Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why the Hipages (ASX:HPG) share price could be going 36% higher from here

    aconex, construction, software, project management

    The Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG) share price has been a disappointing performer since listing on the Australian share market in November.

    The online platform and software as a service (SaaS) provider’s shares ended the week at $2.13. Which means they are down 13% from their listing price of $2.45.

    What is Hipages?

    Hipages is a leading Australian-based online platform and software as a service (SaaS) provider that connects tradies with residential and commercial consumers. It currently has 36,000 tradies subscribed to the platform.

    Based on the number of jobs posted, it is the leader in the on-demand tradie economy. The company notes that to date, over three million Australians have changed the way they find, hire, and manage trusted tradies with Hipages.

    Approximately $40 million in gross proceeds was raised through its initial public offer (IPO). These funds will be used to drive future growth through investment in its brand and technology platform, as well as its expansion into new channels and adjacent opportunities.

    Is the Hipages share price in the buy zone?

    According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, the recent weakness in the Hipages share price has dragged its shares down to an attractive level.

    This morning it initiated coverage on the company with a buy rating and $2.90 price target. This price target implies potential upside of 36% from its last close price.

    Goldman Sachs is a fan of the company due to its belief that in can grow its revenue and particularly its operating earnings strongly over the coming years.

    It commented: “We forecast a FY20-FY23E revenue CAGR of 12%, broadly in line with market growth. However, we forecast a materially stronger EBITDA CAGR of 36% as HPG drives improving returns on its sales and marketing spend (brand investment) and further refinements in marketplace efficiencies (balance between the number of tradies on its platform and higher quality job listings).”

    “We value HPG based on a 50:50 weighting of EV/EBITDA (FY21 EBITDA Multiple of 25.7x benchmarked to peers, applied to FY22E EBITDA) and a 10-year DCF (WACC 8.9%, TGR 2.5%, revenue CAGR 11.4% and a terminal year EBITDA margin of 39%). This derives our A$2.90 12m target price,” it concluded.

    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 James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post Why the Hipages (ASX:HPG) share price could be going 36% higher from here appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy today

    dividend shares

    If you’re on the lookout for some dividend shares to add to your portfolio, then you might want to take a closer look at the ones listed below.

    Here’s why they are being rated as shares to buy right now:

    Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS)

    Although this leading wealth management and transfer agency software solution provider isn’t normally regarded as a dividend share, a significant decline in its share price means it has become one. That decline has been driven by concerns over its performance in FY 2021 due to COVID and Brexit headwinds. Management has warned that the majority of its earnings will be generated in the second half.

    One broker that remains very positive on the company’s future and sees this share price weakness as a buying opportunity is Goldman Sachs. It recently put a buy rating and $4.50 price target on its shares. The broker is also forecasting a 10.6 cents per share dividend in FY 2021. Based on the current Bravura share price, this represents a 3.1% dividend yield.

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    Unlike Bravura, this supermarket operator has been performing very positively this year and has seen its share price surge higher. The company delivered a 6.9% increase in sales to $37.4 billion in FY 2020 and has followed this up with further strong growth in the first quarter of FY 2021. During the three months that ended 30 September, Coles reported an impressive 10.5% increase in total sales over the prior corresponding period to $9.6 billion.

    Goldman Sachs is also very positive on Coles and was pleased with its performance in the first quarter. In light of its positive form, the broker is forecasting a fully franked 64 cents per share dividend in FY 2021. Based on the current Coles share price, this equates to a 3.5% dividend yield. Goldman has a buy rating and $20.50 price target on its shares.

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    Returns As of 6th October 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Bravura Solutions Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

    ASX share

    On Friday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished a positive week on a disappointing note. The benchmark index tumbled 1.2% to 6,675.5 points.

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

    ASX futures pointing lower.

    The Australian share market looks set to start the week in a cautious manner after an underwhelming finish to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the week 10 points or 0.15% lower this morning. On Friday night on the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.4%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.35%, and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower.

    BINGO a takeover target?

    The BINGO Industries Ltd (ASX: BIN) share price will be on watch this morning after rumours swirled that it could be a takeover target. According to the AFR, the waste management company is being pitched to funds as “contracted industrial infrastructure.” Infrastructure funds are believed to kicking a few tyres to test the reliability of its revenue and earnings.

    Oil prices jump.

    Energy producers including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could start the week strongly after oil prices finished the week higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price rose 1.5% to US$49.10 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price climbed 1.5% to US$52.26 a barrel. This led to oil prices recording their seventh successive weekly gain.

    Gold price softens.

    Gold miners such as Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) will be on watch today after the spot gold price softened on Friday. According to CNBC, the spot gold price fell 0.2% to US$1,886.80 an ounce. A firmer U.S. dollar led to weakness in the price of the precious metal.

    QBE share price given conviction buy rating.

    The QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price crashed 12% lower on Friday after the release of a trading update. One broker that sees this as a buying opportunity is Goldman Sachs. Its analysts have put a conviction buy rating and $10.67 price target on the insurance giant’s shares. This compares to the current QBE share price of $8.71. Goldman commented: “At 12x our FY21 earnings we continue to think QBE looks attractive relative to growth we forecast and remain broadly comfortable with our thesis.”

    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 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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  • Buy these ASX blue chip shares for your retirement portfolio

    letter blocks spelling out the word retire

    If you’re approaching retirement, then now could be the time to shift away from growth shares and start focusing more on capital preservation and income.

    But which shares should you buy to accomplish this? The two blue chip ASX shares listed below could be worth a closer look:

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    Goodman Group is an integrated commercial and industrial property group. It owns, develops, and manages industrial real estate in 17 countries. Goodman has been growing at a solid rate over the last decade thanks to the diversity of its operations and its exposure to quick growing markets such as ecommerce. Pleasingly, the latter market has resulted in strong demand from blue chip customers such as Amazon, Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Walmart. This appears to have positioned Goodman for sustainable growth over the 2020s.

    One broker that certainly believes this to be the case is Morgan Stanley. It was pleased with its development work, sky high occupancy rates, and the yields it is commanding. In light of this, it put an overweight rating and $20.90 price target on its shares. It is also expecting a 30 cents per share distribution this year. Based on the current Goodman share price, this represents a 1.6% yield.

    Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)

    This retail conglomerate is another popular option for retirement portfolios. This is due to Woolworths’ strong brands, entrenched customer base, and defensive qualities. Combined, they have allowed the company to deliver robust earnings and dividend growth over the last decade.

    Analysts at Citi are positive on the future and recently reiterated their buy rating and $44.50 price target on Woolworths shares. They were pleased with the company’s strong performance in the first quarter and lifted their earnings forecasts to reflect this. Citi is forecasting a $1.16 per share fully franked dividend in FY 2021. Based on the latest Woolworths share price, this equates to a 2.9% yield.

    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 James Mickleboro 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.

    The post Buy these ASX blue chip shares for your retirement portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Why today’s top stock picks could soar in 2021

    ASX outlook

    Buying today’s top stock picks could prove to be a profitable move in 2021 and beyond. In most cases, they are likely to be high-quality companies that trade at low prices. As such, their valuations may not take into account their long-term financial prospects.

    Furthermore, the track record of the world economy suggests that it is very likely to deliver an improving performance after a challenging 2020. This could lead to stronger operating conditions for many businesses, as well as improving investor sentiment that has the potential to lift valuations across the stock market.

    Buying today’s top stock picks

    Many of today’s top stock picks are likely to be high-quality companies that offer wide margins of safety. In other words, investors are currently not taking into account their potential to deliver improving financial performances after a tough 2020. Therefore, they could offer upward rerating potential over the course of 2021 and beyond that leads to a rising share price and capital growth for investors.

    Of course, in the near term their valuations could come under further pressure. Risks such as Brexit and coronavirus look set to remain in place in 2021. However, the track record of the stock market shows that stock valuations have generally reverted to their long-term averages over the long run. This could mean that today’s top stock picks offer a significant amount of capital appreciation potential over the coming months and years due to their currently low share prices.

    The prospect of an economic recovery

    Today’s top stock picks could also experience improving operating conditions in 2021 and over the long run. This year has seen many companies operating in a wide range of industries struggle to produce positive sales and profit growth.

    While this situation may persist in the near term, the track record of the world economy suggests that a return to stronger conditions is very likely. After all, no recession or economic slowdown has ever lasted in perpetuity.

    Improving operating conditions and a stronger economic outlook may help to boost investor sentiment. They may become more bullish about the outlook for a wide range of stocks and sectors – especially high-quality businesses with competitive advantages. This may help to lift the stock market, and may mean that today’s top stock picks deliver attractive rates of capital growth.

    Managing risk in 2021

    Clearly, the outlook for today’s top stock picks remains uncertain. However, investors can reduce overall risks through buying a diverse range of companies and holding them for the long run. Having a broad range of stocks within a portfolio can reduce an investor’s reliance on a small number of businesses for their returns.

    Meanwhile, holding shares for the long run can mean that an investor is less impacted by short-term volatility and paper losses. They may also benefit from a likely rise in the stock market over the coming years, as it recovers from the difficulties experienced in 2020.

    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 Peter Stephens has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    The post Why today’s top stock picks could soar in 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 2 of the best ASX growth shares to buy for 2021 and beyond

    A man drawing an arrow on a growth chart, indicating a surging share price

    Looking to add a few growth shares to your portfolio next week? Then you might want to get better acquainted with the ones listed below.

    The two shares listed below have been growing strongly and have been tipped to continue doing so in the future. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

    The first growth share to look at is Appen. It is the global leader in the development of high-quality, human annotated datasets for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Given the explosive growth of these markets, it has been growing at a strong rate over the last few years. While the pandemic is putting a dampener on things in FY 2021, management appears confident that demand will accelerate once the crisis passes and its strong form will resume.

    According to a note out of Citi from last week, its analysts have a buy rating and $32.60 price target on the company’s shares. This compares to the latest Appen share price of $24.85. They believe recent share price weakness is a buying opportunity and remain very positive on its long term growth prospects.

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    Due to the growing demand for its industry-leading products in the fast-growing sleep treatment market, ResMed is another company which has been growing strongly in recent years. In fact, this strong form even continued in FY 2020 despite the pandemic. And with trading conditions improving, FY 2021 looks set to be another positive year of growth.

    One broker that is very positive on the company’s future is Credit Suisse. Last month it upgraded the company’s shares to an outperform rating with a $31.00 price target. Its analysts believe ResMed is very well placed to benefit from a shift to home healthcare following the pandemic. Overall, it believes the company is capable of delivering double digit earnings growth for a number of years. The ResMed share price last traded at $28.25.

    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 Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ResMed Inc. 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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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

    broker Buy Shares

    Last week saw a large number of broker notes hitting the wires once again. Three buy ratings that caught my eye are summarised below.

    Here’s why brokers think investors ought to buy them next week:

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    According to a note out of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $40.00 price target on this electronic design software platform provider’s shares. This follows the announcement that Altium is selling a non-core business to focus on its key Altium 365 platform. Morgan Stanley was encouraged by management’s comments on the platform and expects it to be the key driver of growth in the future. The broker was also pleased to see the company reiterate its full year guidance. Especially given the challenging operating environment. The Altium share price ended the week at $34.68.

    Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

    A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted the price target on this auto parts retailer’s shares to $8.85. The broker made the move following the release of a trading update which revealed stronger than expected sales growth. Citi expects this to result in a solid half year result in February. In addition to this, the broker likes Bapcor due to its defensive qualities, favourable tailwinds, and international expansion. The Bapcor share price was trading at $7.65 on Friday.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

    Analysts at Morgans have retained their add rating but trimmed the price target on this buy now pay later provider’s shares to $8.89. The broker made the revision to its price target to account for Zip’s $150 million equity raising last week. It notes that the funds will be used partly to support its growth in the key US market. Morgans was pleased with the accompanying update on its US business and the more than tripling of its transaction value in the country during November. Overall, the broker remains positive on the company’s future and sees strong growth ahead. The Zip share price ended the week at $5.44.

    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 Altium. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Bapcor. 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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  • Stock market crash 2020: how I’d capitalise on a rare chance to get rich

    metal garbage tin with collection of percentage signs spilling out of it representing cheap asx shares

    Many shares have not yet recovered from the 2020 stock market crash. Despite improving investor sentiment and the prospect of a brighter economic outlook in the long run, some stocks continue to trade at cheap prices.

    Buying them could prove to be a profitable long-term move. Through building a diverse portfolio of high-quality companies that are presently experiencing weak operating conditions, it may be possible to generate a surprisingly large nest egg in the coming years.

    Buying high-quality shares after the stock market crash

    A number of today’s cheap shares are still unpopular many months after the stock market crash because of their weak near-term outlooks. Some sectors, such as energy, financial services and leisure, are facing unprecedented challenges at the present time. In many cases, their potential to grow sales and profit in the short run is very limited. As such, investor sentiment towards them is weak. This has caused their share prices to lag the wider index in many cases.

    Buying such companies may not seem to be an attractive idea to many investors. However, those companies that have difficult operating conditions, while also having solid financial positions and a competitive advantage, may offer recovery potential over the long run. They may emerge in a stronger position after the stock market crash relative to their weaker sector peers. This may enable them to deliver improving financial performances in the coming years that translates into rising stock prices.

    Diversification in a stock market recovery

    It is easy to become complacent as a stock market recovery replaces a stock market crash. This may lead to a portfolio that lacks diversity, in terms of the number and range of companies that are held within it.

    However, as this year’s market decline showed, a bull market can quickly turn into a bear market without warning being given. Therefore, while it may be tempting to only invest in the very best shares available at the present time, ensuring a portfolio is diversified could be crucial in generating high returns in the coming years. After all, it is unclear which companies and sectors will deliver growth in what could be a fast-paced and different economic outlook in a post-coronavirus world.

    A long-term approach to buying cheap shares

    Of course, a second stock market crash could occur in the near term. Risks such as Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic may remain in place for some time. They could prompt a period of weaker investor sentiment and a more challenging period for the world economy’s performance.

    As such, taking a long-term view of any stocks purchased at the present time could be important in generating high returns. The stock market has always posted new record highs after its various declines. Using a buy-and-hold strategy may enable an investor to take advantage of a similar outcome after the 2020 stock market crash.

    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 Peter Stephens has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • 2 ASX dividend shares with 4%+ yields

    blockletters spelling dividends bank yield

    According to the latest cash rate futures, there market is pricing in a 65% probability of the Reserve Bank taking rates to zero in February.

    Whether or not this transpires, time will tell. But one thing that is for sure, is that rates are unlikely to be going higher for a long time to come.

    In fact, the latest Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) economic report reveals that its team expect rates to stay where they are until at least the end of 2022, but probably longer.

    In light of this, if you want to overcome low interest rates, then you might want to add some dividend shares to your portfolio.

    Two ASX dividend shares with generous yields are listed below:

    National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

    National Storage is one of the region’s largest self-storage providers. From its 200+ centres across Australia and New Zealand, the company tailors self-storage solutions to residential and commercial customers.

    It has been growing at a solid rate over the last decade thanks to a combination of organic and inorganic growth. While trading conditions are tough at present because of the pandemic, it continues to supplement its growth with acquisitions. Looking beyond the pandemic, the future looks positive due to its exposure to ecommerce and a potential rebound in the housing market in 2021.

    Management recently provided guidance for earnings per share to be at the upper end of its guidance range of 7.7 cents per share to 8.3 cents per share. It is also expecting an FY 2021 distribution of 90% to 100% of its underlying earnings. Based on this and the latest National Storage share price, this will mean a ~4% dividend yield in FY 2021.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Another option for investors to look at is property company Rural Funds. It owns a diversified portfolio of high quality Australian agricultural assets that are leased to experienced agricultural operators. The company’s revenues are derived from long-term leases across five sectors: almonds, cattle, vineyards, cropping and macadamias.

    Given their ultra-long leases and built-in rental increases, Rural Funds appears well positioned to continue growing its rental income and distribution at a solid rate over the next decade. That certainly will be the case this in FY 2021. The company plans to increase its distribution by 4% to 11.28 cents per share. Based on the latest Rural Funds share price, this equates to a generous 4.3% yield.

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    Don’t miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover these 3 high conviction stocks now.

    Returns As of 6th October 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended RURALFUNDS STAPLED. 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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  • How useful is the P/E ratio in assessing ASX shares?

    questioning whether asx share price is a buy represented by man in red shirt scratching his head

    The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is one of the most oft-quoted statistics in the world of investing, usually coming after an ASX share’s price, and perhaps its market capitalisation.

    This is justified to an extent – the P/E ratio can be a very useful metric to examine when you’re deciding whether to invest in a particular company. But it can also be misleading. So let’s look at some ways to use the P/E ratio, and when you shouldn’t.

    P/E ratios: An introduction

    So let’s first examine exactly what the P/E ratio tells us. The ratio represents the relationship between a company’s annual earnings, measured by its earnings per share (EPS), to its market capitalisation, measured by the share price. A company with a high P/E ratio will have lower earnings compared with its market capitalisation than a company with a low P/E ratio.

    Let’s look at an example. So Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) reported an earnings per share metric of 73.3 cents for FY2020 back in August. That means the company brought in 73.3 cents in earnings for every share outstanding. So at the time of writing, the Coles share price is trading at $18.35. If we divide $18.35 (the price) by 0.733 (the earnings), we get a P/E ratio of 25.03.

    How do we use this ratio?

    The P/E ratio can be especially useful for comparing different companies within the same sector, or comparing a company to the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). A dollar of earnings is a consistent metric (since every dollar is worth the same value across all companies).

    Thus, since Coles has a P/E ratio of 25.03, and its rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) currently has a P/E ratio of 43.66, we can say that the market is valuing each dollar that Woolworths earns at a higher rate than Coles’. In other words, the market is placing a premium on Woolies’ shares (why the market is choosing to do this is a whole other discussion!).

    The ratio can be useful from a broad market perspective too. Right now, the ASX 200 Index has an average P/E ratio of 22.73, according to BlackRock. Thus, we can also say that investors are placing a higher premium on both Coles and Woolworths when compared to the entire index.

    When is the P/E ratio not so useful?

    Looking at the P/E ratio alone, however, is not a sound investment strategy. Investors tend to price different sectors according to their earnings risk. For example, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) currently has a P/E ratio of just 11.2, despite the company being at record highs. This could possibly reflect the fact the market is unwilling to pay a premium for an iron ore miner that is subject to the whims of the commodity markets (read low long-term earnings certainty).

    Also, the P/E ratio is almost useless for valuing companies that don’t yet have earnings or which reinvest revenues aggressively for more growth. As an example, Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) doesn’t even have a P/E ratio yet because it chooses to reinvest its revenues into the business, rather than banking them as earnings.

    And many investors are choosing to buy Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) shares right now due to the company’s massive growth, despite a technical P/E ratio of a whopping 641. If Xero simply switched from reinvesting its revenues to banking earnings, its P/E ratio would come back closer to Earth.

    Foolish takeaway

    The P/E ratio is a great metric, and a highly useful one in certain situations. But it possibly doesn’t deserve the prominence it has among parts of the investing community. Its lack of universal application and potential for creating misleading impressions of a company mean it should be carefully regarded in conjunction with plenty of other data and research.

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    Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO, 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.

    The post How useful is the P/E ratio in assessing ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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