Tag: Motley Fool

  • Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price pushes higher despite sales slump

    A happy woman peaks out from under her bed sheets

    The Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) share price is pushing higher on Wednesday morning.

    At the time of writing, the furniture and homewares retailer’s shares are up 2.5% to $4.02.

    Why is the Adairs share price rising?

    Investors have been bidding the Adairs share price higher today following the release of a trading update at its annual general meeting.

    That update reveals that, as was widely expected, the company’s sales have fallen year on year during the first 16 weeks of FY 2022.

    According to the release, group sales were down 8.5% compared to the same period last year. This was driven largely by long and widespread mandated store closures in NSW, Victoria, the ACT, and Auckland. In fact, the company reported a ~47% reduction in the overall number of store trading days across its store network. The good news is that these store closures are now coming to an end.

    Management estimates the value of total sales foregone in Adairs as a result of these mandated store closures is ~$28 million to $32 million. This is net of the estimated sales benefit captured in the Adairs online channel. The earnings before interest and tax impact of these lost sales is estimated to be in the range of $12 million to $15 million.

    Management also advised that gross margins have moderated from the record levels achieved in FY 2021. However, they are expected to remain above FY 2020 levels.

    What’s next?

    Pleasingly, the company expects its sales to rebound now lockdowns are ending. It anticipates that pent-up demand, combined with the current online delivery delays, will encourage customers to shop in stores to secure their purchases in the lead up to Christmas.

    In preparation, the company took steps earlier in the year to bring forward inventory purchases to ensure stock levels are in line with our operating requirements for the peak Christmas season.

    The company has also elected to temporarily maintain the operation of one of its existing Distribution Centres in conjunction with the new DHL facility to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 impacting its domestic supply chain.

    Adairs CEO and Managing Director, Mark Ronan, commented: “While store closures in our key markets have made the start of FY22 operationally challenging, the key drivers of our growth remain and are all positively balanced. Our products are resonating well with customers, household savings remain elevated, the housing market is strong, and more than ever the home is seen as a sanctuary.”

    “We are excited to be on a clear path to our stores reopening and, as NSW has shown, will benefit from pent up demand as stores re-open in Victoria, the ACT and Auckland. Our customers in these markets will undoubtedly enjoy welcoming family and friends back into their homes,” he added.

    The post Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price pushes higher despite sales slump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Adairs, 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 Adairs 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. owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of 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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  • OZ Minerals (ASX:OZL) share price in focus after production forecast hike

    A boy with a gold crown stands stoically looking straight ahead.

    The OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) share price is on watch this morning as the gold and copper miner released its third-quarter results.

    OZ Minerals shares finished in the red yesterday, around 0.7% down from the previous close at $25.99. That’s a shade off their 52-week closing high of about $27.

    Read on for more details.

    OZ Minerals hikes gold production forecasts

    In its Q3 report, OZ explained that full-year group copper production is tracking in line to meet previously outlined guidance.

    The company also detailed a number of progress points achieved throughout the quarter. The updates covered each of its Prominent Hill, West Musgrave province, Carrapateena and Brazil sites.

    For instance, the company commenced a shaft mine expansion at Prominent Hill. And drilling has now started at West Musgrave’s Succoth Copper Deposit.

    Aside from this, OZ Minerals left the quarter with a cash balance of $188 million. This is up from $134 million at the start of the period.

    This was helped by a strong base of gold production in Q3. It produced 65,932 ounces on an all-in-sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1.067 per pound.

    This appears to be backed by performance enhancements at each of its production facilities. This “continues to improve with production rates of 5.3Mtpa achieved during September.”

    As a result of this uptick in capacity and strength in the underlying commodity markets, OZ Minerals has subsequently increased its full-year gold and copper production guidance.

    The company now sees full-year gold production in a range of 220,000–243,000 ounces, up from 205,000 to 228,000.

    Copper production guidance for the full year remains unchanged at 120,000 to 145,000 tonnes, underscored by production of 33,794 tonnes in Q3.

    Importantly, OZ also forecasts its new guidance on a lower AISC base of US$1.25-US$1.40 per pound. This is around a 3%–5% decrease from previous modelling.

    The OZ Minerals share price will be on watch this morning from the opening of trade as the market digests its production guidance upgrade.

    OZ Minerals share price snapshot

    The OZ Minerals share price has been a net winner on the ASX in 2021, having posted a return of 38% this year to date.

    This extends its return over the last 12 months to 76%, well ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 Index‘s (ASX: XJO) return of ~19% in the same time.

    The post OZ Minerals (ASX:OZL) share price in focus after production forecast hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in OZ Minerals right now?

    Before you consider OZ Minerals, 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 OZ Minerals 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

    The author Zach Bristow has no positions 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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  • Own BHP (ASX:BHP) shares? Here’s how Twiggy is heating up competition for battery minerals

    a man in a business suit whose face isn't shown hands over two australian hundred dollar notes from a pile of notes in his other hand to an outstretched hand of another person.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares could be on the move in the coming days following a potential bidding war. This comes as mining tycoon Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest’s Wyloo Metals placed a superior offer for an overseas nickel miner.

    At Tuesday’s closing bell, the BHP share price finished down 2.04% to $38.39.

    Battery competition intensifies

    As demand for electric battery raw materials accelerates, a raft of companies is lobbying to get a piece of the action.

    According to The Age, Wyloo Metals has put forward a proposal to acquire Canadian-listed nickel miner Noront Resources (TSXV:NOT). The latter has accepted the $391 million takeover but is giving BHP just 5 days to match or outbid Wyloo.

    As such, Wyloo has indicated it will pay C$0.70 (A$0.76) per Noront share, outbidding BHP’s C$0.55 (A$0.59) offer made in July. It’s worth noting that Wyloo is already Noront’s biggest shareholder with a 37.25% stake as of last month.

    The ongoing tussle between both companies for Noront’s assets highlights the pursuit among miners to secure key battery making ingredients. Particularly, demand for nickel and lithium is expected to surge by the strong uptake of electric vehicles.

    Noront has ownership or a controlling interest in all the major discoveries in the so-called “Ring of Fire”. This is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

    In addition, the company’s Eagle’s Nest deposit is considered to be the largest high-grade nickel discovery in Canada. The site is projected to begin commercial production of nickel in 2026 with a mine life of 11 years.

    If the current deal goes ahead, Wyloo Metals will provide a loan of up to C$23 million (A$24.88 million) to Noront. This will involve financing the termination payment to BHP along with other transaction-related costs.

    About the BHP share price

    Over the past 12 months, BHP shares have climbed 5% higher but have lost almost 10% in 2021. The company’s share price trekked upwards until August before plummeting to November 2020 lows.

    BHP commands a market capitalisation of roughly $113.26 million, making it the third most valuable company on the ASX.

    The post Own BHP (ASX:BHP) shares? Here’s how Twiggy is heating up competition for battery minerals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BHP, 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 BHP 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 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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  • This ASX share has doubled this year but it’s still ‘early days’

    two people sit side by side on a rollercoaster ride with their hands raised in the air and happy smiles on their faces

    There is an ASX stock that’s risen more than 111% this year, but one fund reckons it’s not too late to hop on for a ride.

    According to the latest monthly memo from Firetrail Small Companies Fund, shares for fun park operator Ardent Leisure Group Ltd (ASX: ALG) are still trading cheaply.

    “We continue to see significant room for consensus earnings upgrades and valuation re-rating,” the Firetrail team told its clients.

    “Ardent Leisure is a turnaround story, but it is still in the very early days of the turnaround.”

    The team explained why Ardent is one of its top 3 overweight holdings currently.

    Dreamworld is great, but Main Event is a money-printer

    In Australia, Ardent is best known for the theme park Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

    But it actually rakes in most of its revenue from the other side of the world.

    “Over 90% of the value of the business is derived from a US based chain of family entertainment centres called Main Event,” the Firetrail memo read.

    “Ardent currently operates 45 Main Event centres across the US and plans to continue expanding its footprint.”

    The closest rival for Ardent in the US is Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ: PLAY), which runs a similar network of amusement centres.

    Four years ago, Main Event was only averaging $7 million of revenue per outlet while Dave & Buster’s was taking in about $10 million per centre.

    “Given the similarities between the two businesses, there was no reason for such a large difference,” the memo read.

    “In September 2017, Gary Weiss took the chairman role at Ardent and since then the focus has been on restructuring and rebranding Main Event. Today, Main Event is returning ~$10 million revenue per centre.”

    Obvious post-COVID winner

    As coronavirus restrictions are stripped away in the US, amusement centres are understandably a big beneficiary.

    “Main Event same centre revenue has increased almost 40% compared to pre-COVID 2019 levels, highlighting the strong earnings that can be generated as economies reopen,” stated the Firetrail team.

    “Looking ahead, Ardent Leisure [stock] continues to trade at a material discount to its closest peer Dave & Buster’s.”

    Wilson Asset Management portfolio manager Tobias Yao has been a fan of Ardent shares for some time. Back in June, he told anyone who would listen to back the entertainment company at $1 a share.

    Then even after the ASX share appreciated to $1.45, he warned there was plenty more to come.

    “I think there’s another 40% upside to the current share price,” Yao said on 10 September.

    “In terms of catalysts, we think this business can continue to eke out earnings upgrades over time. We think the sum of the parts continues to be very appealing.”

    The Ardent share price was at $1.51 on Tuesday afternoon.

    The post This ASX share has doubled this year but it’s still ‘early days’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Ardent, 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 Ardent 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 Tony Yoo 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 the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price could be dirt cheap

    Two cheerful miners shake hands while wearing hi-vis and hard hats.

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price has been a very disappointing performer in recent months.

    So much so, the iron ore producer’s shares are now trading 45% lower than their July highs.

    Is the Fortescue share price in the buy zone now?

    The good news for shareholders is that one leading broker sees a lot of value in the Fortescue share price at the current level.

    According to a recent note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have a buy rating and $20.87 price target on the mining giant’s shares.

    Based on the current Fortescue share price of $14.56, this implies potential upside of 43% for investors before dividends.

    In addition, its analysts are forecasting a $3.33 per share fully franked dividend in FY 2022. This represents a massive 23% yield at current prices, which brings the total potential return to 66%.

    What did the broker say?

    The note reveals that Bell Potter has been running a range of iron ore price scenarios and concludes that the sharp pullback by the Fortescue share price looks overdone.

    It commented: “Undoubtedly a brutal move that has done serious technical damage to FMG’s share price and sentiment, it should be taken in the context of a business that is making industry leading margins, has an excellent operational track record, costs among the lowest in the industry, is funded for its ongoing capital requirements for replacement and growth and has an exceptionally strong balance sheet.”

    “FMG is in a completely different position than in 2015, the last occasion on which we had a major iron ore price correction. While the share price currently looks like a falling knife, we are of the view that it remains a robust and attractive long-term investment and the current market valuation is an opportunity to build exposure,” it added.

    The post Why the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price could be dirt cheap 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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  • Up 11% in a month: Can the Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price keep rising?

    Afterpay share price a happy shopper with a wide mouthed smile holds multiple shopping bags up around her shoulders.

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price has gone up by 11% over the last month.

    Could the buy now, pay later company be an opportunity for investors to consider? Can Zip shares keep rising?

    Zip recently released its update for the first three months of FY22 to 30 September 2022.

    Zip FY22 first quarter

    The company said that its quarterly revenue had increased by 89% year on year to $136.8 million. This came from quarterly transaction volume growth of 101% to $1.9 billion. Transaction numbers grew even faster, rising by 177% to 14.7 million.

    Looking at the US, it was responsible for around half of the overall revenue, generating $67.1 million of revenue. In US dollar terms, Zip US revenue increased 182% to US$49.3 million and 6% quarter on quarter. Transaction volume rose 204% to US$702.1 million.

    Customer and merchant numbers both continue to grow at a high double digit rate. The number of customers increased 82% to 8 million. Merchants using Zip increased 71% to 55,200.

    The company said that it had maintained “market-leading” buy now, pay later margins with revenue as a percentage of total transaction value (TTV) at 7%.

    However, in terms of arrears, Zip ANZ saw an increase. At 30 September 2020, it had arears of 0.91%. This had risen to 1.87% as at 30 September 2021.

    Other highlights

    Zip said that it successfully completed a global rebrand to the new look Zip in six countries with the US changing from Quadpay to Zip. A brand launch campaign is underway in the US from the middle of October.

    The buy now, pay later business also recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to integrate Zip’s instalment payment technology natively into the shopping experience within the Microsoft Edge web browser.

    Setting the scene for international growth is another area of focus for Zip. It described its move into India as a exciting, with an investment in the business called ZestMoney, one of the largest and fastest-growing BNPL platforms in India with over 11 million registered users, more than 10,000 online merchants and a presence in more than 75,000 physical stores.

    Zip managing director and CEO Larry Diamond said:

    Q2 has started strong led by the resurgence in-store. Zip’s ubiquitous payments technology and the lead up to the strongest seasonal quarter of the year, with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas promotional sales in November and December.

    Is the Zip share price worth pursuing?

    It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Morgans thinks Zip shares are worth buying, with a price target of $8.56. Citi is neutral on the business, with a price target of $7.40.

    However, the brokers at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and UBS both feel that Zip shares are overvalued, with both of them having sell ratings.

    Macquarie notes the lower growth and UBS thinks that its active customer growth could slow down over the coming quarters.

    Macquarie has a price target of $5.70, whilst UBS has a price target of $5.40.

    The post Up 11% in a month: Can the Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price keep rising? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Zip, 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 Zip 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. owns shares of and has recommended ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and 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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  • Post-COVID baby boom? That could supercharge this ASX share

    Mum playing with a baby, holding them above her as she lays down.

    History shows that shortly after catastrophic events end, the world experiences a baby boom.

    “When large mortality events occur including diseases, earthquakes, and wars, birth rates decline and on average, reach a trough some 9 months later,” stated Firetrail Small Companies Fund’s latest monthly memo.

    “Following an initial drop, fertility tends to rebound. Birth rates begin to recover [about] 11 months after an epidemic and then increase in the subsequent 1 to 5 years.”

    That fertility boost happened after World War I ended and the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918.

    And of course, the term “Baby Boomers” is a direct description of the phenomena witnessed in the aftermath of World War II.

    So will we see birth rates climb in Australia after the COVID-19 pandemic?

    The Firetrail team reckons it’s already under way.

    “Australians are having more babies and they are swapping out their city lifestyle for the beach and bush,” their memo read.

    “In contrast to short term phenomena such as the hoarding of toilet paper, these shifts have potential long-lasting implications for the economy and listed companies.”

    So are there ASX shares that could take advantage?

    Signs are pointing to a post-COVID baby boom

    The Firetrail team acknowledged that the Institute for Family Studies’ current estimate of a 0.3% to 40% boost in birth rates is a wild range.

    But recent Australian numbers and “anecdotal” evidence suggest a baby boom could be on the way.

    “The number of babies born in NSW public hospitals during the June quarter was the largest on record,” stated the Firetrail team.

    “A total of 19,113 births were reported, an increase of 9% on the prior year. This is a significant upswing compared with the declining fertility rate over the last 10 years.”

    And this leads to Monash IVF Group Ltd (ASX: MVF).

    As an assisted reproductive services provider, Monash is in the box seat to cash in on increased interest in fertility.

    The signs are already looking good, according to the Firetrail team.

    “Prior to the pandemic, IVF volumes had been increasing gradually over time. But in FY21, 98,290 IVF cycles were recorded, up 29.3% compared to FY20 and the highest figure on record.”

    The Firetrail Small Companies Fund is therefore now holding Monash shares.

    “While it is still early days to call it a baby boom, recent birth rates and IVF trends indicate we are at the onset of a baby bump!”

    According to the Firetrail memo, Monash saw a 40% increase in new patient stimulated cycles.

    “There are no signs of a slowdown. New patient registrations in 2H21 were up 8% compared to 1H21, and up 35% on 2H20,” the team stated.

    “[About] 70% of patient registrations are converted into patient treatments within 3 to 6 months.”

    Monash shares were trading at 94 cents on Tuesday afternoon, which is about 18% up for the year so far.

    The post Post-COVID baby boom? That could supercharge this ASX share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Monash IVF Group right now?

    Before you consider Monash IVF Group, 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 Monash IVF Group 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 Tony Yoo 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 has the Cochlear (ASX:COH) share price lost 7% in a month?

    a woman puts her fingers in her ears with a pained expression on her face with her eyes closed as though trying to block hearing bad news or an unpleasant loud noise.

    The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price started off the week’s trading in the red but clawed back 1.88% yesterday to finish at $219.29.

    That ends a difficult month for the manufacturer of the revolutionary cochlear hearing implant. The company’s share price has slipped a further 7.6% out of the money in the last month, well ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s loss of just 0.39% in that time.

    Whilst there’s been no market sensitive information for the company as of late, it’s worthwhile taking a look at what’s driving Cochlear shares lately.

    Why has the Cochlear share price dropped 10% this past month?

    If we take a step back and look at what’s happened even earlier than September, it’s clear Cochlear shares have been stuck in a descending channel since the company released its FY21 earnings results on 20 August.

    In its report for FY21, Cochlear recognised a series of positive growth levers that translated directly to its financial performance. For instance, implant unit sales grew 15% year on year to 36,546 while sales revenue came in 10% higher from last year.

    This carried through to Cochlear’s bottom line. The company recorded a 54% year on year increase in underlying net profit – ahead of company guidance – and a corresponding 60% increase in its full year dividend to $2.55 per share.

    These are undoubtedly positive results. However, at the time, the market was left searching for more. It seemed the company’s earnings figures – whilst favourable on an absolute basis – where well behind consensus forecasts.

    Failing to meet the forecasts of analysts at research and investment firms at earnings time generally spells bad news for a company’s share price.

    Numerous studies have shown companies who ‘miss’ analyst’s published forecasts during earnings season tend not to perform too well after the fact. That’s because investors tend to reward companies who post stronger than expected earnings, anticipating these to carry higher valuations into the future.

    By the time September arrived, the Cochlear share price had already given back around 10% since its earnings results roughly two weeks earlier.

    A regain in confidence, and perhaps some investors seeing a bargain in the cheaper Cochlear share price, helped prop the company’s shares back towards the August highs. However, an announcement late last month regarding a potential patent infringement sent prices marching back down.

    According to the University of Pittsburgh, it believes Cochlear has infringed on one of its patents, although the company claims the patent in question is invalid.

    Nonetheless, investors were quick to punish Cochlear again, sending its shares a further 9% further into the red. That’s a $22 per share loss in a matter of weeks, just to show the rate of decline.

    It’s also worth noting that the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care index (XHJ) is also 5.61% into the red over the past month as well, indicating weakness in the broader ASX healthcare sector lately.

    It appears these factors are weighing on the Cochlear share price over the past few weeks.

    Cochlear share price snapshot

    The Cochlear share price has climbed almost 16.5% into the green this year to date.

    However, over the last 12 months, it is just 1% ahead, well behind the benchmark index’s return of around 19% in that time.

    The post Why has the Cochlear (ASX:COH) share price lost 7% in a month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These 5 Cheap Shares Could Be Set For Huge Gains (FREE REPORT)

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can find out the names of these stocks in the FREE stock report.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of February 15th 2021

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    The author Zach Bristow has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear 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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  • 2 excellent ETFs for ASX investors

    ETF spelt out

    If you’re looking to add some exchange traded funds (ETFs) to your portfolio, then you may want to read on.

    Listed below are two popular ETFs that are very popular with investors right now. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    The first ETF to look at is the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to many of the largest companies involved in video game development, eSports, and related hardware and software globally.

    Among its major holdings are graphics processing units (GPU) giant Nvidia and games developers Take-Two Interactive (GTA and Red Dead series), Electronic Arts (FIFA, Sims, Apex Legends), Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty series), and Roblox (the company behind the hugely popular Roblox global platform)

    The fund manager, VanEck, notes that these companies are in a position to benefit from the increasing popularity of video games and eSports. It also highlights that the fund gives investors the opportunity to diversify their portfolio by providing opportunities outside of tech giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    Another ETF to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. This ETF could be a good option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio. This is because this ETF is arguably as diverse as it gets.

    It provides Australian investors with exposure to a massive 1504 of the world’s largest companies listed in major developed countries. Among its holdings are the likes of Apple, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Nestle, Procter & Gamble, and Visa.

    Another positive is that the ETF offers investors a source of income. At the last count, its units were providing investors with a 1.65% yield.

    The post 2 excellent ETFs for ASX investors 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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    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 Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Business man watching stocks while thinking

    On Tuesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gave back its earlier gains to end the day with a small decline. The benchmark index fell slightly to 7,374.9 points.

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

    ASX 200 poised to rise

    The Australian share market looks set to bounce back on Wednesday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 41 points or 0.55% higher this morning. This follows a solid night on Wall Street, which in late trade sees the Dow Jones up 0.45%, the S&P 500 up 0.7%, and the Nasdaq trading 0.7% higher.

    Aristocrat Leisure to return

    The Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) share price will be on watch today when it returns from its trading halt. The gaming technology company has been raising funds to acquire London-listed leading global online gambling software and content supplier, Playtech, for $5 billion. This represents a valuation multiple of 11.4x Playtech’s adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended 30 June 2021.

    Oil prices rise

    Energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) will be on watch after a positive night for oil prices. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.5% to US$82.83 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 0.7% to US$84.94 a barrel. Oil prices are trading near multi-year high amid the global energy crunch.

    Gold price rises

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a decent day after the gold price edged higher. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.2% to US$1,769.3 an ounce. The gold price gained despite bond yields widening.

    Flight Centre AGM

    The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price could be one to watch today. This morning the travel agent giant is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting and could provide investors with a trading update at the event.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 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

    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 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.

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