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The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is down 2% in early trade.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy giant closed yesterday at $32.57 and are currently trading for $31.92.

This comes after this morning’s release of the company’s second quarter report (Q2) for the three months ending 30 June.

Here are the highlights that have yet to boost the Woodside share price today.

What happened during the quarter?

• Woodside produced 33.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), a 60% increase from the prior quarter and up 49% from Q2 2021
• Sales volume of 35.8 MMboe was up 51% from Q1 2022 and up 27% year-on-year
• The average realised price per barrel of oil equivalent came in at $95
• Revenue of $3.44 billion was up 44% from Q1 2022 and 159% from Q1 2021

What else impacted the Woodside share price during the quarter?

Among the biggest events over the quarter was Woodside’s merger with the petroleum business of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). That merger was officially completed on 1 June.

The merger transformed Woodside into a top 10 global independent energy producer by hydrocarbon production. And it made the company the largest energy share listed on the ASX.

The three-month period also saw Woodside rebrand itself, changing its name from Woodside Petroleum (with the ticker WPL) to Woodside Energy (with the new ticker WDS).

Topping it off the company moved to a triple listing. While maintaining its spot on the ASX 200, Woodside shares also began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on 2 June, then followed up with trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on 6 June.

Woodside shares trade under the same ticker, WDS, on all three exchanges.

What did management say?

Commenting on the quarter gone by, Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said:

Significant progress was made on our key projects during the quarter. All major equipment items for Scarborough have been procured and construction has begun at the Pluto Train 2 site…

Following extensive discussions with potential new partners, we have decided to discontinue the sell-down of equity in Sangomar.

In Australia, accelerated Pluto gas transported through the Pluto-Karratha Gas Plant Interconnector has resulted in additional LNG production and sales of uncontracted cargoes in a high-priced market. Lambert Deep, a component of the Greater Western Flank Phase 3 project, achieved ready for start-up in July.

Woodside’s half-year report is scheduled for release on 30 August.

Woodside share price snapshot

The Woodside share price has been a star performer in 2022, up 40%. That compares to a year-to-date loss of 11% posted by the ASX 200.

The post Woodside share price slips despite 44% revenue boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• ‘Not enough’: Could Europe’s gas woes bolster ASX 200 energy shares?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why this fundie believes Woodside shares are still an ‘attractive investment’
• Why JB Hi-Fi, Mesoblast, Pendal, and Woodside shares are pushing higher
• Why are ASX 200 energy shares having such a stellar Tuesday?

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.

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

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

What happened

The positive momentum in the cryptocurrency space we’ve seen to start this week is showing no signs of slowing. As sentiment related to the broader market continues to take a bullish tone, investors are seeing some impressive intraday moves in popular tokens. This is evidenced by today’s 24-hour moves in meme tokens Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB), which surged 6.6% and 5.6%, respectively, over the past 24 hours as of 12:20 p.m. ET. Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) also saw an impressive move higher, gaining 4.4% over the same period. 

These moves appear to be driven by a changing narrative in the crypto sector. Yes, all the same headwinds continue to plague digital currencies right now. The Federal Reserve still appears to be looking to aggressively quash inflation and shrink the money supply. For investors, higher-risk assets are vulnerable to devaluation in such an environment. 

However, the recent announcement that the highly anticipated Ethereum merge has a tentative date of Sept. 19 in place has provided investors with something positive to look forward to. With that and moves by other networks such as Cardano, which is undertaking its own Vasil hard fork upgrade, optimism around key upcoming catalysts appears to be drowning out the rather loud negative catalysts that have reigned supreme this year.

So what

Aside from hard-core crypto maximalists, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu are two meme tokens that are generally viewed as too speculative to touch. However, one important feature these tokens provide is insight into the overall mentality of retail investors, as well as a gauge of investor sentiment more broadly. When speculators feel that a momentum-driven rally may have legs, tokens that are more volatile are often sought out as trades to capitalize on short-term moves.

Thus, when we see Dogecoin and Shiba Inu make multiple substantial daily moves higher (in sequential fashion), the speculative juices start to flow once again. Those betting on another bull market being just around the corner have been looking for such indicators for some time.

Indeed, the Ethereum merge has been a highly discussed event in the crypto sphere for a while. This catalyst, which has been delayed multiple times, is often viewed as what may take the future of decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, and other crypto-related segments to the next level. As a core piece of the infrastructure supporting the overall crypto ecosystem, that’s a good thing for all tokens. 

Now what

This week’s impressive rally, as always, needs to be put in context. The overall crypto market, which is hovering around a $1 trillion valuation, is down approximately two-thirds from its peak of approximately $3 trillion late last year. Thus, while it’s great to get excited about near-term price action with some popular cryptocurrencies, much more of the same will be needed to erase the incredible losses we’ve seen this year.

Additionally, it’s unclear just how long traders and speculators will continue to bid up various cryptocurrencies before taking profits. The pump is great, but the dump is often not. And while many may stick around regardless of the volatility (those true long-term investors out there), traders and speculators will likely pull the plug at some point. 

Accordingly, true long-term investors may want to be patient with this recent rally. We’re seeing a similar theme play out in the stock market, with many calling this a bear market bounce. We’ll only find out later whether this was a sustainable rally off the bottom, or another head fake. But for now, playing it safe and incorporating appropriate risk management protocols in one’s investing strategy appears to be the best way forward. 

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

The post Does this crypto rally have legs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here’s why the Bitcoin and Dogecoin prices are rocketing
• Shiba Inu, Dogecoin, Solana surge higher: Where are meme coins headed from here?
• Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano are rocketing higher today
• What’s going on with the Dogecoin price?
• What one tech guru thinks of the current crypto market

Chris MacDonald 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 Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Ethereum. 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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The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price has returned from its three-day trading halt.

In early trade, the banking giant’s shares are down almost 1% to $21.46.

Why is the ANZ share price falling?

The catalyst for the weakness in the ANZ share price on Thursday has been the completion of the institutional component of the banking giant’s capital raising.

According to the release, ANZ has successfully raised gross proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion, which will result in the issue of approximately 89 million new shares.

The release notes that the institutional entitlement offer was well supported by ANZ’s institutional shareholders with approximately 95% of entitlements taken up.

The remaining entitlements were quickly snapped up by other eager institutional shareholders who paid $21.65 per new share following a shortfall bookbuild process. This is $2.75 higher than the offer price of $18.90 per share.

ANZ will now push ahead with its retail entitlement offer which is aiming to raise the balance of the $3.5 billion capital raising at the same price.

Why is ANZ raising funds?

The proceeds from the capital raising will be used to fund the acquisition of the banking operations of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) for $4.9 billion.

ANZ’s chief executive officer, Shayne Elliott, explained the rationale of the acquisition. He said:

The acquisition of Suncorp Bank will be a cornerstone investment for ANZ and a vote of confidence in the future of Queensland. With much of the work to simplify and strengthen the bank completed, and our digital transformation well-progressed, we are now in a position to invest in and reshape our Australian business. This will result in a stronger more balanced bank for customers and shareholders.

This is a growth strategy for ANZ and we will continue to invest in Suncorp Bank and in Queensland for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The post ANZ share price edges lower after capital raising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• How high will the RBA hike rates in 2022? Here’s what the ASX 200 banks are forecasting
• ANZ to buy Suncorp’s banking business, and real wages going backwards. Scott Phillips on Sky News First Edition
• Is the NAB share price in danger from a resurgent ANZ?
• Top broker gives its verdict on ANZ’s Suncorp Bank acquisition

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.

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It’s been a ripper month for the Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU) share price. It’s surged a whopping 76.6% over the last 30 days, lifting from just 15 cents to close yesterday’s session at 26.5 cents.

But what’s been driving the healthcare stock to outperform most of its S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) peers lately? Let’s take a look.

Imugene share price surges 77% in a month

The Imugene share price has outperformed the ASX 200 by around 72% over the last 30 days. Most of its strong performance stemmed from exciting news of the company’s HER-Vaxx candidate, designed to treat tumours.

The stock surged 45% in late June after the company announced a phase two trial found patients treated with HER-Vaxx had favourable survival outcomes.

Notably, treatment with HER-Vaxx and chemotherapy was found to reduce the risk of death by 41.5%. compared to chemotherapy alone.

The median overall survival for patients treated with HER-Vaxx and chemotherapy was found to be 13.9 months, compared to 8.3 months for those treated solely with chemotherapy.

In other news, the company has made two important appointments over the last month.

Dr Sharon Yavrom was appointed executive director, clinical scientist in early July. Weeks later, Mike Tonroe was appointed chief financial officer.

The Imugene share price’s strong month of trade marks an astonishing recovery. Indeed, it hasn’t yet been two months since the company’s chair and CEO wrote to reassure shareholders after the stock tumbled 67% from its November peak.

“Things have only improved from our share price peak last year,” the leaders said in May. “Imugene is as strong as it has ever been as we continue to make good progress.”

Though, the stock’s recent gains haven’t launched it back into the year-to-date green. The Imugene share price is still 38% lower than it was at the start of 2022.

The post The Imugene share price has rocketed 77% in a month. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• What’s the outlook for ASX biotech shares in FY23?
• Up 33% in a week, what’s helping the Imugene share price higher?
• ASX 200 midday update: Regis Resources jump, big four banks fall ahead of RBA meeting
• Why Carsales, EOS, Imugene, and Tyro shares are sinking today
• ASX 200 midday update: Carsales sinks, Liontown jumps on Ford agreements

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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The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is pushing higher following the release of the company’s quarterly update.

At the time of writing, the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares are up 5% to 70 cents.

Zip share price higher on Q4 update

Here’s s summary of the company’s performance during the quarter:

• Group quarterly revenue up 27% to $160.1 million
• Revenue margin down 30 basis points quarter on quarter to 7.5%
• Customer numbers up 5.3% quarter on quarter to 12 million
• Quarterly transaction volume up 20% year on year to $2.2 billion
• Transaction numbers up 37% year on year to 19.4 million
• Cash transaction margin up 10 basis points quarter on quarter to 2.4%
• ANZ net bad debts up 42 basis points quarter on quarter to 3.82%

What happened during the quarter?

During the three months ended 30 June, Zip reported a 27% increase in quarterly revenue over the prior corresponding period to $160.1 million.

Management advised that this reflects strong results across its consumer operations in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Rest of World despite growth being tempered by a deterioration in consumer sentiment and adjustments to risk settings.

Though, it is worth noting that quarter on quarter US revenue fell 2%, ANZ revenue rose a modest 2%, and Rest of the World revenue was flat at just $8.5 million.

This means that for the full-year, Zip delivered revenue of approximately $621.5 million. And while this is a healthy 54% increase year on year, it is short of what some analysts were expecting.

For example, a recent note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts were expecting Zip to report a 59.9% increase in revenue to $644.24 million for FY 2022. So, the company has missed on the top line with this update.

Global review

Zip has revealed that it is taking steps to right size its global cost base and accelerate the company’s path to profitability. This includes closing down its Singapore business and looking at options for other Rest of the World businesses including the UK.

In addition, as part of the review, the company has looked at the goodwill against the Spotti, Twisto and Quadpay assets. It is now assessing the need to take an impairment charge against the carrying value of goodwill of these assets in its FY 2022 accounts.

Management also revealed that it will be closing down Zip Business and the Pocketbook app, as well putting its planned crypto and investment products on the back-burner.

Management commentary

Zip’s co-founder and global CEO, Larry Diamond, was pleased with the quarter. He said:

We are pleased to announce another solid set of results across our key operating metrics in Q4, demonstrating the continued strength of the Zip business. All this was done whilst balancing and implementing our updated financial strategy to fast-track profitability, by reducing our global cost base, and refocusing our capital and efforts on core products and core markets.

Diamond also commented on the decision to terminate the merger with Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL), which he and the Zip board believe was in the best interests of shareholders. Particularly as management expects it to allow the company to reach profitability earlier than planned. He explained:

Given the significant and swift changes to the broader macro and capital environment since signing, Sezzle and Zip mutually agreed to terminate the proposed transaction, both businesses opting to focus on their core strategy. As Directors we saw this to be in the best interests of shareholders – we wish Charlie and the Sezzle team all the best in FY23.

This coupled with recent decisions made, as well as ongoing strategic initiatives, will see the group reach cash EBTDA profitability earlier than anticipated.

Zip’s global CEO remains optimistic on the future of the company despite the market’s bleak view on the BNPL industry. He concluded:

As we celebrate our 9th birthday, we reflect on the incredible growth, from start-up pioneering the role of BNPL, to a publicly listed, global business with over 12m customers. Our role as a financial services technology provider is becoming even more crucial in the current climate as we support our customers and merchant partners through this inflationary period. The resilience of Zip and its business model has us well placed to thrive through this next stage of the journey and even though we are nine years in, it genuinely feels like we are only getting started!

The post Zip share price up 5% following Q4 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why Iluka, JB Hi-Fi, Megaport, and Zip shares are racing higher
• Zip share price jumps 14% ahead of tomorrow’s update
• How to beat the market with ‘boring’ ASX shares: fundie
• Has the Zip share price finally hit rock bottom?

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 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.

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The broker Macquarie has picked out two compelling S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that could be solid buys at current levels.

There has been a lot of volatility in recent times, opening up opportunities for investors to find businesses at much lower prices.

Interestingly, both of these ASX 200 shares I’m about to refer to have exposure to mining.

Let’s have a look at two of the picks Macquarie just called a buy.

Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

This business is a royalty revenue owner. It receives royalties, with a key asset being Mining Area C (MAC), an iron ore hub operated by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Deterra also pays out 100% of its net profit after tax (NPAT) as a dividend.

Looking ahead, Deterra expects BHP’s South Flank to grow its MAC volumes. Deterra says it will also be “patient and disciplined” with value-adding acquisitions.

The company has no direct exposure to project operating costs and there are no capital cost obligations.

Macquarie rates Deterra Royalties as a buy, with BHP’s recent update showing growth at South Flank.

The broker has a share price target of $5 on Deterra Royalties. This implies a possible rise of about 20%.

This ASX 200 share could offer a grossed-up dividend yield as high as 13.7%.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

As the name suggests, Lynas is a rare earths miner. It mines minerals such as neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr).

The company is benefitting from elevated commodity prices. In a recent update, Lynas said that the NdPr price was 70% to 80% higher than at the same time last year.

Resource prices are key for miners. It costs a similar amount to extract materials out of the ground, no matter what the commodity price is doing. So any increase in the price can largely fall to the bottom line.

The average China domestic price for NdPr during the three months to 30 June was US$120 per kilo.

In that quarter, the company generated $294.5 million of sales revenue.

The company has been making progress on the construction of the Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility. All five kiln sections have been lifted into position and assembled.

Lynas has also been awarded a US$120 follow-on contract by the United States Department of Defence to construct a heavy rare earths facility in the US.

Macquarie recently rated the Lynas share price as a buy with a price target of $12.50. This implies a possible rise of about 50%.

The broker says Lynas is valued at 10 times FY23 estimated earnings.

The post Here’s why Macquarie thinks these 2 ASX 200 shares can outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• The Accent share price has already surged 18% in FY23. What’s next?
• Here are the top 10 ASX shares today
• After a horror year, will FY23 see the VAS ETF bounce back?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday

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

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

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is slated to report its second-quarter 2022 results after the market close on Thursday, July 28. An analyst conference call is scheduled for the same day at 5:30 p.m. ET. 

Investors will probably be approaching the e-commerce and technology behemoth’s report feeling somewhat cautious. Last quarter, the company’s earnings missed Wall Street’s expectation, while its revenue was in line with the consensus estimate. While investors were undoubtedly not pleased with the bottom-line result, they were likely more concerned about the company’s second-quarter revenue guidance. It came in significantly lower than what analysts had been projecting.

Investors are increasingly worried about the macroeconomic environment. So far, persistent high inflation hasn’t affected consumer spending, in general, all that much. However, this could change as more consumers become concerned that the U.S. economy could slip into a recession. If many consumers notably ratchet back their discretionary spending, Amazon’s e-commerce business results would be hurt.

That said, investors should keep the bigger picture in mind, as this is a company with what seems like countless current and potential avenues for long-term growth. 

Here’s what to watch in Amazon’s upcoming report. 

Amazon’s key numbers

Metric	Q2 2021 Result	Amazon’s Q2 2022 Guidance	Amazon’s Projected ChangeÂ	Wall Street’s Consensus Estimate	Wall Street’s Projected Change
Revenue	$113.1 billion	$116.0 billion to $121.0 billion	3% to 7%	$119.4 billion	5.6%
Earnings per share (EPS)	$0.76*	N/A	N/A	$0.16	(79%)

Data sources: Amazon and Yahoo! Finance. *Adjusted to reflect the 20-for-1 stock split in June 2022. Note: Amazon does not provide earnings guidance.

While Amazon doesn’t provide guidance for earnings, it does so for operating results. Management expects its operating result to fall between an operating loss of $1 billion and an operating income of $3 billion. In the year-ago quarter, the company posted operating income of $7.7 billion.

The company is facing tough comparables, as it had robust results in the year-ago period. One factor adding to the challenging comparables is the shifting of the annual Prime Day event from the second quarter of last year to the third quarter of this year. In addition, foreign exchange headwinds likely hurt the second-quarter’s revenue because the U.S. dollar has gained strength against other currencies over the last year.

For context, in the first quarter, Amazon’s revenue increased 7% year over year (and 9% in constant currency) to $116.4 billion. That result was on target with the $116.3 billion Wall Street had expected and near the high end of the company’s guidance range of $112 billion to $117 billion. By segment, sales in North America and Amazon Web Services rose 8% and 37%, respectively, while those in international fell 6%. 

Last quarter’s net loss was $3.8 billion, or $7.56 per share ($0.38 per share when adjusted for the 20-for-1 stock split in June). That compared with net income of $15.79 per share in the year-ago period. This result fell far short of the analyst consensus estimate of net income of $8.48 per share.

A sizable part of the shortfall was due to a pre-tax valuation loss of $7.6 billion from Amazon’s common stock investment in electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive, which held its initial public offering (IPO) last November. Absent this item, Amazon would have recorded a net profit, rather than a loss. However, it still would have missed Wall Street’s expectation.

Third-quarter guidance

Amazon stock is likely to move if management’s third-quarter outlook comes in notably different than Wall Street’s expectations. 

The company provides guidance for revenue, but not earnings. However, its operating income outlook usually gives investors a ballpark idea as to what year-over-year percentage change management expects on the bottom line.

For Q3, analysts are currently modeling for Amazon’s revenue to increase 15% year over year to $127.8 billion and EPS to rise 16% to $0.36. Keep in mind that Q3 will get a boost from Prime Day being held in the quarter, versus in Q2 last year.  

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

The post Amazon earnings: What to watch on July 28 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• What’s in store for the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF in the next 12 months?
• Better advertising stock: Alphabet vs. Amazon
• Why Amazon stock is down 32% so far this year
• Better bear market buy: Netflix vs Amazon
• Which e-commerce company is the best buy during this bear market?

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

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The Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL) share price could be a leading opportunity right now, in my opinion.

Sonic Healthcare is one of the leading global pathology businesses, with operations in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe.

Since the start of 2022, the Sonic Healthcare share price has dropped back by 27%. I think the business looks good value with what’s going on in the healthcare space.

Third wave of Omicron to lead to more testing?

Over the past two and a half years, COVID testing has helped the company’s revenue and net profit after tax (NPAT) significantly.

According to Sonic’s FY22 half-year result, its revenue increased 7% year over year to $4.76 billion. Net profit went up 22% to $828 million. But, the base revenue (which excludes COVID revenue) increased 4.3% year over year.

Over the FY22 first half, the Sonic Healthcare share price increased by 22.5%.

Sonic management is expecting ongoing growth of the base business, with “strong underlying drivers, including catch-up of testing postponed through pandemic”.

COVID-19 cases are now increasing, as are hospitalisations, as a third wave of Omicron sweeps across Australia.

The federal chief health officer, Paul Kelly, has warned this is the “start of this wave, not the end”, according to reporting by The Guardian.

Calls to get a PCR test despite a negative RAT

Concession card holders will now have continued access to free RAT tests through their local pharmacies. The program has been extended until 31 July.

Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Moy said people who return a negative RAT test but continue to experience symptoms should have a PCR test.

Moy told ABC Radio Sydney:

A positive is a positive. The issue is you can’t rely on a negative if you continue to have symptoms… By the time [a RAT] may go positive, it may be too late to get these antivirals.

We need you to go out there straight away, get a PCR test. If you’re positive then we can get the ball rolling to give you these potentially life-saving treatments.

I think these different factors could lead to a resurgence of PCR testing, which would be a boost for Sonic’s earnings and therefore, potentially, the Sonic Healthcare share price.

Even after this wave, I think Sonic’s previous comments about expectations of ongoing COVID testing are almost as relevant now as they were with the FY22 half-year result:

[We] expect a sustainable level of COVID testing into the future, including routine COVID testing, screening programs, variant testing, whole genome sequencing, antibody tests.

Profit can be used to boost shareholder returns

I like that Sonic Healthcare has been using some of its elevated cash flow to make acquisitions to boost long-term growth.

For example, over the past 12 months it has bought ProPath in Dallas. ProPath makes US$110 million in revenue. It’s also bought Canberra Imaging Group in Australia, which makes $60 million in revenue.

It could continue to make earnings-boosting acquisitions, too.

Sonic Healthcare has a progressive dividend policy. It has also launched a $500 million on-market share buyback.

Foolish takeaway

I think that the Sonic Healthcare share price is attractive because of the ongoing growth of its base business, the ageing demographic tailwinds, continuing COVID-19 testing, a growing dividend, and the ability for the business to keep putting excess cash to good use with acquisitions and share buybacks.

The post Here’s why I think the Sonic Healthcare share price could jump higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Sonic Healthcare 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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The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price was an exceptionally strong performer on Wednesday.

The elastic Interconnection services provider’s shares ended the day a massive 23% higher at $7.96.

Investors were bidding the Megaport share price higher following a rebound in the tech sector and the release of a strong quarterly update.

Can the Megaport share price keep rising?

The good news is that one leading broker believes the Megaport share price can still climb meaningfully from here even after yesterday’s stellar gain.

According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have reiterated their buy rating and lifted their price target slightly to $9.60.

Based on the current Megaport share price, this implies potential upside of 20% over the next 12 months.

What did the broker say?

Goldman was very pleased with Megaport’s performance during the fourth quarter and notes that the “improvement in the sales cadence of core products (ex MVE) across both direct/indirect channels was the key highlight of the result.” It added:

[We] see this as a net improvement for the sales trajectory, particularly given uncertainty following recent MP1 mgmt. changes and slowing US enterprise IT spending (GS tracker). We now forecast FY23/24/25E revenue growth of +39/35/30%, with the partner channel and MVE products remaining key medium term drivers.

Another huge positive from the update was Megaport’s achievement of its first quarterly EBITDA profit. Goldman believes this de-risks funding concerns and should provide valuation support. It said:

EBITDA Breakeven de-risks funding concerns: with MP1 showing the underlying operating leverage within the business to reach EBITDA breakeven for the first time in 4Q22, which we believe is a key catalyst (noting the valuation gap between unprofitable/profitable tech). We now forecast FCF breakeven by FY24, driven primarily by operating leverage from revenue growth (assuming ongoing capex of A$30mn), noting current cash burn rate implies 13-14 quarters of funding capacity (vs. 5-6 in 3Q22).

All in all, the broker remains very positive on the Megaport share price. Particularly given “the product leadership of the company, and the rapidly growing NaaS/SD-WAN addressable markets.”

The post Brokers says the Megaport share price can keep charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 MEGAPORT FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT FPO. 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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Investors are currently in a situation where they may have to withstand an economic downturn.

Fortunately there are still some ASX shares one can buy that could prove resilient through such times.

Healthcare, some experts say, is one such sector.

After all, people still have to treat their injuries and illnesses even if the economy is not humming.

And luckily, on the ASX, the health sector has already been found to be one that is experiencing a resurgence after trending down until last month.

“I think the healthcare sector is going to do pretty well,” Switzer Financial Group director Paul Rickard told Switzer TV Investing last week.

“In fact, it’s been doing well in the last four to six weeks.”

Two experts this week picked out two of the best healthcare stocks that they would buy at the moment:

‘A great record of positive surprises’

Fairmont Equities managing director Michael Gable likes the look of CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) at the moment.

He noted that ever since the stock price hit a trough in February, it has been inching upwards despite the rest of the market plunging.

“Healthcare stocks have recently found solid buying support because of reliable earnings,” Gable told The Bull.

“The share price of this blood products company recently pushed through a major resistance level near $280. Consequently, we expect the price to rally towards last year’s peak near $320.”

CSL shares closed Wednesday at $291.23.

Rickard reminded investors that CSL has, in the past, enjoyed decent investor support during earnings seasons.

“Healthcare companies have traditionally done really well in reporting season,” he said last week.

“Companies like CSL have a great record of positive surprises.”

‘Quality defensive exposure’

Baker young managed portfolio analyst Toby Grimm is a fan of Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC).

“The private hospital operator offers quality defensive exposure to ageing populations and expanding healthcare services,” he said.

“While still working through pandemic headwinds, we see strong recovery potential ahead, as suggested by a non-binding, conditional takeover bid from a consortium of investors led by US private equity giant KKR at $88 a share.”

The share price has cooled off since that offer in April, to now trade around the $70 mark.

Other analysts are somewhat divided over Ramsay.

According to CMC Markets, five out of 12 professional investors rate the stock as a buy. Five recommend a hold while two reckon it’s time to sell.

The post 2 ASX shares in healthcare ripe to buy right now: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 blue chip ASX 200 shares experts say are buys
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Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has positions in CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ramsay Health Care 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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