Tag: Motley Fool

  • These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in December

    rising asx share price represented by happy woman dancing excitedly

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form in December and finished a positive year with a solid monthly gain. The benchmark index rose 2.6% over the period to end at 7,444.6 points.

    While a good number of shares rose with the market, some climbed more than most. Here’s why these were the best performing ASX 200 shares in December:

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The Pilbara Minerals share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 last month with a 26% gain. This appears to have been driven partly be a broker note out of Macquarie. According to the note, its analysts believe lithium prices could remain at record levels for four years. As a result, the broker retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target on the company’s shares to $3.70.

    Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN)

    The Mineral Resources share price wasn’t far behind with a gain of 24.7% in December. This also appears to have been driven largely by the Macquarie broker note. Its analysts expect Mineral Resources to benefit from the strong lithium prices. In light of this, the broker retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target by 10% to a lofty $79.00. Also potentially giving its shares a lift was a recovery in iron ore prices.

    Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

    The Champion Iron share price was on form last month and charged 23.9% higher during the period. As mentioned above, iron ore prices recovered during the month, which appears to have given this Canadian iron ore producer’s shares a major boost. The benchmark iron ore price rose approximately 12% in December.

    Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

    The GrainCorp share price was a strong performer and rose 20.9% in December. This appears to have been driven by the release of a number of bullish broker notes. One of those came from Morgans. It retained its add rating and lifted its price target to $7.90 following the release of favourable ABARES crop forecasts. GrainCorp’s shares finished the month above this price target.

    The post These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in December 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 ASX growth shares rated as buys in January 2022

    Stack of coins rising

    The ASX growth shares in this article have plenty of growth potential for the long-term. January 2022 could be the month to look for those opportunities.

    Some businesses have been growing substantially in recent years but the share price could still be an attractive opportunity.

    Analysts currently rate these stocks as buys:

    Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    Adore Beauty is currently rated as a buy by the broker UBS with a price target of $6. That’s 50% higher than it is today. Over the past two months, the Adore Beauty share price has fallen by around 20%.

    UBS notes that Adore Beauty continues to grow revenue at a quick pace and noted that it seems like revenue can grow by low double digits over the rest of the year.

    In the first three months of FY22, revenue increased by 25% to $63.8 million, whilst active customers grew by 24% to 874,000.

    The ASX growth share is working on a number of strategic initiatives – scaling its mobile app, building owned marketing channels and community, and expanding its loyalty program.

    Adore Beauty is continuing to benefit from the ongoing structural shift to online shopping, which has been accelerated by COVID-19 (and lockdowns).

    Management are focused on its growth strategy to cement its online market leadership.

    The company’s first private label brand is on track to launch in the third quarter of FY22. This could help with both margins and revenue.

    EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML)

    EML Payments is an ASX growth share which helps process various digital payments for companies, governments and other organisations. Some of its use cases includes banking as a service, shopping centre gift cards, employer incentives, commercial payments and buy now, pay later.

    UBS also rates EML as a buy, with a price target of $4.40 which is more than 33% higher than right now.

    The broker thinks that the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) correspondence is an important positive.

    Two of the updates from the correspondence included that CBI will permit EML’s PFS Card Services (Ireland) Limited (PCSIL) to sign new customers and launch new programs whilst staying within the material growth restrictions. PCSIL is confident that it can meet these obligations.

    Second, broad based reductions in limit controls on programs will not be imposed. The CBI said it’s satisfied to continue to engage with PCSIL with a view to agreeing appropriate limits.

    However, the CBI intends to have a material growth limitation over PCSIL’s total payment volumes imposed for 12 months or rescinded earlier after third party verification to confirm its remediation plan has been effectively implemented.

    The ASX growth share said that the CBI has invited PCSIL to provide it with submissions about growth limits, which it intends to do so by 30 November 2021.

    According to UBS, the EML share price is valued at 27x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    The post 2 ASX growth shares rated as buys in January 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider EML Paymemts, 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 Paymemts wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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. owns and has recommended EML Payments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended EML Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in December

    ASX shares downgrade A young woman with tattoos puts both thumbs down and scrunches her face with the bad news.

    December certainly was a great month for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). The benchmark index rose 2.6% over the period to end it at 7,444.6 points.

    Unfortunately, not all shares were able to climb higher with the market. Here’s why these were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in December:

    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

    The Magellan share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 last month with a 34.4% decline. Investors were selling off the fund manager’s shares after it announced the termination of the St James’s Place mandate. Magellan advised that the mandate represents approximately 12% of the company’s current annual revenues. Though, due to the timing of its termination, it is only anticipated to impact Magellan’s FY 2022 revenues by 6%. Investors appear concerned more mandates could be lost, particularly given the very poor performance of its flagship fund.

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    The Afterpay share price was some way behind as the next worst performer with a decline of 17%. The buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares were sold down after the Square share price tumbled lower. As Afterpay shareholders have voted in favour of being acquired by Square in an all-scrip deal, its shares rise and fall with the Square share price.

    Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB)

    The Mesoblast share price was a poor performer and dropped 12.7% during the month. Investors were selling off the allogeneic cellular medicines developer’s shares after Novartis terminated an agreement that could have been worth ~US$1.2 billion. The two parties were looking at Mesoblasts’ remestemcel-L as a treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19. Novartis ended the agreement after reviewing some disappointing trial results.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

    The Zip share price was out of form again and dropped 11.5% last month. This was driven by weakness in the tech sector and concerns over news that US authorities are launching an investigation into the BNPL sector. The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is looking to see if BNPL players need to be better regulated and if US consumers are adequately protected.

    The post These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in December 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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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. owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the 5 top performing ASX BNPL shares of 2021

    Woman cheers as she shops online with credit card

    While 2020 was a brilliant year for many ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) shares, 2021 wasn’t so dazzling.

    In fact, only 2 stocks with market capitalisations of over $30 million recorded share price gains for the last 12 months.

    Let’s take a look at the winning BNPL stocks of the last 12 months.

    The best performing ASX BNPL shares of 2021

    Fatfish Group Ltd (ASX: FFG) – up 36%

    The Fatfish share price bested that of its BNPL peers over the course of 2021.

    Having started the year trading at 3.8 cents, it finished at 4.9 cents.

    The major news that boosted the company’s stock was, interestingly, not released by it.

    According to the company, its share price soared 440% over 2 sessions, likely due to a sale made by its investee iCandy Interactive Ltd (ASX: ICI).

    Additionally, Fatfish acquired Forever Pay, a stake in Pay Direct Technology, BNPL Next, and has launched its BNPL offering, PaySlowSlow in 2021.

    Novatti Group Ltd (ASX: NOV) – up 15%

    The first half of 2021 saw the Novatti share price performing strongly. However, the second half saw it drop most of its gains to finish just 15% higher than it started.

    The major news to move the company’s stock was its agreement with fellow ASX BNPL company, Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT).

    Afterpay selected Novatti to provide its services in New Zealand, sending the latter’s shares 32% higher.

    Having started the year trading at 25.5 cents, Novatti’s stock finished 2021 swapping hands at 30 cents.

    Ioupay Ltd (ASX: IOU) – down 21%

    The Ioupay share price’s major move of 2021 was an unexplained one.

    In February it was handed a ‘please explain’ from the ASX after its stock gained 32% in a day. The company responded by saying it was as perplexed as anyone else.

    Since then, its share price has once more slumped.

    After starting 2021 trading at 19.5 cents, it’s finished trading at 15.5 cents.

    Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM) – down 20%

    The Humm share price outperformed many of its peers despite recording a 20% tumble.

    It began the year trading at $1.13 and finished it at 90 cents.

    The most recent news to rumble the company’s stock was a mention of a potential takeover.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) – down 18%

    Finally, ASX BNPL favourite Zip made it onto the podium – just.

    The company’s shares started 2021 swapping hands for $5.59 and have since tumbled to finish 2021 trading at $4.33.

    Over the course of the year, Zip rebranded its previous purchase, QuadPay in the United States.

    It has also acquired – or is working to acquire – inroads in Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

    The post These were the 5 top performing ASX BNPL shares of 2021 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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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. owns and has recommended ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Humm Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Are these 2 excellent ASX dividend shares buys in January?

    A heart next to a pink piggy bank and coins.

    There are some potentially wonderful ASX dividend shares that could offer compelling payouts for income-seekers in the coming years.

    Some businesses on the ASX share market are known for paying dividends such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

    However, there are some smaller companies that could provide more compelling income and growth over the long-term:

    Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW)

    Brickworks is a leading construction products business that has a number of leading divisions including Bristle Roofing, Austral Bricks, Austral Masonry, Austral Precast and Pronto Panel. In the US it has acquired a few businesses, making it a leader in some areas of the country – one of those acquisitions was Glen Gery.

    This ASX dividend share hasn’t cut its ordinary dividend for over 40 years.

    Brickworks has two asset divisions that help fund and grow the Brickworks dividend – its large shareholding of Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares as well as its 50% share of the joint venture industrial property trust with Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

    Soul Pattinson is an investment conglomerate that is invested in various assets and sectors including telecommunications, resources, agriculture, financial services, property, swimming schools and blue chip ASX shares. It has been providing growing earnings and defensive dividends to Brickworks for decades.

    There is unprecedented demand for the industrial properties in the trust, which is expected to lead to record earnings in the first half of FY22. The trust continues its development activity. The new, huge Amazon facility was scheduled to be finished at the end of December 2021. The trust will soon have another 75 hectares of land which will extend its development pipeline in order to meet the unprecedented demand for industrial property.

    The ASX dividend share currently has a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of 3.6%.

    Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)

    Nick Scali is a leading furniture business which recently grew even bigger with the acquisition of the Plush-Think Sofas business.

    The combined business will have around 110 showrooms and in FY21 the two companies generated a combined $533 million of revenue and $153 million of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

    The ASX dividend share’s management believe that Plush has been purchased on attractive financial metrics, there are material synergies to be extracted and that there is a growth opportunity for both a national store rollout and online growth.

    Nick Scali has grown its dividend every year since 2013, including through 2020.

    The brokers at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) think that Nick Scali is a buy and is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 6% in FY22 and 6.9% in FY23.

    Nick Scali is also looking to own more of its own retail stores and expected to complete the acquisition of a new showroom in Townsville by the end of December. This site will also include a new distribution facility serving North Queensland, providing the infrastructure for further growth in that region.

    The post Are these 2 excellent ASX dividend shares buys in January? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nick Scali right now?

    Before you consider Nick Scali, 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 Nick Scali wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Brickworks. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 ASX dividend shares to buy in January

    A woman holds a lightbulb in one hand and a wad of cash in the other

    Are you looking for dividend shares to add to your income portfolio in January? If you are, then the two listed below could be top options.

    Both have been named as buys and tipped to provide attractive yields that are vastly superior to the interest rates on offer with term deposits. Here’s why analysts rate these ASX dividend shares highly:

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is Adairs. It is a leading homewares and furniture retailer with both a bricks and mortar and online presence. This includes through its core brand, the online-only Mocka brand, and the soon to be acquired Focus on Furniture brand.

    The team at UBS is positive on Adairs. A recent note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have a buy rating and $5.90 price target on the company’s shares. UBS was pleased with its acquisition of Focus on Furniture and expects it to give Adairs greater exposure to mid-market home furniture categories.

    As for dividends, UBS is forecasting fully franked dividends of 19.6 cents per share in FY 2022 and 29.9 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Adairs share price of $4.01, this will mean yields of 4.9% and 7.5%, respectively.

    DEXUS Property Group (ASX: DXS)

    Another ASX dividend share to look at is Dexus. It is an Australian real estate company focused on office, industrial and retail properties.

    Dexus has also recently added to its high quality portfolio through the acquisition of $1.5 billion worth of industrial assets. These assets include Jandakot Airport in Perth and a logistics centre leased to Australia Post.

    Macquarie is positive on the company and has an outperform rating and $11.93 price target on its shares. The broker is also forecasting dividends per share of 53.7 cents in FY 2022 and 57.5 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Dexus share price of $11.12, this will mean yields of 4.8% and 5.2%, respectively.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares to buy in January 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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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. owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week

    Man open mouthed looking shocked while holding betting slip

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was only open for three days last week but that didn’t stop it from recording a decent gain. The benchmark index rose 0.3% over the period to end at 7,444.6 points.

    Unfortunately, not all shares climbed higher with the market. Here’s why these were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week:

    Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV)

    The Clinuvel share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 last week with a decline of 4.3%. This was despite there being no news out of the biopharmaceutical company. However, its shares have come under a spot of pressure recently amid concerns over a new product that is competing with its Scenesse therapy.

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    The Whitehaven Coal share price wasn’t far behind with a decline of 3.7% over the three days. This appears to have driven by a spot of weakness in coal prices. In addition, S&P Global reported that China’s metallurgical coal prices are expected to remain bearish in 2022. Industry sources have suggested that demand will fall 2.9% below 2021 levels.

    Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)

    The Afterpay share price continued its poor run and dropped 3.5% over the period. This has been driven by sustained weakness in the Square share price on Wall Street. As shareholders have voted in favour of Square’s all-scrip takeover deal, the value of the transaction rises and falls with its share price. The Afterpay share price ended the year 30% lower despite the takeover.

    Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)

    The Stockland share price was out of form and dropped 3% last week. However, this decline was driven largely by the property company’s shares going ex-dividend for its 12 cents per share interim dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to being paid this dividend in around eight weeks on 28 February.

    The post These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

    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. owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Afterpay Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the best performing ASX 200 shares last week

    A man and woman put hands in the air as they dance in front of a green brick wall.

    Last week was only a short one for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), but it was a positive one. The benchmark index rose 0.3% over the period to end at 7,444.6 points.

    While a good number of shares rose with the market, some climbed more than most. Here’s why these were the best performing ASX 200 shares last week:

    Perenti Global Ltd (ASX: PRN)

    The Perenti share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 last week with a gain of 12%. This could have been a delayed reaction to an announcement a week earlier. That announcement revealed that Perenti and Tshukudu Metals Botswana have finalised the contract for the provision of open pit mining services at the Sandfire Resources (ASX: SFR) Motheo Copper Project in Botswana. The finalised contract is valued at US$493 million (100% basis) over an initial term of seven years and three months.

    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

    The Bega Cheese share price wasn’t far behind with a gain of 10% over the three days. Investors were scrambling to buy the diversified food company’s shares amid news that Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang AgriFood Investments business has accumulated a 6.61% stake. Tattarang was buying shares between 10 November and 29 December.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The Pilbara Minerals share price was on form again and charged 9.2% higher last week. This appears to have been driven by optimism that lithium prices will stay higher for longer. Before Christmas, analysts at Macquarie suggested lithium prices could remain at record levels for four years. In response, the broker retained its outperform rating and lifted its price target on the company’s shares to $3.70. Incidentally, the Pilbara Minerals share price ended up being the best performer on the ASX 200 over the 12 months with a stunning 270% gain.

    Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX: OBL)

    The Omni Bridgeway share price was a solid performer and rose 6% during the period. This was despite there being no news out of the class action funder. However, it is worth noting that there has been a sharp reduction in the number of shares held by short sellers recently. This could mean that they have been buying back shares to close positions.

    The post These were the best performing ASX 200 shares last week 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

    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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • 3 qualities that makes Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL) a strong ASX dividend share

    Graphic showing yellow arrow above vertical columns indicating a rising share price

    There a number of qualities that make Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) such a strong contender as a leading ASX dividend share.

    For readers that don’t know, Soul Pattinson is an investment conglomerate that listed in 1903 and started off as a pharmacy business.

    Soul Pattinson recently divested its long-term holding of the pharmacy business Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API).

    Here are three qualities that make the Soul Pattinson dividend so good:

    Dividend records and intentions

    Soul Pattinson can claim to be the only business in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) that has grown its dividend every year since 2000.

    That means it is one of the few ASX 200 shares that have grown the dividend through both the GFC and COVID-19.

    Some investors may value the income reliability that this ASX dividend share has been able to provide for two decades and counting.

    Indeed, Soul Pattinson’s leadership has stated their thoughts on the dividend. The Soul Pattinson chair said:

    Our goal at WHSP is to pay consistent and growing dividends to shareholders and increase their capital wealth over the long term. These factors together are measured by total shareholder return (TSR).

    It has actually paid a dividend every year since it listed in 1903.

    Diversified investment income sources

    Due to the nature of the Soul Pattinson portfolio, its investment income comes from a variety of industries and sources.

    It is not reliant on a specific commodity price or just a mortgage loan book to fund its ongoing dividends.

    Some of the larger ASX shares in the portfolio includes TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) and Pengana Capital Ltd (ASX: PCG).

    It also has a number of private investments in areas like agriculture, swimming schools, luxury retirement living and resources.

    Dividend is fully funded by annual cashflow

    The company gets its investment income from its portfolio of assets.

    These businesses and assets pay annual dividends, distributions and interest to the ASX dividend share.

    With that cashflow, it can fund its growing dividend to shareholders from the that net cashflow after paying for expenses. In FY21, Soul Pattinson paid 82.3% of its annual cashflow out as a dividend. That means it kept the rest which it can re-invest back into more opportunities for the long-term.

    What is the current yield?

    Assuming that Soul Pattinson pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share in FY22, the current grossed-up dividend yield for the next 12 months is 3.1%.

    The post 3 qualities that makes Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL) a strong ASX dividend share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Soul Pattinson right now?

    Before you consider Soul Pattinson, 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 Soul Pattinson wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Brickworks. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Top ASX shares to buy in January 2022

    four people celebrate with champagne in front of gold 2022 balloons

    With 2021 now officially behind us (at long last!), we asked our Foolish contributors to compile a list of some of the ASX shares experts are saying to buy in January. And, in case you missed it, don’t forget to also check out our coverage of which stocks those in the know are predicting will do great things in 2022.

    James Mickleboro: Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

    This banking giant could be a top option for investors in January after a significant share-price pullback over the previous two months. That decline has been driven by the release of Westpac’s full-year results, which revealed a much weaker than expected margin outlook due largely to aggressive home loan competition. In addition to this, doubts over the bank’s cost cutting plans have weighed heavily on investor sentiment.

    However, the team at Morgans is confident in Westpac’s ability to cut its cost base down to $8 billion by FY 2024. In light of this, the broker sees a lot of value in the shares of Australia’s oldest bank at the current level and has put an ‘add’ rating and $29.50 price target on them. Based on the Westpac share price of $21.35 at Friday’s close, this implies potential upside of around 38%.

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking Corp.

    Aaron Teboneras: Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

    Listed for more than 108 years, Soul Patts (as it’s commonly referred to) is the second-oldest company on the ASX. The Australian investment house has a $9.5 billion portfolio of ASX shares in industries such as natural resources, building materials, telecommunications, retail, agriculture, property equity, investments, and corporate advisory.

    Major share holdings include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), and New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC).

    Soul Patts’ broad asset diversification has helped it ride out economic crises in the past. The company has rewarded shareholders with dividends for the last 40 years and has increased its dividend payments every year since 2000.

    At market close on Friday, the Soul Patts share price was trading at $29.97.

    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras does not own shares in Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd.

    Sebastian Bowen: Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

    Dusk could be a small-cap ASX share to check out this month. The company is in the business of selling candles, oils, fragrances, and other homely accessories, which it has been selling in record volumes over the past year. Dusk also recently announced the acquisition of Eroma, which has the potential to boost its online business.

    Shareholders will be watching with interest as to whether the company can successfully execute on its growth plans for 2022. As it stands today, Dusk is also offering a fully franked dividend yield of more than 6% to keep investors company while they wait. The Dusk share priced closed at $3.17 on Friday.

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Dusk Group Ltd.

    Mitchell Lawler: Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

    The e-commerce company has suffered a brutal selloff over the past 12 months following inventory management issues.

    Due to excessive inventory levels, Kogan has been incurring higher costs associated with housing the physical goods. However, investors are hopeful that a good Christmas and Boxing Day shopping period will have leaned out the company’s inventory.

    Additionally, the founder-led business is now aspiring to achieve more than $3 billion in annual gross sales by FY2026. This ambitious goal would require Kogan to grow gross sales by 20% at a compound annual rate.

    Credit Suisse holds a price target of $13.88 on Kogan shares. This represents potential upside of around 56.4% based on the Kogan share price of $8.87 at Friday’s close.

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler own shares of Kogan.com Ltd.

    Tristan Harrison: Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    Adairs is a leading homewares and furniture retailer.

    The company recently acquired Focus on Furniture, which offers growth potential across both store rollouts and e-commerce. The acquisition is expected to boost earnings per share (EPS) by double digits in FY23.

    Adairs plans to open more larger stores, which are substantially more profitable than its smaller ones. The business also continues to grow its online sales, which come with high profit margins.

    According to Commsec, Adairs shares are valued at 9x FY23’s estimated earnings with a projected grossed-up dividend yield of around 11%. The Adairs share price was $4.01 at the close of trade on Friday.

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of Adairs Ltd.

    Zach Bristow: Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM)

    Immutep is a global biotech company focused on the development of products for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Immutep has a number of products in its pipeline, including lead product candidate, ‘efti’ or ‘IMP321’. Efti has been developed around a particular cell activator currently being explored in cancer and infectious disease research.

    Analysts at Wilsons note that the ‘LAG-3’ protein technology that Immutep is focused on has dramatically changed how we treat cancer, as well as the outlook for patients with the disease. Wilsons reckons that LAG-3 could see its first drug approval in 2022 – a potentially significant catalyst for Immutep.

    Additionally, Jefferies recently initiated coverage on Immutep shares with a ‘buy’ recommendation and $1 per share valuation. At Friday’s close, the Immutep share price was sitting at 49 cents apiece.

    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Immutep Ltd.

    Brendon Lau: Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

    The Corporate Travel share price could outperform this month, despite Omicron uncertainty, after Morgan Stanley recently reiterated its ‘overweight’ recommendation. The broker thinks there is more upside after Corporate Travel lobbed a bid for Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) for around $175 million.

    Morgan Stanley noted that Corporate Travel’s Australia and New Zealand business peaked in the 2019 calendar year (CY19). Adding Hello World’s CY19 total transaction value of around $1.1 billion provides meaningful change in scale. The broker’s 12-month price target on Corporate Travel shares is $23.50. The travel operator’s shares closed Friday’s session at $22.01.

    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau does not own shares of Corporate Travel Management Ltd.

    The post Top ASX shares to buy in January 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO, Brickworks, Helloworld Limited, and Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended ADAIRS FPO, Brickworks, Helloworld Limited, Kogan.com ltd, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited, Dusk Group Limited, TPG Telecom Limited, and Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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