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Reporting season is mercifully coming to an end this week.

If you’re overwhelmed by all the financial figures, Morgans analyst Andrew Tang has helpfully picked out the best buys based on the latest results announcements.

Here are four of those ASX shares to consider adding to your portfolio:

‘Positive earnings momentum is obvious’

TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) shares have had a rough time since the company was born out of a merger between Vodafone Australia and TPG.

Since that first day on the ASX in July 2020, the stock price has dropped more than 42%.

But Tang was pleased with the latest report.

“TPG FY22 result was, pleasingly, in line with expectations,” Tang said on the Morgans blog.

“Revenue was up 1.5% year-on-year and underlying EBITDA (excluding the gain on tower sales and restructuring costs) was up ~4% year-on-year to $1,793 million.”

As well as hitting Morgans’ target for the financial year just gone, the future was also positive.

“FY23 guidance is ~3% ahead of consensus,” said Tang.

“This was the first time since merging that positive earnings momentum is obvious across the group.”

Morgans thus has an add rating on TPG shares.

This business is ‘now through the worst’

On the other hand, food and drinks producer Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)’s fortunes were downbeat in the latest results.

“BGA’s 1H23 result was weak with net profit after tax [NPAT] down 74%,” said Tang.

“Margins (especially in the 1Q) were materially impacted by higher milk and other inflationary costs and the lag impact of implementing price rises (didn’t take effect until the 2Q).”

The 2023 financial year earnings outlook was downgraded to the lower end of the previously flagged range.

“Rising interest rates will further impact NPAT. We have made large cuts to our forecasts.”

Despite all this doom and gloom, Tang has upgraded the stock to a buy.

“While we continue to have concerns about the dairy industry, we think Bega is now through the worst of it,” Tang said.

“With low double-digit price rises, further efficiencies, synergy realisation and asset sales, BGA expects a much improved result in FY24.”

Tang’s team highly rates Bega’s new leadership team, expecting it to “deliver improved returns over the coming years”.

Bega shares are down more than 26% over the past 12 months.

Economic slowdown is a worry, but this stock is still a buy

Like many technology stocks, online task marketplace Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART) has seen its shares devastated in recent times.

The stock price has lost a painful 62% over the past year.

Tang felt the latest results showed the business is heading in the right direction.

“Gross merchandise volume growth of +58% on prior comparable period (to ~$132 million) and revenue growth of +57% on prior comparable period (to ~$22 million) was a resilient performance from the local services marketplace, in our view.”

There was “some softness” seen on posted tasks due to the slowing economy, admitted Tang.

“We note supply side normalisation (labour) has begun and assisted completion rates and helped underpin Airtasker’s GMV growth.”

The Morgans team has thus lowered its future expectations, but still rates Airtasker as a buy.

2022 was all the hard work, now sit back for 2023

Petrol station real estate owner Waypoint REIT Ltd (ASX: WPR) reported results that met Tang’s expectations, due to its focus last year on selling “non-core assets”, capital management, and balance sheet clean-up.

“The portfolio is valued at $2.9 billion across +400 properties with metrics stable,” he said.

“Revaluations saw cap rates expand 16 basis points over 2022. Net tangible assets at $3.02.”

This compares to Waypoint’s share price closing Tuesday at $2.73.

Tang’s team sees this year as one of consolidation rather than reform.

“After two years of steady asset sales (~15% of portfolio), 2023 is expected to be less active.”

The main feature of any real estate trust, the dividend yield, is expected to remain attractive.

“CY23 distributable EPS guidance to be in line with CY22 which equates to a distribution yield of +6%.”

The post 4 ASX shares to grab now after boom results: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 recommended Airtasker. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom. 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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With financial announcements largely finishing up this week, it’s the last chance for investors to pick up ASX shares with a bright outlook based on those numbers.

Morgans analyst Andrew Tang, who has been keeping an eye on all the action, named his last set of stocks to buy for the February reporting season:

Back in 2021 no one thought coal would become the new black

When Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI) listed on the ASX in December 2020, more than one pundit questioned how it would survive as a public company.

After all, it is the owner and operator of a coal export terminal.

But no one saw what was coming next — an energy crisis in 2022 sending any stock related to coal production soaring.

Now Dalrymple Bay shareholders are laughing, with the share price up in excess of 18.5% since the first day on the ASX, all while delivering an 8% dividend yield.

“The FY22 result delivered the substantial earnings growth we were expecting following finalisation of terminal infrastructure charge (TIC) negotiations in 2H22,” Tang said on the Morgans blog. 

“Dividend per share guidance had already been provided and was unchanged (albeit the growth outlook was not reaffirmed).”

The stock is a buy for Morgans, especially considering a “forward cash yield of mid-8% and circa 6% price growth potential”.

Reporting season ‘easily beat our expectations’

On the same theme, coal explorer and producer Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR) is also a buy for Tang’s team, based on a sensational report to the market.

“Key CY22 financials easily beat our expectations on higher PCI [pulverised coal injection] price realisations,” said Tang.

“We now forecast Stanmore to reach a net cash position during 1H23.”

The Stanmore share price has more than tripled over the past 12 months, but incredibly still represents excellent value for those willing to buy now.

“Stanmore looks too cheap trading on a +25% free cash flow yield, with +30% capital upside and upside to tight/buoyant hard coking coal pricing,” said Tang.

“Stanmore enjoys clear M&A advantages in the Bowen Basin and we think positioning for possible acquisitions will far out-rank dividends through 2023.”

‘Growing profits gets much easier from here’

Captioning technology and services provider Ai-Media Technologies Ltd (ASX: AIM) has been on a hiding to nothing the last few years.

The stock price has sunk more than 73% over the past five years. Over the past 12 months, it has seen a 40.7% decline.

However, Tang feels like it has turned a corner after seeing its software-as-a-service (SaaS) arm contribute more than 50% of the total profit growth.

“Since it’s nearly double the margin of legacy and growing much faster, this means Ai-Media has cleared the critical [inflection] point in its transition to a SaaS business,” he said.

“Growing profits gets much easier from here.”

The business’ gross profit grew both on a year-on-year basis and half-on-half.

“The company booked revenue of $29.7 million for the year, in line with our $29.5 million forecast and 8% below consensus expectations.”

13.8% dividend yield? Yes, please

Kina Securities Ltd (ASX: KSL) is not a name often heard when financial stocks are discussed.

The Papua New Guinean bank incredibly pays out a 13.8% dividend yield.

Tang said its February report was “broadly solid”, with a lid kept on bad debts and “an impressive ~18% FY22 return on investment”.

“Kina Securities’ FY22 Underlying net profit after tax (PGK106 million) was +10% on the prior comparable period and in-line with Morgans’ expectations.”

One headwind that the bank faces is “the lingering Papua New Guinea corporate tax issue”.

But the stock is still an add for Morgans analysts, with the low share price seemingly pricing in headwinds.

“Kina Securities continues to deliver solid underlying profit growth, and trading on ~6x FY23F earnings and a >10% dividend yield, we see the stock as too cheap.”

The post 4 ASX shares to stock up on after a bright reporting season: Morgans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Morgans names the ASX dividend shares to buy
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• Morgans names 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy this month

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 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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If you’re looking for dividends shares to buy in March, then you may want to check out the two listed below.

Here’s what you need to know about these buy-rated ASX dividend shares:

Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

The first ASX dividend share that could be in the buy zone is Jumbo Interactive. It is the company behind the OzLotteries website/app and the Powered by Jumbo software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform.

Morgans is a big fan of the company and, earlier this week, put an add rating and $16.50 pirce target on its shares following the release of its half-year results.

While the results were softer than it was expecting, the broker remains positive on the future and believes Jumbo is well-placed for growth in the coming years. It said:

We believe JIN offers excellent strategic growth opportunities, both in Australia and overseas, supported by a steadily expanding domestic market for digital lottery retailing. The business is cash generative and has a low requirement for ongoing capex.

As for dividends, Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 43 cents in FY 2023 and 51 cents in FY 2024. Based on the latest Jumbo share price of $13.58, this will mean yields of 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

Another ASX dividend share that brokers rate as a buy is Mineral Resources. It is a mining and mining services company with exposure to lithium and iron ore.

Bell Potter is positive on Mineral Resources and has a buy rating and $111.00 price target on its shares. The broker believes the company is well-placed for strong earnings and dividend growth in the coming years. It recently commented:

Over the next two years we forecast that as the business transformation is completed, MIN’s growing production volumes, and improving margins, supported by strong commodity prices, will result in significant earnings growth.

In respect to dividends, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 388.7 cents per share in FY 2023 and 939.1 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Mineral Resources share price of $82.56, this will mean yields of 4.7% and 11.4%, respectively.

The post Get a second income with these ASX dividend shares: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why ASX 200 lithium shares are eyeing this surprising new Chinese move
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
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• Jumbo share price slips despite revenue growing 18%
• Which ASX 200 lithium share takes the crown for dividend yield right now?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Jumbo Interactive. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jumbo Interactive. 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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On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and charged higher. The benchmark index rose 0.5% to 7,258.4 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Wednesday despite it being a reasonably positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 12 points or 0.2% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 0.3%, but the S&P 500 is up 0.3% and the Nasdaq is 0.7% higher.

Oil prices charge higher

Energy producers Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good session after oil prices charged higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2% to US$77.16 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 1.8% to US$83.96 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher on Chinese growth hopes.

Harvey Norman shares rated as a buy

The Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) share price was sold off on Tuesday following the release of a weaker than expected half-year result from the retail giant. Goldman Sachs believes this has left its shares trading at a very attractive level and has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $4.70. Goldman’s estimates suggest potential upside of 22% for its shares and a 9.3% dividend yield in FY 2023.

Gold price rises

Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a decent session after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.7% to US$1,837.2 an ounce. Despite this, the precious metal is on course to have its worst month in almost two years.

NextDC named as a buy

The NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price could have major upside potential according to the team at Morgans. This morning, the broker has reiterated its add rating on the data centre operator’s shares with a trimmed price target of $13.00. It was pleased with NextDC’s half-year results, commenting: “NXT’s 1H23 result was slightly better than expectations with underlying EBITDA up 15% YoY and 6% ahead of our forecasts.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top ten ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday
• Why Accent, Adbri, Harvey Norman, and Pointsbet shares are sinking
• 3 ASX 200 shares making big moves on earnings announcements
• Why did the CSL share price outperform the ASX 200 in February?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. 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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As the Autumn leaves turn brown and begin to fall, investors will be hoping their ASX shares remain firmly in the green.

This follows an event-filled earnings season, after which many shareholders will be taking stock of their holdings and making some changes based on those ASX companies that performed, and those that failed to deliver.

If you’re looking to usher out the old and welcome some new investments to your portfolio this month, here are a few ideas to get you started.

Because, as always at the start of a new month, we asked our Foolish writers which ASX shares they think offer top buying in March.

Here is what the team came up with:

7 best ASX shares for March 2023 (smallest to largest)

• Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS), $476.75 million
• Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP), $519.02 million
• Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1), $1.27 billion
• Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), $2.61 billion
• Block Inc (ASX: SQ2), $3.56 billion
• Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), $12.59 billion
• Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), $48.07 billion

(Market capitalisation as of 28 February 2023)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX stocks

Aeris Resources Ltd

What it does: Aeris calls itself a mid-tier base and precious metals producer, with copper forming the biggest part of its portfolio. The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) miner also produces gold and zinc.

By Tristan Harrison: I believe the acquisition of Round Oak has boosted this miner’s prospects. It has recently reported a number of exploration successes that could help it become bigger in the coming years.

Aeris is also debt free, meaning its balance sheet is in good shape to pursue opportunities.

Furthermore, I think copper has a very promising future as the world looks to decarbonise and electrify economies. Improving the electric grid and manufacturing electric vehicles will need more copper.

Commsec numbers suggest Aeris could make 15 cents of earnings per share (EPS) in FY24, putting the Aeris Resources share price at just five times FY24’s estimated earnings.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares in Aeris Resources Ltd.

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd

What it does: Propel Funeral Partners is the second-largest private provider of death care services across Australia and New Zealand. The company holds a vast presence across its 152 operating locations, including 35 cremation facilities and nine cemeteries.

By Mitchell Lawler: There is a combination of characteristics I find highly desirable in the ASX shares I look to invest in. These being businesses that are hard to disrupt, operate in fragmented industries, have a proven track record for growth, and are run by management with skin in the game. Propel is a company that ticks all of these boxes, from where I’m standing.

There are two big players in this industry – InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC) and Propel. Outside of these two, there is around 70% market share – made up of primarily small, family-run operations – which is arguably just waiting to be consolidated. The Propel team has proven its ability in this regard, having grown its operations from one location in 2013 to now more than 150.

In my opinion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27 times is far too cheap for a company that just posted a 35% increase in operating net profits in the latest half. While I suspect this could slow as funeral volumes return to historical averages, I believe the long-term trend is favourable.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares in Propel Funeral Partners Ltd.

Accent Group Ltd

What it does: Accent Group is a footwear and clothing retailer and distributor. It’s behind such stores as Platypus, The Athlete’s Foot, Skechers, Dr Martens, and Vans.

By Brooke Cooper: Accent dropped its first-half earnings last week, delivering impressive growth and a positive outlook.

It posted a 39% jump in sales and a 290% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT). The retailer also declared a 12 cent per share fully franked interim dividend, while its debt levels fell to $63.6 million.

To top it off, Accent hasn’t seen any significant change in consumer spending despite economic uncertainty, perhaps as its younger target market likely isn’t highly impacted by rising interest rates or cost of living pressures.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and a $2.90 price target on Accent shares. This represents around 30% upside based on the current share price.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper does not own shares of Accent Group Ltd.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd

What it does: Lovisa is a fast-fashion jewellery retailer with a rapidly-growing global footprint.

By James Mickleboro: I think Lovisa would be a great long-term option for investors due to its strong brand, relatively low price point, and bold global expansion plans.

With respect to the latter, during the first half of FY 2023, Lovisa opened 86 net new stores, bringing its total to 715. While this is a large number, I believe it’s well short of what could be achieved in the future.

For example, in the United States, the company now has 155 stores. This is less than the 163 stores it operates in Australia, despite the US population being around 13 times greater than ours.

And with its talented management team highly experienced in global rollouts for retail brands, including Guess and Zara, I believe the company could be destined to grow its store network into the thousands by the end of 2020s.

It’s no wonder that Morgans has previously suggested that Lovisa could “prove to be one of the biggest success stories in Australian retail“.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares in Lovisa Holdings Ltd.

Block Inc

What it does: Block is the US tech giant formerly known as Square. It runs several highly successful apps and provides payment services, including Afterpay.

By Sebastian Bowen: Block is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share that has had a very turbulent year or two. But the company’s latest quarterly report showed some very pleasing numbers.

The fintech company reported a 14% jump in revenues, as well as a 40% spike in gross profits and a 53% increase in earnings.

Block’s Cash App continues to go from strength to strength, with the app’s profits rising 64% year on year and Afterpay netting Block $200 million in profits over the quarter.

Block is an exciting fintech company, and one with exposure to multiple markets across different countries. As such, I think it is well worth looking at this March.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares in Block Inc.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd

What it does: Pilbara Minerals is an ASX 200-listed lithium and tantalum producer. Its 100% owned Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project, located in Western Australia, is said to be the world’s largest, independent hard-rock lithium operation.

By Bernd Struben: I believe Pilbara Minerals is doing a great job executing its development and growth strategies, as demonstrated by its half-year results.

Compared to the prior corresponding period, the lithium miner saw sales revenue surge 305% to $2.2 billion and statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) leapt 989% to $1.2 billion.

The company also declared its first-ever dividend of 11 cents per share, fully franked. That represents a 2.6% yield at the current price. Pilbara trades ex-dividend on Thursday, 2 March.

The Pilbara Minerals share price is up by around 60% in 12 months. But I believe the miner has far more to offer long term, as the growth outlook for EVs and grid storage batteries – most of which require lithium – remains very strong.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in Pilbara Minerals Ltd.

Telstra Group Ltd

What it does: Telstra is Australia’s largest provider of telecommunications and information products and services.

By Bronwyn Allen: Australia’s biggest telco and the largest ASX communications stock by market cap is currently a favourite among several top brokers.

Macquarie has placed Telstra at the top of its model income portfolio with an 8.8% weighting. It likes Telstra’s higher earnings certainty, strong cash flows, and fully-franked dividends.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and a 12-month price target of $4.64. After Telstra released its half-year earnings earlier this month, Goldman Sachs reiterated its buy rating with a price target of $4.60.

Morgans says the telco industry “has the strongest tailwinds in a decade” and has a $4.70 price target on Telstra shares. At market close on Tuesday, the Telstra share price was sitting at $4.16.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen does not own shares in Telstra Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in March 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why ASX 200 lithium shares are eyeing this surprising new Chinese move
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday
• Why Accent, Adbri, Harvey Norman, and Pointsbet shares are sinking
• Looking to cash in on the inaugural Pilbara Minerals dividend? You better hurry!
• Someone just sold $250 million of Pilbara Minerals shares. Here’s what we know

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group, Lovisa, and Propel Funeral Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price increased almost 3% today amid news out of China.

Fortescue shares closed at $21.40 apiece on Tuesday, up 2.84%. That was well above the S&P/ASX 200 Index‘s (ASX: XJO) gain of 0.47%.

As one of the world’s biggest iron ore miners, sentiment about the company is susceptible to changes in the iron ore price. In turn, this can be impacted by changes in the relationship between supply and demand, or even the perceived future changes.

China is the key buyer of iron ore globally, so anything happening within the borders of the Asian superpower can have a large impact on the Fortescue share price.

What’s happening in China?

According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, China is focusing more stringently on environmental impacts and regulations once again.

The AFR reported that China’s leading lithium production hub, known as Yichun, was ordered to “halt output” as investigators probed alleged environmental infringements at lithium mines, according to Bloomberg. This accounts for between 8% to 13% of global lithium supply.

The newspaper also reported that iron prices dropped after Chinese authorities ordered steel output to be reduced at the Tangshan production hub with forecasts of “heavy air pollution”. Lower production of steel could mean that iron ore demand falls.

Is this going to happen more regularly?

Senior commodity strategist at ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) Daniel Hynes was quoted by the AFR:

Traders in the lithium market are becoming increasingly concerned about a supply shock.

It does appear that Beijing is re-focusing on environmental issues again following a period of weak industrial activity due to COVID lockdowns. With China’s reopening now ramping up, though, these crackdowns are likely to become more common.

The iron ore price dropped 3% overnight to US$122 per tonne.

Why is the Fortescue share price rising?

Sometimes the market movements of shares don’t quite make sense.

Keep in mind that the 3% rise in the Fortescue share price today follows the 7% fall on Monday after the company went ex-dividend. Going ex-dividend means new investors are no longer entitled to the announced dividend.

The Fortescue dividend that’s going to be paid to shareholders is 75 cents per share. That payment is due on 29 March 2023.

So, over the two days, the Fortescue share price has dropped 4.6%.

Also, it’s worth keeping in mind that Fortescue is investing billions of dollars into decarbonising its business. That could mean that its ‘green’ iron is more likely to tick the box for Chinese authorities and may end up being worth more of a premium than if it wasn’t ‘green’.

The post Fortescue share price rebounds on possible China supply restrictions appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Appen, Downer, Fortescue, and Invocare shares are crashing today
• Why is the Fortescue share price sinking 8% today?
• Why are ASX 200 mining shares ending the week in the red?
• 7 ASX 200 shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Hoping to bag the next Fortescue dividend? You’d better hurry

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Fortescue Metals 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is hurting as the ASX mining share goes through another dip.

It has been a volatile last 12 months for the business, with the share price going through a series of bumps. We’re currently sitting at a low point for one of those bumps.

With the volatility of updates, investment sentiment and resource prices, it’s understandable why the Lynas share price is moving about so much.

After the latest decrease, it’s worth considering whether the ASX mining share is a buy or not.

Expert views on the Lynas share price

According to reporting by The Australian, some of the leading brokers in Australia have had their say on whether the rare earth miner is a buy or not.

JPMorgan has decided to increase its rating on the business to neutral. JPMorgan’s price target on the business is $8.60 – a price target implies where the broker believes the share price could be trading in 12 months from the date that the target is issued.

This means that JPMorgan is suggesting that the Lynas share price could increase by around 6%.

The broker UBS is less positive on Lynas than it used to be, with a cut of the rating to neutral. The price target was reduced, to $9. So, it still sees a decent upside for the Lynas share price from here – a possible rise of 11%.

Is this a good time to buy?

Unless my crystal ball starts working, it’s hard to know what the Lynas share price is going to do next.

Lynas seems to be doing what it needs to do to achieve growth in its operations, even if it can’t control the price of rare earths.

In the FY23 half-year result, it reported that revenue rose 17.5% to $370 million, but net profit after tax (NPAT) fell 4.3% to $150.1 million. A key part of the decline came about after a rise of almost 32% of cost of sales.

Lynas suffered from “significant” production challenges due to water supply issues in the first quarter and the start of the second quarter as well as “rapid increases in costs, particularly for chemical inputs.”

The ASX rare earth miner said that construction activity on the Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility accelerated, with recruitment of the operational leadership team now complete.

Lynas said the Kalgoorlie facility is important for business continuity as well as growth. The company said:

Its importance is highlighted following the announcement of the renewal of the Lynas Malaysia operating licence with conditions prohibiting the import and processing of lanthanide concentrate from 1 July 2023. If not removed, these conditions would require the closure of the Malaysian cracking and leaching plant. Due to the inherent unpredictability of commissioning, Lynas continues to plan for several potential ramp up scenarios.

The company also said that the Mt Weld expansion project is “progressing well”, while it continues to make progress on the development of a US rare earths separation facility.

If I were looking to buy a piece of the miner, I think this is a good Lynas share price to do it at. I like its plans to grow, and it seems to be a strategically important business for the US to diversify the country’s source of supply of rare earths.

The post Are Lynas shares a buy following Monday’s 6% dive? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Lynas share price slips as costs jump 32%
• 4 ASX 200 mining shares to buy for takeover potential: expert
• Investing in Lynas shares? Here’s why Malaysia may reconsider its licence restrictions
• Here are the best ASX shares to buy for the coming decade: Firetrail
• 3 ASX 200 shares Firetrail Small Companies fund is overweight in right now

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

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) regained some of its Monday losses today, closing 0.47% higher at 7,258.4 points.

Leading the charge were energy stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) gaining 1.5% with the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) coming in as its best performer.

The energy giant posted its full-year earnings – detailing a US$5 billion profit – yesterday.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also posted a strong session’s trading, gaining 1.5% following yesterday’s 3.15% tumble.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slumped 1.3% on Tuesday, weighed down by the 1.7% fall in the Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price.

So, with all that in mind, which ASX 200 share outperformed all others to post today’s biggest gain? Let’s take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today’s top-performing ASX 200 stock was De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG). It gained 7.7% to close at $1.395 amid a positive note from a top broker.

These shares made today’s biggest gains:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG)	$1.395	7.72%
Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE)	$0.625	6.84%
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)	$6.98	6.24%
Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR)	$1.47	5.76%
West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)	$0.925	5.71%
Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)	$6.36	5.47%
Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)	$1.74	5.14%
Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)	$3.79	4.99%
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)	$3.16	4.64%
Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK)	$2.29	4.57%

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

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

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More reading

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday
• Why De Grey, Kogan, Mayne Pharma, and Mesoblast shares are charging higher
• 3 ASX 200 shares making big moves on earnings announcements
• Why did the CSL share price outperform the ASX 200 in February?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Link Administration. 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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With a new month upon us, what better time to look at your portfolio and see if there’s room for a new addition or two.

If you’re a fan of exchange traded funds (ETFs), then listed below are three that could be worth getting better acquainted with.

Here’s what you need to know about these ETFs:

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. As its name suggests, this ETF provides investors with exposure to the leaders in the growing global cybersecurity sector. Among the companies you’ll be buying a slice of are cybersecurity giants Accenture, Crowdstrike, Okta, and Palo Alto Networks. These companies appear well-positioned for growth over the coming decade thanks to increasing demand for cybersecurity services as more infrastructure shifts to the cloud and cyber attacks increase.

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF could be another ETF for investors to consider in March. This very popular ETF gives investors access to the 100 largest non-financial shares on the famous NASDAQ index. These are many of the largest companies in the world such as Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. And with the ETF down 14% from its 52-week high, this could make it an opportune time to invest with a long term view.

VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

A third and final ETF for ASX investors to look at in March is the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. This ETF gives investors access to a portfolio of the largest companies involved in video game development, hardware, and eSports. Among the tech companies that you’ll be owning a slice of are Activision Blizzard, AMD, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Nvidia, Roblox, and Take-Two. These companies all look well-placed to benefit from the increasing popularity of video games and eSports.

The post 3 ETFs for smart ASX investors in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why I’m not investing in ASX index ETFs (yet)
• 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy as a beginner investor
• 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy for my child for the long term
• Buy these ETFs for passive income and growth
• 3 top tech ETFs for ASX investors to buy right now

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors Video Gaming And eSports 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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S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium shares will be watching how a surprising new move by Chinese authorities plays out.

The ASX 200 lithium stocks have been buoyed by soaring demand for lithium, a critical element in most EV batteries.

Although lithium prices have tumbled some 30% since hitting record highs last year, as short-term supply catches up to demand, the big miners are still handily outperforming the benchmark.

Here’s how their share prices have moved over the last 12 months:

• Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are up 54%
• Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are up 20%
• Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) shares are up 25%
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares are up 19%
• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares are up 82%

So, why are these ASX 200 lithium shares watching China?

ASX 200 lithium shares eyeing 10% cut in global lithium supply

China is not only the world’s top producer of EVs, but it also produces some 75% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries. And according to the International Energy Agency, the Middle Kingdom accounts for around 60% of global lithium supplies.

And it’s this supply-side factor that will be drawing the interest of ASX 200 lithium shares.

This comes as news breaks that environmental officials are investigating lithium miners in Yichun, Jiangxi province for breaching regulations.

Yichun produces approximately 10% of the annual global lithium supply.

As Bloomberg reports, ore-processing operations in Yichun have been brought to a halt as the investigation takes place. It’s not yet known how long the closure orders will remain in place.

The refineries are still running.

What are the experts saying?

Commenting on the environmental crackdown that’s being followed by ASX 200 lithium shares and miners around the world, Susan Zou, an analyst at Rystad Energy said, “This supervision may mean that the inspection and control over lepidolite mining in China will be more stringent in the future.”

Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mineral. And analysts had expected Jiangxi province would provide significant new supplies.

The big question now, and one which could well impact the price of lithium and hence ASX 200 lithium shares, is how long the shutdowns will last.

China’s annual parliamentary meetings take place in March.

“At present, the market speculation is that the probe may stop after the two sessions in China next month,” Zou said.

Chris Berry, president of industry consultancy House Mountain Partners, added (quoted by Bloomberg):

Any mine would typically have a stockpile of ore in place, so as long as the refineries are operating, you aren’t likely to see any whipsaw in lithium pricing. Should these mines be halted for months, then this becomes a different story.

Certainly, a story worth following.

The post Why ASX 200 lithium shares are eyeing this surprising new Chinese move appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday
• Looking to cash in on the inaugural Pilbara Minerals dividend? You better hurry!
• Someone just sold $250 million of Pilbara Minerals shares. Here’s what we know
• The Core Lithium share price has crashed 20% in February. What now?
• Are ASX nickel shares worth investing in?

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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