With earnings season now behind, it's time to focus on the second half of FY 2023.

And while the next few months are likely to be very successful for many companies, this may not be the case for all.

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts believe that some ASX shares are expecting too much from the half. So much so, it suspects that they could fall short of guidance and is warning investors to be careful.

Which ASX shares could disappoint in the second half?

Morgans has warned that there are six ASX shares in particular that could be destined to disappoint in FY 2023.

These are energy company AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL), packaging giant Amcor (ASX: AMC), health and safety products company Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN), baby products retailer Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN), property listings company Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG), and telco Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC).

The broker highlights that with their guidance for the full year maintained after a soft first half, they will need a significant improvement in their performance in the second half. This is something that is far from guaranteed in the current environment. It commented:

Notable companies (DHG, AGL, AMC, BBN, ANN, SLC) missed forecasts in February. Still, they maintained their full-year guidance, setting the scene for potential earnings disappointment if operating conditions don't recover as planned.

Consensus industrial estimates suggest a second half earnings skew (49%:51%) which is curious given the economic backdrop and is at odds with the typical pre-COVID first half skew (56%:44%). More specifically, 49% of companies are expected to be skewed to 2H, well above the 25% in pre-COVID times. So if post-reporting earnings trends hold, small caps could be again vulnerable at the upcoming May 'confession' season.

The post Morgans warns that these ASX shares could disappoint in FY23 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the week on a high, gaining 0.39% to close at 7,283.6 points. That sees it having recovered all but 0.29% of Monday's losses.

Helping it along on Friday was the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ). It rose 0.9%.

Bank stocks also had a good run into the weekend, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) lifting 0.5%.

Meanwhile, mining giants helped drive the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) 0.5% higher.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) was the worst performer, falling 0.3%.

So, with most of the market trading in the green on Friday, which ASX 200 share posted the biggest gains? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Taking out the index's top spot today was the Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price.

It roared 13% higher to close at $1.63 on Friday. And that could be just the beginning if Bell Potter is to be believed. The broker recently tipped the lithium hopeful's stock to soar to $2.81, my Fool colleague James reports.

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.

While most investors rightly focus on business performance or structural tailwinds in picking ASX shares to buy, there is another factor that could materially boost the fortunes of a stock.

That is takeovers.

"Identifying companies that will make suitable takeover targets can make for very lucrative investments," Wilsons equities strategist Rob Crookston said in a memo to clients.

"Normally, companies are acquired at a significant premium to their latest share price, and any hint of a possible acquisition can trigger positive momentum even before a bid is announced."

After 2022 saw many non-mining S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares fall in value, big institutional investors like superannuation funds and private equity firms are "still on the hunt for high-quality assets at a fair price".

Growth stocks slashed to clear

One set of companies that are "vulnerable" to acquisitions are growth stocks.

It's because they are going for cheap at the moment.

"These stocks have underperformed during periods of rising bond yields and outperformed when bond yields have fallen," said Crookston.

"2022 was no different. The quick-fire rise in bond yields was a significant headwind for growth stocks in 2022."

To demonstrate, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is still more than 33% lower than November 2021, despite a 10% revival this year.

Crookston noted that takeover bids have already been seen for technology shares such as Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO), Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR), and ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO).

The next great takeover targets?

So Wilsons analysts set out to find the ASX 200 shares that might become the next takeover targets.

"Our search is looking for more of these opportunities at the larger end," said Crookston.

"We have looked for stocks that have derated significantly over 2022 that offer substantial growth potential."

These are the seven ASX companies that Crookston's team came up with:

• Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)
• Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)
• PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA)
• Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)
• Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE)
• Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)
• NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The analysts said that Domain is attractive for acquisition because of its "strong market position" that's effectively a duopoly.

"Looks oversold on negative housing sentiment, but likely to grow earnings over the cycle."

Cloud accounting software provider Xero has seen its share price halve since November 2021.

"High multiple might deter but has de-rated heavily over the year," read the Wilsons memo.

"SaaS [software as a service] business with recurring revenue. Strong growth with the potential for substantial cost out."

Another software company, Altium, is undergoing some pain at the moment but will be tempting for savvy institutional investors seeking growth in the medium term.

"Transition to SaaS business causing slight disruption (margins contraction) but should be short-term," read the memo.

"High quality business that is taking market share."

The post 7 ASX 200 growth shares to buy for possible takeovers: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three that investors have responded positively to are summarised below. Here's what they reported:

Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)

The Domain share price is up 2% to $3.12 after the release of the ASX 200 property listings company's half year results. While Domain reported a solid 6.5% increase in revenue to $186.6 million, its expenses grew by a massive 20% and weighed heavily on its margins. This led to the company reporting a 38.9% decline in net profit to $15.9 million. Goldman Sachs notes that Domain's revenue was 2% higher than its estimates but its profits fell 15% short.

Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL)

The Incitec Pivot share price is up 1% to $3.54. This morning, this agricultural chemicals company released an upbeat annual general meeting update. Management revealed that FY 2023 "promises to be another strong year for IPL." Overall, its business is performing materially in line with the outlook provided in November.

IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH)

The IPH share price is up 3% to $8.64. This ASX 200 intellectual property services company reported a 19% increase in half year revenue to $226.9 million and a 16% lift in net profit after tax to $28.5 million. This allowed IPH to increase its interim dividend by 7% to 15.5 cents per share. Management advised that this result was driven by organic growth in Asia and the acquisition of Smart & Biggar. Favourable currency movements also gave its earnings a boost.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks marching higher following earnings updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) broke a three-session-long losing streak on Tuesday, gaining 0.18% to close at 7,430.9 points.

It came on the back of a strong session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) and the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) both rose 1.1% overnight while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 1.5%.

It makes sense then that the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) posted the biggest gain on the Aussie index, rising 1.3%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) also outperformed, gaining 1.1% with the Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG) share price leading the way, lifting 5.5%.

Meanwhile, market giant CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) saw its share price rise 0.9% on the back of the company's half-year earnings.

On the other end of the market, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XMJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) fell 0.4% and 0.2% respectively.

But which ASX 200 share outperformed all others on Tuesday? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The index's best performer today was metal recycler Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM). Its stock soared 7.1% to close at $15.72 on Tuesday.

That was despite the company posting an 80% fall in statutory profit for the first half, leading it to slash its interim dividend by 66% to 14 cents per share.

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) spent another day in the green on Thursday, gaining 0.13% to close at 7,511.6 points.

It follows the United States Federal Reserves' decision to bump interest rates another 0.25% to 4.75%, seemingly marking a slowdown in hikes.

Staying overseas, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) led Wall Street overnight, rising 2%.

It likely comes as no surprise then that the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) outperformed all other sectors today, rising 3.1%.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was the worst performer, falling 0.9% amid tumbling oil prices. Brent crude oil slumped 3.1% overnight while the US Nymex crude dropped 3.1% to US$76.41 a barrel.

But which ASX 200 shares posted the biggest gains of all on Thursday? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was tech giant Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1). Its share price gained 11% today amid a notable tech rally.

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.

Today was a wobbly one for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). It jumped in and out of the green over the course of Monday before ultimately closing 0.16% lower at 7,481.7 points.

That was despite a 2.3% gain posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). The sector's strong performance followed a 1% overnight lift from the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC).

Also trading in the green was the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Index (ASX: XTJ). It rose 1.1% led by the Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) share price's 4.5% surge.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) weighed heavy, falling 0.7%. Its biggest fall was posted by the ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) share price, which dropped 6.8% on the back of the company's latest quarterly update.

But while the broader ASX 200 struggled on Monday, some of its constituents soared. Let's take a look at the 10 shares that outperformed all others today.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was none other than favourite Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO).

Stock in the company soared 8.85% to close at $1.23 on the release of its quarterly update.

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) kicked off the week strong, leaping 0.82% on Monday to close at 7,388.2 points.

That was despite a lacklustre performance from mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) lifted just 0.2% today as lithium stocks and iron ore giants weighed on the sector.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ), on the other hand, led the market's gains, lifting 1.8%.

It was also a good day to be invested in ASX 200 bank shares. Shares in the big four banks rose between 0.7% and 1.6% on Monday after many of their New York-listed peers leapt on quarterly earnings on Friday.

Finally, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 1.5% on Monday following a strong Friday session for oil prices.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at the 10 shares taking out today's top spots on the ASX 200.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was none other than Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL). Shares in the retailer jumped 7.7% to close at 12.34.

The company provided a glimpse into its record first half this morning, with revenue for the period expected to come in at close to $2 billion.

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.

There was likely a spring in the step of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) investors today as the market jumped higher. The index closed Thursday's session 1.18% higher at 7,280.4 points.

It followed a joyous session on Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) lifted 0.8% on Wednesday while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 1.3% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 1.8%.

Back home, the banks led the way, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) flying 1.5% higher.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) also posted a 1.2% gain after a strong night for oil prices and bullish comments from market experts.

Bringing up the ASX 200's rear on Thursday was the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ). It rose just 0.2%.

So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at the shares that posted the ASX 200's biggest gains today.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Lithium share Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) took out today's top spot with a 4.5% gain, closing the session at $4.16. That leaves it a whopping 15% higher than where it started 2023.

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) broke a four-session winning streak on Tuesday, falling 0.28% to close at 7,131 points.

Most of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed lower today, with only the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) posting notable gains. They each rose around 0.2%.

The latter may have been bolstered by new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, finding Aussie households' discretionary spending was 6.3% higher in November 2022 than in the same month of 2021.

Spending on consumer staples also lifted 17.1%, while spending on goods and services lifted 1.2% and 24% respectively.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.3% today despite oil prices rising around 1.3% overnight.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also fell 0.5%, weighed down by lithium and gold shares.

Still, there were plenty of gains on the ASX 200 on Tuesday. Let's look at the top 10.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Boral Limited (ASX: BLD).

It posted a 2.6% gain despite no news having been released by the building products and construction materials provider.

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.

Thursday was another good day on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). It closed 0.53% higher at 7,152.5 points.

In the lead today was the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ). The sector soared 1.6% as all three of its constituents gained between 1.2% and 1.7%.

Next best was the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ), rising 1.3% following a strong overnight session for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC).

The Wall Street index rose 1.5% on Wednesday's session as United States consumer confidence reached an eight-month high.

There was only one sector trading in the red at the end of today's session. That was the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ). It fell 0.2% despite BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) officially entering an agreement to buy copper giant OZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: OZL).

So, with all that in mind, which ASX 200 share outperformed all others on Thursday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The top-performing stock on the index today was real estate services business Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG). It dived 9% on Tuesday after the company released a disappointing trading update.

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.

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

BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX)

The BWX share price is down a massive 48% to 33 cents. Investors have been hitting the sell button in response to a shocking business update. That update reveals that the Sukin skincare manufacturer missed its guidance in FY 2022, admitted to channel stuffing activities, downgraded its FY 2023 guidance, and revealed a growing mountain of debt.

City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX)

The City Chic share price is down 22% to 46 cents. The catalyst for this was another terrible update from the plus sized fashion retailer. City Chic revealed that trading conditions remain tough and it now expects to post a first half loss. This tough sales environment doesn't bode well for the company given its huge inventory position. Management expects to finish the half with inventory of $168 million to $174 million. This is 50% more than its current market capitalisation.

Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)

The Domain share price is down over 7% to $2.64. This has been driven by the release of a trading update from the property listings company this morning. That update reveals that December month to date listings are down around 51% in Sydney and 37% in Melbourne. As a result of the challenging market environment, first half EBITDA is expected to be around $48 million.

Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG)

The Johns Lyng share price is down 11% to $6.05. This morning, the company revealed that its executive director and COO, Lindsay Barber, has sold 4 million shares. The share sale represents almost a third of Mr Barber's prior holding.

The post Why BWX, City Chic, Domain, and John Lyng shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise on Wednesday despite a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 19 points or 0.3% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.5%, the S&P 500 is down 0.1%, and the Nasdaq is down 0.35%.

Oil prices drop

Energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a difficult day after oil prices dropped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 2.5% to US$89.47 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 2.1% to US$95.85 a barrel. Chinese demand concerns weighed on prices.

NAB results

The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price will be on watch today when the banking giant releases its full year results. According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts are expecting NAB to report cash earnings of $7,215 million. This represents a 10% increase year over year. A final dividend of 77 cents per share is expected to be declared.

Gold price rises

Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good day after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 2.1% to US$1,716.3 an ounce. Gold rose thanks to softness in the US dollar.

AGMs being held

A number of ASX 200 shares are holding their annual general meetings today and could provide the market with updates on their performance. This includes supermarket operator Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), property listings company Domain Holdings Australia Ltd  (ASX: DHG), and gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM).

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Believe it or not, tonight is federal budget night. If you're a little confused, I wouldn't blame you. Yes, we've already had a budget this year, the one delivered back in March.

But that was a different government, with a different Treasurer. Normally, the economics enthusiasts among us get one budget a year to salivate over. But due to the change of government and the new Treasurer's wishes, this year we are getting two for the price of one.

New Treasurer Jim Chalmers is now scheduled to deliver this new budget (some are calling it a mini-budget) at 7.30 pm tonight.

Now, of course, we won't know everything that's in this new budget until it gets released, as is the norm with these things. But we can speculate as to what it might mean for the economy, and of course, ASX shares.

An analysis of the upcoming budget from Bloomberg predicts the key areas to watch are infrastructure, resources, housing, childcare and telecommunications.

Which ASX 200 shares are ones to watch after the budget?

The report points out that the government could be set to pledge $96 billion for road and rail investment. No doubt this will go towards some road and rail upgrades and perhaps even new links altogether. But it also warns that some of this cash may come from scrapping other previous government promises, such as commuter car parks.

Some ASX shares to watch in this space are construction and building companies. Those include Adbri Ltd (ASX: ABC), Boral Limited (ASX: BLD), and Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC). Another one to watch might be toll road operator Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

The report also predicts that the recent government interest in funding critical mineral supply chains will continue. This could see more grants to ASX 200 shares in the lithium, rare earths and battery metals space. So keep your eye on shares like Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC).

Housing, childcare and telecommunications

Housing continues to be a potent political issue as well. So Bloomberg argues that we could see some further developments addressing these issues in tonight's budget. We already know the government has a new 'first home guarantee' scheme that it took to the election.

The government has also indicated that it wants to see super funds invest in affordable housing. So it will be interesting to see how property-linked ASX 200 shares like REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) and Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG) fare following this budget.

The government has also already announced an increase in paid parental leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks from 2024. We could see more announcements in this arena tonight. So more ASX 200 shares to keep an eye on include those in childcare. Think G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) and the like.

Finally, Bloomberg reports that the government is looking at investing another $2.4 billion into the national broadband network (nbn) to expand full-fibre access to another 1.5 million premises by 2025. That could have direct implications for the ASX 200's telco shares. Those include Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB), and TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG).

The post Which ASX 200 shares could benefit from the federal budget? 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:

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

According to a note out of Credit Suisse, its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $10.00 price target on this regional bank's shares. This is despite the broker expecting a below consensus full year profit next week when the bank releases its results. Looking ahead, Credit Suisse is feeling positive on Bank of Queensland's outlook due to rising interest rates and potential net interest margin expansion. The Bank of Queensland share price is trading at $6.90 on Friday.

Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)

A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating but trimmed their price target on this property listings company's shares to $4.00. Although UBS acknowledges that listing volumes will be soft and has reduced its forecasts accordingly, it feels the market is being too bearish. Particularly given strong employment levels and tight rental markets. In light of this, it feels recent weakness in the Domain's share price has created a buying opportunity for investors. The Domain share price is fetching $3.34 today.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their add rating and $14.58 price target on this auto retailer's shares. According to the note, the broker highlights that in September new vehicle sales were up 12.1% year over year and 6.1% over 2019 levels. And while it notes that demand is softening in the US and the same could happen in Australia, the broker points out that there is limited evidence of this to-date. The Eagers Automotive share price is trading at $11.64.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recovered further from its September rout today. The index closed 1.74% higher at 6,815.70 points on Wednesday.

It followed a strong session on Wall Street overnight that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gain 2.8%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) lifted 3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) rose 3.3%.

It likely comes as no surprise, then, that the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) led the way today. It closed 3.8% higher.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ), meanwhile, traded in different directions. The former posted a 2.7% gain while the latter slumped 0.04% – making it today's worst performing sector.

Many ASX 200 miners also posted gains, driving the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) to rise 1.4%.

Finally, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lifted 1.2% following a good night for oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price lifted 3.3% to US$91.80 a barrel and the US Nymex crude oil price gained 3.5% to US$86.52 a barrel.

But which ASX 200 share outperformed all others on Wednesday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) share price topped the index today, gaining close to 12% despite the company's silence.

Today's biggest gains were made by these 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) posted its best day in weeks on Thursday, with all 11 sectors closing in the green. The index was 1.44% higher at 6,555 points as of market close.

It followed a strong session on Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI), S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), and Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) lifted 1.9%, 2%, and 2.05% respectively on Wednesday amid news the United Kingdom's central bank has stepped in to help stabilise the nation's economy, as the Guardian reports.

Back home, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) led the way, gaining 2.8% today following a good night for oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price lifted 3.5% to US$89.32 a barrel, while the US Nymex crude oil price gained 4.6% to US$82.15 a barrel.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also performed well, rising 2.2% despite lower iron ore prices.

Iron ore futures slipped 0.2% to US$98.52 a tonne overnight, while gold futures lifted 2.1% to US$1,670 an ounce.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) brought up the rear, gaining just 0.04% and 0.02%, respectively, despite AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)'s pledge to ditch coal by 2035.

So, which ASX 200 share outperformed amid a sea of green on Thursday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing stock on the index was Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV).

The operator of fashion chains posted its full-year earnings this morning, revealing record profits despite many of its businesses having faced COVID-19 closures.

Today's biggest gains were made by these 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted once more on Thursday as earnings season heated for many of the market's favourite shares. The index closed 0.71% higher at 7,048.10 points on Thursday.

S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) shares took off today, driving the sector 2.2% higher.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) surged 1.6% with Paladin Energy in the lead, lifting 11.5% alongside many of its uranium-focused peers.

Woolworths Group Limited (ASX: WOW) shares drove the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s tumble. The sector slumped 1.6% today as Woolies fell 3.2% on a $1.5 billion full-year profit.

Other market favourites to move on reporting today included:

• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) – fell 4.6% as the company returned to profit in the final quarter
• Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) – gained 7% as losses deepened, and the company announced a $400 million buyback
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) – slipped 2% after posting a $1 billion loss

At the end of Thursday's session, nine of the ASX 200's 11 sectors were trading higher. But which stock outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Thursday's top performing ASX 200 share was none other than Paladin Energy. Find out why the uranium company was rocketing today here.

It was followed by Insignia Financial Ltd after the financial services provider posted its earnings for financial year 2022.

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.

We're well and truly in the thick of ASX reporting season. The biggest names in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) are unveiling their financial results. And many are declaring lucrative dividends.

With that comes an important date: the ex-dividend date.

Taken from Latin, ex-dividend means 'without dividend'. So, you guessed it, it's the date that a company's shares no longer trade with the upcoming dividend payment attached to it.

Beyond determining who's entitled to dividends, the ex-dividend date has another important implication. 

When a company's ex-dividend date rolls around, its shares typically drop in value.

This is because the money paid out in dividends no longer belongs to the company. With its cash reserves reduced, the value of the company is diminished.

So, with that in mind, here are three ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend today.

While the ASX All Ords index is down 0.55%, these three shares are dropping more than the market.

Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL)

This ASX COVID beneficiary is trading without its bumper FY22 final dividend today.

Unsurprisingly, this is putting downwards pressure on the Australian Clinical Labs share price. At the time of writing, shares have tumbled 9.07% to $4.31, a drop of 43 cents.

The ASX healthcare share recently released its FY22 results and declared a fully franked final dividend of 41 cents. 

This takes Australian Clinical Labs' total FY22 dividend payments to 53 cents. Meaning, Australian Clinical Labs shares were sporting a hefty dividend yield of 11.2% as of yesterday's close.

It's worth noting that this is a trailing dividend yield, with Australian Clinical Labs unlikely to replicate these dividends in the current financial year.

After all, the company was a big COVID beneficiary, playing a vital role in facilitating testing across the country. The company experienced 49% revenue growth in FY22, with 42% of total revenue relating to COVID activities. 

In any case, investors who were on the company's share registry as of yesterday's close should see this juicy final dividend hit their accounts on 15 September.

Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)

Domain is another ASX All Ords share trading ex-dividend today. At the time of writing, the Domain share price has dropped 1.25%.

The property marketplace recently declared a final fully franked dividend of 4 cents per share, taking total FY22 payments to 6 cents, up 50% on the prior year.

As of yesterday's close, this put Domain shares on a trailing dividend yield of 1.7%. Throwing in franking credits, this bumps up to 2.4%.

If you held shares in Domain when the market closed yesterday, you should see this final dividend land in your account on 13 September.

Shares in Domain's rival REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) are set to trade ex-dividend on Thursday. The leading online property business recently declared a record final dividend of 89 cents, spinning up a trailing dividend yield of 1.3%.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

Last but not least, shares in this alternative real estate investment manager are also trading ex-dividend today. At the time of writing, the Qualitas share price has edged 1.35% lower to $2.20.

Qualitas is an alternative fund manager focused on private credit and equity across the commercial real estate sector.

Qualitas announced its FY22 results last week, declaring its first dividend since joining the ASX at the end of 2021.

Its fully franked final dividend of 4 cents put Qualitas shares on a trailing dividend yield of 1.8% when the market closed yesterday. The dividend has been pencilled in to be paid on 8 September.

Annualising this payment results in a 3% yield based on the company's IPO price of $2.50, which is in line with its prospectus forecasts.

The post 3 ASX All Ordinaries shares trading ex-dividend today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The current environment of soaring inflation and rising interest rates is having a widespread impact across the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

But it's not just ASX shares that are being hit. 

As the Reserve Bank of Australia hikes rates to curb inflation, the Aussie property market is also coming under pressure. 

House prices across the country are falling as home buyers see their borrowing capacity reduced and future mortgage repayments head north. 

This has ramifications for ASX 200 shares REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) and Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG), which operate the two leading online property marketplaces in Australia.

Lower house prices could see fewer properties come to market, leading to lower listing volumes on sites like realestate.com.au. 

However, lower volumes could be offset by increased advertising efforts by agents, who could rely on more premium packages from REA and Domain to clear their properties.

While the outlook for ASX 200 property shares is mixed, let's take a closer look at REA and Domain to see which one could be a better buy.

Getting to know REA Group

REA is best known for its leading online property marketplaces in Australia, led by realestate.com.au. It also owns realcommercial.com.au and flatmates.com.au.

Sitting alongside these online advertising platforms is data insights business PropTrack, formerly ASX-listed broker business Mortgage Choice, and home loans business Smartline.

Rounding out REA's network are various equity investments across the globe. 

It has a majority stake in the number one property marketplace in India, along with minority stakes in the number one sites in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Unpacking Domain

Domain is best known for its eponymous property platform, which goes head to head with REA. 

It also owns listings websites Commercial Real Estate and Allhomes, the latter of which is the top-ranked site in Canberra.

Complementing this core business is a range of agent solutions across property data, point of sale, inspections, and campaign management. 

Like REA, Domain also operates in the home loans space. But unlike REA which has a global network, Domain's operations are solely on Australian soil.

REA vs Domain – compare the pair

Now that we've laid the groundwork, here's a summary of how the two companies stack up against each other.

It's worth noting that for both companies, FY22 growth has been muddied by acquisitions.

While REA reported 18% revenue growth excluding acquisitions, Domain didn't provide investors with a metric for organic growth.

The case to end your search with REA shares

The power of REA lies in its dominant market position. Realestate.com.au averages 124.1 million visits each month, a whopping 3.36 times more visits compared to its nearest competitor, Domain.

In fact, according to market research firm Nielson, realestate.com.au is Australia's seventh largest online brand, ahead of big names like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL).

As the largest player, REA experiences strong two-sided network effects. The more agents that join the platform, the more valuable the platform becomes to consumers on the hunt for their next (or first) property.

And the more prospective renters and buyers that join the platform, the more valuable it becomes to agents and vendors looking to get their listings in front of as many people as possible.

Benefitting from a first-mover advantage, REA has cultivated its position as the go-to online property marketplace for consumers. As a result, agents flock to the platform, spending valuable advertising dollars to get access to the biggest and widest audience.

After conquering the local market, the company hopes to replicate this success overseas. Emerging markets, in particular, will be a key growth driver for REA as online penetration only increases.

The case to knock the hammer down on Domain shares

The bull case for Domain shares centres on the company's evolution to a marketplace model, a strategy that was born during COVID.

This strategy is all about creating an ecosystem of services where Domain can support agents and consumers at more points on their property journeys. And, in turn, expand Domain's addressable markets.

To this end, the company's business model is evolving from a publisher model that supports a one-off transaction, to a property ecosystem that is responsive to the entire property journey. 

Building on long-term and trusted relationships, there are four key pillars to this strategy: core listings, agent solutions, consumer solutions, and property data solutions.

Underpinning each pillar is different initiatives, powered by a mix of internally-developed solutions, acquisitions, and joint ventures. 

For example, market segmentation and flexible pricing support growth in controllable yield for Domain's core listings business.

And its recent acquisition of Realbase adds to the company's end-to-end suite of workflow solutions that help agents grow their business.

Like any ecosystem, there's also value in how the different pieces of the puzzle come together. Here, Domain is leveraging its data and expertise across verticals to collaborate on new features and produce better outcomes. 

Better ASX 200 property buy

As a long-term investor with a tilt to quality, it's hard for me to go past REA.

The company is a proven performer with a dominant market position, strong brand power, compelling network effects, and promising global prospects.

The REA share price has tumbled 24% this year, underperforming the broader ASX 200 index which has dropped 7%.

But across a long-term investment horizon, REA shares shine. The REA share price has nearly doubled over the last five years. And it's grown more than 700% in the last decade.

The post ASX 200 better buy: REA or Domain shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.