Tag: Motley Fool

  • The Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price is up only 1% this year. Is it a buy?

    older couple driving in a convertible in the country

    The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price has been underperforming so far this year.

    Since the start of the year, the toll road operator’s shares have risen just 1%.

    As a comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up almost 11% over the same period.

    Is the Transurban share price in the buy zone?

    One leading broker that sees value in the Transurban share price at the current level is Ord Minnett.

    According to a recent note, the broker has retained its buy rating but trimmed its price target on the company’s shares to $15.50.

    Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.85, this implies potential upside of 12% over the next 12 months.

    And with Ord Minnett pencilling in a dividend of 36.5 cents per share in FY 2022, this potential return stretches to approximately 14.5%.

    Why is the broker bullish?

    While the broker has revised its free cash estimates lower to reflect the impact of lockdowns on traffic volumes, it remains positive on the future. This is due partly to its belief that traffic will rebound quickly once restrictions ease.

    In addition to this, the broker believes the Transurban share price is not reflective of the value of its assets. Particularly given how long life infrastructure assets are in demand with investors. It points to the sale of stakes in some of its US assets as evidence of this demand.

    Ord Minnett commented: “We believe the market value of Transurban’s assets remains well ahead of the implied value.”

    “We believe this supports the underlying thesis on Transurban and is more important than the short-term impact lockdowns are having on traffic and free cash flow,” it added.

    Overall, the broker believes this makes the weakness in the Transurban share price this year a buying opportunity for investors.

    The post The Transurban (ASX:TCL) share price is up only 1% this year. Is it a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Transurban, 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 Transurban 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. 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 Square share price jumped and fell off today

    Woman paying using Square.

    What happened 

    Shares of fintech stock Square (NYSE: SQ) were up as much as 2.7% in trading on Tuesday after the company announced a big integration between the Square App and Cash App. Shares are down 0.2% with a few minutes left in trading, although that was largely driven by the market overall falling from breakeven at the start of trading to just under 1% lower near the end of trading. 

    So what

    The announcement was that Square sellers will now be able to accept Cash App Pay both online and at their terminals. This opens up a new payment option for businesses and allows customers to access funds in their Cash App account. 

    While adding a payment method may be a small move, it’s the underlying fees where Square will see the biggest impact. A majority of the approximate 2.9% fee that it charges sellers to perform credit or debit card transactions is paid to banks and credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard. Since the Cash App to Square integration doesn’t use those networks it’s Square that will keep the entire fee. 

    Now what

    The end goal for Square has long been a likely integration between the consumer Cash App and the business-focused Square App. This announcement does just that and it could be the start of Square’s disruption of the long engrained credit card companies. I’m very bullish on this announcement and Square’s ecosystem in general, and think the small bounce today should have been much bigger, even if investors could have seen the move coming a mile away. 

    The post Why the Square share price jumped and fell off today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Square, 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 Square 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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    Travis Hoium owns shares of Square. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Square. 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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  • Is the current Treasury Wine (ASX:TWE) share price a bargain?

    a group of people clink wine glasses in an outdoor, late afternoon setting.

    The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price certainly has returned to form in 2021.

    Since the start of the year, the wine company’s shares have rallied an impressive 28% higher.

    Can the Treasury Wine share price keep rising?

    Despite this strong rise, one top broker believes the Treasury Wine share price can still go even higher.

    According to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their add rating and increased their price target on the company’s shares to $14.01.

    Based on the current Treasury Wine share price of $12.25, this means potential upside of 14% over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans was pleased with the company’s performance in FY 2021 and appears positive on the future.

    It notes that the company is targeting sustainable revenue growth and significant wider margins.

    And while Morgans acknowledges that there are risks to the reallocation of its wine from China, it isn’t overly fazed. Especially given the impressive performance of its US business, which is bouncing back from the pandemic much quicker than it was expecting.

    It commented: “TWE has the China reallocation risk and it will take 2-3 years to recover these earnings in new markets. However, outside of China, its key markets, particularly the US, are recovering faster than expected from COVID.”

    In addition to this, the broker highlights the company’s restructuring and believes the Treasury Wine share price is undervalued based on a sum of the parts (SOTP) valuation.

    Morgans explained: “The new business units centred around the brands, are now fully in place and we are excited to see what they can earn with TWE effectively creating the benefits of a demerger without the extra costs. It also demonstrates that the SOTP is worth materially more than the whole.”

    “It shines a light on Penfolds and its best-in-class margins and may ultimately lead to corporate activity in some form in the future. We rate this management team highly,” it concluded.

    The post Is the current Treasury Wine (ASX:TWE) share price a bargain? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Treasury Wine right now?

    Before you consider Treasury Wine, 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 Treasury Wine 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 Treasury Wine Estates 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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  • Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) share price surges 8%, up 90% in a month. Here’s why

    rising asx uranium share price icon on a stock index board

    The Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) share price is riding the recent uranium boom, rallying another 7% to a 13-year high of 30 cents.

    Boss Energy is a uranium explorer operating the Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia. Honeywell was moved into care and maintenance in 2013 due to weak uranium prices. The company is now pushing towards the restart of mining with a final investment decision to be made within the next 12-months.

    Australia’s next uranium producer?

    The Boss Energy share price is picking up where it left off and coined itself as Australia’s next uranium producer.

    The company’s August Diggers and Dealers presentation described the Honeymoon project as a “technically proven, low-cost re-start operation in a uranium friendly jurisdiction”. Key highlights include:

    • Industry competitive upfront capital requirement of US$80 million
    • Fast track to production, <12 months from Final Investment Decision of first uranium production
    • Low-cost producer, life of mine average all-in sustaining cost of US$25.6/lb
    • Fully permitted with native title agreements in place
    • Ready to go when uranium price rebounds

    Within the presentation, Boss Energy said that project finance and offtake negotiations were underway, seeking to maximise its exposure to a uranium price recovery.

    Looking ahead, key milestones for the company included plans for increasing production profile and extending mine life through the development of satellite resources.

    What’s driving the Boss Energy share price ?

    Uranium prices have skyrocketed to above US$44/lb, the highest since December 2012.

    This has in turn translated to a significant re-rate for the Boss Energy share price, which has been patiently waiting for higher uranium prices.

    The sudden jump in uranium has been driven by the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust, which began trading on Canada’s Toronto Stock Exchange in July this year.

    The fund has been actively and aggressively buying physical uranium off the spot market, tightening supply and sparking renewed interest in the energy metal.

    Uranium is a relatively illiquid commodity that does not trade on an open market like gold or copper. Instead, buyers and sellers typically negotiate private contracts.

    On 8 September, Bloomberg reported that the fund had purchased over 24 million pounds of uranium.

    By comparison, uranium investment firm Yellow Cake PLC reported total spot volume for 2020 of 92.2 million pounds.

    Sprott hasn’t stopped there, with the fund’s Twitter announcing another 1.25 million lbs added on Wednesday.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    Boss Energy share price making up for lost time

    The Boss Energy share price is in a hot space right now, after trading mostly sideways between 2012 and 2022.

    It’s honing in on 2007 highs of 50 cents after rallying 87% in the last month and 200% year-to-date.

    The post Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) share price surges 8%, up 90% in a month. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Boss Energy right now?

    Before you consider Boss Energy, 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 Boss Energy 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 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 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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  • How these 4 ASX 200 bank shares have performed since reporting results

    A man sprawls on the grass reaching out to touch four piggy banks, lined up in a row.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) banks all reported their latest batch of financial results over the last few months.

    One reported full-year results last month, the others their half-year results back in May.

    And when the big banks report, ASX 200 investors take note.

    That’s because together the big four banks – Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) – have a combined market cap somewhere north of $446 billion.

    That’s right. Almost half a trillion dollars.

    With investors having now had plenty of time to digest their results, we take a look at how these 4 ASX 200 powerhouses have performed since reporting.

    How has the biggest ASX 200 bank performed since reporting?

    With a market cap of roughly $180 billion, CommBank is easily the biggest financial share on the ASX 200.

    CBA reported its full 2021 financial year (FY21) results before market open on 11 August.

    Among the key results reported was a 19.7% year-on-year increase in net profit after tax (NPAT), to $8.84 billion.

    CBA’s cash earning of $8.65 billion was up 19.8% from FY20 and came in slightly above consensus analyst forecasts.

    The big bank rewarded investors with a final dividend of $2 per share, fully franked. That brought the full-year dividend to $3.50 per share, an increase of 17% from the previous year.

    CommBank also announced a $6 billion off-market share buyback, which was expected to cut the number of its shares by approximately 3.5%.

    Investors appeared pleased with the results, sending CBA’s share price up 1.5% on the day it was reported.

    Since then, shares have come under some pressure. At the time of writing the CBA share price is down 5.6% since the bank released its FY21 results. Over that same time the ASX 200 is down 2.2%.

    How has NAB performed since reporting results?

    Unlike CBA, National Australia Bank released its half-year results (H1 FY21) earlier in the year, on 6 May.

    NAB will announce its full-year results on 9 November.

    Among the core numbers, NAB’s cash earnings increased by 94.8% compared to the prior corresponding period, to $3.34 billion. Revenues were up 1%.

    The bank also saw a large decline in its writeback of credit impairment charges. Those were reported as $128 million compared to a charge of $1.16 billion in the prior corresponding half year.

    NAB paid out an interim dividend of 60 cents per share, fully franked, twice the interim dividend paid in the prior corresponding period.

    NAB’s share price fell 3% on the day it reported these results.

    Since reporting its results, the NAB share price has gained 2.5%. Over that same time the ASX 200 has gained 4.3%.

    How about Westpac?

    Westpac reported its half-year results on 3 May. The ASX 200 bank will announce its full-year results on 1 November.

    Some of the key investor takeaways from its half-year results included a 189% year-on-year leap in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $3.44 billion. Cash earnings for the half year increased 256% to $3.54 billion, compared to the prior corresponding period.

    Westpac declared an interim dividend of 58 cents per share, fully franked. The bank did not pay an interim dividend in the first half of the 2020 financial year.

    Investors reacted to the results by sending Westpac’s share price up 5% on the day.

    Since releasing its results, the Westpac share price is up 2.6% at time of writing. The ASX 200 is up 5.4% over that same time.

    And lastly…

    How has ASX 200-listed ANZ performed since reporting results?

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group reported its half-year results before market open on 5 May.

    Core results included a 45% increase in statutory profit after tax from the prior corresponding half year to $2.94 billion.

    Cash earnings from continuing operations increased 28% compared to the second half of FY20, hitting $2.99 billion. ANZ reported a return on equity (ROE) of 9.7%.

    The bank paid out an interim dividend of 70 cents per share, fully franked.

    Despite beating consensus analyst expectations, the ANZ share price closed down 3.2% on the day it reported.

    Since reporting, ANZ’s share price is down 4.2%. By comparison the ASX 200 is up 4.7% over the same period.

    The post How these 4 ASX 200 bank shares have performed since reporting results 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

    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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  • Aussie Broadband (ASX:ABB) share price lifts on share purchase plan

    a woman sits at a computer with a satisfied expression on her face in a white room with greenery outside her window.

    The Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) share price is moving into positive territory again today. This comes after the broadband provider released its share purchase plan (SPP) offer booklet to investors just before midday.

    At the time of writing, Aussie Broadband shares are fetching for $4.78 apiece, up 0.63%. This means its shares have now risen more than 30% in the past month alone.

    Share purchase plan details

    Investors are sending Aussie Broadband shares higher following the company’s invitation to retail shareholders to participate in its SPP.

    Following the successful $114 million institutional placement, Aussie Broadband has extended its offer to eligible shareholders.

    Under the SPP, investors can apply to buy a parcel of Aussie Broadband shares for $4.00 per share. The same terms offered in the placement represent a discount of 13.6% on the last closing price on 6 September (when the SPP was announced).

    Investors can apply for a minimum application amount of $2,500 with a maximum application amount of $30,000.

    Aussie Broadband is seeking to raise a total of $10 million through the SPP. However, this can be scaled back or increased depending on the total value of the applications.

    The proceeds raised will be used towards funding a number of initiatives for the company. These include acquisitive growth by mergers and acquisitions, new business product and technology development, and increasing fibre and network assets.

    The closing date for the SPP will be 1 October. Allotment of the new shares, as well as trading on the ASX, will be available from 8 October.

    Aussie Broadband share price snapshot

    Over the course of the last 12 months, Aussie Broadband shares have accelerated to post gains of 150%. Year-to-date has been just as impressive, up by more than 140% after the company revealed a strong fourth-quarter trading update.

    Based on today’s price, Aussie Broadband commands a market capitalisation of around $1 billion with approximately 219 million shares outstanding.

    The post Aussie Broadband (ASX:ABB) share price lifts on share purchase plan appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Aussie Broadband right now?

    Before you consider Aussie Broadband, 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 Aussie Broadband 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. owns shares of and has recommended Aussie Broadband Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband 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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  • Why the Accent (ASX:AX1) share price is surging 12% today

    A drawing of a rocket follows a chart up, indicating share price lift

    The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price has stepped firmly into the green on Wednesday.

    Accent shares are now exchanging hands at $2.31 apiece, which is a 12.44% gain from the open.

    Let’s uncover what’s been driving the Accent share price today.

    What’s up with the Accent share price today?

    There has been no market sensitive information released by the company today. However, Accent shares have been on an extended run into the red over the last few weeks, much to the dismay of investors.

    So today’s gains are a welcomed reversal of the downward pressures Accent shareholders have faced since the share prices’ previous high of $2.80 on August 10.

    One factor that could help why the Accent share price is soaring today, is an analyst note out of leading broker Morgan Stanley.

    The broker upgraded its price target by 8.3% to $2.60 per share earlier and also upgraded its recommendation to overweight from equal weight.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley are confident the company can continue unlocking value for shareholders in the periods to come, saying “(It) sees upside to Accent’s FY22 store target of at least 65 stores, given these stores are mostly signed”.

    The broker went on to say that “Accent has a track record in beating targets”, which could weigh in positively.

    It also thinks Accent shares are a buy given the forecasted strengths in the broader activewear/lifestyle sector, which could deliver outsized growth in years to come.

    What are other brokers saying?

    Several other brokers have also upgraded their recommendations on Accent’s shares in the last few weeks, notably after the company’s FY21 earnings report last month.

    In a recent change of heart, broker Citi upgraded to a neutral rating on Accent shares, but still cut its assigned price target to $2.14. A month earlier Citi had a sell recommendation to investors on the company’s shares.

    Australian broker Bell Potter Securities also has a buy rating and $2.90 price target on the Accent share price, citing “strong underlying fundamentals of the business (that) remain strong and attractive” in its reasoning.

    The sum of these analyst equity reports appears to be weighing in on the Accent share price today, particularly the note out of Morgan Stanley’s equity research team today.

    Accent share price snapshot

    The Accent share price has struggled this year to date and finds itself around 0.5% in the red since January 1. In the last month alone, Accent’s share price has slipped a further 13.5% into the red.

    Despite this, Accent shares have climbed 51% over the last 12 months, and are up 4% in the last week, thanks to today’s results. This is ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO)’s return of around 25% over the past year.

    The post Why the Accent (ASX:AX1) share price is surging 12% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Accent 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 Accent 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

    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 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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  • Here are 2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month

    A miner holding a hard hat stands in the foreground of an open cut mine

    ASX mining shares have shared mixed fortunes in 2021. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have slipped 5% lower this year while Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares have surged 185% higher.

    Of course, investors need to be comparing apples to apples when analysing the resources sector. That’s because underlying commodity prices can have an enormous impact on valuations at any given point.

    Having said that, there are two ASX mining shares worth watching right now. That’s because both of these companies have seen their market values surge more than 25% in the past month.

    2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month

    1. Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    The Whitehaven Coal share price has climbed 32.3% higher in the past month. Shares in the Aussie coal miner have been charging higher on the back of strong coal prices in China.

    Premium hard coking coal prices are climbing, according to Fastmarkets MB, which comes after a weaker than expected full-year result for Whitehaven.

    Whitehaven reported a 9.3% drop in revenue to $1.56 billion in FY21 and a net loss after tax before significant items of $87.3 million.

    However, the recent surge in coal prices is boosting the ASX mining share higher right now.

    2. Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)

    It’s not just coal that’s doing well at the moment. Alumina shares have climbed 25% higher in the past month despite no recent announcements from the alumina refinery and bauxite mining investor.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, a strong rally in alumina prices is helping drive the latest gains. According to Fastmarkets MB, alumina prices surged 10% on Thursday, September 9 to their highest point since April 2019.

    Freight disruptions and tightening supply have helped boost prices which is good news for the ASX mining share. Alumina owns a 40% stake in the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) joint venture alongside global aluminium heavyweight Alcoa Corp (NYSE:AA).

    The Alumina share price is on the tear right now and is having a solid run in August and September.

    The post Here are 2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month 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 Ken Hall 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 this broker sees the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price hitting $30

    high five, happy business people, happy investors., share price rise, increase, up

    It has been a stunning year for the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price.

    Since the start of 2021, the banking giant’s shares have risen almost 31%.

    This is nearly triple the return of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

    Is the Westpac share price run over?

    The good news is that one leading broker believes the Westpac share price run is far from over.

    According to a recent note out of Citi, its analysts have a buy rating and $30.00 price target on the bank’s shares.

    Based on the current Westpac share price of $25.62, this implies potential upside of 17% before dividends.

    Citi is also forecasting a fully franked dividend of $1.30 per share in FY 2022. So, if we add this into the equation as well, the potential return increases to over 22%.

    What did the broker say?

    Citi came away from a meeting with Westpac’s management team late last month feeling very positive about the bank’s outlook.

    While it acknowledges that Westpac is facing revenue headwinds, particularly in the Markets and Treasury businesses, it expects the bank’s cost cutting plans to help offset this.

    Earlier this year management announced an ambitious plan to cut its operating costs by almost 40% by 2024. This will see the bank’s operating expenses fall from FY 2020’s $12.7 billion to approximately $8 billion.

    Citi expects this to underpin generous dividends in the coming years. The broker is forecasting a fully franked dividend of $1.16 per share in FY 2021 and, as mentioned above, $1.30 per share in FY 2022.

    Based on the current Westpac share price, this will mean yields of 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively, over the next couple of financial years.

    All in all, the broker believes this makes the Westpac share price good value at the current level.

    The post Why this broker sees the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price hitting $30 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Westpac, 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 Westpac 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 owns shares of Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price struggles amid bricks frustration

    A little kid cries in frustration because her blocks fell over and broke.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is wobbling today amid reports its latest promotional campaign has customers frustrated.

    Woolworths announced its Woolworths Bricks campaign last month. Since then, the collectable building blocks have launched in the company’s supermarkets.

    However, some customers are frustrated, complaining that many stores have sold out of the collectables in only a week.

    Right now, the Woolworths share price is $39.35, 0.03% higher than its previous close. Though it spent the morning in the red, reaching a low point of $39.29.

    Despite its rocky performance, the Woolworths share price is doing better than the broader market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 0.5%, having fallen 37 points at the time of writing. Additionally, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is also down 0.45% today.

    Let’s take a closer look at the frustrations felt by some of the supermarket giant’s customers.

    The Woolworths share price is sliding today amid reports the retailer has run out of its latest collectables.

    Woolworths recently launched Woolworths Bricks, a collectable set of building blocks customers can use to build a miniature version of a sustainable Woolworths supermarket.

    The campaign began last Wednesday, except in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, where numerous outlets report it will launch on 22 September.

    Shoppers can receive one brick for every $30 they spend on groceries through Woolworths. There are 40 bricks to collect, depicting miniature versions of solar panels, checkouts and trolleys. Customers can also buy model delivery vans, electric trucks, and starter packs that come with a floor and front doors.

    The bricks are made from 80% recycled material and can be recycled through TerraCycle.

    However, it seems the company’s latest campaign has been more popular than anticipated.

    One shopper posted to the company’s Facebook page complaining their local Woolworths store and the supermarket’s online store have run out of Woolworths Bricks. Woolworths replied to the complaint stating the Bricks have been immensely popular and were only available while stocks last.

    The Motley Fool reached out to Woolworths for comment on its Woolworths Bricks campaign but didn’t receive a response in time for publication.

    Woolworths share price snapshot

    Despite today’s weak performance, the Woolworths share price is having a good year on the ASX.

    It is currently 13% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 22.5% since this time last year.

    The post Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price struggles amid bricks frustration appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. 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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