Tag: Motley Fool

  • Novonix share price powers up on strong quarterly revenue growth

    a smiling woman holds an arm in the air as she holds a fully-charged battery symbol with her other hand.a smiling woman holds an arm in the air as she holds a fully-charged battery symbol with her other hand.

    The Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) share price is well into the green after the lithium-ion battery technology and materials company released its latest quarterly activities and cash flow report.

    Novonix operates in the red hot lithium-ion battery space, and it’s also a graphite explorer and miner. Novonix uses graphite to develop anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

    At the time of writing, the Novonix share price is up 3.52%, trading at $5.30.

    Novonix share price lifts on strong revenue growth

    Novonix reported “continued strong revenue growth” with customer receipts of $2.11 million over the quarter. The company said its sales were increasing as it added and grew key strategic customer accounts.

    Highlights during the three months to 31 March included:

    • Customer receipts of $2.1 million
    • Cash flow expenditure from operating activities of $22.6 million
    • Cash flow expenditure from investing activities of $27.5 million
    • Cash and cash equivalents balance of $211.8 million as of 31 March
    • Commenced trading on the NASDAQ on 1 February
    • Half-year report released on 25 February.

    What happened in the quarter for Novonix

    Over the March quarter, the Novonix share price slumped 41%. Meantime, the company was busy signing a couple of major new deals while continuing to develop its production capacity across the board.

    Novonix and Phillips 66 signed a technology development agreement to create higher performance, lower carbon-intensive anode material for lithium-ion batteries in North America.

    Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturer and a global producer of petroleum needle coke, the key precursor material for synthetic graphite. Phillips 66 bought 77,962,578 ordinary shares of Novonix for US$150 million in September 2021.

    Also during the quarter, Novonix spent US$25 million to take a 5% stake in KORE Power, a leading US-based developer of battery cell technology for clean energy industries. The two companies have worked together since 2019 to improve KORE’s battery technology.

    Under a new anode material supply agreement, Novonix will become the exclusive supplier of graphite anode material for KORE’s US operations. Deliveries will begin in 2024. It is anticipated that up to 12,000 tonnes of material will be supplied per year. The goal is to strengthen the domestic US lithium-ion battery supply chain.

    In Canada, Novonix completed renovations at its new 35,000 square foot site at Burnside. It relocated all hardware and cathode activities from its Bedford site to Burnside.

    Novonix received a repayable contribution of $1 million from the Canadian Government to purchase specialised equipment for Burnside, where it will pilot its “cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for cathode material production”. Novonix says it is “on track for a 10 tonnes per annum pilot line to be fully online in Q1 FY23”. The Bedford location is now dedicated to battery assembly and testing.

    What’s next for Novonix?

    Novonix hopes to take advantage of new US Government funding to support the domestic processing of critical materials, such as graphite for electric car batteries. It is also looking for new international partners for technology partnership opportunities.

    In Australia, Novonix said it was continuing to assess opportunities to develop the Mt. Dromedary high-grade graphite deposit asset in northern Queensland.

    The Novonix share price is up 116% over the past 12 months compared to a 4.9% gain for the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index. However, Novonix has plunged 42.3% in the year to date, while the All Ords has fallen 2.8%.

    The post Novonix share price powers up on strong quarterly revenue growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Novonix, 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 Novonix 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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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  • Here’s why ASX 200 tech shares are having such a stellar end to the week

    Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tech shares are continuing to rebound after their rough start to the week amid a strong session overseas.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Index took off overnight, with the Nasdaq-100 recording a 3.48% gain for Thursday’s session. Though, it might be giving some of its gains back later today.

    Likely in reaction, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is boasting a 1.74% increase on Friday, helping it to recover some of its losses from earlier in the week.

    For context, the ASX 200 is currently 0.68% higher.

    Let’s take a closer look at what might be going on with ASX 200 tech shares on Friday.

    What’s driving ASX 200 tech shares higher?

    The ASX 200 tech sector is leading the index on Friday, with the EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) share price coming in as its top performer.

    The payments provider’s stock plummeted 38.5% on Tuesday after the company downgraded its guidance. Today, it’s back in the green, gaining 5.34% amid the release of its response to an ASX query regarding Tuesday’s news.

    The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price is on a similar trajectory. It’s up 4.86% today following Wednesday’s 29.4% tumble.

    Other ASX 200 tech stocks in the green today include Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX), Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU), and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO).

    They’ve gained 3.52%, 2.73%, and 1.81% respectively.

    Looking to the broader ASX tech sector, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is currently up 1.79%.

    The sector’s performance follows a similarly strong session on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Index overnight.

    Most of Australia woke up to the Nasdaq-100 boasting a 3.48% gain. But tomorrow’s session overseas might not be so pretty.

    The Nasdaq Index struggled in after-hours trade on Thursday evening, reports my international colleague.

    Its slump was driven by tech giants, Apple Inc (NASDAQ: APPL) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN). The pair both released quarterly earnings on Thursday.

    If ASX 200 tech shares can hold onto their current gains, the sector will close Friday’s session 2.1% lower than it was at end of last week.

    The post Here’s why ASX 200 tech shares are having such a stellar end to the week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in EML Payments right now?

    Before you consider EML Payments, 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 EML Payments 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 Amazon, Apple, EML Payments, Life360, Inc., and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended EML Payments and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Apple. 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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  • ANZ share price higher on half year notable items update

    a man in a snappy business suit looks disappointed as he counts bank notes in his hand.

    a man in a snappy business suit looks disappointed as he counts bank notes in his hand.

    The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is pushing higher today.

    In afternoon trade, the banking giant’s shares are up 0.5% to $27.23.

    What’s going on with the ANZ share price today?

    The ANZ share price is rising today after the bank released an update on notable items that will be included in its upcoming half year results.

    According to the release, ANZ’s first half FY 2022 statutory and cash profit will be impacted by a number of large/notable items with a net after tax charge of $43 million.

    Pleasingly, management notes that this will have a minimal impact on its CET1 capital.

    What are the items?

    There were a total of four items that led to this net after tax charge of $43 million.

    The first is a positive net after tax gain of $205 million relating to divestments and business closures during the period. This was primarily driven by the gain on sale of the Merchant Acquiring Business in exchange for a 49% interest in a new ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions partnership.

    Offsetting this will be a tax charge of $126 million relating to withholding tax on a dividend payment from ANZ Papua New Guinea. ANZ notes that a capital injection was made into ANZ Papua New Guinea equivalent to the dividend, net of withholding tax. This was done in order to rebalance capital positions within the group in response to APRA’s changes in the capital requirements for subsidiaries.

    Another after tax charge of $123 million relates to customer remediation. This covers increased program costs and revised estimates to customer remediation predominantly in the Australia Retail and Commercial division.

    Finally, a modest net after tax gain of $1 million is included and comprises restructuring charges, divested business results, and a litigation settlement.

    Judging by the ANZ share price performance today, the market appears to see this $43 million charge as a good result. Especially considering that a year earlier the bank recorded a charge of $817 million.

    The post ANZ share price higher on half year notable items update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider ANZ, 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 ANZ 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

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

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  • Ampol share price lifts amid electrifying new EV charging plans

    A man wearing a suit and holding an EV charger puts one thumb up showing support for ASX shares that have sustainable policiesA man wearing a suit and holding an EV charger puts one thumb up showing support for ASX shares that have sustainable policies

    Investors are looking at the Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price with fondness on Friday.

    Shares in the fuel retailer are forging a path to the upside today amid a further move into the electric vehicle charging industry. At the time of writing, the Ampol share price is swapping hands for $33.95, representing a rise of 1.4%.

    Plugging in and rolling out

    The latest household inflation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed transport as the segment with the largest increase year on year. Feverishly high fuel prices are being felt by the consumer, highlighting the price comparison to running an electric vehicle (EV).

    In response, Ampol is taking action to remain relevant in an electric future. According to a media release, the company is upping its efforts with the unveiling of its EV charging brand, AmpCharge. The Ampol share price suggests investors are content with the move.

    Alongside this, Ampol announced its plan to roll out a national network of EV charging points by leveraging its existing fuel distribution network.

    Interestingly, the company won’t be stopping the offering at the bowser. Instead, Ampol intends to make AmpCharge an ‘at-home’ product as well. Notably, this will be a component of a broader home energy offer.

    Providing comment on the announcement, Ampol managing director and CEO Matt Halliday said:

    I’m pleased to today unveil our full-service electric vehicle fast-charging ecosystem, AmpCharge, leveraging our existing network, skills, and infrastructure to provide a diverse and comprehensive charging network that can minimise range anxiety and support the uptake of BEVs in Australia.

    Moreover, Halliday highlighted the company’s position to shift with the times, stating:

    We’ve been keeping Australians moving for over 120 years. Today, as energy needs evolve, our vision is to become Australia’s leading distributer of energy, providing mobility solutions for any of the vehicles our customers drive, anywhere and anytime they need it.

    The Ampol share price has been on an uptrend this year amid its acquisition of Z Energy.

    What’s next?

    Ampol intends to kick off its EV ambitions with five pilot sites. These will be located at service stations in Carseldine QLD, Alexandria NSW, Northmead NSW, Altona North VIC, and Belmont WA.

    Additionally, the company is aiming for around June to July this year for those sites to be operational with EV charging points. From there, the network is slated to expand to approximately 120 locations by October 2023.

    Reportedly, 300 EV charging units have been ordered across three suppliers to bring the plans to life. It is believed that the Aussie EV charging success story, Tritium, is in the mix of suppliers.

    Ampol share price recap

    The Aussie fuel seller has enjoyed a solid year so far in 2022. Already, the Ampol share price is up nearly 13% this year. Whereas the broader Australian share market is in the red. Unsatiable demand for energy products amid geopolitical contention has offered a strong tailwind for Ampol.

    Finally, Ampol is now trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 14.5 times. Meanwhile, the Australian oil and gas industry average is 12.1 times.

    The post Ampol share price lifts amid electrifying new EV charging plans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Ampol, 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 Ampol 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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 ApeCoin was trouncing other cryptos on Thursday

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

    Apecoin animation.

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

    What happened

    The hot cryptocurrency of the moment, ApeCoin (CRYPTO: APE), got even hotter on Thursday. As of late afternoon, the token tightly linked to the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible token ecosystem was up by nearly 20% over the previous 24 hours. That made it a 300-pound gorilla when contrasted with the modest gains of a great many fellow tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Polkadot.

    So what

    Unlike nearly all of those coins, ApeCoin is on the brink of entering a new stage of evolution. This Saturday, BAYC is slated to launch Otherside, its metaverse project in which the anchor currency is that furry animal token. And it’s not like there was a long ramp-up to the launch — it was officially announced last Saturday.

    While enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies has generally cooled lately, investors are still excited about the prospects of the metaverse. Compounding this, BAYC has provided few details about Otherside, helping to burnish that cyberworld’s mystique and keep people interested.

    A brief animated video posted on the recently established (and apparently official) OthersideMeta Twitter account, soundtracked with The Doors’ Break on Through, presents an odd, colorful world with an aesthetic similar to BAYC’s popular NFTs. The main characters in Otherverse seem to be (you guessed it) BAYC-styled apes, although it’s anyone’s guess whether Otherside participants actually get to play as those creatures.

    Now what

    Another big question is what exactly is going to be sold upon Otherside’s launch (there is a “first mint” for NFTs connected to that metaverse), but in Apeworld fashion, precious few specifics have been provided.

    So what we’re dealing with in ApeCoin is not only a very proprietary token, but also one whose future is full of question marks. It might be loaded with potential, but then again it could represent a rickety-foundation trap for incautious investors. To me, this uncertainty makes it an asset to avoid for now. 

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

    The post Why ApeCoin was trouncing other cryptos 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Eric Volkman has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Bitcoin and 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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  • Bank of America tips 38% upside for Block shares. Here’s why

    A businessman stacks building blocks while smiling about the anticipated 7% dividend yield that CSR is expected to pay based on its current share price

    A businessman stacks building blocks while smiling about the anticipated 7% dividend yield that CSR is expected to pay based on its current share price

    Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) shares are edging higher today, up 0.84% to $145.57 per share.

    While it’s early hours yet, Block shares trading on the ASX are trailing yesterday’s (overnight Aussie time) performance of their US-listed counterparts. Block closed 4.6% higher on the NYSE, at US$104.65 per share.

    While that was a strong day for the global buy now, pay later (BNPL) giant, Bank of America forecasts more strength ahead.

    Why investors will be eyeing the Afterpay integration

    As you’re likely aware, United States-based Block acquired Aussie BNPL company Afterpay in January this year.

    And how well that integration works will have a material impact on Block shares.

    As the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reports, Bank of America believes that, among other core factors, “investor focus will also be on the integration of Afterpay, and we will be looking for more specifics regarding potential quantification of revenue synergies”.

    Block will report its quarterly results on 5 May, with an investor day presentation scheduled for 18 May.

    Tailwinds ahead?

    Bank of America believes the quarterly results will offer some fresh tailwinds for Block shares.

    “We continue to believe [Block] is well-positioned to be a long-term leader in the Super App race among various Fintechs,” it said.

    The bank retained its buy rating on Block shares, though it cut its price target from US$157 to US$144 per share. Still, that’s 38% above yesterday’s closing price on the NYSE.

    According to Bank of America (as quoted by the AFR):

    We see ample synergies between Afterpay and SQ, particularly the ability to cross-pollinate the respective active user base at Cash App and Afterpay. For example, we note that Afterpay’s 19 million annual active customers (65% in US) will be able to make BNPL instalment payments directly in Cash App.

    Meanwhile, Cash App customers will have the ability to discover Afterpay’s 122,000 merchants, while engaging in BNPL transactions within the Cash App platform.

    How have Block shares been tracking?

    It’s been a rough month for Block shares, down 28.8% since 29 March. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.6% for the month.

    The post Bank of America tips 38% upside for Block shares. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Block, 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 Block 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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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  • Why has this ASX materials share plummeted 28% today?

    Two men react in shock at Evolution share price drop record profitTwo men react in shock at Evolution share price drop record profit

    The SciDev Ltd (ASX: SDV) share price is having a woeful morning on the ASX following a company announcement.

    At the time of writing, the chemical engineering company’s shares are down a sizeable 29%, trading at a multi-year low of 28 cents. In comparison, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is tracking 0.79% higher at 7,703 points.

    What did the ASX materials share announce?

    Investors are selling off SciDev shares following an unexpected announcement regarding its most senior leader. SciDev advised that its CEO and managing director Lewis Utting has tendered his resignation due to personal reasons.

    SciDev commercial director of water services Sean Halpin has been appointed to the top job in the interim.

    SciDev chair Vaughan Busby said:

    The Board thanks Lewis for his leadership, commitment and hard work transforming and growing the company from a start up to where it is today.

    We understand and respect Lewis’ decision to resign so he can focus on family matters. Over the next few months, Lewis will be available on a limited basis to assist with the transition.

    While the sudden notice has rattled shareholders, SciDev said that it would begin its search for a new permanent CEO.

    About the SciDev share price

    Adding to today’s losses, the SciDev share price has fallen almost 70% over the last 12 months.

    Since reaching a 52-week high of 97.5 cents in mid-2021, the ASX materials shares have been on a downward trend.

    The company commands a market capitalisation of roughly $52.5 million based on today’s price.

    The post Why has this ASX materials share plummeted 28% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider SciDev, 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 SciDev 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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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  • Could AFIC shares be an ASX inflation hedge?

    A sharp cactus beneath a deflated balloon, indicating the fight against inflation.

    A sharp cactus beneath a deflated balloon, indicating the fight against inflation.

    As the ASX’s largest Listed Investment Company (LIC), the Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) share price is a popular choice for many passive investors. A LIC is a share market investment that functions more similarly to a managed fund than your traditional ASX share. It is a company. But one that invests in its own portfolio of other ASX shares for the benefit of its shareholders.

    Thus, many investors hold AFIC shares seeking an easy, broad-based, diversified and dividend-paying investment. One that will hopefully deliver a sprinkle of market outperformance over a long time frame. Its current top shares mostly consist of blue-chips like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

    But as we approach the halfway mark of 2022, it is inflation that is at the top of many investors’ concerns right now. Earlier this week, we got the shocking news that Australia’s annual inflation rate is now running at 5.1%, a two-decade high.

    So are AFIC shares an effective inflation hedge?

    Well, inflation of 5.1% means that an investment has to have grown by 5.1% just to keep an investor’s capital level in real terms.

    That means that AFIC’s dividend alone doesn’t cut the mustard. The company presently offers a dividend yield of 2.9% on current pricing. This dividend, including the full franking credits, grosses up to 4.14%. AFIC hasn’t increased its dividend for a few years now. Its interim payment that investors saw in February was 10 cents a share, the same interim dividend it paid in 2016.

    However, over the past year, AFIC shares have increased by 10.56% in value. Adding that to the grossed up dividend yield of 4.14% and we get a total trailing return of 14.7%. Subtracting inflation of 5.1% and we get a real return of 9.6% for the past 12 months.

    So over the past year, AFIC has indeed been an inflation-busting hedge. But past performance is no guarantee of future returns, so take that with a grain of salt. 

    The post Could AFIC shares be an ASX inflation hedge? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AFIC, 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 AFIC 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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 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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  • ASX 200 midday update: ResMed disappoints, PointsBet rockets higher

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    At lunch on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week on a positive note. The benchmark index is currently up 0.75% to 7,412.7 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    ResMed share price falls on quarterly update

    The ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) share price is sinking on Friday after the sleep treatment company’s quarterly update fell short of expectations. ResMed reported a 12% increase in revenue to US$864.5 million and a 2% lift in earnings per share to US$1.32. Goldman Sachs notes that the company’s revenue and earnings per share missed by 5% and 9%, respectively, versus consensus estimates.

    PointsBet shares jump

    The PointsBet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) share price is racing higher today thanks to a rebound in the tech sector and a positive reaction to the sports betting company’s quarterly update. In respect to the latter, PointsBet reported a 54% increase in turnover to $1,398 million. This reflects a 37% increase in Australian turnover to $579.4 million and a 70% jump in US turnover to $818.6 million.

    COVID weighs on Ramsay profits

    The Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) share price is trading lower today after the hospital giant revealed that its profits have been hit by COVID restrictions. Ramsay reported third quarter revenue growth of 5.7% to $3,449.2 million but a 59% reduction in net profit to $42.7 million. The latter reflects COVID-related absenteeism, surgical restrictions, and higher operating costs.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Friday has been the PointsBet share price with a gain of 11%. This follows the release of the sports betting company’s quarterly update and a rebound in the tech sector. The worst performer has been the ResMed share price with a 5% decline after the sleep treatment company’s quarterly update missed expectations.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: ResMed disappoints, PointsBet rockets higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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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 Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pointsbet Holdings Ltd, Ramsay Health Care Limited, and ResMed 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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  • This ASX 200 healthcare share has a fully franked dividend yield over 4% right now

    Stethoscope with a piggy bank and hundred dollar notes.

    Stethoscope with a piggy bank and hundred dollar notes.

    Sure there are a lot of ASX dividend shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) to choose from. There are the big banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). Then there are the mining giants like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). Other dividend investors look to blue-chips like Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), or Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) for income. But dividend-paying ASX healthcare shares?

    Traditionally, the healthcare space is not one where many investors traditionally search for income. The market’s largest healthcare share is CSL Limited (ASX: CSL). But even though CSL shares have fallen more than 8% this year so far, the company still has a dividend yield under 1%.

    But there is a healthcare share on the ASX that currently offers a fully franked dividend yield of over 4% right now. That would be Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL).

    Medibank Private is the ASX’s largest healthcare insurer. Many of us would know its flagship Medibank brand, as well as its AHM subsidiary.

    Well, right now, Medibank Private shares offer a dividend yield of 4.06%. Since this yield comes fully franked too, it grosses up to a meaty 5.8% with those franking credits. 

    How do Medibank shares offer a 4% yield today?

    Where does this yield come from? Well, Medibank’s last two dividend payments. The company paid out its interim dividend for FY2022 last month This was a payment of 6.2 cents per share, a healthy rise on the previous interim dividend of 5.8 cents per share. Before that, Medibank doled out a final dividend of 6.9 cents per share in September last year. Again, that was an increase on its 2020 final payment of 6.3 cents per share.

    Medibank actually had a bit of a streak going before COVID. From its first ever dividend in 2015, Medibank gave its investors an annual dividend pay raise every year until 2019. 2019 saw the company payout 15.6 cents per share in dividends, but this was reduced to 12 cents in 2020 largely thanks to the effects of the pandemic. 2021 saw the company begin to increase its shareholder payouts once again, which it has continued to do in 2022 so far.

    So that’s how we get to a 4.06% yield for Medibank shares today. Not too common for an ASX healthcare share at all.

    At the current Medibank Private share price, this ASX 200 healthcare share has a market capitalisation of $8.81 billion. 

    The post This ASX 200 healthcare share has a fully franked dividend yield over 4% right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Medibank Private right now?

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited and 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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