Tag: Motley Fool

  • Guess which ASX biotech share is soaring 32% on a ‘landmark’ FDA ruling

    An older woman tries to listen by cupping her ear.An older woman tries to listen by cupping her ear.

    The Nuheara Ltd (ASX: NUH) share price is rocketing on Wednesday afternoon.

    This comes after the company announced the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) landmark ruling for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids in the United States.

    At the time of writing, the hearing solutions provider’s shares are leaping to 24.5 cents, up 32.43%.

    FDA opens Nuheara OTC hearing aids to US market

    Investors are driving Nuheara shares higher following the company’s positive release.

    In today’s statement, Nuheara advised that the US FDA is allowing hearing aids within the OTC category. Thus, they can be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or fitting by an audiologist.

    It noted that the FDA received over 1,000 public comment submissions on the proposed rule change. Most of these submissions were in favour of OTC hearing aids being more accessible for the 38 million Americans experiencing hearing loss.

    Currently, hearing aids are considered expensive in the country, with the average cost at around US$4,726 for a pair. However, they can fetch for US$10,000 if going through a licensed audiologist or a licensed hearing aid retailer.

    With the landmark ruling, OTC purchases for a pair of hearing aids could cost less than US$1,000 per pair.

    At the moment, there’s a 60-day enactment period until OTC hearing aid consumer retail sales can commence. It is likely this will come into effect in mid-October.

    Management commentary

    US-based Nuheara CEO John Luna said:

    The US hearing aid market is forever changed with this OTC hearing aid final rule publication. We’re very excited in the knowledge that the US consumer could very soon be making the decision to self-care, self-fit with affordable non-prescriptive hearing aids available over-the-counter in traditional retail and online.

    This historic change will save consumers with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss thousands of dollars on a pair of hearing aids.

    Nuheara is well positioned with our OTC hearing aids (pending FDA clearance), through our trademark license agreement with HP Inc. that will be initially available at Best Buy retail stores in the US. OTC hearing aids will become a significant part of Nuheara’s future as we continue to innovate to bring new hearing products to market.

    Nuheara share price snapshot

    Despite rocketing 32% today, the Nuheara share price has fallen by more than 60% over the last 12 months.

    After reaching a 52-week high of 72 cents in August 2021, the shares gradually began treading lower throughout the year.

    Based on today’s price, Nuheara presides a market capitalisation of approximately $25.38 million.

    The post Guess which ASX biotech share is soaring 32% on a ‘landmark’ FDA ruling 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 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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  • Guess which tiny ASX mining share just rocketed 45% on new copper and gold finds

    Rocket powering up and symbolising a rising share price.

    Rocket powering up and symbolising a rising share price.

    You won’t hear investors in this tiny ASX mining share complaining today.

    While the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is waffling between small gains and small losses, this ASX mining share rocketed 45% on open this morning.

    Any guesses?

    If you said Tennant Minerals Ltd (ASX: TMS), go to the front of the class.

    In afternoon trading, Tennant Minerals has given back some of its earlier eye-popping gains but remains up a healthy 15.4%.

    So, what’s piquing investor interest?

    Bonanza copper and gold intersections

    The Tennant Minerals share price is rocketing after the ASX mining share reported that assay results returned a thick intersection of high-grade copper and gold.

    The results come from the first hole of its recently completed six-hole diamond drilling program at the Bluebird copper-gold discovery, located within Tennant’s 100% owned Barkly Project in the Northern Territory.

    Assay results are still due in for the other five drill holes. The miner said all of the holes had intersected thick hematite alteration and copper mineralisation.

    Commenting on the results driving the ASX mining share higher today, Tennant Minerals chairman, Matthew Driscoll said:

    The latest drilling results from Bluebird are stunning. Not only have we continued to intersect thick, high-grade copper, but we have also discovered a distinct high-grade gold shoot within the broader mineralised zone with spectacular intersection grades of up to 38.5 grams per tonne gold.

    We have really only scratched the surface at Bluebird, with the copper-gold discovery zone still completely open to the west and below 200 metres depth.

    The miner is currently defining new drilling targets along a 5 kilometre corridor to “continue building and expanding this significant new high-grade copper-gold discovery”, Driscoll added.

    How has this ASX mining share been tracking?

    The Tenant Minerals share price is subject to some big ups and downs.

    With more ups than downs, the ASX mining share has gained 50% over the past 12 months. That compares to a full-year loss of 5% posted by the All Ordinaries.

    The post Guess which tiny ASX mining share just rocketed 45% on new copper and gold finds appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Tennant Minerals Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Tennant Minerals Ltd, 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 Tennant Minerals Ltd 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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    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 Bruce Jackson. 

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  • These ASX 200 shares just cracked new highs today

    Two people climb to the summit and raise their arms in success as the sun rises brightly over the mountains.

    Two people climb to the summit and raise their arms in success as the sun rises brightly over the mountains.

    It’s been a pretty bouncy day of trading for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Wednesday. At the time of writing the ASX 200 has gained 0.15% at just over 7,110 points.

    But that doesn’t mean it’s been a boring day for all ASX 200 shares. In fact, here are two that have just hit new highs. Let’s check them out.

    Two ASX 200 shares that just hit new highs

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    First up is ASX 200 coal miner Whitehaven. Whitehaven shares have gained a healthy 4.01% at present and are sitting at $6.875 each which is the company’s new 52-week high.

    It’s not an all-time record high for Whitehaven, but we have to go back to early 2011 to find the last time Whitehaven was at these kinds of levels. That makes this a new 11-year high for the ASX 200 coal miner. As you might expect, this seems to be the result of record-high coal prices.

    As my Fool colleague Aaron covered last week, coal is trading at close to record highs. So it’s perhaps no wonder investors are getting excited by miners like Whitehaven right now, especially with the company’s earnings scheduled for next week (25 August).

    Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

    Bottle shop and pub operator Endeavour is another ASX 200 share having a cracking day this Wednesday. At present, Endeavour shares have risen by a robust 1.47% to $8.28 each. But today has seen this company rise as high as $8.30 which, as you might guess, is the company’s new 52-week high.

    Endeavour has only been listed on the ASX in its own right since June last year. That was when the company was spun out of Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). So this new high watermark is also a record high for Endeavour shares.

    There haven’t been any obvious catalysts for this new ASX 200 record today. But Endeavour has been gaining steam all year. The company’s shares are up almost 23% over 2022 thus far, and by 4% over the past month alone. Perhaps investors are expecting big things when the company reports its full-year earnings next week (on 23 August).

    The post These ASX 200 shares just cracked new highs today 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 Sebastian Bowen 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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  • Genex share price leaps 8% on revised takeover bid from Atlassian founder

    A female superhero dressed in shiny green with a mask leaps in the sky with leg and arm outstretched in a leaping action.A female superhero dressed in shiny green with a mask leaps in the sky with leg and arm outstretched in a leaping action.

    The Genex Power Ltd (ASX: GNX) share price is lifting once more after a consortium of suitors, including the investment fund of Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) co-founder Scott Farquhar, slapped the stock with another takeover bid.

    And this one looks like it could stick. The consortium, made up of Farquhar’s Skip Capital and Stonepeak Partners, has offered 25 cents per share to snap up the company. That’s 2 cents higher than its previously rejected offer.

    The Genex share price is surging on the news. It’s up 6.82% to 23.5 cents at the time of writing, after repeatedly topping 8% throughout the day.

    Let’s take a closer look at the latest from the renewable generation and storage company.

    Genex share price soars on upped takeover bid

    It’s been a long journey to get here, but Genex has finally granted Skip Capital’s infrastructure fund and Stonepeak Partners due diligence.

    The consortium first put forward a 23 cent per share bid, valuing the renewable energy company at $300 million, in late July.

    And while the market responded with joy, sending the Genex share price 44% higher, the company wasn’t impressed. Its board turned down the offer earlier this month, saying it undervalued the company.

    Though, it allowed the consortium access to some due diligence information in the hopes doing so would result in a higher bid.

    And lo and behold, a higher bid has materialised. The new offer represents an 85% premium on the undisturbed Genex share price and a 92% premium on its three-month volume weighted average.

    It also values the company at around $346 million.

    The company’s board hopes the consortium follows its proposal with a binding bid after it undergoes due diligence.

    If such a bid is priced at 25 cents per share or higher, Genex will recommend it to shareholders. That’s as long as an independent expert agrees it’s in investors’ best interests and no better offer comes along.

    If all goes to plan, the consortium will snap up Genex via a scheme of arrangement in the not-so-distant future.

    The post Genex share price leaps 8% on revised takeover bid from Atlassian founder 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 Brooke Cooper 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 Atlassian. 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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  • Everything you need to know about the latest CSL dividend

    Two happy scientists analysing test results.Two happy scientists analysing test results.

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price is backtracking 1.24% to $292.73 today following the release of the company’s full-year results.

    The biotherapeutics company reported a mixed performance due to a “difficult global environment.”

    Nonetheless, the result was in line with expectations, achieving the top end of its guidance.

    Here’s a look at the CSL’s latest dividend that was announced to the market.

    CSL maintains full-year dividend

    After delivering a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2,255 million in FY22, the CSL board declared a final dividend of US$1.18 per share.

    When converted to the Australian currency, this reflects an approximate dividend of $1.68 per share, franked at 10%.

    Moreover, despite CSL maintaining its full-year dividend of US$2.22 apiece, this is 6% higher due to favourable currency movements.

    The full-year dividend is equivalent to 46.2% of the group’s basic earnings per share (EPS) of US$4.81.

    You still have time to scoop up the latest dividend as the ex-dividend date falls on 6 September.

    CSL will pay the distribution of its profits to eligible shareholders on 5 October.

    What about the FY23 dividend?

    While CSL didn’t give any guidance on its dividend for FY23, we take a look at what Goldman Sachs had to say.

    The broker released its key takeaways on the back of CSL’s FY22 results.

    It said “NPAT is guided to $2.4bn-2.5bn, excluding Vifor (constant currency terms). Consensus expectations are heavily distorted by the impact of Vifor in our view, but our best guess at ‘organic CSL’ consensus is $2.575bn.”

    Upside risks included: More supportive pricing dynamic than we already expect, positive results from pipeline/pre-commercialisation products, and plasma donor fee deflation.

    However, downside risks involved: Competitive product launches, challenges associated with unemployment/payer mix, and sustained challenges due to COVID-19.

    Goldman Sachs has a neutral rating on CSL with a 12-month target price of $307 per share.

    CSL share price snapshot

    Over the last 12 months, the CSL share price experienced volatility on the back of an uncertain global economic outlook.

    After touching a 52-week low of $240.10 on 15 February, its shares hit resistance at around the $270 mark.

    Since then, that barrier has been breached with CSL shares trading around 4% under the psychological $300 level.

    Based on today’s price, CSL commands a market capitalisation of $141 billion and has a trailing dividend yield of 1.03%.

    The post Everything you need to know about the latest CSL dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in CSL right now?

    Before you consider CSL , 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 CSL 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 positions in and has recommended CSL 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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  • Fletcher Building share price lifts on 40% profit boost

    a group of five engineers wearing hard hats and some in high visibility vests raise their arms in happy celebration atop a building site with construction and equipment in the background.a group of five engineers wearing hard hats and some in high visibility vests raise their arms in happy celebration atop a building site with construction and equipment in the background.

    The Fletcher Building Limited (ASX: FBU) share price is well into the green after the company revealed a 42% lift in profit in its FY22 full-year results.

    The Fletcher Building share price opened today’s session at $5.14, up 4.26% on yesterday’s close of $4.93.

    Shares in the ASX-listed New Zealand company are currently swapping hands for $5.11, up 3.65% for the day so far.

    Let’s take a look at the numbers.

    Fletcher Building share price up on positive FY22 report

    Fletcher Building said it achieved its forecasts for FY22. Here are the key metrics:

    • Revenue NZ$8,498 million, up 5% from the prior corresponding period (pcp)
    • Net profit after tax (NPAT) of NZ$432 million, up 42% from pcp
    • EBIT before significant items of NZ$756 million, up 13% from pcp
    • Return on Funds Employed (ROFE) before significant items of 19.3%, compared to 18.8% pcp
    • Cash flows from operations of NZ$592 million, compared to NZ$879 million pcp
    • Fully imputed final dividend of 22 NZ cents per share to be paid on 6 October. ASX shareholders will receive a dividend of 25.882353 NZ cents.

    Fletcher Building says it has a strong balance sheet with “solid cash flows partly offset by some inventory rebuild and housing investment”.

    The profit increase will result in a 33% bump in total annual dividends to 40 cents per share.

    What else happened in FY22?

    Over the year, Fletcher Building also completed an NZ$274 million share buyback program.

    The buyback was announced on 26 May 2021.

    What did management say?

    Fletcher Building CEO Ross Taylor said:

    Fletcher Building delivered strong results in FY22 across all key metrics. Our performance highlighted our ability to deal with a dynamic operating environment, while remaining focused on delivering long term, sustainable growth.

    Our balance sheet remains robust with $1.1 billion liquidity and net debt of $670 million at year end. This positions us well as we move into the new financial year and continue to invest in the growth of the business.

    What’s next?

    Fletcher Building said it was “well positioned to deliver strong growth in FY23 at present market levels”.

    It is targeting a more than $100 million improvement on its FY22 EBIT in the next financial year.

    Fletcher Building share price snapshot

    The Fletcher Building share price is down 27% over the year to date.

    This compares to a 6% dip in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    The post Fletcher Building share price lifts on 40% profit 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 Bronwyn Allen 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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  • Steadfast share price halted following FY22 results and acquisition

    A woman sits at her computer with her hand to her mouth and a contemplative smile on her face as she reads about the performance of Allkem shares on her computerA woman sits at her computer with her hand to her mouth and a contemplative smile on her face as she reads about the performance of Allkem shares on her computer

    The Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) share price is in a trading halt today.

    It comes after the insurance broker announced its acquisition of Insurance Brand Australia and a solid set of results for FY22 this morning.

    There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dive into the latest developments on Steadfast.

    What did the company report?

    Steadfast reported a string of highlights for FY22. Here are the key results:

    • Revenue rose 21.3% to $911.4 million compared to FY21
    • Underlying earnings before interest, taxation and amortisation (EBITA) increased 29.5% to $340.4 million
    • Net profit after tax (NPAT) lifted 20% to $171.6 million
    • Declared a fully franked final dividend of 7.8 cents per share, up 11.4% from FY21
    • Total full-year dividend of 13 cents per share, up 14% from FY21

    Steadfast said EBITA growth was driven by a 16.2% contribution from acquisitions and organic growth of 13.1%. Organic growth was primarily due to increases in premiums and some volume uplift.

    Across FY22, Steadfast completed $552 million of earnings per share (EPS) accretive acquisitions, based on its latest annual report.

    The company’s increased dividend for FY22 represents a dividend payout ratio of 75% of underlying NPAT. It will be paid on 9 September.

    Acquisition of Insurance Brands Australia

    Steadfast has also announced it will acquire Insurance Brands Australia (IBA) and its subsidiary companies.

    IBA is one of Australia’s largest privately owned insurance distribution businesses with a strong focus on the small to medium enterprises segment.

    The total consideration for the acquisition is $301 million. This is comprised of an initial payment of $276 million and an earn-out payment of $25 million.

    The initial payment is made up of both cash and scrip dividends.

    The cash will be sourced from Steadfast’s corporate debt facilities. Certain IBA management and employee shareholders will have the choice of opting for shares instead of cash dividends (scrip dividends). However, this is limited to a value of $56.1 million.

    The earn-out payment is subject to achieving performance criteria in FY23 and any additional payment will be made in the first half of FY24.

    Management expects this acquisition to be EPS accretive in the first full year.

    The acquisition is expected to be completed by 23 August.

    Further acquisitions ahead

    Steadfast management continues to flex its roll-up strategy, identifying further Trapped Capital acquisition opportunities worth around $400 million.

    The average EBITA multiple for these purchases is estimated at around 10 times.

    Management expects to complete around $220 million of these acquisitions in FY23.

    What did management say?

    Steadfast Managing Director and CEO Robert Kelly said:

    Our enduring business model, the skills and stability of our executive team, our prudent approach to acquisitions and the strong performance of our equity owned businesses resulted in a 26.2% increase in commission and fee revenue for FY22, improved margins and a 29.3% increase in underlying NPAT to $169.0 million for FY22.

    More growth ahead for Steadfast

    Management is guiding the following key financial targets for FY23.

    • Underlying EBITA of between $400 million and $420 million
    • Underlying NPAT of between $190 million and $202 million
    • Underlying diluted EPS growth of 5% to 11%

    Steadfast foresees price increases by strategic partners across the market to continue in FY3.

    Steadfast share price snapshot

    The Steadfast share price has performed quite well compared to the broader market recently.

    In the last year, the Steadfast share price has risen 10% and 13% across the last six months.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen by 5.6% in the past year and dropped 2.80% across the last half year.

    Steadfast shares will remain in a trading halt at $5.39 apiece until market open on Friday 19 August or when the company’s announcement is released to the market, whichever is earlier.

    Foolish takeaway

    I’d like to highlight Kelly’s comment about management’s prudent approach to acquisitions.

    Future growth lies in Steadfast’s ability to become a dominant player in the insurance broking industry. Steadfast is looking to devour its smaller competitors.

    However, Steadfast appears to remain disciplined and selective in what it acquires. In such roll-up strategies, I believe an investor needs to focus on management’s acquisition track record.

    This requires a lot of groundwork as it involves understanding the value contributed by past acquired companies.

    The post Steadfast share price halted following FY22 results and 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Raymond Jang 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 Steadfast Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Steadfast Group Ltd. 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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  • Downer share price drops on 17% profit slide

    A woman sits with her hands covering her eyes while lifting her spectacles sitting at a computer on a desk in an office setting.A woman sits with her hands covering her eyes while lifting her spectacles sitting at a computer on a desk in an office setting.

    The Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) share price is falling after the integrated services company reported its FY22 full-year earnings. 

    The Downer share price closed yesterday at $5.61. Downer shares opened at $5.25 this morning, down 6.4% on yesterday’s close and are currently sitting at $5.20, a 7.31% decline.

    Downer provides integrated services to customers in Australia and New Zealand to design, build, and maintain infrastructure, facilities, and other assets.

    Let’s examine the company’s results.

    Downer share price in the red as profit falls

    What else happened in FY22?

    Downer completed the divestment of its non-core businesses in mining and hospitality in FY22. This means the company can now focus solely on its core urban services business comprising transport, utilities, and facilities.

    In its statement, Downer said “demand remained strong” in this segment and revenue constituted $11.5 billion of the company’s total group revenue of $12 billion in FY22.

    It noted that revenue in the core urban services business segment increased by 10.8% on the pcp.

    A highlight for Downer in FY22 was the announcement of a $200 million contract win on 8 October.

    ASX investors pushed the Downer share price to a 52-week high of $6.87 on the day.

    What did management say?

    Downer said its operations were negatively impacted by COVID-19 and severe wet weather in FY22.

    Downer CEO Grant Fenn said the company’s performance demonstrated “resilience”:

    Despite the challenging conditions, particularly relating to COVID-19 and severe wet weather, our
    Urban Services businesses have continued to deliver solid earnings and strong cash conversion.

    Completing the divestment of the non-core businesses is a major milestone for Downer, enabling the
    delivery of a transformed business and a strong balance sheet.

    Gearing has reduced to 17.7% and Net Debt to EBITDA of 1.6x remains well below our 2-2.5x target with available liquidity of $1.9 billion.

    What’s next?

    Fenn said Downer had a strong end to FY22 with a number of contract wins providing “solid
    momentum into FY23″.

    Fenn said:

    We have announced material contract wins across each of our Transport, Utilities and Facilities
    segments in Q4. We are winning work in our key markets, our brand and relationships are very strong, and we are seeing a growing pipeline of work ahead of us.

    Demand for decarbonisation solutions across the Group’s customer base has accelerated dramatically
    in the past 12 months, which will create a strong pipeline of work. Our customers know they need to start acting on their decarbonisation targets and that it will require enormous effort.

    Downer’s suite of technical skills means we are in a prime position to grow our business in what will be a significant economy-wide transformation journey to net zero.

    For FY23, Downer expects 10% to 20% underlying NPATA growth. This assumes no material disruptions caused by COVID-19, poor weather, or labour shortages.

    Downer share price snapshot

    The Downer share price is down 13.9% in the year to date.

    This compares to a dip of 6.3% for the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    The post Downer share price drops on 17% profit slide appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Downer Edi Limited right now?

    Before you consider Downer Edi 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 Downer Edi Limited wasn’t one of them.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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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  • Redbubble share price tumbles 40% as profit turns to loss

    share price bubble burst represented by girl with popped bubblegum on her faceshare price bubble burst represented by girl with popped bubblegum on her face

    The Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) share price is plummeting today after the company announced a severe FY22 loss in its latest annual report.

    Shares in the artists’ e-commerce marketplace are currently trading for 90 cents apiece, a drop of 39.8% at the time of writing. They closed yesterday’s session at $1.495 each.

    Let’s go over the key metrics of the report.

    What did Redbubble report?

    The company cited numerous headwinds contributing to its earnings and revenue reductions. They included disruption from COVID-19, volatility from supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, and the war in Ukraine.

    Despite the financial pain, Redbubble stated it now has 809,000 monetised artists on its platform, the largest number ever.

    However, the number of selling artists was offset by a 7% reduction in the number of active members on the platform, which shrank to 14.4 million.

    What else happened in FY22?

    The company noted that $55 million worth of mask sales boosted its FY21 revenue. In FY22, mask sales accounted for just $10 million.

    Redbubble said 68% of its marketplace revenue was recurring from existing artists. Furthermore, 46% of revenue came from users making repeat purchases, up from 42% in FY21.

    Organic sales, or sales generated in the absence of paid ads, were said to account for 60% of the company’s revenue.

    A new pet category was also launched on the website in June.

    What did management say?

    Redbubble CEO Michael J. Ilczynski gave the following comments on the company’s performance.

    Actions taken by Redbubble during FY22 remain focussed on continued investment in our technology platforms, experiences for artists and their customers, and more recently our brand. This reflects our disciplined approach to investing to drive sustainable growth for the medium and long term. Overall, the Group’s outcomes demonstrate continued resilience across all three sides of the marketplaces, and importantly, financial performance and operating momentum improved in Q4FY22.

    What’s next?

    The company said it expects revenue growth in FY23, supported by a 6% increase in the average price of products on the platform.

    Redbubble also intends to significantly slash its employee growth, down to 4% this financial year from 30% in FY22.

    An investment in the company’s brand will also run to a total of $8 million to $12 million.

    Over the medium term, Redbubble intends to grow its gross transaction value to more than $1.5 billion, with the majority coming from marketplace revenue at $1.25 billion.

    Redbubble share price snapshot

    The Redbubble share price is down 70% over the last 12 months and 72% year to date.

    That’s signifantly below the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has dropped 5.4% in a year and 4.5% in 2022 so far.

    Redbubble’s market capitalisation currently stands at around $251 million.

    The post Redbubble share price tumbles 40% as profit turns to loss 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

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    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.

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  • What’s creating tailwinds for the Qantas share price today?

    A woman ponders a question as she puts money into a piggy bank with a model plane and suitcase nearby.

    A woman ponders a question as she puts money into a piggy bank with a model plane and suitcase nearby.The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price is currently up by 0.63%. It’s outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is currently down by around 0.07%.

    Reporting season is in full swing right now. Qantas is expecting to report its full year result on 25 August 2022, which is when investors will get an insight into the ASX airline share’s performance in FY22 and Qantas could also provide guidance for FY23.

    Some ASX travel shares have already reported, including Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) which outlined a recovery of demand in its FY22 result.

    Qantas has recently said it’s seeing strong travel demand across all categories, helping net debt improve to around $4 billion by the end of FY22. It’s expecting underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of between $450 million to $550 million for the second half of FY22.

    What’s going on with the Qantas share price?

    One of the main things to keep in mind with airlines is that one of the key variable expenses, fuel, can have a significant impact on profitability and demand in the shorter term.

    If the oil price goes higher, airlines need to decide how much to increase ticket prices by and what that might do to demand. If they don’t pass on the higher fuel cost, the profit would be impacted. There’s more to Qantas’ profit generation than just oil prices, but it can have an important influence.

    Overnight, as noted by CommSec, the oil price fell by around 3% as it continues to decline from the previous highs seen after the Russian invasion of Ukraine when energy markets were disrupted.

    New flight training centre

    Qantas did make an announcement to the media today, though it’s not necessarily important to the Qantas share price.

    The airline announced it will train pilots at a new, purpose-built centre in Sydney for its current and future fleet, including the aircraft that will operate non-stop flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York.

    It’s a new multi-million-dollar facility for St Peters near Sydney Airport. It will provide training for up to 4,500 new and current Qantas and Jetstar pilots and cabin crew each year from early 2024.

    This centre will have up to eight full motion flight simulators, including for the Airbus A350 and A320 family of aircraft that were recently ordered.

    It will have fixed flight training devices, emergency procedures equipment with aircraft cabin mock-up, and classroom and training facilities. Qantas said that senior Qantas and Jetstar training captains will train pilots from the two airlines while global training provider CAE will maintain the simulators and manage the day-to-day operations of the centre.

    The Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said:

    Qantas has trained its pilots and crew in Sydney for more than half a century and we look forward to bringing this critical function back to New South Wales with this custom-built facility.

    Sydney will be the launch city for our non-stop flights to London and New York, and will now be the home of pilot training for the A350s, which will operate these flights from 2025.

    As our international network recovers from the impact of COVID and we grow our fleet, this new training centre will give us the simulator capacity to train our new and current pilots.

    Having flight training centres in all three eastern states, where the majority of our crew reside, will provide significant cost savings and efficiencies by training them at their home base.

    Qantas share price snapshot

    The Qantas share price has risen by 9% over the last month.

    The post What’s creating tailwinds for the Qantas share price today? 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited. 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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