For you to be entitled to a stock's next dividend, you must own it before its ex-dividend date.

Here are some of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With the August reporting season done and dusted, scores of companies have ex-dividend dates next week.

If you're keen to buy any of these ASX shares while they are still trading cum dividend, time is running out!

To receive a stock's next dividend, you must buy or already own it before the ex-dividend day.

We provide a sample of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week below.

35 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 35 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With dividends included, the total return from ASX All Ords shares last financial year was a pleasing 13.23%.

The ASX All Ords closed FY25 at 8,773 points yesterday.

Today, the All Ordinaries Index is up 0.021% to 8,774.8 points.

Looking for ASX All Ords investment inspiration?

The following ASX All Ords shares received an upgraded 'strong buy' consensus rating on the CommSec platform in June.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price is currently $4.36, up 1.4% on Tuesday.

The ASX gold share is up 75.6% in the year to date.

Like all ASX All Ords gold stocks, Genesis Minerals has benefited from the very strong gold price.

James Gerrish of Shaw and Partners says the gold price may retest its highs, but overall, a period of ongoing consolidation has begun.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

The Siteminder share price is $4.45, up 0.56%.

The ASX technology share is down 25% in the year to date.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

The Dusk share price is 84 cents, up 2.44% on Tuesday.

The ASX All Ords consumer discretionary share is down 32% in the year to date.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is currently $239.73, up 0.1% on Tuesday.

Several analysts say CSL shares are a bargain, which is an unusual situation for an industry giant.

Stock in the ASX healthcare sector's largest company is down 15% in the year to date.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

Mesoblast shares are trading for $1.79 apiece, up 7.85% today.

The ASX All Ords biotech share is down 47% in the year to date.

Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The Wisetech share price is $108.37, down 0.61% on Tuesday.

The tech sector's No.1 stock by market capitalisation is down 13% in the year to date.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

The Aristocrat share price is $65.52, up 0.54% on Tuesday.

The ASX consumer discretionary share is down 4.5% in the year to date.

But wait, there's more!

Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR)

Syrah Resources stock is trading at 25 cents, down 1.96% today.

The ASX All Ords materials share is up 14% in the year to date.

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is currently $4.46, down 4.5% today.

Boss Energy shares had a strong run last month after news broke of a $200 million fundie investment in physical uranium.

Last month, Boss Energy also announced it had met its FY25 production target at its Honeymoon project.

The ASX All Ords uranium share is up 80% in the year to date.

Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK)

Nick Scali shares are trading at $17.90, down 1.73% on Tuesday.

Nathan Robertson, CEO of Alvia Asset Partners, discussed his team's success with Nick Scali and its 500% share price rally since COVID.

The ASX All Ords retail share is up 21% in the year to date.

Treasury Wine Estates (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine Estates share price is $7.88, up 0.9% on Tuesday.

The ASX wine share is down 30% in the year to date amid falling demand for wine worldwide.

Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

The Adairs share price is currently $2.11, up 0.96% on Tuesday.

The ASX retail share is down 22% in the year to date.

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

The Chalice Mining share price is $1.68, down 0.18% on Tuesday.

Bell Potter believes Chalice Mining shares could more than double in value over the next 12 months.

The broker has a speculative buy rating on the ASX mining share with a 12-month price target of $4.10.

The ASX mining stock is up 49% in the year to date.

Dexia Industrial REIT (ASX: DXI)

Stock in the Dexia Industrial REIT is changing hands for $2.76 per share, up 1.47%.

The ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) is up 6.2% in the year to date.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is $2.18, down 0.46% on Tuesday.

The ASX tech share is down 65% in the year to date.

The post 15 ASX All Ords shares upgraded to 'strong buy' status for the new financial year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Dexus (ASX: DXS)

The Dexus share price is down 3% to $7.09. This morning, the property company released an update on the Dexus Bloc interest in Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC). It is the owner of Melbourne and Launceston Airports. In 2024, Dexus was appointed by some of the Dexus Bloc shareholders to undertake a sale process in relation to their stakes. However, it has now received a notice from the APAC board alleging that Dexus has used a confidentiality deed poll and disclosed confidential information in the Dexus Bloc sale process in breach of the requirements under the APAC Shareholders' Deed. It responded: "Dexus intends to dispute the validity of the Notice, has always acted in good faith, and will vigorously defend its position and its clients' interests."

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

The Dusk share price is down 22% to 91 cents. Investors have been selling this specialty home fragrance retailer's shares following the release of a trading update. Dusk advised that it expects to report FY 2025 sales of $137 million to $139 million (up 8.1% to 9.7%) and underlying EBIT of $7 million to $8 million (up 12.9% and 29%). It seems that the market was expecting a much stronger performance from Dusk.

Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU)

The Fletcher Building share price is down 1% to $3.09. This morning, this building materials company that its Australian Division will be disestablished as a standalone division, with its operating businesses integrated into two new trans-Tasman divisions. Fletcher Building also released a trading update. CEO Andrew Reding said: "Since our interim results, our businesses have seen no significant improvement in market conditions, with market volumes continuing to be challenging due to macroeconomic uncertainties and the lack of any material momentum in the recovery of New Zealand's economy."

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is down 7% to $5.96. This is despite there being no news out of the uranium miner. Though, it is worth noting that most uranium stocks are falling on Friday. This could have been driven by profit taking. After all, even after today's decline, Paladin Energy's shares are up 35% since this time last month.

The post Why Dexus, Dusk, Fletcher Building, and Paladin Energy shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In fact, one small cap ASX stock is on course to end the week deep in the red after crashing at the open.

Which small cap ASX stock?

The stock in question is Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK). At the time of writing, the specialist home fragrance retailer's shares are down a massive 22% to 91 cents.

Investors have been hitting the sell button this morning after the small cap ASX stock released an update on what it expects to report for FY 2025.

The company notes that it continues to implement its product-led turnaround strategy, achieving ongoing sales and EBIT growth year-on-year. This is being driven by new customer acquisition and its expansion into new product categories.

Management also highlights that the recent Mother's Day week underlined Dusk's importance as a gifting destination, delivering year-on-year growth.

FY 2025 guidance

According to the release, total sales are expected to finalise at approximately $137 million to $139 million. This will be an increase of 8.1% to 9.7% on FY 2024's sales of $126.7 million. This marks a slowdown on the 12.3% growth it recorded in the first half.

Heading in the wrong direction is Duck's gross profit margin, which is expected to be 50 to 100 basis points lower on FY 2024's 64.3%.

This is expected to lead to underlying EBIT in the range of $7 million to $8 million. This will be up between 12.9% and 29% year on year.

Finally, net inventory is expected to be $15 million to $17 million (FY24: $15.5 million) and net cash is forecast to be $18 million to $20 million (FY24: $20.8 million).

While this result looks decent on paper, it appears to have fallen short of what the market was expecting from the retailer for FY 2025.

Management commentary

Commenting on the year, the small cap ASX stock's CEO and managing director, Vlad Yakubson, said:

FY25 is an important year for dusk as we continue to transform the business. We are excited by the improvements we are planning for FY26, as we deliver refreshed core product ranges, exciting seasonal and fashion product and further category expansion. We are in a strong financial position and our inventory remains clean and well balanced.

Following today's heavy decline, the Dusk share price is down by approximately 25% since the start of the year. Though, it remains up over 20% on a 12-month basis.

The post Guess which small cap ASX stock is crashing 22% on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are a couple of reasons why investors may be unsettled by the idea of investing in the ASX mining share right now, such as the ongoing elevated tariffs between the US and China. There could be unhelpful effects on the Chinese economy, and therefore iron ore demand.

It's possible to take advantage of the volatile nature of some ASX shares, which isn't limited to just ASX mining shares. ASX retail shares can also provide large dividend income and sometimes trade at cheaper prices.

Let's look at two other ASX dividend share options for income-seeking investors.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

This business owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands, across retail and wholesale businesses. Its key business is Universal Store and it also operates Perfect Stranger and CTC (through the THRILLS and Worship brands). It has a total of 109 physical stores across Australia.

Its strategy is to grow and develop its premium youth fashion apparel brands and retail formats to "deliver a carefully curated selection of on-trend apparel products to a target 16-35-year-old fashion focused customer."

The company is delivering impressive growth in a number of ways. In the FY25 half-year result, total sales increased 16.1% to $183.5 million, with Universal Store sales growth of 17.2% to $156.1 million and Perfect Stranger sales growth of 92.3% to $12.6 million.

Its solid profit margins are helping the company's net profit rise at a strong pace. HY25's gross profit margin improved 90 basis points to 60.6%, underlying operating profit (EBIT) rose 14.9% to $35.4 million and underlying net profit increased 16% to $23.2 million.

The business continues to roll out new stores around the country. I'm particularly excited by the potential of Perfect Stranger in the next few years.

This profit growth is helping the business pay a steadily-growing dividend. It increased its HY25 interim dividend by 33.3% to 22 cents per share, bringing the current grossed-up dividend yield to 7.4%, including franking credits.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

This ASX dividend share describes itself as a specialty retailer of home fragrance products, offering Dusk-branded products at competitive prices across its stores and online store. It says it has grown to become the "leading Australian omni-channel specialty retailer" focused on home fragrance products.

It sells products like candles, ultrasonic diffusers, reed diffusers and essential oils, as well as fragrance-related homewares.

The business has been impacted by the higher cost of living hitting customers in the last few years, but it may be starting to show positive signs of improvement.

In the HY25 result, Dusk sales grew 12.3% to $87.4 million, gross profit increased 13.4% to $56.9 million, underlying operating profit (EBIT) grew 20% to $13.8 million and it declared a total dividend of 10 cents per share (including a 5 cents per share special dividend).

Dusk said its performance turned around thanks to a product-led strategy and a focus on the digital store performance. HY25 e-commerce sales jumped by 68%. According to the forecasts on Commsec, Dusk is projected to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 14.3% in FY26, including franking credits. That's a very large yield, even compared to Fortescue shares.

The post Overinvested in Fortescue? Here are two alternative ASX dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For readers who haven't heard of Dusk before, it's a retailer of home fragrance products that sells a range of Dusk-branded products from a national store network. Its products are designed in-house and exclusive to Dusk. These include candles, ultrasonic diffusers, reed diffusers, essential oils, and fragrance-related homewares.

Market confidence in the company was heavily hit during the high inflation years of 2022 to 2024, but it is starting to recover.

Let's look at the latest update from the business and then consider its dividend potential.

FY25 half-year earnings recap

For the six-month period to 29 December 2024, Dusk reported total sales growth of 12.3% to $87.4 million (with online sales growth of 68%). Gross profit grew 13.4% and underlying operating profit (EBIT) increased 20%, so the company demonstrated pleasing operating leverage.

Dusk's board of directors decided to pay a 5-cent interim dividend per share and a 5-cent special dividend per share.

The company said its online sales performance was driven by "elevated content, digital marketing and the capabilities" of its new site. The Christmas sales period, critical for the ASX dividend share's overall annual performance, exceeded internal expectations.

The company had net cash of $38.5 million at the end of HY25 and no debt, though that has likely changed somewhat since then. It had $20.8 million net cash at 30 June 2024. Those net cash balances compare to its current market capitalisation of $65.38 million. The company has significant underlying value through its cash and its inventory (which was $15.5 million at the end of HY25).

Trading in the second half of FY25 remained positive, with total sales up 3.7% in the first eight weeks.

Projected dividend yield for the ASX dividend share

The projection on Commsec suggests that the business could pay an annual dividend per share of 11 cents in 2026, which equates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 15%, including franking credits and 10.5% excluding franking credits.

Its dividend yield is high because it's trading at a low price-earnings (P/E) ratio. According to earnings estimates on Commsec, Dusk is trading at just 6.5x FY26's projected profit. Time will tell whether that forecast is close, but profit is predicted to rise strongly in FY25, FY26, and FY27.

The post This ASX dividend share is expected to pay a 15% yield in 2026! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's handy to know when the ASX shares you already own are due to go ex-dividend.

If you feel like increasing your holdings, you may want to make those purchases before the ex-dividend dates to pick up the next dividend payments.

Same goes for investors researching companies for new investments. If you're ready to buy a new stock at today's share price, you might as well try to buy before the ex-dividend date.

Awareness of ex-dividend dates also means you won't be surprised when the share prices of your ASX stocks drop on the day.

Share prices usually fall on ex-dividend dates simply because the companies look less appealing (in the short term, at least) without the upcoming dividends attached.

Here is a sample of ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

25 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post Looking for last-minute dividends? 25 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The high cost of living and elevated inflation may have cut into households' discretionary spending capabilities. Despite that, some ASX retail shares have seen sales increase in the first few weeks of FY25.

That doesn't necessarily mean these businesses will see sales growth for the rest of the year, but it's a promising start for FY25 and could be a useful indicator in the lead-up to the important retail sales events in November and Christmas.

Let's look at what some companies reported as FY25 trading updates.

FY25 sales progress

Homewares and furniture online retailer Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) reported revenue of 26% from 1 July to 11 August 2024.

Premium youth apparel retailer Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) reported that its Universal Store business saw sales growth of 15.3% in the first seven weeks of FY25, with Perfect Stranger sales growth of 89.9%.

In the first eight weeks of FY25, home fragrance retailer Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK) disclosed total sales growth of 16% year over year (from a low base).

Auto parts retailer and mechanic business Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP) revealed that sales had increased 7.7% in the first five weeks of FY25.

Online beauty product retailer Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY) reported that its revenue increased 7% year over year in the first seven weeks of FY25.

The electronics ASX retail share JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) revealed that its JB Hi-Fi Australia division achieved total sales growth of 5.6% year over year.

Of course, not every business is growing. There are a few ASX shares that reported sales declines at the start of FY25.

Furniture retailer Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK) revealed that its written sales orders were down 1.2% year over year in June and July.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) reported that its same-store sales were down 1.3% in the first few weeks of FY25.

Expert commentary on the ASX retail share sector

Writing on LinkedIn, MST Marquee senior analyst of the consumer sector Craig Woolford said retailers generally had an "upbeat tone" about the outlook, though not all businesses were seeing an acceleration of sales growth.

Woolford said:

Those with businesses in New Zealand and in liquor have generally seen more sluggish trends. Quick service restaurants are also slowing too. The tilt towards better sales trends is a sign of things to come for Australian retail.

However, it won't be evenly distributed as we return to more normal conditions where great product, price and service differentiate the best performers.

In my opinion, investors may be able to find some opportunities in the ASX retail space, but volatility in valuations and sales performance could continue.

The post Which ASX retail shares are overcoming the slowdown in FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

The Bega Cheese share price is up 6% to $4.52. This has been driven by the release of the diversified food company's full year results this morning. Bega Cheese reported a 4% increase in revenue to $3.5 billion, a 15% lift in EBITDA to $165.1 million, and a profit after tax of $30.5 million. The latter is up from a $229.9 million loss a year earlier. Looking ahead, the company expects normalised EBITDA in the range of $190 million to $200 million in FY 2025. This represents growth of 15%+ year on year.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV)

The Clinuvel share price is up 11% to $15.45. This morning, this pharmaceutical company released its FY 2024 results and revealed a 15% jump in revenue to $95.3 million and a 16% increase in net profit after tax to $35.6 million. This strong performance was driven primarily by increased demand for its drug Scenesse. Clinuvel's chief financial officer, Peter Vaughan, commented: "Key financial metrics—including revenue, profit, investment, and asset growth—continue to show consistent year-on-year increases whilst expanding the ability to provide SCENESSE treatment to an increasing number of patients."

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

The Dusk share price is up 16% to $1.05. Investors have been buying this specialist retailer's shares today despite the release of an disappointing full year result. Dusk reported a 7.9% decline in sales to $126.7 million and a 62% reduction in pro forma EBIT to $6.2 million. However, a strong start to FY 2025 appears to have caught the eye of investors. Management revealed that total sales are up 16% and like for like sales are up 12.1% during the first 8 weeks of FY 2025.

Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX: OBL)

The Omni Bridgeway share price is up almost 11% to 93 cents. This morning, this litigation funder released its FY 2024 results. It reported a 10% decline in total gross income and revenue to $277 million but a massive jump in profits. The company's net profit after tax was $30.5 million, up from $0.9 million a year earlier. No dividends were declared for FY 2024.

The post Why Bega Cheese, Clinuvel, Dusk, and Omni Bridgeway shares are rocketing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX retail stock was up as much as 26% to a 52-week high of $1.14.

This was driven by the release of the specialist retailer's full year results.

ASX retail stock rockets despite sales and profit declines

• Sales down 7.9% to $126.7 million
• Gross profit down 7.5% to $81.5 million
• Pro forma EBIT down 62% to $6.2 million
• Fully franked final dividend of 4 cents per share

What happened in FY 2024?

For the 12 months ended 30 June, Dusk reported a 7.9% decline in sales to $126.7 million. This reflects a 12.1% decline in like for like sales, which was offset slightly by new store openings.

Thanks to a modest improvement in the ASX retail stock's gross margin, its gross profits only fell 7.5% in FY 2024 to $81.5 million. This was despite continued headwinds from currency depreciation and higher freight costs. Management notes that this was driven by the realisation of supply chain efficiencies and tactical control of its promotional calendar.

However, this was ultimately offset by higher costs of doing business (CODB). Dusk revealed that its CODB increased by 5.4% due to rent increases and underlying store labour wage rates. Combined with higher depreciation, this led to the ASX retail stock's pro forma EBIT falling 62% to $6.2 million and its net profit after tax falling 57.3% to $5 million.

Unsurprisingly, the Dusk board elected to cut its dividend in FY 2024. It declared a fully franked final dividend of 4 cents per share, bringing its total dividends to 6.5 cents per share. This is down 41% from 11 cents per share in FY 2023.

Management commentary

The ASX retail stock's CEO and managing director, Vlad Yakubson, was pleased with the work done behind the scenes in FY 2024. He said:

FY24 has been a transformational year for dusk Group with an improved sales performance in the second half reflecting the implementation of several strategic initiatives focused on product rejuvenation, disciplined promotional activity and better online execution. There has also been significant talent renewal during the year with a new leadership team bringing experience and trade knowledge to multiple areas of the business.

Outlook

The reason the Dusk share price is rocketing today is likely to be the company's strong start to FY 2025.

Management advised that total sales are up 16% and like for like sales are up 12.1% during the first 8 weeks of FY 2025. This comprises online sales growth of 39.1% and store sales growth of 14.4%.

Yakubson commented:

dusk has had a good start to FY25 with the Allen's x dusk collaboration performing strongly as our product rejuvenation strategy takes shape. Our strategic priorities in FY25 are focused on the reassertion of our leadership in the home fragrance category which will be achieved by increasing customer frequency, driving new customer acquisition and redefining our brand identity.

The post This ASX retail stock is rocketing 26% on its FY24 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX All Ords index is up 2.03% since 1 July.

Let's take a look at some of the ASX shares that received broker upgrades this month.

These stocks now have the strongest possible consensus buy recommendation, according to CommSec.

7 ASX shares upgraded to strong buy ratings

Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

This ASX 200 energy share closed at $1.36 on Tuesday, down 2.17%.

Coronado shares have lost 18.9% in value over the past 12 months.

The ASX coal miner released its Q2 FY24 results this month. Run-of-mine (ROM) coal production rose by 23.8% compared to the previous quarter to 7.4 Mt, while saleable production lifted 21.5% to 4.1 Mt.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Coronado with a 12-month share price target of $1.85.

Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)

This ASX 200 travel share closed at $6.18 apiece on Tuesday, up 1.64%.

Qantas shares have fallen 5.4% over the past 12 months.

There was no price-sensitive news from Qantas this month.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating on Qantas with a 12-month share price target of $8.05.

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

This ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) closed yesterday at $1.18 per share, up 0.43%.

The HealthCo Healthcare and Wellness REIT's share price has descended 17.8% over the past 12 months.

The ASX REIT had no price-sensitive news for the market this month.

The team at Bell Potter believes the recent share price weakness makes the HCW REIT a good buy.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and a $1.50 price target on HCW REIT shares.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

This ASX consumer discretionary share closed at 84 cents on Tuesday, up 0.6%.

The Dusk share price is down 31.7% over the past 12 months.

We got a trading update from the specialty candles and home fragrances retailer this month.

Dusk said total sales for 2H FY24 were 5.8% lower than the prior corresponding period (pcp) compared to a fall of 9.7% in 1H FY24. The company expects total sales of $126.3 million for FY24, down 8.2% on FY23.

Management expects underlying EBIT of $6.2 million to $6.4 million (down from $16.5 million in FY23).

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

This ASX All Ords industrials share finished yesterday's session at $4.38, down 1.13%.

Maas Group shares have risen 63.4% over the past 12 months.

There was no price-sensitive news from the construction materials and services provider in July.

Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR)

This ASX All Ords financials share closed at 94 cents per share, down 0.53% on Tuesday.

Shares in the payments provider are down 32.9% over the past 12 months.

Tyro did not release any price-sensitive news this month. Morgans is bullish on Tyro, with a 12-month share price target of $1.47.

NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

The NRW share price closed at $3.29 on Tuesday, down 2.08%.

Shares in the diversified contract services provider increased 19.65% over the past 12 months.

NRW Holdings updated its full-year FY24 guidance this month.

The company expects to achieve its highest-ever earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) result in FY24.

The unaudited EBITDA is approximately $195 million, which is above the previous guidance of $175 million to $185 million.

The post 7 ASX shares elevated to 'strong buy' ratings in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One is an investment holding company.

Another is a leading miner with a strong focus on copper.

And the third specialises in home fragrance products.

And if these brokers have it right, the ASX shares could post gains of 10%, 25% and more than 53% in the year ahead.

Which stocks are we talking about?

Read on!

(Broker data courtesy of The Australian.)

Three ASX shares upgraded by brokers

The first ASX share tipped for sizeable outperformance in FY 2025 is investment holding company Duratec Ltd (ASX: DUR).

Duratec shares are down 1.6% in afternoon trade on Friday, currently at $1.22. That sees the Duratec share price down 2.8% in 12 months.

But Bell Potter believes the next 12 months should be much rosier for the company.

The broker started Duratec at a buy rating with a $1.52 price target. That's almost 25% above current levels.

The second stock receiving a broker upgrade is S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining share Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR).

The Sandfire share price is down 5.3% today at $8.17. But longer-term investors should still be sitting pretty, with shares up 36.4% in a year.

And Jarden Securities sees even more upside ahead. The broker raised Sandfire Resources to an overweight rating with a $9.00 price target. That represents a potential upside of more than 10% from current levels.

Which brings us to the third ASX share tipped for some sizeable outperformance, home fragrance product retailer Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK).

Dusk shares are also joining in the broader market sell-off today, down 2.6% at 75 cents apiece. That sees the Dusk share price down 39.9% since this time last year.

But if Canaccord analyst Allan Franklin has it right, the next year will be a whole different story.

Pointing to second half sales growth improvement, spurred by Dusk's stronger online performance, Franklin sees a big turnaround ahead. He has a buy rating on the stock with a $1.15 price target. That's more than 53% above the current share price.

Foolish takeaway

While each of these ASX shares could return some market beating gains in FY 2025, always be sure to do your own research before investing any of your hard-earned money.

If you don't have the time for that, reach out for some expert advice.

The post 3 ASX shares brokers tip for significant outperformance in FY 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising today:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent Group share price is up almost 10% to $2.15. Investors have been buying this footwear retailer's shares following the release of a trading update. Accent revealed that it expects to report EBIT (before one-offs) in the range of $123.2 million to $125.2 million for FY 2024. This would mean a 9.8% to 11.2% decline year on year. Analysts at Bell Potter were forecasting Accent to deliver EBIT of $124.6 million for the year, so the company could yet outperform expectations despite the tough economic environment. Accent achieved like for like sales growth of 4.2% during the second half.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

The Dusk Group share price is up 30% to 76.5 cents. This has also been driven by the release of a trading update this morning. The specialty retailer of home fragrance products revealed that its performance improved markedly during the second half. This culminated in positive sales growth of 0.4% for the last five weeks of the financial year. Management advised that its improved sales performance in the second half reflects the implementation of various strategic initiatives.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is up over 3% to $4.11. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares following the release of its quarterly update. During the fourth quarter, Evolution Mining reported record quarterly group cash flow $230 million, which was up 171% on the previous quarter. Evolution also reported a 14% increase in gold production to 212,070 ounces and a 13% reduction in its all-in sustaining cost to $1,275 per ounce.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up 9% to $1.75. This follows the completion of the buy now pay later provider's capital raising and the release of its quarterly update. In respect to the former, Zip was able to raise $217 million (before costs) via an equity placement at just $1.56 per new share. This represents a discount of just 2.8% to its last close price. These funds will be used for the early repayment of Zip's existing corporate debt facility and associated exit fee. Zip didn't have any problems raising the funds after impressing investors with strong growth in the fourth quarter. It is likely this performance that is really driving its shares higher today.

The post Why Accent, Dusk, Evolution Mining, and Zip shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Prior to today, Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK) shares were down over 40% since the start of the year.

But much to the relief of the retailer's long-suffering shareholders, the company's shares are up 32% to 78 cents today.

Why is this ASX small cap stock rocketing?

The catalyst for this has been the release of a trading update from the specialty retailer of home fragrance products.

According to the release, the company's sales run rate continued to improve on a monthly basis in the second half.

This culminated in positive sales growth of 0.4% for the last five weeks of the financial year compared to the prior corresponding period.

This led to its second half sales falling 5.8% on the prior corresponding period, which is a nice improvement on the 9.7% sales decline recorded in the first half of FY 2024.

For FY 2024, total sales are expected to be down 8.2% to $126.3 million and underlying EBIT is expected to be $6.2 million to $6.4 million (from $16.5 million in FY 2023).

What drove the improvement?

Management notes that the improved sales performance in the second half reflects the implementation of various strategic initiatives.

These strategic initiatives focused on product rejuvenation, tactical and disciplined promotional activity, and enhanced execution of its online channel following the website relaunch in June 2024.

It also notes that its position as a gifting destination was highlighted during the Mother's Day week, with total sales up 10.4% on the same period last year. It believes this is an indication that its refreshed product range is resonating well with customers.

Also likely to be going down well with investors is commentary relating to the ASX small cap stock's gross margin. Management advised that it was diligent in maintaining its gross margin in the second half through focused promotional activity and supply chain management.

As a result, its gross margin rate for FY 2024 is expected to be broadly in line with the prior year (FY 2023: 64.1%) despite headwinds from freight and distribution costs.

The company's CEO and Managing Director, Vlad Yakubson, was pleased with the improvements. He said:

FY24 has been a time of transformation at dusk as we laid the foundations for the rejuvenation of the business, with significant changes made to the leadership team over the past 12 months. The executive team brings new ideas and fresh perspectives to trading the business and developing products that appeal to our customers. In 2H FY24, we have progressively arrested the sales decline and more recently moved into positive growth.

Looking ahead to FY25, we are in a strong financial position and our inventory is clean and well balanced. We continue to focus on delivering product innovation and the latest trends to our customers on a regular basis.

The post Down 40% in 2024, why is this ASX small-cap stock rocketing 32% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But relying on the picks of friends and family can also be a dangerous business. There's a good chance that your nearest and dearest are inexperienced in the way of investing, and might impart some less-than-prudent advice.

In this light, perhaps looking to the people who already have runs on the board might be a more lucrative path to go down. After all, people who have money tend to know how to make more of it.

So today, let's check out six ASX shares that various billionaires in Australia reportedly own. You don't, and perhaps shouldn't, have to follow these billionaires and buy the shares straight away.

After all, these peoples' risk tolerances are obviously far higher than ours, thanks to an abundance of surplus cash. But just getting an insight into how the rich invest may help your own investing practice.

6 ASX shares that billionaires own

Let's start with ASX retail stock Lovisa Ltd (ASX: LOV). This discount jewellery retailer has been a famous winner on the ASX for a few years now. But what those on the sidelines might not realise is that this company has some serious billionaire involvement.

Lovisa founder and billionaire Brett Blundy still owns just over 43 million Lovisa shares, worth approximately $1.39 billion today. According to a report from The Australian last year, as of September 2023, Blundy also owned roughly $67 million worth of candle and homewares retailer Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK).

That same report names another billionaire ASX stock. Fabric and sewing connoisseurs might be familiar with retailer Spotlight. Spotlight is private, but its deputy chair Zac Fried is also a director and major shareholder of asset manager HMC Captial Ltd (ASX: HMC).

Fried owns just over 31,000 shares of HMC (worth ~$208,000 today), as well as almost 10,000 performance rights. He's done very well on HMC's 77.5% rise over the past 12 months.

Let's turn to TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) founder David Teoh. Teoh was formerly the TPG boss but stepped down a few years ago. Teoh still owns just over 241 million TPG shares or 14.1% of the business' issued capital.

But he also currently chairs TPG-spinoff Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), which was the former Singaporean arm of TPG Telecom. Teoh, as of 31 July 2023, also owns close to 173 million Tuas shares, for a current value of $664.27 million.

According to The Australian report, another ASX billionaire stock is Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV). You might know Premier by its founder Solomon Lew. Lew, a billionaire, owns 4.44 million Premier shares, worth approximately $136.22 million.

But another major shareholder is fellow billionaire Lindsay Fox. Fox is best known for the eponymous shipping brand LinFox, which is privately owned. But Fox also owns 2.58 million Premier shares, worth around $79.8 million.

The post 6 ASX shares owned by Aussie billionaires appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Regardless of what you think of the concept, there is no doubt the day has become a big deal commercially.

"Australians expected to spend around $1.1 billion on Valentine's Day, according to Finder's research," said Moomoo market strategist Jessica Amir.

"The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan suggest Australians plan to spend $485 million on Valentine's Day gifts, with 42% choosing roses."

And with all this consumption going on, there must be some ASX shares that will benefit, right?

Indeed, here are three stocks that Amir reckons could do pretty well out of all this outpouring of love:

First, some wine

Like it or not, many Australians like to commemorate a special occasion with a glass or two.

Especially so on a romantic day like Valentine's Day.

"What's a celebration without a bit of wine, of course," said Amir.

"Keep an eye out for the Australian global wine-making business Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)."

Even without 14 February, many professional investors are in love with Treasury Wine shares at the moment because of the possibility that China will reduce punitive tariffs on Australian wine imports.

According to CMC Invest, 12 out of 14 experts are recommending a buy for Treasury Wine shares.

The share price is already up more than 4% so far this year.

Then let's light the candles and see what happens

Then after you've enjoyed some social lubrication, it might be time to dim the house lights and fire up the candles.

"For other Aussie stocks that might be boosted amidst V-Day spending, consider… candle stockist Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)."

The Dusk share price has lost 43% over the past year, but that does mean it now has a mouthwatering — and fully franked — 11% dividend yield.

So maybe if the candles led to the ultimate expression of love, there may be some further great news down the track.

And Amir has the ASX stock perfectly poised to take advantage.

"Offering Aussies baby products, Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN) might just tick up amidst Valentine's Day celebrations."

The retailer also pays out a decent income, currently distributing a fully franked yield of 4.5%.

The post 3 ASX shares to buy for Valentine's Day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At a time when interest rate cuts seem to be on the horizon, it could be a good idea to look at names that may be materially lower today than where they may be in a couple of years.

I'm not expecting 2024 to be the strongest, operationally, for the below two stocks, but I think the medium-to-longer-term is very promising.

Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

Scentre is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns Westfield shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand. It has 37 locations in Australia and five in New Zealand.

A few months ago, the business reported its quarterly update for the period ending September 2023.

It reported portfolio occupancy of 99.1%, up 30 basis points (0.30%), year over year. The ASX dividend share also said that the average specialty rent escalation had been 7.6% in the year-to-date. New rental contracts saw a 3.6% increase in the three months to September 2023.

Total business partner (tenant) sales within Scentre were 13.7% higher in the three months to September compared to the same period in 2019.

The ASX dividend share continues to invest in its shopping centres to renovate and improve them and unlock stronger rental potential.

While online shopping is a headwind, the growing population is a tailwind. Plus, the limited space for new shopping centres in cities means the business has a strong economic moat, in my mind.

It's forecast to pay a distribution of at least 17.8 cents per security in FY25 and 20.3 cents per security in FY26, which are forward distribution yields of 5.7% and 6.5%.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

Dusk describes itself as the leading Australian omni-channel specialty retailer focused on home fragrance products. It has candles, ultrasonic diffusers, reed diffusers, essential oils, as well as fragrance-related homewares.

The Dusk share price has dropped 45% in the past year and it's down around 75% from July 2021. It's a lot cheaper than it was, reflecting the more difficult retail conditions.

The company's total sales for the first 20 weeks of FY24 were down 11.3% year over year, with bricks and mortar sales down 12.3% and online sales up 8%. Compared to the pre-pandemic period of FY20, total sales were up 30.1%. It reported it saw a slight improvement in sales trends from October onwards.

The ASX dividend share has continued to open new stores in Australia, opening six in the first half of FY24, which are located in "outer suburban and regional centres where the returns on investment remain attractive." It's expecting to open another four new stores in Australia in the second half of FY24 and close one store.

In December 2023 it expanded onto the Amazon marketplace.

FY24 could be tricky, with earnings expected to sink. The forecast numbers suggest earnings per share (EPS) of 7.2 cents and a dividend per share of 5.1 cents, which would imply a forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 14 and a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 7.3%.

But, the forecast is for a recovery in FY25 and FY26. Dusk could pay grossed-up dividend yields of 13.7% in FY25 and 16.6% in FY26.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares to double up on right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Keep in mind that the ASX share market has returned an average return per annum of around 10% over the ultra-long term. Being able to get that entire return just from income would be attractive and could only happen if the particular company is able to generate profit growth in the long term.

Of course, projections are not guarantees as no one can say for certain what payments shareholders are going to get in FY25 from ASX dividend shares.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

For readers who don't know this business, it sells home fragrance products that are designed in-house. The offerings include candles, ultrasonic diffusers, reed diffusers and essential oils, as well as fragrance-related homewares.

The Dusk share price has fallen enormously – it's down around 50% in a year and 76% from July 2021, as we can see on the chart below.

Retail conditions have worsened for the company. The trading update for FY24 saw total sales down 11.3%, but compared to the same period in 2019 total sales are up 30.1%, with a "slight improvement" in sales trends from October onwards.

It has continued to open new stores, with another six opened in the first half of FY24. It's expecting to open another four new stores in Australia in the second half and close one store.

The business has also opened three 'pop-up' stores in the run into Christmas, allowing it to test locations where it does not have a store and expand the footprint where it does.

In December 2023, the company is launching Dusk on the Amazon marketplace.

According to the projection on Commsec, the ASX dividend share could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 15.3% in FY25.

Step One Clothing Ltd (ASX: STP)

Step One says it's a direct-to-consumer online retailer for innerwear. Its selling point is that it offers an "exclusive range of high quality, organically grown and certified, sustainable, and ethically manufactured innerwear that suits a broad range of body types."

The company points out that the addressable market in each of its key markets – Australia, the UK and the US – is "substantial" because underwear is "considered a need, not a want". The expansion into women's innerwear has increased its addressable market, with potential additions like bras and lingerie.

It's working on establishing partnerships, including a large retailer with a "loyal" customer base and a large membership organisation of "impeccable credentials". These partnerships will begin in early 2024.

Step One said it's exploring opportunities in new markets to gauge market interest and potential expansion.

According to the projection on Commsec, this ASX dividend share could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 10%.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares predicted to pay yields over 10% in FY25! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But sometimes a sell-off can actually end up being an opportunity, so it's worthwhile considering whether this is one of those times.

We've seen double-digit declines in 2023 for many names like Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH), Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI), and Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK).

Some of the declines have been triggered by trading updates which revealed a concerning drop-off in sales and foot traffic in stores.

The market is pricing in some serious financial pain for these companies. As an example, Dusk is down 37% this year, as we can see on the chart below.

Is this a good time to invest in ASX retail shares?

The Australian Financial Review recently reported on comments by MST Marquee analyst Craig Woolford who said:

It's inevitable that a majority of retailers are likely to see a decline in profitability in fiscal 2024 but they're coming from a very strong starting point because profitability has been very strong for a majority of retailers.

While the short to medium term may seem uncertain, it has been suggested this may be a good period for retailers to invest in artificial intelligence and generative AI.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra told the AFR that "artificial intelligence is the next biggest thing. What it will do is reduce costs and improve the service outcome as well".

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) is one ASX retail share looking to use AI to boost its margins and improve customer service.

The AFR also reported comments by UBS analyst Shaun Cousins, with data showing consumers had "really tightened their belts from April and May" because of interest rate rises. Cousins said:

We believe it's a combination of cost of living pressures that have existed for almost 12 months and now intensified.

While we've had a strong labour market the support of savings has moderated and we think all consumers will change the way they spend. We believe the very affluent are unlikely to change much at all, the less affluent will be under greater pressure as they've got less buffer to handle rising living costs.

Cousins suggested Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) is one option for investors with the winemaker's customer base being quite affluent.

Another option that could keep doing well is luxury online retailer Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT) which I recently covered.

The UBS analyst also said Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) could be a solid option during lean economic times because its brands Kmart and Bunnings are focused on providing value to customers. This could mean they win market share during this period.

Foolish takeaway

I think most ASX retail shares are looking attractive at the moment, with the ones that have sold off being opportunities on a two-year or three-year view. The added benefit is the larger prospective dividend yield in FY25 from names like Adairs and Premier Investments.  

With the market currently quite fearful, it could be a good time to be greedy.

The post Times are tough: Should I avoid ASX retail shares right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.