ASX 200 travel shares have been punished harshly since March. Both local and international air travel has essentially come to a grinding halt due to the harsh lockdown restrictions caused by the coronavirus crisis.

However, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has seen strong share price gains over the past two weeks, as general market sentiment continues to rise.

Growing hope for the ASX travel sector

In particular, increasing optimism is now flowing through to the ASX travel sector, as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

It is now looking more likely that domestic travel will start to slowly pick up in the months ahead. There is also the possibility that a Trans-Tasman bubble may open up travel between Australia and New Zealand.

This is helping to strongly lift the share price of a number of the heavily sold off travel shares. This includes Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD), Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) and Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN).

Here, we look at two of those companies, Webjet and Flight Centre, that have seen a strong share price rise over 30% during the past two weeks.

Webjet

The ASX share price for Webjet has soared by over 33% since 11 May. Investors are now starting to feel more optimistic that domestic flight bookings could begin to ramp up again soon.

However, Webjet’s share price is still 50% lower than what it was back in February, despite the recent share price rally. Webjet’s shares were heavily sold off during the initial phase of the coronavirus crisis, with booking almost drying up completely.

I believe that Webjet is better placed than its rival, Flight Centre in the months ahead.

It has lower overall operating costs, due to its purely online business model. I feel that this places it in a better position to weather any further dark clouds that may be on the horizon for travel.

Flight Centre

Flight Centre has been hit very harshly during the coronavirus crisis.

The travel bookings provider recently raised $700 million from institutional and retail shareholders, in a capital raising.  This will provide it with additional funds to help it get through the remainder of the travel restriction period.

The company has also been forced to undertake a range of cost-reduction initiatives. These include the loss of around 6,000 support and sales roles and the closure of a number of its retail outlets.

Rising market optimism has seen a 30.8% rally in its share price over the past two weeks.  However, Flight Centre shares are still down by over 60% since February.

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Motley Fool contributor Phil Harpur owns shares of Corporate Travel Management Limited and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group 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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Once reliable S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) dividend shares have come under fire, following uncertain earnings and challenging business conditions amidst the coronavirus pandemic. However, there are many dynamic businesses out there, surviving or even thriving in today’s unprecedented economic conditions.

Here are 3 ASX dividend shares that you could add to your income portfolio. 

1. Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) 

Fortescue is positioned front and centre to benefit from the strong iron ore spot price and weak Australian dollar. This follows mounting supply concerns for Brazil, one of China’s biggest sources of iron ore. Brazil’s confirmed coronavirus cases have soared to more than 300,000, second only to the US. 

From a demand perspective, Chinese steel mills have been ramping up production since April. Exhausting iron ore inventories will place further pressure on the iron ore spot price. While the Fortescue share price might be near record all-time highs, the resilient iron ore spot price and China’s commodity intensive recovery should see this continue. Fortescue currently pays a whopping 7.19% dividend yield, which may make it one of the most desirable and resilient ASX dividend shares to watch out for. 

2. Money3 Corporation Limited (ASX: MNY) 

Money3 provides automotive finance for the purchase and maintenance of vehicles. It estimates that approximately one in every 500 vehicles in Australia have a current Money3 loan. One in every 800 vehicles in New Zealand have a current Go Car Finance loan (the New Zealand-based auto loan company Money3 acquired in 2019). 

In a recent conference presentation, the company provided unaudited financial results for YTD March 2020. It has so far seen a 44.4% increase in revenue and 43.6% increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) compared to the prior corresponding period.

Despite the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on the Australian economy, Money3 has seen minimal impact on cash collections. It believes that government stimulus will have a positive impact on customers’ ability to continue to make payments towards their loans. It confirmed that in its New Zealand market customers continued to seek loan pre-approval during lockdown, with digital signup and contactless delivery occurring.

The minimal impact that COVID-19 has had on Money3’s cash flows and the expected rebound in the vehicle market could make the company a very strong ASX dividend share to own. Money3 currently pays a market-leading dividend yield of 5.97%. 

3. People Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: PPE) 

People Infrastructure operates in the workforce management sector, providing support to 3 main industries: health and community services, information technology, and general staffing/specialist services. The company raised $17.6 million in April to provide additional balance sheet support for the period that the business impacted by COVID-19. The funds are also marked for potential future acquisition opportunities as a result of the current volatile economic situation. 

The company provided another update to the market in May. This highlighted an expected FY20 normalised EBITDA to be in the range of $24–25 million. This would represent an approximate 35% increase on FY19 figures. It also pointed to factors that may support or increase the company’s 2020 performance. This includes continued demand for staff services across its divisions, in particular, an increase in demand for staffing in its general staffing business, a recovery in its information technology and nursing businesses. With potential tailwinds in mind, PPE also pays a 2.91% dividend yield.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares to watch this week
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• Why ASX iron ore miners may outperform this morning
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: Surging bank shares push ASX toward 6,000

Motley Fool contributor Lina Lim has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended People Infrastructure Ltd. 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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ASX 200 shares enjoyed a bumper performance last week as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) jumped 4.71% higher. There’s growing optimism about the global economy in 2020 and investors have been pouring money into shares. 

Last week I was watching CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP).

It was a tough week for CSL shareholders as the biotech giant’s shares slumped 5.06% to $276.22. A2 Milk shares edged 0.85% higher last week while the Stockland share price surged 16.29% higher by Friday’s close.

After a big week for last week’s top picks, here are the 3 ASX 200 shares I’ll be keeping my eye on in the week ahead.

3 ASX 200 shares to watch this week

I think Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shares are worth watching this week. The ASX 200 bank’s share price rocketed 10.41% last week after the company provided an update on COVID-19 impacts on Thursday. Bendigo reported a strong capital position, despite the pandemic, which looks to have boosted investors’ optimism. I think any share that rockets higher is worth watching to see if it continues to climb and outperform its peers or slump back to earth.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares are also on my weekly watch list. The ASX 200 travel share rocketed 15.85% higher and could be climbing even further this week. Travel restrictions continue to ease which is good news for Flight Centre’s earnings. If the good news continues here in Australia, I think the Flight Centre share price could be heading higher in 2020.

Finally, the St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) share price is one to watch this week. The Aussie gold miner’s shares fell 1.29% last week as many of its ASX 200 peers rocketed. Gold tends to underperform when investors are bullish which was the case last week. Despite some optimism about the current environment, however, I think there could be more volatility on the way. This could bode well for St Barbara and its gold mining compatriots.

More reading

• 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy now
• Is the Woolworths share price cheap today?
• 5 ASX 200 winners and 3 losers from last week
• Why ASX iron ore miners may outperform this morning
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: Surging bank shares push ASX toward 6,000

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 CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group 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 ASX 200 shares to watch this week appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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