Iron ore prices boost profits as ASX earnings season gets underway
Fortescue announced a monster interim dividend for shareholders
Fortescue announced a monster interim dividend for shareholders
ASX earnings season is well underway, with hundreds of Australia’s biggest publicly–listed companies reporting their latest financial results to the market. This week, the country’s three biggest miners, BHP, Fortescue and Rio Tinto released their figures. All three companies benefitted from stronger iron ore prices, however weaker prices for other commodities put a drag on earnings for diversified operators, BHP and Rio Tinto, while iron ore pure-play Fortescue delivered a turbocharged profit.
Let’s review the key points of each company’s report.
BHP released its half-year figures for FY24 on Tuesday. The company reported a 6 percent revenue increase to US$27.2 billion. Its underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) lifted 5 percent to US$13.9 billion but profit after tax spiralled by 86 percent to US$927 million.
BHP said higher iron ore and copper prices along with production from mines acquired under the Oz Minerals takeover in May 2023 boosted revenue. But its profit was impacted by a US$2.5 billion impairment of the carrying value of its West Australian nickel business and a US$3.2 billion provision for reparations and compensation relating to the Brazil dam disaster in 2015. The BHP share price fell 1.54 percent on Tuesday, and is down a further 2.57 percent since. BHP closed yesterday at $44.30.
BHP shares will pay a fully franked interim dividend of 72 US cents per share, which is 20 percent lower than last year.
Fortescue released its results yesterday, reporting a 21% revenue bump to US$9.5 billion for1H FY24. Underlying EBITDA came in 36% higher at US$5.9 billion and net profit after tax was up 41 percent to US$3.3 billion.
Higher iron ore prices turbocharged Fortescue’s revenue during the period. The company delivered its second–highest number of shipments for a first half ever, including first shipment from the new Iron Bridge project. The Fortescue share price lifted 1.73 percent yesterday to $27.83per share.
Fortescue shares will pay a fully franked interim dividend of AU$1.08 per share, up 44 percent on last year.
Rio Tinto reports on a different financial year cycle to the other two majors, and released its full-year earnings for FY23 yesterday. Revenue fell 3 percent over the year to US$54 billion. Rio’s underlying EBITDA was 9 percent lower at US$23.8 billion and profit after tax declined 19 percent to US$10 billion.
The company said its iron ore division delivered increased revenue and EBITDA due to higher commodity prices, however, this was offset by higher costs and weaker prices for copper, aluminium, diamonds and other minerals due to lower global demand amid increased supply. The Rio Tinto share price fell 0.96 percent yesterday to $124.36 per share.
Rio Tinto shares will pay a fully franked final dividend of US$2.58 per share for 2H FY23, up 14 percent.
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If you’re looking to secure a home loan, you might want to consider these expert tips…
No matter whether you’re a first home buyer or a seasoned investor, entering the property market right now, in whatever capacity, is a tricky task thanks to high interest rates and a super competitive market across the board.
With Google searches like ‘how much deposit do I need to buy a house’ and ‘how to get a home loan’ currently trending, there’s one question potential buyers should be asking, as well: ‘what are the things to stop doing before applying for a home loan’.
Barbara Giamalis, a mortgage broker at Tiimely Home, has over 25 years of experience on the matter, and says there are certainly some factors to consider when applying for a home loan that can better your chances of success.
“There’s no right or wrong time to purchase a home; it all depends on every person’s financial situation, but you must ensure you’re comfortable paying back the loan based on your personal financial circumstances,” said Ms Giamalis.
“The number one question I’m asked is, ‘how much can I borrow?’, but there’s a huge difference between what people can borrow now in comparison to rates. By enacting some of these small tips below, it might just be the difference between getting approved or denied for a home loan.”
Below, Ms Giamalis lists five things you should consider stopping if you’re planning to apply for a home loan. And with predications of lower interest rates coming into play this year, there’s never been a better time to get on top of the home loan race.
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1. Consider cancelling your credit card
This is a simple one. Typically, if you’re looking to borrow more money for a higher loan, it’s wise to close any credit card accounts you have open. Contrary to popular opinion, you definitely don’t need a credit card to build your credit score to get a home loan.
“If you’ve got credit cards, try and pay them off and cancel them before applying for a loan because it gives you greater borrowing power,” said Ms Giamalis.
“You don’t need a good credit score through a credit card to get approved for a home loan as your credit rating is what it is. If you’re a first-time borrower and never had a loan, your rating won’t be great, it might be around 700, but it’s better than having 800 with two credit cards.”
Typically, a credit card rating is calculated from your credit report, which is essentially a history of your credit card actions. It’s calculated based off your line of credit (the amount you have borrowed), your credit application history, and whether you have paid your debts in time. Your score will be highlighted between zero to 1,200; the higher the score, the better your odds are of getting a loan. The lower your score, riskier you present to potential lenders.
2. Stop using ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ schemes
We’ve all been there. ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ services present as extremely attractive payment alternatives when shopping online. But therein lies the danger; such services rely on its customers not making repayments in time.
And if you’re considering applying for a home loan, it’s wise to avoid using such services all together.
“If an applicant opts to pay off purchases in increments, even interest-free payments, this could signal to some lenders that the applicant may not be financially stable,” said Ms Giamalis.
“Most lenders will look at the living expenses of an applicant. If an applicant is using ‘buy now, pay later’ services more than what they have in their savings, this could be a red flag and lenders could question whether they can afford a loan.”
Services like Afterpay also have the right to report any missed payments on your credit history, which could definitely have a negative impact to your credit score.
3. Don’t put off saving for future mortgage repayments
Before applying for a home loan, a good indication of whether you would be able to afford the monthly repayments on your mortgage is demonstrating the ability to save the amount. This, along with saving for your ten or 20 percent deposit, will put you in good stead for your home loan preparation, and will show lenders that you’re disciplined when it comes to finances.
“One of the best tips for young people, and one they can start doing now, is to start saving for their monthly mortgage payment before applying for a home loan as it shows dedication,” said Ms Giamalis.
Ms Giamalis adds that having a three-month saving history is a great way to prove this to potential lenders.
Here are some friendly financial tools to assist you along the way.
4. Stop gambling and making cash withdrawals
According to Gambling Statistics Australia, 6.8 million Australians participate in some form of gambling each year. This could include activities like buying a ticket in the lottery right through to using gambling apps and visiting casinos. This can present as an obvious red flag to lenders, who will take this into account when deciding to service a home loan application or not.
Another factor to consider is cash withdrawals. If you’re someone who is making regular ATM cash withdrawals per week or per month, this can be a problem as the potential lender can’t track where this money is going. Experts suggest it’s better to have purchases that are traceable.
“Large one-off purchases such as a couch, a new hot water service or a motor vehicle, won’t be taken into an applicant’s living expenses as it’s a one-off meaning the banks will look at that as a discretionary cost,” added Ms Giamalis.
5. Don’t hold onto student debt
One of the key considerations your mortgage broker or financial professional will consider in the home loan application process is paying out any debts you may have outstanding, such as your higher education debt.
It might seem obvious that paying off a HECS debt will strengthen your chances of obtaining a home loan, however, Ms Giamalis says many people often don’t factor in these debts.
“The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) impacts your borrowing power. HELP debt is a liability that you need to declare in the home loan application process,” said Ms Giamalis.
“The impact of HECS on your ability to get a home loan may vary depending on your income level and the amount of your HECS debt. Seeking financial advice before deciding to pay off your debt is crucial.”
Many are not in the position to pay off their student loans immediately, so this point comes as an additional should you be in the position to do so. This also applies even in light of the Federal Government’s proposal to wipe a reported $3 billion in debt from three million Australians who have HECS debts through indexation changes, essentially capping indexation rate for loans. The proposal is designed to lend a hand in helping young tertiary educated Australians pay off their student loans.
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Consumers are going to gravitate toward applications powered by the buzzy new technology, analyst Michael Wolf predicts
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