Tag: Motley Fool

  • Here’s why the Syrah (ASX:SYR) share price is pushing 5% higher today

    beat the share market

    The Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) share price is on the move on Tuesday morning.

    At the time of writing, the graphite producer’s shares are up over 5% to $1.22.

    This latest gain means that the Syrah share price is now up an impressive 24% since the start of the year.

    Why is the Syrah share price pushing higher on Tuesday?

    Investors have been buying Syrah shares this morning following the release of an update on its Balama operation in Mozambique.

    According to the release, the company has achieved consistent production of on-specification natural graphite at Balama during March to date. This positions it ahead of schedule versus the expected lead time of two to three months for its first production.

    Given that Syrah announced its plan to restart production at Balama on 22 February, it has taken less than a month to get it to this stage.

    What now?

    The company advised that it will progressively increase plant utilisation and production volumes as the full contingent of labour at Balama continues to be reinstated.

    Syrah’s Managing Director and CEO, Shaun Verner, commented: “During the period of temporary suspension at Balama, we reduced costs whilst also maintaining operating and marketing capability to ensure that we could promptly respond to an improvement in market conditions.”

    “Our re-start progress to date is a testament to the ongoing preparedness work by the Balama Operations team during the temporary suspension and positions us well to ramp-up into improving market demand,” he added.

    Looking further ahead, the company notes that it continues to progress towards becoming a vertically integrated producer of natural graphite Active Anode Material (AAM) to service ex-Asia markets. It intends to operate Balama in parallel with progressing its natural graphite AAM project at Vidalia, Louisiana, USA.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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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  • Should you buy BHP, Fortescue, or Rio Tinto shares?

    asx growth shares represented by question mark made out of cash notes

    The shares of mining giants BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) have come under a spot of pressure recently.

    This has been caused by a reasonably sharp pullback in iron ore prices from their recent highs.

    Where next for iron ore prices?

    The Goldman Sachs commodities team has been looking into iron ore and has made some changes to its forecasts for the steel making ingredient.

    Its team is now expecting a recovery in Brazilian exports and a Chinese environmental policy driven slowdown in steel production to narrow the seaborne iron ore deficit in 2021.

    Instead of a 27Mt deficit, it is now forecasting a 9Mt deficit for the year. However, due to the strong start that iron ore prices have had in 2021, it has modestly upgraded its 2021 forecast to an average of US$135 per tonne. Goldman was previously forecasting US$120 per tonne.

    Looking further ahead, the broker is forecasting a clear surplus in 2022 instead of another deficit. Its analysts have pencilled in a 23Mt surplus next year, compared to an 8Mt deficit previously. Whereas in 2023 Goldman Sachs expects the surplus to increase to 49Mt.

    In light of this, its analysts are forecasting an average iron ore price of US$95 per tonne in 2022 and then a long run iron ore price of US$65 per tonne.

    Fortunately for Fortescue and other iron ore producers, Goldman believes that in the near term, ongoing strong demand from China (for infrastructure and property) and mill margin strength should limit the sustainability of any iron ore sell-off in the next few months. Furthermore, China’s environmental policies should provide more support for higher grade ore versus lower grade 58% ore.

    Should you buy the miners?

    Taking all that into account, the broker is still recommending investors buy BHP shares.

    It has a buy rating and $53.40 price target on the Big Australian’s shares. This compares to the latest BHP share price of $47.88.

    As for the others, Goldman Sachs has a neutral rating and $20.40 price target on Fortescue’s shares and a neutral rating and $118.80 price target on Rio Tinto’s shares.

    Goldman commented:

    “The higher 2021 Fe forecast (US$135/t) has resulted in upgrades to our EPS estimates, NAVs and 12-m TPs for the 6 iron ore stocks under coverage. Although we are calling for a c. US$50/t or 30% drop in iron ore by year-end, we think the ongoing recovery in global steel demand in 2Q means it is too early to become bearish on the iron ore sector considering the strong FCF/dividend yields in 2021 (average 10%/7%) and 2022 (average 7%/6%), despite the sector trading at 1.15x NAV.”

    “BHP and RIO are trading on 5.5-6x, still below the 25-yr historical average of 6.5-7x, with FMG appearing overvalued at 8x compared to its historical average of 5x. Therefore, we see the drop in iron ore price as mostly priced into BHP and RIO already. We maintain our Buy on BHP due to strong FCF, production growth and 30% EBITDA exposure to our bullish view on met coal, copper and oil.”

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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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  • Share market on watch over AstraZeneca vaccine fears

    Young man looking afraid representing ASX shares investor scared of market crash

    Portugal has joined a list of at least 16 countries that have suspended use of the AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN) COVID-19 vaccine over fears it may cause blood clots in some recipients. The manufacturer of the vaccine, which has been approved for use in Australia, insists there is no risk from the product’s use.

    Studies conducted during the development of the vaccine, as well as observations during the public rollout, do not indicate any level of heightened threat.

    With an effective vaccine distribution contributing to recent market confidence, could fears over the vaccine’s safety impact the ASX?

    Australian Government continuing vaccine rollout

    Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Australia will not pause the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout.

    “[Australian health experts] have not found any causal link between the vaccine and blood clots,” he told Sky News this morning.

    “…the vaccine rollout will continue.”

    Similarly, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Therapeutics Good Administration (TGA) does not need to reconsider approving the vaccine. The PM has previously cited a thorough examination of the efficacy and safety of the AstraZeneca shot as a reason for Australia’s slower than expected inoculation speed.

    While the TGA has approved the imported AstraZeneca vaccine for use in Australia, it is yet to approve the locally manufactured variant. The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) mass-produced vaccine will provide 50 million doses for Australia and its neighbours.

    What a delayed rollout could mean for the ASX

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2,227 points (or 49%) since the coronavirus induced mass sell-off of March last year. Arguably, part of the reason for the strong recovery can be attributed to optimism that vaccines will lead to a quick end to the pandemic.

    Again, the Australian government does not intend to pause the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia and there is no evidence of direct harm caused by it.

    However, the share market isn’t always a rational beast. Any fears over a delay to the vaccine’s rollout in Australia could spook some investors.

    The economic impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions devasted some of Australia’s largest companies, particularly those operating in the travel sector or those which are heavily reliant on open borders for their revenue.

    It will be interesting to see whether ASX shares such as CSL, Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN), Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), and A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) see any fallout from reports surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine when today’s session kicks off.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Marc Sidarous has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Metcash (ASX:MTS) share price is in focus

    ASX share price on watch represented by surprised man with binoculars

    The Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) share price is on watch today after a trading update from the Aussie conglomerate.

    Why is the Metcash share price on watch?

    The Metcash share price is worth watching after the group’s investor day saw a trading and dividend policy update.

    In its Food segment, Metcash remains “positioned as an alternative” to the majors like Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). This includes focusing on retailer competitiveness and retaining market share gains.

    In Hardware, Metcash said it is a “clear #2 in the market” with a strong trade focus. In Liquor, Metcash also said it remains a clear #2 with its Independent Brands Australia (IBA) network of ~2,700 stores. Strong retail sales growth through the coronavirus pandemic has helped to boost earnings.

    Metcash reported a strong balance sheet and underlying cash flows. That has laid a platform to fund growth plans and boost investor returns.

    The Metcash share price is one to watch following today’s update. Shares in the Aussie group have delivered strong shareholder returns ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and its peer group on a 5-year basis.

    Metcash cited increased “at home” activities like cooking, DIY maintenance and beverage consumption as key growth drivers. An increased preference for shopping locally has also helped to boost Metcash’s sales.

    The conglomerate reported strong sales momentum for all business segments so far in the second half of 2021. Supermarket, hardware and liquor sales have all jumped by double digits compared to the prior corresponding period.

    This strong momentum has provided the board with more flexibility in its capital management plan.

    Metcash also announced an increased target dividend payout ratio. Metcash will increase the ratio from 60% to 70% of underlying net profit after tax, effective FY2021.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Metcash share price is one to watch today after the company’s latest trading update. It will be interesting to see how the group’s shares perform during early trade following news of the increased dividend payout ratio and strong trading update.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET and Woolworths Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Pendal (ASX:PDL) share price is on watch today

    Falling ASX share price represented by shocked Investor looking at phone

    The Pendal Group (ASX: PDL) share price is on watch this morning after a leadership announcement from the company prior to the market open.

    Why is the Pendal share price one to watch?

    Pendal is an independent, global investment management group founded in 2007. Formerly known as BT Investment Management, Pendal has ~$100 billion in funds under management (FUM) with a market capitalisation of $2.0 billion.

    The Pendal share price is on watch this morning after a Pendal Group CEO Succession announcement. Pendal announced that CEO Emilio Gonzalez will step down after 11 years in the role.

    Nicholas Good, CEO of J O Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) in the United States will be Mr Gonzalez’s successor. JOHCM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pendal’s and a boutique investment management company with offices around the world.

    Pendal chair James Evans said the “robust succession plan” has enabled the key appointment. Mr Gonzalez has a 6-month notice period and will look to enable a “smooth” transition.

    Pendal shareholders have seen a 322.9% total return since Mr Gonzalez’s appointment in January 2010. That compares to a 130.1% total shareholder return for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

    What else is happening for Pendal?

    The Pendal share price has fallen 4.9% lower to start the year. That’s despite the investment group reporting a $5 billion increase in FUM in January 2021.

    Pendal reported $97.4 billion in FUM at the end of last year despite net outflows of $1.6 billion. Shares in the Aussie investment group are up 40.5% in the last year.

    The Pendal share price is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.2 with a 5.9% dividend yield prior to Tuesday’s market open.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Pendal share price is one to watch in early trade after the company’s latest leadership announcement. Investors have received strong shareholder returns during Mr Gonzalez’s tenure and will be watching the company’s shares closely following today’s update.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall 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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  • 3 ASX shares that just stormed to new 52-week highs

    Surge in ASX share price represented by happy woman pointing to her big smile

    With the Australian share market trading close to its highest levels of the year, it will come as no surprise to learn that a number of ASX shares are doing the same.

    Three ASX shares which have just hit new highs are listed below. Here’s why investors have been buying their shares:

    BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL)

    The BlueScope Steel share price hit a multi-year high of $19.01 on Monday. Investors have been buying the steel producer’s shares after spot prices climbed to very favourable levels. This led to analysts at Ord Minnett recently putting an accumulate and lofty $24.00 price target on the company’s shares. Its analysts believe the company may have to upgrade its earnings guidance in the near future.

    Codan Limited (ASX: CDA)

    The Codan share price continued its positive run and climbed to a record high of $15.74 yesterday. Investors have been buying the electronic products company’s shares thanks to its strong performance in FY 2020 and FY 2021. This has been underpinned by very strong demand for metal detectors thanks to new product launches and a sky high gold price. Also giving its shares a boost on Monday was news that Codan will be included in the ASX 200 at the next quarterly rebalance.

    Silk Laser Australia Ltd (ASX: SLA)

    The Silk Laser share price was on form again on Monday and rose to a new record high of $5.20. This latest gain means the laser clinic company’s shares are now up 50% from their December IPO price of $3.45. The catalyst for this was the release of a very strong half year result in February. For the six months ended 31 December, Silk Laser revealed a 62% increase in network sales to $44.9 million and a 305% jump in net profit after tax to $4.7 million. This strong form is expected to continue in the second half, leading to management upgrading its full year guidance.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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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  • We’ll get 7.8% yield from ASX this year, says investment pro

    asx share price dividend yield represented by street sign saying the word yield.

    Dividend shares were out of favour last year as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Businesses roundly cut yields to preserve capital for tough times.

    That made life difficult for older investors, who rely on yield for their day-to-day income.

    “It’s been near impossible for retirees to generate any sort of meaningful income from cash in the bank or bonds for a number of years now and when dividends were slashed throughout 2020, I think many would have been facing the prospect of drawing down capital to keep the lights on,” said Plato Investment Management managing director Dr Don Hamson.

    But as this year began, experts predicted dividend stocks would make a roaring comeback in 2021.

    “In 2021, we’re expecting a dividend increase of 30% in Australia in aggregate,” Tribeca Investment Partners portfolio manager Jun Bei Liu said in January.

    “In the low bond yield and low interest rate environment, it looks incredibly attractive.”

    And one ASX shares fund has now put its money where its mouth is.

    Plato Investment Management announced Monday that its Australian Shares Income Fund has set a goal to rake in a whopping 7.8% gross yield this year.

    The company forecasts the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) would produce a 4.8% gross yield in 2021. Plato is betting that its active funds management will add another 3% on top of that.

    Hamson attributed his team’s confidence to a bumper mid-year reporting season last month.

    “The February reporting season saw a number of companies declaring record dividends and what’s most encouraging is that many of those businesses that have handsomely rewarded investors, look to have strong tailwinds in the foreseeable future,” he said.

    “Thankfully, we’ve now seen a very swift recovery in dividends.”

    The sectors to supersize ASX dividends in 2021

    He picked out the banks as major contributors to income investing this year. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) was Hamson’s pick out of the big four institutions.

    “Its $1.50 dividend equates to only 67% of earnings and the bank has said its pay-out ratio is likely to be 70 to 80% this year, so a stronger second-half dividend is expected,” he said.

    “There’s also the possibility management will use excess franking credits to undertake an off-market buyback in the coming year, which will be a lucrative opportunity for retirees in particular.”

    Hamson also named miners, and especially iron ore extractors, as a boon to income investors in 2021.

    “We think this is a space income investors can’t afford to ignore right now. Of the top 6 dividend payers in Australia, 3 are now mining stocks,” he said.

    “Are the payouts sustainable? Well, we think the supply and demand fundamentals for iron ore prices remain solid and if prices come off $100 per tonne from the highs, these companies still have good profit margins. Management at the big miners also seem to be learning from mistakes about over-investing in new mines which have impacted dividends in the past.”

    Outside of those industries, the consumer discretionary sector would also chip in with some dividend gems, according to Hamson.

    “The likes of JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) and Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) have delivered in spades for investors — and strong sales momentum in the first quarter of this year indicates the retail boom we saw stemming from the pandemic still has some way to go.”

    Hamson warned investors to avoid dividend traps with careful selection of quality companies.

    “We believe diversity, active stock picking which focuses on avoiding dividend traps and tax effective portfolio management will be the keys to getting even more from dividends in the coming 12 months.”

    Plato’s Australian Shares Income Fund is only for wholesale investors. But the company has a sister product, Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8), which simulates the experience for retail shareholders.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Super Retail Group 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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  • Chinese factory output is up an astonishing 35%

    China factory worker giving thumbs up

    During an eventful day with many ups and downs, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed yesterday’s session 0.10% higher. While there are many reasons the index may have inched higher, one reason could be recent economic news coming out of China.

    Reuters reported yesterday that industrial output in the People’s Republic was up an enormous 35.1% in the January/February period compared to one year earlier. China aggregates its January/February data to accommodate for Lunar New Year celebrations.

    The results beat the median 30% growth figure extracted from a Reuters poll of analysts. In December, output was up 7.3% on the prior year.

    It’s not unreasonable to expect the performance of the Chinese economy to have some impact on the ASX. In 2019, 40% of all Australian exports (US$ 103 billion) went to the largest Asian nation.

    Signs of recovery in the data

    COVID-19’s effects on the Chinese economy were an omen for global capital. The virus, originating in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, led to a 6.8% contraction in China’s GDP during Q3 of FY20. The disease spread throughout the world soon after.

    Given that, it’s not surprising factory output is now growing at such a tremendous rate. Yet even still, there are signs China’s economy is growing beyond its pre-pandemic levels. Many are attributing this to China’s ability to quickly contain the virus within its borders. Additionally, according to Reuters, the recovery was aided by “robust trade, pent-up demand and government stimulus.”

    Compared to January/February 2019, China’s industrial output is still up 16.9%. Reuters is attributing the impressive growth rate to a surge in foreign demand. Within China too, confidence and demand are heading in the right direction.

    Retail sales in China were up 33.8% – greater than the 32% figure predicted by analysts. In December, retail sales were up only 4.6% and, in the first two months of 2020, they contracted by 20.5%. Even compared to the beginning of 2019, retail sales were up 6.4%.

    Likewise, fixed asset investments are seeing a similar bump. They increased by 35% on 2020. This, however, was below analyst predictions of a 40% jump. Compared to the beginning of 2019, fixed asset investments still grew by 3.5%.

    To get even more granular, private-sector fixed asset investments were up 36.4%. Private-sector investment makes up 60% of all investment in the single-party state.

    China’s economy was the only major one to record an expansion during 2020. It grew by 2.3%.

    How the news might affect ASX-listed companies

    Many Australian companies are becoming increasingly reliant on Chinese demand for revenue growth. However, despite the positive news, there are still reasons to temper expectations for Australian shares.

    For one, the Chinese government is still placing hefty, retaliatory tariffs on many Australian goods, including wine, beef, and even lobsters. As well, the Australian Government’s imposed international border lockdown is materially affecting companies like A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) and its supplier, Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1). The dairy producer heavily relies on the daigou market to sell its baby formula.

    Despite all the bluster, the Central Committee is yet to place tariffs on the biggest Australian export to its nation – iron ore. Chinese industry is reliant on Australia’s steady supply of quality ore to keep it moving. Massive growth in output and no tariffs may bode well for iron ore exporters like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), among others.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of February 15th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Marc Sidarous has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended A2 Milk. 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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  • Got money to invest for dividends? Here are 2 ASX shares

    piles of australian one hundred dollar notes

    The two ASX shares in this article could be ideas for dividends.

    Income is difficult to come by when it comes to assets other than ASX dividend shares because of how low the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate is.

    Some businesses are rewarding investors quite handsomely each year with dividends or distributions from their profit.

    These two ASX dividend shares could be ones to think about:

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    Accent Group is one of the businesses that is seeing an enormous level of online sales growth, which is driving margins and profit higher.

    Digital sales grew by 110% year on year to $108.1 million, this represented 22.3% of total sales. Total sales only went up by 6.6% to $541.3 million.

    The gross profit margin improved by 140 basis points to 58.1%. The company said that inventory was clean with a strong in-stock position going into the second half of FY21.

    Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) went up by 44% to $97.5 million and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) grew by 47.3% to $81.8 million.

    The bottom line grew even faster. Net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 57.3% to $52.8 million and earnings per share (EPS) rose 56.9% to 9.76 cents. It’s these profitability metrics that allow the board to declare stronger dividends.

    The ASX dividend share decided to pay an interim dividend of 8 cents per share, representing a 52.4% increase.

    In the first eight weeks of the second half of FY21 like for like sales were up 10.7%, with digital sales 65.4% higher than last year.

    Using the dividend estimate on Commsec, at the current Accent share price it has a projected FY21 grossed up dividend yield of 7.5%.

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

    This real estate investment trust (REIT) is one of the largest on the ASX. It’s run by property manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC).

    One the brokers that likes this ASX dividend share is Citi, which has a share price target of $5.30 for Charter Hall Long WALE REIT.

    The idea of this REIT is that it owns a diversified property portfolio and has tenants on long-term leases. Some tenants include Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), Australian government entities, BP, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Ingham’s Group Ltd (ASX: ING) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

    In the half-year result, Charter Hall Long WALE REIT said that it had a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of 14.1 years.

    After a number of acquisitions over the last year, it now has a portfolio worth around $4.5 billion, with more than half of the portfolio having triple net lease (NNN) exposure.

    The ASX dividend share also recently announced that it had secured $500 million of long-term debt. The seven-year notes worth $300 million were priced at a fixed rate of 2.09% and the 10-year notes worth $200 million were priced at fixed rate of 2.79%. This increases the average debt maturity from 4.1 years to 5.2 years, with an weighted average cost of debt of 2.3%.

    Citi thinks that the acquisitions will help earnings in FY21 and it’s expecting operating EPS of 29.3 cents. This translates to a forward distribution yield of 6.3% at the current Charter Hall Long WALE REIT share price.

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Telstra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET and Woolworths Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why all eyes will be on the PointsBet (ASX:PBH) share price today

    3 men at bar betting on sports online 16.9

    The PointsBet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) share price will be one to watch on Tuesday.

    This follows the release of an acquisition announcement by the sports betting company this morning.

    What did PointsBet announce?

    This morning PointsBet announced that its wholly owned Irish subsidiary, Lockspell Limited, has entered into a binding share purchase agreement to acquire Banach Technology. The transaction remains subject to customary completion conditions and is expected to close in April.

    According to the release, PointsBet will acquire Banach Technology for US$43 million on a cash and debt free basis. This will be paid 55% in cash and the remainder in PointsBet scrip (1,752,875 shares).

    In addition, the company intends to provide Banach Technology with US$4 million in funding to assist in the conversion process of existing equity options. However, this amount will be retained by PointsBet post completion of the transaction.

    What is Banach Technology?

    Banach Technology is a Dublin-based provider of proprietary risk management platforms and quantitative driven trading models. These platforms and models support complex pre-game and in-play betting products across numerous sports, including the four major American sports and international soccer.

    The release explains that the Banach Technology team is deeply experienced, particularly in leading pre-game and in-play sports wagering markets. They previously established the Quants division of Paddy Power.

    Management notes that the acquisition will position PointsBet as a leader of in-play sports wagering in the United States. This comes at an important time, as in-play wagering is expected to grow exponentially. In fact, within the next 3 years, it expects in-play wagering to represent ~75% of all sports wagering activity in the United States.

    “Delighted”

    PointsBet’s Group CEO and Managing Director, Sam Swanell, commented: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Banach and that its well credentialled team have agreed to join PointsBet. As legalisation to approve US sport betting accelerates across the US, it has become clear that the in-play opportunity will be very significant and those with the best depth and breadth of product will win.”

    “Technology is at the forefront of everything we do at PointsBet and we have undertaken an in-house approach to proprietary technology as the key priority. In Banach we have found a like-minded team of technologists and the acquisition is a preferable approach to developing our in-play capabilities organically, given it allows us to dramatically ramp up our speed to market while still allowing us to own market leading technology and continue to control our destiny,” he added.

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

    The post Why all eyes will be on the PointsBet (ASX:PBH) share price today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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