• Founder Hits Jackpot Thanks to China’s Love of Stock Trading

    Founder Hits Jackpot Thanks to China’s Love of Stock Trading(Bloomberg) — When the coronavirus put a halt on people’s lives in China in February, Justin Jin’s old university classmates thought about selling face masks to make money. The 21-year-old suggested they instead try their luck with two stocks: Tesla Inc. and Tencent Holdings Ltd.That’s when Jin’s two friends began using the Futubull app, one of the Chinese platforms that allow mainland investors to buy foreign equities. The decision paid off. Both stocks soared as part of a global rally that has enticed a wave of novice investors.“When I first started, there were only three or four friends who used Futu,” Jin said. “Now there are at least three or four dozen.”Thanks to them and many others, Futu Holdings Ltd., a Chinese online brokerage and wealth-management platform, now counts more than 1 million registered users, a 23% increase from the first quarter. Its American depositary receipts have almost quadrupled since a low in March, propelling the fortune of its founder and chairman, Leaf Hua Li, to $1.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.Tencent EmployeeLi, 43, was Tencent’s 18th founding employee and left to start Futu after growing frustrated with the software he used to trade Hong Kong stocks, according to a CapitalWatch interview in January. The online broker, backed by the Chinese internet giant, was formally incorporated under Hong Kong law in April 2012. Li owns 40% of its outstanding shares.A company spokesman declined to comment on Li’s net worth.Retail investors have always been a driving force in China’s stock market, but with the pandemic keeping people home, more amateur traders have emerged. Futu reported a 60% surge in new paying clients — those with assets in their trading accounts — in the first quarter, with much of it coming from Hong Kong. Big-name stocks like Tencent, Tesla and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. fueled the surge during the peak of China’s coronavirus crisis in February, according to a statement.One of Futu’s main draws is that, unlike mainland competitors, it has licenses that allow users to go beyond the domestic market and buy equities from the U.S. and Hong Kong. This year’s high-profile secondary listings in the city from JD.com Inc. and NetEase Inc. have enticed more investors, as has the months-long rebound in U.S. stocks, according to Bank of China International analyst Nanyang He.“Futu has benefited from strong market sentiments in terms of raising trading velocity and increasing IPO subscription revenue,” He said.Shares SurgeFutu shares have risen 148% since the company listed in New York in March 2019, outpacing rival Up Fintech Holding Ltd., which went public the same month.While the competition is rife — Chinese brokerage firm Huatai Securities Co. just launched its own U.S. stock-trading app — Futu is betting on the increasing number of Chinese citizens looking to diversify their investments globally, He said. The company started a series of MSCI index futures products this month.Li began his career at Tencent after receiving a bachelor’s degree in computer science and technology from Hunan University in 2000. He was an early researcher of the QQ messaging software and founded Tencent Video, now one of the largest video-streaming platforms in China.Li credits his time at Tencent for building his business acumen and said he was inspired by the company’s founders, Pony Ma and Zhang Zhidong, according to the CapitalWatch interview. Tencent remains Futu’s largest institutional backer, and several of its employees were key in helping the online broker grow over the past decade.Still, Li hopes he’ll ultimately be defined by his legacy at Futu.“For a long time, people wondered why I left Tencent at its peak of growth,” Li said in the interview. “Now that Futu has made it, the weight of importance has changed.”(Updates share move since IPO in 10th paragraph)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.

    from Yahoo Finance https://ift.tt/3g7JMkc

  • Why GUD, IGO, Nitro Software, & St Barbara shares are dropping lower

    In early afternoon trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has given back its morning gains and is dropping lower. At the time of writing the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 6,006.8 points.

    Four shares falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping lower:

    The GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) share price is down 3.5% to $11.33. This decline appears to have been caused by a broker note out of Citi this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the products company’s shares to a neutral rating with a slightly reduced price target of $12.75. The broker made the move on valuation grounds after not seeing enough in its FY 2020 result to warrant the premium its shares trade at.

    The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price has crashed 13% lower to $4.81 after its guidance for FY 2020 fell short of expectations. Management expects its revenue to be $892.4 million and its underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to come in at $459.6 million. The latter is well short of Macquarie’s estimate of $530 million.

    The Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO) share price is down 8% to $1.89. This follows the release of the software company’s second quarter result. For the six months to 30 June 2020, Nitro’s cash receipts from customers were $19.1 million. This represents a 7% increase compared to the prior corresponding period. Although this has met its pre-COVID forecasts, it appears to have fallen short of the market’s expectations.

    The St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) share price has fallen 6.5% to $3.55. As well as being weighed down by general weakness in the gold mining industry, the release of its fourth quarter update appears to have underwhelmed. Although St Barbara achieved its production and cost guidance for FY 2020, its outlook for the year ahead may have been softer than hoped. The gold miner is expecting production and costs to remain largely the same in FY 2021.

    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 James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nitro Software 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 Why GUD, IGO, Nitro Software, & St Barbara shares are dropping lower appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • Visa beats estimates as quarterly profit falls 23%

    Visa beats estimates as quarterly profit falls 23%Visa shares traded down nearly 2% after market hours. The quarter was the first to reflect how spending on Visa transactions was impacted for three straight months by coronavirus-related shutdowns. Visa said total payments volume decreased 10%, on a constant dollar basis, and the number of process transactions declined 13% from a year earlier.

    from Yahoo Finance https://ift.tt/30Vgf79

  • Ecofibre share price flat on acquisition news

    hemp leaf sitting on hemp materials

    The Ecofibre Ltd (ASX: EOF) share price briefly leapt 7.6% this morning after the hemp products producer announced a strategically important acquisition. The company will acquire a portfolio of businesses and assets of a key manufacturing partner. The portfolio includes five businesses with deep technical expertise across a range of textile disciplines. This will help accelerate the transition of the company’s Hemp Black products from R&D to commercialisation. At the time of writing, the Ecofibre share price had been sold down to currently trade at $2.50. This is level with the company’s share price at Friday’s close. Ecofibre shares were placed in a trading halt on Monday pending today’s announcement. 

    What does Ecofibre do? 

    Ecofibre is a producer of hemp products in Australia and the United States. Its Hemp Black business is focused on developing naturally anti-microbial, hemp-based textiles and composite materials. Its Ananda Hemp Food brand produces Australian grown hemp food products. The Ananda Health and Professional brands produce nutraceutical products for humans and pets.

    Why has Ecofibre made the acquisition? 

    Ecofibre is acquiring the business and assets of TexInnovate which comprises a portfolio of five businesses that work as an integrated manufacturing platform. This will drive innovation and delivery for a range of products envisaged for Hemp Black. The acquisition creates an integrated value chain for Hemp Black’s key intellectual property and technology processes. 

    Ecofibre will pay US$42 million for the business. This is comprised of US$10.5 million cash, US$10.5 million in Ecofibre shares and an earnout with a value of up to US$21 million. Completion is scheduled to occur on 1 September 2020 with the acquisition funded via a $29.5 million share placement at an issue price of $2.50. 

    How has the Ecofibre share price been performing? 

    The Ecofibre share price fell throughout June but has been on an upward trajectory in July. As mentioned, the share price leapt more than 7% on opening this morning but has since pulled back with shares now trading at $2.50. In FY20, Ecofibre grew revenues by 42% to over $50.7 million with growth in sales across all businesses. Net profit after tax grew 119% to $13.2 million, above the $12.5 million previously forecast

    Ecofibre says it is in a strong financial position with cash and equivalents of $18.3 million and no debt. The company is developing the industrial hemp market through the Hemp Black business, which recently tapped into demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). Hemp Black sold around 135,000 face masks in May and June contributing $2.4 million to revenue. Mask manufacturing capacity is expected to double this quarter. 

    What’s the outlook for Ecofibre?

    Ecofibre’s businesses are performing strongly. Ananda Health is the number one hemp brand for US pharmacies, and is on track to launch in CVS in 2Q21. CVS is the largest retail pharmacy chain in the US with some 10,000 outlets. Ananda Food has seen steady growth and is building a quality customer base for the long term. This latest acquisition will speed the commercialisation of Hemp Black products. 

    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

    Motley Fool contributor Kate O’Brien 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 Ecofibre share price flat on acquisition news appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3jS8KGq

  • Xero and 1 other ASX growth share to watch in August

    wooden blocks with percentage signs being built into towers of increasing height

    Could ASX growth shares outperform in 2020? I think some strong tailwinds make for an exciting earnings season ahead.

    Why ASX growth shares could outperform this year

    The dividends versus growth argument is as old as the share market itself.

    However, I think 2020 has a compelling argument for ASX growth shares.

    The preference for ASX dividend shares is often centered around the ‘bird in the hand’ argument. That basically suggests investors prefer a certain cash flow today compared to an uncertain, potential payoff in the future.

    However, many companies have slashed dividends this year. That means 2020 could be the year that ASX growth shares outperform within the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    I’m excited about the upcoming August earnings season and I think there’s good reason why.

    Why I like Xero and 1 more strong performer to watch in August

    Shares in top ASX tech shares like Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) have been rocketing higher this year.

    However, there have been a number of top ASX growth shares quietly outperforming the benchmark index.

    The first company on my watchlist is Xero Limited (ASX: XRO). The Xero share price is up 14.7% and continuing to climb.

    Xero provides an accounting software platform targeted at small and medium enterprises. 

    That may not seem like a great business at the moment. However, Xero has some big customers locked in and that could help recurring revenue figures. 

    I also think that added complexity in business accounting over the short to medium term could be a serious tailwind. Government stimulus programs are good for cash flow but also create some accounting headaches.

    Add in the simplicity and low-cost Xero model and I think Xero’s FY20 earnings could receive a serious boost. Notably, Xero does not release its earnings alongside many of its ASX peers.

    The Kiwi accounting group is set to announce its results in November at a similar time to the ASX banks. That means the Xero share price could have further to run compared to some of its ‘WAAAX’ tech peers.

    It’s not just tech shares like Xero that I’ll be watching in August. Another New Zealand company that has caught my attention, and I’ll be keeping an eye on the A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) earnings result next month.

    A2 Milk shares have rocketed 35.6% this year and are also part of the 2020 share price outperformers’ group.

    Strong supermarket sales and steady international growth have underpinned the ASX growth share gains this year. 

    I think the technical environment remains strong for the Kiwi dairy group. Farmgate milk prices remain low and the A2 Milk brand’s expansion into other product lines has proven to be a hit.

    While a lot of future growth may already be priced in, I think A2 Milk’s earnings may be surprisingly strong next month.

    That means the ASX growth share is worth watching to see if it can propel the Kiwi dairy company’s shares to a new record high.

    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

    Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk and AFTERPAY T 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 Xero and 1 other ASX growth share to watch in August appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3f8HL67

  • APRA eases dividend restrictions, ASX bank shares rally

    Investor touching a screen with a smiley face icon on it

    In a media release today, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) updated its capital management guidance for banks and insurers.

    Updated guidance

    The guidance eases restrictions around paying dividends. As a result, this replaces its April recommendation, in which it advised that banks and insurers should be “seriously consider deferring decisions on the appropriate level of dividends until the outlook is clearer.”

    However, in today’s release, APRA has indicated boards should seek to retain at least half of their earnings when making decisions on capital distributions, conduct regular stress tests, and make use of capital buffers to absorb impact of stress.

    APRA Chair Wayne Bryes said, “today’s announcement strikes a balance in recognising the strength of the financial system, while at the same time acknowledging the difficult path ahead.”

    “APRA has therefore set an expectation that dividend payout ratios for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) will be maintained below 50% for this year,” he added.

    APRA believes that, despite the environment being risky, it is now more confident in terms of how Australia’s economy and financial institutions are being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Banks rally

    Bank share prices have rallied on the back of the news (at time of writing):

    • Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) up 1.88%
    • National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) up 1.56%
    • Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) up 1.43%
    • Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) up 1.47%

    In other bank news

    Westpac Bank announced today it will be bringing 1,000 jobs back to Australia from overseas. The decision follows a surge in demand for customer assistance. This action is expected to initially increase the bank’s costs by around $45 million per annum by the end of FY 2021.

    Commonwealth Bank released a technology update yesterday. It announced 2 strategic partnerships with Square Peg and Zetta Venture Partners to support new banking ventures in artificial intelligence, data and analytics. In addition, the bank’s technology venture building entity X15 has launched an app called Backr to help small business owners launch new digital-enabled businesses. 

    In addition, Commsec (an online broker offered by Commonwealth Bank) has seen a surge in retail investor activity in FY20 with 400,000 new accounts, which is 2.5 times that of its typical average. The increase in trading accounts could point to strong trading revenues for brokers.

    Last month, ANZ announced the sale of UDC Finance to Japan’s Shinsei Bank for NZ$762 million. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2020 calendar year.

    National Australia Bank will release its Q3 trading update on Friday 14 August 2020.

    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 Matthew Donald owns shares of National Australia Bank 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 APRA eases dividend restrictions, ASX bank shares rally appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3jQPr0g

  • ASX 200 flat: Big four banks higher, St Barbara and IGO sinks on Q4 updates

    Market up or down

    At lunch on Wednesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has given back its strong morning gains. The benchmark index is currently flat at 6,020.6 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the market today:

    Bank shares pushing higher.

    The big four banks are all pushing higher on Wednesday and doing their part to support the ASX 200 index. Investors have been buying Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and the rest of the big four after APRA provided guidance on dividends. While APRA still wants the banks to retain at least half of their earnings when making decisions on capital distributions, this is not as bad as some feared.

    St Barbara Q4 update.

    The St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) share price is dropping lower on Wednesday after the release of its fourth quarter update. During the quarter, St Barbara delivered an 18.6% quarter on quarter increase in gold production to 108,612 ounces. This was achieved at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$1,301 per ounce. This meant that St Barbara achieved its full year guidance for both production and costs. I suspect its guidance for FY 2021 could be the reason for the selling. It has guided to similar production and costs next year.

    IGO update disappoints.

    The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price has crashed lower today after the release of its quarterly update. During the fourth quarter, the nickel producer delivered revenue and other income of $231 million and underlying EBITDA of $113 million. This result would have been stronger had its Nova and Tropicana operations not reported a material rise in costs quarter on quarter. This appears to have led to its full year earnings falling short of expectations.

    Best and worst ASX 200 shares.

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Wednesday has been the AP Eagers Ltd (ASX: APE) share price with an 8% gain. This follows the release of the auto retailer’s annual general meeting update. The worst performer on the index by some distance is the IGO share price. Its shares are down 14% after the release of its quarterly update.

    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

    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 flat: Big four banks higher, St Barbara and IGO sinks on Q4 updates appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/335SHPI

  • 3 ASX 200 dividend shares you can buy now and never look back

    Hand drawing growing Dividends investment business graph with blue marker on transparent wipe board.

    It is a challenging time for investors looking for ASX 200 dividend shares that are still paying reasonable dividends. Earnings tailwinds and economic uncertainty has forced many companies to cut dividends or opt to pay none at all. Here are three blue-chip ASX 200 dividend shares with solid cash flows and a history of reliable dividend payments that you could buy for the medium to long term. 

    1. WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM) 

    WAM Capital is a listed investment company (LIC) that provides investors with exposure to an actively managed diversified portfolio of undervalued growth companies listed on the ASX. The company has more than a decade of stable or increasing dividend payments and currently has a dividend yield of 8.07%. 

    In the company’s June portfolio update, it cited that its portfolio continued to increase as coronavirus restrictions began easing and the Australian economy showed signs of recovery. Significant contributors to its positive investment portfolio performance included leading Australian healthcare and diagnostics services company Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS), service station operator Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) and Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT). In my opinion, WAM is not only one of the most reliable and consistent ASX 200 dividend shares, but also does the hard yards for investors with active portfolio management. 

    2. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) 

    Despite getting hit with a broker downgrade, I believe the recent surge in iron ore prices will continue to position BHP as a leading ASX 200 dividend share. The iron ore spot price is currently around its 12-month highs at US$105.59 per tonne which will convert to high margins for Australia’s low cost producers. BHP currently pays fully franked dividends with a yield of 5.70%. 

    3. Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR) 

    Tassal Group is a diversified seafood producer engaged in the provision of Atlantic salmon and prawns. The company trades at a relatively cheap price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 10.55 and currently pays a dividend yield of 4.89%. I believe Tassal could be a steady, future ASX 200 dividend share, having delivered a compound annual growth rate of 16.7% for revenue and 12.8% for net profit after tax over the past five years. The company sees early positive trends in customer behaviour in a COVID-19 world whereby consumers are more health conscious, want to trust what they are eating and also opt for easy to prepare meal solutions. Salmon and prawns meet such needs as healthy and sustainable proteins and Tassal has the opportunity to help increase seafood’s percentage share of plate. 

    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

    Motley Fool contributor Lina Lim 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 3 ASX 200 dividend shares you can buy now and never look back appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/335mLKX

  • Nanosonics and 2 other ASX healthcare shares to buy

    Doctor with stethoscope in hand and data graph showing upward trend

    With the word ‘COVID‘ on the tip of almost everyone’s tongue, hospitals under pressure to keep up with demand and companies racing to find a vaccine, is it time to think about investing in health?

    The ASX healthcare sector contains more than 100 companies. When I talk about healthcare, I am including healthcare equipment, services, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and even life-science companies. Given the breadth of the sector, it can certainly be daunting to try and choose a healthcare company to invest in. Here are 3 of my favourite ASX healthcare shares to consider adding to your portfolio.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    CSL (formerly known as Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) was founded over 100 years ago in Melbourne. Among the many achievements CSL has celebrated, the most recent is the development of the world’s first human papillomavirus vaccine, known as Gardasil.

    Earlier this month, CSL announced it is working to fight COVID-19 as well, by joining an industry partnership known as the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance. Needless to say, with the history of success CSL has, I’m interested to see what happens next. With its strong background in vaccines, I’m glad CSL is looking for solutions to our current pandemic.

    The CSL share price is selling at around $271.73 (at the time of writing) and although this is a littler lower that its previous high of $343 before the March crash, its returns for investors over time have been spectacular. CSL shares are up more than 700% over the last decade. Current prices represent a 20% discount on the previous high, which is another reason I feel CSL shares are worthy of portfolio consideration.

    Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

    Ramsay Health is another Aussie success story. Founded in 1964 in Sydney, Ramsay is a private healthcare provider. It has operations across multiple countries and specialises in surgery, rehabilitation and psychiatric care. Ramsay is the largest operator of private hospitals in the country, boasting 70 hospitals and day surgery units.

    Trading at around $63 (at the time of writing), Ramsay’s current share price represents a 20% discount on previous highs. Ramsay shares have grown in value approximately 370% over the last decade.

    One of the issues Ramsay has faced during the COVID-19 crisis is the suspension of elective surgeries. The company has announced that it is gradually reintroducing elective surgery now, implementing new safety measures for patients. With its strong portfolio and the recent resumption of elective surgeries, it could be a good time to consider adding Ramsay Health shares to your portfolio.

    Nanosonics Ltd. (ASX: NAN)

    Founded in 2001 and based in Sydney, Nanosonics is an innovator in infection prevention. Recognising a problem with healthcare-associated infections, Nanosonics has developed many solutions, including its signature product, the ‘trophon EPR’. This product provides a safe, simple solution to prevent ultrasound probe cross-contamination. For patients, this ensures high level disinfection and kills human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to cause cancer. Nanosonics technology is used around the world, including countries such as America, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore and many others.

    Trading around $6.20 (at the time of writing), the Nanosonics share price represents a 19% discount to previous highs. More importantly, over the last decade, Nanosonics shares have delivered a more than 1,000% return to investors. I feel that Nanosonics is a strong contender for portfolio inclusion.

    Foolish takeaway

    I’ve selected these 3 ASX healthcare shares as I feel that they are well positioned in the market and relevant to the COVID-19 crisis. Healthcare is an industry that is here forever, in some form or another. With CSL developing vaccines, Ramsay operating hospitals and Nanosonics preventing infections, they all offer a high value proposition to the healthcare space. The current pandemic only adds to that value.

    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 Glenn Leese 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. and Nanosonics Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nanosonics Limited and Ramsay Health Care 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 Nanosonics and 2 other ASX healthcare shares to buy appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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

  • Why the IGO share price is the worst performer on the ASX 200 today

    beaten down shares

    The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price crashed this morning even as the miner forecasted a big uplift in revenue and earnings.

    The nickel miner’s (formerly known as Independence Group) share price tumbled 9% to $5.03. This makes it the worst performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) at the time of writing.

    The slump is nearly twice that of the second worst performer, the GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) share price which tanked 4.9% to $11.16.

    In case you are wondering, in third spot is the NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) share price with its 3.6% loss to $1.72.

    Big uplift in revenue

    But it’s IGO that’s worse for wear as its full year forecasts fell short of market expectations. Management said that FY20 revenue would hit $892.4 million after fourth quarter sales jumped 23% quarter on quarter (QoQ) to $230.6 million.

    The full year figure is nearly $100 million ahead of what it posted last year and is the pleasing part of the update, in my view.

    The problem is that IGO is forecasting full year underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $459.6 million.

    High earnings bar

    While that’s around 35% ahead of the previous year’s result, it falls short of analysts’ expectations.

    For instance, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) was expecting management to post an operational EBIDTA of $530 million.

    Investors may have also been put off by IGO’s FY21 production guidance as the miner is expecting to produce less of its key commodities.

    Falling production in FY21

    IGO is guiding to produce between 27,000 to 29,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate at its flagship Nova mine this financial year. This compares to the 30,436 tonnes it produced in FY20.

    The amount of copper it’s hoping to mine is also lower for FY21 at 11,000 to 12,500 tonnes when it recorded 13,772 tonnes last financial year.

    Its Nova project was a real star performer in the June quarter as it delivered ahead of expectations. This perhaps created an expectation that it will keep surprising on the upside. Shareholders will be hoping management is just being conservative.

    Is IGO share price a buy?

    Forecasted gold production at IGO’s Tropicana JV mine will also fall short of FY20. The mine produced 463,100 ounces of the precious metal in total but this is expected to fall to 380,000 to 430,000 ounces in FY21. So much for capitalising on the record high gold price.

    But I suspect IGO will soon draw in bargain hunters if its shares fall much further. The outlook for nickel is bright thanks to the growth in electrified vehicles and the miner holds a strong balance sheet.

    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 Brendon Lau owns shares of Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie 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 Why the IGO share price is the worst performer on the ASX 200 today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

    from Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/2X5GOWa