Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX: SXL) shares rocketed over 80% higher in May but is the Aussie media group in the buy zone with its current share price?

Why the Southern Cross Media share price surged in May

Southern Cross completed an equity raising and provided a trading update on 6 May. The Aussie media group launched a fully underwritten equity raising which included an institutional placement and a 1.75-for-1 pro-rata, non-renounceable entitlement offer. This raised $169 million at 9 cents per share for Southern Cross and helped to strengthen the balance sheet.

The trading update provided some good news with the group achieving positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in April. Significant operating cost reductions helped to offset the decline in revenues.

The Southern Cross Media share price was volatile in May and regularly featured in the week’s biggest movers. However, the Aussie media group moved the most last week when it rocketed over 70% higher. Last week’s share price gains were so strong that the media group was even sent an ASX Price Query. Southern Cross advised the securities exchange operator that it could not explain why its share price had risen so much.

Is the ASX media group in the buy zone?

Southern Cross Media shares are now trading at $0.23 per share. That gives the Aussie media group a $613 million market capitalisation but it was worth 4 times that much back in July 2019.

This says to me that COVID-19 hasn’t been the only factor weighing on the group’s share price. Regional television and radio has been doing it tough for a while but the pandemic certainly hasn’t helped with revenues.

I still think the Aussie media group’s shares are a speculative buy right now. There’s a lot of volatility in the share price and still more uncertainty in the months ahead.

Foolish takeaway

The Southern Cross Media Group share price could be cheap at $0.23, but I won’t be buying in just yet.

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Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall 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.

The post Up 70% in May: is the Southern Cross Media share price a buy? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week on a very positive note. At the time of writing the benchmark index is up 0.75% to 5,798.7 points.

Four shares that have not been able to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping lower:

The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price is down 2% to $17.34. This decline appears to have been caused by profit taking after some very strong gains in 2020. Even after today’s decline, a2 Milk Company’s shares are up almost 24% since the start of the year. Investors have been buying the company’s shares after it reported strong sales growth during the pandemic.

The Freedom Foods Group Ltd (ASX: FNP) share price is down almost 5% to $3.54. The diversified food company’s shares have come under pressure since the release of a trading update at the end of last week which revealed weaker than expected sales. In addition to this, the company warned that its margins had been negatively impacted by an unfavourable sales mix.

The Scentre Group (ASX: SCG) share price has fallen 3.5% to $2.17. A number of real estate shares have come under pressure today. This appears to have been caused by an announcement by Vicinity Centres (ASX: VCX). The shopping centre operator is raising $1.4 billion to help it navigate the pandemic. It also warned that preliminary asset revaluations indicate an aggregate reduction in asset value of up to $2.1 billion.

The TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) share price is down over 3% to $8.22. This appears to be down to profit taking after a strong share price gain over the last month. Investors have been buying TPG Telecom’s shares amid optimism that its merger with Vodafone Australia will be a success. It also plans to rewards shareholders with a special dividend ahead of the merger.

More reading

• 5 ASX 200 winners and 3 losers from last week
• Will the A2 Milk share price hit $20 in 2020?
• How to be an ASX 200 share millionaire in 15 years
• How you can get very rich with ASX 200 shares
• 10 top ASX growth shares to buy in June for strong returns

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Freedom Foods Group Limited and Scentre Group. 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 Why a2 Milk, Freedom Foods, Scentre, & TPG Telecom are dropping lower appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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