Tag: Motley Fool

  • Here are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

    This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

    With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

    • Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) is still the most shorted ASX share after its short interest remained flat at 11.7%. Short sellers will have been disappointed to see the travel agent’s shares rise on a strong update last week.
    • Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has short interest of 10.9%, which is up week on week again. It seems that some traders doubt that this buy now pay later provider will achieve its profit goals.
    • Jervois Global Ltd (ASX: JRV) has 9.4% of its shares held short, which is up strongly week on week again. Short sellers have been loading up on this cobalt developer’s shares after it suspended the final construction of the Idaho Cobalt Operations. The company made the move due to low cobalt prices and has already spent US$130 million on its construction.
    • Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) has short interest of 9%, which is up week on week. Traders appear to believe that investors are valuing this lithium miner incorrectly.
    • Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) has seen its short interest ease to 8.9%. Weak lithium prices are likely to be behind this.
    • Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) has seen its short interest ease a touch to 8.4%. There are concerns that the housing market downturn and a return to offline shopping could be hitting this online furniture retailer hard.
    • Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE) has 8.4% of its shares in the hands of short sellers. Weak lithium prices and funding concerns appear to be behind this high level of short interest.
    • Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) has returned to the top ten with 8.4% of its shares held short.  Unfortunately for short sellers, the sports betting company’s shares rose 17% last week. This appears to have been driven by speculation that a divestment could be in the works.
    • AMA Group Ltd (ASX: AMA) has 8.2% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. Short sellers seem to be targeting the smash repair company due to the terrible state of its balance sheet.
    • Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) has seen its short interest fall significantly to 8%. Short sellers have been closing positions in a hurry after this network as a service company released a very positive trading update.

    The post Here are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    FREE Guide for New Investors

    Despite what some people may say – we believe investing in shares doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated…

    For over a decade, we’ve been helping everyday Aussies get started on their journey.

    And to help even more people cut through some of the confusion “experts’” seem to want to perpetuate – we’ve created a brand-new “how to” guide.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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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 positions in and has recommended Megaport, PointsBet, Temple & Webster Group, and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group, Megaport, PointsBet, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 3 things ASX investors should watch this week

    A man and a woman sit in front of a laptop looking fascinated and captivated.A man and a woman sit in front of a laptop looking fascinated and captivated.

    ASX shares are set for another eventful week.

    Here are the most important events to keep an eye on, according to eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert:

    1. Australian consumer confidence 

    What a difference one month makes!

    Last month, after the Reserve Bank of Australia held its cash rate steady after raising it for 10 consecutive months, Australian consumer confidence rocketed 9.4% higher.

    “However, that confidence might be short-lived as the RBA increased its cash rate this week by another 25 basis points to 3.85%,” said Gilbert.

    “This rate hike will squeeze household budgets even further, with retail sales already showing that consumers are spending less, which is the RBA’s aim.”

    The May interest rate rise would “undoubtedly” make this week’s confidence update more pessimistic, he added.

    “A saving grace for the index may be the increase in Australian house prices in April for the second month in a row, which may provide some relief to homeowners.”

    The better news in the longer run is that Gilbert reckons the Reserve Bank’s shenanigans might be over for now.

    “It seems that the RBA is now done with its hiking cycle, with rate cuts to occur in the second half of the year, which should help to increase consumer confidence significantly.”

    2. US inflation influences stocks everywhere, including ASX

    According to Gilbert, this month’s 25 basis point increase in the US could be the final chapter in the “largest hiking cycle for decades”.

    “With inflation moving in the right direction and now falling faster thanks to the banking issues in the US, the central bank appeared to soften its tone on interest rates — but reiterated that it would take time for inflation to return to target.”

    The massive takeaway from this week’s numbers will be whether core inflation remains “sticky”, because that could mean more rate rises and further downward pressure on stock prices.

    Not to mention the chances of a recession.

    In April, the US saw headline inflation dip to 5% while core inflation nudged up to 5.6%.

    “Looking ahead to [the May] reading, headline inflation is expected to fall again, but only slightly to 4.9%, with core inflation expected to stay unchanged at 5.6%,” said Gilbert.

    “US Inflation is driving recession risks and the Fed, so another sharp decline in inflation will bring some further relief to investors.”

    3. Chinese inflation going the opposite way

    Even though the other major economies are busy stamping out high inflation, China is trying to do the opposite.

    “Chinese CPI rose by 0.7% in March but fell from 1% in February, compared to 6.3% in Australia, 5% in the US and 10.1% in the UK,” said Gilbert.

    “Prices in China are falling, and the People’s Bank of China are providing plenty of fiscal stimulus and cutting interest rates in order to boost the economy.”

    The Australian economy and the stock market are closely associated with the fortunes of the world’s most populous nation.

    Deflation is currently the big worry for the Chinese economy.

    “If goods and services continue to fall, consumers will delay spending, therefore increasing economic problems,” Gilbert said.

    “However, for now, the economy is recovering, with pent-up demand driving 10% retail sales growth and a sharp recovery in GDP of 4.5%.”

    China is now on track to be the only major economy to grow more in 2023 than in 2022, he added.

    “Next week’s inflation print will be a key reading on what’s ahead for China, with expectations for inflation to decline once again.”

    The post 3 things ASX investors should watch this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in right now?

    Before you consider , 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 wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Hoping to bag the next Bank of Queensland dividend? You’d better be quick

    a man in a snappy business suit looks disappointed as he counts bank notes in his hand.

    a man in a snappy business suit looks disappointed as he counts bank notes in his hand.

    If you’re wanting to receive the upcoming Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) dividend, then you will need to act fast.

    That’s because, it will soon be time for the regional bank’s shares to trade ex-dividend.

    The Bank of Queensland dividend

    As a reminder, last month the bank released its half-year results.

    For the six months ended 28 February, Bank of Queensland reported a 4% decline in cash earnings to $256 million. Management revealed that its earnings were supported by a margin tailwind, which materially reduced over the last two months of the half due to heightened mortgage and deposit competition.

    However, this margin uplift was offset by a 7% increase in expenses. The company is now attempting to combat this with a simplification program.

    In light of its earnings decline, it will be no surprise to learn that the Bank of Queensland interim dividend was cut by 9% to a fully franked 20 cents per share.

    The good news, though, is that recent weakness in the Bank of Queensland share price means that this dividend equates to an attractive 3.4% yield. And there’s still a final dividend to come later this year!

    Going ex-dividend

    As mentioned above, if you want to receive the Bank of Queensland dividend, you will need to make an investment today or tomorrow.

    That’s because the bank’s shares will trade ex-dividend on Wednesday, which means that the rights to the payout will have been finalised and those holding shares at Tuesday’s market close will receive the dividend even if they sold their holding the next day.

    If you do own shares or plan to, you can look forward to receiving this dividend in your bank account in a touch over three weeks on 1 June.

    The post Hoping to bag the next Bank of Queensland dividend? You’d better be quick appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bank Of Queensland right now?

    Before you consider Bank Of Queensland, 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 Bank Of Queensland wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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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 Scott Phillips.

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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week on a positive note. The benchmark index rose 0.3% to 7,220 points.

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

    ASX 200 expected to rise again

    The Australian share market is expected to have a strong start thanks to a stellar finish to last week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 64 points or 0.9% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 1.65%, S&P 500 climbed 1.85%, and NASDAQ pushed 2.25% higher. A strong result from Apple helped boost indices higher.

    Westpac half-year results

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price will be one to watch on Monday when the banking giant releases its half-year results. As with the other big four banks, strong earnings growth is expected during the half.  Goldman Sachs is expecting cash earnings (before one-offs) to increase 22.2% to $3,781 million, which is a touch short of the consensus estimate of $3,788 million. The broker has also pencilled in a fully franked interim dividend of 72 cents per share.

    Oil prices jump

    It could be a great start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices rebounded strongly on Friday. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 4.05% to US$71.34 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price rose 3.85% to US$75.30 a barrel. Oil prices rose after the release of strong economic data in the United States. Though, it wasn’t enough to stop oil from recording its third successive weekly decline.

    Gold price tumbles

    ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a tough start to the week after the gold price tumbled on Friday night. According to CNBC, the spot gold price dropped 1.5% to $2,024.9 per ounce. Strong economic data appears to have sparked concerns over further rate hikes.

    ANZ rated neutral

    The team at Goldman Sachs continues to sit on the fence when it comes to ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares. In response to the release of the bank’s half-year results, the broker has retained its neutral rating with a $26.17 price target. While it was impressed with the performance of its institutional business, it warned investors not to get carried away. The broker highlights that “previous cycles have shown us that ANZ’s Institutional profitability can inflect suddenly.”

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday 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 over ten 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…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in 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 recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Analysts name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy and hold for a decade

    A man points at a paper as he holds an alarm clock.

    A man points at a paper as he holds an alarm clock.

    Do you want a long term passive income boost? If you do, then the ASX 200 dividend shares listed below that analysts rate as a buy could be the way to do it.

    Here’s why these could be dividend shares to buy now:

    Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

    The first ASX 200 dividend share for investors to consider for the long term is Domino’s.

    This pizza chain operator’s shares have been sold off this year after tough trading conditions and inflationary pressures weighed on its performance.

    While this is disappointing, Morgans remains positive on the company despite its troubles. In fact, it recently said that it believes that “now is the best time to consider an investment in a quality business like DMP that is facing headwinds that will reverse in time.”

    And while the company’s dividend yield is lower than average, it has the potential to increase materially in the future thanks to management’s plan to double its store network.

    For now, the broker is forecasting partially franked dividends per share of $1.36 in FY 2023 and $1.62 in FY 2024. Based on the current Domino’s share price of $51.30, this will mean yields of 2.65% and 3.15%, respectively.

    Morgans has an add rating and an $70.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Another ASX 200 dividend share that could be a top buy and hold option for income investors is Transurban.

    It is one of the world’s leading toll road operators and the proud owner of a world-class collection of roads across several locations.

    While times were hard during the pandemic, its roads have recovered so strongly that it achieved record volumes during the first half. Combined with its development pipeline and inflation-linked price increases, the future looks very bright for Transurban.

    That may be why UBS is bullish on the company and has a buy rating and $15.45 price target on its shares.

    In addition, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 57 cents in FY 2023 and then 61 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Transurban share price of $14.73, this will mean yields of 3.9% and 4.15%, respectively.

    The post Analysts name 2 ASX 200 dividend shares to buy and hold for a decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Looking to buy dividend shares to help fight inflation?

    If you’re looking to buy dividend shares to help fight inflation then you’ll need to get your hands on this… Our FREE report revealing 3 stocks not only boasting inflation-fighting dividends…

    They also have strong potential for massive long-term returns…

    See the 3 stocks
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Morgans names 2 of the best small cap ASX shares to buy

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    A male sharemarket analyst sits at his desk looking intently at his laptop with two other monitors next to him showing stock price movements

    At the small end of the Australian share market, there are a number of companies with the potential to grow materially in the future.

    Two that Morgans rates highly and has on its best ideas list this month are named below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Strandline Resources Ltd (ASX: STA)

    The first small cap ASX share that has been named as a buy is Strandline Resources.

    This mineral sands developer is a new addition to the best ideas list, with Morgans appearing to be very excited by this “rare investment proposition.” It explains:

    STA is a heavy mineral sands explorer and developer, with projects in Australia and Tanzania. We continue to note that STA is a rare investment proposition. It enjoys: 1) 100% ownership of a world-scale/ strategic asset in a tier 1 jurisdiction; 2) lenient debt terms; 3) visibility on upcoming cashflow/ de-risking; 4) proven, backable management; 5) a reputable board; and 6) clear M&A appeal while trading at a material discount.

    Morgans has a 75 cents price target on the company’s shares. This compares very favourably to the latest Strandline Resources share price of 34 cents.

    Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

    Another small cap ASX share the broker is bullish on is Universal Store. This youth fashion retailer makes the list again this month thanks to its very positive outlook in a tough retail environment. The broker highlights its strong brands, expansion opportunities, and target demographic as reasons to buy. It said:

    Universal Store (UNI) is one of the largest and fastest growing fashion retailers in Australia. Through a national network of over 100 stores and a successful online platform, UNI curates a diverse range of men’s and women’s fashion, shoes and accessories from local and international brands as well as its own private labels. UNI’s stores trade under the Universal Store, Perfect Stranger and THRILLS banners. UNI has opportunities to grow steadily through the rollout of bricks and mortar stores, increased digital penetration and expansion of wholesale channels. We expect some volatility in near-term earnings as consumer demand for highly discretionary categories like apparel ebbs and flows, but we see any share price weakness as an opportunity to buy into a high quality retailer with strong medium to long-term prospects.

    Morgans has an add rating and $6.85 price target on the company’s shares. This compares to the current Universal Store share price of $4.40.

    The post Morgans names 2 of the best small cap ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    FREE Beginners Investing Guide

    Despite what some people may say – we believe investing in shares doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated…

    For over a decade, we’ve been helping everyday Aussies get started on their journey.

    And to help even more people cut through some of the confusion “experts’” seem to want to perpetuate – we’ve created a brand-new “how to” guide.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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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 Scott Phillips.

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  • Fundie reveals the ASX All Ords stock trading at a 35% discount

    a line of job applicants sit on stools against a brick wall in an office environment, various holding laptops , devices and paper, as though waiting to be interviewed for a position.a line of job applicants sit on stools against a brick wall in an office environment, various holding laptops , devices and paper, as though waiting to be interviewed for a position.

    Looking for an ASX All Ords stock trading at a sharp discount to its peers?

    Then you may wish to run your slide rule over workforce solutions company PeopleIn Ltd (ASX: PPE).

    The ASX All Ords stock is trading about flat in 2023 and is down 12% over the past 12 months. That compares to a 3% loss posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) over that same time.

    PeopleIn is also known for its reliable, twice-yearly dividends. Its shares trade on a trailing dividend yield of 4.4%, fully franked.

    At the current share price, PeopleIn trades at a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of about 12 times.

    The ASX All Ords stock trading at a 35% discount

    Josh Clark, portfolio manager of QVG Capital’s long-short fund, named PeopleIn as the most undervalued share on the ASX.

    “PeopleIn is a diversified labour services business that has delivered double-digit organic growth supplemented by sensible acquisitions,” Clark said (courtesy of the Australian Financial Review).

    “In fact,” he said of the ASX All Ords stock, “they’re at a 35% discount to the average industrial despite having grown EPS (earnings per share) at 22% over an extended period.”

    Addressing potential concerns about why PeopleIn is trading at a steep discount, Clark said:

    Stocks are always cheap for a reason but in this case, it’s non-operational. Low liquidity and their gearing capacity appear to be keeping a lid on the valuation. However, if they continue to grow as we expect, these things will be resolved in time.

    PeopleIn released its half-year results on 17 February.

    The ASX All Ords stock reported revenue of $597 million for the six months, up 89% year on year. Normalised profits came in at $21 million, up 50% from the prior corresponding period.

    How has the PeopleIn share price performed longer-term?

    As long-term investors, it pays to take a step back to see how a company has fared over more than just the past year.

    In the case of this ASX All Ords stock, if you’d bought shares five years ago, you’d be sitting on a gain of 105%. And that doesn’t include the dividend payouts.

    The post Fundie reveals the ASX All Ords stock trading at a 35% discount appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Peoplein Limited right now?

    Before you consider Peoplein Limited, 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 Peoplein Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Peoplein. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Peoplein. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Want $200 in weekly passive income? Buy 85,200 shares of this ASX 300 stock

    happy farmer, agricultural stock risehappy farmer, agricultural stock rise

    S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) stock Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) is one ASX dividend share that I have in my portfolio for passive income.

    I think it’s a business worth investing in for the regular, attractive distributions that it pays.

    While it doesn’t pay a distribution every week, the ASX 300 stock pays income to investors every quarter. We just need to split that quarterly payment into weekly amounts.

    For readers who haven’t heard of Rural Funds, it’s a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a portfolio of farmland across Australia. The business is invested in a number of different farm types including almonds, macadamias, vineyards, sugar, cotton, and cropping.

    Passive income goal

    The ASX dividend share has a goal of increasing its distribution by at least 4% per annum, which it has done since listing several years ago.

    Let’s assume for the sake of this article that the FY23 quarterly payment from the ASX 300 stock continues over the next 12 months.

    In FY23, it’s expecting to pay a total distribution of 12.2 cents, which is a gross payment of 3.05 cents per quarter.

    To get $200 per week, we’re essentially aiming for an annual target of $10,400. To reach that passive income goal, we’re talking about owning 85,246 Rural Funds shares. Buying this many shares would currently come at a cost of around $168,000.

    Is Rural Funds a good ASX dividend share?

    I think it’s one of the best REITs on the ASX. The 30% or so fall in the Rural Funds share price over the past year has pushed up the distribution yield to 6.2%.

    It has 67 properties with quality tenants – around 80% of its forecast FY23 lease revenue is from corporate lessees. Those tenants are on long-term rental contracts, with the current weighted average lease expiry (WALE) being around 12 years. That’s a long time for rent to be locked in.

    Higher interest rates are hurting the rental profits of the business. But it’s benefiting from CPI and fixed indexation of its rental income, as well as market rent review mechanisms.

    The business also has a development and leasing pipeline, where productivity improvements and conversion to higher and better-use developments are expected to generate earnings growth in future years. For example, its 3,000-hectare development is forecast to be completed by FY25.

    Higher interest rates may hurt the ASX 300 stock’s farm values, but I think the Rural Funds share price decline has made up for that.

    The post Want $200 in weekly passive income? Buy 85,200 shares of this ASX 300 stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Rural Funds 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 Rural Funds Group wasn’t one of them.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Rural Funds Group. 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 positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Follow the free cash flow: Could these unloved ASX shares be worth buying?

    a water tap is turned on and showering out banknotes into the open hand of a woman below it.a water tap is turned on and showering out banknotes into the open hand of a woman below it.

    There are countless ways of valuing businesses before deciding to pull the trigger on an investment. But, one often overlooked method for analysing an ASX share is its free cash flow (FCF) yield.

    Essentially, the free cash flow yield measures the net cash generated by the company’s operations relative to its enterprise value. The enterprise value is simply its market capitalisation, plus its total debt, minus its cash and cash equivalents.

    Simply put, this metric is similar to the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, but for cash flows. You might be thinking: why not just stick with the good ole’ fashioned P/E then?

    Follow on to find out what the FCF yield offers over an earning multiple, what a good FCF yield is, and which ASX shares could be ‘good’ value based on this valuation method.

    Why free cash flow yield can be useful

    So much focus in the investing world is placed on earnings or net profit after tax (NPAT). However, the reality is this figure can sometimes be unintentionally misleading due to a variety of factors.

    A common inclusion of a company’s bottom-line earnings is non-operational income. Examples of this might include one-off asset sales or property valuation gains. In such cases, the listed entity suddenly looks dirt cheap based on its temporarily improved P/E ratio.

    Unfortunately, unless one is privy to the earnings-altering items, there is a good chance someone could buy into the ASX share believing they’ve found a deal too good to be true.

    Whereas, the free cash flow portrays a truer reflection of the returns generated by the company’s operations.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAX8r5zpdzE?start=212&feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
    Source: Fundsmith 2013 Shareholder Meeting, Money Nest

    Well, what is a good free cash flow yield? You might ask. Great question.

    According to the legendary British investor and CEO of Fundsmith, Terry Smith, a 5% free cash flow yield is the minimum expectation.

    During Fundsmith’s 2013 shareholder meeting, Smith explained:

    I will only buy companies that have a free cash flow yield which is about 5% or more. The reason for that is if I buy those companies with that yield that is higher than those [4% to 4.5% yielding] bonds I can be sure of one thing… over the long term the free cash flow yield of our companies will rise […] I can be equally sure the coupon (yield) on the bonds won’t go up.

    In other words, Smith seeks to own companies that generate a greater expected return than bonds. Which makes sense. If you didn’t think you could get a better return from your ASX shares, you’d buy bonds instead.

    Next question… which companies listed in Australia fall into this ‘above 5%’ FCF yield category?

    I’m glad you asked.

    Which ASX shares are yielding more than 5%?

    There are 35 companies on the ASX with a market capitalisation above $100 million and a free cash flow yield above 5% (as of Tuesday afternoon). Additionally, these companies posted a return on capital above 15% in the last 12 months, which is generally considered good.

    Source: S & P Market Intelligence

    The ASX shares with the highest FCF yield include coal shares Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL), Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC), and Terracom Ltd (ASX: TER) as shown in the chart above. However, coal prices have fallen since the end of 2022, which could lead to a dramatic reduction in future cash flows.

    Buying opportunities?

    Most of the companies that make the cut are highly cyclical. This means they may not be the best fit for a portfolio if someone is looking for defensive ASX shares.

    In saying that, there are still a few businesses that catch my eye as potential buys due to their sturdy balance sheets, growth history, dividends, and free cash flow yield.

    Although retail shares could be prone to a weaker economy, the likes of Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK), JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), and Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK) look relatively attractive. The share prices of these companies are down 5.6%, 8%, and 34% respectively over the last year.

    Personally, I believe JB Hi-Fi is the pick of the bunch given its exceptionally cashed-up balance sheet. At the end of December 2022, the retailer held $391.2 million in cash and zero debt. And, its FCF yield is around 5.7%, surpassing Terry Smith’s bar.

    The post Follow the free cash flow: Could these unloved ASX shares be worth buying? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    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. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dusk Group and Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Analysts expect big, juicy yields from these ASX 200 dividend shares

    Woman holding $50 notes and smiling.

    Woman holding $50 notes and smiling.

    Are you looking for new addition to your income portfolio? If you are, then you may want to look at the ASX 200 dividend shares listed below.

    That’s because they have both been rated as buys and tipped to provide investors with big, juicy dividend yields.

    Here’s what you need to know about these buy-rated ASX 200 dividend stocks:

    Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)

    The first ASX 200 dividend share that could be a buy is Stockland.

    It is a residential and land lease developer and retail, logistics, and office real estate property manager.

    Citi is a fan of Stockland and feels the market is being too negative on its outlook. Particularly given its belief that property prices won’t fall as much as feared. In fact, the broker is so positive it has named it as its top pick in the sector.

    As for dividends, Citi expects dividends per share of 27 cents in FY 2023 and FY 2024. Based on the current Stockland share price of $4.52, this will mean sizeable yields of 6% in both financial years.

    The broker currently has a buy rating and $4.70 price target on its shares.

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    Another ASX 200 dividend share that has been named as buy is Whitehaven Coal.

    Morgans is very positive on the coal miner and feels that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors.

    It highlights that “WHC looks far too oversold on the recent NEWC correction (FY23F FCF yield +40%, P/NPV 0.69x)” and expects “the re-tightening of thermal coal pricing dynamics through April to be a key catalyst for WHC.”

    As for dividends, the broker is expecting a 60 cents per share dividend in FY 2023 and FY 2024. Based on the current Whitehaven Coal share price of $6.80, this implies yields of 8.8% for both years.

    The broker has an add rating and $9.60 price target on its shares.

    The post Analysts expect big, juicy yields from these ASX 200 dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of April 3 2023

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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 Scott Phillips.

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