It was a disappointing month for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in February. The benchmark index dropped 2.9% during the month to end the period at 7,258.4 points.

The good news is that not all shares dropped with the market. In fact, some even managed to record strong gains in February. Here's why these were the best performing ASX 200 shares last month:

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

The GUD share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in February with a 23% gain. Investors were scrambling to buy this diversified products company's shares after it reported a 55.7% increase in half year revenue and an 88.7% jump in net profit. Management advised that this was driven by a strong core automotive result combined with full six-month contributions from APG and Vision X.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price wasn't far behind with a gain of 20% last month. Once again, a solid result was behind this impressive gain. Australia's largest car sales group achieved a record underlying operating profit before tax of $405.2 million. This allowed the company to declare a final dividend of 49 cents per share, bringing its full-year dividend to a record of 71 cents per share for FY 2022.

Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK)

The Link share price was a strong performer and charged 19.3% higher over the period. It was a busy month for this administration services company. It released its results, announced a partnership extension with Rest, released an update on the Fund Solutions divestment, and completed the sale of its PEXA Group (ASX: PXA) shares.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price was on fire in February and charged 18.9% higher. This travel agent giant surged higher last month after it released its unaudited half-year results early to support its capital raising to fund the acquisition of luxury travel company Scott Dunn. Flight Centre revealed the more than tripling of its revenue to $1 billion thanks to a significant rebound in the travel market and a particularly strong performance from its corporate business.

The post These ASX 200 shares smashed the market in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX small-cap shares may not be household names. They might not get the same media attention as the big S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) banks and miners.

However, some pint-sized ASX companies could turn out to be the big-cap stocks of the future. And wouldn't it be great to invest in a few during the relatively early stages of their growth stories?

But with so many tiny ASX fish in the sea, how can investors sort the future big catches from the minnows destined to forever remain small fry?

For their thoughts, we decided to open a can of worms and ask our Foolish writers which ASX small-cap shares they reckon are worth reeling in right now. Here is what they said:

6 best ASX small-cap shares for 2023 (smallest to largest)

City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX), $127.56 million

Healthia Ltd (ASX: HLA), $191.79 million

Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH), $414.87 million

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU), $1.28 billion

Platinum Asset Management Ltd (ASX: PTM), $1.35 billion

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD), $1.40 billion

(Market capitalisations as at market close on 20 February 2023)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX small-cap stocks

City Chic Collective Ltd

What it does: City Chic is an Australian-born, plus-sized fashion retailer. It boasts 200 locations around the globe as well as multiple online channels.

By Brooke Cooper: The last 12 months have been rough on the City Chic share price. It's dumped almost 90% since this time last year amid inventory concerns and balance sheet pressure.

But I believe most of the bad news could now be behind the company. City Chic recently revealed its inventory levels are expected to come in below guidance for the first half, while its recently-amended debt facility should support the company's financial position.

Goldman Sachs is neutral on the stock due to concerns around continuously-compressed margins and a promotion-focused customer base.

However, I'm not averse to risk so think the current City Chic share price could represent a buying opportunity right now.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper does not own shares in City Chic Collective Ltd.

Healthia Ltd

What it does: With over 300 clinics across Australia and New Zealand, Healthia describes itself as a leading, diversified allied healthcare provider.

The company operates networks of optometry, podiatry, and physiotherapy clinics and also owns iOrthotics, a leading manufacturer of custom-made and 3D-printed foot orthotic devices for podiatrists.

By Tristan Harrison: The Healthia share price has fallen by around 40% since the start of 2022, making it great value, in my opinion.

I think the business is exposed to a number of helpful tailwinds, including an ageing population and a growing potential market (helped by the resumption of immigration).

This small-cap ASX share is also relying on an acquisition strategy to boost its scale. It's also working on improving the performance and efficiency of its existing clinic network. Healthia is planning to spend at least $20 million on acquisitions in FY23.

FY23 half-year revenue is expected to grow by between 31.7% to 37.1%, with like-for-like revenue growth of 5.4%. January 2023 showed "positive momentum" as well.

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

Adairs Ltd

What it does: Adairs is an ASX retailer that sells homewares like linens, furniture, and decor items. It operates 170 stores across Australia and New Zealand as well as a growing online channel.

By Sebastian Bowen: This is one ASX small-cap share I think could have a big future.

The Adairs share price has had a bit of a rough trot over the past year or two, having fallen by around 50% from its pandemic highs. But this could well present a buying opportunity.

The company is still growing healthily, posting record revenues for the first half of FY2023, which were up 34.1% over 1H22's numbers. Its online channels have also been booming, with roughly 26.5% of all sales over the half done over the internet.

Perhaps best of all, Adairs currently has a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of around 7.5% on the table today.

Considering all of this, Adairs could well be a small-cap ASX retailer to consider right now.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares in Adairs Ltd.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd

What it does: Arafura Rare Earths is the rare earths developer behind the globally significant Nolans Project in the Northern Territory.

By James Mickleboro: I think Arafura Rare Earths could be an ASX small-cap share to buy right now. This is because of the potential for the Nolans Project to supply a significant proportion of the world's neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) demand in the future.

These are critical minerals in the production of high-performance neodymium magnets, which are used in everything from mobile phones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and military weapons.

And with the company expecting demand to more than double from 2020 to 2030, and supply to remain constrained, I believe Arafura looks well-positioned to benefit from strong prices once it commences production.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares in Arafura Rare Earths Ltd.

Platinum Asset Management Ltd

What it does: Platinum Asset Management is an Australian-based niche investment manager focused on international shares.

By Bernd Struben: After a tough 18-month stretch, the Platinum Asset Management share price has seen a big turnaround in 2023, up by almost 30% year to date. I like buying into strength and believe the company can deliver more gains in the year ahead.

Adam Lund, head of trading at Spheria Asset Management, recently tipped Platinum to outperform. He told Motley Fool, "When you buy Platinum shares, you are investing in a very experienced investment team that manages $18 billion across strategies that have outperformed their direct competitors over most periods."

Atop potential share price gains, Platinum pays a 7.8% trailing dividend yield, fully franked.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in Platinum Asset Management Ltd.

GUD Holdings Limited

What it does: GUD Holdings is an Australian-based company that manufactures and distributes a diverse range of products in the automotive aftermarket and water industries. With a history spanning 65 years, GUD has raised a slate of trusted brands including Ryco Filters, DBA brakes, CSM, Cruisemaster, and Davey.

By Mitchell Lawler: GUD Holdings is not a flashy company touting futuristic software. However, it does meet a valuable need by providing a host of aftermarket car parts.

A growing berth of brands continues to fortify GUD's pricing power, reputability, and top-line growth. In the company's latest half-year results, revenue increased a significant 56% to $517 million.

What I find particularly attractive about this company is its exposure to non-discretionary spending. Around 80% of GUD's automotive revenue is derived from wear-and-tear/replacement parts. I believe this bodes well for the company, in conjunction with a large number of registered cars in Australia and the rising average vehicle age.

I personally think GUD's assets and growth potential are currently undervalued. At present, the company trades at around 11 times estimated FY2025 earnings.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares in GUD Holdings Limited.

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

It's that time of the year folks. The February earnings season is in full swing with S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares declaring dividends left, right, and centre, and there are several names set to trade ex-dividend this week.

Once the ex-dividend milestone passes, new investors in the companies will have missed out on their upcoming offerings. It also means the stocks will likely be trading in the red at one point in the week.

Let's take a look at some of the high-profile market giants gearing up to trade ex-dividend this week.

ASX 200 shares trading ex-dividend this week

Among the first to trade ex-dividend will be ASX 200 giant Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). And I've got bad news for anyone wishing to secure its upcoming dividend but isn't yet invested in the stock.

The retail-focused conglomerate trades ex-dividend this morning. It boosted its interim dividend 10% last week, declaring an 88 cent per share fully franked offering as part of its strong first-half earnings.

Glove and personal protective equipment manufacturer Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) will also trade ex-dividend today. It declared a 20.1 US cent interim dividend last week – marking a 17% year-on-year drop.

Following in its footsteps on Tuesday will be ASX 200 shares Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) and Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU).

The former boosted its interim dividend last week, declaring a fully franked 14.3 cent per share payout – a 14% improvement. The latter beat that. It offered a 30 cent per share unfranked interim dividend – a 25% increase on that of last year.

On Wednesday, shares in ASX 200 goliath Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) will likely drop as the bank trades ex-dividend. It lifted its dividend by 20% to $2.10 per share last week. Though, that wasn't enough to stop the market bidding the bank's stock 5.7% lower.

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) will also trade ex-dividend on Wednesday after disappointing many with its half-year results. Its profits for the period tumbled 55% while its interim payout was halved to 8 cents per share.

ASX 200 electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) will pass the milestone on Thursday. JB Hi-Fi posted strong first-half earnings last week. It upped its interim dividend by nearly 21% to $1.97 per share, fully franked.

Finally, Friday will probably be a rough one for the share price of GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD). Would-be shareholders will then miss out on GUD's 17 cent per share interim payout, declared last Wednesday.

The post 8 ASX 200 shares trading ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the week in the red, falling 0.86% on Friday to close at 7,346.8 points. That leaves it down 1.17% week-on-week.

Today's tumble followed an equally disappointing overnight session on Wall Street. Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) slumped 1.3%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slipped 1.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dumped 1.8%.

Back home, it was a bloodbath across much of the market today.

Tech was hit hardest, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) tumbling 2.3%. Its worst performer was the Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price, which fell 7.8%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) also suffered, falling 1.8% as coal producers spent a second day deep in the red after tumbling amid news of the NSW government's coal price cap policy yesterday.

There was a bright spot on the ASX 200 today, however. That was the S&P/ASX Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ), which rose 1%, driven by the Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price's 1.7% gain.

So, with all that in mind, which ASX 200 shares outperformed all others today? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The biggest gainer on the ASX 200 today was the QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price. It rose 7.4% to close at $14.39.

The insurer posted its full-year earnings this morning, detailing a 2.7% jump in net profit after tax (NPAT) and a 30-cent final dividend­ up 57% year-on-year.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bounced back with a bang on Thursday, rising 0.79% to close at 7,410.3 points.

It came amid the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics' latest employment data, finding unemployment rose to 3.7% in January. That's likely good news for those wishing inflation to ease.  

Leading the market higher today was the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ). The sector leapt 2.7% today.

It was also a good day for S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) stocks – the tech sector rose 2.7%.

However, fans of ASX 200 energy shares were likely left disappointed. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slumped 0.7% as coal shares weighed amid earnings from Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) and New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC).

The coal producers also responded to the NSW Government's price cap and coal reservation policy today.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at the 10 shares that outperformed all others on Thursday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's biggest gain on the ASX 200 came from Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) shares. They surged 15% to close at $3.33 on the back of the company's first-half earnings.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) followed Tuesday's pop with an 1.06% drop on Wednesday, falling to close at 7,352.2 points.

It came amid a deluge of earnings from some of the market's biggest names including Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG).

Weighing on the market today was the massive S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ). It tumbled 3.4% as the big four banks weighed heavily, led by the CBA share price's 5.7% fall.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) also had a rough session, dropping 1.4%.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was among the top-performing sectors today, rising 0.5% with earnings from Wesfarmers and GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD).

And I can tell you today's top-performing ASX 200 stock is at home on the consumer discretionary section. Let's take a look at what drove it sky-high on Wednesday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's biggest gains came from casino operator Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR). Its share price rocketed 14.4% in a partial recovery from recent losses.

The stock dived 20.8% on Monday on the back of a disappointing earnings update. It followed that up with a 13.5% tumble yesterday.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is tipping into negative territory today as the big four banks act as an anchor. Meanwhile, other ASX 200 shares are getting plenty of attention for their latest results.

Currently, the benchmark index is 1.22% worse off than where it finished yesterday — hovering around 7,340 points. Some of the biggest hindrances to the Aussie market today include Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE), Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC), and Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU).

That aside, let's dive into three companies that have reported today.

Earnings ignite these ASX 200 shares

One company that is seeing its share price driven higher today is GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD). Shares in the automotive parts and water systems seller are jumping 7.86% to $8.92 as investors absorb what appears to be a solid half-year result.

It was a period of phenomenal growth for GUD in the latest six-month period. Primarily driven by acquisitions, revenue was dialled up 55.7% year-on-year to $517 million. Meanwhile, the company's net profit after tax (NPAT) increased by a blistering 88.7% to $45.6 million.

In terms of outlook, management painted a reasonably positive outlook. The APG brand is expected to benefit from normalisation in sales toward higher historic volumes. Likewise, the remaining automotive business is anticipated to benefit from aging vehicles.

Another ASX 200 share relishing in a commendable result is Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL). The financial services platform provider's share price is currently up 4.82% to $13.92.

The three key figures that shareholders ought to be pleased with are the company's funds under administration (FUA), revenue, and NPAT.

Ultimately, the business relies upon its FUA on the platform. Fortunately, funds on Netwealth increased 12.2% to $62.4 billion in the first half. Similarly, revenue and earnings were grown to the tune of 18.9% and 12.9% respectively.

Despite a strong performance so far in 2023, the Netwealth share price is still down 6.13% over the past year.

Failure to impress with these figures

The third and final ASX 200 share with robust numbers out today is Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME). The imaging software provider's shares are currently up 0.29% to $65.24 apiece.

Perhaps one of the biggest success stories on the Australian share market may not have lived up to expectations today.

In its half-year report, Pro Medicus served up revenue of $56.89 million — representing an increase of 28.3%. Even better, net profits were 31.5% bigger than the prior corresponding period, perched at $27.19 million.

The improved financials were attributed to some major wins in North America with customers such as Novant Health, Allina Health, and Inova Health.

Nevertheless, it seems investors might be concerned about whether the premium valuation is still compatible following these results. For reference, Pro Medicus currently trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 154 times.

Though, longer-term shareholders couldn't be upset. Shares in the software company are still up almost 41% compared to this time last year.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares on the move amid strong earnings updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that aren't letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is up over 6% to $222.72. This follows the release of the hearing solutions company's half year results. While Cochlear reported a decline in its half year profit, it continues to expect solid full year profit growth thanks to the launch of the new Nucleus 8 Sound Processor and the continuing recovery from COVID surgery delays.

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

The GUD share price is up over 6% to $8.80. Investors have been buying this diversified products company's shares after it reported a 55.7% increase in half year revenue and an 88.7% jump in net profit. This was driven by a strong core automotive result combined with full six-month contributions from APG and Vision X.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price is up 5% to $13.91. This has been driven by the investment platform provider's half year results. Netwealth reported an 18.9% increase in total income to $102.8 million and record underlying EBITDA of $47.4 million. This was driven by a 10.2% increase in funds under administration to $62.4 billion.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is up 2.5% to $49.82. The catalyst for this has been the release of the conglomerate's half year update. Wesfarmers reported a 27% increase in revenue to $22.56 billion and a 14.1% lift in net profit after tax of $1.38 billion. Strong performances from Bunnings and Kmart played a role in this solid performance.

The post Why Cochlear, GUD, Netwealth, and Wesfarmers shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Thursday was a rough one on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). It fell 0.53% to close at 7,490.3 points.

The index's slump followed an equally disappointing day on Wall Street, wherein the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.6%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slid 1.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dumped 1.7%.

Back home, the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was the worst-performing sector, dumping 2.7% after energy provider AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) posted disappointing earnings.

The AGL share price fell 10.3% after the company revealed a $1.1 billion statutory loss for the first half.

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) and the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) also suffered, falling 1.6% and 1.1% respectively.

But some ASX 200 shares defied today's downturn to post notable gains. Let's take a look at 10 that managed to dodge the carnage.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The index's biggest gain today was posted by the De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) share price. It rose 3% on news of the Mallina Gold Project's financing process.  

These shares made today's biggest gains:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Although — or maybe because — small-cap ASX shares were absolutely hammered in 2022, some experts are tipping a roaring comeback in 2023.

IML portfolio managers Simon Conn and Marc Whittaker are certainly in this camp and specifically like the look of small-cap industrials.

The fund managers told clients on an IML blog post that the greatly reduced valuations for these stocks now factor in "a lot of negative news" already.

"Small industrials are trading at their biggest discount for over a decade," read the blog.

"Small industrials and large industrials have tracked each other quite closely for much of the past 10 years. However, over the past year a significant value gap has opened between the two indexes."

If you're wondering which ASX shares would be the best to buy right now to take advantage of this small-cap revival, the IML team thankfully named three:

'Astutely led' with a bank of assets

The IML fundies reckon Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) did not have a chance to show its full potential in the 2022 financial year because of a string of one-off hurdles.

"Shanghai shutdowns negatively impacted its June 2022 result by over $40 million. Then as operations were returning to normal Bega witnessed a rapid increase in costs, particularly the price it pays farmers for milk," read the memo.

"However, at its recent AGM, Bega confirmed that it had finished implementing these price increases and its profit for the 2nd half of FY2023 should be back to the level it anticipated when it bought Lion Dairy and Drinks [in January 2021]."

Looking ahead to financial year 2024, Conn and Whittaker love the outlook for Bega because of three factors: competitive advantage, balance sheet, and management quality.

"Bega has a significant asset base on its balance sheet, including land & buildings worth circa $400 million," read the blog.

"Bega has been astutely led by the current chairman for a significant time, who has overseen the company grow from a small dairy company with one operating site on the South Coast of NSW to today being one of Australia's leading food and dairy companies."

The Bega share price has declined more than 21% over the past year, but has spiked up 27.5% since early November.

'Well-recognised brands' at a cheap valuation

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) is primarily a vehicle parts and accessories provider.

According to Conn and Whittaker, its oldest business is the automotive aftermarket, distributing products like Ryco filters and DBA brakes.

"This division is relatively defensive given the wear and tear nature of demand for its products, and generates significant cash — however it has limited growth potential," they said.

"GUD has made a series of acquisitions over recent years in order to diversify its earnings. This makes it more resilient, while providing a potential growth driver for earnings."

Similar to Bega, GUD has had its share of troubles with supply disruptions and cost inflation.

But its growth potential, pricing power, and cheap valuation have the IML fund managers licking their lips.

"At current levels, GUD is very attractively priced at under 10 times FY2023 earnings with earnings that should grow into FY2024 as supply chains normalise and recently won contracts with major Australian car companies are fulfilled," read the blog post.

"GUD has had good success in the past in raising prices to mitigate cost increases, given its portfolio of well-recognised brands in the aftermarket and focus on wear and tear parts for the trade, where range and service are valued."

COVID cash well invested

Pathology services provider Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL) saw earnings grow strongly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company used that cash, according to Conn and Whittaker, to pay off its debts, leaving it in a strong financial position for post-pandemic growth.

Like Bega Cheese, the IML team reckons ACL displays excellent competitive advantage.

"ACL has invested significantly in its national laboratory footprint, which allows it to flex its costs up and down as volumes fluctuate," read the blog post.

"This unified national laboratory system enables it to process samples in any laboratory around the country, so maximising the efficiency of its fixed-cost, laboratory network."

The pair also love ACL's growing earnings and management team.

"The recent acquisition of Medlab is a significant development for the company as this provides ACL with a presence in the Queensland market for the first time, meaning it is now able to offer a national footprint to customers and tender for national contracts," said the IML experts.

"It is [now] one of only three national pathology providers."

There is no doubt ACL shares are now heavily discounted. It has dropped more than 43.5% over the past 12 months.

The post 'Very attractive valuations': Experts name 3 small-cap ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX automotive shares could be buys in 2023 according to Citi analysts.

The three shares are Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP), ARB Corporation Limited (ASX: ARB) and GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD).

Let's take a look at the outlook for ASX 200 automotive shares in more detail.

What's the outlook?

Citi recommends multiple ASX 200 automotive shares amid a rise in new car sales.

Data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed a 31.9% lift in SUV vehicle sales in November. New vehicle sales lifted 17.9% compared to November 2021. Passenger vehicles fell 0.8%. Toyota was the market leader during the month, with Mazda and Ford following next.

Citi analyst Sam Teeger, quoted in The Australian, said "consumer demand for new cars appears to be holding up" but remains cautious amid higher interest rates and cost of living pressures.

Bapcor is Citi's "top pick" in small-cap auto. This is due to its "relatively less-discretionary product offering" and potentially "conservative fiscal 2025 consensus earnings".

The analyst also rates ARB Corporation as a buy given its strong balance sheet, while GUD also gained a mention. In a note to clients cited by the publication, Teeger added:

While both ARB and GUD should benefit as (car manufacturer) supply recovers, we see ARB relatively better positioned due to its export growth potential and a stronger balance sheet.

Given ARB's long-term growth prospects appear unchanged, we see the current
weakness as temporary and as an opportunity to get set in a quality long-term
growth story

ARB Corporation designs, manufactures and distributes four-wheel-drive and light commercial vehicle accessories. The company reported $52.7 million of net cash holdings in its FY22 results. Bapcor specialises in automotive aftermarket spare parts and accessories in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. GUD also manufactures, imports and distributes automotive products.

New December stats from the FCAI released yesterday show a 12.1% lift in new vehicle sales compared to December 2021. Passenger vehicles lifted by 3.1%, with Toyota again the market leader.

Share price snapshot

The Bapcor share price has slid 5% in the last year.

The ARB Corporation share price has slid 48% in the past 52 weeks.

The GUD Holdings share price has fallen 32% in the last year.

The post 3 ASX 200 automotive shares worth buying despite headwinds: Citi appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have upgraded this diversified products company's shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $10.00. The broker believes that GUD is well-placed to benefit from a recovery in new car sales. It expects this to boost its auto parts segment. In addition, the broker highlights the low multiples (11x FY23 estimated earnings) that its shares trade on. The GUD share price is trading at $8.23 this afternoon.

Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $29.00 price target on this retail conglomerate's shares. Macquarie was impressed with Premier Investments' strong start to the year and notes that its sales growth is tracking ahead of its expectations. This has led to the broker upgrading its earnings estimates for the year. The Premier Investments share price is fetching $24.98 on Wednesday.

REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

Analysts at Goldman Sachs have retained their conviction buy rating and $159.00 price target on this real estate listings company's shares. Goldman remains positive on REA's yield outlook, noting that the company has good visibility on its >10% growth target over its three-year planning cycle. Overall, the broker is expecting this to underpin modest EBITDA growth in FY 2023 and then a 19% jump in FY 2024. The latter is 4% ahead of consensus estimates. The REA share price is trading at $120.63 today.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recovered from Friday's 0.87% fall, and then some, today. The index closed 1.15% higher at 6,863.5 points.

It followed a strong Friday session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) lifted 2.6% to post its fourth consecutive weekly gain. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 2.5% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 2.9%.

Such gains didn't rub off on all ASX 200 sectors today, however. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slipped 0.4% amid falling oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price fell 1.2% to US$95.77 a barrel on Friday while the US Nymex crude oil price slipped 1.3% to US$87.90 a barrel.

On the other end of the market, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) jumped 2.6% despite broad expectations the Reserve Bank of Australia could hike rates by between 0.25% to 0.5% tomorrow.

Mining stocks also had a reasonable day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) gaining 0.1%.

All in all, 10 of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed higher on Monday. But which share outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Home Consortium Ltd (ASX: HMC). It gained close to 8% despite only silence from the property group on Monday.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) posted another green day on Wednesday, bringing its gains for the week so far to 2.01%. The index closed today's session 0.18% higher at 6,810.9 points.

That was despite the latest inflation figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which show the nation's consumer price index (CPI) hit 7.3% over the 12 months to the September quarter – its highest in 32 years.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) tumbled 2.4% amid the data's release, while the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) fell 0.5%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) also suffered, falling 1.4% despite oil prices rising.

The Brent crude oil price lifted 0.3% to US$93.52 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price gained 0.9% to US$85.32 a barrel

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) rose 2.5% on Wednesday while the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifted 2.4%.

All in all, eight of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed higher. But which share outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) share price led the way on the index today, gaining 11% after its historical parent entity snapped up a 13.78% stake in the company.  

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As we continue to wade through ASX reporting season, companies in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) are giving investors plenty to think about.

Tomorrow promises to be busy with the likes of Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) expected to pull back the curtain on their FY22 results.

But for ASX 200 companies that have already unveiled their reports, their shares are starting to turn ex-dividend.

This is the date that a company's shares no longer trade with the upcoming dividend payment attached to them.

Shares typically drop in value the day they turn ex-dividend. After all, these dividends are being paid out of the company's coffers. 

With the money being taken out of the company's cash reserves to line the pockets of shareholders, the value of the company decreases. 

What's more, some one-eyed investors focused on dividends may look to offload shares once they trade ex-dividend. This puts further downwards pressure on the share price.

Without further ado, here are the ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend tomorrow.

Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM)

As its shares turn ex-dividend, this ASX 200 gold miner could end the week on a negative note.

Newcrest recently declared a fully franked final dividend of 20 US cents.

Today is the last day investors will be able to lock in this final dividend. 

Shareholders on the company's registry by the time the market closes today should see this payment arrive on 29 September. 

Alternatively, investors could elect to participate in the company's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP).

Newcrest's total FY22 dividends come in at 27.5 US cents, down from 55 US cents in the prior year.

Newcrest shares are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2.2%. This dials up to 3.1% including franking credits.

Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

Lendlease is another ASX 200 share turning ex-dividend tomorrow.

The construction and infrastructure company recently announced a partially franked final distribution of 11 cents.

The payment date for this final distribution has been pencilled in for 21 September.

Combined with its interim distribution, Lendlease's total distributions for FY22 come to 16 cents. 

This represents a dividend payout ratio of 40% of earnings, which is at the lower end of the company's target range.

Lendlease shares are currently stamped with a trailing dividend yield of 1.6%.

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

Last but not least, ASX 200 share GUD will also be going ex-dividend on Friday.

For those unfamiliar, GUD owns a portfolio of companies in the automotive aftermarket and water products sectors. The company's stable of brands includes Ryco, Narva, Projecta, and Davey.

GUD recently declared a fully franked final dividend of 22 cents per share. This represents a dividend payout ratio of 62% of underlying net profit after tax (NPAT).

Investors who own GUD shares by the time the market closes today should see this dividend payment land in their accounts on 13 September.

Although GUD achieved underlying NPAT growth of 39% in FY22, its total dividends were down 32%. This is because the company had a higher payout ratio in FY21, returning 84% of underlying NPAT to shareholders in the form of dividends.

The company previously flagged this reduction in its payout ratio, deciding to prioritise reducing its gearing levels following the acquisition of AutoPacific Group.

Even still, GUD shares are currently sporting a trailing dividend yield of 4.6%. Throwing in franking credits boosts this yield to 6.5%.

The post These ASX 200 shares will trade ex-dividend tomorrow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) traded in the red on Friday despite an exuberant performance from energy shares. The index closed today's session 0.54% lower at 7,032.5 points.

That left the benchmark index just 0.2% higher than where it ended last week after reaching its highest closing price in two months on Thursday.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was alone in the green today, gaining 2.3%.

The price of thermal coal lifted 0.6% to US$401 per tonne overnight. Meanwhile, the Brent crude oil price rose 2.3% to US$99.60 per barrel and the US Nymex crude price increased 2.6% to $94.34 a barrel.

On the other end of the market, the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) and the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) fell 2% and 1.8% respectively.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also slumped 0.7%, weighed down by the Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE) share price's about-face.

It came after gold futures fell 0.4% to US$1,807.20 an ounce while iron ore futures lifted 1.6% to $111.01 overnight

All in all, only one of the ASX 200's 11 sectors was in the green at the end of Friday's trade. But which share outperformed all others to end the week with a bang? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's best performing ASX 200 share was gold explorer and developer De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG). The stock continued a recent green streak to gain 3.7% on Friday.

Find out what De Grey has been up to lately here.

Today's biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

Our top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While a good number of shares dropped with the market, some fell more than most. Here's why these were the worst performers on the ASX 200 last week:

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

The GUD share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 last week with a decline of 27.1%. Investors were selling down this products company's shares following the release of a profit warning. Due partly to supply chain issues, GUD downgraded its underlying operating earnings guidance to $147 million in FY 2022. This compares to its previous guidance of $155 million to $160 million. In response to the news, Citi downgraded its shares and slashed its price target.

Block Inc (ASX: SQ2)

The Block share price wasn't far behind with a disappointing 26.1% decline. This follows an equally poor performance by the payment giant's NYSE listed shares. Last week Block held its annual general meeting. At the meeting, NorthStar Asset Management hit out at the company's voting structure and some of management's recent moves. The latter includes the purchase of a majority stake in music streaming service Tidal, the rebranding from Square to Block, and Jack Dorsey's passion for cryptocurrencies.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price was out of form and tumbled 20.1% over the four days. This may have been driven by weakness in the tech sector and the investment platform provider's investor briefing event. At the event, the company revealed that platform flows have been affected by market volatility.

Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX)

The Novonix share price continued its disappointing run and sank a further 19.6%. This means the battery technology company's shares are now down 76% since the start of the year. Investors have been selling higher risk shares during the market volatility. And with a market capitalisation still over $1.2 billion and no meaningful revenue, Novonix is certainly high up the risk scale.

The post These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Block Inc (ASX: SQ2)

The Block share price is down 6.5% to $82.19. This follows a very poor night of trade for the payments giant's US listed shares. Investors were selling down stocks on Wall Street amid concerns that rate hikes could lead to a recession. The tech sector has been hit particularly hard. So much so, the S&P ASX All Technology index is down 2.2% at the time of writing.

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is down 4.5% to $18.76. Investors have been selling this mining giant's shares on Friday amid weakness in the iron ore price. This appears to have been driven by concerns over China's plan to form an iron ore cartel in order to control prices.

GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD)

The GUD share price is down 20% to $7.71. Investors have been selling this products company's shares following a profit warning. GUD has downgraded its underlying operating earnings guidance to $147 million in FY 2022. This is down from its previous guidance of $155 million to $160 million. In response to the news, Citi downgraded its shares and slashed its price target.

Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM)

The Humm share price has crashed 20% to 46 cents. The catalyst for this has been the collapse of the sale of the company's BNPL business to Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS). The two parties agreed to mutually terminate the $250 million deal, which was opposed by a large shareholder and director. Judging by the share price reaction, the market appears to think that Humm has been left holding a lemon.

The post Why Block, Fortescue, GUD, and Humm shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

GUD shares crushed on guidance downgrade

The GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) share price has been sold off today in response to a guidance update. As you might have guessed from the share price reaction, that update was not a good one. The diversified products company has downgraded its underlying operating earnings guidance to $147 million in FY 2022. This is down from its previous guidance of $155 million to $160 million. In response to the news, Citi downgraded its shares and slashed its price target.

Tech shares tumble

The tech sector has been hit hard today during the market selloff. The likes of Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) are recording particularly heavy declines following a poor night of trade on the tech-focused Nasdaq index. This has led to the S&P ASX All Technology index dropping a sizeable 2.8% at the time of writing.

Gold miner rise

One side of the market which is performing positively is the gold sector. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index storm 3.3% higher today. The highlight has been the Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price with a 5% gain. This has been driven by a rebound in the gold price and a broker upgrade by UBS. The latter saw Evolution upgraded to a buy rating with a $4.05 price target.

Best and worst ASX 200 performers

The best performer on the ASX 200 on Friday has been the Evolution share price with a 5% gain for reasons mentioned above. Going the other way, the worst performer by some distance has been the GUD share price with a 21% decline. This follows its guidance downgrade and bleak outlook commentary.

The post ASX 200 midday update: GUD crashes, tech shares tumble appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) tumbled to its lowest level since 2016 after its profit warning that prompted a leading broker to downgrade its shares.

The auto parts and water products manufacturer announced after the market closed yesterday that its FY22 underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) would come in at around $147 million.

That compares to its previous guidance of between $155 million and $160 million. The downgrade also sits around 10% below the census forecast.

GUD share price careens on downgrades

The GUD share price has crashed 20% to $7.67 at the time of writing, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 2.33%.

The profit downgrade prompted Citigroup to cut its recommendation on the company from buy to neutral.

The broker also lowered its price target by 36% to $9.95 a share. While the new target price implies a decent upside to where the GUD share price is sitting, that's unlikely to provide much comfort to shareholders during these turbulent times.

Clouded by uncertainty

Citigroup explained:

We downgrade the stock to neutral reflecting increased uncertainty surrounding the earnings recovery, which is primarily reliant on OEM supply normalising, which may take longer than expected to recover and is outside GUD's control. We also wait to see more evidence that gearing reduces from current levels.

GUD management blamed volatile supply chains, falling new vehicle sales and cost pressures for the downgrade.

The group has increased prices for its products and is planning to lift prices again in July and August, but this has yet to offset margin pressure.

Lack of new cars hurts GUD

Further, its ill-timed acquisition of AutoPacific Group is also hurting as new car sales volumes have been hampered by the lack of supply. This in turn is also dragging on its ECB (bullbars) and CSM (trays and fit-outs for utes) sales.

Citi said this news shouldn't be a great surprise after competitor ARB Corporation Limited (ASX: ARB) issued a similar update last month.

One small bright spot

If there was a silver lining in GUD's profit downgrade, it's to do with the legacy auto parts business which the company said continued to see "solid demand". Owners are forced to keep their vehicles for longer due to the shortage of new vehicles. This means more repairs and spare parts.

The readthrough is positive for the Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP) share price as well. Although this isn't saving Bapcor from today's brutal market sell-off, with its shares down 2.47% at $5.52.

The post Down 20% today: Why the GUD share price is crashing to a 6-year low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.