• 3 exciting small cap ASX shares to put on your watchlist immediately

    man peering closely at computer screen, watching ASX 200 share prices

    The small cap side of the market is certainly higher up the risk scale. But I believe a little exposure to it can be a good thing for a portfolio, if your risk profile allows for it.

    After all, if you can identify the next Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) or Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) while they’re still small, you could generate incredible returns in the future.

    With that in mind, I have picked out three small cap ASX shares which I think would be worth watching closely:

    Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8)

    Audinate is a digital audio-visual networking technologies provider. It has achieved very strong sales growth in recent years thanks to the increasing demand for its Dante product. This award-winning audio over IP networking solution is being used widely across the professional live sound, commercial installation, broadcast, and recording industries globally. And while demand has fallen materially during the pandemic, I expect it to rebound strongly once the crisis passes.

    Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH)

    Bigtincan is a provider of enterprise mobility software. Its platform allows sales and service organisations to increase sales win rates, reduce expenditures, and improve customer satisfaction. This is achieved through improved mobile worker productivity. I believe a testament to the quality of its platform is its blue chip customer base. It counts the likes of sports giant Nike, beauty retailer Sephora, drinks company Red Bull, and one of the big four banks as customers.

    Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT)

    Volpara Health Technologies is a provider of software that uses artificial intelligence imaging algorithms to assist with the early detection of breast cancer. It has been growing at an explosive rate over the last few years thanks to the increasing popularity of its software with radiologists across North America. Thanks to the quality of its software and recent acquisitions, I believe it is well-placed to continue this strong form in FY 2021 and beyond.

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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 and recommends BIGTINCAN FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AUDINATEGL FPO and VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended AUDINATEGL FPO, BIGTINCAN FPO, Ramsay Health Care Limited, and VOLPARA FPO NZ. 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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  • U.S. Wants Chinese Scholar Who Hid in Consulate Kept in Jail

    U.S. Wants Chinese Scholar Who Hid in Consulate Kept in Jail(Bloomberg) — A Chinese researcher arrested in California is a military official who should be treated as a spy, denied bail and kept in jail while she awaits trial on visa fraud charges, U.S. prosecutors said.As Juan Tang heads back to court Friday for a hearing on whether she should be released on bail, government lawyers told a federal judge there’s a serious risk she’d try to flee with the full backing and resources of the Chinese government.China has demonstrated “every reason to assist Tang in fleeing the United States and has as its disposal means such as active consular and intelligence services, the ability to issue passports, and state-controlled air transport,” prosecutors said in a court filing. Tang’s return to China would bolster its “information collection activities” in the U.S., they said.Tang is one of several Chinese scholar visa holders in more than 25 American cities who the Justice Department suspects of having an “undeclared affiliation” with the Chinese military. Her prosecution has become a flash point of tension between the U.S. and China, which have sparred publicly by closing each other’s diplomatic missions in Houston and Chengdu.Prosecutors’ portrayal of the threat Tang poses contrasts starkly with the description by her lawyer in a Wednesday court filing of overzealous American law enforcement officials surveilling Tang’s retreat to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco for a month, and arresting her after she left the property and got medical treatment.Tang, 37, is being held in county jail in Sacramento, near where she did cancer research at University of California at Davis. A key question has been whether Tang left the consulate on her own or as the result of some agreement between the U.S. and Chinese sides.Lexi Negin, the public defender representing Tang, said the scholar voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement officials. Negin on Thursday called the U.S. accusation that the consulate would help her flee “baseless,” given that Chinese officials didn’t seize the chance to get Tang out of the country when they first learned there was a warrant for her arrest and didn’t keep her at the consulate, knowing she’d be apprehended when she left.Prosecutors said Tang’s false denials when FBI agents interviewed her at her apartment in Davis about her military affiliation and her membership in the Communist Party mirror the efforts of three other Chinese researchers in California and Indiana to cover up their pasts before they were recently charged.Tang sought shelter at the consulate in San Francisco after the agents interviewed her, according to Negin’s filing. Tang was in “hysterics” after learning of the warrant for her arrest, leading consulate officials to believe she needed to see a doctor, Negin wrote.Negin said she thinks American law enforcement officials were watching the building and followed Tang’s car to a medical office were she was treated. Negin said in an email that the details about Tang’s arrest came from a prosecutor who wasn’t personally involved in her detention.The request for Tang’s release said her husband is a doctor living with their daughter in China. Her filing says pieces of prosecutors’ evidence are “weak and lend themselves to many innocent explanations,” including photographs of Tang in military uniform.“Ms. Tang apparently attended a prestigious medical school that is run by the military in China,” according to the filing. “That does not mean that she was ‘in the military.’”The Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier this week called for Tang’s release. “China has launched solemn representations with the U.S. side urging the U.S. side to immediately release the Chinese national and ensure her legitimate and legal rights,” Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing Tuesday in Beijing.The case is U.S. v. Juan Tang, 20-MJ-96, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Sacramento).For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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  • Buy these ASX ETFs for dividends in August

    income dividend shares

    If you’re looking to add some dividend shares to your portfolio, then it could be worth considering exchange traded funds.

    This is because there are a few exchange traded funds that give you exposure to a large number of dividend shares through a single investment.

    The advantage of this is that it provides investors with the ability to diversify on a budget.

    With that in mind, here are two exchange traded funds that I think would be great options for income investors:

    Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

    The first exchange traded fund for income investors to consider buying is the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. As its name implies, this exchange traded fund has a focus on high yield shares.

    In total, the fund is invested in 66 of the highest yielding blue chip shares on the Australian share market. This comprises a diverse group of shares, with no industry accounting for more than 40% of the fund and no single company accounting for more than 10%. Among its holdings you will find the banks, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS). I estimate that its units offer a FY 2021 dividend yield somewhere in the region of 4% to 5%.

    VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

    Another exchange traded fund to consider buying is the VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF. I think this fund is a great option for investors that are wanting exposure to the banking sector, but aren’t sure which bank to buy.

    This is because the fund gives investors the opportunity to get a piece of them all through a single investment. It is invested in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and the rest of the big four banks, the regional banks, and also investment bank Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). As with the other fund, I estimate that its units currently provide a 4% to 5% partially franked FY 2021 dividend yield.

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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 Macquarie Group Limited and Telstra Limited. 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.

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  • Why this broker thinks Mesoblast shares are a strong buy

    Buy Shares

    The Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) share price could be heading higher from here according to one Australian broker.

    A note out of Lodge Partners reveals that it believes Mesoblast shares are still a strong buy despite being up 85% since the start of the year.

    Why is Lodge Partners bullish on Mesoblast?

    According to the note, the broker is bullish on the global leader in allogeneic cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases due to the potential of its Ryoncil (remestemcel-L) product candidate.

    In August Mesoblast will be having an advisory committee (AdCom) meeting with the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) to discuss Ryoncil’s use as a treatment for paediatric steroid-resistance acute graft versus host disease (paediatric SR-aGvHD).

    Lodge Partners notes that the ODAC is the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) key player in the regulation of cancer drugs. It plays a big role on whether a cancer drug gets approved or not.

    The broker appears confident that the AdCom will run smoothly. So much so, it gives the company a 95% probability of receiving FDA approval further down the line.

    Though, the broker has warned that a lot can happen between now and gaining FDA approval, so it could be a bumpy ride.

    It explained: “One thing to keep mind, the AdCom votes on exactly what is before it. It may not like one aspect of the drug in question. If that aspect can be ameliorated by a simple labelling change, the change will be made, and the drug allowed through, even if the AdCom originally voted “no”. The same can happen on the FDA’s end.”

    “The point, being there is a lot that can happen between the AdCom vote and the FDA’s final decision. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the FDA to approve drugs an AdCom has said no to and vice versa,” the broker added.

    Nevertheless, the broker is confident that a positive result is coming and has suggested investors buy shares.

    It concluded: “The path to approval for Ryoncil is now set. It just needs to get to the finish line. We have no doubt it will get there. Strong Buy maintained.”

    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!

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    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.

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  • Meet the ASX stocks that are about to get a boost from Facebook and Google

    woman holding smartphone with social media symbols

    ASX-listed media companies could soon get a big earnings uplift as online US giants are forced to pay to use their content. 

    The federal government will impose millions in fines on tech titans Facebook, Inc. Common Stock (NASDAQ: FB) and Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ: GOOG) if they breach a mandatory code of conduct. 

    The code will force the social media giants to pay to use articles generated by Australian media organisations on their platforms. 

    Google and Facebook pay to play

    This is good news for the likes of the NEWS CORP/IDR UNRESTR (ASX: NWS) share price, Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) share price and Seven West Media Ltd (ASX: SWM) share price. 

    These commercial operators can choose to negotiate with the social media companies individually or collectively. 

    If they cannot reach a deal with the US giants, they will go through three months of remediation before moving to a binding final offer arbitration. The arbitrator must choose an offer within 45 days, according to the Australian Financial Review.

    The code will be enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    Big multi-million dollar fines 

    Google and Facebook face fines of up to 10% of local turnover, $10 million or three times the benefit gained from the breach, whichever is greater. 

    The Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said during the press conference this morning when announcing the new penalties that the new rules was to create a level playing field. 

    He pointed out that Facebook and Google were arguably the most powerful media organisations in the world and that local content producers needed to be properly paid for their work. 

    Not-for-profit also covered 

    While commercial media companies can negotiate payment, public broadcasters were excluded from the monetary component of the code. 

    This is because media outlets like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) were funded by the taxpayer. 

    However, the public broadcasters can strike a deal to share data or other non-financial aspects of the code. 

    Can Facebook and Google afford to disengage? 

    We haven’t heard anything from Google or Facebook, but they have vehemently opposed such a code in the past. 

    They’ve even gone so far as to say the news content that they use generates little monetary value, prompting some to wonder if they will simply stop syndicating news stories.  

    Does this mean our listed media companies will see little monetary benefit from the new code? I don’t think so as I believe the social media platforms will not want to lose eyeballs. 

    They will also leave their flank undefended from smaller rivals who will be willing to share revenue to attract viewers, and the big boys simply won’t have it. 

    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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    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brendon Lau has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (C shares) and Facebook. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (C shares), Facebook, and Nine Entertainment Co. 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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  • Why I think Megaport shares offer enormous long-term growth potential

    lots of piggy banks, asx growth stocks

    ASX technology company Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) offers customisable, on-demand network services to corporate clients. It helps clients expand their network connectivity beyond the limits of traditional infrastructure by leveraging cloud-based technology. These services can help businesses stay connected when many staff are working remotely, as is the case right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Megaport’s cloud network services also help to facilitate more agile working environments, even when the world is functioning a little more ‘normally’.

    Megaport also gives companies the flexibility to manage their bandwidth usage: customers can scale up their bandwidth when transferring large amounts of data for major projects, and then reduce consumption during off-peak times. This allows companies to be more efficient with their data usage, cutting costs.

    Along with other tech companies like data warehouse operator NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) and internet communications company MNF Group Limited (ASX: MNF), Megaport has been one of the few success stories to emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Revenues for the June quarter surged by 12% versus the prior quarter, and were up by 66% year-on-year to $17 million. The company also expanded its presence internationally, establishing operations in both Spain and Denmark.

    Should you invest?

    Despite a recent pullback, Megaport shares have still just about doubled in price since March, and are currently trading at $13.04. This is short of the 52-week high of $15.50 they reached in early June, but still means Megaport shares have risen a little over 20% so far in 2020.

    With the economic outlook growing increasingly gloomy, many new investors may be understandably reluctant to pick up shares in companies that have already experienced strong recent gains. There is always the very real fear that a market correction is just around the corner, and the share prices of many growth companies could collapse – as they did back in March.

    However, investors should balance this trepidation against a longer-term outlook. The coronavirus pandemic has the potential to bring about permanent changes in the way we all live. Many people may have discovered that working remotely suits their lifestyles much better. Big companies may also realise that they can save huge amounts on rent and other property costs by supporting more flexible working arrangements. And these changes need to be supported by the type of strong, adaptive, agile networks that Megaport facilitates.

    Megaport has already racked up an impressive list of big-name international clients, including Adobe Inc, Tesla Inc and Zoom Video Communications Inc. This shows the importance that big, forward-thinking corporations place on creating secure, cloud-based networks for an agile workforce.

    While there may be a few bumps along the way, I think over the long-run Megaport has the potential for enormous gains.

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    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!

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    Rhys Brock has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends MEGAPORT FPO, Tesla, and Zoom Video Communications and recommends the following options: short August 2020 $130 calls on Zoom Video Communications. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended MNF Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended MEGAPORT 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.

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  • This ASX share could be perfect for a $500 buy

    Growth

    I think that ASX share Future Generation Investment Company Ltd (ASX: FGX) could be a perfect buy for a $500 investment.

    If you’re investing with $500 then you want to make sure you choose the right one.

    Shares are a great way to build wealth over the long-term. But you don’t want your first investment to go badly wrong – that might put you off shares. 

    I think the right ASX share is to go for something that could provide solid returns over the long-term.

    A quick overview of Future Generation

    Future Generation is a listed investment company (LIC). The job of a LIC is to invest in other shares on your behalf. But you can buy a LIC just like any other business on the stock exchange like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

    Many fund managers charge a management fee of around 1% (and then perhaps an outperformance fee, if it outperforms). Future Generation doesn’t charge any management fees or performance fees. Instead, it donates 1% of its net assets to youth charities. It has a noble cause.

    Future Generation doesn’t invest directly into ASX shares. Instead, it invests into the funds of Aussie fund managers who invest in ASX shares. Those fund managers also don’t charge management fees or performance fees.

    Why I think this ASX share is a great investment for $500

    These are my reasons for picking Future Generation:

    Diversification

    When you start investing you have to pick something to buy. If you choose an individual share then your entire portfolio consists of just one share. That’s not diversified at all. Even high-conviction fund managers usually have around 10 different positions in their portfolio.

    Most LICs offer a pretty diversified portfolio with at least 20 shares, perhaps several dozen positions. Future Generation is invested in the funds of around 20 funds. Each fund represents a whole portfolio of shares. So Future Generation’s underlying portfolio seems to be very diversified with different ASX shares.

    Those fund managers only put shares in the portfolio they think can produce good returns, so it’s a compelling portfolio of underlying shares.

    Dividends

    One of the best features of investing in shares is the dividends. It’s nice to get paid for no effort, apart from making the initial investment.

    Many LICs like to pay dividends to shareholders. LICs can pay a smoothed dividend to investors from the capital gains generated and dividends that the LIC receives.

    Future Generation has increased its dividend every year since 2015, when it first started paying a dividend. The LIC was only formed in September 2014. That’s a reliable record from the ASX share.

    At the current Future Generation share price it offers a grossed-up dividend yield of 7%. That’s a great yield in the current environment. 

    Performance

    A LIC’s investment performance can be measured against a benchmark. Future Generation’s benchmark is the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Accumulation Index.

    Future Generation’s gross portfolio performance has outperformed its benchmark by 3.3% over the past six months, 6% over the past year, 0.6% per annum over the past three years, 1.6% per annum over the past five years and 1.8% per annum since inception (September 2014).

    Outperformance compared to the ASX share index over the long-term is attractive.

    Cheap price

    I think Future Generation is trading at an attractive price. With exchange-traded funds (ETFs) you buy $1 of assets for $1. With LICs you can buy $1 of assets for less than $1. That’s described as a discount to the net tangible assets (NTA). I think that’s an attractive way to buy ASX shares. 

    At the end of June 2020, Future Generation had NTA per share of $1.147. That compares to the current Future Generation share price of $1.02. That’s a discount of 11%. I’d be very happy to accumulate shares at the current level.

    Legendary stock picker names 5 cheap stocks to buy right now

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of FUTURE GEN FPO. 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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  • US tech shares deliver massive results – what does it mean for ASX tech shares?

    asx tech shares

    Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB) have all reported blowout results for the June quarter as demand for technology to connect us during the COVID-19 pandemic surges. The big United States tech stocks are benefitting from the shift to digital pretty-much-everything since the onset of coronavirus. 

    Revenue and profits grow 

    Apple reported year-on-year increases in revenue across all categories and jurisdictions with consumer demand for its products accelerating as many work and study from home. Facebook surpassed analysts’ quarterly revenue estimates thanks to an increase in ad sales as monthly active users rose to 2.7 billion. 

    Amazon posted the biggest profit in its history as demand for its services soared during the pandemic. The world’s largest online retailer saw revenue increase 40% year-on-year to US$88.9 billion. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, beat market expectations with revenue of US$31.6 billion in the June quarter. The company’s cloud business in particular outperformed, increasing revenue 43% year on year to over $3 billion. 

    ASX tech shares in the spotlight

    So what does this mean for Australian technology shares? ASX tech shares have led the market comeback since March. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is up 90.1% from its March low, with the S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) up 30.7% over the same period. ASX tech shares like Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN), have spearheaded the recovery as demand for digital solutions accelerates.  

    The Afterpay share price is up 678% from its March low, with growth in key financial metrics continuing unabated throughout the pandemic. Rather than slowing in the face of economic uncertainty, demand has accelerated as people turn to eCommerce and budgeting solutions simultaneously. Afterpay reported underlying sales of $11.1 billion in FY20, more than double those of the previous year. Sales accelerated in the fourth quarter, which recorded the highest quarterly performance ever, up 127% on Q4 FY19. 

    The Kogan share price is up 345% from its March low with the online retailer reporting a spike in sales when lockdowns took place. Gross sales increased 103% year on year in April and May driving a 130% increase in gross profit across the period. The tech company reported more than 2,000,000 active customers at the end of May with founder Ruslan Kogan telling the Australian Financial Review ‘business is booming’. 

    Foolish takeaway

    ASX tech shares are feeling the same forces as their American counterparts. The move to transacting, working, studying, and shopping online is driving more people to online retailers and payment providers. These forces show no sign of letting up while the pandemic persists, and may be lasting even after it subsides. 

    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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    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Kate O’Brien owns shares of Amazon and Apple. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Kogan.com ltd and recommends the following options: short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon and long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and 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.

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  • 3 top ASX shares to buy and hold for at least a decade

    Ideas and innovation

    Buying shares and holding onto them for long periods may not be an exciting get-rich-quick strategy, but it has the potential to generate significant wealth over the long term.

    For example, a single $20,000 investment into the share market would turn into over $200,000 if it earned an average annual 10% total return over a period of 25 years.

    And if you were to add to this investment throughout the years and earn the same return, your wealth would grow materially.

    But which shares would be good buy and hold options? Here are three ASX shares which I think have the potential to provide investors with strong returns over the long term:

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    The first ASX share to consider for a buy and hold investment is this gaming technology company. Although it looks likely to experience a short term reduction in demand for its poker machines due to the pandemic, I expect its social and mobile gaming apps to thrive during the crisis. If it can retain these users when casinos reopen and business returns to normal, Aristocrat Leisure will be well-placed to accelerate its grow over the coming years.

    Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

    Another share to consider as a buy and hold investment is Kogan. I think the ecommerce company would be a top option due to the continued shift to online shopping and its increasingly popular website. In addition to this, its expansion into potentially lucrative verticals such as energy and mobile, the launch of Kogan Marketplace, and potential value accretive acquisitions should support its earnings growth in the future.

    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

    A final ASX share to consider buying and holding is Xero. The cloud-based accounting software provider has been growing at a very strong rate over the last few years and looks well-placed to continue this positive form over the 2020s. This is due to the quality of its product, the shift to cloud-based accounting, and its expansion internationally.

    Legendary stock picker names 5 cheap stocks to buy right now

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon five stocks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    These little-known ASX stocks are growing like gangbusters, yet you can buy them today for less than $5 a share. Click here to learn more.

    See these 5 cheap stocks

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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 Kogan.com ltd and Xero. 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.

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  • Fund managers have been buying these ASX shares

    ASX buy

    I like to keep an eye on the substantial shareholder notices that are released to the ASX. This is because these notices give you an idea of which shares large investors, asset managers, and investment funds are buying or selling.

    Two notices that have caught my eye this week are summarised below. Here’s what these fund managers have been buying:

    Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8)

    A change of interests of substantial holder notice reveals that a leading fund manager has taken advantage of recent share price weakness to top up its position in this digital audio networking technology provider. According to the notice, Australian Super has picked up an additional ~900,000 Audinate shares, lifting its stake to a total of 4,359,029 shares. This equates to a 6.42% interest in the company.

    The super fund has been buying shares consistently since March and as recently as 23 July when it paid an average of $5.40 for 256,196 shares. The Audinate share price is down 43% from its 52-week high after the pandemic caused demand for its products to collapse. Judging by its investment, Australian Super appears confident demand will rebound strongly once the crisis passes.

    BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX)

    Another change of interests of substantial holder notice reveals that Paradice Investment Management has been increasing its stake in this personal care products company. According to the notice, Paradice now owns ~9.2 million BWX shares, up from ~6.99 million as of its last notice. This represents a 6.775% stake in the company.

    Paradice was buying shares as recently as 27 July. On that day it picked up 250,000 shares for an average of ~$4.02 per share. It appears as though the fund manager is pleased with the way the Sukin manufacturer has turned around its fortunes after a few difficult years. Earlier this month BWX revealed that it expects to report a 25% increase in revenue to $187.6 million and a 30% lift in EBITDA (pre-AASB 16) to $27.5 million in FY 2020.

    Legendary stock picker names 5 cheap stocks to buy right now

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon five stocks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    These little-known ASX stocks are growing like gangbusters, yet you can buy them today for less than $5 a share. Click here to learn more.

    See these 5 cheap stocks

    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 AUDINATEGL FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BWX Limited. 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 Fund managers have been buying these ASX shares appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3jZAA3C