ASX 200 travel shares have been hit hard in 2020, but could they be back in the buy zone today?

Why Aussie travel stocks have slumped lower

The biggest factor hitting Aussie travel shares has been the coronavirus pandemic. Countries have been shutting their borders since late February and still many domestic borders remain shut.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 18.31% in 2020 but many of the Aussie travel shares have fallen much further than that.

The extraordinary measures taken both in Australia and abroad are designed to reduce the spread of the global pandemic. However, it’s also reduced the value of ASX 200 travel shares and left shareholders blindsided by the sudden turn of events but some of the biggest travel names might have been oversold in 2020…

Can ASX 200 travel shares bounce back in 2020?

There does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel for travel companies. The Federal Government is looking to ease COVID-19 restrictions and that could soon see domestic border restrictions loosened. There’s even talk of creating a “bubble” with New Zealand to boost tourism and ease the economic burden.

That means travel shares like Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) could be in the buy zone. The Flight Centre share price has slumped 74.05% in 2020 while Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) shares are down 45.51%.

Now, I don’t think anyone believes that these travel groups should be valued what they were before. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said we may not see travel normalise until 2023 which means things have changed. Earnings have changed, dividends have changed and that means that share prices have changed. 

One bit of good news for ASX 200 travel shares is in Aussie business and the government sector. If businesses and the government are returning to work, that could mean more bookings for companies like Corporate Travel.

Foolish takeaway

ASX 200 travel shares have been hammered lower in 2020, but I think they could be oversold. Flight Centre and Corporate Travel seem like speculative buys right now, but there could be big upside for investors willing to roll the dice and add travel exposure to a diversified portfolio.

More reading

• Is the Bega Cheese share price a strong ASX buy today?
• ASX 200 storms 2% higher: Big four banks jump on COVID-19 vaccine news
• This ASX 200 tech share is sinking 5% lower after its half year update
• 3 ASX 200 dividend shares I’d buy today
• How to invest $10,000 in ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited. 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 Are ASX 200 travel shares in the buy zone? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) share price hit a new 52-week high in morning trade before dipping slightly, but is it a strong ASX buy right now?

Why the Bega Cheese share price hit a new 52-week high

It’s been a hectic start to the year for many ASX 200 shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 16.67% this year but Bega Cheese has been one of the least volatile constituents. The Aussie food company’s shares started the year at $4.32 per share and it’s lowest closing price has been $3.92 per share. That was on January 6, meaning the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t yet gripped markets.

The relative stability of Bega’s share price can partly be attributed to the fact that it operates in the Consumer Staples sector and has non-cyclical earnings. The dairy producer has also benefitted from strong supermarket sales this year as Aussies flocked to stock up on essential supplies. This strong consumer demand has trickled down from ASX supermarkets to boost suppliers like Bega this year.

This has also been good news for shareholders with the Bega Cheese share price closing at a new 52-week high of $5.29 per share yesterday before opening higher again today and rallying to $5.50 before dropping back late morning. This is in stark contrast to last year when Bega’s share price largely followed a downward trajectory resulting partly from a devastating bushfire season that hit the region around Bega particularly hard. While Australia grapples with the pandemic, many local businesses and individuals are still reeling from last summer.

But with the Bega Cheese share price rocketing 21.53% higher in 2020, is it still a strong ASX buy?

Is Bega a strong ASX buy today?

It’s great news for shareholders and the Aussie economy when Bega is doing well. However, when it comes to investing in ASX shares, I’m focused on the long-term.

I think the recent boost for Bega may be a little short-lived. There’s strong competition from the homebrand products in Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) supermarkets which are supplied by rival Murray Goulburn. On top of that, Australia’s relationship with China appears frayed which could hit Aussie exports hard.

Bega exports over 60 million units of cheese per year to approximately 40 different countries. That means the Aussie dairy group is facing some medium-term headwinds and could see earnings under pressure in 2021.

Foolish takeaway

The Bega Cheese share price has been a strong outperformer in 2020. It’s hard to bet against ASX shares with positive momentum, but no one knows what to expect right now. I wouldn’t be speculating on Bega’s short-term share price movements. Instead, I’d only buy if the long-term picture makes it a strong ASX buy for the future.

More reading

• Are ASX 200 travel shares in the buy zone?
• ASX 200 storms 2% higher: Big four banks jump on COVID-19 vaccine news
• This ASX 200 tech share is sinking 5% lower after its half year update
• 3 ASX 200 dividend shares I’d buy today
• How to invest $10,000 in ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 Is the Bega Cheese share price a strong ASX buy today? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2Th1okr

At lunch on Tuesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a very strong gain. The benchmark index is currently up 2% to 5,568.7 points.

Here’s what has been happening on the market today:

ASX 200 jumps on Moderna coronavirus vaccine news.

The ASX 200 is racing higher today after U.S. biotechnology company Moderna released phase one trial results for its coronavirus vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273. The results showed that the vaccine produced COVID-19 antibodies in all 45 participants. Moderna is aiming to start a phase 3 trial in July. This has sparked hopes that an effective vaccine could be ready in the near future.

Big four banks charge higher.

The shares of the big four banks have all responded positively to this development. All four banks are trading notably higher at lunch. The best performer in the group has been the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price with a gain of almost 4.5%. Investors may believe the banks have overestimated the provisions that will be required during the crisis.

TechnologyOne results.

The TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) share price is sliding lower on Tuesday after its half year update disappointed the market. The enterprise software company posted a 6% lift in both sales and profits during the half. This was driven by strong growth in its SaaS business once again. In respect to the full year, management expects net profit before tax to increase 8% to 12% year on year. Some investors may believe this growth doesn’t justify the premium its shares trade at.

Best and worst ASX 200 performers.

The best performer on the ASX 200 at lunch is the James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price with a 10% gain. Investors have been buying the building products company’s shares after the release of a strong full year result. The worst performer is the Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) share price with a 5% decline. Investors have been selling the gold miners after demand for safe haven assets reduced.

More reading

• Are ASX 200 travel shares in the buy zone?
• Is the Bega Cheese share price a strong ASX buy today?
• Why James Hardie, Oil Search, Webjet, & Westpac shares are jumping higher
• Why Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Mesoblast, Northern Star, & TechnologyOne are tumbling lower
• This ASX 200 tech share is sinking 5% lower after its half year update

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. 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 ASX 200 storms 2% higher: Big four banks jump on COVID-19 vaccine news appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3g3Sxwf