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  • Cimic (ASX:CIM) share price falls despite positive update

    A hand moves a building block from green arrow to red, indicating negative interest rates

    The Cimic Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) share price is down today, despite a positive announcement today that its subsidiary Ventia has won a Telstra contact. This most recent news comes hot on the heels of Ventia announcing a contract award with Anglo American, pre-market today.

    At the time of writing, the Cimic share price is down 1.2% to $25.49.

    A closer look at Cimic

    The Cimic Group provides a range of services to the infrastructure, resources and property markets. These include construction, mining, mineral processing, engineering, concessions, and operation and maintenance services.

    The company operates in more than 20 countries throughout Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North and South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Telstra contract win

    According to its release, Ventia, which is 50% owned by Cimic Group, was awarded a field optimisation contract with Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS).

    Under the agreement, Ventia will carry out a number of works, which will include:

    • network services, including mobile and wideband
    • national optic fibre and data and IP services
    • maintenance and building services to more than 40,000 exchange and network assets
    • network integrity and facilities management of exchanges and other network sites.

    Based on forecasted work volumes, the 3-year contract value is estimated to generate $570 million in revenue for Ventia.

    Ventia, formerly known as Visionstream, has developed a mutually beneficial relationship with Telstra over a 25-year period. This latest contract award is another testament to the strength of the partnership between the two companies. 

    What did management say?

    Mr Tim Harwood, Ventia’s group executive of telecommunications, commented on the strategic win, saying:

    The Telstra Field Optimisation contract provides us with an opportunity to strategically partner with Telstra as it simplifies its business.

    This will be achieved by delivering the highest-quality field operations for Telstra at a lower cost that is based on economies of scale, effective optimisation programs and improved ways of working supported by digital enhancements.

    Cimic share price summary

    The Cimic share price has climbed strongly since the start of October, gaining over 38% for shareholders, although the company’s shares are still down from their pre-COVID highs.

    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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras owns shares of Telstra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Telstra 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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  • 5 top ASX cannabis shares in 2020

    medical marijuana, cannabis, pot, drug, medical

    Investors in ASX cannabis shares have had a bumpy ride in 2020. Share prices were impacted by global oversupply issues in late 2019 then plunged in the March 2020 market downturn.

    But the Australian medical marijuana industry is building momentum, continuing its growth trajectory in 2020 despite the impacts of COVID-19. According to Freshleaf analytics, the market tripled in size over 2020 with 30,000 active patients and $95 million in annual revenue. 

    As the industry matures, competition is increasing. The number of available products has doubled in the last year to 150, putting pressure on prices. Prices have trended downward, and are now on par with more mature markets such as Canada. With price decreases, patient doses have increased, while average spend remains static. 

    The industry got a boost in September when the TGA down-scheduled cannabidiol (CBD). This will allow Australian patients to purchase CBD products from a pharmacist, without needing a prescription.

    But in New Zealand, voters were against a proposal for greater legalisation and decriminalisation of recreational cannabis floated in October, albeit by a narrow margin. This will be a blow to the industry which may have hoped for a potential widening in customer base.

    In more positive news, the UN voted to remove cannabis and cannabis-related substances from Schedule IV of the international treaty governing narcotic drugs in early December. 

    ASX cannabis shares saw mixed results over 2020. While some outperformed the broader market, others lagged. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up around 1% over the year.

    Let’s take a look at how 5 of the best ASX cannabis shares have performed in 2020.

    Company name 1-year share price return Share Price Market Cap
    Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: ZLD) 67% $0.09 $113.8 million
    Althea Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AGH) 14% $0.40 $102 million
    Ecofibre Ltd (ASX: EOF) -30% $1.9 $287.5 million
    Auscann Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AC8) -26% $0.17 $55.48 million
    Cann Group Ltd (ASX: CAN) 5.3% $0.49 $136.3 million

    1. Zelira Therapeutics

    Small cap Zelira outperformed following its merger with US-based medicinal cannabis product developer Ilera in late 2019. The merger provided Zelira with direct access to the US market where revenue is being generated by the recently launched HOPE brand of cannabis formulations. Zelira entered into a licensing agreement in December to allow for distribution in the Washington DC market

    Zelira has previously licenced HOPE in Pennsylvania and Louisiana and remains focused on expanding distribution across approved markets in the US. With its sights firmly set on becoming a profit generating pharma company, Zelira completed a $4.58 million capital raise earlier this year to fund the launch of multiple products into global markets. 

    2. Althea Group 

    Althea had a bumper year of share price growth compared to some pot sticks. The company is in the product distribution game, connecting patients and prescribers via its Althea Concierge app.

    Active in Australia and the UK, and Althea recently started distributing to Germany. The company has also entered the manufacturing sector with its Peak Processing Solutions facility in Canada, which is capable of processing cannabis infused edibles and nutraceuticals. 

    In December, Althea reported 11,841 Australian patients, up from 3688 a year earlier.  The aim is to have 30,000 patients by 2021. With 810 healthcare professionals prescribing Althea products in Australia, revenue is growing – it was up 48% month-on-month in November to $110,378. This has been reflected in an increase in the Althea share price over 2020. 

    3. Cann Group

    The Cann Group share price, on the other hand, is finishing 2020 largely flat. A July capital raise was conducted at a 50% discount to the (then) share price of 82 cents, causing the price to plummet. Key stakeholder Aurora Cannabis then sold its 11.84% shareholding in the company in October in off-market trades to undisclosed buyers. 

    In more positive news, the company finally executed debt documentation in December. This will provide funding of $50 million to complete construction of the first stage of the company’s production site near Mildura.

    A staged approach to construction of the facility was adopted in response to the global oversupply of cannabis late last year. Cann Group is choosing to initially focus on meeting Australian domestic demand while reducing operating expenses as it seeks to transition to profitability. 

    4. Ecofibre

    Ecofibre saw its share price decline over the full year as investors shied away from the hemp products producer. The company listed on the ASX in March 2019 at $1 per share and was trading above $3 in late 2019.

    The share price has since, however, retraced its steps. Ecofibre’s US based Ananda Health business has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, lawlessness in key US markets, and industry changes in the US CBD market. Revenue for the first quarter of 2021 was significantly down on the prior corresponding period. Ecofibre has advised the best it can expect is a breakeven profit result in FY21. 

    5. Auscann Group

    The Auscann share price spent most of 2020 in the mid teens but spiked in early December following the UN’s vote on cannabis. Auscann’s CEO commented, “the change in scheduling has the potential to vitalise research into medicinal cannabis, removing some of the deterrents to activity in this space.”

    Nonetheless the share price remains well down from all time highs. The company launched its hard shell capsules in 2020 and says sales have initially been slower than hoped but are building. From a low base, sales are currently increasing 50% month on month. 

    The Australian medical marijuana industry has undergone a reckoning with reality over the last couple of years. This has resulted in more realistic valuations than in the early, exuberant days post legalisation.

    As the sector moves toward maturity, 2021 could mark a turning point in discovering what a healthy medical marijuana industry looks like in Australia.

    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 June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor Kate O’Brien has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Here’s why this fundie thinks City Chic (ASX:CCX) is an attractive ASX share

    Fashion

    ASX share City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX) is an attractive business according to one particular fund manager.

    What does City Chic do?

    City Chic describes itself as a global omni-channel retailer that specialises in plus-size women’s apparel, footwear and accessories. It has a number of brands including City Chic, Avenue, CCX, Hips & Curves and Fox & Royal. It has a network of 96 stores across Australia and New Zealand, websites operating in Australia, New Zealand and the US, marketplace and wholesale partnerships with major US retailers such as Macys and Nordstrom, and a wholesale business with European and UK partners such as ASOS and Zalando.

    Avenue targets value-conscious women with a long history and significant online customer following in the US. Hips & Curves and Fox & Royal are online intimates brands in the US and ANZ respectively.

    A recent acquisition

    Before I get to the fund manager’s views, City Chic announced an acquisition today.

    City Chic is going to acquire UK plus-size brand Evans from the Arcadia group. Evans has a long history, having operated for 90 years as a high street retailer.

    The ASX share is buying Evans’ e-commerce and wholesale businesses, which generated £26 million (A$46 million) of sales for the financial year to August 2020. The Evans website had 19 million visits in that time.

    However, this acquisition doesn’t include the store network of more than 100 locations in the UK. The administrators are entitled to trade from the existing Evans stores until the end of March 2021, in order to liquidate existing stock in the stores. The franchise business, based primarily in Middle East, is also excluded from the acquisition.

    The Evans group (online, wholesale, stores and franchise) generated over £60 million of annual sales prior to COVID-19. City Chic said that Evans has high online penetration with almost half of direct-to-consumer sales (stores and website) being through the digital channel.

    The store portfolio has been shrinking for a number of years with customers changing to the digital channel, which City Chic thinks will minimise any e-commerce sales leakage as a result of the administration-led store liquidation. The acquisition will be funded from City Chic’s existing cash balance, which was A$121 million before the acquisition. Its $40 million debt facility will remain undrawn.

    City Chic said that this acquisition will give it a platform to launch into a new market worth £5 billion annually in the UK, or $9 billion in Australian dollar terms.

    What makes City Chic an interesting option?

    Fund manager Chris Prunty from QVG Capital thinks that the e-commerce theme will continue to grow after COVID-19 has passed. For a business like City Chic, the fashion ASX share’s ability to sell products online underlines its ability to build itself into a market-leading position.

    Mr Prunty also said that City Chic’s management is a great example of what can be done in a crisis, not worrying about failure and instead focusing on innovating, leading to outperformance.

    In FY20, City Chic’s online penetration of total sales was 65%, compared to 44% in FY19. Online website sales growth was 113.5% in the last financial year.

    After today’s movement where the City Chic share price went up 11%, it’s now valued at 24x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    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.*

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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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  • Why the Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT) share price surged 12% today

    stylised image of exploding cloud coming out of top of a man's head representing exploding share price

    Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) shares were on the rise today. This came after the company announced it will file two new patents with its strategic partner, Leti. By the market’s close, the Weebit Nano share price was up 11.54% to $2.03. In comparison, the S&P ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) was down 1.3% to 2,843 points.

    Quick take on Weebit Nano

    Weebit Nano develops next generation computer memory technology. The company addresses the growing need for data storage and embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) technology with its new, resistive random-access-memory (ReRAM) technology.

    According to the company, “Weebit Nano’s technology enables a quantum leap, allowing semiconductor memory elements to be significantly cheaper, faster, more reliable and more energy efficient than the existing Flash technology”.

    What’s driving the Weebit Nano share price higher?

    The Weebit Nano share price was rocketing higher today after the company advised it has recently filed two new patents related to its to Silicon Oxide (SiOx) ReRAM technology. 

    The first of the patents outlines a process improvement that enables high memory yield and high uniformity across memory cells. The goal is to maximise production efficiency during fabrication which will ultimately lead to best-in-industry class memory chips.

    The second patent filed relates to the selector development utilising a very fast read speed. This, in turn, allows less power to be required and reduces stress during the read operation of a memory chip.

    Management commentary

    Weebit Nano CEO Mr Coby Hanoch said:

    Weebit is continuing to build its IP portfolio as it moves closer to first commercialisation, filing two new patents to protect our technology and enhance the IP value for our licensees. Together with our strategic partner Leti, we have filed eight patents over the past two years.

    The recent capital raisings support accelerated research and development that is expected to generate additional patents as we progress towards production.

    Weebit share price summary

    The Weebit Nano share price has shot up higher over the past 6 months, reflecting a gain of more than 600%.

    Weebit Nano shares reached a high of $2.47 last month after the company provided investors with an activities update for the first quarter of FY21.

    Weebit has a current market capitalisation of $207 million.

    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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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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  • Why the Althea (ASX:AGH) share price is sinking 6% lower today

    The Althea Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AGH) share price has been a poor performer on Monday and has started the week deep in the red.

    In afternoon trade the cannabis company’s shares are down almost 6% to 40 cents.

    Why is the Althea share price under pressure?

    This morning the company released an update on the share purchase plan component of its capital raising.

    This follows the successful completion of its $6 million institutional placement last week, which was undertaken at 44 cents per new share. The offer price represents a 10.2% discount to its share price at the time of the capital raising announcement.

    Today’s announcement reveals that the company is pushing ahead with its share purchase plan, with the aim of raising a further $3 million from eligible shareholders.

    However, given that the Althea share price is now changing hands for 40 cents, the share purchase plan’s offer price of 44 cents per new share isn’t looking very attractive at all.

    What does this mean?

    Althea has already advised where it plans to deploy the funds from the capital raising.

    $2 million is going towards sales & marketing activities, a further $2 million is being used to build inventory, $1 million is being used to support its Althea Concierge platform, $3.7 million is being allocated for research & development activities, and $0.3 million is to cover fees.

    Given that the capital raising is not being underwritten, there’s a real possibility that Althea will now fall short of its target and be forced to scale back its plans.

    Though, with the share purchase plan opening today and not closing until 15 January 2021, there is plenty of time for the Althea share price to improve and make the offer more attractive to shareholders. Though, only time will tell if that proves to be the case.

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    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

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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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  • Why the Paradigm (ASX:PAR) share price is jumping higher

    medical asx share price represented by doctor giving thumbs up

    Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: PAR) shares are jumping higher today after the company provided an update prior to market open this morning. At the time of writing, the Paradigm share price is trading 1.2% higher at $2.50.

    What’s driving the Paradigm share price?

    The Aussie pharmaceuticals group today released a presentation via the ASX summarising its inaugural research and development (R&D) day. Investors were provided with an update on the company’s Osteoarthritis (OA) Clinical Program alongside R&D pipeline and revenue timeline progress updates.

    Following the release, the Paradigm share price has been on the rise, despite the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) falling 0.3% lower in today’s trade.

    Paradigm announced it has received feedback from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The revised clinical trial program will confirm the minimally effective dose and evaluate increased patient numbers.

    Paradigm is looking to confirm its Phase III study and submit its Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the fist quarter of 2021.

    Outside of its knee OA application, Paradigm is also exploring opportunities to repurpose its Pentosan Polysulphate Sodium (PPS) drug. The R&D pipeline is focused on the drug’s potential to treat heart failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome as well as possible use for alphavirus-induced arthralgia applications.

    Investors have been impressed by today’s update with the Paradigm share price climbing by as much as 3.2% in earlier trade, despite the broad market softness. 

    Paradigm indicated a timeline to first revenue for Australia with the company highly confident of receiving global registration once the pivotal Phase III clinical trials are successfully completed.

    The company laid out a path to revenue in 2021 while maintaining optionality in future funding and investment decisions.

    How have the company’s shares performed in 2020?

    The Paradigm share price has been under pressure in 2020, having fallen more than 16% in year-to-date trading. However, shares in the pharma group are up over 110% since the bottom of the bear market in mid-March.

    The group’s market capitalisation has fallen to $577.5 million this year, with the company having traded as high as $4.50 per share in February this year.

    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 June 30th

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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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  • Here’s why the WhiteHawk (ASX:WHK) share price has rocketed 26% higher today

    digital screen depicting padlock overlaid on circuit board

    The WhiteHawk Ltd (ASX: WHK) share price has been a very strong performer on Monday.

    In afternoon trade, the cybersecurity marketplace provider’s shares are up a massive 26.5% to 31 cents.

    This means the WhiteHawk share price is now up over 244% since the start of the year.

    Why is the WhiteHawk share price rocketing higher?

    Investors have been buying the company’s shares on Monday after strong gains were made by US cybersecurity shares on Friday night.

    The likes of Crowdstrike, FireEye, and Okta hit new record highs at the end of the week after the US Government experienced one of its worst cyberattacks in history.

    According to CNBC, the scale of a sophisticated cyberattack on the U.S. government that was unearthed last week was far bigger than first anticipated.

    The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) even went as far as to say that the threat “poses a grave risk to the federal government.”

    CISA suspects that the attack first began all the way back in March. Since then, it notes that multiple government agencies are believed to have been targeted by the hackers, though only the Energy and Commerce departments have so far confirmed attacks.

    What about WhiteHawk?

    This news bodes well for WhiteHawk and could lead to an increase in demand for its services in the near future. Particularly given its recent announcement, which reveals that it has updated its software to make it compliant with the new regulations from the Council of Financial Regulators.

    That update will allow financial institutions to ensure their own safety and that of their clients.

    WhiteHawk’s Executive Chair, Terry Roberts, commented: “Whitehawk remains committed to delivering the most comprehensive marketplace of Cybersecurity online and SaaS services to businesses internationally and invites all Australian businesses to partner with us to make the future of Australian business more secure for each and every one of us.”

    “We have achieved our original vision of being able to seamlessly service any company or organization, to mitigate their cyber risks smartly, affordably and continuously,” he added.

    This news has also given the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) a big lift on Monday. In afternoon trade the cybersecurity focused ETF is up 6% to a record high.

    This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay

    One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting…

    Because ‘Doc’ Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget ‘buy now pay later’, this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.

    Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!

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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 BETA CYBER ETF UNITS. 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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  • What does China have to do with the a2 Milk (ASX:A2M) share price?

    A2 Baby formula shares

    The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price dove over 22% last week, although it has regained some of its losses today and is up 1.13% at the time of writing.

    The company’s recently released financial guidance revisions, paired with a dip in Daigou sales, seem to have spooked investors and pummelled the a2 Milk share price. 

    What does ‘Daigou’ mean and why does it matter?

    The term Daigou refers to the act of purchasing goods overseas to resell in mainland China. The impact of Daigou activities on the a2 Milk business is nothing new. The company mentioned the influence of “reseller channels” on its third quarter FY20 revenue back in April — Daigou falls into this category.

    At a glance, Daigou’s impact on performance seems pretty straightforward. If lots of people are buying products to bring back to China, it’s good. If they aren’t spending as much money as a2 Milk expects, it’s bad.

    However, when we consider the influences that are potentially impacting consumer behaviour here, specifically the effects of COVID-19, things aren’t quite as cut and dry. Further complicating matters are the trade issues currently occurring between Australia and China. Acting CEO Geoff Babdidge doesn’t seem too concerned about that though, he believes Daigou is to blame.

    When discussing why the a2 Milk share price has slid (as quoted by the Australian Financial Review) Mr Babdidge said:

    It is primarily about the daigou — this is the linchpin on how we established this brand in China over the last five years. The issues we are experiencing are not related to geopolitics with Australia and China.

    Australia’s salty relationship with China

    While Mr Babidge chooses to focus on the Daigou in his views about a2 Milk’s current share price, the elephant in the room is the trade relationship between Australia and China.

    Pricing in losses expected from Daigou numbers is one thing, but predicting the future for business relationships between Australia and China is another issue, one which might loom over some investors as we move into the new year.

    What’s coming up for a2 Milk?

    With our sights set toward the dawn of 2021, a2 Milk will be soon be welcoming incoming CEO David Bortolussi. Mr Bortolussi joins the business following his most recent role as Group President — International Innerwear, HanesBrands.

    The company has also committed a significant marketing budget to continuing its business in China and expanding in the US.

    Investors will be waiting to see if these and other upcoming happenings will be enough to boost the a2 Milk share price and carry the company forward.

    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 June 30th

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Gretchen Kennedy 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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  • Why the AGL (ASX:AGL) share price has fallen 6% today

    red chart with downward arrow

    Australia’s biggest electricity and gas retailer, AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) has downgraded its earnings guidance for the FY21 financial year. 

    This follows the company’s transformer incident at its Liddell Power Station in New South Wales last week. At the time of writing, the AGL share price has fallen 5.75% to $12.46.

    What did AGL announce today

    AGL announced that it now expects underlying profit after tax (NPAT) for FY21 to be between $500 million and $580 million, down from the previous guidance range of $560 million to $660 million.

    The company acknowledged this was a direct result of last Thursday’s transformer incident at Liddell Unit 3, which seriously injured one of its workers.

    AGL expects the Liddell unit will not return to service until early March 2021.

    The company has estimated the financial impact of this outage – including direct trading impacts on the day of the event, trading impacts, and the direct cost of replacing the transformer – to be $25 million. It also notes  the expected loss is not recoverable via insurance in future years.

    Today’s FY21 guidance update reflects this impact, as well as increasing earnings pressure  from continued deterioration in wholesale electricity operating conditions.

    The company says it anticipates a further material step-down in wholesale electricity earnings in FY22. This, as hedging positions established when wholesale prices were higher progressively roll off, and are re-contracted at lower levels that reflect the deterioration in wholesale prices.

    What happened at Liddell

    On Thursday, 17 December, a fire occurred in the generator transformer of Liddell Unit 3 during a change of an oil cooler filter, damaging the transformer and shutting down the unit.

    The AGL employee, who was seriously injured as a result of the incident, is now recovering following medical treatment.

    An investigation into the incident is underway. AGL advised it is working with the relevant authorities and providing support to the injured worker and his family.

    How has the AGL share price performed in 2020?

    The AGL share price has had a disappointing performance in FY20, losing 37% in value. The company reported an underlying profit after tax of $816 million for FY20.

    The current FY21 guidance of $500 million and $580 million is much lower than last year’s figure.

    At the current price, the company commands a market cap of $7.7 billion.

    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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Eddy Sunarto 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.

    The post Why the AGL (ASX:AGL) share price has fallen 6% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    Buy ASX shares

    With so many shares to choose from on the ASX, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy.

    The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

    Three top shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

    According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their add rating but slashed the price target on this infant formula company’s shares to $12.20. The broker notes that the company has reduced its guidance due to weaker than expected trading in the daigou channel. And while Morgans has reduced its earnings forecasts by almost a third for the next three years, it still believes its shares are good value at the current level. Especially given its strong performance on mainland China. The a2 Milk share price is trading at $10.22 this afternoon.

    ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO)

    A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and lifted the price target on this cloud-based HR and payroll platform provider’s shares to $9.70. This follows the announcement of its acquisition of Webexpenses last week. Its analysts believe there are meaningful cross selling opportunities from the deal. And given its current share price, the broker feels the risk/reward on offer with its shares is compelling. The ELMO share price is fetching $6.60 on Monday.

    Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

    Another note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $4.80 price target on this agricultural chemicals company’s shares. It was pleased with the company’s improved performance during October and November. And while it isn’t getting overly carried away and notes that its key trading periods are still to come, it is certainly a positive. Especially given how it is experiencing growth in all segments. The Nufarm share price is trading at $4.29 today.

    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 June 30th

    More reading

    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 and recommends Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elmo Software. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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