Tag: Motley Fool

  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    Top 10 - asx shares today

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) broke its losing streak with a green session. The benchmark index climbed 0.54% to 7,311.7 points.

    There was plenty of gains to be had across the top 200 on Thursday. Though, the most substantial increases were seen in tech shares and miners. Meanwhile, oil producers underperformed as the price for the commodity took a hit overnight.

    However, the question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the ten stocks that rose to the occasion:

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the financial management platform ascended 15.89%. This impressive performance followed a positive quarterly update from the company, showing record net inflows. Find out more about Netwealth Group here.

    The next biggest gaining ASX share today was Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR). The minerals explorer with exposure to lithium rallied 14.29% despite no announcements from the company. Uncover the latest Liontown Resources details here.

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

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) $16.56 15.89%
    Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) $1.60 14.29%
    Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) $53.73 7.61%
    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) $17.70 6.82%
    Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) $5.38 5.70%
    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) $2.07 5.61%
    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) $143.22 5.41%
    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) $3.84 5.21%
    Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) $3.91 5.11%
    Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) $6.81 4.93%
    Data as at 3:49pm AEDT

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

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

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

    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 Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Lynas Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended MEGAPORT FPO, Netwealth, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Netwealth, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT 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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  • Blackmores (ASX:BKL) share price lifts as boardroom battle heats up

    Two people jump in the air in a fighting stance, indicating a battle between rival ASX shares

    The Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) share price is edging 1.23% higher in late afternoon trade today. Shares are now changing hands at $97.73 apiece.

    That’s a shade off the health supplements giant’s 52-week closing high of $99.80 on 31 August, despite no market-sensitive information out of the company.

    What’s happening with Blackmores?

    There’s nothing remarkable that may directly explain the gains in the Blackmores share price today.

    However, Blackmores shareholders have endured a bumpy ride these past 2 months, after reports surfaced of an internal dispute between its key stakeholders.

    Apparently, Blackmores’ biggest shareholder, Marcus Blackmore, is unhappy with how the board’s chairperson, Anne Templema-Jones, is guiding the company, and the decision not to appoint former Pharmacy Guild president George Tambassis to the board.

    Blackmore is also reportedly seeking more diversity on the board. Additonally, he wants more inclusion from the pharmaceutical industry, given around 75% of its products are sold through Australian pharmacies.

    As such, the almost 20% owner of the company is threatening to vote against the re-election of Templeman-Jones as chair.

    Now it appears Blackmores is back on the offensive, with reports surfacing it has engaged proxy solicitation firm Georgeson as mediator ahead of its AGM later this month.

    According to reporting from The Australian, Georgeson has been contacting Blackmores’ shareholders to request their voting intentions.

    This comes alongside a discrepancy where Tambassis is unable to obtain the email addresses and phone numbers of the company’s shareholders, in order to advocate for his election.

    According to Blackmores, it doesn’t store this data – only the postal addresses of its shareholders.

    And the divide between the Blackmores name bearer and its chairperson is increasingly obvious when peeling back the layers.

    Templeman-Jones purportedly engaged a recruitment firm to rebuild the company’s board. On the other hand, Blackmore has engaged investment banking advisory firm Rothschild for the matter.

    Each corner holds a different view on where to steer the company, and this is sure to play out at the Blackmores’ AGM on 27 October.

    Blackmores share price snapshot

    The Blackmores share price has climbed 29% this year to date. This comes after it jumped by $22 a share in just over a week back in August.

    It’s rallied 7.5% over the past month, which has bought its return in the last year to 49%.

    These returns are each well ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO)’s climb of around 19% in that time.

    The post Blackmores (ASX:BKL) share price lifts as boardroom battle heats up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Blackmores, 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 Blackmores 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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    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 owns shares of and has recommended Blackmores 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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  • Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) share price climbs amid news of latest green push

    A woman in a hard hat and overalls with high visibility stripes sits at the wheel of a large mining vehicle with mining equipment in the background.

    The Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price is up 2%. To put that into context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also up 0.95%.

    However, there is reporting by Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) that Rio Tinto is considering a green push.

    How is Rio Tinto considering going greener?

    The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Rio Tinto is investigating using biomass to replace coal in the steelmaking process. Coal has a reputation of producing a lot of emissions.

    There has apparently been years of research and now it is testing the process, which is patent-pending, that combines raw plant matter with microwave technology to remove oxygen from iron ore and turn it into metallic iron.

    If this test is successful, then there is the potential for it to be “developed at commercial scale to help drive down the greenhouse gases emitted by the carbon-heavy steel mills.”

    According to the SMH reporting, the biomass would count as carbon neutral because the “carbon dioxide released during combustion would initially have been absorbed from the atmosphere during a plant’s lifetime.”

    Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott was quoted by the SMH:

    We are encouraged by early testing results of this new process, which could provide a cost-efficient way to produce low-carbon steel from our Pilbara iron ore.

    More than 70 per cent of Rio Tinto’s Scope 3 emissions are generated as customers process our iron ore into steel, which is critical for urbanisation and infrastructure development as the world’s economies decarbonise. While it’s still early days…we are keen to explore further development of this technology.

    How else is Rio Tinto planning to go greener?

    The Rio Tinto share price may be influenced in the future by its Jadar project.

    It has committed $2.4 billion to the lithium-borates project in Serbia, one of the world’s largest greenfield lithium projects. However, it remains subject to receiving all relevant, approvals, permits and licences.

    Rio Tinto said that the Jadar project would scale up Rio Tinto’s exposure to battery materials, and demonstrate the company’s commitment to investing capital in a disciplined manner to further strengthen its portfolio for the global energy transition.

    Jadar will position Rio Tinto as the largest source of lithium supply in Europe for at least the next 15 years. In addition, Jadar will produce borates, which are used in solar panels and wind turbines.

    This could be a very large investment for Serbia, contributing 1% directly and 4% indirectly to GDP. The mine has a 40-year life.

    First saleable production is expected in 2026 at a time of strong market fundamentals for lithium, demand is expected to grow by an average of 25% to 35% per annum over the next decade. Full production will occur in 2029, where it will produce around 58,000 tonnes of lithium. This will make Rio Tinto one of the top ten lithium producers in the world.

    The post Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) share price climbs amid news of latest green push appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Rio Tinto right now?

    Before you consider Rio Tinto, 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 Rio Tinto 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 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 Afterpay (ASX:APT) shares? This little-known company is aiming to disrupt the BNPL sector

    A little girl wearing wonky glasses checks out what's happening in the world on a mobile phone.

    If you own Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) shares, it can be useful to check in on what peers are up to in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space.

    While the payments company headed up by Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen might be one of the most recognisable BNPL players, there are smaller competitors sprouting — putting their own spin on things. One such company is the brand-first payment platform provider, Limepay.

    At present, the Afterpay share price is fetching $120.90, up 4.68% from its previous close.

    A different take on BNPL

    In a media release yesterday, Limepay announced the appointment of a new CEO in Willie Pang. From here, Pang will lead the company as it embarks on its renewed business strategy.

    Limepay is a little different from your stereotypical ASX-listed BNPL company. For starters, it isn’t publically listed — but more importantly — it offers a white-label solution. This means merchants can provide alternative payments without redirecting customers to a third party such as Afterpay.

    In fact, in the July 2021 FT Partners’ Fintech Industry Research Report, Limepay was named the only white-label BNPL provider in the Oceania region.

    The distinction is something that the smaller BNPL competitor is proud of, with a different business vision than most. Unlike others, Limepay wants to put the control, knowledge, and ownership of the customer back in the hands of brands. However, Afterpay shares appear unfazed today as the price rallies.

    Commenting on his recent appointment, Limepay CEO Willie Pang stated:

    Limepay has always set out to do something different; to flip the digital payments landscape on its head. Our broader mission is to empower brands to build longer, stronger and ultimately more loyal customer relationships.

    We now have a renewed commitment to providing solutions beyond BNPL – including pay in full, pay later, pay in installments, subscription and in-store options – so brands can own the entire payments experience for their customers.

    We know that Afterpay’s growth has been considerable, typically doubling across most of its metrics year on year. So, how does Limepay’s growth stack up against the ASX-listed giant? Well, the release indicates that underlying merchant sales grew by 1,100% year-over-year in FY21. As of now, Limepay boasts over 100 active merchants including Puma, EB Games, and Ecosa.

    Could Limepay join Afterpay shares on the ASX?

    Interestingly, Limepay was set for an initial public offering (IPO) to list on the ASX earlier in the year. However, those plans were muddied after co-founder and chief revenue officer, Daniel Peters, resigned suddenly after raising nearly $30 million in venture capital.

    Since then, Limepay’s financial adviser noted that the company would apply a “wait and see approach” to joining Afterpay shares on the ASX. Although, yesterday’s release gave no additional detail regarding a future listing.

    The post Own Afterpay (ASX:APT) shares? This little-known company is aiming to disrupt the BNPL sector appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Afterpay, 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 Afterpay 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 Mitchell Lawler owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T 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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  • Why did the Western Areas (ASX:WSA) share price just hit an 18-month high?

    excited man reaching new record high on mountain side

    After a week of generally strong performance, the Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) share price has reached its highest point in nearly 2 years.

    The nickel producer’s stock has been gaining nearly every session since last Thursday, clocking up an extra 11.7% of value in that time.

    As a result, the Western Areas share price reached a high of $3.33 in intraday trade today – the highest it’s been since the end of October 2019.

    At the time of writing, it has dropped to trade at $3.28. Though, that’s still 2.34% higher than its previous close.

    So, what might have spurred Western Areas’ stock to soar to long-forgotten heights? Let’s take a look.

    Western Areas looks to the future

    The reason behind the Western Areas share price’s recent surge is a mystery. However, the company did release its non-price sensitive annual report this afternoon.

    In its annual report, the company’s leaders reminisced on financial year 2021 – a year in which Western Areas struggled against COVID-19 and lessening production at its Forrestania operations.

    Forrestania is now a maturing operation and it brought in lower grades of nickel in financial year 2021. In fact, relative to financial year 2020, nickel production at Forrestania was down 23%.

    The company has since implemented a turnaround strategy which has resulted in a rebound of performance.

    Additionally, Western Areas’ Odysseus Mine is fully funded and its development is progressing on schedule.

    Odysseus’ maiden production is expected in financial year 2023, in line with an expected global shortage of nickel.

    The annual report likely didn’t move Western Areas’ shares today, but it might have boosted confidence in the company’s future.

    Western Areas share price snapshot

    It goes without saying, the Western Areas share price has been performing well on the ASX lately.

    It has gained 21% since the start of 2021. It’s also 46% higher than it was this time last year.

    The post Why did the Western Areas (ASX:WSA) share price just hit an 18-month high? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Western Areas right now?

    Before you consider Western Areas, 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 Western Areas 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 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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  • Could the Appen (ASX:APX) share price jump to $17 by Christmas?

    a woman holds her hand out under a graphic hologram image of a human brain with brightly lit segments and section points.

    The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price has been a strong performer on Thursday.

    In afternoon trade, the artificial intelligence (AI) data services company’s shares are up 6% to $9.31.

    However, despite this strong gain, Appen’s shares are still down a disappointing 63% since the start of the year.

    Could the Appen share price rebound to $17.00 by Christmas?

    Positively for shareholders, one leading broker believes the Appen share price could rise materially from here.

    According to a note out of Citi this week, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $17.00 price target on the company’s shares. Based on the current Appen share price, this implies massive upside of 82% for investors.

    In light of this, Citi appears to see potential for the Appen share price to trade at that level at Christmas. Though, it is worth noting that this price target is for the next 12 months.

    Why is Citi bullish?

    While the broker acknowledges that trading conditions have been tough recently, which explains why Appen’s shares are performing so poorly this year, it remains positive on the long term.

    Citi sees Appen as well placed to benefit from the higher spending on artificial intelligence and expects it to leverage its increased capabilities and expand its addressable market.

    The broker has also previously noted that its industry discussions suggest that demand for human annotated training data is not structurally impaired.

    It also previously suggested that the company could become a takeover target if its shares stay this low for much longer. The broker highlights that rival Lionbridge was acquired by Telus on much higher multiples to those that the Appen share price currently trades on.

    All in all, this could make it one to watch over the coming months.

    The post Could the Appen (ASX:APX) share price jump to $17 by Christmas? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Appen, 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 Appen 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 Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Appen 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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  • Which ASX 300 shares are the major movers on Thursday?

    holding up phone in front of stock market

    The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is rebounding in positive territory on Thursday, after losing ground from yesterday’s weak performance.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 300 is up 1.06% to 7,355.3 points. This means that the index is hovering around 2% higher in the past 5 trading days.

    Let’s take a look at which ASX companies are making headlines today.

    Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

    The Netwealth share price is surging 15.75% to $16.54 in mid-afternoon trade.

    The fintech company released its September quarterly update, highlighting record numbers for its funds under administration (FUA).

    Netwealth reported that it held $52 billion in FUA, an increase of a mammoth 52.7% over the prior corresponding period.

    Looking ahead, the company upgraded its FUA net inflow guidance for FY22 to $12.5 billion. This is a 25% jump from the previous $10 billion forecasted.

    Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)

    Another big mover on the ASX 300 is the Liontown share price, up 12.86% to $1.58.

    The emerging lithium producer hasn’t reported anything today, however, its demerger with Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) has been completed.

    Liontown Resources is now focusing on developing its wholly-owned world-class Kathleen Valley Lithium Project. The asset is considered a tier-1 battery metals site with excellent grade and scale in one of Western Australia’s best mining districts.

    Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU)

    Adding gains to the ASX 300 is the Perseus share price, up 9.68% and nearing its multi-year high of $1.70.

    The gold miner provided investors with its successful exploration drilling results at the Yaoure Gold Mine in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The infill drilling campaign confirmed the strong potential for further mineral resources beneath the currently operating CMA open pit. This will be used to upgrade the current Inferred Mineral Resource estimate to Indicated status.

    It is expected that a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for an underground mining operation will be completed by late June 2022.

    And which ASX 300 companies are heading the other way?

    Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL)

    In decline today is the Redbubble share price, down 12.61% to $3.985.

    The e-commerce company’s shares are coming under pressure following a disappointing trading update.

    Redbubble announced that its trading performance in the first quarter came in line with expectations, despite losses across key metrics.

    Total revenue fell by 28% to $126.7 million for the 3 months ending 30 September. This predominately led to gross profit sinking 34% to $42.4 million.

    The company is forecasting a slow and steady return to pre-COVID 19 levels during the backend of FY22.

    Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

    Also being weighed down by investors today is the Coronado share price, down 5.18% to $1.465.

    The coal miner hasn’t reported any price-sensitive news since its half-year results in mid-August. However, it appears investors are taking profit after its shares reached a 52-week high of $1.68 on Tuesday.

    The post Which ASX 300 shares are the major movers on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for 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 Aaron Teboneras 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 Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Netwealth. 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 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts this Thursday

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a pretty top day of trading on the share market this Thursday so far. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up a healthy 1.05% to 7,349 points. But let’s dig a little deeper and check out which ASX 200 shares are topping the charts today so far in terms of trading volume, according to investing.com.

    3 most active ASX 200 shares by volume today

    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

    Our first ASX 200 share up today is the dairy company A2 Milk. This Thursday has seen a robust 16.13 million A2 Milk shares change hands so far. This appears to be a byproduct of what we’ve seen with the A2 Milk share price today.

    A2 Milk shares are currently up a healthy 4.86% at $6.90 a share. However, this company was up as high as $7.23 (or 7% or so) in early trade – a multi-month high for A2.

    My Fool colleague Mitchell looked into this rise in more detail earlier this morning, but this share price jump is almost certainly what’s behind A2’s elevated trading volume today.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Pilbara Minerals is our second ASX 200 share to look at today. This lithium producer has seen a hefty 18.05 million of its shares bought and sold on the share market thus far. There is not much in the way of news or announcements out of Pilbara this Thursday.

    However, we have seen a big rise in the Pilbara share price today, which probably explains this elevated trading volume. At the present time, Pilbara shares are up by 4.85% to $2.05.

    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

    Another ASX 200 resource — diversified miner South32 rounds out our list. We have seen a sizable 21.19 million of this miner’s shares trade owners so far today.

    This comes after the company hit a 4-year high this morning of $4.07 a share. Before market open, South32 announced it has entered into a conditional agreement to purchase a 45% stake in a Chilian copper mine from the Sumitomo Corporation for US$1.55 billion.

    This has clearly excited investors, with the South32 share price still up a pleasing 5.34% to $3.84 a share at the time of writing. This announcement and share price move are probably behind this company’s elevated trading volume today. 

    The post These 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts this Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in South32 right now?

    Before you consider South32, 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 South32 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 Sebastian Bowen owns shares of A2 Milk. 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 A2 Milk. 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 this fund manager is bullish on the Suncorp (ASX:SUN) share price

    bull market encapsulated by bull running up a rising stock market price

    The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price is in the red today, down 0.7% to $12.68 per share.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), meanwhile, is shaking off its 3-day losing streak and currently up 1%.

    But don’t place too much weight on a single day’s price action. Over the past 12 months, 6 months, and 1-month the Suncorp share price has handily beaten the returns from the ASX 200.

    We’ll take a brief look at how the insurance and financial services company has performed below. But first…

    Why this fund manager is bullish on the Suncorp share price

    Earlier this month, The Motley Fool interviewed Andrew Martin – principal portfolio manager of the Alphinity Australian Share Fund and Alphinity Concentrated Australian Share Fund.

    (You can find the full interview here.)

    Martin told us that his funds focus on companies that are getting consistent earnings upgrades.

    That means he typically concentrates on individual shares rather than looking at things from a broader sector viewpoint.

    However, he added, “One of the few sectors left getting earnings upgrades is insurance.”

    The insurance industry is experiencing some of the best conditions since the early 2000s, Martin told us. “A much better pricing environment coming through is helping grow the top line, and then you get this expansion in margin.”

    Suncorp was one of the companies Martin was bullish on.

    After experiencing some issues in recent years, he said:

    There’s a bit of a turnaround happening that’s just starting to bite. And it also gets a bit of benefit from COVID lockdowns. When fewer people drive their cars, fewer people crash. And when more people are at home, fewer houses get burgled.

    Suncorp snapshot

    As mentioned up top, the Suncorp share price has significantly outperformed the ASX 200 over the past year. Suncorp’s shares are up 43% in 12 months compared to a 19% gain on the ASX 200.

    Year-to-date, Suncorp is up 28%.

    The company pays a 5.2% trailing dividend yield, fully franked.

    At the current Suncorp share price, the company has a market cap of approximately $16.2 billion.

    The post Why this fund manager is bullish on the Suncorp (ASX:SUN) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Suncorp, 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 Suncorp 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 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3BBmxK6

  • Could the Coles (ASX:COL) share price hit $20 by the end of 2021?

    A woman ponders over what to buy as she looks at the shelves of a supermarket

    The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price has been on form over the last six months.

    During this time, the supermarket operator’s shares have climbed 11% to $17.53.

    Could the Coles share price climb to $20.00 by the end of the year?

    The good news for investors is that it may not be too late to buy Coles shares.

    According to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts have an add rating and $19.80 price target on its shares.

    Based on the current Coles share price, this implies potential upside of 13% for investors before dividends.

    And with Morgans forecasting a fully franked 61 cents per share dividend in FY 2022, the potential return on offer stretches to over 16%.

    In light of the above, the team at Morgans appear to believe there’s a chance the Coles share price could be trading around the $20.00 level by the end of the year.

    Why is Morgans positive on the company?

    Morgans is positive on the Coles share price due to its belief that it offers far more value than Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). Its analysts also believe that Coles is well-placed to benefit from a number of COVID tailwinds such as working from home.

    The broker recently commented: “While vaccines are being rolled out across Australia, we think people will continue to spend more time at home due to the ongoing risk of COVID flare-ups with the working-from-home trend also likely to stay for some time. This will be beneficial for the major supermarket operators. We continue to see COL as offering better value than WOW.”

    “COL is a defensive business with strong market positions and a healthy balance sheet. Trading on 24.6x FY22F PE and 3.3% yield we continue to see the stock as offering good value and maintain our Add rating,” Morgans also stated.

    The post Could the Coles (ASX:COL) share price hit $20 by the end of 2021? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Coles, 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 Coles 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 owns shares of and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3AEFAC5