Tag: Motley Fool

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) could be one of the top picks for a beginner investor to think about investing in.

Firstly, I think for most beginners, ETFs would be well-suited for their portfolio because of how easy they make it to track and achieve performance over the share market if the ETF tracks an index.

Certainly, I think that Aussie investors can do well with ASX shares, but it’s also a good idea to get exposure to international shares. After all, they represent 98% of the global share market while the ASX is only 2%.

There are a few different ways to get exposure to international shares, but the ETF style of investing makes it very easy.

The idea of the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is that it invests in the global share market, specifically major developed markets.

Here are three reasons why it could be a smart choice for beginner investors.

Diversification

The ETF has an extremely large number of businesses in its portfolio, offering very strong diversification. At 31 March 2023, it had 1,472 holdings. That’s close to 1,000 more positions in the portfolio than the number of businesses in the All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO).

I think it lowers the specific business risk of the ETF.

Another element of the diversification is that the allocations are spread around different sectors, and I like the position of IT getting the biggest weighting of 20.8% as at 31 March 2023. The financials allocation was 14.6%, healthcare was 13.4%, industrials was 11.1%, and consumer discretionary was 10.7%.

Finally, I like the geographic diversification of the ETF. While many of these businesses do generate their profit from across the world, I think it’s wise diversification to be invested in different markets.

The following markets have a weighting of at least 0.5% – the US, Japan, the UK, France, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Hong Kong, and Italy.

Quality holdings and performance

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF owns many of the world’s strongest businesses in its portfolio, which can help its overall returns.

As of 31 March 2023, the ten biggest positions were: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Tesla, Meta Platforms, Exxon Mobil, UnitedHealth, and Johnson & Johnson.

The portfolio has performed soundly over the long term. In the five years to 31 March 2023, the ETF has produced an average return per annum of 11.1%. That’s a good return for beginner investors to compound their wealth. However, keep in mind that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Low fees

One of the most advantageous things about having Vanguard as the ETF provider is that it tries to provide investment options for as cheaply as possible.

The lower the fees, the more the returns are left in the hands of (beginner) investors. Over a long time period, this can really add to wealth-building efforts.

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF has an annual management fee of 0.18%. While there are ETFs with cheaper fees, there are few options that provide that diversification in terms of both the geographic spread of the holdings and how many businesses they’re invested in.

The post 3 reasons why the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) could be an excellent investment for beginners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 3 quality ASX ETFs for investors to buy for the long term
• No savings at 40? I’d invest $5 a day in ASX shares for passive income of $7,800 a year
• I think the Vanguard MCSI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) is a no-brainer diversification buy. Here’s why
• 3 ETFs that could be top buys right now
• 2 of the best ETFs for ASX investors to buy this month

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, 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 Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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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The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price has recovered 16% since hitting its 2023 low amid improvements in its banking and wealth management operations. Stock in the 174-year-old company last traded at $1.14.

Could the turn-around be permanent or is the previously embattled S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock destined to tumble once more? Let’s take a look.

AMP shares back in the green

The AMP share price has been on the up and up in recent months. Here’s an overview of how it’s been performing:

Length of time	AMP share price performance
One week	+3.6%
One month	+7.5%
One year	+10.7%

Though, it’s been a volatile ride. The stock recently plummeted 28% from its February high to its March low. It’s also still more than 70% lower than it was five years ago when it was beginning to battle backlash from the Hayne Royal Commission.

The AMP share price has recently been bolstered by the company’s latest quarterly bank, assets under management (AUM), and cash flows update.

AMP Bank saw its loan book grow $200 million last quarter, while its Australia Wealth Management business’ AUM lifted $2 billion, and its cash outflows improved 30% to $600 million.

It also recently returned to dividend following a two-year hiatus and offloaded the majority of its remaining stake in Collimate Capital.  

Does AMP look cheap?

But all that doesn’t mean much if AMP shares are still trading above the company’s true value. One way to assess if that might be the case is by diving into its fundamentals.

AMP’s actual earnings per share (EPS) came in at 12 cents for financial year 2022. That gives it a 9.5 price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio.

That compares favourably against many of its peers. Though, it’s certainly not unheard of. For instance, Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) shares currently boast an 8.34 P/E ratio, according to CommSec data.

It also declared a 2.5 cent per share dividend in February. If it backs that up in its half-year results, the stock will boast a 4.38% dividend yield at its current share price – that’s decent, but a touch below the ASX 200’s average of 4.58% according to S&P Global.

Finally, AMP offers a 0.84 price-to-book (P/B) ratio right now, per CommSec data. Again, that’s a respectable ratio. However, it’s similar to those offered by some of its peers, as my Fool colleague Bronwyn recently discussed.

What do experts think?

So, AMP shares do look like decent value in some respects – but arguably not by an enormous margin. Meanwhile, one top broker is sceptical of the company’s future.

UBS was disappointed by AMP’s recent quarterly results, The Australian reports. It said the company’s wealth management and banking businesses both missed its forecasts for the period.

As a result, it maintained its sell rating and a $1 price target on AMP shares – representing a potential 12% downside.

The post AMP shares are finally heading upwards, but will it last? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why AMP, EML, Pilbara Minerals, and Telix shares are racing higher today
• AMP share price marching higher as net outflows ebb
• Are these ASX All Ords shares ready to buy at fundamentally fire sale prices?
• Why has the AMP share price rocketed 11% in a month?

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

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 The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has been a staple of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for decades now. In fact, CSL has spent its time over the past decade or so climbing up from the middle of the ASX 200 pack to the number three position on the Index that it now occupies.

But unlike its fellow top ASX 200 shares, such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) or the big four banks, CSL has never been regarded as a dividend heavyweight. 

A quick look at the CSL share price today will probably tell you why. Right now, CSL has a trailing dividend yield of just 1.11%. That only comes partially franked too.

In stark contrast, BHP shares currently offer a fully-franked trailing yield of 8.86% right now. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is at a fully-franked 4.2%, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) offers 5.62%.

So dividend-chasing income investors probably won’t take too long in deciding which shares to have in their portfolios. But those investors might want to take a second look because all is not quite as it seems at first glance. 

Yes, you won’t get as much dividend income upfront buying CSL shares as you would BHP or one of the big four banks. But CSL could well be a sleeping divided giant and one whose dividends might approach, or even exceed, the level of income offered by ASX’s other heavyweights in just a few years.

Here’s why.

Why the CSL share price could be a sleeping dividend giant

CSL first started paying its investors dividends back in 2013. The company’s very first dividend payment was a final dividend worth 52 US cents per share. In 2014, the company doled out annual dividend payments worth US$1.13 per share.

But just five years later in 2019, CSL was up to paying out US$1.85 in dividends per share. By 2022, this had risen again to a total of US$2.22 per share.

In US dollar terms, CSL has consistently raised its annual dividend every single year since 2013. Because of currency exchange rates, we can’t say the same for its dividends in Aussie dollar terms. But the trend is clear.

In 2023 so far, this trend has continued too. The interim dividend that investors received only earlier this month came in at US$1.07 per share. That was a significant hike over 2022’s corresponding payment of US$1.04 per share.

Between 2014 and 2022, CSL’s annual dividend rocketed by a cumulative 96.5%. If CSL’s dividends keep rising at this level over the next eight years, investors will be bagging US$4.36 in dividends per share by the year 2030. That’s $6.54 per share in Australian dollars at the current exchange rate.

If that were to occur (which is by no means guaranteed), it would be highly lucrative for long-term investors, and would finally make CSL an ASX dividend heavyweight.

So this just proves that you can’t judge an ASX divided share by the yield on its cover. By the time the ‘sleeping giant’ awakens, it might be too late to nab the shares at a good share price.

 

The post The CSL share price is a sleeping dividend giant. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Which stocks does Warren Buffett own (and what can ASX 200 investors learn from this)?
• CSL shares dip despite new FDA approval
• What are analysts saying about the CSL share price?
• Invested $6,000 in CSL shares 5 years ago? Here’s how much dividend income you’ve earned
• Morgans says these are among the best blue chip ASX 200 shares you can buy

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking. 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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Are you looking to add some exchange traded funds (ETFs) to your portfolio? If you are, then you might want to look at the three listed below.

Here’s what you need to know about these quality ASX shares:

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ETF that could be a top long term option is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. It tracks the performance of the largest technology companies in Asia (excluding Japan). Among the ETF’s largest holdings are giants such as Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Tencent Holdings. These companies are some of the fastest growing in the region and revolutionising the lives of billions of people.

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Another ETF for investors to look at as a long-term investment is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. It provides investors with the opportunity to invest in the growing cybersecurity sector. This means you’ll be buying sector-leading companies such as Accenture, Cisco, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Fortinet, Okta, Palo Alto Networks, Splunk, and Zscaler. And given how the threat of cyberattacks is growing globally, these companies look well-placed to benefit from increasing demand for cybersecurity services.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A final ETF for investors to consider buying is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to over 1,000 of the world’s largest listed companies. This provides investors with significant diversity, as well as the benefits of long-term global economic growth. Among the many companies that you’ll be investing in are giants such as Amazon, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Nestle, Procter & Gamble, and Visa.

The post 3 quality ASX ETFs for investors to buy for the long term appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Buy and hold these 3 ASX ETFs for a decade
• No savings at 40? I’d invest $5 a day in ASX shares for passive income of $7,800 a year
• I think the Vanguard MCSI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) is a no-brainer diversification buy. Here’s why
• 3 ETFs that could be top buys right now
• Here are a couple of high-quality ETFs to add some oomph to your portfolio

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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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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If you want to become a millionaire, then the Australian share market could be the place to do it.

Sure, winning Powerball would be quicker, but the odds are stacked firmly against you with that.

Whereas ASX shares have historically shown that making a million is achievable.

How to turn $20,000 into $1 million with ASX shares

Turning $20,000 into $1 million is not as hard as it might sound, thankfully. In fact, perhaps the hardest part will be having the discipline to stick with your investment strategy through thick and thin to achieve your goals.

So, what is the strategy? Well, the first step is to make an initial investment into a high-quality group of ASX shares.

The second step is making smaller annual investments.

Thirdly, we need to let compounding works it wonder.

Finally, the fourth step is cross our fingers that the ASX shares continue to deliver strong returns for investors like they have done over the last 30 years.

While this is far from guaranteed, the share market’s return of 9.6% per annum during the period is in-line with historical returns on Wall Street, so is certainly a realistic proposition.

The maths

If you were to invest $20,000 into ASX shares, then made an annual contribution of $5,000 for just over 28 years, and earned the market return, your portfolio would grow to be worth $1 million.

It is also possible to speed up the process if you have more capital to sink into the share market.

For example, if you could make annual contributions of $10,000 instead of $5,000, you would get there in just over 22 years.

Have even more capital at your disposal? If you start with a $30,000 investment and then add $20,000 a year to your portfolio you could reach your goal after 17 years.

Don’t have as much capital to employ but have time on your side? No worries!

Investing $5,000 into ASX shares and then $5,000 each year would get you to $1 million after 31 years if you earned the target 9.6% per annum return.

Final word

Overall, starting with $20,000 and growing your portfolio to $1 million is entirely possible. You just need a combination of discipline, high-quality ASX shares, time, and compounding.

The post How anyone can turn $20k into $1 million with ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday
• ASX 200 takeover target dives 15% after its deal is laid to rest
• Another 52-week high: Are Wesfarmers shares stretched, or could they be a buy?
• Fortescue share price plummets 5% amid weaker production

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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Today is ANZAC Day. Our national day of remembrance for those who served, suffered and died in wars and war-like conflicts.

Perhaps the most sombre and affecting act of remembrance is visiting a War Cemetery.

One such cemetery, The Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, is the final resting place of 3,824 war dead. Many of them, Australian servicemen.

I was fortunate to be able to pay my respects there after trekking the Kokoda Trail back in 2018. I spent a couple of hours at the cemetery, slowly walking between the rows of white gravestones, dutifully maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

I read the names. The ranks. And, most movingly, the ages. They were so young. And so brave. Australians who, 75 years earlier, answered their country’s call, but did not come home.

During our trek, we visited many of the places that, like ANZAC Cove in Turkey, have become sacred ground.

Battle sites like Kokoda, Isurava, and Brigade Hill. And many others.

Places where Australian blood was spilled, and lives lost,  in defence of our country. 

Where regular Australian Army soldiers and the famed ‘Chocos’ (the so-called ‘Chocolate Soldiers’; militia forces with relatively little training and even less experience, who were expected to melt under pressure) faced the Japanese Imperial Army’s relentless onslaught.

And prevailed.

But at a terrible cost.

It was deeply moving.

To be honest, that feels like an enormous understatement. I wish I could express it better.

To stand at the places where these pitched battles were fought was overwhelming.

Australian servicemen, three-quarters of a century earlier, had faced the enemy with courage, determination, and the ‘full measure of devotion’.

Their country had asked them to face down the enemy. Their commanders had asked them to hold their ground.

Which they did, too often laying down their lives.

All these years later, we were standing where they stood.

I was asked to read something written by one of those soldiers. I’m not ashamed to admit I had trouble finishing those words, overcome by emotion.

In the stillness, the serenity, we tried to imagine a very different time.

A time when the enemy burst out of the jungle in overwhelming numbers, determined to break the Australian line.

When, countless times, the Australians held that line, against immense odds.

And wondering, if it came to it, whether we would have done the same.

I like to think I would have.

But I can’t be sure.

And also, as I get older, I’m mindful that it wouldn’t be me but my kids who would be asked to take up the cause.

To put on our nation’s uniform and to faithfully serve, even unto death.

It is too painful to imagine.

And yet, it’s something that thousands of Australian servicemen and women have signed up for today.

And hundreds of thousands of others have done, over the last 130 years.

Many of them did not return, either.

They lie near where they fell. Some identified by name, rank and serial number. Some in graves marked only ‘A soldier of the Great War’ or ‘A soldier of the Second World War’.

But all in sacred ground. 

Many did return, too. But were never the same again.

They carry the scars, visible or invisible, of their service in our name.

And on April 25 each year, we gather together in solemn remembrance. 

2023 marks the 108th anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli.

We remember those original ANZACs.

And we remember those who served, suffered and died in our country’s name.

Those who did not return. And those who returned, forever changed.

We remember their sacrifice.

Each year, I am reminded of the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, which reads in part:

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

We will not break that faith. We must not.

We do not have to face what they faced. We do not have to lay down our lives.

But we must remember.

It is our solemn duty.

But also to, as the ANZAC Dedication exhorts, be worthy of their great sacrifice.

In full, it reads:

“At this hour, on this day, ANZAC received its baptism of fire and became one of the immortal names in history. We who are gathered here think of the comrades who went out with us to battle but did not return. We feel them still near us in spirit. We wish to be worthy of their great sacrifice. Let us, therefore, once again dedicate ourselves to the service of the ideals of which they died. As the dawn is even now about to pierce the night, so let the memory inspire us to work for the coming of the new light into the dark places of the world.”

That is the real remembrance. 

Not just to pay our respects to the sacrifices of the past, though that is imperative.

But also to ensure those sacrifices were not in vain. To be a nation worthy of those very sacrifices.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget. 

The post Lest We Forget appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brokers say these ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday
• Could the bountiful dividends from Woodside shares be at risk?
• Why Block, Nanosonics, Pilbara Minerals, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher

Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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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Brokers have been busy running the rule over a number of ASX dividend shares recently.

Two in particular that have been given the thumbs up by analysts are listed below. Here’s what they are expecting from them this year and next:

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI)

The operator of the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) has recently been named as a buy by analysts at Citi.

The broker believes the company is in a strong position to pay big dividends in the near term. Particularly given its recent switch to annual CPI adjustment, which Citi believes has been perfectly timed.

Citi is forecasting dividends per share of approximately 20.6 cents in FY 2023 and 21.6 cents in FY 2024. Based on the latest Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure share price of $2.67, this will mean generous yields of 7.5% and 7.9%, respectively.

The broker currently has an add rating and $2.80 price target on its shares.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

This toll road operator has been named as a buy by analysts at UBS. The broker currently has a buy rating and $15.45 price target on its shares.

UBS has been impressed with Transurban’s recovery from the pandemic and highlights that its recent quarterly update was ahead of expectations. This was particularly the case with its WestConnex road, which was the star of the show.

All in all, the broker appears to believe the company is well-placed to deliver increasing dividends in the near term. It 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 $14.93, this will mean yields of 3.8% and 4.1%, respectively.

The post Brokers say these ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Guess which ASX 200 share is gaining on a record quarter
• Harnessing the power of dividend investing: 2 high-yield ASX shares analysts say are buys
• Buy these ASX dividend shares now: analysts
• Creating a diversified income stream: Top ASX dividend shares to buy today according to analysts

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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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the short week in the red, falling 0.11% in Monday’s session to close at 7,322 points.

Weighing it down was the mining sector, with two of the S&P/ASX 20 Index (ASX: XTL)’s materials giants – Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) – posting apparently disappointing quarterly production updates.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) slumped 1.6% while shares in Fortescue dumped 3.4% and those of South32 tumbled 7.4%. The sector was likely hampered by iron ore futures, which fell 1.8% on Friday to US$117.21 a tonne.

The top-performing sector, on the other hand, was the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE). It jumped 1.2%.

Interestingly, however, today’s top-performing stock is housed on the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ). Keep reading to find out healthcare share outperformed all others on the index on Monday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) share price posted the ASX 200’s biggest gain today, rising 7.5% to close at $5.56.

That’s despite no news having been released by the infection prevention specialist.  

These shares made today’s biggest gains:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)	$5.56	7.54%
Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)	$4.23	5.22%
Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)	$1.70	4.94%
Credit Corp Group Limited (ASX: CCP)	$17.41	4.56%
Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)	$1.74	3.88%
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)	$3.52	2.92%
Block Inc CDI (ASX: SQ2)	$95.08	2.25%
Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA)	$4.14	2.22%
Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)	$80.36	2.11%
ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)	$34.25	2.06%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday
• Why Block, Nanosonics, Pilbara Minerals, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher
• Why are ASX lithium shares powering higher today as the resource sector bleeds?
• ASX 200 takeover target dives 15% after its deal is laid to rest
• Another 52-week high: Are Wesfarmers shares stretched, or could they be a buy?

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 positions in and has recommended Block, Nanosonics, PolyNovo, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Nanosonics, and ResMed. 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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It’s been a very shaky start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Monday. After starting with a big plunge this morning, the ASX 200 has worked its way back toward the breakeven line so far today. However, the Index is still in the red, currently down by an anaemic 0.01% at just over 7,320 points. 

But rather than trying to figure all of that out, let’s instead check out the shares that are presently at the top of the ASX 200’s share trading volume charts, according to investing.com. 

The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Monday

Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

The first cab off the rank today is the ASX 200 lithium stock Sayona Mining. So far this Monday, a decent 25.9 million Sayona shares have changed hands as it currently stands. This looks like a consequence of the company’s share price performance this session, seeing as there is nothing out of Sayona itself to speak of today.

But Sayona has had a rough time of it on the ASX. The company has shed a notable 4% so far today, putting the company at 19.5 cents a share at present. With a sell-off of that size, no wonder we are seeing Sayona grace our list this Monday.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

Next up we have ASX 200 mining giant South32 to check out. At this point of the day, a significant 36.4 million South32 shares have been exchanged on the share market. It’s not too difficult to see where this high trading volume is coming from.

As we covered this morning, South32 is on the nose today after the company gave a less-than-impressive production update. South32 reported that production of almost all of its primary commodities fell significantly over the March quarter, including silver, aluminium and nickel.

The South32 share price has plunged more than 7% on this news so far today, which easily explains why we are seeing so many shares flying around.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Our third and final share worth a look at this Monday is another ASX 200 lithium stock. Pilbara Minerals has had a hefty 37.4 million shares bought and sold on the markets today. Pilbara is having the opposite reaction to Sayona from investors today.

While Sayona shares are down by 4%, Pilbara has climbed an impressive 3.86% at present to $4.18 a share. As my Fool colleague went through this afternoon, this could be a result of news that the Chilean government is looking to nationalise its own lithium assets.

But it’s this sharp appreciation that has probably enticed so many Pilbara shares to the markets this Monday.

The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Block, Nanosonics, Pilbara Minerals, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher
• Why BHP, InvoCare, Lake Resources, and South32 shares are dropping today
• Why are ASX lithium shares powering higher today as the resource sector bleeds?
• ASX 200 takeover target dives 15% after its deal is laid to rest
• Another 52-week high: Are Wesfarmers shares stretched, or could they be a buy?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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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Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares could come under increasing pressure if the experts at broker outfit Citi are correct.

As an ASX energy share giant, the company is heavily affected by what energy prices are doing. But, there are also other risks to consider, such as the work on huge projects being on time and on budget. Governments can also change the operating landscape. With that in mind, investors need to be aware of what Citi thinks could happen.

Lower profit possible

According to reporting by The Australian, Citi has a price target of $30 on the company, which implies a possible fall of around 10%.

The problem, according to analyst James Bryne, is the potential change to the petroleum resources rent tax (PRRT).

As recently reported:

The PRRT allows concessions on expenses relating to exploring and developing gas fields. Under the current system, these can be carried forward and deducted as tax credits against future liabilities. But the Greens want the government to eliminate $284 billion of accumulated credits that enable gas companies to reduce their tax liability.

The suggestion is to remove all of these tax credits, which would mean gas companies start paying from 1 July, and for the government to apply a 10% royalty to all offshore projects subject to the tax.

Citi has suggested that change could mean that the market’s expectations for Woodside’s earnings per share (EPS) could reduce by 10% to 15%, hurting the underlying value of the business by 5% to 10%.

Despite that, Citi analyst Bryne increased his expectations for 2023 net profit after tax (NPAT) because of the recent strong result, though somewhat offset by the “moderated ramp-up profile for Mad Dog production”.

Citi also increased the 2024 and 2025 net profit forecasts slightly thanks to “higher trading volumes”.

Is this going to hurt Woodside dividends?

The Australian also reported that Citi believes a fall in the net profit could lead to a reduction of the potential dividends as well. This could also hurt the Woodside share price if investors aren’t getting the dividend income they were expecting. Bryne said:

Over the coming years, we expect a theme of ASX Energy to be a redirection of capital budgets away from Australia, by both organic and inorganic means.

It seems understandable that if Woodside sticks to a certain dividend payout ratio in percentage terms, then a fall in profit would mean lower dividends as well.

However, not every broker is as pessimistic as Citi about the company’s prospects. The broker JPMorgan recently raised its rating to neutral, with a price target of $33.85, which is slightly higher than where it is today.

Woodside share price snapshot

Over the past year, the Woodside share price has risen by around 10%.

The post Could the bountiful dividends from Woodside shares be at risk? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Passive income plan: I’d invest $100 a week in ASX 200 shares to earn $7,500 of annual dividends
• The Woodside share price is sliding today. Here’s why
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Could the Woodside share price face ‘long-term harm’ from this government tax plan?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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