Stock Pick

  • Buy these 4 ASX shares to diversify your portfolio

    I think the market crash this year has demonstrated why having a balanced and diversified portfolio is very important.

    Luckily for investors, diversification isn’t that hard to achieve. Four shares which I think would be good starters are listed below:

    Aventus Group (ASX: AVN)

    If you don’t have exposure to real estate, then Aventus could be worth considering. It is a retail property company specialising in large format retail parks. Its rental income has a reasonably high weighting towards everyday needs, with homewares, electrical, furniture, bedding and hardware making up the balance. I think this is a good mix and makes it one of the better options in the sector.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    The iShares S&P 500 ETF is an exchange traded fund that gives investors exposure to the 500 shares listed on Wall Street’s famous S&P 500 index. This index is home to many of the largest and most well-known companies in the world. This includes Apple, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, McDonalds, Microsoft, Visa, and Walt Disney.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is probably as diverse as you can get with shares. This exchange traded fund gives investors exposure to a total of 1,579 of the world’s largest companies listed in major developed countries. Amongst its holdings are the likes of Apple, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, and Google parent, Alphabet

    Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)

    Finally, I think this conglomerate could be another way to add a bit of diversification to your portfolio. As well as its supermarkets, Woolworths is responsible for a wide range of businesses in different markets. These include Big W, BWS, Dan Murphy’s, and a large number of hotels/pubs. Given the positive outlooks for the majority of these businesses and their defensive qualities, I think Woolworths could be worth considering.

    Looking for more shares to invest in? Then check out the five recommendation below which look dirt cheap after the market crash…

    NEW. The Motley Fool AU Releases Five Cheap and Good Stocks to Buy for 2020 and beyond!….

    Our experts here at The Motley Fool Australia have just released a fantastic report, detailing 5 dirt cheap shares that you can buy in 2020.

    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off it’s high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Woolworths Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended AVENTUS RE UNIT and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. 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.

    The post Buy these 4 ASX shares to diversify your portfolio appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2XF06Rl

  • PhaseBio Explodes 82% After-Hours On FDA Nod For Covid-19 Clinical Trial

    PhaseBio Explodes 82% After-Hours On FDA Nod For Covid-19 Clinical TrialShares in PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals (PHAS) surged 82% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, after the company announced clearance of its investigational new drug (IND) application by the FDA under its Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP).PhaseBio’s “VANGARD” trial will assess the efficacy and safety of its PB1046 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for rapid clinical deterioration and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Approximately 210 patients will be targeted to be enrolled at approximately 20 sites across the US. The primary endpoint will measure days alive and free of respiratory failure.The patients will be treated with PB1046, a novel, once-weekly, subcutaneously-injected vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor agonist that targets VPAC receptors in the cardiovascular, pulmonary and immune systems. VIP is a neurohormone known to have anti-inflammatory effects, and importantly, has also been observed to have potent bronchodilatory and immunomodulatory effects in the respiratory system.PhaseBio now expects to begin dosing patients by the end of June and is targeting to report trial results late in the fourth quarter of 2020. Based on feedback from the FDA, PhaseBio believes that positive, clearly interpretable and clinically meaningful results from this trial may enable PhaseBio to submit a Biologics License Application.“Physicians are in desperate need of new options to treat COVID-19 patients facing rapid deterioration of lung function and before progressing to a ventilator,” said John Lee, CMO at PhaseBio. “Early mitigation by PB1046 of the effects of inflammatory cytokines that can cause acute lung injury, is a promising strategy that could prevent patients from declining to the point where they require mechanical ventilation and help alleviate the strain on critical care infrastructure that we’re witnessing.”Indeed, analysts have a firmly bullish outlook on PHAS with 4 recent buy ratings, no holds and no sells, giving it a Strong Buy consensus. The average analyst price target stands at $12.75 (188% upside potential). (See PhaseBio stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Novavax Begins Human Testing For Covid-19 Vaccine, Expects Results In July Merck CEO Casts Doubt On ‘Very Aggressive’ Covid-19 Vaccine Timeline Regeneron Announces Secondary Offering Pricing At $515/Share More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Novavax Seeks To Make 1 Billion Covid-19 Vaccine Doses; Top Analyst Ramps Up PT To $61 * Hertz Sinks 11% After-Hours As Carl Icahn Sells Stake At $1.8B Loss * Data Center Set to Send Nvidia Stock Soaring Even Higher * Google Pay App May Face Anti-Trust Probe In India – Report

    from Yahoo Finance https://ift.tt/3gyOdFA

  • 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy this June

    street sign saying yield, asx dividend shares

    With June almost upon us (insert obligatory comment about how fast the year is flying by), it’s a great opportunity to examine our ASX share portfolios, and particularly our dividend shares.

    2020 has been a topsy-turvy year so far for many reasons, with the shifting paradigm for ASX dividend shares part of the story.

    Former ASX dividend share stalwarts like the banks are now dividend cutters. ‘Safe’ ASX shares like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) are leaving income investors hanging.

    So if I wanted to top up my portfolio’s income potential this June, here are 3 ASX shares I would use to do so:

    Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

    ‘Soul Patts’ is one of the best dividend shares on the ASX (in my opinion) and also one of the only shares I trust to keep its dividend flowing this year. In fact, I believe it to be ASX dividend royalty. Soul Patts has paid out a dividend every year of its existence (which goes back to 1903). Not only that, but this company has also increased its dividend payments every year for the last 20 years.

    Soul Patts’ large stakes in ASX shares like TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) and Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) pour cash into the company’s coffers, whilst also giving it broad exposure to the Australian economy. Thus, if I had to choose a dividend share to buy this June, Soul Patts would be at the top of my list.

    WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX)

    WAM Research isn’t too far behind though. This is a Listed Investment Company (LIC) that invests in small and mid-cap ASX shares like Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR) and City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX).

    This company has proven its know-how, in my view, having delivered an average annual return of 13.4% over the past 10 years. On current prices, WAM Research shares are offering a trailing yield of 6.99%. Although WAX shares usually trade at a premium to their underlying Net Asset Value, I believe this hefty yield more than makes up for this fact.

    SPDR S&P Global Dividend Fund (ASX: WDIV)

    My last ASX dividend share for June is actually an exchange-traded fund (ETF). WDIV invests in dividend-paying companies from beyond our shores, specifically those which have held or increased their dividends for 10 years or longer. Its holdings are balanced fairly evenly between American, Canadian and Japanese companies, with the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong and Australia also represented.

    Thus, I think this ETF can provide some great global exposure and diversification to an ASX dividend portfolio. Some of its top holdings include Freenet AG, Enagas, Japan Tobacco and our own AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL). WDIV offers a trailing yield of 6.01%.

    For another top ASX dividend share, take a look at the report below!

    NEW: Expert names top dividend stock for 2020 (free report)

    When our resident dividend expert Edward Vesely has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, he’s the investing genius that runs Motley Fool Dividend Investor, the newsletter service that has picked huge winners like Dicker Data (+92%), SDI Limited (+53%) and National Storage (+35%).*

    Edward has just named what he believes is the number one ASX dividend stock to buy for 2020.

    This fully franked “under the radar” company is currently trading more than 24% below its all-time high and paying a 6.7% grossed-up dividend.

    The name of this dividend dynamo and the full investment case is revealed in this brand new free report.

    But you will have to hurry — history has shown it can pay dividends to get in early to some of Edward’s stock picks, and this dividend stock is already on the move.

    See the top dividend stock for 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of SPDR S&P Global Dividend Fund, WAM Research Limited, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks 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.

    The post 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy this June appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3daG1co

The Latest