
Adnoc's $19 Billion Santos Bid Exposes Australian Energy Dilemma
One of the biggest foreign takeovers in Australian history will force regulators and politicians to weigh who controls critical energy infrastructure against the need to address a looming domestic gas shortfall.
Santos Ltd.'s board agreed this week to back a $19 billion takeover bid from a group led by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., a cash-rich but state-owned company that is seeking to become a top producer of liquefied natural gas. Yet the ASX-listed company's shares are still at a significant discount to the offer, reflecting investor uncertainty around approval by Australia's regulators, who have a history of blowing up multibillion-dollar deals.

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15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
With EPS Growth And More, OUTsurance Group (JSE:OUT) Makes An Interesting Case
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like OUTsurance Group (JSE:OUT), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business. We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Recognition must be given to the that OUTsurance Group has grown EPS by 57% per year, over the last three years. While that sort of growth rate isn't sustainable for long, it certainly catches the eye of prospective investors. Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. The music to the ears of OUTsurance Group shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 18% to 20% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book. In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. Check out our latest analysis for OUTsurance Group Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of OUTsurance Group's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting. It's said that there's no smoke without fire. For investors, insider buying is often the smoke that indicates which stocks could set the market alight. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions. The real kicker here is that OUTsurance Group insiders spent a staggering R51m on acquiring shares in just one year, without single share being sold in the meantime. The shareholders within the general public should find themselves expectant and certainly hopeful, that this large outlay signals prescient optimism for the business. Zooming in, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by CFO & Executive Director Jan Hofmeyr for R20m worth of shares, at about R42.27 per share. OUTsurance Group's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. Growth investors should find it difficult to look past that strong EPS move. And indeed, it could be a sign that the business is at an inflection point. If this is the case, then keeping a watch over OUTsurance Group could be in your best interest. Of course, just because OUTsurance Group is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you're wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry. Keen growth investors love to see insider activity. Thankfully, OUTsurance Group isn't the only one. You can see a a curated list of South African companies which have exhibited consistent growth accompanied by high insider ownership. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. — Investing narratives with Fair Values Vita Life Sciences Set for a 12.72% Revenue Growth While Tackling Operational Challenges By Robbo – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: A$2.42 · 0.1% Overvalued Vossloh rides a €500 billion wave to boost growth and earnings in the next decade By Chris1 – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: €78.41 · 0.1% Overvalued Intuitive Surgical Will Transform Healthcare with 12% Revenue Growth By Unike – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: $325.55 · 0.6% Undervalued View more featured narratives — Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Travel Weekly
32 minutes ago
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Intrepid Travel acquires hotels in Tasmania and Morocco
Intrepid Travel has acquired boutique properties in Tasmania and Marrakech. The family-run Edge of the Bay, located near the town of Coals Bay in Tasmania, is a 20-room coastal resort that overlooks Wineglass Bay. The property is on 18 acres and close to Freycinet National Park. The hotel offers oceanview studios and secluded chalets. The resort will be refreshed to align with Intrepid's "impact-led ethos," the company said in its announcement. The revamp will include nature-based activities and environmental education programs developed with Greening Australia, an Intrepid Foundation partner and environmental organization founded to restore and conserve Australia's native vegetation. Intrepid also plans to work with the Palawa people, the indigenous inhabitants of the land, to conduct a cultural heritage assessment of the property. Intrepid also bought a 17-room riad in Marrakech, minutes from Medina, the city's old town. The traditional Moroccan guesthouse opened this month and offers culinary experiences with The Amal Association, a nonprofit that trains women in hospitality. Intrepid will fully operate the property beginning in July. "Our approach to accommodation is underpinned by a commitment to preserving culture, fostering connection, supporting communities and boosting travel's economic contribution with the local community," said Intrepid CEO James Thornton. The 20-room Edge of the Bay resort near Coals Bay in Tasmania. Photo Credit: Intrepid Travel Intrepid said last year that it was accelerating its expansion into hotels. It aims to acquire 20 properties by 2027. The brand hopes to acquire properties in Asia, Africa and the Americas, adding to its previous acquisition of Daintree Ecolodge in Australia and its multiyear lease of a Vietnam hotel. Since acquiring Daintree Ecolodge in Queensland, Australia, Intrepid said it has introduced solar power, advanced wastewater treatment, composting and vegetable gardens while eliminating single-use plastics. The lodge is certified as a B Corp, which means it has met high standards of social and environmental performance.
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36 minutes ago
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MPH Health Care (FRA:93M1) Has Announced A Dividend Of €1.20
MPH Health Care AG's (FRA:93M1) investors are due to receive a payment of €1.20 per share on 22nd of July. This makes the dividend yield 6.2%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. MPH Health Care is quite easily earning enough to cover the dividend, however it is being let down by weak cash flows. In general, we consider cash flow to be more important than earnings, so we would be cautious about relying on the sustainability of this dividend. Over the next year, EPS could expand by 23.7% if recent trends continue. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 14%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Check out our latest analysis for MPH Health Care The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The last annual payment of €1.20 was flat on the annual payment from10 years ago. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. MPH Health Care has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 24% per annum. Earnings have been growing rapidly, and with a low payout ratio we think that the company could turn out to be a great dividend stock. In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about MPH Health Care's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. While MPH Health Care is earning enough to cover the payments, the cash flows are lacking. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've identified 6 warning signs for MPH Health Care (1 is potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data