ASX 200 shares are under pressure again after a fourth straight day of losses. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is now down 7.2% since last Wednesday’s close.

That means there could be some great bargains in the current market. Xero Limited (ASX: XRO), Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are just a few of the top shares that I think can help you prepare in the current market environment.

3 ASX 200 shares to buy in the current market

It’s hard to know how to position for a second market crash at the best of times, let alone in the midst of a pandemic.

I think non-cyclical earnings and large-cap shares are the key to weathering any storm. Coles shares could fit this bill.

The Coles share price rocketed higher in February and March when the first coronavirus restrictions kicked in. While I don’t think we’ll see the same level of panic buying again in 2020, Coles earnings could still be solid.

That’s especially the case given times are tough right now and many Aussies are cutting expenses where they can. That could mean less spending at cafes and restaurants and more buying from supermarkets like Coles.

Another ASX 200 share that could be in the buy zone is Newcrest Mining. The Newcrest share price has fallen 1.4% lower in 2020 which is a 13.0% outperformance compared to the ASX 200 benchmark index.

Gold shares tend to do well in a share market crash. Investors flock to the safe-haven asset as a store of value when ASX shares are in freefall.

Other than the gold shares, I think tech shares are promising in 2020. Tech shares have been leading the S&P 500 Index higher in the United States and we’ve seen similar on the ASX.

That could mean an ASX 200 tech share like Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) is in the buy zone.

Xero’s accounting software platform is in high demand right now as businesses look to keep a good handle on their finances.

That could mean Xero is a solid hedge with some upside potential in a share market crash.

Foolish takeaway

No one knows if and when another share market crash might occur. Newcrest, Xero and Coles shares are just a couple of the ASX 200 shares that could help to weather the storm in 2020.

However, panic buying and selling of shares also isn’t the answer.

It might be worth sticking to a long-term strategy and riding out the volatility over the coming decades.

More reading

• The Santos share price is down 36%! This is what I’d do today
• Is the Altium share price the steal of the century?
• Got $3,000? These 5 beaten-down ASX shares are begging to be bought
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Why MOAT is my favourite ASX ETF

Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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 Coles shares and 2 other ASX 200 companies to buy in the current market appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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

One area of the market which I think is home to a large number of promising companies is the mid cap space.

What is a mid cap? There are various opinions on how to categorise a mid cap share and it can change depending on which share market you are looking at.

On the Australian share market, I would class a mid cap share as a company with a market capitalisation in the range of $500 million to $5 billion. Anything less I would label a small cap and anything greater a large cap.

Why buy mid cap ASX shares?

I’m a fan of mid cap shares because I believe they offer investors the best of both worlds – greater potential returns than large caps, but less risk than small caps.

Luckily for investors, there are a large number of mid cap shares trading on the ASX which I believe offer compelling risk/rewards.

Two that I would buy are listed below:

Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA)

The first mid cap share to look at is this leading aerial imagery technology and location data company. Nearmap’s software gives businesses instant access to high resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D datasets, and integrated geospatial tools. This is proving very popular with end users as it allows them to conduct site visits from the safety of their own home or office. It also enables informed decisions, streamlined operations, and ultimately significant cost savings for businesses. Due to Nearmap’s high quality product offering and its sizeable opportunity in a fragmented market, I believe it has the potential to grow its sales at a very strong rate over the next decade.

Pushpay Holdings Group Ltd (ASX: PPH)

Another mid cap share which I rate highly is Pushpay. It is a donor management platform provider which has been growing at an explosive rate in recent years thanks to increasing demand for its platform in the church market. Although its shares have been on fire this year, I don’t for a second believe it is too late to invest. After all, Pushpay still has a very long runway for growth over the next decade. Management is aiming to capture a 50% share of the medium to large church market in the future. This represents a US$1 billion opportunity, which is many times its current revenue. Given the quality of its platform and a major recent acquisition which has bolstered its offering, I believe there is a high probability of the company achieving its target.

More reading

• $3,000 invested in these 2 shares could make you a fortune over the next 10 years
• The top ASX growth shares I would buy for the 2020s
• Sezzle shares and 2 other ASX techs soared up to 50% in the past 4 weeks
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 3 five-star ASX shares I would buy today

James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Nearmap Ltd. and PUSHPAY FPO NZX. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nearmap Ltd. and PUSHPAY FPO NZX. 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 Nearmap and this ASX mid cap share could be strong buys appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/37BZEbd

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price slumped 3.89% lower yesterday and is now down 36.6% in 2020. 

Given the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has only fallen 14.4% this year, could the Aussie oil and gas operator be in the buy zone?

Why the Santos share price has slumped lower

Santos is a leading independent oil and gas producer across the Asia-Pacific. It’s a consistent performer and is valued at $10.8 billion right now.

However, investors have been selling out of Santos shares in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic was the trigger but ASX oil shares have been hit particularly hard.

Demand for oil slumped as the travel and manufacturing industries shut down in February and March. That sparked an oil price war between OPEC+ and Russia which created a supply glut and sent the oil price plummeting lower.

While oil prices have started to stabilise, the Santos share price is still trading at a steep discount to where it started the year.

Shares don’t often fall for no reason, but there was a lot of market panic in February and March. That could mean the Aussie oil and gas producer is a cheap buy right now or could be set to fall further.

Is Santos a cheap ASX oil share to buy today?

I think any ASX oil share is a speculative buy right now. However, if I was going to be investing, I’d prefer to look at large-cap shares like Santos.

It might be worth considering if the Santos share price is cheap relative to competitors’ shares.

The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price has fallen 39.9% this year. Woodside currently has a $19.7 billion market capitalisation, making it almost double the value of Santos.

However, if you’re looking for a pure-play oil and gas share, Santos could be a good option.

Foolish takeaway

The Santos share price could be volatile in the months ahead as oil prices continue to move. However, the Aussie oil and gas giant is trading at $5.19 per share and could be a cheap buy for investors looking to take some risks.

More reading

• Coles shares and 2 other ASX 200 companies to buy in the current market
• Is the Altium share price the steal of the century?
• Got $3,000? These 5 beaten-down ASX shares are begging to be bought
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Why MOAT is my favourite ASX ETF

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 The Santos share price is down 36%! This is what I’d do today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3fvu7e2