If you're searching for dividend shares to buy when the market reopens, then it could be worth checking out the two listed below.

Here's why they have been tipped as buys:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The first ASX dividend share to consider buying is Accent Group. It is the fashion and footwear retailer behind brands including Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, Glue, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, and Stylerunner.

Despite the cost of living crisis, the company has been performing very strongly. This has been driven thanks to the popularity of its brands and its exposure to younger consumers, which have less exposure to rising rates and more exposure to increases in the minimum wage.

Goldman Sachs is fan of the company and has a buy rating and $2.90 price target on its shares. It commented:

We believe AX1 offers an attractive exposure to a young Australian consumer that is uniquely resilient to inflationary and broader economic pressures given (1) a high proportion live at home; (2) more than two-thirds are working; (3) high and increasing minimum wage entitlements and; (4) a heavy skew towards discretionary spending.

As for dividends, the broker is forecasting a fully franked dividend of 15 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Accent share price of $2.32, this will mean a yield of 6.5%.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Another ASX dividend share to buy according to analysts is Westpac.

It is Australia's oldest bank and the name behind the eponymous Westpac brand and a number of regional brands such as Bank SA and St George.

Morgans is a fan of the company and has an add rating and $25.80 price target on its shares. It commented:

We view WBC as having the greatest potential for return on equity improvement amongst the major banks if its business transformation initiatives prove successful. The sources of this improvement include improved loan origination and processing capability, cost reductions (including from divestments and cost-out), rapid leverage to higher rates environment, and reduced regulatory credit risk intensity of non-home loan book.

Morgans is expecting this to lead to a fully franked dividend 153 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Westpac share price of $21.79, this will mean a sizeable 7% yield.

The post Buy Westpac and this ASX dividend share next week: analysts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

2022 and 2023 have seen a strange shift in the investing world. For the decade before 2022, interest rates were at historically low levels. They were essentially zero over 2020 and 2021. That meant that investors could not get any kind of decent return on cash investments. Savings accounts, term deposits and the like offered next to no return. That meant ASX 300 dividend shares were one of the only real options if investors wished to receive a decent yield on their cash.

Well, that world has gone. Just this week, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised interest rates for the tenth time in a row. The cash rate has gone from 0.1% at the end of 2021 to the 3.6% we see today – one of the sharpest rises in history.

As a consequence, many savings accounts and term deposits are now offering interest rates of up to 5% (and some even higher) today.

But that doesn't mean we can't get even better yields from some ASX 300 dividend dynamos.

So let's check out three that are offering yields that can smash cash right now.

Smash cash with these ASX 300 dividend shares

First up is Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1). This ASX 300 retail share operates well-known footwear outlets such as Platypus Shoes and The Athlete's Foot. Over the past 12 months, Accent shares have paid out a total of 16 cents per share in dividend payments – the highest 12-month total in its history.

Despite the Accent share price rising by almost 43% over the past year, the shares still offer a trailing dividend yield of 6.67% today. That grosses up to a whopping 9.53% with Accent's full franking credits.

Another ASX 300 share offering a supersized dividend yield is Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH). Unlike Accent, the Adairs share price has been suffering over the past 12 months, currently down by just over 17%. But despite this, this company paid out a historically high 18 cents per share in dividends over 2022.

That gives Adairs shares a dividend yield of 7.5% today. Again, Adairs' dividends usually come fully franked, so this grosses up to a pleasing 10.71%.

An 11.3% yield from Harvey Norman?

Finally, let's check out Harvey Norman Group Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN). Harvey Norman is a company needing little introduction, thanks to its prominent presence on the Australian retail scene for over four decades.

This is another ASX 300 share that has had a rough time over the past year, with Harvey Norman losing almost 29% of its value since March 2022. But that isn't obvious when you look at this company's dividend. 2022 saw Harvey Norman dole out its largest shareholder payments ever, with investors showered with a total of 37.5 cents per share, fully franked.

This gives Harvey Norman a dividend yield of 7.92% today, which grosses up to a massive 11.31% with that full franking.

So as you can see, there are plenty of ASX 300 shares out there that have the potential to still give investors massive yields on their capital today.

The post These 3 ASX 300 shares are dividend dynamos! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As the Autumn leaves turn brown and begin to fall, investors will be hoping their ASX shares remain firmly in the green.

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

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

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

Here is what the team came up with:

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

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

(Market capitalisation as of 28 February 2023)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX stocks

Aeris Resources Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

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

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

Accent Group Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lovisa Holdings Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Block Inc

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pilbara Minerals Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

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

Telstra Group Ltd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price is down over 5% to $2.17. This has been driven by the footwear and fashion retailer's shares trading ex-dividend this morning for its upcoming interim dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this 12 cents per share fully franked dividend next month on 9 March.

Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC)

The Adbri share price is down 8% to $1.69. Investors have been selling the building materials company's shares following the release of its full-year results. Adbri reported an 8.4% increase in revenue to $1.7 billion but a 31% decline in its net profit to $77.7 million. In light of this decline and its capex requirements, the company scrapped its final dividend to conserve cash.

Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN)

The Harvey Norman share price is down 11% to $3.69. This has been driven by the release of the retail giant's half-year results. Harvey Norman reported flat revenue, a 14.5% decline underlying profit after tax to $291.09 million, and a 35% cut to its interim dividend to 13 cents per share. The market was expecting a profit of $323 million and an 18 cents per share dividend.

Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH)

The Pointsbet share price has crashed 24% to $1.10. Investors have been heading to the exits after the sports betting company released its half-year results. Pointsbet reported decent top line growth but still reported a $178 million loss for the half. This was partly driven by surprisingly poor earnings from the Australia business, which missed consensus estimates.

The post Why Accent, Adbri, Harvey Norman, and Pointsbet shares are sinking appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This ASX retail share is a growing shoe retailer with a number of brands – some it owns and others it distributes, including The Athlete's Foot, CAT, Hoka, Kappa, Skechers, Vans, Henleys, Dr Martens and Glue Store.

The company recently reported its FY22 half-year result, which included several impressive numbers.

Earnings recap

It said that in the first six months of the year, total sales went up 39% to $825 million, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) jumped 70.9% to $170.2 million, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) soared 201% to $91.2 million and earnings per share (EPS) improved by 292% to 10.7 cents per share.

As investors can see, profit margins improved. The gross profit margin improved 190 basis points while the cost of doing business (CODB) ratio improved 470 basis points.

Interestingly, Accent decided to pay an interim dividend of 12 cents per share.

During the half, it opened 53 new stores and closed 10 stores where required rent outcomes "could not be achieved."

Nude Lucy is a lifestyle apparel brand that was acquired as part of the Glue Store acquisition. The ASX 300 share said that 15 Nude Lucy concept stores have seen "strong early results."

Growth outlook

The ASX 300 share can't control the Accent share price, but it can implement growth initiatives. It's planning to open at least 20 new stores in the second half, with potential growth for both its core banners and new businesses.

The business is expecting profit growth from Glue Store and Stylerunner with "continued operational improvement and as the vertical programs in these businesses grow."

It's expecting profit growth from The Athlete's Foot thanks to margin expansion, with franchise stores "continuing to be acquired". It now has 91 corporate stores and 65 franchise stores.

In terms of a trading update, like-for-like sales for the first seven weeks of the second half of FY23 were up 16%. The company said that it hasn't seen any significant change in consumer spending in its categories. The Accent boss suggested that many of its brands target younger customers, who tend to be "less impacted by interest rates and cost of living pressures."

Can the Accent share price keep going?

There's nothing to say that it can't. I was suggesting last year that Accent had been oversold. It's up almost 50% since then.

I don't think it's as clear of a buy now as it was then – but it's still down 17% from the November 2021 price.

There are plenty of signs to say that the ASX 300 share could be resilient in the short term and perform in the long term, with its quality portfolio of brands and growing store network.

I'd still call it a buy, but I do think a lot of the investor sentiment recovery has now occurred, so there might be a better time to buy it later this year.

The post Up 30% in 2023, can this ASX 300 share keep rocketing higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is back in the green for the first time since Monday, helped along by these three shares. They've each posted notable gains today, driving their share prices to their highest points in more than a year.

Right now, the ASX 300 is 0.27% higher at 7,265.3 points.

Let's take a closer look at what might be boosting these ASX stocks to long-forgotten heights on Friday.

3 ASX 300 shares leaping to 52-week highs today

First up, the Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) share price leapt 1.9% to peak at $13.75 earlier today – the highest it's been since late 2013.

Stock in the company behind retailers like Supercheap Auto and BCF has been on a roll since the release of its half-year earnings last week.

It posted a record half-year of sales, coming in at nearly $2 billion, while its profit for the period jumped 30% to $144 million.

The share price of fellow ASX 300 retailer Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) is also in the green, roaring 10% to a new 52-week high of $2.36 on the release of its first-half earnings today.

The fashion and footwear retail group posted a 290% jump in profits for the half, reaching $58.3 million. That saw it boosting its interim dividend by 380% to 12 cents per share.

But "most pleasing", according to CEO Daniel Agostinelli, was the performance of the company's core brands, including Skechers, Platypus, Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, Vans, and Dr Martens.

Finally, shares in ASX 300 insurance broker network Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) popped 0.5% to an all-time high of $5.88 earlier today before slipping into the red.

Like Super Retail and Accent before it, the company is a recent reporter. It dropped its first-half earnings on Tuesday.

Within them, it reported a 27% jump in underlying revenue – reaching $662.8 million – and an 18.2% increase in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT).  

The post 3 ASX 300 shares soaring to new 52-week highs on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price is up 6.5% to $2.28. Investors have been buying this fashion and footwear retailer's shares following the release of a stellar half-year update. Accent reported a 39% increase in sales and a 290% jump in net profit after tax to $170.2 million. Another positive was that Accent increased its interim dividend by 380% to a fully franked 12 cents per share.

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is up 8% to $13.00. This follows the release of the logistics solutions company's half-year results. Brambles reported a 7% increase in sales revenue and a 9% lift in profit after tax. Looking ahead, management has upgraded its FY 2023 guidance. It now expects revenue growth of between 12% to 14% and underlying profit growth of between 15% to 18%.

Infomedia Limited (ASX: IFM)

The Infomedia share price is up 11% to $1.31. Investors have been buying this automotive industry software provider's shares after it delivered a solid half-year result. Infomedia reported a 6.7% increase in revenue to $62.9 million and a 38.5% jump in net profit after tax to $4.8 million.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The Pilbara Minerals share price is up 3.5% to $4.63. This has been driven by the release of the lithium miner's half-year results. Pilbara Minerals posted a 647% increase in revenue to $2.18 billion and a 989% increase in profit after tax to $1.24 billion. This allowed the company to declare its inaugural 11 cents per share fully franked interim dividend.

The post Why Accent, Brambles, Infomedia, and Pilbara Minerals shares are pushing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the youth fashion and footwear retailer's shares are up 10% to $2.36.

This follows the release of a strong half-year result from Accent.

Accent share price jumps on strong earnings growth

• Total sales up 39% to $825 million
• Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) up 70.9% to $170.2 million
• Net profit after tax up 290% to $58.3 million
• Fully franked interim dividend up 380% to 12 cents per share
• Net debt down 30% to $63.6 million

What happened during the half?

For the six months ended 31 December, Accent reported a 39% increase in sales to $825 million.

This reflects strong in-store sales, softer online sales, the opening of 53 new stores, significant store closures in the prior corresponding period, and one extra trading week.

On the bottom line, Accent posted a 290% increase in net profit after tax to $58.3 million. Management advised that this was driven by stronger gross margins, lower costs, and improved earnings from its online business. Although the latter posted a decline in sales, its earnings were stronger year over year.

This ultimately allowed the Accent board to increase its interim dividend by 380% to a fully franked 12 cents per share.

Management commentary

Accent's CEO, Daniel Agostinelli, was very pleased with the half. He said:

I am delighted with the results achieved in H1 FY23. The continued focus on customers, new product, full margin sales and return on investment has delivered a terrific H1 result. What is most pleasing is the strength and consistency of performance across our large core banners, including Skechers, Platypus, Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot (TAF), Vans and Dr Martens, along with the progress that we have made in our new banners now that trading conditions have normalised.

One of the key initiatives for H1 was driving the profitability of the Accent Group digital business. Overall online sales have grown 160% to $134 million compared to FY20. Whilst sales were down on last year due to the lockdowns in 2021, we have improved our digital business and online EBIT was ahead of last year.

Outlook

While no guidance has been provided for the second half, management notes that trading has been strong. Like for like sales were up 16% for the first seven weeks of the half.

Pleasingly, management appears optimistic that this positive form can continue thanks to its focus on younger consumers. Mr Agostinelli concludes:

Whilst we recognise that there is some uncertainty in the economic outlook, to this point we have not yet seen any significant change to consumer spending in our categories. Many of our brands target a younger customer demographic who tend to be less impacted by interest rates and cost of living pressures.

In conclusion, I am pleased with the ongoing progress that has been made on our key growth strategies as we continue to build a strong, defensible business in Australia and New Zealand. Our portfolio of global distributed brands, owned vertical brands, integrated digital capability and large store network are core assets of the Group and position the Company well for growth into the future.

The post Accent share price races 10% higher after half-year profits triple appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It is the footwear and fashion retailer behind a collection of popular store brands.

Among its growing stable of brands are Glue Store, HypeDC, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, Stylerunner, and The Athlete's Foot.

And while the retail sector is not an easy place to operate given the cost of living crisis, Accent is a bit of an exception. This is due to its focus on younger consumers which have less exposure to rising mortgage payments and more exposure to increases in the minimum wage.

In fact, Goldman Sachs estimates that its target demographic will have an additional $1 billion in spending capacity in 2023, which bodes well for Accent's brands. It commented:

In aggregate, we believe this cohort has an additional ~A$1bn in spending capacity: the combination of minimum wage uplifts and limited inflationary pressures has resulted in an additional ~A$570-930 in annual spending capacity (per person) among the cohort of young adults who work and live at home.

But a positive outlook is nothing for income investors if the Accent dividend is on the slender side.

A growing ASX share with a big dividend yield

The good news is that the Accent dividend is expected to be on the larger side of town in FY 2023 and then grow from there.

For example, Goldman Sachs is forecasting a fully franked 12.2 cents per share dividend this year. Based on where this ASX share was trading at yesterday's close, this equates to an almost 6% yield.

This means that if you invested $10,000 into Accent's shares, you would generate approximately $600 in dividends over the next 12 months.

But it gets better! With Goldman Sachs forecasting sales growth of 12.5% per annum (and even stronger earnings growth) through to 2025, it is conceivable that Accent could pay a dividend of 16 cents per share in FY 2025. That would represent a yield of almost 8%, which would pay shareholders a further $800.

And if we assume average dividend growth of 5% per annum through to 2033 as the company expands its store network and grows its online business, Accent's dividend would be nearing 24 cents per share a decade from now. This represents an 11.6% yield if bought at yesterday's close price.

This means that if we were to add all those forecast dividends together, the total comes to almost $9,000. That would be a 90% return on your original investment in dividends alone and excludes any potential share price gains.

And while a lot can change in the space of 10 years and forecasts are not guarantees, I believe this is achievable and demonstrates why Accent could be a great ASX share to buy and hold for the next decade.

The post 6% dividend yield! An ASX share to buy in February and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two that have been tipped as buys are listed below. Here's why they are bullish on them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

Goldman Sachs is a fan of this footwear and youth apparel retailer and believes it is an ASX dividend share to buy.

The broker is positive on the company due largely to its exposure to younger consumers. It expects Accent's target demographic to continue spending largely as normal in 2023 due to a rise in the minimum wage and their lower exposure to rising interest rates. It commented:

In aggregate, we believe this cohort has an additional ~A$1bn in spending capacity: the combination of minimum wage uplifts and limited inflationary pressures has resulted in an additional ~A$570-930 in annual spending capacity (per person) among the cohort of young adults who work and live at home.

Goldman is expecting this to lead to fully franked dividends of 12.2 cents per share in FY 2023 and 13.5 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Accent share price of $2.07, this will mean yields of 5.9% and 6.5%, respectively.

Goldman has a buy rating and $2.75 price target on the company's shares.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Analysts at Morgans have named this supermarket operator as a buy. Its analysts have an add rating and $19.50 price target on its shares.

Morgans thinks Coles' shares are attractively priced. Particularly given its defensive qualities and the prospect of tough economic times. It explained:

Trading on 20.6x FY23F PE and 4.0% yield, we continue to see COL as offering good value with the company's solid balance sheet and defensive characteristics putting it in a good position to navigate through a weaker economic environment. The unwinding of local shopping should also help further market share gains.

And while a recent rise in the Coles share price means that it won't quite offer a 4% yield now, it isn't far off. Morgans expects a fully franked dividend of 64 cents per share in FY 2023 and a fully franked dividend of 66 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Coles share price of $17.97, this will mean yields of 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively.

The post These are the growing ASX dividend shares to buy now: analysts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Both have recently been named as buys by analysts and tipped to provide very attractive yields. Here's what you need to know about them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

This footwear and youth apparel retailer could be an ASX passive income share to buy.

Thanks to its strong market position, popular retail brands, and exposure to younger consumers, Accent has been tipped to grow strongly in the coming years.

This is expected to lead to the retailer rewarding its shareholders with a growing stream of dividends.

For example, according to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts are expecting the company to increase its dividend to a fully franked 12.2 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Accent share price of $2.24, this will mean a yield of 5.4%.

Goldman has a buy rating and $2.75 price target on Accent's shares.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

Another ASX income share that could be a top option for investors is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

It is a property company that is focused on high quality real estate assets that are leased to corporate and government tenants on long term leases.

Citi is a fan of the company due to its low risk income stream, ultra-long leases, sky-high occupancy rate, and inflation-linked rental increases.

The broker believes this will underpin the payment of dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.68, this will mean yields of 6% and 6.2%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

The post Buy these ASX passive income shares with 5%+ yields today: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's why they have been tipped as buys:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The first ASX dividend share that has been tipped as a buy is footwear and apparel retailer Accent. It is the owner of a growing portfolio of retail brands such as Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, Glue, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, and Stylerunner.

Its shares have been on fire in recent weeks thanks to a particularly positive trading update. Goldman Sachs was impressed, commenting:

AX1 has provided a trading update which was a +12% beat on revenue and +35% beat on EBIT for 1H23 vs. GSe. The revenue beat was consistent across key banners, and commentary on trading through January suggests strong trading is ongoing. January and back to school is a key period for AX1, so this gives us confidence in FY23.

In response to the update, the broker has reiterated its buy rating with an improved price target of $2.75.

As for dividends, the broker is forecasting a fully franked dividend of 12.2 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Accent share price of $2.28, this will mean a yield of 5.4%.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Another ASX share to consider is Pilbara Minerals. Although the lithium miner has yet to pay a dividend, one is expected to be declared later this month.

This follows the announcement of the company's capital management framework late last year. This was put into place in response to the miner generating mountains of cash from its lithium. It commented:

A target dividend payout ratio of 20-30% of free cash flow has been adopted by the Company. This target payout ratio is designed to provide a sustainable dividend return to shareholders, but also reflects the early stages of Pilbara Minerals' growth cycle, with the remaining cash flow able to be allocated to organic and inorganic growth opportunities.

According to a recent note out of Macquarie, its analysts are expecting the miner to be in a position to reward shareholders with a 30 cents per share dividend in FY 2023. So, with the Pilbara Minerals share price currently fetching $4.89, this equates to a 6.1% dividend yield.

Macquarie also sees plenty of upside for the company's shares with its outperform rating and $7.50 price target.

The post Buy Pilbara Minerals and this ASX dividend share: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX All Ordinaries shares that have already reached that milestone during today's session are listed below. Here's why they are hitting new highs today:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price climbed to a new 52-week high of $2.27 on Wednesday. Investors have been scrambling to buy this footwear and fashion retailer's shares in recent weeks thanks partly to a strong trading update. So much so, the Accent share price is now up a sizeable 35% since the start of the year. That update revealed that total sales for the first half were up 33% over the prior corresponding period to $825 million. This is expected to lead to half year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the range of $90 million to $92 million, up from $30.3 million a year earlier.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura share price has hit a new 52-week high of 63.7 cents today. While there has been no news out of the rare earths developer today, its shares have been on fire since early November. This has been driven by a combination of good progress at the company's Nolans project, the positive outlook for rare earths demand, and investments from key backers in the mining space. The latter includes Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting business taking part in a recent capital raising.

Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR)

The Emerald Resources share price has hit a 52-week high of $1.45. Last month, Emerald revealed that it achieved record production of 29,640 ounces of gold during the December quarter. This comes at a time when the gold price is particularly strong, which bodes well for the gold miner's earnings in the first half.

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The dividend income that is expected to be paid by the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) share Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) is very appealing.

Interest rates have jumped over the last year, bumping up how much income investors can get from ASX shares. But, I think that there are ASX 300 dividend shares that have such strong dividend yields that their yield is still very attractive.

Accent Group is one of those businesses with the potential for growth and good dividends, in my opinion.

It acts as the Australian distributor for a number of brands, and also owns others. Some of the brands involved are Vans, Skechers, Dr Martens, Glue Store, Henleys, Hoka, and The Athlete's Foot.

How much dividend income could Accent shares pay in 2023?

Accent is expected to pay an annual dividend per share of 11.5 cents in FY23, according to Commsec.

At the current Accent share price, this suggests the grossed-up dividend yield could be 7.5% over the next 12 months. But, that's just an estimate.

The ASX 300 share is then expected to increase its annual dividend payment to 12 cents per share in FY24 and 13.7 cents per share in FY25.

That means the FY24 grossed-up dividend yield could be 7.8% and the FY25 grossed-up dividend yield 8.9%.

But, based on the earnings estimate for FY23, the company's dividend payout ratio could be a healthy 78%. The business would still be keeping a fifth of its profit to reinvest back into more growth opportunities.

Recent progress

On 25 January 2023, the business revealed that total sales (including The Athlete's Foot franchisees) for the 27 weeks to 1 January 2023 was $825 million, up 39%.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the first half of FY23 is expected to be between $90 million and $92 million.

Management said trading conditions "continued to be very positive" in November and December, revealing that sales were higher than expected. There was also a year-over-year improvement in the gross profit margin.

Trading in January to the date of the announcement was in line with expectations.

Why I'd buy this ASX 300 dividend share

While the Accent share price has recovered some of the lost ground from 2022, it's still down around 20% from its November 2021 high.

I think the company's underlying profitability continues to improve as the business grows its store network and adds brands to its portfolio. The more it expands its reach to potential customers, the stronger position the shoe retailer is in.

At the current Accent share price, it's valued at under 15x FY23's estimated earnings and 14x FY24's estimated earnings. While it would have been better to buy a few months ago, I think it still looks good value for long-term growth, while paying a very good dividend.

The post 7%+ dividend yield! I'd buy this ASX 300 share for passive income in 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this footwear retailer's shares to $2.75. This follows the release of a stronger than expected trading update, which has led to Goldman making material upgrades to its earnings estimates. All in all, the broker believes this update reinforces its positive view on the strength of younger consumers. This is good news for Accent given the majority of its customer base is aged 18-35. The Accent share price is trading at $2.09 on Friday.

Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU)

Another note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their conviction buy rating on this mineral sands producer's shares with an improved price target of $12.60. Goldman was pleased with Iluka's quarterly update, noting that the company reported stronger than expected zircon and rutile sales volumes and realised prices. Goldman remains positive on the future due to the global supply of high grade TiO2 feedstock and zircon remaining tight. The Iluka share price is fetching $11.12 this afternoon.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this mining and mining services company's shares to $110.00. The broker made the move mainly due to increases in its forecast commodity prices and realisation factors. In addition, over the next two years the broker is expecting the company's business transformation to deliver significant earnings growth. The Mineral Resources share price is trading at $92.28 on Friday afternoon.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now 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 dropping:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price is down 3% to $2.04. This morning, analysts at Morgans responded to the retailer's trading update by retaining their hold rating on the company's shares with an improved price target of $2.20. While the broker was impressed with Accent's update, it feels there are better value options in the sector for investors.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is down over 2% to $92.12. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Goldman Sachs. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the mining and mining services company's shares to a neutral rating with a trimmed price target of $87.00. Goldman made the move on valuation grounds, noting: "Since upgrading MIN to a BUY on 11 April 2022, the stock is up ~58% vs. the ASX200 roughly flat (-0.2%) over the same period."

Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM)

The Newcrest Mining share price is down almost 3% to $22.33. This may have been caused by a broker note out of UBS. Its analysts weren't overly impressed with the gold miner's quarterly update. This has led to the broker cutting its earnings estimates and valuation accordingly. That latter has seen UBS retain its neutral rating but cut its price target to $21.00. It sees better value in other gold shares.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is down 6% to $8.49. This is despite there being no news out of the coal miner. Though, it is worth noting that other coal shares are sinking on Friday. On another note, this morning Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) released an update this morning and spoke about the proposed coal price cap and the compensation it may receive.

The post Why Accent, Mineral Resources, Newcrest, and Whitehaven Coal shares are dropping 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:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price is up 9% to $2.09. This follows the release of a strong trading update from the footwear retailer this morning. Accent revealed that total sales for the first half were up 33% over the prior corresponding period to $825 million. This is expected to lead to half year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the range of $90 million to $92 million, up from $30.3 million a year earlier.

Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka share price is up 2.5% to $11.03. Investors have been buying this mineral sands producer's shares following the release of its fourth quarter and full year update. Iluka reported production of 157,000 tonnes for the fourth quarter, taking its full year production to 679,400 tonnes. And while its production and sales volumes were both lower year over year, stronger prices led to revenue growing 16.3% to $1,727.4 million.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)

The Myer share price is up a further 5% to 94.2 cents. Investors have been buying this department store operator's shares following the release of a trading update this week. Myer revealed that for the five months to December 31, it delivered total sales growth of 24.8%. Management expects this to lead to the company reporting a first half profit of $61 million to $66 million. The latter will be double last year's half year profit.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

The QBE share price is up almost 1.5% to $13.78. This appears to have been driven by a bullish broker note out of Goldman Sachs this morning. Goldman has named the company as its top pick in the insurance sector and has initiated coverage with a buy rating and $16.67 price target. It believes QBE's shares are trading at an attractive level compared to historical levels, particularly given its strong capital position and improving outlook.

The post Why Accent, Iluka, Myer, and QBE shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

1) It has been a flying start for the ASX so far in 2023, with the AFR reporting the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is "off to the best start in at least 30 years."

Quite remarkably, given all we've been through over the past two "covid" years – particularly the pandemic itself, high inflation and sharply higher interest rates – the ASX 200 index is trading within a whisker of its all time highs.

It's in sharp contrast to the beatings handed out to growth shares, particularly in the US, with the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) down over 16% in the last 12 months.

Australian investors can thank our lucky stars the ASX 200 index has a hefty weighting to commodities – particularly oil and coal – helping propel the Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price 246% higher these past 12 months, with the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price 50% higher over the same period.

2) Most of the heavy lifting has already been done by central banks as they've undertaken one of the most aggressive periods of sustained interest rate hikes in history in the fight against rampant inflation.

All eyes now are on the economy, and whether the landing will be hard or soft.

So far so good for the optimists, with consumers continuing to spend even as they face sharply higher mortgage repayments as low fixed rate deals roll off this year and next.

A trading update from shoe retailer Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) said "trade has continued to be strong through November and December" with sales above expectations. Admittedly against softer "covid" trade last year, Accent total sales are up 39% for FY23, a stunning performance for a somewhat discretionary retailer.

Not surprisingly, the Accent Group share price is up 9% to $2.09 in Wednesday morning trade. Accent shares trade at around 15 times forward earnings and on a forecast fully franked dividend yield of around 5%… not cheap if consumers start putting their hands in their pockets later this year. 

3) Consumer behaviour has me baffled. Given the coming interest rate shock, given consumer confidence is deeply pessimistic and given the falling house prices, I'd have thought people would be battening down the hatches, preparing for tough times ahead.

But no. Revenge spending post covid carries on, not this time on the stock market and online shopping, but on shoes, restaurants and travel. 

With most working-age Australians never having experienced a "proper" recession, coupled with low unemployment and a high savings rate, consumers are partying now and worrying about tomorrow when it comes. 

Helping too are superannuation balances, hardly moved for many Australians despite the macroeconomic ructions felt here and around the world. 

She'll be right mate.

4) Before today, some economists were predicting/hoping the Reserve Bank of Australia would hold interest rates at the upcoming February meeting. 

Deloitte Access Economics said there is an "everest of evidence" to suggest that the Reserve Bank should hold the rate next month.

"Australia's consumer-led recovery is rapidly running out of road, with the combination of falling house prices, rising interest rates, high inflation, low levels of consumer confidence, and negative real wage growth expected to combine to see spending growth decelerate markedly over coming months," said Deloitte's Stephen Smith on Investor Daily. 

Just like I was saying…

Except, today's inflation print came in hot after headline inflation of 7.8%, comfortably ahead of expectations.

Cue the ASX 200 index going into a sharp reverse and Australian bond yields spiking higher. Cue also a locked-in 25 basis point rise in the cash rate in February. 

Inflation is not done with yet. 

Just when you thought we're through the worst, there could be pain ahead for equity investors, and more pain for interest-rate sensitive growth shares.

5) Speaking of pain, uber-bear Jeremy Granthan is quoted on Bloomberg as saying the popping of the bubble in US stocks is far from over and investors shouldn't get too excited about a strong start to the year for the market.

The 84-year old money manager says the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) could decline as much as 20% from current levels, adding…

"There are more things that can go wrong than there are that can go right. There's a definite chance that things could go wrong and that we could have basically the system start to go completely wrong on a global basis."

According to one poster on Twitter, the last time Jeremy Grantham was bullish was 2009 and by January 2010 he was already calling the market a bubble. 

The post Consumer spending defies logic as inflation rages higher, locking in yet another interest rate hike in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price is soaring shortly after the market open today after the footwear retailer released a positive 1H FY23 trading update.

Accent is the company behind popular brands such as Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, Glue, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, and Stylerunner.

The Accent Group share price is currently up 10.7% at $2.12.

Let's take a look at the details.

Accent Group share price goes skywards on 33% lift in sales

Accent Group reported continued strong trading through November and December.

Total sales for 1H FY23 (including franchisees) were up 33% on the same period in FY22 at $825 million. Including week 27 of the first half, sales were up 39%.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for H1 FY23 are expected to be in the range of $90 million to $92 million.

Accent said it estimates the impact of week 27 was about $36 million in sales, contributing about $10 million in marginal EBIT contribution.

What did management say?

Accent Group CEO Daniel Agostinelli said:

Deliveries of fresh new product throughout H1 and in the lead up to Christmas helped to drive higher than expected sales. Despite the impact of currency and clearance of discontinued brands, we are pleased with the year-on-year improvement in gross margin.

Overall inventory levels are clean and well positioned for the start of H2, reflecting a strong in-stock position in core lines and early deliveries of wholesale product for H2 sales.

ASX retail shares reporting strong sales despite inflation

Accent Group isn't the only ASX retail share reporting strong continuing sales recently.

This is significant given rising inflation has worried many investors that sales in the consumer discretionary category will fall.

JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) recently surprised the market with record sales and earnings in its preliminary FY23 half-year results. Group sales increased 8.6% year-over-year to $5,278.5 million. Net profit after tax (NPAT) screamed 14.6% higher to $329.9 million.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) also reported a record first half.

Accent Group will release its official 1H FY23 results after the market close on 23 February.

The post Accent Group share price jumps 11% on strong sales update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what you need to know about them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The first ASX dividend share that has been tipped as a buy is footwear and apparel retailer Accent.

It is the owner of a growing portfolio of retail brands such as Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, Glue, Platypus, Sneaker Lab, and Stylerunner.

Goldman Sachs' analysts are positive on the company because its "diversified product exposure includes a number of product categories which we believe are resilient in the current cycle." These are youth footwear, youth apparel, performance footwear, and a higher income consumer.

The broker is also expecting some attractive dividend yields from the company's shares. It is forecasting fully franked dividends of 10.2 cents per share in FY 2023 and 11.4 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Accent share price of $1.94, this will mean yields of 5.25% and 5.9%, respectively.

Goldman has a buy rating and $2.20 price target on Accent's shares.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

Another ASX dividend share that analysts have named as a buy is big four bank ANZ Bank.

Citi is very positive on the banking giant and recently named it as its top sector pick. It believes the bank is well-placed to experience a boost to its earnings and dividend in FY 2023 and FY 2024 thanks to cash rate rises.

Citi also highlights that ANZ's recent agreement to acquire the banking operations of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) for $4.9 billion meets a strategic objective at a reasonable price.

In respect to dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of $1.66 per share in FY 2023 and $1.76 per share in FY 2024. Based on the current ANZ share price of $24.75, this will mean yields of 6.7% and 7.1%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $29.25 price target on the bank's shares.

The post Buy ANZ and this ASX dividend share: analysts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.