Tag: Motley Fool

  • Santos share price holds tight amid new project heat

    an oil refinery worker checks her laptop computer in front of a backdrop of oil refinery infrastructure. The woman has a serious look on her face.an oil refinery worker checks her laptop computer in front of a backdrop of oil refinery infrastructure. The woman has a serious look on her face.

    The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has regained some small earlier losses and is trading right where it closes yesterday.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) oil and gas company closed yesterday trading for $6.95. Shares are currently changing hands for, well, $6.95. The ASX 200 is down 0.3% at this same time.

    Santos drew out attention today as ASX 200 investors mull over the potential impacts of the Labor government’s new carbon emissions reduction plans on the energy giant’s multi-billion dollar new gas projects.

    Putting those concerns aside, the Santos share price should be receiving some modest tailwinds from a 0.1% increase in the price of Brent crude oil. Brent is currently trading for US$78.65 per barrel.

    Santos share price in focus as new gas projects take heat

    The Santos share price could be a bit volatile amid media reports on two of the company’s major expansion projects.

    Yesterday, The Australian reported that incoming premier Chris Minns’ Labor government is expected to fast-track Santos Narrabri gas project in New South Wales.

    According to Santos, the $3.5 billion project could supply half of the state’s gas requirements by 2025.

    Santos has reportedly already spent some $1.5 billion to bring Narrabri online.

    One of the sticking points to date has been the construction of the Hunter Gas Pipeline. The 833-kilometre pipeline will pump gas from the project to the east coast domestic market and potentially connect with the Wallumbilla Gas Supply Hub in Queensland.

    The Perrottet government declared New South Wales part of the pipeline critical infrastructure last year. And it looks like the state’s new government will follow through with that, likely offering some upcoming tailwinds for the Santos share price.

    According to The Australian, Minns met Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher before the election, and Minns was reportedly eager to see the project completed.

    Santos has yet to comment on whether the Labor-Greens deal on the safeguard mechanism will impact the Narrabri project, as it awaits some clarity on the new rules.

    What other gas projects could face increased opposition?

    In other news that could throw up some headwinds for the Santos share price, The Australian Financial Review reported this morning that the Santos Barossa gas project, located in the Timor Sea, could face some of the biggest hits from the new safeguard mechanism.

    That’s because the $5.8 billion project has a high CO2 content of around 18%. And the CO2 levels are reported to be a critical yardstick employed in the new emissions reduction deal.

    And this is likely to see costs rise and share prices of the big energy companies potentially take a small haircut.

    According to Credit Suisse energy analyst Saul Kavonic, “Let’s be clear, there will be a financial impact from the safeguard mechanism from a cost perspective for the upstream industry,”

    Kavonic estimated the impact on the Santos share price could be as much as 20 cents per share. That would represent a 2.9% reduction from the current price.

    Santos share price snapshot

    As you can see in the chart below, the Santos share price has seen some big swings over the past year amid fast-rising and retracing oil and gas prices. So far in 2023, Santos shares are down 2%.

    The post Santos share price holds tight amid new project heat appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Santos 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 Santos 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 March 1 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 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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  • Pilbara Minerals share price races higher on ‘important milestone’

    A female miner wearing a high vis vest and hard hard smiles and holds a clipboard while inspecting a mine site with a colleague.

    A female miner wearing a high vis vest and hard hard smiles and holds a clipboard while inspecting a mine site with a colleague.

    The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is pushing higher again on Wednesday.

    In morning trade, the lithium giant’s shares are up 3.5% to $3.99.

    Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price pushing higher?

    Investors have been bidding the Pilbara Minerals share price higher after the company made a major announcement.

    According to the release, the company’s board has approved the capital investment for the P1000 Project.

    This investment in the Pilgan Plant and its supporting infrastructure will deliver a ~320,000 tonnes per annum increase in nameplate spodumene concentrate production capacity.

    Once fully commissioned and ramped up in the September quarter of 2025, this will increase the annual production run rate from the Pilgangoora Project to approximately 1 million dry metric tonnes (dmt).

    Management notes that this supports its long-term growth strategy to increase production capacity at the Pilgangoora Project in line with market demand.

    What will this cost?

    The P1000 Project’s estimated capital cost is $560 million across the Pilgan concentrator and supporting infrastructure. This includes the previously announced $38 million of pre-final investment decision capital.

    Pleasingly, this investment is expected to deliver attractive returns to the company. In fact, management estimates that it has a forecast payback from incremental cashflows relative to P680 within 12 months.

    Furthermore, the capital investment for the P1000 Project is expected to be funded from a combination of existing cash and ongoing cashflow from operations.

    Pilbara Minerals’ managing director and CEO, Dale Henderson, commented:

    The P1000 Project expansion is an important milestone for Pilbara Minerals. This expansion step facilitates a major lift in production capacity, capitalising on the substantial scale of this Tier-1 hard rock asset which underpins a ~25 year mine life at this new expanded production level.

    This reinforces the exceptional scale and quality of our Pilgangoora Project, which is one of the few hard rock lithium production operations globally that has both the resource size and an existing operating platform to enable a rapid scale-up of production to capitalise on the growing demand for lithium products.

    Henderson also revealed that its future spodumene production is already in demand with end users. He adds:

    The Company has received significant inbound interest for further offtake and downstream partnerships, and we have begun exploring options to maximise the value of the additional product from P1000 including new offtakes and downstream partnerships to extract greater value along the battery minerals supply chain.

    The post Pilbara Minerals share price races higher on ‘important milestone’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Pilbara Minerals 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 Pilbara Minerals 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 March 1 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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  • No savings? Drip-feed $500 a month into ASX shares and aim to retire in comfort

    a man lies on his back on grass with his eyes shut and a contented look on his face as though he is dreaminga man lies on his back on grass with his eyes shut and a contented look on his face as though he is dreaming

    If someone had $0 in savings and wanted to retire comfortably, I’d say that it’s definitely possible through using ASX shares.

    It’s a difficult time to start trying to save. Energy, rent, and food prices have gone up considerably. Interest rates have also increased significantly, hurting borrowers.

    However, hopefully each household can identify a way to find $500 a month in savings. Each household’s income potential and expenses are different, so it’s hard to say where to find that $500 each month. But there are plenty of budgeting and other personal finance tips out there that can help.

    Aim to retire in comfort

    I imagine most people would like to live out their golden years in relative comfort. But how much do we need to be comfortable in retirement?

    For starters, I’d suggest it’s having enough so that people don’t need to work. The pension isn’t a massive amount of money and I wouldn’t want to rely on that in the future to live, in case it’s less generous in future decades.

    As covered by the Motley Fool’s retirement guide, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia’s Retirement Standard suggests that to have a ‘comfortable’ retirement, a couple who own their own home will need an income of about $67,000. A single person will need an annual income of more than $47,000. These numbers are likely to increase in the future.

    While that may sound like a lot, time and compounding can help grow relatively small amounts of money into a large nest egg.

    How investing $500 a month into ASX shares can grow

    If we think about putting $500 a month into the ASX share market, then this translates into $6,000 per year. That’s $60,000 per decade if the monthly amount never changes. Obviously, the more we invest, the quicker we can build wealth to retire.

    However, the great thing about investing in ASX shares is that compounding can do a lot of wealth-building for us.

    The ASX share market and global share market have both delivered an average return per annum of approximately 10% over the ultra-long term. Of course, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, but I’ll use that as an example of how much money can grow.

    Investing $500 a month, growing at an average of 10% per annum for 30 years, can grow into a total of $987,000. Almost $1 million. In this example, we would have invested $180,000 of our own money, while $807,000 of that would have come from investment gains.

    Doing that for 40 years would see the nest egg turn into $2.65 million. With just $500 a month. That’s the power of compounding.

    Which ASX shares to buy?

    The easy option would be to choose exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in a whole range of businesses.

    While a lot of Aussies go for the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), it’s not my favourite ETF, as good as it is. It owns all of the ASX blue chips. But, Australia is only a small part of the global share market, the ASX is weighted to ASX mining shares and ASX bank shares, and a large amount of returns come as dividends. I love dividends, but receiving dividends usually means paying tax in that financial year, whereas capital growth isn’t taxed until the asset is sold.

    So, if I were going to name ETFs, I would want to choose investments that offer global share market diversification and are allocated to a group of businesses that could achieve stronger capital growth than the ASX. A few examples I like include VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

    The post No savings? Drip-feed $500 a month into ASX shares and aim to retire in comfort appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Scott Phillips’ retirement stocks for building wealth after 50

    Scott Phillips has been hard at work researching solid “retirement” stocks for investors building wealth after 50…

    And he’s uncovered 5 reliable businesses he thinks could deliver long term growth. And may be perfect for those wanting to build wealth well into their retirement.

    He’s published this research in a special report you can view FREE.

    Yes, Claim my FREE copy!
    *Returns as of March 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat 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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  • Takeover offer ‘reasonable but not full’: Analyst says Liontown shares are worth more

    A young female investor with brown curly hair and wearing a yellow top and glasses sits at her desk using her calculator to work out how much her ASX dividend shares will pay this year

    A young female investor with brown curly hair and wearing a yellow top and glasses sits at her desk using her calculator to work out how much her ASX dividend shares will pay this yearLiontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have been on fire this week thanks to a takeover approach.

    And while they are pulling back by 5% this morning, the lithium developer’s shares are still up over 60% this week.

    Where next for Liontown shares?

    Despite its meteoric rise, the team at Bell Potter believes that the Liontown share price can keep rising from here.

    According to a note this morning, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating with an improved price target of $3.35.

    Based on where its shares are currently trading, this suggests potential upside of 38% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Albemarle offer ‘reasonable but not full’

    Bell Potter has been looking over Albemarle’s $2.50 per share takeover proposal for Liontown and believes it is reasonable. However, it feels the company is worth far more than what has been tabled.

    And with management holding a sizeable number of Liontown shares, it doesn’t appear to believe that Albemarle will be able to bully its way into acquiring the lithium developer. The broker commented:

    The corporate interest in LTR from a high-profile US-based industry participant speaks to the quality of Kathleen Valley and the scarcity of growth opportunities in the sector. We view the value of ALB’s proposal as reasonable, but not full; with additional value to be argued from LTR’s de-risking of Kathleen Valley, downstream projects and complementary ESG strategy and location. We also believe LTR will ultimately be capable of realising this value in the absence of a corporate tie-up.

    In light of this, Bell Potter appears to see Liontown as a great option for investors looking for lithium exposure. Though, it highlights that as an asset development company, its “speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of risk.”

    The post Takeover offer ‘reasonable but not full’: Analyst says Liontown shares are worth more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Liontown Resources right now?

    Before you consider Liontown Resources, 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 Liontown Resources 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 March 1 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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  • A bull market is coming and I want to buy this high-yield ASX stock while it’s still cheap

    Graincorp share price farming asx share price rise represented by rejoicing farmer in fieldGraincorp share price farming asx share price rise represented by rejoicing farmer in field

    The interest rate has soared in Australia and the US. This has opened up a wide range of opportunities, from technology to property businesses. And at some point, I think there’s going to be a bull market rebound. Thus, there’s a high-yield ASX stock I’ve got my eyes on.

    Why does the interest rate changing make such a difference? Legendary investor Warren Buffett once explained:

    The value of every business, the value of a farm, the value of an apartment house, the value of any economic asset, is 100% sensitive to interest rates because all you are doing in investing is transferring some money to somebody now in exchange for what you expect the stream of money to be, to come in over a period of time, and the higher interest rates are the less that present value is going to be. So every business by its nature…its intrinsic valuation is 100% sensitive to interest rates.

    But, I don’t think that interest rates are going to stay this high forever. Central banks are trying to crush interest rates. Inflation won’t always be at multi-decade highs. I think in a few years interest rates will eventually come back down to around 3% and perhaps slightly below. It depends on what central banks think a ‘neutral’ rate is.

    In my opinion, I think there are a few high-yield ASX stocks that could see investor support when interest rates start returning to that neutral rate.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    I think the real estate investment trust (REIT) faces an interesting time ahead as commercial property values come under scrutiny. However, a number of names have already seen heavy share price falls, even if the values on the balance sheet haven’t been cut (yet). At this stage, I wouldn’t rely on the stated net tangible assets (NTA) regarding the valuation of for example, an office building in a REIT.

    But, I think farmland valuations may be more resilient considering the global population is still growing and food prices have soared, making it easier for agricultural businesses to afford the higher rent.

    That’s one of the main reasons why I like Rural Funds – its rental contracts have growth built in, with some having a link to CPI inflation, others having a fixed 2.5% annual increase, and some contracts having the occasional market review. This is one of the main elements for the REIT’s ongoing distribution growth to investors.

    But, there are other pleasing reasons to consider this high-yield ASX stock.

    • The yield is a factor of course. The forecast total distribution by Rural Funds for FY23 equates to a yield of 6.1%. Rural Funds aims to grow its distribution by 4% per annum. A 4% increase in FY24, while not guaranteed, would translate into a distribution yield of 6.3%.
    • I think the decline of the Rural Funds share price has more than made up for the negative of higher interest rates. Since 7 January 2022, the Rural Funds share price is down 37%. I believe that provides a good margin of safety.
    • Rural Funds offers a lot of diversification. It has multiple farm types – almonds, macadamias, vineyards, cattle, cotton and sugar.
    • The high-yield ASX stock is investing heavily in its properties to improve its value and usefulness, which will hopefully boost rental income. For example, it’s investing in (improved) irrigation at some locations. Rural Funds is also converting some properties to a ‘higher and better use’, including a large macadamia development, with another 2,000 hectares to be completed by FY25. More developments will commence in FY25.

    Foolish takeaway on this high-yield ASX stock

    While Rural Funds may not see its share price at a rapid rate from here, I think there’s potential for a recovery when interest rates fall. Until then, investors can get a very pleasing, and typically growing, distribution from this business.

    The post A bull market is coming and I want to buy this high-yield ASX stock while it’s still cheap 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.

    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 March 1 2023

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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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  • Sunk $3,000 into AMP shares 5 years ago? Here’s how much passive income you’ve realised

    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.

    The last five years have been rough for AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) investors, with the company’s share price tumbling 79% in that time.

    Stock in the 174-year-old financial institution was trading at $4.99 at this point of 2018.

    That was shortly before the company’s dirty laundry – of which there was plenty – was aired by the Banking Royal Commission.

    Today, The AMP share price sits at just $1.06 apiece.

    That means a $3,000 investment in AMP shares back then probably would have bought 601 securities. Today, that parcel would be worth just $637.

    For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has risen around 21% over the same period.

    But could AMP’s dividends have made up for its share price’s poor performance? Let’s take a look.

    All dividends paid to AMP shareholders over the last 5 years

    Here are all the offerings placed on the table for those invested in AMP shares over the last five years:

    AMP dividends’ pay date Type Dividend amount
    October 2020 Special 10 cents
    March 2019 Final 4 cents
    September 2018 Interim 10 cents
    Total: 24 cents

    That’s right, each AMP share provided just 24 cents to investors who bought on 29 March 2018. In fact, the ASX 200 company put a hold on its dividends in mid-2019 as it struggled to right its rocky ship.

    That means our figurative parcel would have yielded around $144.24 of passive income over its life – certainly not enough to substantially soften shareholders’ losses.

    Though, investors currently have the company’s upcoming 2.5 cent dividend to look forward to. Shareholders have the offering in the bag after the stock traded ex-dividend earlier this month, with the payment to hit accounts next week.

    And that might be just the beginning.

    AMP shares could be on track to offer a 3.96% dividend yield at its current price. That is if suggestions it could pay 4.2 cents per share of dividends this financial year prove fruitful.

    The post Sunk $3,000 into AMP shares 5 years ago? Here’s how much passive income you’ve realised appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Amp 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 Amp 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 March 1 2023

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    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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  • Betashares names 6 ‘defensive’ ASX ETFs to consider for a possible recession

    A shocked man sits at his desk looking at his laptop while talking on his mobile phone with declining arrows in the background representing falling ASX 200 shares today

    A shocked man sits at his desk looking at his laptop while talking on his mobile phone with declining arrows in the background representing falling ASX 200 shares today

    There’s been a lot of talk of a recession coming within the next 12 months as rising interest rates stifle economic growth.

    Over at exchange traded fund (ETF) provider Betashares, its chief economist, David Bassanese, believes there’s a 50% chance that the global economy will fall into a recession. He commented:

    Our most likely scenario is that the lagged impact of policy tightening over the past year, along with further modest tightening in the first half of 2023, soon leads to a notable slowing in global economic growth, such that the US in particular descends into outright recession,

    In light of this, Bassanese has suggested that investors take a look at defensive options that could fare better in this environment. Here’s what you need to know:

    Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: DRUG)

    The first ETF to look at is this global healthcare ETF. It provides investors with exposure to the largest global healthcare companies, hedged into Australian dollars. Bassanese notes that the largest global healthcare companies are predominantly pharmaceutical companies, which are often considered “defensive” by nature and can typically pass rising costs on to consumers.

    Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

    Another option for investors to consider is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF. It aims to track an index that comprises 40 high-quality ASX shares. This includes companies such as CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

    Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

    This is the international equivalent of the Betashares Australian Quality ETF. It gives investors exposure to a portfolio of approximately 150 global companies (excluding Australia). To be included in the ETF, a company needs to rank highly on four key metrics. These are return on equity, debt-to-capital, cash flow generation ability, and earnings stability. The ETF includes companies such as Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

    Bonds and cash

    Three other ETFs that Bassanese is suggesting investors consider in the current environment have a focus on bonds and cash.

    In respect to bonds, the chief economist notes that “market pricing suggests that rate cuts could be on the horizon. If markets are correct about this, and a US recession does occur, this could create favourable conditions for a rally in government bonds.”

    As a result, Bassanese has named U.S. Treasury Bond 20+ Year ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: GGOV) and Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: AGVT).

    And if cash is more to your taste, then the Australian High Interest Cash ETF (ASX: AAA) could be worth considering.

    Bassanese concludes:

    This year has already presented many unexpected challenges for investors. Some, such as a potential US-led global recession, are already obvious and firmly in the sights of investors. Others – such as the recent spate of US bank failures – can catch investors off guard, remaining obscured until the very last moment. For investors who have positioned their portfolios appropriately, the impact might not be quite so severe.

    The post Betashares names 6 ‘defensive’ ASX ETFs to consider for a possible recession appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “Cornerstone” ETFs for building long term wealth…

    Scott Phillips says plenty of people who hear the ‘ETFs are great’ story don’t realise one important thing. Not all ETFs are the same — or as good as you may think.

    To help investors navigate this often misunderstood area of the market, he’s released research revealing the “cornerstone” ETFs he thinks everyone should be looking at right now. (Plus which ones to avoid.)

    Click here to get all the details
    *Returns as of March 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra 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 ‘compelling’ ASX growth shares ECP is backing (You won’t believe #2)

    three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.three businessmen high five each other outside an office building with graphic images of graphs and metrics superimposed on the shot.

    In turbulent times such as now, everyday investors could find it hard to come up with conviction on potential stock purchases.

    That’s why it’s worth examining professionally operated funds to see which stocks they are proudly holding for long-term growth.

    Here are three ASX shares that the team at the ECP Growth Companies Fund is loving at the moment:

    ‘Outlook remains compelling’

    Financial services platform Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) had a fantastic February, gaining more than 9%. It has since moderated a touch to be 3.75% up for the year so far.

    The ECP analysts, in a memo to clients, urged investors to keep their eyes on the ultimate prize — long-term growth.

    “The share price has been volatile as short-term investor sentiment has remained focused on the cadence of in-flows to wealth platforms, with advisors regaining client consolidation momentum as markets have stabilised.”

    The business has kicked off 2023 in a positive vein, according to the ECP team.

    “Hub24 reported a strong start to net flows in 3Q FY23 and reiterated guidance for FY24 funds under management.”

    ECP sees a growth stock with alluring fundamentals in Hub24.

    “With stable revenue margins and operating leverage incrementally flowing through, the outlook remains compelling for Hub24.”

    Pariah turned angel?

    Software maker Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) is as close as any stock can get to the term “pariah” on the ASX.

    The company debuted on the bourse with tremendous hype in December 2020. Within a few weeks the share price exceeded the $11 mark, as investors climbed over each other for a piece of the action.

    But then within just a few months in 2021, it all came crashing down.

    A series of governance failures, and a realisation that it would not hit forecast numbers contained in the IPO prospectus, saw shareholders run from the burning building.

    The share price has been as low as 52 cents over the past year, as Nuix became an example of how fast investors could get burnt.

    But amazingly, the stock has risen 73% year to date.

    The ECP team noted that the company recently won a stock ownership court case brought on by former chief executive Kervin Sheehy.

    “The share price rallied significantly on the back of this, as the market was discounting around $60 million of market capitalisation from the company, expecting the company to lose the case,” read the memo.

    “Nuix has already been awarded costs in the matter, and will defend the appeal.”

    Pizzas don’t sell themselves

    Unlike the other two stocks, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has been in a downward spiral this year. 

    The pizza retailer has already lost over a quarter of its valuation in 2023.

    ECP analysts said that the business had failed to execute an appropriate pricing strategy.

    “[This] saw volumes decline toward the end of the year,” read the memo.

    “The inflationary environment has been challenging, particularly in Europe and Asia.”

    However, the team still has faith in the long-term capital growth opportunity for Domino’s shares.

    “Going forward, the company has introduced their Flexible Voucher, which has proven to have some early success and will be key to improving its operating performance in 2H.”

    The post 3 ‘compelling’ ASX growth shares ECP is backing (You won’t believe #2) 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.

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    *Returns as of March 1 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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Hub24. 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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  • How to make passive income for life with just $5 a day

    A man reacts with surprise when her see a bargain price on his phone.

    A man reacts with surprise when her see a bargain price on his phone.The power of compounding can help turn just $5 a day into enough passive income for life.

    Investors don’t need a lot of money to get started with investing in ASX shares. Many brokers allow investors to start with just a $500 investment. It can take tens of thousands of dollars to invest in property.

    However, I love that it’s easy to take a backseat with ASX shares. We don’t need to worry about tenants or getting a toilet fixed.

    If we can put aside $5 a day, then that’s $1,825 per year. That’s not going to make someone a millionaire in 12 months. But, long-term growth can make a massive difference.

    The power of compounding

    Using the excellent compound interest calculator from Moneysmart, we can calculate that saving $5 a day for the portfolio for 40 years at an average return per annum of 10% would turn into $808,000.

    A 5% dividend yield for that portfolio would make an annual passive income of $40,400.

    But, I think there are a few ways that we can try to deliver returns of stronger than 10% per annum.

    How to invest for passive income

    One way could be to go for ASX dividend shares that could deliver good total returns over the long term so investors can receive passive income whilst the business builds. But, re-investing the dividend can enable even stronger compounding.

    For example, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) have both delivered solid long-term returns for decades.

    In the recent FY23 half-year result, Soul Pattinson said that its total shareholder return was an average of 12.3% per annum. But remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. If the $5 per day compounded at 12% per year over 40 years, it would grow to $1.4 million. A 5% dividend yield would make an annual passive income of $70,000. Or, we could live off the dividend income sooner than 40 years.

    But, another tactic for building dividend income could be to try to find the ASX shares that could deliver a large amount of capital growth and then investors could sell those shares and then buy ASX dividend shares to deliver the passive income.

    My crystal ball isn’t working at the moment, so it can’t tell me which ASX shares could deliver the most capital growth. I think globally expanding businesses could deliver a lot of growth like Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd (ASX: FDV) and Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT).

    But, as a diversified option, I’d choose Vaneck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) to try to deliver long-term compounding outperformance.

    However investors choose to do it, I think that investing in ASX shares is the best way to deliver long-term growth and unlock passive income.

    Of course, putting more money into ASX shares could unlock a lot more dividend income. Saving $10 per day or $20 per day could dramatically reduce how long it takes to deliver life-changing passive income. Investing in the right ASX shares can also make a big difference to the portfolio size after a number of years.

    The post How to make passive income for life with just $5 a day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Where should you invest $1,000 right now? 3 dividend stocks to help beat inflation

    This FREE report reveals 3 stocks not only boasting sustainable dividends but that also have strong potential for massive long term returns…

    See the 3 stocks
    *Returns as of March 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Frontier Digital Ventures, Lovisa, Volpara Health Technologies, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Volpara Health Technologies, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Frontier Digital Ventures, Lovisa, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat 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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  • Is time running out to buy high-yield ASX dividend shares?

    woman looking shocked at the watch on her wrist representing whether it is too late to buy the whisper share price

    woman looking shocked at the watch on her wrist representing whether it is too late to buy the whisper share price

    Is time running out to buy high-yield ASX dividend shares? Potentially.

    The ASX is full of dividend-paying shares. Some offer high dividend yields, and some offer low dividend yields. Some don’t even pay dividends at all, but let’s not bother with those today.

    So to understand the ins and outs of a dividend yield, we have to keep one thing in mind. A company’s dividend yield is a product of two things. The first is the dividends per share it pays out every year. Without any dividends, we can’t get a yield after all.

    But the second thing is a company’s share price. A dividend yield will only be high if it stacks up favourably against its own company’s share price. To illustrate, let’s look at a real-life example.

    Lower prices mean higher yields

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is one of the most popular ASX dividend shares on the market. Over the past 12 months (as of Thursday this week), this ASX 200 bank has paid out two dividends. There was the August final dividend of $2.10 per share, fully franked.

    Following that, we’re about to see CBA’s interim dividend for 2023 hit bank accounts on 30 March this week. That dividend will also be worth $2.10 per share. That’s an annual total of $4.20 per share.

    Now, Commonwealth Bank last traded at a share price of $96.06. If we divide CBA’s dividends per share ($4.20) by its share price ($96.06), we get a percentage figure of 4.37% – CBA’s current dividend yield.

    But if CBA were to shoot up to $200 a share tomorrow (not a prediction), its dividend yield would fall to 2.1%, despite the dividends themselves remaining constant.

    Conversely, if CBA cratered to $50 a share tomorrow, its dividend yield would balloon to 8.4%.

    Thus, a company’s share price is just as important as the raw dividends it pays when it comes to the dividend yield.

    Is it too late to buy high-yield ASX dividend shares today?

    So that brings us to the question of time running out to secure high-yield dividend shares.

    To kick things off, no one knows what the share market might do tomorrow, next month, or next year. ASX shares could crater over the rest of 2023, making ASX dividend shares even more appealing. Or else, today could be the lowest point the share market reaches for the rest of the year. Either scenario is possible, as is something in the middle.

    But I don’t worry about that. I look for what the market is serving up right now and assume that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.

    So I’m buying dividend shares right now, with some of my favourite choices including Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

    If the market falls over the rest of the year, I’ll buy more. If it keeps going up, I’ll still buy more. The market tends to go up more often than it goes down. So it’s probably just better to buy today, if you can.

    The post Is time running out to buy high-yield ASX dividend shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Where should you invest $1,000 right now? 3 dividend stocks to help beat inflation

    This FREE report reveals 3 stocks not only boasting sustainable dividends but that also have strong potential for massive long term returns…

    See the 3 stocks
    *Returns as of March 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and Wesfarmers. 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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