Author: therawinformant

  • ASX 200 jumps 2.6% on vaccine hopes and jobkeeper

    ASX 200

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose by 2.6% today with jobkeeper being extended as well as promising vaccine news from the UK.

    The Morrison government has announced that jobkeeper will be extended, but at a reduced rate. The $1,500 per fortnight payment will reduce to $1,200 after September and then to $1,000 per fortnight in the first three months of 2021. Businesses will have to show a continued drop in turnover to qualify. The jobseeker coronavirus payment will also reduce.

    Meanwhile, a potential vaccine in the UK is showing good signs from a clinical trial. The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca effort showed that the COVID-19 vaccine trial was safe and induced a strong antibody response in all vaccinated volunteers.

    The biggest ASX 200 news today was from the biggest resource business:

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price rises 1%

    BHP announced its FY20 production numbers earlier.

    Compared to FY19, petroleum production was down 10%, copper production was up 2%, iron ore production was up 4%, metallurgical coal production was down 3%, energy coal production was down 16% and nickel production was down 8%.

    The miner expects to achieve full year unit cost guidance at Western Australia iron ore (WAIO), Queensland coal and New South Wales energy coal. Petroleum and Escondida unit costs are expected to be slightly better than guidance.

    BHP said that Chinese domestic industrial activity has been improving, spurred on by supportive credit and fiscal policy. But a second wave of infection is a major risk. Potential negative feedback loops to China from the downturn in the rest of the world is also a potential problem.

    The ASX 200 resources company believes if China can avoid a second wave of COVID-19 then steel and pig iron production can both rise in the 2020 calendar year compared to 2019.

    Big FY20 for Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

    The online retailer released some of its FY20 revenue and profit numbers.

    FY20 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by more than 57% to $7.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by more than 149% in the fourth quarter of FY20.

    In the three months to 30 June 2020, gross sales and gross profit increased by 95% and 115% respectively. FY20 gross sales were more than $94 million and gross profit was more than $17 million.

    Kogan.com added another 109,000 active customers during June 2020 to finish FY20 with 2,183,000 active customers.

    The online retailer said it finished with cash on the balance sheet of $147 million with no debt and that doesn’t include the proceeds of the $20 million share purchase plan.

    Capital raising by Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW)

    ASX 200 share Downer is doing a capital raising to complete the acquisition of Spotless, an integrated services business.

    It’s raising $400 million to strengthen its balance sheet as well as buy the rest of Spotless. Some of the cash will be used to invest in Downer’s core business. The raising will be done with a 1 for 5.58 offer at a share price of $3.75, which is a 12% discount to the last closing price.

    Downer plans to exit ‘non-core’ businesses like its mining portfolio and laundries business. It also plans to reduce its cost base with annual saving costs of between $15 million to $20 million. It has booked restructuring costs of $142 million.

    Downer also announced some FY20 profit numbers. It expects to report underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) of between $410 million to $420 million. Underlying net profit is expected to be between $210 million to $220 million for FY20.

    However, Downer expects to recognise $386 million of charges in FY20 which includes goodwill impairment and the restructuring costs.

    The statutory FY20 loss is expected to be in the range of $150 million to $160 million.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com 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.

    The post ASX 200 jumps 2.6% on vaccine hopes and jobkeeper appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Where to invest $3,000 in ASX shares right now

    Businessman paying Australian money, ASX shares

    If you have some spare cash to invest in ASX shares right now, I believe Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) are great options.

    Here’s why they are both on my buy list right now:

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF – $2,000

    There is no doubt that ASX shares offer investors a wide range of quality companies to invest in. However, the Aussie share market only provides access to around 2% of listed global investment opportunities.

    This is why the purchase of some quality exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be a great addition to your ASX share portfolio. ETFs give you easy access to a basket of top quality global companies.

    By comparison, investing in individually listed global shares can be a complicated process. You generally need to find a broker who deals in international shares and open up a separate share trading account. Also, trying to pick winners out of the vast array of investment options can be overwhelming.

    I am particularly attracted to the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF because I believe it complements a portfolio of mostly ASX shares. This ETF seeks to track the return of the MSCI World ex-Australia Index. This includes over 1,500 of the world’s largest companies in a range of major developed countries. Its top five holdings are the tech giants Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google) and Facebook. All of these tech companies have seen share price returns well above the average returns of the  S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past 3 years.

    Carsales – $1,000

    Carsales is a locally-listed, ASX share, but also offers excellent exposure to a growing number of global markets, including Korea and Brazil. Carsales has had a commanding and entrenched position in the Australian automotive classifieds market for over a decade. This is reflected in its strong share price growth of nearly 300% during the past 10 years.

    While growth has slowed down in its local market, it still provides Carsales with a solid revenue base, which I believe is highly sustainable over the medium to long term. A growing overseas presence will also boost the company’s overall revenue growth in years to come.

    Carsales’ adjusted total revenue is predicted to be flat for FY 2020. However, if achieved, I think this will be a commendable result in what are highly challenging local market conditions. Once pandemic restrictions eventually ease, I am confident that growth is likely to return to more normal levels for Carsales.

    Foolish takeaway

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF and Carsales are two very different types of investments. But I believe both would make excellent additions to your ASX share portfolio right now. In my view, these ASX shares are well positioned for above average shareholder returns over the medium term.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Phil Harpur owns shares of carsales.com Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended carsales.com Limited 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 Where to invest $3,000 in ASX shares right now appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Afterpay and 1 other ASX tech share to buy and hold beyond 2030

    ladder going between 2020 and 2030

    The ASX tech sector is tiny when compared to the much larger United States market, which is home to tech giants such as Google and Amazon. However, there is a fast-growing base of high-quality technology companies now listed on the ASX.

    Here we look at two such ASX tech shares that are on my buy list right now for long-term growth: Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8).

    Afterpay

    The Afterpay share price has seen extraordinary gains in recent months, increasing from $8.90 in late March to currently trade at $75.05. That’s a massive gain of 743%.

    This strong growth was partly driven by a series of positive market updates, one of which was in late May. In this update, Afterpay revealed it had reached the 5 million customer milestone in the massive US market.

    The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider did see its share price hit hard in the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Back on 19 February, the Afterpay share price was trading at $40.50 before sinking to $8.90 in March. However, Afterpay’s current share price is now up by over 85% from its February high.

    Whether the strong share price growth that Afterpay has experienced recently will continue over the following months is uncertain. However, I am growing increasingly confident about the company’s long-term growth prospects. Afterpay appears to have cemented its position as one of the market leaders in the BNPL market, as this market continues to grow in popularity worldwide.

    Audinate

    Audinate is an ASX tech share that doesn’t have as high a market profile as Afterpay. But it has been quietly and successfully establishing its market presence over the past few years. Audinate utilises its audio networking solutions in the production of a range of professional audio equipment. Its core networking solutions improve audio quality and reduce the need for extra cabling and installation.

    Audinate recently reported unaudited revenue of $30.3 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2020. Unaudited EBITDA came in at $2.0 million for FY20 and Audinate had $29.3 million cash on hand as at 30 June. I believe this was a very solid result in challenging market conditions.

    I’m confident that Audinate is well poised for continued growth. Its core solution currently leads the audio market and I believe demand for its audio solutions will be robust over the next few years.

    Foolish takeaway

    Afterpay and Audinate are 2 ASX tech shares that I believe are well placed to provide above average shareholder returns over the next 5 to 10 years. I would be happy to own either of them as part of a diversified ASX share portfolio.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Phil Harpur owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AUDINATEGL FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended AUDINATEGL 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.

    The post Afterpay and 1 other ASX tech share to buy and hold beyond 2030 appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • IBM Pops 5% in Extended Trading After Quarterly Profit Beats Expectations

    IBM Pops 5% in Extended Trading After Quarterly Profit Beats ExpectationsIBM Corp. (IBM) reported better-than-estimated profit in the second quarter driven by sales of its cloud computing business sending shares up almost 5% in extended market trading on Monday.The stock surged to $132.25 in Monday’s after-market trading. IBM’s total revenue in the second quarter dropped 5.4% to $18.12 billion year-on-year, coming in above analysts’ estimates of $17.72 billion. Adjusting for the impact from currency and divested businesses, revenue slipped 1.9%. Meanwhile total cloud revenue surged 30% to $6.3 billion in the reported quarter.Excluding items, the company earned $2.18 per share, exceeding analysts’ expectations for $2.07 per share. IBM’s focus of investment has been its hybrid cloud transition and AI as clients modernize their businesses and need to enhance their work-at-home capabilities in today’s COVID-19 environment.“Our clients see the value of IBM’s hybrid cloud platform, based on open technologies, at a time of unprecedented business disruption," said IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. "We are committed to building, with a growing ecosystem of partners, an enduring hybrid cloud platform that will serve as a powerful catalyst for innovation for our clients and the world.”IBM ended the second quarter with $14.3 billion of cash on hand which includes marketable securities, up $5.2 billion from year-end 2019. Debt, including global financing debt of $21.9 billion, totaled $64.7 billion. The company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders in dividends.“Our prudent financial management in these turbulent times enabled us to expand our gross profit margin, generate strong free cash flow and improve our liquidity position," said IBM CFO James Kavanaugh. "We have the financial flexibility to continue to invest in our business and return value to our shareholders through our dividend policy.”Shares in IBM, which have climbed 6% in the past 5 days, are still down 5.7% year-to-date.Merrill Lynch analyst Wamsi Mohan reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $145 price target, saying that the company benefits from the transition to a hybrid cloud.“We expect COVID-19 impact to pressure Global Technology Services (GTS) revenues but expect margins to start to improve following the Q1 restructuring charge,” Mohan wrote in a note to investors. “However, while near term trends will be scrutinized, we think the more important catalyst will be an update from CEO Arvind Krishna at a later point in 2H20.”The analyst believes that IBM remains attractive with a 5% dividend yield and as he expects the CEO to potentially articulate his vision to drive growth some time this year.“A refocus on growth and investments should drive a positive rerating in the valuation multiple,” he added.Turning now to the rest of the Street, analysts share Mohan’s bullish outlook. The Strong Buy consensus breaks down into 4 Buy ratings versus 1 Hold rating. The $144.25 average price target suggests shares have 14% upside potential in the coming 12 months. (See IBM stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Apple iPhone SE Boosts Q2, But Unlikely To Cannibalize 5G Sales – Report Ebay On Cusp Of Selling Classified-Ads Unit To Adevinta – Report Amazon Exports From India-Based Sellers Crosses $2B Mark – Report More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * NuVasive Spikes 5% After-Hours On Sharp Procedure Rebound * Apple iPhone SE Boosts Q2, But Unlikely To Cannibalize 5G Sales – Report * AstraZeneca Drops 3.5% Even As Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate Shows Promise in Trials * Last Minute Thought: Buy or Sell IBM Before Earnings?

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  • 3 of the best ASX blue chip shares you can buy right now

    Buy ASX shares

    If you want to construct a balanced portfolio, I think having a few blue chip ASX shares is a smart move.

    Blue chip shares tend to be companies that are well-known, long-established, and have strong financial positions. In other words, they are not going anywhere any time soon, which makes them safer than the average share.

    Though, it is worth remembering that not all blue chip ASX shares are equal and some are better than others.

    Right now, I think three of the best ASX blue chip shares are the ones named below. Here’s why I like them:

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    I think this biotherapeutics company is one of the best blue chip shares to buy. Especially after a recent pullback in its share price due to concerns that the pandemic could reduce its plasma collections and have a negative impact on the cost of future immunoglobulin and albumin production. While this concern is real, I’m confident that other parts of the business, such as vaccines, will offset this. Looking further ahead, I believe its current portfolio of therapies has the potential to drive solid earnings growth over the coming years. However, this should be boosted by CSL’s pipeline of lucrative therapies under development which have significant potential.

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    I think Goodman Group is a blue chip share to buy. It is an integrated commercial and industrial property group which I believe is well-positioned for growth over the long term due to the strength of its portfolio and future developments. Especially given its focus on high-quality properties in key locations that it believes will deliver sustainable returns for investors. These include logistics and warehouse facilities which have exposure to the growing ecommerce market through relationships with Amazon, DHL, and Walmart.

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Finally, I think that Telstra is another blue chip share to buy today. Times may have been hard for the telco giant over the last few years, but things are looking a lot more positive now. This is thanks to the negative impact of the NBN rollout coming close to peaking and its T22 strategy making very positive progress. Combined with the arrival of 5G internet and rational competition, I believe Telstra’s earnings and dividend could start growing again from FY 2023.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

    More reading

    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 CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Telstra 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 of the best ASX blue chip shares you can buy right now appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Gold firms near nine-year high on stimulus bets, silver soars

    Gold firms near nine-year high on stimulus bets, silver soarsSpot gold was up 0.2% at $1,818.23 per ounce by 0510 GMT after hitting its highest since September 2011 on Monday. U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,821.10. European Union leaders reached a deal on a massive stimulus plan for their coronavirus-blighted economies after a fractious summit that went through the night and into its fifth day.

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  • 3 quality ETFs I would be adding to my ASX portfolio

    ETF spelled out on stack of coins, growth ETF

    I’m a big fan of exchange traded funds (ETFs) and believe they can be great additions to a balanced portfolio.

    This is because they allow investors to invest across a large and diverse number of different shares through just a single investment.

    There are a lot of ETFs for investors to choose from, but three of the best in my opinion are listed below. Here’s why I like them:

    BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

    The first ETF to look at buying is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. This fund gives investors exposure to the 50 largest technology and ecommerce companies that have their main area of business in Asia (excluding Japan). This includes tech giants such as Alibaba, Baidu, JD.com, and Tencent Holdings. Given that these companies are among the fastest-growing in the region, I believe this ETF could generate market-beating returns over the next decade.

    BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    The second option I would suggest investors consider buying is the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF. As its name implies, this ETF gives investors access to the famous NASDAQ 100 index. This means investors will be getting exposure to some of the largest tech companies in the world such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Netflix. Given the positive outlooks of the majority of the companies on the index, I believe the Nasdaq 100 ETF can generate strong returns for investors over the next decade.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    A final ETF for investors to consider buying is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to many of the biggest companies from indices across the world. Among the 1,579 shares that the fund gives investors access to are the likes of Apple, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, and Google parent, Alphabet. While I wouldn’t expect it to generate as strong returns as the other two ETFs, it should offer stability and also a source of income.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    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 BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS 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 3 quality ETFs I would be adding to my ASX portfolio appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • This ASX tech share has my attention

    hands holding mobile phone with exclamation mark on screen

    The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price has surged 100% since late March and is, I believe, poised to climb higher. Here’s why this ASX tech share has my attention.   

    Why this ASX tech share has piqued my interest

    What does Life360 do?

    Life360 operates a platform that aims to protect families and keep them connected. The company’s core offering is the Life360 mobile app, which is a market leading platform that has a range of location sharing, driving safety and communication features. Life360 boasts more than 28 million monthly active users (MUA) located in over 160 countries.  

    Why I’m watching Life360

    The most attractive feature of Life360’s platform is that it provides users with peace of mind. In addition to location sharing, the platform also provides SOS alerts, roadside assistance, crash detection and driver reports.

    Last week, Life360 hosted an investor briefing and provided shareholders with an overview of its new membership offering. The company’s membership tiers include a free basic package and silver, gold and platinum paid memberships. Each membership is designed to target families at different life stages, from families with new-borns or teens through to aging parents.

    As a result, the new membership options will allow the company to increase its addressable market, increase premium conversion and provide a longer user lifecycle.

    The outlook for Life360

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Life360’s operations remained strong. However, with many families confined to their homes, there was a decrease in new registrations. As a result, the company has temporarily decreased marketing expenditure and expects a short-term reduction in registration rates.

    Despite the impact of the pandemic, Life360 remains in a robust capital position with a cash balance of US$57.5 million allowing the company to fund future cash flow requirements. In addition, with the roll out of its new membership options, Life360 could be well on the way to realising its membership milestones once life returns to normal, post-pandemic.

    Should you buy this ASX tech share?

    Life360 listed on the ASX last year and is currently trading more than 26% below its 52-week high of $4.34. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how complex modern life has become and how quickly things can change. In my opinion, as a consumer subscription business, the Life360 platform addresses these concerns whilst offering great margins and a strong growth profile.

    It is also important to note that Life360 was added to the All Ordinaries (INDEXASX: XAO) during the June rebalance, indicating the long-term potential of the company. The Life360 share price has, however, had a strong run from its low in March. As such, perhaps the most prudent strategy is for investors to keep the company on watch and wait for a pullback before investing.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Nikhil Gangaram 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 This ASX tech share has my attention appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Should infrastructure be part of your investment strategy?

    Busy freeway and tollway, transurban share price

    Infrastructure is an interesting investment class, should it be part of your investment strategy?

    Some investors just group infrastructure into the same asset class as normal shares. Whereas others like to split out different types of businesses on the share market like property, infrastructure and normal businesses.

    If you want to buy shares of infrastructure businesses like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) and Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD), then you can purchase them just like if you were buying shares of CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) or Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

    What’s so good about infrastructure?

    The attraction of infrastructure is that it can offer reliable cashflow (for distributions and dividends) as well as capital growth over the long-term.

    That may sound like the same benefits of a real estate investment trust (REIT). But, there are plenty of office buildings in the CBDs of cities. Shopping centres are everywhere. Small-scale warehouses can be built in many locations across a city.

    Infrastructure offers the allure of unique assets. There is only one particular (toll) road for a transport corridor. Airports are unique. There’s only one energy grid. And so on. Infrastructure can essentially be a monopoly with reliable demand.

    Before COVID-19 came along, Transurban and Sydney Airport were two of the best ASX shares for solid income and consistent growth. Everyone appreciates being able to drive faster to work or school. If you want travel to Sydney from another state or country then flying is the only real efficient option.

    You can see the same sort of economic moat power of assets like energy transmission, energy distribution, water utilities, energy storage, telecommunications assets and so on. They are all strong, defensive ideas. 

    Is infrastructure a good investment today?

    COVID-19 has really put a spanner in the works of many infrastructure businesses. Airports are hardly seeing any passengers at the moment. Sydney Airport is currently showing the number of passengers is down by more than 90% each month, though domestic passengers has slightly increased compared to April and May.

    Toll roads are seeing a return of some traffic, but not all of it. Some people may be trying to save some money and some office workers are still at home.

    It’s hard to say what the right price to pay for Transurban and Sydney Airport is. Low interest rates theoretically increase the valuations of assets. But COVID-19 has caused a large drop in earnings. Who knows when passengers will start flying in the same numbers again? Will a vaccine or healthcare treatment be completely approved, leading to a possible return to life as we knew it before COVID-19 came along?

    One option could be an infrastructure investment fund like Magellan Infrastructure Fund (ASX: MICH), which is currency hedged. It’s invested in a variety of different infrastructure businesses like Transurban, Atmos Energy, Crown Castle International, Red Electrica, Eversource and Enbridge.

    When you’re invested in a fund of infrastructure assets then you don’t have as much asset-specific risk and you don’t need to worry about which particular infrastructure shares to own at any given time. Over the past year and three years the Magellan Infrastructure Fund has outperformed its global infrastructure benchmark by 7.3% and 5.9% per annum respectively.

    My preferred ASX infrastructure share

    In terms of individual ASX infrastructure shares, my favourite pick is actually APA Group (ASX: APA).

    The business owns a vast network of 15,000km of natural gas pipelines around Australia with a presence in every mainland state and the Northern Territory. It also owns or has interests in gas storage facilities, gas-fired power stations and renewable energy generation (wind and solar farms). APA owns, or manages and operates, a portfolio of assets worth more than $21 billion and delivers half the nation’s natural gas usage.

    APA has increased its distribution every year for the past decade and a half. I think it’s a very dependable share.

    Foolish takeaway

    I think infrastructure can be worth a spot in an investment portfolio. If you want a diversified infrastructure allocation then something like Magellan’s offering could work well, otherwise I think APA is the best pick today.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

    More reading

    Tristan Harrison 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 APA Group, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Magellan Infrastructure Fund. 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 Should infrastructure be part of your investment strategy? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy this week

    Dollar signs arrows pointing higher

    Unfortunately for savers and income investors, it looks likely to be a long time until interest rates return to “normal” levels again.

    Don’t worry, though, because the Australian share market can help you overcome low interest rates.

    But which ASX dividend shares should you buy out of the hundreds to choose from? Two high yield dividend shares that I would buy are listed below:

    Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

    I think Fortescue could be a top dividend share to buy right now. This is thanks to very strong iron ore prices and the mining giant’s low costs and improving grades. Combined, this appears to have put Fortescue in a position to deliver very strong free cash flows in FY 2020 and FY 2021.

    And given the hard work the company has put into strengthening its balance sheet in recent years, I believe the majority of this free cash flow will be returned to shareholders. Based on the current Fortescue share price, I estimate that this could mean a forward fully franked dividend in the region of ~6%.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Another ASX dividend share to consider buying is Rural Funds. It is a property company which has a diverse portfolio of high quality agricultural assets leased on long term tenancy agreements to the likes of Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) and Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV).

    Given how its tenancy agreements include fixed rent increases, I believe the company is well-placed to grow its income and distribution at a solid and predictable rate over the next decade. This certainly will be the case in FY 2021, with management intending to lift its distribution by 4% to 11.28 cents per share. Based on the current Rural Funds share price, this equates to a generous 5.5% distribution yield.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended RURALFUNDS STAPLED and Treasury Wine Estates 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 2 high yield ASX dividend shares to buy this week appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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