Today Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) delivered its first half calendar year 2024 results (1HCY24). The results were largely in line, with an underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of US$5.75 billion within one per cent of consensus estimates and driven predominantly by Rio Tinto’s copper and aluminium divisions. Both net debt and free cash flow were also in line with expectations.  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Stocks We Like.

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Over the past 17 years, Chinese economic growth has decelerated from an approximate average annual 10 per cent to sub 5 per cent, whilst the Shanghai Composite Index has halved to under 2,900 points. Pressure on the Chinese residential property market and China’s ten-year bond yield at 2.1 per cent has been well highlighted, whilst the slowdown in sales from many big brand businesses is pointing to a deflationary environment, yet to be fully reflected in the iron-ore price.   Continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Global markets.

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With 41 per cent of S&P 500 companies having reported their actual results as of Friday, the tally so far appears to be more optimistic than anticipated. Here’s a breakdown of the scorecard so far, as presented by Factset. 

The earnings season has kicked off with a robust start:  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Global markets, Market commentary.

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Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in the InvestmentMarkets July webinar series. I joined Angelina Wu to provide an overview of the current investment markets, highlighting key trends and economic indicators. I discuss the opportunities in small cap investments, both domestically and globally, and offer a recap of private credit and the potential benefits it holds for investors.

You can watch the full webinar recording here: Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Investing Education, Talks.

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In the June 2024 quarter, artificial intelligence (AI) remained the dominant narrative in markets. Companies perceived to be AI beneficiaries have seen their share prices markedly outperform those where the benefit appears less clear in the immediate term.   Continue…

by Polen Capital Posted in Companies, Polen Capital.

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After the recent setback in prices from record highs, many investors wonder whether mega-cap U.S. technology company shares continue to slide, dragging down with them the main indices in which they represent a significant proportion, whether they merely underperform non-technology companies or smaller companies, or whether they return to leading a charge higher in both absolute and relative terms. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Technology & Telecommunications.

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In July last year, here at the blog, I noted the AI bubble could only become a bona-fide boom if AI is monetised.  

Back then I noted Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) “significant strides in the integration and security of artificial intelligence (AI) in their products and services” and Meta’s (NASDAQ:META) plans to incorporate AI text, image, and video generators into Facebook and Instagram, allowing customers to modify their own photos using text prompts and share them on Instagram stories weren’t meaningful in terms of generating additional revenue from existing users. Sure, they might assist users, enhance their experience, and be entertaining, but would they be meaningful enough for users and advertisers to be willing to pay more? The jury was out.  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Editor's Pick, Market commentary.

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In yesterday’s interview on ausbiz, I discussed the growing influence of music streaming services, particularly highlighting Spotify’s (NYSE:SPOT) leading position in the market. We delved into how Spotify’s ad-free, premium offerings have bolstered its appeal, leading to a substantial increase in both market share and subscriber base, despite rising prices. I also emphasised the importance of return on equity (ROE) as a critical metric for investors, demonstrating how companies like Spotify and REA Group (ASX:REA) leverage their ability to charge premium prices to sustain strong competitive advantages. These insights provide a valuable perspective for understanding the dynamics that drive stock performance and market leadership in today’s digital economy. 

You can watch the full interview here: Ausbiz – Spotify soars like a Swift hit!

by Roger Montgomery Posted in TV Appearances.

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