Tag: Motley Fool

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price has given back its morning gains and dropped deep into the red.

In afternoon trade, the lithium miner’s shares are down 5.5% to $4.59.

Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price falling?

This morning the Pilbara Minerals share price was charging higher in response to news that the lithium miner will be added to the ASX 50 index at the next rebalance.

However, it has now given back those gains and more this afternoon after investors suddenly hit the sell button en masse.

Pilbara Minerals isn’t alone in trading in the red today. There are a number of other ASX lithium shares trading notably lower on Monday along with it. For example, the Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price is down almost 2%, the Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price is down 4%, and the Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is down 2%.

What’s going on?

It remains unclear why the Pilbara Minerals share price has come under pressure this afternoon.

Though, it is worth noting that this weekend there were reports of new lithium mines coming into operation in the near future.

According to the Financial Times, Sigma Lithium has announced that it will start commissioning the Grota do Cirilo project in Minas Gerais state this month and aims to be shipping lithium by the end of April.

After which, by 2024 it plans to almost triple its targeted annual output to approximately 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). This will make it a top four global producer.

It’s possible that some investors believe this increase in supply could put downward pressure on lithium prices. However, you could argue that given how strong demand is, this increased supply would likely be gobbled up very quickly by end users.

In light of this, investors may want to stay tuned for the next BMX auction from Pilbara Minerals to see how lithium prices are faring at present. One could be coming very soon based on when previous auctions were held.

The post Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price sinking deep into the red today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• ASX index beaters: 5 shares that have supercharged portfolios in 2022
• Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price charging higher on Monday?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Can the Pilbara Minerals share price regain its lustre in December?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Friday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Allkem. 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/8okLKW5

The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price leapt 7% in November, and December looks like it could bring more joy. Experts are generally bullish on the Aussie biotechnology giant.

Particularly on the back of the company’s Hemgenix treatment, which recently received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The gene therapy is designed to treat hemophilia B.

It has also reportedly been crowned the world’s most expensive treatment. A single dose is said to command a US$3.5 million price tag.

Right now, the CSL share price is $299.72.

Let’s take a look at what brokers are saying about the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) healthcare giant.

What might the future hold for the CSL share price?

CSL appears to be a favourite among brokers and experts right now, with some predicting its share price to leap as high as $343.

That’s the prediction put forward by Macquarie, as my Fool colleague James reports. The top broker has a buy rating on the stock and expects Hemgenix’s early 2023 launch to boost the company’s earnings.

Citi is also hopeful for CSL, slapping the share with a buy rating and a $340 price target.

Not all brokers are so enthusiastic, however. Goldman Sachs’ most recent forecast, from early November, tips the CSL share price to fall to $291.

It’s worth noting that experts apparently aren’t tipping the company’s bottom line to be immediately buoyed by Hemgenix’s launch. Indeed, CSL chief commercial officer Bill Campbell recently told investors “it will take a little bit of time for questions to be answered in the commercial space”, the Australian Financial Review reports.

Looking beyond CSL and to the healthcare sector more broadly, Janus Henderson portfolio manager Andy Acker recently wrote, per Livewire:

[E]ven if major economies enter a recession in 2023, we believe the healthcare sector could offer investors some safe harbour. In the past, the sector has outperformed in the months leading up to and during economic downturns; the same could hold true again.

Additionally, Morgans equity analyst Anna Milne is said to like the prospects of the company’s Seqirus vaccine in the upcoming flu season and its recently-acquired Vifor iron deficiency therapy business. Morgans expects the CSL share price to lift to $327, according to Livewire.

All in all, many experts appear to believe December could be a good time to buy CSL stock ahead of an expected share price surge.

The post Is the CSL share price set to take off in December? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why CSL shares are this fundie’s top ASX 200 healthcare pick
• Why did the CSL share price leap 7% in November?
• ‘Buy it for 5 years’: Jun Bei Liu’s 3 best ASX shares for 2023
• ‘Back a winner’: Expert names his 3 best ASX shares for 2023
• 2 high quality blue chip ASX 200 shares named as buys by analysts

Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/Zz7nuYh

Two ASX lithium shares are having a top run on the market today.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) and Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX: WR1) share prices have both hit their all-time highs to start the trading week.

It comes on a day the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is also climbing 1.95% at the time of writing.

Let’s take a look at these two ASX lithium shares in more detail.

Winsome Resources

Winsome Resources shares gained 7.6% at their peak today to record an all-time high of $1.345 per share. The company is exploring lithium in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. Winsome has not released any news to the market today.

However, on Friday, Winsome advised it has acquired a key stake in a critical minerals project. Winsome has agreed take over Sinomine’s interests in the Case Lake Project in Ontario, Canada. The project is currently owned by Canadian company Power Metals Corp. The site hosts high-grade deposits of lithium, tantalum, and cesium.

In mid-November, Winsome announced a $6.8 million capital raise for its lithium projects. Winsome’s shares soared by 134% in November, the most of any ASX mining share. The company’s shares are currently trading at $1.28 each, a gain of 2.4% on Friday’s closing price.

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources has hit another all-time high today after also lifting on Friday. The company’s shares peaked at $92.44 each today, a jump of almost 3% on Friday’s closing price.

Mineral Resources is exploring lithium hydroxide. The compound is currently priced at US$85,000 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange. Mineral Resources converted 4,703 tonnes of lithium hydroxide in the first quarter of FY23.

Mineral Resources is also a major iron ore producer. Iron ore prices climbed another 1.5% to US$106.5 a tonne on Friday. It continues climbing today, up another 2.39% on the Singapore Exchange at last look.

The Mineral Resources share price is currently $90.78, still up 1.06% after coming down from its all-time high this morning.

The post 2 ASX lithium shares smashing all-time highs on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• ASX index beaters: 5 shares that have supercharged portfolios in 2022
• The ASX 200 gained 6% in November. Here’s how these 3 ASX mining shares smashed those returns
• Why is the Mineral Resources share price rocking an all-time high today?
• Thank you Mr Powell! 7 ASX 200 shares cracking new 52-week highs on Thursday
• Can you guess which 3 ASX 200 lithium shares led the charge in November?

Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/qdaXAix

Given how many shares to choose from on the ASX, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

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

Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this coal miner’s shares with a trimmed price target of $3.10. Although Coronado is unlikely to achieve its guidance in FY 2022 due to poor weather, the broker remains positive thanks to strong metallurgical coal prices. The Coronado share price is trading at $2.00 on Monday afternoon.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating on this telco giant’s shares with an improved price target of $4.75. The broker is feeling positive on Telstra’s outlook thanks to the recent approval of a restructure. It notes that this means the company could unlock value by selling some of its infrastructure assets. Morgan Stanley suspects that a major share buyback could be undertaken if assets are sold off. The Telstra share price is fetching $4.01 on Monday.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating but trimmed their price target on this energy producer’s shares to $38.50. Citi was pleased with Woodside’s production growth plans for the coming years. And while it has cut its earnings guidance to reflect aspects of its guidance, it still expects some very big dividends in the near term. As a result, it retains its buy rating. The Woodside share price is trading at $36.49 this afternoon.

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

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Is the Woodside share price cheap following its recent dip?
• Buy Telstra and this ASX dividend share: experts
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• What happened with the Woodside share price in November?
• Here are 2 of the best ASX dividend shares to buy: Morgans

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 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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/NzKoZhI

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is up 1.8% in early afternoon trade today after falling 2.6% on Friday.

Today’s rebound comes on the back of higher crude oil prices. Brent crude gained 1.9% overnight amid news that China is rolling back its economy, hampering COVID zero policies.

Brent is currently trading for US$87.23 per barrel. That’s a 5.1% increase since last Tuesday.

However, oil and gas prices have remained sharply down over the past month. And the Woodside share price is also down 7% since this time last month.

Which brings us to…

Is the Woodside share price cheap following its recent dip?

Whether the Woodside share price represents good value at current levels depends on who you ask.

A number of analysts were disappointed after the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) oil and gas stock released its FY23 guidance on 29 November.

In its first full year of production since its petroleum transaction with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Woodside forecast production of 180 – 190 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

That figure came in lower than consensus expectations.

UBS counts amongst those with a bearish near-term outlook for the oil and gas giant, reducing its target for the Woodside share price to $34 from $34.40 That’s some 5% below the current price of $36.23 per share.

According to UBS (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review):

Despite a miss to 2023 production & capex, valuation still appears very full at current prices with WDS implying $78/bbl oil prices vs peers at low $60s/bbl.

Barrenjoey has also downgraded Woodside shares to underweight, dropping its price target from $35.80 per share to $35.20. Barrenjoey’s analysts had forecast FY23 production of 203MMboe.

According to Barrenjoey analyst Dale Koenders (quoted by The Australian):

We think the cracks from execution risks are starting to show for Woodside given the Sangomar start-up has been delayed from 2023 to 2H23 in August and as MODEC is shifting Flotation and Production Storage Offloading Unit construction / commissioning from China to Singapore to mitigate COVID-related labour constraints.

Sounding off for the Woodside bulls

Coming in with a positive view on the Woodside share price after the past month’s dip is Evans & Partners.

Its analysts, Adam Martin and Branko Skocic, kicked off Woodside Energy’s research coverage with a positive rating, valuing the company at $40 per share.

With new energy projects still lacking investment, they said the recent dip in Woodside “could provide an attractive entry point”.

According to the analysts (courtesy of The Australian):

For LNG markets in particular, there appears no easy solution to bring on new global supply, with lead times five years plus. This is coupled with demand growth across Europe – replacing Russian pipeline gas – and further growth out of Asia. We believe LNG will remain critical in the initial stages of the Energy Transition.

The Woodside share price is up 60% in 2022.

The post Is the Woodside share price cheap following its recent dip? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• What happened with the Woodside share price in November?
• Could our dividends now be too reliant on ASX 200 oil shares?
• Why is the Woodside share price on the slide today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/vYJnTzV

It’s rarely a good look to see an ASX CEO sell shares of their company, let alone $700,000 worth of shares. Yet that is the situation that Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) investors appear to find themselves in.

Last week, ASX investors were treated to not one but two ASX notices regarding Brainchip CEO Sean Hehir.

The first, which dropped on 30 November, revealed that Hehir had received 2 million fully paid ordinary shares. Those resulted from the vestiture of 2 million restricted stock units. These are issued to management under Brainchip’s employee share plan trust.

That left Hehir with 2 million ordinary shares and another 5.01 million in restricted stock units. But that wasn’t to last.

On 2 December, another ASX notice revealed that Hehir had gone on to sell 917,025 of those ordinary shares he had just received. This was executed at a share price of between 72.5 cents and 76.5 cents, meaning it would have netted Hehir between $664,843 and $701,524.

So why has the CEO immediately sold out of almost half of his total ordinary shareholding?

Why is the Brainchip CEO selling his shares?

Well, the Brainchip release stated that the on-market sale was “for the purpose of meeting taxation obligation as a result of previous vesting of RSUs [restricted stock units]”.

It leaves Hehir with a total of approximately 1.08 million Brainchip shares. Those would have a value of just over $812,000 today.

Earlier last month, another Brainchip director, Antonio Viana, sold 125,000 ordinary shares for an average price of 63 cents each. That left him with 561,66 shares. The reasons given for the sale were identical to that of Hehir.

Shareholders don’t typically like to see these kinds of trades. Investors feel more confident when the well-payed executives running their company have some skin in the game, that their fortunes ride or die alongside those of ordinary shareholders.

So no doubt the news of these sales has delighted few. But CEOs have bills to pay, just like everyone else. So it’s up to investors to decide whether these sales are justified or if they leave Brainchip’s management conveniently unexposed to the fortunes of the company they are running.

The Brainchip share price is now down 6.3% year to date in 2022.

The post The BrainChip CEO has sold $700,000 worth of his shares in a week. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why did the BrainChip share price smash the ASX 200 in November?
• Why are ASX tech shares having such a cracking run on Thursday?
• Best of a bad bunch: The 3 best-performing ASX 200 tech shares in November
• Why did the BrainChip share price slide 5% on Monday?
• 5 of the craziest things making news on the ASX this week

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/yAQgHkB

1) Despite a choppy session on Wall Street on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose in lunchtime trading on Monday in yet another show of resilience for the local stock market.

Once again, as has been the case for most of the year, materials and energy stocks are getting the job done today, with the Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) share price leading the way higher. It’s up 7.67% on the day so far after the iron ore price posted a hefty one-month gain. 

The ASX 200 index has fallen just 3.3% so far in 2022, an outstanding return given the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has hiked the cash rate from just 0.1% in April to its current level of 2.85%. 

By contrast, although they’ve enjoyed a nice bounce since the beginning of October, US markets have endured a painful year, the S&P 500 Index down 15% and the Nasdaq Composite plunging almost 28%.

2) Local eyes are on the RBA’s final meeting of the year, with consensus expectations the central bank will tomorrow raise the cash rate by another 25 basis points as it continues the fight against inflation.

Financial markets are pricing a peak in the cash rate of about 3.6% early in the second half of 2023, although Bank of America expects the RBA to follow up tomorrow’s rise with four consecutive 25 basis point hikes, bringing the terminal rate to 4.1%.

According to the AFR, Bank of America thinks “the RBA is underestimating wage pressures and that its slow hiking pace means more work will need to be done to rein in inflation.”

Whichever way you look at it, we’re closer to the end of the heavy lifting on interest rates than the start. That’s good news for equity markets.

The bad news for equity markets is higher interest rates will put the brakes on economic growth. According to Rate City, monthly repayments on a $500,000 mortgage have increased by $834 since May. 

That’s a LOT less money that can be spent on discretionary items such as clothing, gadgets, and couches. It explains why the share price of JB Hi-Fi (ASX: JBH) trades on a fully franked dividend yield of 7% and a price-to-earnings (PE) multiple of just nine times profits. 

3) Although inflation may have peaked, a mild recession is the base case scenario for the US economy. It’s going to be hard for many companies to grow their profits, with many going into reverse as profit margins also come under pressure. 

It’s why investing into the teeth of a bear market is so hard. Companies like JB Hi-Fi might look cheap today, but less so based on next year’s earnings. As predicting the near-term future is virtually impossible, investing in individual companies today means taking a leap of faith.

Buying quality companies with strong balance sheets and minimal debt – and JB Hi-Fi certainly fits that bill – is one way to mitigate the risk. But will that stop you bailing out if/when: a) a bout of stock market volatility hits and b) a subdued trading statement smacks the share price lower?

Many investors fail to enjoy the attractive long-term returns on offer from investing in the stock market because they interrupt the effects of compounding. They may buy a stock with the intention of holding it for five years or longer, but there’s a heck of a lot that can happen to a company and its share price over that time period, likely including a peak-to-trough fall of around 50%.

Investing regularly into a few low-cost index-tracking exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is a great option for most stock market investors. It takes stock picking out of the equation, and volatility is greatly reduced. 

My favoured option is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS). If you want to throw in a local flavour, consider adding the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS). You’ll get exposure to the big miners, the big banks, and the big supermarkets.

4) If you are a stock junkie like me, and you have ambitions of outperforming the market, investing in individual companies can be interesting, fun, and rewarding.

That said, it can also be very challenging, as it has been for many investors over the past 15-odd months. 

The very best stock pickers only get it right six times out of ten, because when they do pick a big winner, the upside is unlimited. Imagine putting $5,000 into one stock and 10 years later, look back and see it has appreciated 2000%, turning that one investment into over $100,000. 

Fun, right? 

Not so much fun are the inevitable losers, the four out of ten you’ll get wrong. Although a few of the stocks I highlighted a month ago have had good recent runs, I’m still in the hole on a number of my small and microcap holdings, including Plenti Group (ASX: PLT) shares and Bluebet (ASX: BBT) shares.

On those latter two, hopefully, it’s a case of waiting for the market to appreciate their growth prospects and modest valuations. Although it could also be a case of me being wrong and their share prices never recovering, or worse, declining further, ultimately potentially leaving me sitting on losses of around 80%. 

5) It’s why portfolio sizing is key. I try not to chase my losers, especially ones whose share price is declining at the same time as the growth of the underlying business is slowing. That’s the case with Plenti and Bluebet, and why I’m not adding to my holdings despite the share price weakness. 

It took me many years to realise I’m no investing genius like Warren Buffett, someone who takes huge high conviction bets on a very small number of companies. For mere mortals, hedge your bets by spreading your bets across 20 or 30 different stocks. The winners will inevitably rise to the top, the losers slowly disappearing into tiny, inconsequential holdings.  

I also realise I’m no Warren Buffett when it comes to investing returns. He’s compounded at an average annual return of 20% for 56 years. If you can do between 8% and 12% for 20 or 30 years – including regularly adding money to the market over that period – you’ll do very well as an investor.

The post It took me years to realise I’m no investing genius like Warren Buffett appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43B02A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• The Fortescue share price is surging 6% today, but what’s next in December?
• I consider myself an environmentalist, but I still bought Fortescue shares. Here’s why
• The iron ore price just posted its biggest-ever monthly gain. What’s going on?
• Almost ready to retire? Why I’d buy undervalued ASX dividend shares right now
• 10 ASX dividend shares paying more than 10% yield right now

Motley Fool contributor Bruce Jackson has positions in BlueBet and Plenti Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BlueBet, Jb Hi-Fi, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/qkgBQZU

It certainly has been a year for stock picking rather than index investing.

Although the ASX 200 index is on course to record a 3% decline in 2022, some ASX shares have absolutely smashed the market with supercharged returns.

This means that if you had one or more of these ASX index beaters in your portfolio, there’s a good chance that you’ll have outperformed the benchmark this year.

What are the ASX index beaters of 2022?

Five standout ASX index beaters are listed below. Here’s how they have performed in 2022:

Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is up 56% in 2022. This has been driven largely by the the company’s exposure to lithium and the sky high prices the battery making ingredient is commanding right now.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)

The Myer share price has been an ASX index beater this year with its gain of 61%. Investors have been buying the department store operator’s shares following the release of an impressive full year result in September. Thanks to its successful focus on profitable sales, Myer reported a 103.8% increase in net profit to $60.2 million during FY 2022.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin share price has been a strong performer in 2022 and is up 47%. The catalyst for this was the receipt of a takeover approach in November. The energy company received an indicative, conditional, and non-binding proposal from Brookfield Asset Management and MidOcean Energy to acquire it for $9.00 cash per share. This represents a premium of almost 55% to its share price at the time.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The Pilbara Minerals share price is another ASX index beater in 2022 with a gain of almost 34%. This has been driven by the lithium miner’s strong performance and positive outlook. In fact, the company’s outlook is so positive thanks to production growth plans and high prices, that management expects to be able to pay its maiden dividend this financial year.

Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

The Sayona Mining share price is the best performer in the group. In 2022, this lithium developer’s shares are up 66%. Sayona Mining, the third ASX lithium share in the list, is an index beater thanks to excitement around its North American Lithium (NAL) project. Management expects NAL to be producing lithium in the first quarter of 2023.

Time will tell if 2023 is just as successful for these shares.

The post ASX index beaters: 5 shares that have supercharged portfolios in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price charging higher on Monday?
• Here are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Can the Pilbara Minerals share price regain its lustre in December?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Friday

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/l8bniLr

November was a good month for AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price. Indeed, it hit many 52-week highs throughout the course of the month.

After closing October at $1.26, shares in the financial services company rose 7.94% to finish November trading at $1.36.

Over the period, it hit a low of $1.245 and a high of $1.365. At the time, that marked the stock’s highest point since March 2021.  

So, what helped drive the AMP share price to outperform in November? Let’s take a look.

What went right for the AMP share price last month?

Shares in AMP took off alongside the broader market last month. While the stock soared 8%, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 6.13%, and the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) – AMP’s home sector – rose 1.14%.

Interestingly, there was no price-sensitive word from AMP. Though, some non-price-sensitive news from the company might have pricked the ears of investors.

AMP revealed the sale of its Collimate Capital businesses would miss their previously predicted November completion due to regulatory delays on 15 November.

The company announced Collimate’s domestic business would be sold to Dexus Property Group (ASX: DXS) and its international business to DigitalBridge way back in April.

AMP shareholders are expected to receive most of the proceeds from the sales in the form of capital returns.

November also saw the company reveal the appointment of its new chief financial officer (CFO), Peter Fredricson. Fredricson has previously held CFO roles at former ASX 200 energy giant Oil Search and APA Group (ASX: APA).

Finally, as of the end of November, AMP has snapped up nearly $230 million worth of its own shares as part of the $350 million on-market buyback announced in August. The buyback is part of a $1.1 billion capital return.

Share price snapshot

Including last month’s positive momentum, the AMP share price is trading 33% higher year to date. It has also gained 45% since this time last year. The embattled stock is still 75% lower than it was five years ago, however.

For comparison, the ASX 200 has fallen 4% year to date, gained 1% over the last 12 months, and lifted 22% over the last five years.

The post Why did the AMP share price surge 8% in November? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Thank you Mr Powell! 7 ASX 200 shares cracking new 52-week highs on Thursday
• If you’d bought $10,000 of AMP shares at the start of the year, congrats! Here’s what you’d have now
• 3 ASX 200 shares hitting new 52-week highs on Wednesday
• Up 10% in a month, are AMP shares worth buying back into now?
• Is it finally safe to buy ASX shares now?

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

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/6xzf3dg

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are off to a mixed start in December after underperforming last month.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium developer fell 0.7% on Thursday then rebounded to gain 2.2% on Friday. After posting gains of 1.5% in early trade today, the Core Lithium share price has reversed to be down 3.65% at the time of writing.

That leaves the stock down 2.58% so far in December.

But could the Core Lithium share price be in for a Santa rally?

What headwinds has the ASX 200 lithium miner been facing?

December is traditionally a very strong month for stock markets.

However, with the ASX 200 having gained 6.1% in November, some analysts believe the broader market Santa rally may have come early this year.

Yet the same can’t be said for Core Lithium shares, which lost 2.1% last month. That came despite a strong initial two weeks, which saw the miner’s stock reach record highs on 14 November.

Core Lithium largely came under pressure over the following weeks on two fronts.

First, there were the COVID zero policy issues in China.

China is the world’s top producer of EVs and hence represents a huge market for lithium, a critical element in the batteries that power EVs. With the world’s most populous nation crippled by rolling lockdowns, investors sold off lithium stocks more broadly fearing a slump in demand for the battery-critical metal.

Second, a number of brokers, including Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs, downgraded the stock in November. And Morgan Stanley reported it was bearish on lithium stocks more broadly, driven by the COVID protests going on in China.

Then there’s Macquarie. Citing concerns that Core’s flagship Finniss Lithium Project could be delayed, the broker downgraded Core Lithium shares to a neutral rating with a $1.80 price target.

Could Core Lithium shares be set for a Santa rally in December?

Now, here’s why I believe Core Lithium could well enjoy a healthy Santa rally in December.

While Macquarie analysts have their concerns over the Finniss Project, Core Lithium has given no indication of any pending delays.

The miner announced it had transported its first spodumene direct shipping ore (DSO) product last month. And CEO Gareth Manderson said this was “a very positive step towards our objective to export from Darwin Port before the end of the year”.

On 31 October, Core Lithium reported it was in a position “to safely advance Finniss towards first DSO shipments in Q4 CY22 and maiden spodumene concentrate in H1 CY23″.

Barring any negative announcements from the miner, investor interest could well increase if Finniss progresses on schedule.

The other reason I think Core Lithium shares could enjoy a Santa rally is news out of China over the weekend that the government is drastically rolling back its strict virus control policies.

This could well boost investor sentiment regarding near-term lithium demand and help drive Core Lithium shares to outperform in December. As it stands, the stock remains up 178% over the past 12 months.

The post Could Core Lithium shares be set for a Santa rally in December? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

(function() {
function setButtonColorDefaults(param, property, defaultValue) {
if( !param || !param.includes(‘#’)) {
var button = document.getElementsByClassName(“pitch-snippet”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“pitch-button”)[0];
button.style[property] = defaultValue;
}
}

setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#0095C8”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
})()

More reading

• Why did the Core Lithium share price end the month lower after being up 35%?
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• Can you guess which 3 ASX 200 lithium shares led the charge in November?
• 2 ASX lithium shares to buy, and 3 to sell: brokers
• Why has the Core Lithium share price crashed 30% in 12 days?

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.

from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/T6J9Klq