after the oil and gas giant released its FY22 half-year earnings.

    Currently, Woodside shares are trading at $36.02 apiece, up 1.9%.

    The company has tripled its interim dividend from 30 US cents a share in 1H FY21 to US$1.09 in 1H FY22. On today’s exchange rate, this translates to A$1.58 a share to be paid on 6 October.

    The dividend bump follows a massive profit surge, in part due to the merger with the petroleum business of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

    Let’s take a look.

    What did Woodside report?

    The key metrics in Woodside’s results are as follows:

    • Net profit after tax (NPAT) US$1.64 billion, up 417% on the prior corresponding period (pcp)
    • Underlying NPAT US$1.82 billion, up 414% pcp
    • Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) US$3.97 billion, up 165% pcp
    • Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) US$2.98 billion, up 380% pcp
    • Free cash flow US$2.57 billion, up 688% pcp
    • Operating revenue US$5.81 billion, up 132% pcp
    • Production of 54.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), up 19% pcp
    • Combined realised price of US$96.4 per boe, up 116% pcp
    • Unit production cost US$7.20 per boe, up 47% pcp.

    Woodside said the half-year profit surge reflects “strong operational performance, higher realised prices and contribution from the BHPP assets”.

    According to reporting in The Australian, analyst consensus estimates were core NPAT of $US1.8 billion, revenue of $US5.8 billion, and EBIT of $US2.6 billion.

    Citi had forecast a core NPAT of $US1.7 billion, EBITDAX of $US4 billion, and a dividend of US$1.04.

    What else happened in 1H FY22?

    On 1 June, Woodside completed its merger with BHP Petroleum International Pty Ltd (BHPP).

    Realised prices for Woodside’s oil and gas more than doubled to $96.4 per boe across the expanded portfolio. This included one month of production from the BHPP assets equating to 9.7 million boe.

    Woodside’s chief financial officer Graham Tiver said the company now had “significant” operating and free cash flow and a “balance sheet positioned to support major project expenditure”.

    The interim dividend is the largest interim dividend declared since 2014. The dividend payout ratio is 80% of Woodside’s NPAT for H1 FY22.

    Woodside said the outlook for gas is “strong and sustained”.

    The report said LNG markets are ” incentivising new global LNG projects as Europe replaces Russian gas”.

    The report added: “Gaseous fuels remain critical to the energy transition with low-risk and reliable sources advantaged. Asian LNG demand [is] not expected to peak before mid-2040s.”

    What did management say?

    Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill said:

    Our first results since the completion of the merger with BHP’s petroleum business highlight the increased financial and operational strength delivered by our larger, geographically diverse portfolio of high-quality operating assets.

    Production for the half year was 19% higher at 54.9 million barrels of oil equivalent, benefiting from the contribution in the month of June of the former BHP assets and improved reliability at our LNG facilities.

    In particular, production from Pluto was increased by the start-up of Pyxis Hub and the commencement of gas flows through the Interconnector pipeline to Karratha Gas Plant.

    This well-timed investment allowed us to supply three LNG cargoes, one condensate cargo and pipeline gas into a strong market, generating $419 million in revenue and delivering additional value to our shareholders.

    What’s next?

    O’Neill said:

    The upheavals in global and Australian energy markets witnessed over the course of the past six months have shone a spotlight on the importance of gas in the world’s energy mix and underscores our confidence in the longer-term demand outlook for gas, which makes up 70% of Woodside’s portfolio.

    Safe and reliable supplies of gas are not only critical to global energy security but will play a key role as our customers seek to decarbonise, alongside new energy sources such as hydrogen and ammonia that Woodside is investing in.

    Our strategy to thrive through the energy transition as a low-cost, lower-carbon energy provider continues to progress through recently announced initiatives across hydrogen refuelling, carbon capture and storage and carbon to products technologies.

    Woodside share price snapshot

    Woodside shares are up 82% over the past 12 months. This outstanding performance from the ASX oil share contrasts with a decline of 7% in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    The post Woodside share price lifts on 400% profit surge 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Billiton Limited and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. 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.

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  • Why Tesla stock dropped Monday morning

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

    Boy and woman charge electric vehicle

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

    What happened

    Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares have started off the week on a negative note. As of 12:10 p.m. ET, the stock was off its session low, but still down 1.8%. The drop comes as the market is also continuing a downturn that started last Friday with a 1,000-plus point drop in the Dow. But there was also news out this morning that could have investors wondering if Tesla’s valuation is too high. 

    So what

    With a market cap of almost $900 billion and a trailing-12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio above 90, investors have baked a lot growth into Tesla stock. A report from The Wall Street Journal that Honda and South Korea-based LG Energy Solution plan to build a new $4.4 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in the U.S. may have investors realizing that an increased level of competition isn’t that far away for Tesla. 

    Now what

    The new plant will reportedly be in Ohio, where Honda has a factory in Marysville. Having batteries manufactured in the U.S. will help the automaker and its vehicles qualify for incentives included in the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

    Tesla has emerged as one of the big beneficiaries of that new law as a result of its production facilities in the U.S., including a joint battery production facility in Nevada with Panasonic. Some of Tesla’s vehicles will requalify for tax incentives under the IRA that had expired from previous rules due to reaching the production volume limits. 

    This news adds to a growing list of commitments by auto manufacturers to build batteries in the U.S. Investors know that the EV market also looks to be growing quickly, and there is room for Tesla and others in the market. But valuation still matters, and investors may want Tesla’s business to catch up to its stock price before pushing shares higher.

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

    The post Why Tesla stock dropped Monday morning appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Tesla, Inc. right now?

    Before you consider Tesla, Inc., 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 Tesla, Inc. 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

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

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



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  • Dubber share price soars 11% despite losses doubling in FY2022

    A trendy older hipster guy with a long white beard and headphones pulls rockstar hand sign with his hands.A trendy older hipster guy with a long white beard and headphones pulls rockstar hand sign with his hands.

    The Dubber Corporation Ltd (ASX: DUB) share price has rocketed in early trade on Tuesday after the company released its 2022 financial results.

    Shares in the cloud recording and audio software provider are up 9.35% to 58.5 cents each at the time of writing. They hit an early high of 59.5 cents a share, 11.2% higher, shortly after market open.

    Here are the highlights of Dubber’s full-year results.

    What did the company report?

    • Total operating revenue up 75% to $35.6 million
    • Annual recurring revenue (ARR) up 51% to $59 million
    • Loss after income tax up 104% to $64.7 million
    • Accumulated losses at 30 June 2022 at $165 million
    • Employee headcount up 139% from 101 to 242
    • Subscribers up 38% from 420,000 to 580,000

    What else happened in FY22?

    During the year Dubber signed deals with major telcos Optus and BT to carry its recording and voice technologies.

    Back in July 2021, the company raised $110 million at $2.95 per share.

    Other than that, a series of market updates only managed to disappoint the share market repeatedly during a period when loss-making growth businesses completely fell out of favour.  

    What did management say?

    Dubber chief executive Steve McGovern said:

    The last 12 months have been transformative for Dubber, a period where we have achieved three major operational initiatives at the same time as growing the business substantially across all key metrics. The company is in a significantly improved position compared with June 2021, including having future business objectives fully funded to cash flow break even. 

    We have invested in infrastructure which will underpin the Company’s future, integrated two businesses and doubled the size of our team including key executive appointments. 

    What’s next?

    The company declined to give specific guidance for the 2023 financial year.

    Dubber released a statement saying:

    The company has made significant investment in infrastructure, people and products during FY22 that will enable it to stabilise operating expenditure in FY23 with a model that sees growth in recurring revenue increasing at a faster rate than costs.

    Merger and acquisition activity will remain on the Company’s radar, however, a dynamic market regarding relative valuations has led the Company to focus on ensuring its capacity for continued growth of its core unified recording and conversational intelligence platform to leverage and protect its balance sheet.

    Dubber share price snapshot

    Devastation is one word that can be used to describe the journey for the Dubber share price this year.

    The stock has lost more than 80% of its value since the start of the year, or 85% if you go back 12 months. 

    Dubber shares started Tuesday at 54 cents.

    The post Dubber share price soars 11% despite losses doubling in FY2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Dubber Corporation 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 Dubber Corporation 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
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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has positions in Dubber Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Dubber Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dubber Corporation. 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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  • Gold Road share price lifts as half-year profit doubles

    miner giving 'ok' sign in front of mineminer giving 'ok' sign in front of mine

    The Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) share price is in the green after the company released its half-year earnings this morning.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock opened 2.4% higher at $1.285 before continuing on its upwards trajectory.

    At the time of writing, the Gold Road share price is $1.295, 3.19% higher than its previous close.

    Gold Road share price gains as profit and dividend doubled

    Here are the key takeaways from the company’s results for the six months ended 30 June:

    Gold Road sold 79,606 ounces of gold in the first half of 2022.

    Its 50%-owned Gruyere mine produced a record 156,811 ounces of gold last half, with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,376 per ounce.

    The company ended the period with a record $160.3 million of cash and short-term deposits and no debt.

    What else happened in the first half?

    The major news from Gold Road last half was of its ultimately successful takeover of formerly-ASX-listed DGO Gold. As of 30 June, Gold Road held a 97.86% interest in DGO Gold shares. The acquisition of the remaining stake was made compulsory earlier that month.

    DGO Gold investors were provided 2.25 Gold Road shares for each stock they held in the acquisition target, representing an implied price of $2.95 per share at the time of the offer.

    Via the acquisition, Gold Road received a 14.4% stake in De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG), a 6.1% stake in Dacian Gold Ltd (ASX: DCN), a 20.1% shareholding in Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX: YRL), and a diverse portfolio of exploration tenements.

    What did management say?

    Gold Road CEO and managing director Duncan Gibbs commented on the company’s half-year earnings, saying:

    The six months to 30 June 2022 has been a successful one for Gold Road, despite the challenging global operating environment.

    Gruyere achieved record production for the half year in line with our outlook of growing production through 2022 and 2023. The record gold production resulted in strong free cash flow for Gold Road and a record net cash position.

    The successful completion of the DGO Gold takeover in June now provides Gold Road with an even more exciting platform for growth.

    What’s next?

    The company looks set to achieve its 2022 guidance.

    Gruyere is on target to achieve between 300,000 ounces and 340,000 ounces in 2022 and to grow annual production to 350,000 ounces a year by 2023.

    The company’s annual AISC guidance is still between $1,270 an ounce and $1,470 an ounce.

    Gold Road share price snapshot

    Despite Gold Road’s strong recent performance, its share price has struggled through 2022 so far.

    It has dumped 18% since the start of the year. It’s also trading 0.4% lower than it was this time last year.

    For comparison, the ASX 200 has fallen 8% year to date and 7% over the last 12 months.

    The post Gold Road share price lifts as half-year profit doubles appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Gold Road 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 Gold Road 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

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    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 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.

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  • Why the shine was off Apple stock on Monday

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

    Female investor in front of computer with hands at forehead

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

    What happened

    Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock and product aficionados might be getting excited about the company’s upcoming “event” next week, but the shares nevertheless stumbled on Monday. A media report is giving some investors pause to think, with the result that Apple shares lost 1.4% of their value across the day.

    So what

    An article published in Politico on Friday afternoon stated that the Justice Department is currently in an early stage of preparing a potential antitrust complaint against Apple. Citing “a person with direct knowledge of the matter,” the story said that several groups of Justice prosecutors are involved in the effort, suggesting a renewed push by the government to curb what it considers to be the unfair trade practices of big tech companies.

    According to the article’s source, if the Department decides to go through with filing its complaint, it will do so by the end of this year. Yet that person, plus what Politico described as “one other familiar with the probe,” have both said that Justice hasn’t yet made a final decision on the matter.

    Apple has not yet officially responded to the article.

    Now what

    If the article is accurate, this would hardly be the first time the government has gone after the country’s top-tech companies over what it believes is anti-competitive behavior. Apple has been in its sights for some time and the focus of a formal investigation since 2019. We need to bear in mind, though, that at this point the filing of an antitrust complaint is only speculation at best, and investors shouldn’t trade the company’s stock purely on that basis.

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

    The post Why the shine was off Apple stock on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Apple Inc. right now?

    Before you consider Apple Inc., 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 Apple Inc. 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

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    Eric Volkman has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. 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.



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