Tag: Motley Fool

  • Is the Coles (ASX:COL) share price a buy for dividends?

    a man inspects a capsicum while holding an eco-friendly green string bag in a supermarket produce aisle.

    At the current Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price it has a projected grossed-up dividend yield of around 5% for FY22.

    What is the dividend projection for FY22?

    The broker Morgans currently rates Coles as a buy with a price target of $19.80.

    Morgans thinks that Coles is going to pay an annual FY22 dividend of $0.61 per share, after generating earnings per share (EPS) of $0.75. It’s that 61 cents per share dividend that translates to the 5% grossed-up yield.

    The broker notes that the supermarket business has a good balance sheet that will help it invest for the future as well as continuing to pay out a high level of dividends. Morgans estimates that Coles will have a dividend payout ratio of 81.3% in FY22.

    How is FY22 going?

    Coles gave a trading update when it revealed its FY21 result.

    It said that conditions in the early part of the first quarter were volatile. ‘Local shopping’ has returned with e-commerce and neighbourhood stores outperforming shopping centre and CBD locations.

    Coles pointed out that it will be cycling against the sales and cost impacts of COVID-19 across all of its segments, particularly the extended lockdown in Victoria during most of the first half of FY21.

    In the supermarkets division, which generates most of the profit, Coles said that the first seven weeks had seen sales rise 1% on a headline basis and 12% on a two-year basis because of the elevated sales due to COVID-19. The supermarkets performance is a key driver of the Coles share price. The e-commerce penetration was approximately 8% in the first quarter. In July, supermarkets incurred around $15 million of COVID-19 costs.

    In liquor, sales in the first seven weeks of the first quarter remained strong, with headline growth being flat and approximately 19% growth on a two-year headline basis.

    Coles has a strategy called ‘smarter selling’ to help the business become better and more efficient. These benefits are expected to be more than $200 million in FY22. Coles is expected to renew approximately 50 stores and to open approximately 20 stores in FY22.

    Capital investment

    Management said that FY22 will be significant year in both capital and operating expenditure terms as a result of its plan to invest in improving efficiencies and the customer experience.

    For its two Witron distribution centres, Coles is expecting to invest a total of $950 million, of which $290 million will be in FY22.

    Is the Coles share price an opportunity?

    Morgans certainly thinks so. The buy rating and price target implies the Coles share price could rise more than 10% over the next 12 months.

    Coles experienced operating leverage in FY21 as sales grew 3.1% and net profit increased 7.5%.

    In FY23, the broker is expecting a slight dividend increase to an annual payment of $0.62. That would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5%.

    The post Is the Coles (ASX:COL) share price a buy for dividends? 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

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

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  • Brokers name 2 ASX 200 shares to buy

    two women celebrating good news on phone

    If you’re looking for some new additions to your portfolio, then you may want to read on.

    Listed below are two ASX 200 shares that broker are tipping as buys right now. Here’s what you need to know:

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

    If you’re looking for exposure to the banking sector, then ANZ could be worth considering. It is the top pick in the sector for the team at Morgans right now. As a result, its analysts have an add rating and $34.50 price target on the bank’s shares.

    Morgans commented: “We believe ANZ is the most compelling of the major banks on a valuation basis. We expect ANZ to continue to focus on absolute cost reduction over the medium term. ANZ has de-risked its loan book over recent years – particularly its institutional loan book – such that the quality of its loan book has improved. While ANZ’s Australian home loan book has been growing below system over recent months, we expect a disciplined margin performance from ANZ.”

    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

    This language testing and student placement company has been tipped as an ASX 200 share to buy by Goldman Sachs. While it acknowledges that the immediate term is volatile due to COVID-19, it highlights that its long term growth potential is significant. So much so, Goldman’s three-year CAGR estimate for earnings per share is 69%. In light of this, the broker has a buy rating and $34.00 price target on IDP’s shares.

    Its analysts explained: “The long term growth opportunity for IEL is compelling. The company is reinvesting in digital capability that will increase its competitive advantage and strengthen its relationship with tertiary education institution clients. We estimate IEL to have <5% market share of the Canada and UK markets, with significant opportunity to gain share in a highly fragmented and under-penetrated market.”

    The post Brokers name 2 ASX 200 shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Idp Education Pty Ltd. 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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  • Afterpay’s done, so here’s the BNPL player we’re backing: expert

    Adam Dawes of Shaw and Partners

    Ask A Fund Manager

    The Motley Fool chats with fund managers so that you can get an insight into how the professionals think. In this edition, Shaw and Partners senior investment advisor Adam Dawes tells us 2 themes that are popular with his clients, and the valuable lesson he learnt from a mining stock.

    Investment style

    The Motley Fool: How would you describe what you do?

    Adam Dawes: I advise clients on direct equity portfolios. That’s institutional, professional, or retail clients. We’ve got the whole gamut of clients. We also help companies raise money as well. 

    ASX shares with the biggest convictions

    MF: What are the two most popular holdings among your clients?

    AD: We’ll talk 2 themes…

    The first theme has been technology, and more consistently the buy now, pay later space. That is definitely one of those ones where clients are gravitated to. 

    I think Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) has done a fantastic job for our business of stockbroking. Because a lot of clients buy or they want to. ‘How do I get onto this kind of thing?’ — those headlines have done wonders for stockbroking as a business. 

    Our preferred play in that space is Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P).

    We see all of the buy now, pay laters at least once every 3 to 6 months and talk about their sectors. And we’re looking to put a couple of other unlisted buy now, pay laters, a special one called Bizpay. We’re looking to list that early next year as well. 

    So there’s lots still to go in the buy now, pay later space. I don’t think it’s dead by any stretch of the imagination. 

    In fact, the deal with Afterpay and Square Inc (NYSE: SQ) has really highlighted the ability for buy now, pay later [businesses] to continue to grow. 

    The second one is the most popular… the resource space. There’s still a little bit more to go in that cycle that we’ve always talked about. Certainly, I’ve been really very pleasantly surprised about the dividends that we’ve seen from the resource space. 

    Now, those dividends won’t last, and it is certainly a cycle — you never buy a resource stock for dividends. But certainly, those dividends have been absolutely outstanding and definitely helping us keep clients happy. That income that they’re not getting from the term deposits or their cash. 

    Looking back

    MF: Is there a move that you regret from the past? For example, a missed opportunity or buying a stock at the wrong timing or price.

    AD: If I had my time over, I think understanding the investments before we invest in them. This is an older one — so a bit of a history lesson for everybody — but a business called Intrepid Mines. IAU was the stock code.

    Intrepid Mines had found a gold porphyry mine or a gold porphyry deposit in Indonesia. And basically, we were on this thing very, very early and we got involved [at] 30 cents.

    It went to $2. We basically then topped up again, after we spoke to the company. 

    Topped up again at $2 and then the Indonesian government came along and took the mining licence away from them because it was such a massive deposit. And we had basically radio silence for 3 months from the company. Had no idea what was going on. 

    Then all of a sudden we found out and obviously the share price of $2, went down to 5 cents and we were left holding the bag for a lot of clients. 

    A lot of losses, or the profit that we didn’t take, were due to that political risk. The geopolitical risk when you’re investing in a company.

    So understanding those risks and potentially then not getting involved in countries that you don’t understand or not getting involved in businesses that are not in a safe jurisdiction is one of my biggest lessons or regrets. 

    Not looking at it sooner and not taking action when you get that gut feeling that something’s not right. You’re like, ‘No, no, no. I believe management. No, no, it’s okay.’ You get that gut feeling and that can only come with time — understanding of markets and how things work. 

    So that’s my biggest regret — investing in things that, especially, [when] you don’t understand the natural landscape. Like Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) in Papua New Guinea… We don’t understand the government there, hence I’ve never invested.

    The post Afterpay’s done, so here’s the BNPL player we’re backing: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Zip Co Ltd, 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 Co Ltd 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 Tony Yoo owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO and Square. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Square, and ZIPCOLTD 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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  • How does the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) dividend compare to its sector?

    Two boys in baskets on skateboards race each along a road, indicating competition between rival share prices

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) dividend has pipped higher this earnings season due to strong tailwinds from the company. This comes as the conglomerate’s Bunnings and Kmart Group businesses delivered impressive growth in FY21.

    The surging profits led the company to give back to its shareholders, reflecting its consistent dividend policy.

    But let’s see how the Wesfarmers dividend stacks up against its rivals.

    How does the Wesfarmers dividend compare to its sector?

    Wesfarmers is set to pay a fully franked final dividend of 90 cents per share to eligible investors on 7 October.

    When combined with its interim dividend of 88 cents apiece, this brings the total FY21 dividend to $1.78, a 17.1% increase on FY20.

    Based on the closing Wesfarmers share price of $57.44 yesterday, this implies a dividend yield of 3%.

    In comparison, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) will reward its shareholders with a final dividend of 55 cents per share. This will be payable on 8 October, after going ex-dividend last week.

    The full-year dividend, comprising of an interim dividend of 53 cents apiece, equates to $1.08 per share. This represents a 14.9% lift on the prior full-year dividend (FY20).

    The Woolworths share price finished yesterday at $40.54, which gives it a dividend yield of 2.6%.

    Another Wesfarmers competitor which may surprise you is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

    Wesfarmers also is involved in the manufacture and commercialisation of industrial explosives, chemicals and fertilisers for mining and agriculture sectors.

    BHP is on track to distribute a final dividend of US$2.00 (A$2.74) per share to shareholders on 21 September. The company’s interim dividend for the FY21 period came to US$1.01 (A$1.31) a pop, translating to a full-year dividend of US$3.01 (A$4.05).

    Calculating using the last price of $42.04 for BHP shares, this is a juicy dividend yield of 9.6%. 

    Comparing the Wesfarmers dividend yield against its peers may be one point to consider when investing. However, it is important to also look at the total shareholder return for the past 12 months.

    As such, Wesfarmers shares have gained 24% for the period, while Woolworths and BHP shares have moved up 22% and 13%, respectively.

    Do experts think Wesfarmers shares are a buy?

    A number of brokers weighed in after the company released its full-year results in late August.

    Analysts at Macquarie slapped a “neutral” rating on the Wesfarmers share price, cutting its outlook by 3.3% to $61.35. On the other hand, Morgans and Credit Suisse raised their price targets by 5.2% to $59.00 and 2% to $59.91, respectively.

    However, the most recent broker note came from Citi which also raised its view on Wesfarmers shares by 4.3% to $49.00. Based on the current share price, this implies a downside of around 15% on Citi’s assessment.

    Wesfarmers commands a market capitalisation of roughly $65.1 billion, making it the seventh-largest company on the ASX.

    The post How does the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) dividend compare to its sector? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Wesfarmers, 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 Wesfarmers 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 owns shares of and has recommended Wesfarmers 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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  • When was the best ever day on the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price chart?

    travel shares and IPO represented by man holding passport and wads of cash

    The Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price’s best day ever wasn’t that long ago.

    In fact, it was roughly 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia.

    Webjet’s best single-day performance on the ASX occurred in February 2019.

    That day, the Webjet share price was boosted to close at $10.78. That was 30.61% higher than its previous close of $8.26.

    So, what caused the Webjet share price’s record-breaking take-off? Let’s take a look.

    The best day ever for the Webjet share price

    The Webjet share price’s best day ever was spurred by its results for the first half of the 2019 financial year.

    For the 6 months ended 31 December 2019, the company reported record total transaction values (TTV), revenue, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).

    Webjet’s TTV for the period reached an impressive $1.9 billion, up 29% on that of the prior comparable period.

    Its revenue increased 33% to reach $175.3 million. While its EBITDA came to $58 million, up 42% from that of the first half of 2018.

    All the above metrics were beaten again by Webjet during the first half of the 2020 financial year (H1FY21). However, its share price only gained 10.8% on the back of its H1FY21, potentially due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic at the time.

    Coming back to the present, the Webjet share price is now 43.5% lower than it was at the end of its best day ever.

    The ASX 200 travel company’s shares closed yesterday’s session swapping hands for $6.08 apiece.

    Additionally, its most recent first half results saw it reporting TTV of just $267 million, revenue of $22.6 million, and an EBITDA loss of $40.1 million.

    However, Webjet recently announced good news of its WebBeds business. The news might potentially be signalling the beginning of a turnaround for the embattled tourism industry.

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

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

    Before you consider Webjet, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Webjet wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 buy and hold ASX shares that could help grow your wealth

    excited person holding australian cash in both hands

    One of the most popular and arguably effective investment strategies is buy and hold investing.

    This strategy sees investors making investments into shares with a long term focus. The advantage of this is that it allows an investor to benefit from the power of compounding. This is interest on top of interest.

    One legendary investor which is a big advocate of this strategy is Warren Buffett. Thanks to some highly successful long term investments over several decades, Mr Buffett has amassed significant wealth.

    The good news is that there’s nothing to stop regular investors from following in his footsteps. With that in mind, I have picked out two ASX shares that could be top candidates for a buy and hold investment. They are as follows:

    Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

    The first ASX share to consider is this ecommerce company. While it has just completed a reasonably disastrous 12 months in FY 2021 and the start of FY 2022 has been soft, there’s no doubting that its long term outlook remains very positive.

    This is due to its sizeable customer base, strong market position, and the ongoing shift to online shopping. This leaves the company well-placed for growth over the next decade.

    Analysts at Credit Suisse appear to believe it is worth looking beyond the short term pain and focusing on the potential long term gains. The broker currently has an outperform rating and $14.06 price target on its shares. This compares to the latest Kogan share price of $10.90.

    Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA)

    Another ASX share that could be a top buy and hold investment is Nearmap. It is a leading aerial imagery technology and location data company with operations in the ANZ and North American markets. While its growth has been a bit inconsistent in recent times, management appears confident it is back on track.

    So much so, it is aiming to deliver annualised contract value (ACV) growth of 20% to 40% per annum over the long term. This is expected to be driven by new growth initiatives, geographic expansion, and the launch of new products.

    The team at Morgan Stanley are positive on Nearmap. They currently have a buy rating and $3.20 price target on its shares. This compares to the current Nearmap share price of $2.04.

    The post 2 buy and hold ASX shares that could help grow your wealth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Kogan, 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 Kogan wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Kogan.com ltd and Nearmap Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Kogan.com ltd and Nearmap 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 exciting ASX tech shares to buy

    digital screen of bar chart representing asx tech shares

    If you’re searching for growth shares to buy, then the tech sector could be a great place to look.

    At this side of the market there are a number of companies with the potential to grow significantly over the next decade.

    With that in mind, I have picked out two top tech options that are rated highly. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG)

    The first ASX tech share to look at is Hipages. It is a leading Australian-based online platform and software as a service (SaaS) provider. Its platform connects tradies with residential and commercial consumers, providing job leads from homeowners and organisations looking for qualified professionals.

    Last month it released its full year results and impressed the market with a 22% jump in revenue to $55.8 million. This was ahead of its guidance for FY 2021. In addition, the company revealed that its monthly recurring revenue (MRR) rose 27% year on year to $5.2 million.

    In response to this, the team at Goldman Sachs reiterated their buy rating and lifted their price target to $4.35.

    Goldman highlights that Hipages currently captures <1% of a total $97 billion tradie business spend. This represents a significant opportunity for growth over the next decade.

    Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO)

    Another ASX tech share to look at is Nitro Software. It is a software company that is aiming to drive digital transformation in organisations around the world with its Nitro Productivity Suite.

    The Nitro Productivity Suite provides integrated PDF productivity and electronic signature tools to customers through a horizontal, software-as-a-service, and desktop-based software solution.

    Demand for Nitro’s offering has been increasing from businesses of all sizes. This has led to the company’s recurring revenue growing strongly again in FY 2021.

    For example, during the first half of the financial year, the company achieved a 56% increase in its annualised recurring revenue (ARR) to US$33.8 million. This puts it on track to achieve its FY 2021 guidance for ARR of between US$39 million and US$42 million.

    Wilsons is very positive on the company. It recently retained its overweight rating and lifted its price target to $4.22.

    The post 2 exciting ASX tech shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nitro Software 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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  • What does the future look like for the AMP (ASX:AMP) share price?

    Depiction of a man turning chaotic thoughts into clear direction

    The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price has been a very disappointing performer in 2021.

    Since the start of the year, the embattled financial services company’s shares have lost 31% of their value.

    This means the AMP share price is now down 80% over the last five years.

    In light of this poor share price performance, the company’s transformation plans, and the appointment of a new CEO, I thought I would look to see what analysts are saying about it shares and whether there is a buying opportunity here.

    Where next for the AMP share price?

    Unfortunately, I’m not aware of a single broker that is recommending the AMP share price as a buy at the current level.

    Though, it is worth noting that a couple of brokers have neutral ratings and price targets on its shares that are notably higher than where they trade today.

    For example, according to a note out of Citi from last month, its analysts have a neutral rating and $1.25 price target on its shares.

    Based on the current AMP share price, this implies potential upside of almost 15% over the next 12 months. Not bad for a neutral rating.

    What did the broker say?

    Citi notes that AMP is making progress but acknowledges that there’s still a long way to go for the company.

    It commented: “While AMP has clearly made some progress in 1H21, there is still a long way to go. There will be no dividend until at least 1H22 and earnings are guided to fall in 2H. However given the 1H beat on higher “investment earnings” we nonetheless lift our FY21E by 3% with little change to later years.”

    “As a new CEO takes the helm, it still remains unclear what shape AMP Capital will be in by the time of its targeted private capital markets demerger with its profit currently on a declining path. Further, while its remediation program is finished and there is progress in advice, there is still a long way to go to put the business on a profitable footing. Given slightly reduced, but still considerable, uncertainty we retain our Neutral/High Risk call and A$1.25 target price,” it added.

    Finally, the team at Ord Minnett currently have a hold rating and $1.20 price target. Based on the current AMP share price, this implies potential upside of 10%.

    The post What does the future look like for the AMP (ASX:AMP) share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AMP, 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 AMP 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

    Worried young male investor watches financial charts on computer screen

    On Tuesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fought back again from an early decline to finish the day marginally higher. The benchmark index rose slightly to 7,530.3 points.

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

    ASX 200 expected to fall

    The Australian share market is expected to fall on Wednesday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 20 points or 0.3% lower this morning. This follows a disappointing night of trade on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones fall 0.75%, the S&P 500 drop 0.35%, and the Nasdaq edge 0.05% higher.

    Macquarie shares given neutral rating

    The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price could be fully valued according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. According to a note, the broker has retained its neutral rating but lifted its price target on the investment bank’s shares to $156.52. Goldman lifted its price target after revising its earnings estimates higher to reflect Macquarie’s recent AGM update and broader market conditions. However, it isn’t enough for a more positive rating due to valuation reasons.

    Oil prices tumble

    It could be a tough day for energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices tumbled. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.3% to US$68.38 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.8% to US$71.63 a barrel. Oil prices fell on demand concerns.

    Shares going ex-dividend

    A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower this morning. This includes health supplements company Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL), supply chain logistics company Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB), private health insurer Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), and job listings giant SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK).

    Gold price sinks

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) will be on watch on Wednesday after the gold price sank. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 2% to US$1,796.40 an ounce. A combination of a strong US dollar and higher yields took the shine off the precious metal.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of SEEK Limited. 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 and Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended SEEK 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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  • ASX 200 flat, Aussie Broadband shares halted, Openpay rises

    asx share price fall represented by man shrugging in disbelief

    It was a relatively quiet day for the ASX. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was essentially flat at 7,530 points.

    Here are some of the highlights from the ASX:

    Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

    The NBN-focused telco business announced today that its shares were going into a trading halt.

    It said that that it’s in the process of making and finalising arrangements for a potential capital raising.

    According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, Aussie Broadband is looking to raise $120 million to accelerate product development and support new opportunities. It will be reportedly priced at $4 per share which represents a discount of 13.6%.

    Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY)

    The Openpay share price rose around 4% today after the buy now, pay later company’s update on the latest partnerships that it has won.

    It has signed partnerships with Goodyear and Dunlop Tyres Australia, with 450 tyre and auto service businesses including Beaurepaires, Goodyear Autocare and Dunlop Super Dealers.

    Openpay also said that it has secured the status of being preferred buy now, pay later provider in partnership with the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and Bosch Car Service Australia.

    In its healthcare division, Openpay has signed an agreement with Nexus Hospitals.

    It has also signed with Henry Schein UK, delivering an integration with software business Software of Excellence, which was described as a leader in providing dental practice management software and marketing solutions.

    Openpay said that healthcare has also been launched in the UK with veterinary practices preparing to commence transacting with Openpay through the ezyVet integration.

    The CEO and managing director of Openpay, Michael Eidel, said:

    Openpay continues to establish partnerships with major ecosystem providers and aggregators in our target verticals across our key markets. With these new partnerships, we have deepened our focus into our core verticals in the UK, which together with the anticipated Payment Assist acquisition in Automotive and our imminent US launch, will set us up to achieve our long-term objectives of sustainable growth and profitability.

    Biggest movers and shakers in the ASX 200

    With a lack of actual announcements by ASX 200 companies, let’s look at some of the biggest movers.

    At the green end of the ASX 200, three of the biggest gains were resources business Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) which rose 6.3%, ASX travel share Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) climbed 6.2% and cloud computing business Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) which rose 4.2%.

    At the bottom of the ASX 200 performance table, the Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price fell 4.4% and the Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) share price fell 4.6%.

    The post ASX 200 flat, Aussie Broadband shares halted, Openpay rises appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Appen Ltd, Aussie Broadband Limited, and MEGAPORT FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband Limited, Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, and 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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