Tag: Motley Fool

  • Unibail-Rodamco (ASX:URW) share price struggles despite reopening progress

    A man talking on his mobile phone looks uncertain

    The Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield CDI (ASX: URW) share price is under the microscope this morning. Investors are turning their eyes to the real estate investment trust (REIT) following the release of its third-quarter financials.

    Unibail shares are trading down 0.39% to $5.15 at the time of writing after closing at $5.17 apiece yesterday. Following this move, the Unibail Rodamco share price is now 20% away from its 52-week high set in June.

    Let’s lift the lid on the latest quarterly details.

    Unibail Rodamco share price on watch after reassuring quarter

    • Continental Europe tenant sales reached 92% of 2019 levels
    • United States tenant sales surpassed pre-COVID levels
    • Rent collections increased to 88% in Q3 compared to 80% in Q2
    • Overall vacancy levels improved to 7.9% compared to 8.3% at the end of FY20
    • Total turnover for the first nine months fell 15.6% to €1,610.4 million ($2,488.9 million)
    • Gross rental income for the first nine months dropped 13.2% to €1,352.8 million ($2,090.8 million)

    What happened during the quarter?

    The third quarter for Unibail Rodamco was largely defined by ongoing COVID-19 impacts, but with improving conditions. Importantly, the international Westfield operator navigated the period with all of its centres reopened despite some restrictions in place. This accommodated a pickup in the company’s operating metrics, in some cases beyond pre-pandemic levels.

    However, while there were glimmers of revival in the shopping centre chain, overall performance remained dampened. For instance, the total turnover for the first nine months was down 15.6% to €1,610.4 million. The worst segment was its services revenue from convention and exhibition operations, down 33.5%. Meanwhile, shopping centre revenue was less negatively affected, down 11.9%.

    Across its portfolio of shopping centres, Germany and France were the biggest drags on gross rental income. These two European countries exhibited a decrease of 25.9% in rental income. In contrast, Austria and the Netherlands booked an increase of 16.2% and 14.5% respectively.

    Signs are promising in the United States, where tenant sales were 102% of 2019 levels. This is potentially an early indication of the company’s emergence from COVID, boding well for the Unibail Rodamco share price.

    Management commentary and outlook

    Commenting on the past quarter, CEO Jean-Marie Tritant said:

    Since the reopening of all of our centres and despite some ongoing restrictions, we have seen a marked recovery in activity in Q3. Overall tenant sales for Continental Europe reached 92% of pre-COVID levels in the quarter and 89% including the UK, while the US is even stronger at 102%. This return of activity has supported a major improvement in rent collection, sustained letting activity, and a decrease in vacancy levels.

    Furthermore, on the topic of what the future may look like, Tritant stated:

    Considering the positive momentum in Q3, the gradual lifting of restrictions, and the ongoing progress of vaccination programmes in our regions, the Group expects Q4 to reflect a continued return towards more normal levels of pre-COVID activity, allowing our tenants to capture the key holiday trading period.

    With visibility for the remainder of the year now improved, URW expects full-year Adjusted Recurring Earnings of at least €6.75 [$10.43] per share, slightly above 2020, adjusted for disposals.

    Finally, it was mentioned that a longer-term vision will be provided at an investor day planned for 30 March 2022. This will cover the company’s plan on delivering sustainable growth from its core portfolio.

    The Unibail Rodamco share price is up 75% in the last year.

    The post Unibail-Rodamco (ASX:URW) share price struggles despite reopening progress appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield right now?

    Before you consider Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, 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 Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why Alphabet shares were up on Wednesday

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

    Man working with a mask on.

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

    What happened

    Shares of Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) soared on Wednesday, following the Google parent company’s impressive third-quarter earnings report. The vote-carrying A shares (GOOGL) rose as much as 6.8% before retreating to a 6.1% gain as of 12:30 p.m. EDT. Alphabet’s voteless C shares (GOOG) followed close behind with gains of 6.7% and 6.1%, respectively.

    So what

    Top-line sales rose 41% year over year to $65.1 billion. Earnings jumped 71% higher over the same period, landing at $27.99 per diluted share. Your average analyst would have settled for earnings near $23.47 per share on revenue of roughly $63.5 billion. Search ads, YouTube ads, and cloud services all delivered year-over-year revenue growth above 40%. 

    Now what

    In the earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai pondered the long-term growth potential of changes to the global business environment. The remote work policies that started as an emergency solution to last year’s coronavirus challenges is evolving into a “hybrid work” model. Here, Google-branded services should reap sustained benefits in several fields, starting with cloud security and cloud-based productivity services.

    Alphabet’s two stock classes are reaching fresh all-time highs today, posting 52-week gains in the neighborhood of 75%. Meanwhile, Alphabet spent $12.6 billion on stock buybacks during the quarter, which makes sense only if the company sees great value in its own shares. This fantastic report offered plenty of support for Alphabet’s soaring stock prices. 

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

    The post Why Alphabet shares were up on Wednesday 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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    Anders Bylund owns shares of Alphabet (A shares). Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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

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  • BlueBet (ASX:BBT) share price jumps 8% on record first quarter

    Two men excited to win online bet

    The BlueBet Holdings Ltd (ASX: BBT) share price is soaring on Thursday after the company released its first-quarter results for FY22.

    At the time of writing, the BlueBet share price is up 8.09% to $1.87. It had earlier risen as high as $1.97.

    What did BlueBet announce?

    The BlueBet share price is surging after the company delivered a record first-quarter performance across key metrics. These included bet count, turnover, and net win. Highlights included:

    • Turnover of $125.9 million, up 67.4% relative to the prior corresponding period (pcp);
    • Net win of $14.8 million, up 87.6%;
    • Active customers at 39,195, up 63.8%;
    • Operating cashflow of $3.3 million; and
    • Cash balance of $57.8 million at 30 September 2021.

    However, BlueBet faced a major speed bump in its ambitions to enter the lucrative US sports betting market.

    In early September, the company withdrew its application for a sports betting permit in the US State of Virginia. BlueBet was advised the licences would, at this point in time, be granted to operators which had experience in other states.

    As a result, the BlueBet share price tumbled 21.6% to $1.935 on the day of the announcement.

    Despite its shortcomings, BlueBet highlighted its Iowa licence remains on track after its Advanced Deposit Sports Wagering Operator Agreement with Q Casino was approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

    BlueBet expects to take its first bets in Iowa in March 2022.

    In addition, the company said it remains agile in the pursuit of additional licences. Its current targets are Colorado, Tennessee, and Maryland.

    BlueBet share price summary

    BlueBet made its ASX debut on 2 July at a listing price of $1.14. It closed 55% higher at $1.775.

    The BlueBet share price surged to an all-time high of $3.03 by late August but then proceeded to go full-circle. The shares have since been trading around the $1.80 level.

    The post BlueBet (ASX:BBT) share price jumps 8% on record first quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BlueBet, 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 BlueBet 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 Kerry Sun 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 BlueBet Holdings Ltd. 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 fantastic ASX growth shares named as buys

    Surge in ASX share price represented by happy woman pointing to her big smile

    Are you interested in adding some ASX growth shares to your portfolio? If you are, you may want to look at the ones listed below that have recently been named as buys.

    Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    The first ASX growth share to look at is Breville. It is the leading appliance manufacturer behind the Sage, Kambrook, Baratza, and Breville brands. The company’s brands have been resonating extremely well with consumers for many years. This has been underpinning solid sales, earnings, and dividend growth. The good news is that this strong form is expected to continue in the future thanks to favourable industry tailwinds, its continued investment in research and development, and its global expansion.

    Morgans is a big fan of Breville and is confident on its growth outlook. The broker currently has an add rating and $34.00 price target on its shares.

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    Another ASX growth share to look at is this pizza chain operator. Thanks to the popularity of its offering and the expansion of its footprint, Domino’s has been growing at a solid rate for over a decade. The good news is that the company appears well-placed to continue this trend over the next decade. This is due to management’s belief that it can more than double its network over the period in just existing markets. The company also has the balance sheet strength to make acquisitions that open up new geographic markets.

    Goldman Sachs currently has a buy rating and $154.90 price target on the company’s shares.

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    A final ASX growth share to look at is Life360. This growing technology company is responsible for the eponymous Life360 mobile app. This market leading app is for families and offers useful features such as communications, driver safety, and location sharing. The popularity of the app continues to increase, with the company adding a further 1.5 million monthly active users (MAU) during the third quarter. This brought the total MAU to 33.8 million and underpinned a 48% year on year increase in Annualised Monthly Revenue (AMR) (excluding Jiobit) to US$120.1 million.

    In response to its update, this morning Bell Potter retained its buy rating and lifted its price target on Life360’s shares to $12.50.

    The post 3 fantastic ASX growth shares named as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you consider Life360, 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 Life360 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 James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Life360, Inc. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Bubs (ASX:BUB) share price higher on new product launch

    Young girl drinking milk showing off muscles

    The Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) share price is on the move on Thursday.

    In morning trade, the infant formula company’s shares are up 2% to 52 cents.

    Why is the Bubs share price rising?

    Investors have been bidding the Bubs share price higher today after the company announced yet another new product launch.

    According to the release, Bubs is extending its brand portfolio into an adjacent growth category with a complementary range of cow’s milk powder products for the whole family – Bubs Family Nutrition.

    Management notes that this facilitates new market access and widespread jurisdiction reach with less regulatory barriers to entry. It also taps into the global US$15.7 billion market for whole milk powder.

    Bubs’ Founder and CEO, Kristy Carr, commented: “The extension of Bubs portfolio into Family Nutrition allows Bubs to tap into the US$15.7 billion global cow’s milk powder market, leveraging our extensive dairy expertise and manufacturing capabilities.”

    “The established familiarity of Bubs as a trusted nutrition brand will be stretched to cater for the whole family, providing a broader opportunity to introduce consumers in the Mother and Baby segment to Bubs premium quality brand attributes. This expanding pantry presence and brand awareness will increase the shopping basket opportunity, making it the perfect complement to our ‘hero’ range of infant formula,” she added.

    The release states that Bubs considers itself a “significant” player in the adult goat milk powder market in China with its CapriLac brand. Though, it is worth noting that its Adult goat dairy portfolio, which includes its Adult Goat Milk Powder business, generated revenue of just ~$4.6 million during the first quarter. So, it is still very small in the grand scheme of things.

    What’s next?

    Bubs revealed that it has entered into supply agreements with multiple new distribution and retail partners in key international markets. This will see opening orders shipped to China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Pacific Islands, and East Africa in the second quarter of FY 2022.

    However, it is worth noting that no details have been provided in respect to the dollar value or volume of these orders.

    Bubs’ Chief Operating Officer, Fabrizio Jorge, commented: “Bubs has developed an enormous amount of dairy supply chain and manufacturing intellectual property. Coupled with Bubs trusted brand equity, developing a range of milk powder products for the whole family was a natural portfolio extension. The range includes a variety of packaging formats tailored to suit the different consumption needs for multiple international markets.”

    “We expect Bubs Family Nutrition will broaden the footprint among young families and support market diversification, while strengthening the foundations of continued business growth. This portfolio expansion will have the consequent effect of increasing utilisation of our Deloraine manufacturing facility, thereby providing cost efficiencies across our entire business,” Mr Jorge added.

    The post Bubs (ASX:BUB) share price higher on new product launch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Bubs, 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 Bubs 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

    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 recommended BUBS AUST 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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  • Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price rises on Q1 update

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is edging higher this morning.

    This follows the release of the mining giant’s highly anticipated first quarter update.

    At the time of writing, the Fortescue share price is up slightly to $14.08.

    Fortescue share price higher following Q1 update

    The Fortescue share price has come under significant pressure in recent months following a sharp pullback in iron ore prices. Today’s update has revealed just how greatly this decline has impacted its margins.

    According to the release, Fortescue shipped 45.6 million tonnes of iron ore during the three months. This was up 3% on the prior corresponding period and a record for the first quarter.

    However, the average revenue it commanded tumbled 30% quarter on quarter to US$118 per dry metric tonne (dmt). This represents revenue realisation of 73% of the average Platts 62% CFR Index, compared to 84% during the fourth quarter.

    Positively, Fortescue’s C1 cash costs were in line with the previous quarter at US$15.25 per wet metric tonne. This was driven by its focus on cost management to mitigate inflationary pressures.

    Finally, in respect to its balance sheet, at the end of September Fortescue’s net debt stood at US$175 million. While this is a deterioration from net cash of US$2.7 billion at the end of June, it is worth noting that the company paid final dividends totalling US$4.7 billion and capital expenditure of US$744 million during the quarter.

    Management commentary

    Fortescue’s Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said: “Across our operations, we achieved record first quarter shipments of 45.6 million tonnes and maintained our industry leading C1 cost of US$15.25 per wet metric tonne. Our C1 cost was in line with the previous quarter, reflecting our strong focus on cost management to mitigate inflationary pressures. Strong performance across the supply chain, together with the contribution of Eliwana continues to drive record operational performance.”

    “Fortescue’s strategy to diversify continues to gain momentum with Fortescue Future Industries’ (FFI) recent announcement to develop a renewable energy and green hydrogen manufacturing centre at Gladstone, Queensland as well as agreements with Incitec Pivot and Plug Power.”

    “We are committed to working with our customers, suppliers and other industry participants to facilitate the reduction of emissions, including technology development and the supply of green hydrogen and ammonia through FFI, with these initiatives enabling our commitment to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040,” she added.

    Outlook

    Fortescue has reiterated its guidance for FY 2022. It continues to expect iron ore shipments of 180mt to 185mt with C1 cost of US$15.00 – US$15.50/wmt.

    Whereas capital expenditure (excluding FFI) is still expected in the range of US$2.8 billion to US$3.2 billion.

    This guidance is based on an assumed FY 2022 average exchange rate of AUD:USD 0.75.

    The post Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price rises on Q1 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue, 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 Fortescue 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

    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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  • When was the worst ever day on the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price chart?

    qantas pilot putting hands to her face as if distraught

    Market watchers likely won’t be too shocked to learn the Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price’s worst day on the ASX occurred in March 2020.

    The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to Australia and the resulting market crash was dire for the online travel agent’s stock. In fact, the company’s share price still hasn’t reached its pre-COVID-19 level.

    Webjet’s worst day on the ASX was on 16 March, 2020. On that day, the Webjet share price fell a massive 22.02% to finish the session trading at $3.14.

    For reference, the Webjet share price was $9.42 exactly 1 month prior to its largest single-day plunge. Additionally, as of yesterday’s close, Webjet’s stock is trading at $6.31 apiece.

    So, what happened on 16 March, 2020 to send Webjet’s stock’s value plummet? Let’s take a look.

    The Webjet share price‘s worst day on the ASX

    The Webjet share price wasn’t alone in its woes on 16 March 2020. That day, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) also crashed.

    And not by an insignificant amount. The ASX 200 fell a massive 9.7% that day, and Webjet was one of its biggest weights.

    The tumble came only days after the online travel agent’s share price’s second worst day ever.

    On 12 March 2020, the Webjet share price fell 19.65%.

    Also on 12 March 2020, COVID-19 was pinned with the title; ‘pandemic’ and then-President Donald Trump announced all travel into the United States from Europe had been banned.

    Topping it all off, the previous day Webjet had scrapped its financial year 2020 guidance after the company experienced a surge in trips being cancelled.  

    Fortunately for Webjet shareholders, the company is seemingly starting to recover.

    The last time the market heard price sensitive news from Webjet, it announced its WebBeds business returned to profitability in July 2021 and stayed in the green throughout August 2021.

     Though, the company’s share price is still below what it was prior to the pandemic.

    The post When was the worst ever day on the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price chart? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Webjet, 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 Webjet 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

    More reading

    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 owns shares of and has recommended Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://www.fool.com.au/2021/10/28/when-was-the-worst-ever-day-on-the-webjet-asxweb-share-price-chart/

  • Here’s why the Flight Centre (ASX:FLT) share price is up 26% so far in 2021

    A woman smiles as she crosses the tarmac, happy to be boarding a plane at the airport and travelling again.

    The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price has been on the mends this year, following a disastrous 2020. The travel agent is set to return to leisure and corporate profitability as market conditions improve.

    At Wednesday’s closing bell, Flight Centre shares ended the day up 2.30% to $20.01. This means that is shares have now accelerated 31% since hitting a low of $13.74 in mid-August.

    Passengers gear up for international travel

    Overseas holidays without the need to quarantine for fully-vaccinated passengers are expected to soon be a reality. This has had a profound impact on the Flight Centre share price, sending it to the mid-point of pre-COVID-19 levels.

    The company held its annual general meeting (AGM) last week, highlighting demand for overseas travel. Leisure enquiries and quotes have surged for key locations as people look to book a much-needed holiday.

    Fully-vaccinated passengers are offered more freedoms in travelling across Trans-Atlantic and other international destinations. For example, United States travellers can fly to the United Kingdom, and Fiji is opening its borders to vaccinated passengers from November.

    Flight Centre said that more countries are accepting to live with the virus, with various international routes restarting.

    The company is targeting a return to monthly profitability during FY22. However, this is based on the expectation that international travel continues to gradually return and Australian domestic borders remain open.

    Sales revenue increased month-on-month. In particular, leisure and corporate recovery in the United States during Q4 FY21 ticked up a notch. Flight Centre noted that corporate transaction numbers were at 50% before COVID-19, representing around 40% of total transaction value (TTV).

    Coupled with its leaner and more efficient cost base model, this is expected to provide bumper profits over the long-term.

    Flight Centre share price summary

    Over the past 12 months, Flight Centre shares have soared almost 60%, with year-to-date up around 26%. A strong recovery forecasted in the travel sector led the company’s shares to touch an 18-month high of $25.28 on 5 October.

    Flight Centre has a market capitalisation of roughly $3.99 billion, with close to 200 million shares on its registry.

    The post Here’s why the Flight Centre (ASX:FLT) share price is up 26% so far in 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Flight Centre right now?

    Before you consider Flight Centre, 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 Flight Centre 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

    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 recommended Flight Centre Travel Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://www.fool.com.au/2021/10/28/heres-why-the-flight-centre-asxflt-share-price-is-up-26-so-far-in-2021/

  • 2 ASX dividend shares that could be buys with yields above 5%

    A money jar filled with coins, indicating an investment return from an ASX dividend share

    There are a number of ASX dividend shares with yields above 5%. Though not all of them are expecting long-term earnings growth.

    Demand for income has been elevated as interest rates decline. What interest someone would get from $1 million cash in the bank is a fraction of what used to be on offer.

    However, there are still some businesses out there looking to reward shareholders with cash payments which have higher yields.

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    Accent is one of the largest shoe retailers across Australia and New Zealand. It has a number of its own brands as well as exclusive distribution rights for other global names. Examples include Skechers, Platypus, VANS, Hype, The Athlete’s Foot, Dr Martens, Stylerunner, Pivot, Glue Store and Trybe.

    The ASX dividend share aims to have the best in class margins with gross profit margin growth initiatives as well as a drive for cost efficiency.

    Management believe that the company has strong future growth initiatives through Stylerunner, Glue Store, digital sales and new stores, all this is aiming to lead to market share growth.

    In FY21, the company opened 90 new stores and all of them were trading ahead of budget. Stylerunner had four stores at the time of the FY21 result (trading “well ahead of expectations”) with 15 new stores to open by early 2022.

    Net profit grew by 38.6% to $76.9 million in the last financial year, allowing the board to grow the full year dividend by 21.6% to 11.25 cents per share.

    Accent CEO Daniel Agostinelli said about the company’s profit growth and shareholder returns plans:

    With our long-term objectives and incentives linked to driving at least 10% compound earnings per share (EPS) growth, Accent continues to be defined by retail innovation, strong cash conversion and the growing returns it delivers on shareholders’ funds.

    According to CommSec, Accent could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.3% in FY23.

    Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

    Adairs is a retailer of homewares, furnishings and, increasingly, furniture.

    The business has seen people invest in making their homes more comfortable. It is trying to offer its products to customers with both a store and digital offering. Adairs believes it’s important to be able to offer shoppers the ability to shop how they want to. Multi channel customers spend 40% to 110% more than single channel (store only or online only) customers.

    Management believe that a key part of the ASX dividend share’s success is its business model. That includes “strong” brands that it owns and controls, which lowers costs of winning and keeping customers, being able to offer unique products, has higher margins and allows it to expand in other categories. The vertical supply chain is another benefit, providing greater control, the ability to be more agile to conditions and trends, and offer “significantly higher” profitability. Its large and loyal customer base is another area of strength.

    Adairs pays out a reasonably high level of its profit as a dividend each year, but keeps some of the profit to re-invest into the business.

    At the current Adairs share price, it has a FY23 grossed-up dividend yield of 10% according to Commsec.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares that could be buys with yields above 5% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Accent, 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 Accent 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.

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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 shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. 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 rated as buys by brokers

    retail asx share price represented by shopping trolley full of cash

    The ASX dividend shares in this article have been chosen by brokers as buys.

    A broker counts a business is a buy if it’s valued at a good price compared to what the broker thinks it’s worth. There are some businesses that are also expected to pay a dividend which may be interesting to income investors.

    Here are two to consider:

    Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

    Inghams is one of the largest poultry businesses in Australia. To give an idea of how big it is, Inghams saw 446.9kt of group poultry volume (up 4.2% year on year).

    It’s currently rated as a buy by the broker Citi with a price target of $4.55. That implies Inghams could rise by another 20% over the next 12 months.

    The broker thinks that Inghams can continue to grow in FY22. It was also noted that Inghams and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) have agreed in principle to an ongoing supply agreement for poultry products on broadly similar terms.

    In FY22, total revenue grew 2.2%, underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) went up 9.6% to $448.7 million and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) (pre-AASB 16) grew 28.4% to $101.2 million.

    The ASX dividend share managed to grow its total dividend by 17.9% to 16.5 cents per share.

    Inghams is expecting to see the consumer recovery restart when vaccination rates increase and the lockdowns are lifted. Volumes are expected to show continued growth with new business across various channels.

    Citi thinks Inghams is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.8% in FY22.

    Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

    Bapcor is one of the largest auto parts business in the Asia Pacific region. Not only does it have a number of businesses across Australia and New Zealand like Burson and Autobarn, but it also has exposure to Asia with a growing Burson network in Thailand and a 25% stake of Tye Soon.

    The ASX dividend share is currently rated as a buy by the broker Morgan Stanley, with a price target of $9.70. That suggests that Bapcor shares could rise by around 20% over the next 12 months, if the broker is right.

    Morgan Stanley noted the recent update from the ASX dividend share for FY22.

    It noted that FY22 has seen a solid start, with overall group revenue flat in the first quarter of FY22 compared to the first quarter of FY21. Management said that the result demonstrates the resilience and non-discretionary nature of Bapcor’s businesses. Lockdowns are impacting the business. Retail sales were down, but the specialist wholesale revenue was making up for it.

    Bapcor said that it’s seeing a higher cost base at the moment, with gross profit margins lower in trade and retail due to revenue being driven by promotional and online pricing. But it’s expecting profit margins to return when lockdowns cease.

    In FY22, Bapcor is aiming to deliver pro forma profit at least the level of FY21. The first half of FY22 is expect to be softer than the prior corresponding period. However, the second half of FY22 is expected to be stronger than the second half of FY1.

    According to Morgan Stanley, the Bapcor share price offers a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4% for FY22.

    The post 2 ASX dividend shares rated as buys by brokers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Bapcor, 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 Bapcor 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Bapcor. 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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