• Telstra and this ASX 200 share could be top picks for retirees

    Retirement shares

    As I mentioned here yesterday, when you’re in your 20s your portfolio is likely to have a higher than normal weighting to growth shares such as Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT).

    After all, if things don’t go to plan, you have time on your side to recoup your losses and grow your wealth.

    But it’s a very different story when you are approaching retirement and capital preservation and income become the key focuses.

    For those investors, I have picked out two top ASX shares which I think would be great options right now. Here’s why I think they are perfect for retirees:

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

    Goodman Group is an integrated commercial and industrial property group. It owns, develops, and manages industrial real estate in 17 countries. Among its portfolio you’ll find warehouses, large scale logistics facilities, and business and office parks. It is the warehouses and logistics facilities that attract me to the company the most. I believe these position it perfectly for growth by giving it exposure to the structural tailwinds of the ecommerce market. Especially given its relationships with the likes of Amazon and Walmart. Incidentally, the company strengthened its relationship with Amazon today. The tech giant has signed a 20-year lease for a distribution centre owned by its joint venture with Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW).

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Another share for retirees to consider buying is Telstra. The telco giant has fallen out of favour with investors over the last few years due to the NBN rollout. The loss of its fixed line revenues created a huge gap in its earnings and led to sizeable dividend cuts. However, I believe it is time to reconsider your view of the company. Firstly, I believe Telstra’s dividend is now at a sustainable level based on its current cash flows. And secondly, I’m optimistic that that a return to growth is not too far away. This is thanks to cost reductions, the simplification of its business, and the easing of the NBN headwind. This could make it an opportune time to make a patient investment in its shares.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon three under-the-radar stock picks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    He’s so confident in their future prospects that he has issued “double down” buy alerts on each of these three stocks to members of his Motley Fool Extreme Opportunities stock picking service.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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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 Telstra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO and Wesfarmers 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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  • Why I would buy and hold CSL and this quality ASX 200 share

    planning growing out of piles of coins, long term growth, buy and hold

    I continue to believe that one of the best ways to create wealth is to buy quality shares and hold them for the long term.

    This is an investment strategy used by many of the world’s richest people, including legendary investor Warren Buffett. And given Mr Buffett’s track record and net wealth, it’s hard to argue against it.

    But which ASX 200 shares should you buy and hold? I think the two ASX 200 shares listed below would be quality buy and hold options right now:

    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

    The first ASX 200 share to consider buying and holding is A2 Milk Company. It is an infant formula and fresh milk company which has delivered explosive earnings growth over the last five years. This has been driven largely by the growing appetite for its infant formula products in China.

    The good news is that the company still has a long runway for growth in this key market. This alone could underpin strong earnings growth over the coming years, but looks likely to be bolstered by its expanding fresh milk footprint, acquisitions, and new product launches.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    I think this biotherapeutics company would be a great buy and hold option. While there are concerns that the pandemic could reduce its plasma collections and have an impact on future immunoglobulin and albumin production, I expect this to be offset by higher demand for flu vaccines. Furthermore, given the high levels of unemployment because of the pandemic, I suspect that plasma collections will be easier to come by once the crisis passes.

    Looking to the future, I believe its current portfolio of therapies has the potential to drive solid earnings growth over the coming years. This should be boosted by CSL’s pipeline of lucrative therapies which have the potential to generate billions of dollars of sales over the next decade.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon three under-the-radar stock picks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    He’s so confident in their future prospects that he has issued “double down” buy alerts on each of these three stocks to members of his Motley Fool Extreme Opportunities stock picking service.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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    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 A2 Milk. 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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  • Australia could be moving towards zero emissions, these are the green companies to buy

    energy share price, ASX energy shares, wind turbine and energy production with graph line

    A report titled The Million Jobs Plan released yesterday by climate change think-tank, Beyond Zero Emissions has suggested a move toward zero emissions could create 1.78 million jobs in Australia over the next 5 years.

    This comes after the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported earlier this month that 835,000 jobs have been lost due to the coronavirus-induced recession. 

    If Australia were to make an accelerated move toward zero carbon emissions, it could provide a huge boost to companies already thriving from exposure to clean energy and emission reduction.

    The companies outlined below are well-positioned to benefit from any move toward emissions reduction.

    Infigen Energy Ltd (ASX: IFN)

    Infigen operates renewable energy assets in Australia. The company owns 7 wind farms in Australia and 1 solar farm. It also owns a grid-scale battery in South Australia. Additionally, Infigen has a further 3 renewable energy projects under development. 

    In the first half of the 2020 financial year, Infigen sold 1071 GwH of renewable electricity. This was a 17% increase on the same period in 2019. The company had net profit after tax of $26.2 million in the first half of the 2020 financial year.  Infigen has recently been subject to 2 takeover offers, however, the company has not recommended that shareholders vote in favour of either bid.

    If additional government investment is placed into renewable energy, Infigen will be well placed to take advantage of this. Further, additional subsidies for renewable energy producers could provide a boost for Infigen.

    Australian Ethical Investment Limited (ASX: AEF)

    Australian Ethical Investments is a fund manager which has an ethical charter that guides it to invest part of its funds into renewable energy. The company invests in solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and hydro renewable energy assets with none of its funds under management invested in coal or oil.

    The company expects its full-year underlying profit for the 2020 financial year to be between $6.8–$7.8 million. This is a 10% increase on the 2019 financial year. Australian Ethical Investments has no debt and boasts a liquid balance sheet.

    If stimulus goes ahead to work toward carbon reductions, this could provide a huge benefit to the renewable energy companies that Australian Ethical Investments holds an interest in. If these companies see higher profits this will mean an increase to returns on Australian Ethical Investments funds under management and will mean higher profits for the fund manager.

    Envirosuite Ltd (ASX: EVS)

    Envirosuite is an environmental consulting services company that helps its clients to monitor and control their effect on the environment. According to a company presentation, there’s been a 38 fold increase in global environmental laws in the regulation of pollution. Envirosuite’s clients include cities in China, airports and companies.

    Envirosuite aims to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) positive by the end of Q3 FY21. It also aims for revenue of $100 million per year by the end of the 2023 financial year.

    If Australia moves towards zero emissions, there will likely be incentives pushing companies towards reducing their emissions. As the economy becomes more conscious of its carbon use there will be a greater need for environmental consultancy services. This could see Envirosuite experience a positive surge in demand and bring it closer to producing profits for shareholders.

    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

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    Chris Chitty has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Australian Ethical Investment Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Australian Ethical Investment 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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  • What to expect from ASX 200 shares in FY2021

    crystal ball with bar graph inside, future share price, afterpay share price

    We are just about to round out another financial year (FY20) on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). Unlike most other advanced economies, Australia’s financial year divides June and July – which is nice considering we don’t have to do our tax returns just after Christmas.

    But with FY2021 now staring us in the face, I’m thinking about the year ahead and what it might bring for the ASX 200 and Aussie shares in general. So, here are the two main factors I think will be shaping the markets in coming financial year.

    The coronavirus pandemic

    This is an obvious one. But in reality, the coronavirus pandemic, and its associated economic restrictions, are likely to still be a major force (if not the force) driving the movements of ASX 200 and the broader share market over the next financial year. Back in March, the ASX 200 nosedived more than 35% when it became clear just how much havoc the virus was set to wreak on the economy.

    Since then, the ASX 200 has recovered considerably, but I still think things could go either way from here. We still don’t know the full extent of the damage done to our economy by the first wave of lockdowns. If it turns out to be worse than investors are expecting today, or if there is a second wave of infections and more lockdowns, this could drag ASX shares back down to the levels we saw in March and April. Fingers crossed this doesn’t happen, but as they say, ‘hope isn’t a strategy’.

    The US election

    It might be far from front and centre for us Aussies right now, but the United States is building up to what could be an extremely contentious and divisive set of elections in November of this year. Not only is President Donald Trump up for re-election against former Vice President Joe Biden, but a third of the US Senate and the entire House of Representatives is also facing the voters. We could see big swings going either way on 3 November.

    President Trump has a reputation as being more ‘business-friendly’ than Joe Biden on policy areas like taxation and healthcare. So, if Mr Biden wins the election, I’m expecting some big swings in the US markets which will likely reverberate onto the ASX. No matter what happens, I think the elections will be one of the biggest share market events of the new financial year.

    Foolish takeaway

    Much like the second half of FY20, I’m expecting gyrations, volatility and unpredictability for ASX 200 shares throughout FY21. I might be wrong, but I always think it’s a good idea to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Afterall, no one really knows what will happen on the share market until it does. So here’s to FY21 and may it bring us all success on the markets!

    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

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.

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  • Tax time 2020! 3 ways to get the most bang for your buck

    Road sign stating Tax Time Ahead,

    It’s the last day of the financial year today – and that means one thing. Yes, tax time 2020 is upon us in all its glory.

    While doing your taxes can be either time consuming or expensive (or both, depending on how you lodge), it can also be an exciting time for investors. Many people will be receiving a tax refund for the year, which is always a welcome arrival. If I’m lucky enough to receive a refund this year, it will be going straight into buying more ASX shares for my investment portfolio, but that’s just me.

    So, on that note, here are 3 ways you can help ensure you get the best bang for your buck at tax time 2020!

    Tip 1) Be sure to claim all the deductions you’re entitled to

    The size of any potential refund depends on 3 things: how much income you’ve earned over the last 12 months, how much of your spending you can claim as a tax deduction, and how much tax you’ve already paid over the year.

    It’s this combination that will determine how much money you can expect back from the taxman for FY20.

    Generally, we don’t have much say in how much tax is withheld from our salaries. And I’m confident most of us take steps to maximise our raw income. This only leaves the deductions as the best vehicle for boosting our tax returns. There are countless rules, exceptions and nuances that dictate what kind of deductions you can claim. So, remember to always check with a tax professional if you are unsure of anything. But as a general rule, if you spend money during the course of earning money, that spending is often tax deductible. Furthermore, keep in mind that other forms of spending can also constitute deductions. These include charitable donations and contributions to political parties.

    Tip 2) Don’t forget to include all assessable income

    This tip might not save you money initially. But it certainly will if you weren’t planning on declaring all the income that you should and later get found out by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Remember, if you received money from your labour or your investments over the course of the last 12 months, chances are you’ll need to declare it. This includes any gains you have banked from foreign currencies, selling shares, receiving dividends or distributions, or trading cryptocurrencies.

    Tip 3) Pay a fair price for your accountant

    Many Australians like to delegate their tax affairs to an accountant or tax professional. Whilst this might be the right move for some people, others may prefer to save money by completing their own tax return. The ATO has made it very easy to do your tax online. Most people’s income (including ASX share dividends) is now pre-completed. If you have relatively simple tax affairs, it might just be worth dedicating a few hours to managing your own return to save a couple of hundred dollars. If you do decide to employ a tax professional to look after your return, be sure to do your research so you know you’ll receive high quality service at a reasonable price.

    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.

    See The 5 Stocks

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.

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  • ASX stock of the day: Avita Therapeutics share price climbs 8.4% as company redomiciles

    Biotech shares

    After redomiciling to the United States yesterday, the Avita Therapeutics Inc (ASX: AVH) share price is up 8.4% today.

    Avita Medical’s ordinary shares were transferred to Avita Therapeutics, based out of the US state of Delaware, via a scheme of arrangements.

    What does Avita Therapeutics do? 

    Avita Medical is a regenerative medicine company with technology that addresses therapeutic skin restoration. Its RECELL system provides spray-on skin therapy used to treat burn wounds. The company’s treatment of vitiligo, traumatic wounds, scar reconstruction, and dermatological aesthetic applications with the use of RECELL is also being assessed. 

    Why did Avita Therapeutics redomicile?

    The redomiciliation will better align the company’s corporate structure with its business operations. Avita derives virtually all of its revenue from the United States. The redomiciliation will likely substantially reduce costs associated with dual financial reporting and related compliance obligations in Australia and the United States. 

    What is the effect of the redomiciliation?

    The redomiciliation means Avita’s primary listing moves from the ASX to the NASDAQ. Its listing on the ASX will be maintained. Avita shareholders effectively exchange their shares in Avita for equivalent securities in the United States entity. Eligible shareholders received 5 Avita US CHESS Depositary Interests (CDI) for every 100 shares they held. 

    How has Avita been performing?

    Total product sales more than doubled in the March quarter compared to the prior corresponding period. Avita reported total product sales of $5.9 million during the Q3 FY20, up from $2.3 million in Q3 FY19. For the 9 months ending 31 March Avita Medical recorded $15.6 million in product sales, well above the $4.2 million in sales recorded in the 9 months to March 2019. 

    The third quarter was Avita Medical’s strongest quarter since launching in the United States in January 2019. This reflects strong customer uptake, even with the COVID-19 pandemic beginning toward the end of the quarter. The company has seen consistent growth since the launch of the RECELL system, and has been somewhat insulated from the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic as treatment of burns patients is not elective or deferrable. 

    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.

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    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Kate O’Brien owns shares of Avita Medical Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Avita Medical Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical 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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  • Etherstack share price skyrockets 900% on Samsung partnership

    Rocket launching into space

    The Etherstack PLC (ASX: ESK) share price is going through the roof today after the company announced an agreement with electronics giant Samsung.

    After closing at just 12 cents yesterday, Etherstack shares are currently changing hands at $1.20 (at the time of writing) – a monumental 900% gain.

    About Etherstack

    Etherstack is a wireless technology company that specialises in developing, manufacturing, and licensing mission-critical radio technologies for wireless equipment manufacturers and network operators across the globe.

    The company has a particular focus on the public safety, defence, utilities, transportation, and resources sectors.

    Why is the Etherstack share price going nuts?

    This morning, Etherstack revealed it has signed a global teaming agreement with Samsung Electronics for public safety communications.

    Under the agreement, the companies will join forces to deliver mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) over long-term evolution (LTE) solutions to telecommunications carriers and governments around the world. End users will include first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and ambulance officers.

    The partnership will utilise Etherstack’s digital land mobile radio softswitching technologies, embedded within Samsung’s advance network solutions.

    MCPTT over LTE is an emerging cellular standard that provides public safety-grade push-to-talk solutions within 4G and 5G cellular networks.

    According to Etherstack, demand for MCPTT services and equipment has been steadily growing in the past few years and is expected to rise rapidly over the next 36 to 48 months.

    Terms of the deal

    In a follow-up ASX announcement released at midday today, Etherstack noted it will derive revenue from this agreement when the 2 companies together supply technology to Samsung’s customers.

    The agreement is expected to have an initial period of 2 years and contains conditions under which it may be extended for a further 2-year period.

    Commenting on the partnership, Wonil Roh, senior vice president and head of product strategy, networks business at Samsung, said:

    “We recognised Etherstack’s unique technologies and experience in the global LMR market, so they were the obvious choice to partner with in the MCPTT market.”

    Meanwhile, Etherstack chief executive, David Deacon, said:

    “Etherstack has been quietly working with Samsung over the past twelve months developing secure and efficient solutions to integrate public safety networks used by first responders to next generation cellular networks.”

    At the time of writing, Etherstack has a market capitalisation of around $136 million. Prior to today, this figure stood at just $14 million. If you’d rather invest in larger and less speculative companies, check out the ASX shares in the free report below.

    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.

    See The 5 Stocks

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh 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.

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  • Here’s How Much Investing $1,000 In AT&T Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today

    Here's How Much Investing $1,000 In AT&T Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth TodayInvestors who owned stocks in the 2010s generally experienced some big gains. In fact, the SPDR S&P 500's (NYSE: SPY) total return for the decade was 250.5%. But there's no question some big-name stocks did much better than others along the way.AT&T's Difficult DecadeOne underperformer of the last decade was telecom and media giant AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T).AT&T's decade was defined by two major buyout deals that significantly expanded the company's reach into the media space.In 2015, AT&T announced a $48.5 billion buyout of direct broadcast satellite service provider DirecTV. In 2018, AT&T completed an $85.4 billion buyout of media giant Time Warner and its subsidiaries, including CNN and HBO. Following the two massive buyout deals, AT&T now has nearly $200 billion in debt.AT&T shares started the 2010s trading at $28.58 and hit their decade low of $23.78 by the middle of 2010. AT&T shares then went on a tear over the next two years, peaking at $38.58 in mid-2012.From there, AT&T spent most of the next three-plus years trading sideways in a wide range of between $32 and $38. The stock finally broke out to the upside in early 2016. AT&T ultimately peaked at $43.89 in mid-2016, its high point of the decade. Since then, slowing growth and mounting debt have weighed on the stock.AT&T shares plummeted all the way down to $26.80 in late 2018 before rebounding once again to as high as $39.70 by the end of 20192020 And BeyondAT&T shares were hammered in early 2020 during the broad market COVID-19 sell-off, and the stock dropped to as low as $26.08, its lowest point since 2010. While the stock has since rebounded to around $30, it has still delivered underwhelming overall performance over the past 10 years.In fact, $1,000 worth of AT&T stock in 2010 would be worth about $2,065 today, assuming reinvested dividends.Looking ahead, analysts expect AT&T's rebound to continue in the coming months. The average price target among the 25 analysts covering the stock is $34.30, suggesting 15.3% upside from current levels.Related Links:Here's How Much Investing ,000 In The 2018 Moderna IPO Would Be Worth Today Here's How Much Investing ,000 In Roku's 2017 IPO Would Be Worth TodayPhoto by Tdorante10/Wikimedia.See more from Benzinga * Warren Buffett Says There's No Bubble In FANG Stocks, But He's Still Not Buying(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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  • Morgans picks the best FY21 ASX buys for the COVID-19 world

    The 2021 financial year looms large and a top broker shows its hand at picking the best ASX large cap stocks for the year ahead.

    Investors will need all the help they can get. While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) is on track to close FY20 on an upbeat note, FY21 is promising to be volatile.

    No one knows how the COVID-19 story will end and companies will have to live with the uncertainty for many more months.

    Those looking for an injection of confidence might want to look at Morgans’ best ASX picks. These stocks offer the highest risk-adjusted returns over a 12-month timeframe supported by a higher-than-average level of confidence, in Morgans’ view.

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL): The company is a leader in land-based gaming machines you see in bars and clubs, and its digital (social gaming) apps are also taking off. Morgans believes the company is well placed to start leveraging its meta-game capabilities to increase monetisation.

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL): The supermarket chain is a beneficiary from the COVID-19 lockdown and its gaining ground against rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) since the start of the quarter.

    Santos Ltd (ASX: STO): Morgans believes the gas producer’s diversified portfolio makes it resilient to the volatile oil price. This includes its Dorado and its newly acquired Darwin LNG projects. The bigger risk is its PNG project as the government there wants a bigger cut of the action.

    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG): The nearer-term earnings outlook for the investment bank isn’t so great but it remains well positioned to ride out the current COVID-19 period and seize opportunities on the other side.

    Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC): Morgans calls Westpac the cheapest among the big four banks. In terms of quality of overall risk profile, the broker believes WBC is a close second to sector leader Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX; CBA).

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ): The rail operators defensive quality makes it a winner in Morgans’ book. The broker said its below rail business (~50% of earnings) is volume protected via regulatory regime. Above rail coal haulage business (~43% of earnings) is partly protected by capacity charges.

    AMCOR PLC/IDR UNRESTR (ASX: AMC): Morgans calls Amcor a “very defensive business”. Over 95% of its revenue is generated from the food, beverage, healthcare, personal care and tobacco packaging sectors. These are deemed to be essential regardless of the COVID-19 situation.

    Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP): Rio Tinto is Morgans’ top pick among large cap resource stocks as it’s one of the most resilient global resource franchises. The broker sees BHP as a relatively low risk proposition given its superior diversification relative to its major global mining peers. Both miners have very strong balance sheets that will weather the crisis.

    Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU): The broker thinks CPU is a quality franchise with defensive characteristics. While it faces multiple near-term headwinds, demand for its services will get a boost from capital raisings, rising delinquent US mortgages and bankruptcy administration activity.

    APA Group (ASX: APA): Morgans calls the gas pipeline group “best-of-breed” among ASX energy infrastructure stocks. Based on FY20 dividend guidance and the current share price, forward cash yield is mid-4% plus ~35% franking. The broker believes APA is capable of growing DPS by mid-single digit CAGR across FY20-FY24.

    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.

    See The 5 Stocks

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd., BHP Billiton Limited, Macquarie Group Limited, Rio Tinto Ltd., Santos Ltd and Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Amcor Limited and Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of APA Group and COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aurizon Holdings 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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  • What does the future hold for the Qantas share price?

    plane flying across share markey graph, asx 200 travel shares, qantas share price

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX:QAN) share price could provide investors with long-term value if the airliner is successful in executing its post-COVID-19 recovery plan. Here’s why the Qantas share price could be poised for a stronger future.

    What is Qantas’ recovery plan?

    Late last week, Qantas released a market update that detailed the airliner’s 3-year strategy to recover from the pandemic. The plan revolves heavily around reducing costs by $15 billion over the next 3 years. More specifically, this includes cutting the company’s workforce and restructuring operations.

    As part of the drastic plan, Qantas announced that 6,000 jobs would be axed. Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, described the roles as “jobs we don’t see coming back for a long time”. In addition, another 15,000 of the airliner’s employees will remain stood down for the time being. Qantas also announced that 100 aircraft in its fleet will remain grounded for up to 12 months or face early retirement.

    The company also announced a huge capital raising of $1.9 billion in order to accelerate its recovery and help the airliner capitalise on new opportunities.

    Will the plan result in a stronger Qantas share price?

    The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges ever faced by the aviation industry. Despite large-scale job losses and fleet reductions, Qantas could emerge stronger from the pandemic if its recovery goes to plan.

    Recently, world renowned credit rating agency, Moody’s, tipped Qantas to recover more quickly from the pandemic than other airliners. Analysts noted that Qantas has made around 80% of its EBIT from domestic flights and its loyalty program. As such, the Aussie airliner could potentially boost its domestic capacity to help repair its balance sheet during the company’s recovery phase.

    In its recent recovery plan announcement, Qantas also noted that the airliner may pursue its ambition of delivering more non-stop international flights. These could potentially improve Qantas’ efficiency and profitability. As a result, once international travel resumes, Qantas could find itself in a better financial and operational position than some of its competitors.

    Is the current Qantas share price a buy?

    In my opinion, there is no rush to jump in and buy shares in Qantas just yet. With the August reporting season still to come, and growing fears over a second wave of coronavirus, the sector looks extremely volatile in the short term. I think a prudent strategy would be to wait until after the August reporting season to get a better idea of how the company is placed before making an investment decision.

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    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.

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