Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why the Minbos Resources (ASX:MNB) share price rocketed 41% higher

    A young man pointing up looking amazed, indicating a surging share price movement for an ASX company

    The Minbos Resources Ltd (ASX: MNB) share price was among the best performers on the Australian share market on Wednesday.

    The phosphate ore developer and explorer’s shares rocketed as much as 41% to a multi-year high of 15.5 cents.

    The Minbos Resources share price ultimately ended the day 23% higher at 13.5 cents.

    Why did the Minbos Resources share price rocket higher?

    Investors were bidding the Minbos Resources share price higher today following the release of an event presentation.

    That presentation provides investors with a summary of the company’s operations, plans, and industry trends.

    According to the release, the company is aiming to build a high-impact nutrient production and distribution business for Central Africa.

    It is hoping to achieve this with its Cabinda Phosphate Project in Angola. At a recent showcase event, this project was affirmed as a Project of National Importance to Angola and the wider Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Region.

    This partly due to the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) forecasting the Angolan fertiliser market to grow 10x in the future. Furthermore, over a 10-year period, the IFDC expects Minbos’ and the AFFPP to create 20,000 jobs in fertilizer distribution and agribusiness for a total economic value of more than US$2 billion.

    Management commentary

    Minbos Resources’ CEO, Lindsay Reed, recently commented: “What is now clear from subsequent meetings, was that that our showcase was a watershed moment for the Company and the Project, a moment for which Government support coalesced behind both our plans and that of the AFFPP. It’s now clear that Minbos has the support of the Government to produce not only Rock Phosphate Fertilizer, but to execute a range of Agri-business opportunities.”

    “Through all of the challenges that developing a project during a pandemic has thrown-up, it’s clear that our Project and that of our project partners at the IFDC are having a real impact and gaining real momentum. On behalf of the Board of Minbos, we thank all of the various stakeholders representatives for their attendance as we look forward to being a part of Angola’s growth story, one of the most compelling agricultural stories globally,” he added.

    The Minbos Resources share price is now up 240% in 2021.

    The post Why the Minbos Resources (ASX:MNB) share price rocketed 41% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Minbos, 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 Minbos 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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  • ASX shares and the $41 trillion climate change investment opportunity

    green investor with technology sitting on a ledge looking out onto trees through a window

    Climate change is an issue front of mind for many these days. Even companies are now viewing it as a credible risk to our way of life. ASX shares are likely to be impacted by climate change, but it could also reap huge benefits for companies working towards net zero emissions.

    At present, the endeavour to decarbonise the planet comes with an estimated $41 trillion bill. To put that into perspective, that is roughly twice the annual gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States. The sheer scale of this mission could present an opportunity that has not been witnessed since the internet.

    An opportunity heating up

    The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released in August, has brought increased attention to the severity of consequences from climate change. In particular, ASX shares exposed to coal mining, oil drilling, and gas extraction bore the brunt of negativity from the report – including comments that such industries could face even tighter restrictions.

    Furthermore, the studies published in the report showed that global temperatures were likely to increase 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030 without action. Understandably, there is a large push to fund initiatives to ensure this is not the case.

    Enter the ESG players, committed to environmental, social and governance goals. The question is exactly how big could this ESG sector become? Well, one portfolio manager has deemed it the next big mega-trend.

    In an interview with The Australian Financial Review, portfolio manager at Munro Partners James Tsinidis stated:

    Climate change is the next major mega-trend, and we believe it represents the biggest investment opportunity since the internet. We’re just at the beginning of the next big S-curve, a massive and sustainable decades-long growth trend.

    Opportunity for ASX shares

    The risks posed by climate change have moved to the front of minds and pitch decks in recent years. According to Macquarie Group, 38% of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies now have net zero emissions targets. The portfolio manager believes the sizeable expenditure expected puts ESG-centred shares in good stead.

    Out of the $41 trillion, about 25% is anticipated to be spent on energy efficiency. Meanwhile, 18% is slated to be allocated towards renewable energy. Some ASX-listed shares in this sector include Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT), Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX: MCY), and Genex Power Ltd (ASX: GNX).

    Adding to this belief, BlackRock’s Wei Li mentioned the shift towards sustainable investing is still early in the piece. Moreover, Li said, “We expect green assets that are likely to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy to outperform during this shift.”

    The post ASX shares and the $41 trillion climate change investment opportunity 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 Genex Power 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 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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  • The Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price dropped 12% in August. What’s next?

    asx share investor lookly sadly at barrel of oil leaking on floor

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price climbed 1.28% on Wednesday to $19.74, as it put a disappointing month to bed.

    Shares in the Aussie energy giant slumped 12% over August in a busy month for the company.

    So, what’s driving the Aussie petroleum share price right now and what lies ahead in 2021 and beyond?

    Why the Woodside share price fell 12% in August

    Woodside closed at $19.49 per share on Tuesday — 11.97% lower compared to its closing price on Monday 2 August.

    The biggest slide came on either side of the group’s 2021 half-year (1H 21) results released on 18 August.

    Woodside reported a $317 million net profit after tax following a 31.3% jump in operating revenue to $2.5 billion.

    Investors will receive an interim dividend of US 30 cents per share after Woodside generated US$311 million in free cash flow.

    The Woodside share price was volatile in August but ultimately closed the month down 12%.

    Underlying the half-year result was the merger speculation with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)’s petroleum division.

    That speculation was proved to be true as Woodside and BHP unveiled a plan to create a top 10 independent, global energy company. The merged entity will focus on creating a high margin oil portfolio alongside long-life, high-quality liquid natural gas (LNG) assets.

    What’s next for Woodside?

    The merger plan looks set to dominate Woodside’s plans in the near term. Existing Woodside shareholders are set to hold a 52% stake in the merged business with 48% held by BHP shareholders.

    The Woodside share price remains down 14.4% in 2021 after a busy August earnings season.

    Rising oil prices helped boost the energy giant’s shares on Wednesday, and investors will be hoping that continues for the rest of FY21.

    The Aussie energy giant has commenced the sell-down of its Pluto Train 2 development and is approaching a final investment decision on its Scarborough development.

    Woodside also stands to benefit from higher demand for energy as Australia and the world turns their attention to reopening and moving past tight COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 and 2022.

    The post The Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price dropped 12% in August. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 Woodside 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 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares on Wednesday

    Top 10 blank list on chalkboard

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) inched lower after climbing upwards from its early morning fall. The benchmark index finished 0.1% lower to 7,527.1 points. Consumer discretionary and staples were the laggards of the session, with Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) diving downwards today.

    However, the question is: which shares from the top 200 delivered the most green on the ASX today? Here are the ten stocks that delivered the biggest gains while the market fell:

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the tech distribution company increased 5.6% despite no news. Find out more about Dicker Data here.

    The next best performing ASX share out of the top 200 today was Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC). The miner’s shares rallied 4.78% to $1.865 today, once again with no announcements. Uncover the latest Alumina information here.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX 200 shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) $13.42 5.59%
    Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC) $1.865 4.78%
    Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) $2.26 4.63%
    Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE) $10.30 4.25%
    Skycity Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SKC) $3.20 3.90%
    Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) $4.53 3.66%
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) $2.61 3.16%
    IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) $29.69 3.02%
    Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) $5.24 2.95%
    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) $16.89 2.93%
    Data as at 4:00pm AEST

    Our top 10 ASX 200 shares 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 200 shares on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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 Dicker Data Limited, Idp Education Pty Ltd, and Link Administration Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Dicker Data Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group Limited and Link Administration Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Digital Wine (ASX: DW8) share price wobbled today

    falling asx wine share price represented by glass of red wine spilling

    The Digital Wine Ventures Ltd (ASX: DW8) share price spent most of today in the red, despite no news having been released by the company.

    However, it did announce its earnings for financial year 2021 (FY21) yesterday.

    Luckily, the wine distributor’s shares recovered in the nick of time. The Digital Wine share price finished the day trading at 6.4 cents, flat with its previous close.

    Let’s take a look at the latest news from Digital Wine.

    Digital Wines share price flat despite posting 410% increase to income

    Here’s how the wine distributor performed during FY21:

    • $2.6 million of revenue, 410% greater than that of FY20
    • Net loss after tax of $6.9 million, a 240% great loss than the company reported for  the prior financial year
    • Gross profit of $19,414

    According to the company, its net loss for FY21 was intensified by the expansion of its WINEDEPOT business and employee share options.

    Over the period, Digital Wine’s assets increased by $8.3 million to reach $8.8 million worth, mostly due to a capital raise.

    The company shipped 204,962 cases of wine in FY21. That’s 761% more than it did the prior financial year.

    The company ended the period with $6.3 million of cash.

    What happened in FY21 for Digital Wine?

    It’s been a busy year for Digital Wine and its share price.

    Digital Wine underwent a $6.15 million capital raising in July 2020.

    The company signed up its first French winery and, in doing so, expanded its addressable market early in FY21.

    It also announced it would make credit as a service available within its direct-to-trade marketplace.

    Additionally, Digital Wine partnered with Earlypay Ltd (ASX: EPY) to launch a payment management system for its wholesale customers and with Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) to offer a buy now, pay later solution.

    It finalised its plan to roll out a national network of temperature-controlled depots and expand its delivery fleet to ready itself for expected growth. Digital Wine later partnered with Direct Couriers to develop a dedicated delivery fleet for its wine.

    It agreed to acquire Wine Delivery Australia, which Digital Wine expected to increase its customer database by 186 suppliers. Digital Wine also expanded its addressable market by providing wineries the ability to list their products across a broad range of direct-to-consumer sales channels and allowed corporate small-to-medium enterprises and registered businesses to purchase wine on a membership model.  

    It also partnered with Vivino, the world’s largest wine app and marketplace, and Bibendum, a fine wine and beverage distributor. Additionally, Digital Wine signed a memorandum of understanding with eBay. The company also added Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) to the list of direct-to-customer channels serviced by Digital Wine’s WINEDEPOT DIRECT

    It also allowed its shareholders to buy its products at better prices through its ‘Insider Trading’ wine club.

    Finally, Digital Wine obtained official climate neutral status from Leaders for Climate Action.

    What did management say?

    Digital Wine’s chair, Paul Evans, commented on the results that didn’t manage to spur much excitement for the company’s share price. He said:

    It has been a year of further strong growth. We have accelerated organic growth in our WINEDEPOT LOGISTICS platform…

    Our sales pipeline remains strong, notwithstanding a challenging environment for many of our customers stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the constraints on winery visitation and forced closures for on-premise operations…

    The Company in a strong liquidity position and has the resources to execute its vision. We continue to consider a range of merger and acquisition opportunities. The key principles that must drive these is that they will either add value to our customer experience and/or drive efficiencies and scale in our core business.

    What’s next for Digital Wine?

    Here’s what those interested in the Digital Wine share price might want to keep an eye out for in FY22.

    The company commented in its FY21 results that it expects to ship 1 million cases of wine in FY22. That would be a notable milestone that might have an effect on the Digital Wine share price.

    Additionally, the company plans to develop WINEDEPOT’s presence in Australia and New Zealand for the time being. Though, it eventually hopes to expand into other key markets.

    In the future, Digital Wine might be updating the market on launches in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

    Digital Wine share price snapshot

    The Digital Wine share price has gained 60% year to date. It is also, coincidently, 60% higher than it was this time last year.

    The post Why the Digital Wine (ASX: DW8) share price wobbled today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Digital 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 Digital 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 Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Amazon and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended eBay and has recommended the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon, short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon, and short October 2021 $70 calls on eBay. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. 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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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    ASX shares latest buy ideas upgrade best buy Stopwatch with Time to Buy on the counter

    Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.

    Three broker buy ratings that have caught my eye are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have upgraded this electronic design software company’s shares to a buy rating with a trimmed price target of $35.40. Citi believe the weakness in the Altium share price following its results release is a buying opportunity for investors. Particularly given its solid guidance for FY 2022 and long term growth potential. The Altium share price is trading at $29.95 on Wednesday.

    NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and lifted their price target on this data centre operator’s shares to $15.50. Although NEXTDC fell a touch short of expectations in FY 2021, Morgan Stanley remains very bullish on its long term growth potential. This is due to structural tailwinds in the industry. All in all, the broker expects this to lead to a compound annual growth rate of 27% for its earnings over the next three years. The NEXTDC share price was fetching $13.34 today.

    Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB)

    Analysts at Macquarie have retained their outperform rating and lifted their price target on this online travel agent’s shares to $6.45. This follows the release of a trading update which revealed that its key WebBeds business reached profitability again in July. Macquarie sees this as a big positive and also expects a sharp rebound in bookings once lockdowns ease and border restrictions are lifted. The Webjet share price is trading at $5.74 on Wednesday.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of NEXTDC Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Altium. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Altium and 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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  • Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price rises on official Amplitel launch

    a smiling woman sits in a cafe checking her phone and drinking a coffee with a lap top open in front of her.

    The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price ended Wednesday’s trading session in the green amid a sea of red. That’s after the company launched its mobile tower infrastructure business, Amplitel.

    At market close, shares in Australia’s largest telco finished at $3.89 – up 1.3%. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), meanwhile, closed 0.21% lower.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news.

    Telstra’s new business

    Telstra restructured its business in order to enable the $2.8 billion sale of a 49% interest in its tower business.

    At the time, Telstra said it would return 50% of the proceeds to shareholders and use the remaining half for debt reduction. When the company delivered its full-year results, Telstra announced an 8-cents per share dividend (16 cents full-year) and a $1.35 billion on-market share buyback. The buyback is because of the recent sale.

    In today’s announcement, Telstra revealed the name of the new infrastructure business that it retains a 51% stake in – Amplitel. Telstra says the name is a hybrid of “amplify” and “Telstra”. The company says it “reflect(s) our history and the increasing importance of our infrastructure that provides the foundation for wireless connectivity in this country”.

    Telstra also called today’s announcement the “most significant change since privatisation”. This news may have excited investors, judging by the rise in the Telstra share price.

    What are brokers saying?

    As The Motley Fool has previously reported, Telstra is seen as a buy by many analysts. Part of the reason for this is Telstra’s “T22 strategy” to make the company leaner and more efficient. The partial sale of its tower business was essential to this.

    Telstra CEO Andy Penn is targeting mid to high single-digit operating earnings growth in FY 2022. He is then targeting further growth in FY 2023.

    Analysts at Morgans are calling Telstra a buy and are tipping the Telstra share price to hit $4.34. It also expects 16 cents per share fully franked dividends in FY 2022 and FY 2023.

    Telstra share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Telstra share price has increased 37.1%. It’s outperformed the ASX 200 by about 11 percentage points. Year-to-date, the company’s shares have risen around 30%.

    Telstra has a market capitalisation of approximately $46 billion.

    The post Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price rises on official Amplitel launch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Telstra, 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 Telstra 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 Marc Sidarous 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 Telstra Corporation 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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  • The Australian Ethical (ASX:AEF) share price is sliding 4%. What’s next?

    investor touching ethics button on a digital screen

    The Australian Ethical Investment Limited (ASX: AEF) share price is currently down by around 6%.

    It just so happens that Australian Ethical has gone ex-dividend today. However, that dividend was only $0.05 per share, which equates to a yield of 0.5%.

    That final dividend came after the ethical fund manager’s FY21 result.

    FY21 result

    In the FY21, the business generated underlying profit after tax (UPAT) of $11.1 million, an increase of 19%. This was driven by operating revenue increasing by 18% to $58.7 million.

    The fund manager’s customer base increased by 23%. The ASX share boasted it remains one of the fastest growing super funds in the country by both the number of members and funds under management.

    Australian Ethical generated a performance fee of $2.9 million from investment outperformance by the Emerging Companies Fund. Excluding the outperformance fees, operating revenue growth was 21% and UPAT increased by 30%.

    Operating expenses increased by 18% to $43.6 million as the business continues to invest for growth.

    One of the key drivers of the result was that group funds under management (FUM) increased by 50% over the year to $6.07 billion, which was helped by investment performance and net inflows of $1.03 billion (56% higher than last year).

    In terms of the dividends, the final ordinary dividend was 4 cents per share and a special performance fee dividend of 1 cent per share, bringing the total year dividend to 8 cents per share – an increase of 33%.

    What is the outlook for the Australian Ethical share price?

    In the short-term, the business is going to focus on improving its investment capability, expanding its product offering, increasing brand awareness, improving the customer experience and increasing the size of its newer customer segments.

    In the longer-term, the company believes that the initiatives mentioned above will allow it to leverage the scale of the business and grow profit.

    The Australian Ethical CEO John McMurdo said:

    The planets are aligning very quickly for Australian Ethical with societal, political and economic tailwinds pointing to a business case for responsible investing that is impossible to ignore. And while we are well positioned – with no debt, strong cashflows and positive momentum – we will be much more ambitious to safeguard and grow our market share in what will be a fiercely contested market in the near term.

    The post The Australian Ethical (ASX:AEF) share price is sliding 4%. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Australian Ethical right now?

    Before you consider Australian Ethical, 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 Australian Ethical wasn’t one of them.

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Australian Ethical Investment Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Australian Ethical Investment 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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  • Own AFIC (ASX:AFI) shares? Then you also own these US tech stocks

    a group of people hold up a large globe above their heads.

    The Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) has long held a reputation for being a Listed Investment Company (LIC) that primarily invests in blue chip ASX shares. That’s what you get when you’ve been around since 1928 and don’t change your investing playbook too often.

    But it seems as though even an old ship can still change course.

    Don’t worry, there’s nothing too radical here. AFIC’s largest positions remain in ASX 200 blue chip shares, according to its latest data. Its top shares still include stalwarts like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and CSL Limited (ASX: CSL).

    However, there have been rumours swirling around that AFIC has been looking beyond our shores for its investment horizon. These largely stem from AFIC’s annual general meeting last year.

    Well, we just got some proof that the rumours were not entirely unfounded. AFIC has just released its annual report for the 2021 financial year and it contained some very interesting tidbits. AFIC actually announced that it has been investing beyond the ASX in a meaningful way. Here’s what it said:

    A small part of our funds, $48 million (which represents approximately 0.5 per cent of the portfolio) was invested into a diversified global equities portfolio during the latter half of the financial year. 

    Not only that, but AFIC also disclosed these international shares. And it turns out there are quite a lot of them: 39 in fact.

    AFIC takes the plunge on US tech stocks

    These companies are mostly US shares, but there are some British, German Fench, Swiss and Chinese companies too. We won’t go through all of them, but here are some of the more prominent names:

    So it’s pretty evident that AFIC is very happy to add some big US blue chip companies to its portfolio, including all of the FAANG stocks, as well as Microsoft. Its exposure to the European consumer staples giants in Nestle and Unilever is also notable, as is its investment in the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

    And although AFIC admits these positions amount to a relatively small proportion of its overall investments, we can probably expect the company to continue to beef up its international portfolio going forward.

    At the current AFIC share price of $8.41, this LIC has a market capitalisation of $10.3 billion, and a dividend yield of 2.84%.

    The post Own AFIC (ASX:AFI) shares? Then you also own these US tech stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider AFIC, 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 AFIC 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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    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Alphabet (A shares), Facebook, Mastercard, McDonalds, PepsiCo, Starbucks, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, CSL Ltd., Facebook, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, PayPal Holdings, Starbucks, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Unilever and has recommended the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon, long January 2022 $75 calls on PayPal Holdings, long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon, short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple, and short October 2021 $120 calls on Starbucks. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Mastercard, Netflix, PayPal Holdings, and Starbucks. 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’s why the Oz Minerals (ASX:OZL) share price is up 7% this week

    Miner with thumbs up at mine

    The Oz Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) share price has rallied 7.82% in the past week thanks to a rebound in copper prices.

    OZ Minerals is one of the largest ASX-listed copper players, forecast to produce 120,000 to 145,000 tonnes of copper in 2021.

    Copper price rises on demand optimism

    Copper prices have been range bound for the past 6 months, after breaking above US$4/lb in late February.

    The move above US$4/lb marked a 10-year high for the metal.

    Copper prices have since been trading between lows of US$3.9/lb and highs of US$4.8/lb.

    The price of copper tumbled to a 6-month low of US$3.95/lb on 19 August.

    This selloff broadly coincided with the Oz Minerals share price hitting a 6-month low of $20.04.

    Copper prices have since bounced back as China continues to show appetite for the metal.

    According to an article featured on Mining.com, “There are also signs that the slump in prices last week is enticing consumers back to the market, while simultaneously discouraging suppliers of copper scrap from making sales.”

    The article quoted ratings agency S&P Global which said “Copper prices are expected to be supported by the potential for near-term supply disruptions in Chile, a recovery in ex-China demand and indications of continued Chinese government support for the economy and employment”.

    What’s the outlook for Oz Minerals?

    The Oz Minerals share price has so far been a solid performer in 2021, up 24% year-top-date.

    Looking ahead, the company is looking to lift production at its key copper producing projects, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena.

    According to the company’s FY21 results, management confirmed its final investment decision for the shift mine expansion at Prominent Hill. This move is expected to lower operating costs and lift annual copper production by 23%.

    In addition, management said that “Production at Carrapateena has continued to increase during the half year as expected. In January the Board approved the Block Cave Expansion, which replaces the lower portion of the current sub level cave footprint with a block cave to increase mine production to a proposed 12Mtpa.”

    The post Here’s why the Oz Minerals (ASX:OZL) share price is up 7% this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Oz Minerals, you’ll want to hear this.

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

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

    *Returns as of August 16th 2021

    More reading

    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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