The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price continued its positive run on Wednesday and pushed higher again.

The banking giant’s shares are now up 18% from the 52-week low they dropped to in March.

Is it too late to invest?

While NAB is not my number one pick, I still believe its shares would be great options at the current level.

Times may be hard for the bank right now, but the cycle will eventually change and a return to better days will come. I feel this could make it worth being patient and buying its shares with a long term view.

I’m not alone in labelling NAB a buy.

Who else likes NAB?

Earlier this week analysts at Goldman Sachs reiterated their conviction buy rating and $17.50 price target on the bank’s shares.

With its shares currently changing hands at $15.60, this price target implies potential upside of greater than 12% over the next 12 months excluding dividends.

But if you include the fully franked dividends of $1.05 per share Goldman Sachs expects NAB to pay in FY 2021, this potential return stretches to almost 19%.

Why does Goldman Sachs like NAB?

The broker likes NAB due to the dramatic improvement in its operational performance in recent years. This has particularly been the case with how it manages the volume versus margin trade-off.

In addition to this, it expects NAB’s revenue momentum over the medium term to remain superior to its peers. This is expected to be driven by its overweight exposure to SME lending, which Goldman Sachs views as both a relative volume and margin tailwind versus housing.

Another reason it is positive on NAB is its costs focus. This has seen NAB deliver flat expense growth in FY 2019 and FY 2020 excluding notable items.

All these positives are expected to combine and drive the strongest pre-provision operating profit (PPOP) growth among its peers. Which, considering its 15% PPOP multiple discount to peers, Goldman Sachs feels NAB is the standout pick in the sector.

More reading

• Why the Commonwealth Bank share price is the best buy among the Big 4 banks
• Are ASX bank shares worth buying despite dividend cuts?
• Is it time to buy ASX banks?
• The ASX big bank stock most likely to outperform in the COVID-19 recovery
• 5 ASX 200 dividend shares for an economic recovery

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Are NAB shares a bargain buy? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3bMMB7p

ASX gold stocks have been on a tear and the sector is likely to remain well supported as the price of the precious metal is forecasts to hit a record high of US$2,000 an ounce in the next 12-months.

The bullish prediction comes from Joe Foster who is the portfolio manager at VanEck – the world’s largest gold exchange-traded fund, reported the Australian Financial Review.

The gold price couldn’t muster enough momentum to reach that price barrier after the GFC when it peaked at a little over US$1,900 an ounce.

But Foster highlights four reasons why it can this time round.

Gold’s 4 tailwinds

The first is the US$9 trillion ($14 trillion) in stimulus that central banks and governments around the world have pumped into the economy to soften the COVID-19 blow.

If the record amount of stimulus triggers an inflationary cycle or if the impact from the coronavirus is worse than expected, gold could even head north of US$2,000 an ounce, Foster told the AFR.

The second tailwind for gold is its ability to protect investors from any short-term deflationary shock that’s triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Works as an inflation and deflation hedge

Interestingly, gold is about the only asset that can also protect against inflation. If inflation does rear its ugly head due to the massive liquidity injection, the gold price will outperform.

Finally, ballooning sovereign debt from the stimulus is likely to devalue fiat currencies. This loss of faith in paper money is anther boon for the gold price.

The ASX gold stocks shining bright

For these reasons, Foster allocated around 20% of his portfolio to Australian gold miners. He commented that the drop in the Australian dollar rejuvenated the industry and prompted greater exploration activity.

The mid-tier ASX gold miners that he believes are great companies include Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (ASX: SAR).

However, he also likes earlier stage Australian miners. These include Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR), West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) and Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL).   

Foolish takeaway

Foster’s views follow my article on April 16 when I outlined reasons why the gold price will break new highs.   

The tailwinds supporting the commodity are unlikely to reverse or ease anytime soon. If anything, they can persist for the next few years.

This is why I have been recommending investors go overweight on the sector even as we recover from the coronavirus disaster.

While the yellow metal tends to outperform during a crisis, history shows that it keeps running well into the recovery phase.

More reading

• These are the latest ASX shares to be downgraded by top brokers
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Macquarie picks the best stocks to buy for the post COVID-19 rebound
• Why Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Mesoblast, Northern Star, & TechnologyOne are tumbling lower
• ASX 200 climbs 1% in positive start to the week

Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Evolution Mining Limited. 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 Why this expert is predicting gold to hit record high of US$2000 appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/36hMvmV