At lunch on Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looks set to end its winning streak. The benchmark index is currently down 0.2% to 5,562.7 points.

Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

Afterpay hits 5 million U.S. active customers.

The Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price hit a record high today after the release of a U.S. update. That update reveals that after launching in the U.S. two years ago, there are now 5 million active customers on its buy now pay later platform in the country. Impressively, the company has experienced a surge in customer additions during the pandemic. Management revealed that 1 million of these active customers have joined during the last 10 weeks.

Aristocrat Leisure half year update.

The Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) share price is tumbling lower on Thursday after its half year update fell short of expectations. For the six months ended March 31, Aristocrat recorded a 7% increase in operating revenue to $2,251.8 million and a 12.8% decline in normalised NPATA to $368.1 million. Although its top line growth was stronger than expected (due to its Digital business), its NPATA fell well short of Goldman Sachs’ estimate for a 2% decline to $416 million.

Big four banks drop lower.

The big four banks are all trading lower at lunch and acting as a major drag on the ASX 200. The worst performer in the group has been the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price. The shares of Australia’s oldest bank are down 1% at lunch.

Best and worst ASX 200 performers.

The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) share price with a massive 23% gain. Investors have been buying the infrastructure contractor’s shares after it revealed unaudited revenue of $1.6 billion for the 10 months to April 30. This is greater than any revenue it has achieved during a full 12 months. The worst performer has been the Aristocrat Leisure share price with a 5% decline after its half year update disappointed.

More reading

• ASX 200 mining services share storms 27% higher on record revenue result
• Why Aristocrat Leisure, Bigtincan, Clover, & Megaport shares are dropping lower
• Why Afterpay, AMA, NRW, & Santos shares are racing higher
• The hidden threat to big banks that may be worse than a housing collapse
• Why ASX 200 iron ore miners are your best bet for dividends right now

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) share price has popped 27.88% this morning on the back of a positive trading update. The company announced record revenue and pushed forward its interim dividend decision, which had previously been deferred to August.

About NRW Holdings

NRW Holdings is a provider of diversified services to the mining, energy, civil infrastructure and urban development sectors throughout Australia.

The company delivers a wide range of services including civil expertise, contract mining, drill and blast, specialist maintenance, and industrial engineering. 

With this, NRW supports more than 100 projects around Australia. Its client base comprises big ASX names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM).

What did NRW Holdings announce?

This morning, NRW revealed its FY20 performance to the end of April remains strong despite the effects of COVID-19. Notably, it has seen no material change to planned activities in its 4 business divisions of civil, mining, drill and blast, and mining technologies.

In terms of financial performance, NRW reported revenue of $1.6 billion for the 10 months to April 2020. This represents record revenue compared to any previous full financial year. For reference, NRW posted $1.1 billion of revenue for FY19.

Meanwhile, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation came in at $177 million. This was up 22.9% from FY19, as the company integrates last year’s $116 million BGC Contracting acquisition into its business.

Importantly, NRW also revealed an improvement in net debt, which stood at $115 million at the end of April 2020. This compares to the company’s $154 million net debt position at the end of last year. NRW expects to report much lower debt of around $60 million by the end of FY20 following reviews of equipment rental agreements.

Outlook and interim dividend

NRW noted it is on track to meet its FY20 revenue guidance of $2 billion for the full year. Commenting on the performance of the business, CEO Jules Pemberton said: 

We have had to make significant changes to the way we work but have been able to safely do that whilst supporting our clients to meet project objectives and day-to-day operational requirements.

Importantly for income investors, NRW has resolved to pay its interim dividend of 2.5 cents per share on 9 June 2020. In late March, the company announced its intention to defer this interim dividend, pending a review to be held in August. However, given NRW’s continued strong performance, the review was brought forward.

More reading

• ASX 200 down 0.2%: Afterpay hits a record high, Aristocrat Leisure update disappoints
• Why Afterpay, AMA, NRW, & Santos shares are racing higher
• ASX 200 starts the week strongly, up 1.3%
• 3 ASX commodity opportunities this week
• ASX 200 weekly wrap: Negative oil price breaks ASX’s winning streak

Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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If I had $20,000 to invest with right now, there are four ASX shares that I’d want to invest in.

The current coronavirus economic conditions make it hard to know what’s going to happen next. But I believe that society will get through this in the next couple of years. Once we’re through the worst of this the ultra-low interest rates will make shares seem very attractive.

Here are the four shares I’d buy with $20,000 right now:

Pushpay Holdings Ltd (ASX: PPH) – $6,000

I think Pushpay is one of the most promising shares to invest in on the ASX. It’s an electronic donation business which predominately services large and medium US churches. It was on a good growth trajectory before COVID-19, but the current conditions have accelerated that growth.

Being able to electronically donate to your church is very useful in a socially distancing world where cash isn’t ideal. Pushpay’s FY20 was strong and in FY21 the company is expecting earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and foreign currency (EBITDAF) to approximately double.

The Pushpay share price has been a strong performer recently, but the increased growth more than makes up for that in my opinion.

Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) – $5,000

I think Brickworks is one of the best value ASX 200 shares at the moment. When you take its defensive & reliable assets of its Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares and 50% stake of the industrial property trust at book value, you’ll see that combined value essentially supports the Brickworks market capitalisation.

The rest of the business – its building products divisions – come for free. I think that’s a useful way to look at it because construction earnings are going to be down because of the coronavirus impacts.

Until construction comes back, which may be sooner than some expect, investors will get to collect the grossed-up dividend yield of 6.1%.

Magellan Global Trust (ASX: MGG) – $5,000

This is a listed investment trust (LIT) which invests in the best global shares. Some of its top holdings include Alibaba, Alphabet, Atmos Energy, Microsoft, Tencent, Facebook, Visa, Mastercard, Reckitt Benckiser and Novartis.

The LIT is invested in businesses which could prove to be quite defensive in the face of the coronavirus, their growth may even accelerate due to customer habits changing.

Despite the fees, Magellan Global Trust’s net return is impressive and regularly outperforms its global benchmark. Particularly over longer time periods.

As a bonus the LIT is a decent income share, it targets a 4% distribution yield. It’s currently trading at a small discount to its net asset value (NAV).

PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF) – $4,000

This is a listed investment company (LIC) which also invests in global shares. It’s always looking for unloved global shares that could make strong returns.

It’s invested in various ideas such as alternative investment managers, house builders in Europe, resources and others. That translates into share holdings like KKR & Co, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Cairn Homes.

PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund has an attractive trailing grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3%.

It’s trading at 15% discount to the weekly net tangible assets (NTA) at 15 May 2020.

Foolish share takeaway

I really like all of these shares for different reasons. I think Pushpay could be the strongest performer over the next three to five years, but Brickworks could be very reliable whilst the two global investment businesses offer good portfolios for investors to get exposure to.

More reading

• Save your future self from financial misery
• Why AP Eagers, Lendlease, Pushpay, & ResMed shares are sinking lower
• 3 shares now trading at crazy cheap prices
• Why these ASX shares have just stormed to record highs
• Is the ASX 200 getting too far ahead of itself?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of MAGLOBTRST UNITS, PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks, PUSHPAY FPO NZX, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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