Tag: Motley Fool

  • ‘Still waiting for it to ‘appen’: Broker gives its verdict on the Appen share price

    A trendy man sinks down in an airport terminal chair, waiting.

    A trendy man sinks down in an airport terminal chair, waiting.The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price has continued its slide on Tuesday.

    At the time of writing, the struggling artificial intelligence (AI) data services company’s shares are down 4.5% to $2.25.

    This means the Appen share price is now down almost 70% over the last 12 months.

    Why is the Appen share price falling?

    Investors have been hitting the sell button again on Tuesday after brokers responded negatively to the company’s full-year results release from yesterday.

    One of those brokers was Bell Potter, which has retained its hold rating and cut its price target by 25% to $2.25.

    This is now in line with where the Appen share price trades following today’s decline.

    What did the broker say?

    Bell Potter notes that Appen’s full-year result fell short on the top line but was in line on the bottom line. While the latter was positive, this was then offset by “weak” operating cash flow and its soft guidance. In respect to its guidance, it said:

    Appen did not provide any formal 2023 guidance. The company did, however, say there has been “a soft start to 2023” and 1H2023 EBITDA is expected to be materially lower than 1H2022. Appen also said it had identified annual cost savings of ~US$10m and the benefits will commence in 2H2023. The company has withdrawn its 2026 targets pending a full strategic review in May.

    As a result of this, the broker is “still waiting for it to ‘appen” and has downgraded its earnings estimates materially for the coming years. Though, it even appears to believe that those could be challenging to achieve. The broker adds:

    We have downgraded our underlying EBITDA forecasts in 2023 and 2024 by 53% and 48% which has been driven by an 11% reduction in our revenue forecasts in each period and also lower margin assumptions. We now forecast underlying EBITDA of US$14.7m in 2023 which is an improvement on the US$11.0m in 2022 but this assumes a large earnings skew to the second half.

    The post ‘Still waiting for it to ‘appen’: Broker gives its verdict on the Appen share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Appen Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Appen Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Appen. 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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  • Are Woodside shares a buy following the ASX 200 energy giant’s bumper results?

    Two workers at an oil rig discuss operations.

    Two workers at an oil rig discuss operations.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are pushing higher on Tuesday.

    In morning trade, the energy giant’s shares are up 2% to $35.84.

    This latest gain means the Woodside share price is now up 26% over the last 12 months.

    Where next for Woodside shares?

    Unfortunately, one leading broker believes the Woodside share price has now climbed beyond fair value.

    According to a note out of Morgans, in response to its full-year results, the broker has retained its hold rating and $33.60 price target.

    This suggests that its shares could slide over 6% from current levels over the next 12 months.

    The broker also warned that Woodside would be unlikely to pay such a large dividend again in FY 2023 and is forecasting a reduction from US$2.53 per share to 75 US cents per share.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans notes that the Woodside’s full-year earnings were ahead of its estimates but fell short of consensus expectations in FY 2022. It said:

    WDS reported a softer than expected 2022 earnings and dividend result, relative to consensus expectations. Underlying EBITDA US$11,234m (vs MorgE US$10,990m vs consensus US$12,077m), +172% vs pcp. WDS declared a final dividend of USD 144 cps (-8% vs consensus), maintaining an 80% payout ratio of underlying NPAT.

    Commenting on future dividends, the broker believes that cuts are coming due to higher capex. Though, it concedes that management could look to maintain them. It adds:

    WDS declared impressive dividends for the 2022 year, driven by upsized earnings realised from the acquired BHP-P assets. On the result call, WDS confirmed that it would consider sacrificing its gearing target of 10-20% temporarily in order to maintain its dividend profile in high capex years. WDS’ view is that the target gearing range is a through-the-cycle target so there would be periods when WDS trends above or below that range. We are forecasting dividends to reduce in the coming years as WDS go through a capital-intensive period from FY23-24.

    Finally, although the broker is a fan of the company, it simply doesn’t see enough value in the Woodside share price to recommend it as a buy. It concludes:

    We have a positive view on WDS in terms of its fundamentals, balance sheet, and asset portfolio; although view its current share price as already reflecting fair value against our expected TSR. Maintain our Hold rating.

    The post Are Woodside shares a buy following the ASX 200 energy giant’s bumper results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woodside Petroleum Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Woodside Petroleum Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Woodside Petroleum Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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

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  • Tyro Payments share price lifts as EBITDA soars 600%

    A man with long hair and tattoos holds out an EFTPOS payment machine from behind a shop counter.A man with long hair and tattoos holds out an EFTPOS payment machine from behind a shop counter.

    The Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR) share price is rising this morning after the company posted its earnings for the first half of financial year 2023.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) payment solutions provider lifted 4.9% to peak at $1.715 shortly after open. Right now, the stock is up 0.31% at $1.64.

    Tyro Payments share price slips on long-awaited profitability

    • $1.1 million of statutory net profit – a 106% improvement on the prior comparable period’s (pcp) $18 million loss
    • $21.7 billion of transaction value, a 37.1% jump on that of the pcp
    • $216.6 million of normalised revenue – up 45.2%
    • $19.5 million of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) – a 601% year-on-year improvement
    • $600,000 of free cash flow – marking its first positive cash flow as a listed company

    Tyro Payments posted its first profit since 2015 this morning while revealing its EBITDA soared 601% last half as profits grew faster than costs.

    Its payments business benefited from inflation as consumers were forced to fork out more. Its alliance with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) generated $2.8 billion of transaction value.

    Meanwhile, its merchant cash advance loan product generated a record $72.7 million of new loan originations – double that of the pcp. Lending losses came to just 1.2% of originations last half.

    What else happened last half?

    The number of merchants using Tyro’s platform increased 8.7% over the 12 months ended 31 December to 66,884.

    At the same time, its banking business saw 5.4% growth in activated deposit accounts – coming in at 6,400. A total of $95 million is held in deposit with Tyro.

    Of course, last half also saw the company approached by two suitors, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and Potentia. It scrapped takeover talks with both in December before granting the latter due diligence in recent weeks.

    What did management say?

    Tyro Payments CEO Jon Davey commented on the results driving the company’s share price today, saying:

    An increased focus on growth, cost management and delivery excellence has led to very pleasing first half results, including a record EBITDA and achieving positive free cash flow for the first time as a publicly listed company.

    Over the last six months we have delivered foundational initiatives which will deliver lasting benefits to our competitiveness and growth profile. These include the Tyro Go reader, the Tyro Pro next generation terminal, and automated onboarding. From these we will build new customer experiences and drive further operational efficiencies.

    As we look forward, our focus will be on payment and banking product innovation, revenue growth and margin optimisation, operating efficiency, and cost reduction.

    What’s next?

    The company provided an update on its second-half trading today.

    It saw its transaction value lift 23% year-on-year in the first eight weeks of 2023 to $6.3 billion. Simultaneously, its banking business generated $22.5 million of loan originations – a 30% improvement.

    Meanwhile, its normalised gross profit for January was $15.4 million – up 39% – while its EBITDA was $3.6 million at an operating leverage of 76.6%.

    Tyro Payments also reaffirmed its full-year guidance. It expects its EBITDA to come in at between $37 million and $41 million at a target operating leverage of 79% in financial year 2023.

    Tyro Payments share price snapshot

    This year has been good for the Tyro Payments share price so far. The stock has gained 19% since the start of 2023. It’s also 6% higher than it was this time last year.

    For comparison, the ASX 300 has risen 4% year to date and 2% over the last 12 months.

    The post Tyro Payments share price lifts as EBITDA soars 600% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Tyro Payments Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Tyro Payments Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Tyro Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Tyro Payments and Westpac Banking. 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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  • Harvey Norman share price sinks 10% on earnings miss and big dividend cut

    A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.

    A young woman holds an open book over her head with a round mouthed expression as if to say oops as she looks at her computer screen in a home office setting with a plant on the desk and shelves of books in the background.The Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) share price is being sold off on Tuesday.

    In morning trade, the retail giant’s shares are down almost 10% to $3.76.

    This follows the release of a half-year result that appears to have fallen short of expectations.

    Harvey Norman share price falls on earnings miss

    • Consolidated revenue flat at $2.34 billion
    • Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) down 8% to $694.01 million
    • Reported profit after tax down 15.1% to $365.9 million
    • Underlying profit after tax down 12.3% to $301.32 million
    • Fully franked interim dividend down 35% to 13 cents per share

    What happened during the half?

    For the six months ended 31 December, Harvey Norman reported flat consolidated revenue of $2.34 billion.

    Unfortunately, the retailer’s profits didn’t hold up as well as its revenue. This was due to the company’s margins easing, leading to its EBITDA falling 8% and its underlying profit dropping 12.3%.

    In light of this profit decline, the company has elected to slash its interim dividend by 35% to a fully franked 13 cents per share.

    How does this compare to expectations?

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts were expecting group sales of $2.28 billion, EBITDA of $588 million, and underlying profit after tax of $311 million.

    This appears to indicate that Harvey Norman beat on the top line and with its EBITDA, but missed on the bottom line.

    In addition, while no dividend estimate was provided for the first-half, Goldman was expecting Harvey Norman’s full-year dividend to increase by one cent to 39 cents in FY 2023.

    Given the large cut it has made to its interim dividend, this appears to indicate that there’s very little chance of that happening anymore. This could be putting added pressure on the Harvey Norman share price.

    Management commentary

    Harvey Norman’s Chairman, Gerry Harvey, commented:

    Our Omni Channel Strategy continues to deliver stable returns and sustainable growth resulting in a significant uplift in consolidated net assets by $1.18 billion from pre-COVID levels of $3.28 billion as at 31 December 2019 (1H20) to $4.46 billion as at 31 December 2022 (1H23).

    Our balance sheet is robust, anchored by a strong, tangible property portfolio totalling $3.94 billion that continues to deliver growth in terms of rental returns and capital appreciation. We have sufficient liquidity and we continue to maintain a low net debt to equity ratio of 12.17% giving us the capacity to access additional liquidity should we require it. Amid the macroeconomic headwinds of the past year, we have grown our integrated retail, franchise, property and digital business across eight countries to nearly $5 billion in system sales for the current half-year period.

    Outlook

    Management advised that the second half has started softly, with Australian franchise sales falling 10.2% during January.

    And while it acknowledges the challenging economic environment, it remains optimistic. It said:

    The consolidated entity is confident in the resilience of its integrated retail, franchise, property and digital system and in its continued ability to deliver stable returns and sustainable growth for its stakeholders. Despite the macroeconomic headwinds and cost of living pressures affecting discretionary retail, our strong balance sheet and our substantial growth in net assets throughout the pandemic has left us in a solid position to withstand these challenging circumstances.

    The post Harvey Norman share price sinks 10% on earnings miss and big dividend cut appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Harvey Norman Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you consider Harvey Norman Holdings Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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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  • Sandfire share price slides as profits turn to losses

    a mine worker holds his phone in one hand and a tablet in the other as he stands in front of heavy machinery at a mine site.a mine worker holds his phone in one hand and a tablet in the other as he stands in front of heavy machinery at a mine site.

    The Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) share price is in the red on Tuesday.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining stock closed yesterday trading for $5.80 per share. Shares are currently trading for $5.60, down 3.45%.

    This comes on the heels of Sandfire’s half-year results for the six months ending 31 December (H1 FY23).

    Here’s what the copper miner reported.

    Sandfire share price slides on net loss

    What else happened during the half year?

    The Sandfire share price is slipping this morning as the company labelled the six months a “transitional period”.

    The ASX 200 miner said it was focused on optimising the MATSA Copper Operations in Spain, a copper mining company it acquired in February 2022.

    Sandfire was also busy during the half year with the wind-down of its DeGrussa Copper Mine, located in Western Australia.

    While DeGrussa is winding down, the company’s Motheo Copper Mine in Botswana is in the final stages of construction and is reported to be close to commissioning.

    The miner achieved record half-year sales revenues despite a retrace in copper prices. The average received copper price came in at US$8,098 per tonne, inclusive of hedging. That was down from an average received copper price of US$9,600–US$10,600 in the prior corresponding period.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the results that look to be sending the Sandfire share price lower today, acting CEO Jason Grace said:

    With one mine winding down in Australia, a new mine ramping up in Botswana and MATSA now a mainstay of our operations, Sandfire begins 2023 as a very different looking company to the one that investors have come to know over the past decade…

    The combination of rising inflation and input costs – notably the spike in European energy costs during the half-year – together with slightly weaker metal prices and a significant increase in depreciation and amortisation charges due to the capitalisation of the MATSA acquisition, resulted in a net loss after tax for the period.

    Grace added that with energy prices coming down in Europe and copper prices up in 2023, the second half of the financial year “has started on a positive note with improved margins seen in the March 2023 quarter”.

    What’s next?

    Looking ahead to what could impact the Sandfire share price over the coming months, the miner maintained its production guidance of 83,000 to 91,000 tonnes of copper and 78,000 to 83,000 tonnes of zinc for FY23.

    “The recently completed successful capital raising has also allowed us to further strengthen and de-risk our balance sheet,” Grace said, “while also providing a strong platform to support our longer-term growth strategy.”

    Sandfire share price snapshot

    As you can see on the chart below, the Sandfire share price remains up 3% in 2023, despite today’s dip.

    The post Sandfire share price slides as profits turn to losses appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Sandfire Resources Nl, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Sandfire Resources Nl wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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

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  • 3 invaluable lessons for investors from Warren Buffett’s latest annual letter

    Legendary share market investing expert and owner of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett

    Legendary share market investing expert and owner of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett

    The annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) from chair and CEO Warren Buffett is one of the most anticipated documents in the investing world. Every year, Buffett writes a letter to the shareholders of Berkshire.

    It is typically jam-packed with commentary on the stock market and the economy. Not to mention dozens of pieces of investing wisdom. This letter is essential reading for anyone wishing to invest in shares.

    Fortunately, it’s that time of year that we are treated to our latest Berkshire report card. Buffett has just released his latest letter for 2023. And as usual, it is full of invaluable insights.

    So let’s talk about three pieces of wisdom that no investor should miss:

    Three of Buffett’s best insights from the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway letter

    Choose businesses, not stocks

    Buffett opens the 2023 letter with an old favourite. He describes the unfortunate tendency of many investors to ‘trade’ stocks, rather than invest in businesses. Here’s some of what he said:

    Our goal… is to make meaningful investments in businesses with both long-lasting favorable economic characteristics and trustworthy managers.

    Please note particularly that we own publicly-traded stocks based on our expectations about their long-term business performance, not because we view them as vehicles for adroit purchases and sales.

    That point is crucial: Charlie and I are not stock-pickers; we are business-pickers.

    I think this is a great mindset to embrace. You should treat buying Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares with the same level of diligence as buying a 50% share in your neighbour’s dry cleaning business.

    Just because a share has a fancy ticker code and is publically traded doesn’t make it any less of a business investment.

    Share buybacks are great, but only at a good price

    Investors tend to treat a share buyback announcement with almost universal enthusiasm. Buffett tells investors that he loves a share buyback as much as anyone, and has even done a fair bit of them himself at Berkshire.

    However, he is also at pains to warn that initiating a buyback at the wrong share price is a mistake:

    The math isn’t complicated: When the share count goes down, your interest in our many businesses goes up. Every small bit helps if repurchases are made at value-accretive prices. Just as surely, when a company overpays for repurchases, the continuing shareholders lose.

    At such times, gains flow only to the selling shareholders and to the friendly, but expensive, investment banker who recommended the foolish purchases. Gains from value-accretive repurchases, it should be emphasized, benefit all owners – in every respect.

    So keep these wise words from Buffett in mind the next time one of your companies announces a share buyback program.

    Buffett: Cash is still king

    Buffett has always preached the wonders of owning shares to build wealth. But that doesn’t mean that cash doesn’t have a role in your financial standing. Buffett never invests every dollar that Berkshire has on its books:

    As for the future, Berkshire will always hold a boatload of cash and U.S. Treasury bills along with a wide array of businesses. We will also avoid behavior that could result in any uncomfortable cash needs at inconvenient times, including financial panics and unprecedented insurance losses.

    Our CEO will always be the Chief Risk Officer – a task it is irresponsible to delegate.

    Although Buffett is talking business here, the same principles carry over to our personal lives. You should never invest your emergency savings in shares because you never want to be caught without cash when you need it most.

    So Buffett would probably say that before you invest in shares, you should have a “boatload” of cash of your own for any “uncomfortable cash needs at inconvenient times”.

    The post 3 invaluable lessons for investors from Warren Buffett’s latest annual letter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in right now?

    Before you consider , you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. 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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  • Keen to pocket the boosted Telstra dividend? You’d better hurry

    A cool young man walking in a laneway holding a takeaway coffee in one hand and his phone in the other reacts with surprise as he reads the latest news on his mobile phone

    A cool young man walking in a laneway holding a takeaway coffee in one hand and his phone in the other reacts with surprise as he reads the latest news on his mobile phone

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares will soon be sending a dividend to shareholders. But investors who want a piece of it will need to be quick.

    For the second result in a row, Telstra has increased its dividend for long-suffering investors.

    This dividend increase came after the ASX telco share revealed that its earnings per share (EPS) had increased significantly.

    Let’s have a look at the main details of the upcoming Telstra payment.

    Telstra dividend

    Telstra decided to increase its FY23 interim dividend by 6.25% to 8.5 cents per share. This came after multiple years of the interim dividend sitting at 8 cents per share.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share said that the ex-dividend date is 1 March 2023. That means that investors need to own shares by 28 February 2023 to be entitled to the dividend. That’s today.

    If investors own shares before the ex-dividend, the payment date for the Telstra dividend is 31 March 2023.

    Some investors may want to use the dividend re-investment plan (DRP), which is where shareholders receive new shares rather than cash. This allows investors to accumulate shares without needing to pay brokerage fees. The DRP election date is Friday, 3 March 2023 at 5pm with no DRP discount.

    Earnings recap

    For the first six months of FY23, Telstra reported that its total income increased by 6.4% to $11.6 billion. Its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 11.4% to $3.9 billion.

    Net profit after tax (NPAT) went up 25.7% to $0.9 billion and EPS increased 27.1% to 7.5 cents. Telstra explained that it has been making good progress on its T25 strategy.

    The business also provided guidance for the rest of the 2023 financial year.

    It said that total income is expected to be between $23 billion to $25 billion. That would be an increase from $22 billion in FY22.

    Underlying EBITDA is expected to be between $7.8 billion to $8 billion, which would be an increase from $7.3 billion in FY22. The more profit it makes, the more likely the Telstra dividend can be increased in future years.

    Telstra’s capital expenditure is predicted to be between $3.5 billion to $3.7 billion, up from $3 billion in FY22.

    Free cash flow after lease payments is guided to be between $2.6 billion to $3.1 billion, down from $4 billion in FY22.

    The post Keen to pocket the boosted Telstra dividend? You’d better hurry appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Telstra Corporation Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Telstra Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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

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  • The Core Lithium share price crashed 20% In February. What now?

    A man slumps crankily over his morning coffee as it pours with rain outside.

    A man slumps crankily over his morning coffee as it pours with rain outside.

    It has been a very disappointing month for the Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price.

    Since the start of February, the lithium miner’s shares are lost 20% of their value.

    This follows concerns over falling spot lithium prices and the impact this could have on its profits in the coming years.

    Where next for the Core Lithium share price?

    Unfortunately, despite the significant pullback in February, one leading broker isn’t recommending investors jump in just yet.

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have reiterated their sell rating and cut their price target on its shares to 90 cents.

    This suggests further potential downside of 3.2% for investors from current levels.

    And while this downside isn’t overly significant, it is worth noting that many of the other ASX lithium shares under its coverage trade well below their price targets. So, there’s potential for Core Lithium share price to drop into the 70s to 80s based on this.

    What did the broker say?

    Goldman Sachs continues to believe that lithium prices are on the verge of collapsing. This view is supported by a recent visit to China. It commented:

    We note the lithium chemicals spot and forward pricing has continued to decline, with our commodities team reiterating their expectation for lithium prices to decline from 2H23, supported by recent China trip feedback suggesting risk of higher than expected lithium supply, and the larger operating Australian spodumene projects either recently outperforming production expectations (and increasing near term production guidance) or lifting medium term production growth targets.

    The broker has also downgraded its earnings estimates to reflect its belief that there will be no more direct shipping ore (DSO) sales. It concludes:

    Our FY23 EPS is down c.12% on no longer expecting any further DSO sales as a result of current stockpiles being utilised for DMS commissioning and pit water limiting near term mining volumes, though partly offset by a moderate increase FY23 spodumene production following DMS construction completion. Our 12m PT is lowered to A$0.90/sh (from A$0.95/sh) on the lower near term earnings.

    The post The Core Lithium share price crashed 20% In February. What now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Core Lithium Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Core Lithium Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Core Lithium Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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

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  • Earnings preview: Here are the ASX shares reporting on Tuesday

    A woman sitting in her lounge room punches the air in a gesture of success, having seen the rising IAG share price on her laptopA woman sitting in her lounge room punches the air in a gesture of success, having seen the rising IAG share price on her laptop

    There are still a few more reports to trickle in as the reporting season begins to slow down. Will today’s ASX shares be able to deliver on their shareholders’ hopes though?

    Here’s a quick, no-rubbish read to get you up to speed on Tuesday.

    These ASX shares are reporting today

    Ranked in order of market capitalisation (largest to smallest)

    Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN), $5.2 billion

    Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), $2.7 billion

    Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC), $1.2 billion

    Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR), $846.8 million

    Cooper Energy Ltd (ASX: COE), $447.4 million

    McPherson’s Ltd (ASX: MCP), $88.1 million

    Swoop Holdings Limited (ASX: SWP), $41.4 million

    What can we expect today?

    Two weeks on from JB Hi-Fi Limited‘s (ASX: JBH) first-half results, we are now staring down the barrel of another set of figures, this time from its closest rival.

    Harvey Norman shareholders are flying into today’s results without much prior information. The last trading update was handed out on 24 November 2022, detailing sales for the period between 1 July and 31 October 2022. Importantly, aggregated sales revenue was up 6.9% compared to the prior corresponding period.

    The numbers to beat from the last first half are:

    • $4.91 billion in total system sales revenue
    • 34.58 cents in earnings per share
    • Interim fully franked dividend of 20 cents per share

    Meanwhile, an ASX payments tech share will be attempting to wow onlookers today in hopes of a better bid.

    Tyro Payments is in the hot seat after giving due diligence access to Potentia at the end of January. Today’s first-half figures will no doubt factor into any ensuing takeover offer, so Tyro shareholders will be looking for some solid numbers.

    In January, the company provided unaudited results that showed a record period in some aspects. Notably, gross profits were up 40% to $95.2 million on a normalised basis. Though, the focus will likely be on any amendments to the company’s full-year guidance.

    Don’t forget to check back in throughout the day for our earnings coverage.

    The post Earnings preview: Here are the ASX shares reporting on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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 Harvey Norman and Tyro Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jb Hi-Fi and Tyro Payments. 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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  • Hoping to bag the bigger Woolworths dividend? You’ll need to hurry

    A laughing woman pushes her friend, who has her arms outstretched, in a supermarket trolley.

    A laughing woman pushes her friend, who has her arms outstretched, in a supermarket trolley.One of the standout ASX 200 earnings reports from this season has to be that of Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). Woolies revealed its earnings for the half-year ending 31 December 2022 just last week. And it impressed investors across the board.

    As we covered at the time, Woolworths reported a bevvy of green numbers. Sales were up a pleasing 4% to $33.17 billion, while earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) lifted by 18.4% to $1.64 billion. Net profit after tax (NPAT) was also up, this time by 14% to $907 million.

    But the centrepiece of this earnings report was arguably Woolworths’ new dividend. The grocery giant declared an interim dividend of 46 cents per share, fully franked. That represents an impressive 17.9% rise over the interim dividend of 39 cents per share investors saw in 2022.

    This latest dividend from Woolworths will bring the company’s trailing annual dividend to 99 cents per share, fully franked. That’s going off of Woolies’ last final dividend, the 53 cents per share payment that investors bagged last September.

    Woolworths shares’ turbocharged dividend is inbound

    But if any investor is overcome with a need to receive this next dividend from Woolworths shares, they had better be quick. That’s because the ex-dividend date for said payment is fast approaching.

    An ex-dividend date is a date a company must nominate when it declares a dividend. It provides a cutoff date for eligibility to receive a dividend payment.

    Put simply, if an investor owns shares of Woolworths before the ex-dividend date, they are entitled to the dividend payment in question. However, if the investor buys Woolworths shares on or after the ex-dividend date, they miss out. That’s why we normally see a share price drop on the day a company goes ‘ex-div’.

    In Woolies’ case, the company is scheduled to trade ex-dividend on this Thursday, 2 March. This means that any investors wishing to net this latest dividend from Woolies will have to own the shares by the end of tomorrow’s trading session.

    Then, eligible investors have until 6 March to opt for Woolworths’ optional dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) if they wish to receive additional Woolworths shares in lieu of a cash payment.

    Payment day will then come around on 13 April.

    So, a lot happening for Woolworths investors this week.

    At yesterday’s closing Woolworths share price, this ASX 200 blue chip share has a dividend yield of 2.68%.

    The post Hoping to bag the bigger Woolworths dividend? You’ll need to hurry appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woolworths Group Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Woolworths Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of February 1 2023

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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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