Tag: Motley Fool

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

    Investor sitting in front of multiple screens watching share prices

    Investor sitting in front of multiple screens watching share prices

    On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and dropped into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.5% to 6,594.5 points.

    Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to rise

    The Australian share market is expected to rebound on Thursday following a decent night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 41 points or 0.6% higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.2%, the S&P 500 rose 0.35%, and the NASDAQ pushed 0.35% higher.

    Oil prices fall again

    It could be a poor day for energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices dropped again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.15% to US$98.41 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.4% to US$100.32 a barrel. Concerns that there could be a global recession have taken oil prices to a 12-week low.

    Gold price drops

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) could have a tough day after the gold price dropped again overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1.45% to US$1,738.5 an ounce. A stronger US dollar is reducing the appeal of the safe haven asset.

    Atlas Arteria tipped to make acquisition

    The Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price will be on watch today amid reports in the AFR that the toll road operator is interested in acquiring a stake in the Chicago Skyway toll road in the United States. This is despite the company being in talks with IFM Investors regarding a takeover at $8.10 per share.

    Block shares fall

    The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price could have an off day after its US listed shares dropped into the red overnight. The payments company’s shares on the NYSE ended the day almost 3% lower, which doesn’t bode well for its ASX listed shares this morning.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday 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 June 1 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 Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. 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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  • 2 top ETFs for ASX growth investors to buy in July

    Iluka share price 3D white rocket and black arrows pointing upwards

    Iluka share price 3D white rocket and black arrows pointing upwards

    If you’re wanting to invest in growth shares but aren’t sure which ones to buy, then you might want to consider exchange traded funds (ETFs).

    There are a number of ETFs out there that allow investors to buy a slice of some high quality growth shares through a single investment. Two such ETFs that will allow you to achieve this are listed below:

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    The first ETF for growth investors to look at is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. It gives investors exposure to approximately 50 of the most promising tech companies in the Asian market but excluding Japan. Among the fund’s top holdings you will find tigers such as Alibaba, Baidu, Infosys, JD.com, Kuaishou Technology, Meituan Dianping, Pinduoduo, Samsung, Tencent.

    In respect to Pinduoduo, it is an ecommerce platform that offers a wide range of products. This includes everything from daily groceries to home appliances. Pinduoduo connects distributors with consumers directly through an interactive shopping experience and allows the latter to team up to buy items in bulk at lower prices. At the last count, the company had a massive 880 million active customers.

    BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    Another ASX ETF for growth shares to consider is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. As its name implies, this ETF gives investors exposure to the leading companies in the global cybersecurity sector.

    Among the growth shares included in the fund are global cybersecurity giants and emerging players from a range of global locations. Both of which look well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for cybersecurity services as cyber attacks increase. Among the companies you’ll be buying a piece of are Accenture, Cisco, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Okta, and Splunk.

    In respect to CrowdStrike, it is a provider of incident response and forensic analysis services via its Falcon platform. Its services are designed to help businesses understand whether a breach has occurred. It then allows the user to respond and recover from a breach with speed and precision to remediate the threat.

    The post 2 top ETFs for ASX growth investors to buy in July 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 June 1 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 BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers 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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  • What percentage of Altium shares are owned by insiders?

    A group of people in suits watch as a man puts his hand up to take the opportunity.A group of people in suits watch as a man puts his hand up to take the opportunity.

    The Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) share price spiked more than 4% into the green on Wednesday to close at $28.67.

    Investors rallied Altium shares higher on no news. However, in broader market moves, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) powered 3.2% higher today.

    Who owns Altium shares?

    The software company has 131.5 million outstanding shares on issue and these are distributed among 31,572 shareholders, according to Bloomberg data.

    The majority of these investors own a range of one to 1,000 shares, whereas just 47 parties own 100,000 or more shares.

    However, the top 20 shareholders of the company hold more than 76% of all the shares on issue.

    Of the nine directors listed, six have equity positions in Altium via direct and/or indirect share ownership, according to Bloomberg.

    Collectively, these directors hold a 9.67% indirect stake in the company (as some holdings may yet to be realised in the form of deferred equity).

    An entity related to CEO Aram Mirkazemi owns a collective 9.63 million shares. Additionally, recent on-market transactions from non-executive director Simon Kelly have settled each month from February to April 2022.

    Kelly has bought 8,081 shares in 2022 and spent $257,537 in doing so. Certainly, the Altium non-executive director believes in the ASX tech company’s future prospects.

    Altium share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, the Altium share price has slipped more than 20% into the red. It has fallen 36% this year to date.

    At the current share price, Altium has a market capitalisation of $3.76 billion.

    The post What percentage of Altium shares are owned by insiders? 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 June 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Altium. 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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  • Qantas share price slides as engineers plan strike action

    a man stands with travel documents in hand with a roller wheel suitcase and extended handle next to him holding his forefinger to his lip as he ponders his next move in a deserted airport. as the Qantas share price fallsa man stands with travel documents in hand with a roller wheel suitcase and extended handle next to him holding his forefinger to his lip as he ponders his next move in a deserted airport. as the Qantas share price falls

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price closed down slightly today as news of worker strikes emerged.

    Qantas shares dropped 0.22% today to $4.48 at market close. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell more than the airline today, slipping 0.53%. Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX: FLT) also slipped 0.29% but Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) shares jumped 1.3%.

    Let’s take a look at what is happening at Qantas.

    Engineers could strike

    Qantas aircraft engineers are considering strike action within weeks due to pay negotiations stalling, The Age reported.

    A vote on potential strike action is earmarked for August if requests for a pay rise as high as 12% are not met, the publication reported. Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said:

    The airline has not taken negotiations seriously. There have been years of meetings and no progress.

    However, in a statement, Qantas has expressed concern regarding planned action. The airline highlighted it has “contingency plans” to reduce disruptions. A Qantas Group spokesperson said:

    With the industry still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, the last thing it needs is the threat of industrial action.

    This action from the union is completely unnecessary.

    Meanwhile, ASX travel shares have performed relatively well against the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) benchmark today.

    This comes amid new travel rules that apply from 6 July. A COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required for international tourists arriving in Australia. The digital passenger declaration form has also been ditched for now.

    Commenting on the news, Health Minister Mark Butler said on Sunday:

    The chief medical officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of COVID

    Share price snapshot

    The Qantas share price has descended nearly 9% in the past year, while it is nearly 11% in the red year to date.

    For perspective, the ASX 200 has shed nearly 9% in a year.

    In the past five years, Qantas shares have lost 22%.

    The post Qantas share price slides as engineers plan strike action 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 June 1 2022

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

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  • Up 38% in a month, what’s sparking the recent Race Oncology share price run-up?

    Five healthcare workers standing together and smiling.Five healthcare workers standing together and smiling.

    The Race Oncology Ltd (ASX: RAC) share price had yet another stunning day, leaving the broader index well behind.

    At close of trade, the specialty pharmaceutical company’s shares finished 15.74% ahead at $2.50 each. This means the company’s shares have now risen more than 38% in the past month.

    For context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) closed 0.5% lower to 6,784.3 points today and is now down more than 9% for the month.

    What’s driving Race Oncology shares forward?

    Investors were rallying up the Race Oncology share price today amid the company’s latest string of announcements, along with positive sentiment.

    Last month, the company advised it was conducting a share buyback to increase shareholder value.

    The board approved the purchase of up to four million Race Oncology shares, which represents 2.5% of its issued capital.

    When the news broke, this led shares in the company to finish 11.24% higher on the day.

    Furthermore, Race Oncology released a statement highlighting two peer-reviewed abstracts published in the scientific journal, Cancer Research.

    Both publications noted the company’s new preclinical data on the anti-cancer uses of its lead candidate Zantrene.

    Again, when Race Oncology provided the update to the ASX, its shares soared 10% before market close.

    After that, there was another rush on the company’s shares following successful results from its Zantrene trial.

    The clinical data showed that the anti-cancer drug protected the hearts of mice from chemotherapy damage.

    This is particularly significant as the company is seeking to capture the “large commercial opportunity” that’s present for Zantrene.

    Lastly, helping the accent of Race Oncology shares is the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care (ASX: XHJ) sector advancing 1.97% today.

    About the Race Oncology share price

    Despite the strong gains made over the month, the Race Oncology share price is down 30% in 2022.

    This is due to extreme market volatility impacting ASX shares amid rampant inflation, interest rate hikes, and a downbeat economic outlook.

    Based on today’s price, Race commands a market capitalisation of around $398 million.

    The post Up 38% in a month, what’s sparking the recent Race Oncology share price run-up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Race Oncology Limited right now?

    Before you consider Race Oncology 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 Race Oncology 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 June 1 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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  • Why ‘superior operations’ puts Woolworths shares in this broker’s buy basket

    A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.A customer and shopper at the checkout of a supermarket.

    Investors enjoyed a solid day for the Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price this Wednesday. At market close, Woolworths shares rose by a healthy 2.51% to $36.80. This move higher comes as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recorded a day in the red. The ASX 200 finished Wednesday down by 0.53% at just under 6,600 points.

    But despite the boost today, it has still been a tough time for Woolworths shares of late. The supermarket giant remains down by 3.18% in 2022 thus far, as well as by 1% over the past 12 months. Today, Woolies remains around the same share price it was back in the pre-COVID highs of February 2020.

    So with such a sluggish performance in recent months and years, could it be a good time to consider buying Woolworths shares today?

    Is the Woolworths share price a buy today?

    One broker who thinks so is investment bank Goldman Sachs. As my Fool colleague James Mickleboro covered last week, Goldman is currently rating Woolworths shares as a buy with a 12-month share price target of $41.70. That would result in a potential upside of close to 13% on current pricing.

    Goldman stated it was “encouraged by the resilience and superior operations” of Woolworths, and is anticipating higher sales and earnings between now and FY2024.

    But Goldman isn’t the only broker with an opinion on Woolies today.

    As reported in The Australian, fellow broker UBS has just upgraded its rating on Woolworths from sell to neutral. Here’s what UBS had to say:

    The removal of our bearish stance on supermarkets, increased earnings per share estimates across COL [Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)] and WOW, and greater confidence on Woolworths growing sales and expanding gross & EBIT margins, support the WOW rating upgrade.

    UBS has also raised its own 12-month share price target to $37.

    So we’ll have to see if Woolies shares are indeed heading higher over the next 12 months, as Goldman predicts, or will stay at a similar level to today, as estimated by UBS.

    At the current Woolworths share price, this ASX 200 grocer has a market capitalisation of $44.67 billion, with a dividend yield of 2.55%.

    The post Why ‘superior operations’ puts Woolworths shares in this broker’s buy basket appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woolworths Group Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Woolworths Group 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 Woolworths Group 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 June 1 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 positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • How many global mega deals involved ASX 200 shares in the first half of 2022?

    Two hands being shaken symbolising a deal.Two hands being shaken symbolising a deal.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares feature rather prominently on the list of global mega deals in the first half of 2022.

    That’s according to the latest report by financial market data provider Refinitiv, detailing global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities year-to-date.

    The report noted that there were 58 mega deals – defined as being worth at least US$5 billion (AU$7.3 billion) – in the fist half the 2022. While that’s 23 fewer than this time last year, it’s the fourth highest level ever since Refinitiv began recording this data in 1980.

    In total, global M&A activity has already reached US$2.1 trillion year-to-date. While that’s down 21% from last year worldwide, deal making among ASX 200 shares has helped drive a 25.4% increase in M&A activity in Australia so far this year. 

    In fact, with US$103.5 billion of deals in the first half, this marks the highest H1 period for Aussie companies since 1980.

    Which brings us to…

    Which ASX 200 shares made the mega deal list?

    There are seven Aussie companies with completed or pending M&A deals worth at least US$1.8 billion in H1.

    But only two ASX 200 shares top the US$5 billion mega deal marker.

    First, and largest, is Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC). In a still pending deal, the $20 billion takeover offer for the global healthcare company is the biggest healthcare deal ever in Australia.

    News of the deal was confirmed on 20 April, sending the Ramsay Health Care share price rocketing.

    The conditional, non-binding, indicative proposal was pitched by a consortium led by private equity giant KKR. The consortium offered $88 per share to acquire Ramsay, which was trading for $64.29 on the day that news broke.

    The proposed takeover is still undergoing due diligence. Should it proceed, it will then be put up for a shareholder vote.

    Moving on… 

    Formed from a demerger

    The second ASX 200 share making it onto the H1 US$5 billion-plus mega deal list is The Lottery Corp Ltd (ASX: TLC).

    On 24 May, Lottery Corp commenced trading on the ASX for the first time after a demerger from Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH).

    The completed transaction sees Lottery Corp take over Tabcorp’s Lotteries and Keno businesses. Management pressed ahead with the demerger with the intention of maximising shareholder value.

    The newly minted ASX 200 share is down 2% since listing.

    The post How many global mega deals involved ASX 200 shares in the first half of 2022? 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 June 1 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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  • Why Macquarie shares could be a ‘quality cyclical at a discounted price’: expert

    A woman sits at her computer with hand to mouth and a contemplative smile on her face although she is considering or thinking about information she is seeing on the screen.A woman sits at her computer with hand to mouth and a contemplative smile on her face although she is considering or thinking about information she is seeing on the screen.

    ASX 200 bank shares strengthened on Wednesday, outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    The Index closed 0.52% lower today while the ASX 200 Banks Index (ASX: XBK) finished 1.03% in the green.

    The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price followed the trend, closing up 0.58% at $169.66.

    The investment bank has posted a series of gains and losses these past 12 months but is currently trading down 17% this year to date, as illustrated below.

    TradingView Chart

    Macquarie looks attractive at current prices

    The investment debate on ASX bank shares has been a contentious one in 2022. On the one hand, rising interest rates look to boost bank profits.

    On the other, the industry is heavily tied to the mortgage sector, with higher interest rates increasing the risk of systemic default.

    However, one expert likes what Macquarie shares have to offer. Equity strategist at Wilsons Rob Crookston said Macquarie now presents an “opportunity to buy a quality cyclical at a discounted price”.

    He wrote on Livewire:

    MQG is a quality business with the proven ability to position itself to take advantage of structural growth opportunities, resulting in compound earnings growth over the long-term.

    Management’s ability to deploy capital into opportunities has the potential to underpin future years of growth. We think investors will continue to support this approach, given MQG’s track record.

    Crookston said Macquarie can sustainably grow earnings given its focus on annuity income, its capital light model, and exposure to alternative investment classes.

    He said that Macquarie manages 153 infrastructure assets across the world across all infrastructure asset classes. These range from roads to airports to digital infrastructure.

    Macquarie’s current valuation is also attractive, he says, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 13.6 times. This is “lower than it has been trading on post-2020 and close to its 5-year historical average”, according to Crookston.

    “We think this valuation looks reasonable due to the strong long-term earnings growth potential for MQG and unique leverage to the energy transition.”

    The post Why Macquarie shares could be a ‘quality cyclical at a discounted price’: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Macquarie Group Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Macquarie Group 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 Macquarie Group 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 June 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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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  • The Woolworths share price outperformed the ASX 200 in FY22. Here’s why

    a man inspects a capsicum while holding an eco-friendly green string bag in a supermarket produce aisle.a man inspects a capsicum while holding an eco-friendly green string bag in a supermarket produce aisle.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price was arguably one of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s top value shares in financial year 2022 (FY22).

    And what a year it was. The supermarket giant battled through COVID-19 outbreaks, supply chain issues, and numerous acquisition challenges.

    As of the final close of FY22, the Woolworths share price was $35.60, 0.6% lower than it was at the end of FY21. For context, the ASX 200 fell around 10% last financial year.

    So, what went on with the ASX 200 staple over the period? Let’s take a look.

    The Woolworths share price outperformed in FY22

    Let’s cast ourselves back to the start of FY21. Sydney was in the first few weeks of its multi-month COVID-19 lockdown, Australia’s vaccine rollout was underway, and Woolworths had only just split from Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV).

    Here are all the major happenings that have impacted the Woolworths share price since then.

    Woolworths’ earnings

    Woolworths’ FY21 earnings, released in August 2021, detailed a strong year’s performance.

    The company’s sales increased 5.7% to around $67.3 billion in FY21 while its earnings before interest, and tax rose 13.7% to around $3.7 billion. Finally, its after tax profits lifted 22.9% to $1.9 billion in FY21.

    It also announced a $2 billion off-market buyback.

    Sadly, the first half of FY22 wasn’t so favourable for the supermarket giant.

    Its after-tax profit slipped 6.5% from that of the prior consecutive period, mostly due to costs associated with the spread of COVID-19.

    COVID-19 impacts take toll on Woolworths share price

    The Woolworths share price dived 7.6% in mid-December when the company updated the market on the expected impact of COVID-19 outbreaks.

    Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci commented on the struggles facing the company during the first half, saying:

    The first half of FY22 has been one of the most challenging halves we have experienced in recent memory due to the far-reaching impacts of the COVID Delta strain and its impact on our end-to-end stock flow and operating rhythm.

    The supermarket later thanked customers for their patience as the ongoing COVID-19-related challenges saw some shelves empty in early January.

    One acquisition, two acquisition

    And finally, Woolworths was on the hunt for acquisitions in FY22.  

    It entered a multi-horse race for formerly-ASX listed Australian Pharmaceutical Industries in early December. It ultimately gave up the chase, allowing ASX 200 conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) to snap up API in March.

    But that wasn’t the last of it. The supermarket operator put forward a $1.05 per share bid for an 80.2% stake in online marketplace MyDeal.com.au Ltd (ASX: MYD) in May.

    The deal would see MyDeal taken off the ASX, with the remaining 19.8% stake held by its management.

    The bid represented a 62.8% premium on MyDeal’s previous close and hasn’t yet been finalised.

    The post The Woolworths share price outperformed the ASX 200 in FY22. Here’s why 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 June 1 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 positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    Top 10 blank list on chalkboardTop 10 blank list on chalkboard

    Wednesday was a rough day for many S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares as the index was weighed down by the energy and materials sectors. The ASX 200 was 0.52% lower at 6,594.50 points at market close.

    A disastrous day for oil prices weighed on the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) today. It was 5.8% lower at the end of the session.

    The Brent crude oil price plunged 9.5% to US$102.77 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude price tumbled 8.2% to US$99.50 a barrel. Their weakness came on the back of fears of a global recession, further lockdowns in China, and a higher US dollar.

    Base metal prices also slipped as most Australians slept. Nickel was the only major metal to come out in the green, gaining 0.6%. Meanwhile, iron ore futures lifted around 3.5% to US$113.42 a tonne.

    Likely as a result, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) slumped around 5% today.

    But it was far from dire across the board. Eight of the ASX 200’s 11 sectors were in the green come market close, led by the tech sector.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) rose more than 3% on Wednesday amid falling government bond yields.

    Now, let’s get to the reason we’re all here: Here are the stocks that outperformed all others today.

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown

    The top performer among the ASX’s 200 biggest stocks by market capitalisation on Wednesday was the Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price. The company’s shares lifted around 7% today.

    Coming in next best was Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP). The stock leapt close to 7% today amid positive responses to news the company will start to charge a service fee on deliveries, reports my Fool colleague James.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) $86.14 6.82%
    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) $74.94 6.81%
    Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) $99.20 5.14%
    Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) $10.35 5.13%
    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) $28.84 4.76%
    Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) $2.105 4.73%
    Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) $1.3175 4.56%
    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) $42.49 4.4%
    HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) $22.13 4.29%
    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) $11.36 4.13%

    Data as at 3:59 pm AEST.

    Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    *Returns as of June 1 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 Altium, Block, Inc., Hub24 Ltd, Judo Capital Holdings Limited, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc., Hub24 Ltd, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises 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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