• AUD trades sideways as broader ranges narrow

    AUD trades sideways as broader ranges narrowPosted by OFX AUD – Australian Dollar The Australian dollar crept higher through trade on Tuesday, supported by underlying USD weakness and a small uptick across risk assets. Trade was choppy and moves relatively modest as ranges across currency markets narrowed. The AUD has struggled to break outside a 70 point range … Continue reading "AUD trades sideways as broader ranges narrow"The post AUD trades sideways as broader ranges narrow appeared first on .

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  • Could Fortescue and BHP shares climb higher in 2020?

    miner's hard hat on pile of coal

    Over the course of what has been a crazy and volatile year (to say the least), ASX iron ore miner shares have been a pillar of stability. It’s a rather unusual situation for ASX resources shares like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) to find themselves in. Conventionally, companies in the ASX resources sector are renowned for their volatility and tendency to rise and fall on the back of the prices their chosen commodities command at any given point.

    But in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, our biggest mining companies have, in hindsight, been some of the best shares to hold in a portfolio. Take BHP. BHP shares started the year at $38.95 and are currently trading at $37.78 (at the time of writing). That’s not bad for a year when the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is still down around 10% year to date.

    It’s an even better story for Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG). Rio shares are 2.5% into positive territory for the year on current prices, but it’s Fortescue that no one seems to have informed of the current state of the global economy. Fortescue shares are up a staggering 47% year to date. Just this morning, its shares also reached another new, all-time high of $16.10.

    Why are ASX iron ore miners hitting the roof?

    Much like a certain noble house in a certain formerly-popular TV show, it’s the iron price that counts here. Iron ore prices have had a remarkable year so far. They did fall to around US$80 per tonne in mid-March. But a supply squeeze in the large Brazilian mining industry has resulted in the iron ore price exploding in more recent months. At the time of writing, one tonne of iron ore is asking a market price of US$109.22.

    Initially, many investors feared that the supply squeeze would resolve itself and the spike in the iron ore price would be fairly temporary. But the winds are changing on this train of thought, which is why we are seeing iron miners like Fortescue reach new highs today.

    According to reporting in yesterday’s Australian Financial Review (AFR), analysts from United States bank and broker, JPMorgan, have increased their 2020 forecasts for iron ore by 2% to US$93 per tonne. The broker cited robust steel output from China as the primary catalyst for the upgrade. It also upgraded its 2021 forecasts to include a US$84 per tonne pricing target (up from US$80).

    Is it too late to buy Fortescue or BHP shares?

    I always maintain that the best time to buy ASX resources shares is when there is a low point in the commodity pricing cycle. Right now, we are at the opposite point. Therefore, I don’t think there is too much upside left to capture in the current market.

    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.

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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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  • 1st Group share price storms 150% higher on Openpay partnership

    asx growth shares

    The 1st Group Limited (ASX: 1ST) share price stormed more than 150% higher in early trade today before falling back to a more modest gain of 60% at the time of writing. The rally came after Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) released an announcement this morning regarding a strategic partnership with the company.   

    Openpay and 1st Group enter a revenue sharing partnership

    Earlier today, Openpay released its quarterly update which highlighted the company’s revenue-sharing partnership agreement with 1st Group. The agreement will allow Openpay to provide its buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment services through the MyHealth1st platform. As a result, Openpay will have exposure to various health sectors including pharmacy, dental, optometry and veterinarian services.  

    The partnership agreement spans 3 years and will see a phased roll-out of Openpay’s BNPL services across the MyHealth1st platform. The initial roll-out will be across 60 sites and will also involve Openpay marketing the MyHealth1st platform within its merchant network.

    Under the agreement, Openpay will pay for platform functionality and both companies will share reveneus generated from new customer generation.

    What does 1st Group do?

    1st Group is an Australian digital health group that provides online platofrms that allow clients to search and book appointments with health care providers. The company’s platforms include MyHealth1st.com.au, PetYeti.com.au (an online pet service portal) and corporate solutions platform, GoBookings.com. In addition to providing appointment booking services, 1st Group’s platforms also facilitate digital patient and customer engagement.

    In the company’s recent quarterly update released in late April, 1st Group reported improved metrics for the third quarter of FY20. It reported a 6.5% increase in annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the quarter of $5.26 million. Annual contract value (ACV) also increased 4.1% on the previous quarter to $6.36 million.

    In response to the coronavirus pandemic, 1st Group also launched COVID19clinics.com.au which serves as a national directory that allows customers to find testing services. The company also launched its integrated Telehealth directory in April, which aims to simplify the experience for customers.

    Foolish takeaway

    The 1st Group share price bolted more than 150% higher in early trade, hitting an intraday high of 8 cents. At the time of writing the company’s share price has been sold-off and is currently trading more than 60% higher for the day at 5 cents per share.

    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 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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  • What moved the Wesfarmers share price in June?

    retail shares wesfarmers

    Shares in ASX large cap Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) posted solid gains during the month of June, with the Wesfarmers share price hitting highs of almost $45 and closing the month at $44.83 per share. This represents a 11% increase across the month, and a 45% jump on its lows of $31 in March.

    Since the end of June, the Wesfarmers share price has continued to run higher, sitting at $46.33 at the time of writing. The conglomerate’s shares are up 10.71% for the year to date, which is an impressive gain compared to the 10.58% drop in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) during the same period.

    What moved the Wesfarmers share price in June?

    In my opinion, the Wesfarmers share price performance this year is impressive, considering its exposure as a diversified retailer. For comparison, other large cap discretionary shares such as Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) and Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) have fallen 25% and 24%, respectively, year to date.

    In June, a solid  helped charge the conglomerate’s impressive run. The company released a strong retail trading update that revealed sales were up over all its stores except Target, which saw sales drop by 1.8%. Kmart also posted disappointing growth, with its sales growth slowing to 4.1%.

    The standout performer for Wesfarmers was easily online retailer Catch, which saw online sales rise by a massive 68.7% in the half-year to date. This compares to only 21.4% in the first half of Fy20.

    In the update, Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott noted that “it was pleasing to see a gradual reopening of the economy alongside the continuation of appropriate measures with respect to COVID-19.” The recent coronavirus developments resulting in parts of Victoria re-entering lockdown may dampen some of this sentiment from Mr Scott, however.

    DIY driving share price higher

    The June update also revealed that Bunnings saw huge increases of 19.2% in sales growth for the second half of FY20, compared to only 5.8% growth during the first half. For FY20 year-to-date, sales also rose strongly for Bunnings, with the hardware superstore seeing an 11.3% increase compared to the prior corresponding period.

    The performance of Officeworks was also very strong. Sales were up by 27.8% for the second half of FY20 to date, compared to only 11.5% in the first half. Officeworks’ FY20 sales to date were also strong, up by 19.3%.

    As a result of coronavirus, Australians have been forced to stay at home and this has led to increased spending on goods to assist with working and learning. This has undoubtedly have been a factor in Officeworks’ strong growth.

    Now what

    In the calendar year to date, the group’s retail businesses delivered total online sales growth of 89%, excluding its online retailer Catch, evidence that Wesfarmers’ substantial investments in its e-commerce capabilities in recent years is clearly paying off.

    When including Catch, on a financial year to date basis, total online sales across the group increased by 60% to $1.4 billion or $1.9 billion.

    The Wesfarmers share price sits at $46.33 at the time of writing, with a $52.5 billion market capitalisation.

    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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    Motley Fool contributor Daniel Ewing has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Crown Resorts 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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  • ASX 200 jumps 1.3%: Big four banks drop lower, Afterpay up after U.S. update

    Investment stock market Entrepreneur Business Man discussing and analysis graph stock market trading,stock chart concept

    At lunch on Wednesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a very strong gain. The benchmark index is currently up 1.3% to 6,020.4 points.

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

    Big four banks acting as a drag.

    Despite the positive investor sentiment, the big four banks have failed to push higher on Wednesday. All four banks are in the red and have been acting as a drag on proceedings this morning. The worst performer in the group is the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price with a 0.7% decline. Concerns over bank dividends may be weighing on their shares.

    Afterpay update.

    The Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price is surging higher after announcing the launch of Afterpay for Apple Pay and Google Pay in the United States from this month. Co-founder and CEO, Nick Molnar, commented: “As we enter the second half of the year and retail re-emerges across the world, it’s critical we help our partners drive business growth, both online and offline. As a proven solution for driving incremental sales and new customer growth, we are thrilled to introduce our new omni-channel solution to U.S retailers as they begin to open their doors and bring shoppers back to their physical stores.”

    Woodside share price lower on impairment update.

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price is dropping lower on Wednesday after announcing material impairments because of the collapse in oil prices. According to the release, Woodside expects to recognise non-cash, post-tax impairment losses of US$3.92 billion with its first half results. This comprises $2.76 billion for oil and gas properties and $1.16 billion for exploration and evaluation assets. Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) has also done the same this morning.

    Best and worst ASX 200 shares.

    The best performing ASX 200 share on Wednesday has been the Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV) share price with a 7% gain. This is despite there being no news out of the biopharmaceutical company. The worst performer has been the Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price with a 2.5% decline. One broker that would see this as a buying opportunity is Morgan Stanley. On Monday it upgraded its shares to an overweight rating with a $13.50 price target.

    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

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of 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.

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  • This ASX share has surged 40% in 3 weeks

    child in superman outfit pointing skyward

    The 3P Learning Ltd (ASX: 3PL) share price has surged around 40% in the past 3 weeks. Let’s look at what’s fuelling this ASX share price growth and whether it’s time to invest in the company.

    Why is the 3P Learning share price surging?

    Since 3P Learning has not released any price sensitive news in the past 3 weeks, it could be assumed that investors are jumping on the company’s shares as fears grow of a ‘second wave’ of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, with a new school term beginning and debate lingering over whether kids should return, the services offered by 3P Learning could see greater demand.

    3P Learning is an online education platform that offers a range of resources that cover core subjects such as mathematics, spelling, literacy and science. The company’s platform currently boasts more than 5 million students from over 17,000 schools around the world.

    How has this ASX share performed during the pandemic?

    With many schools and institutions closing during the pandemic, there has been a rush to online education platforms. In a business update released in late April, 3P Learning reported an increase in demand for its products and services. According to the company’s management, 3P Learning expanded its staff by 10% and released 10,000 new activities in order to accommodate the demand. 

    In the company’s most recent business update released in late June, 3P Learning announced a US$10 million agreement with the National Ministry of Education in the Middle East. The deal will see 3P Learning provide Mathletics licenses and professional development services over a 12-month period.

    Should you buy?

    The coronavirus pandemic has forced traditional teaching at schools and institutions to adapt to online modes of education. Although online education providers like 3P Learning won’t be able to replace traditional teaching methods, they could serve as an excellent auxiliary service in the long term. Despite the optimism, it’s also important to note the budget restrictions of education providers as they adapt to online education modes.

    Personally, I really don’t like buying ASX shares that have rallied so hard in a short period of time, instead I prefer getting set to invest when a company’s share price is basing. I think a prudent strategy would be to either wait for the 3P Learning share price to consolidate or do further research on other education companies that could benefit in the short and long term.

    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 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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  • Why De Grey, Openpay, Woodside, & Zip shares are dropping lower

    red arrow pointing down, falling share price

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned to form on Wednesday and is storming higher. In late morning trade the benchmark index is up 1.2% to 6,012 points.

    Four shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping lower:

    The De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) share price is down 2% to 70.5 cents. This morning the gold-focused mineral exploration company announced the allotment of 19.2 million shares to DGO Gold Ltd (ASX: DGO) and 1 million shares to Peter Hood. This follows shareholder approval on 10 July 2020 and represents the 2nd Tranche of the placement initially announced on 28 April 2020.

    The Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) share price is down 4% to $4.23 following the release of its fourth quarter update. The buy now pay later provider achieved record growth across a number of leading indicators during the quarter. This includes a 229% increase in active plan numbers, a 141% lift in active customer numbers, and a 52% jump in active merchants. This ultimately led to total transaction value rising 98.2% for the full year to $192.8 million. It appears as though investors were expecting even stronger numbers.

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price is down almost 2% to $21.04. This follows an announcement by the energy producer of billions of dollars of impairments because of the collapse in oil prices. Woodside expects to recognise non-cash, post-tax impairment losses of US$3.92 billion with its first half results. This comprises $2.76 billion for oil and gas properties and $1.16 billion for exploration and evaluation assets.

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price is down 2.5% to $6.86. This follows the release of the buy now pay later provider’s fourth quarter and full year update. For FY 2020, Zip’s annualised transaction volume was ~64% higher year on year and $100 million ahead of target at $2.3 billion. This led to a 72% year on year increase in revenue to $161.2 million. Possibly weighing on its shares today is a rise in bad debts from 1.84% in the third quarter to 2.24% at the end of the fourth quarter.

    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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    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 ZIPCOLTD 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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  • Why the Electro Optic Systems share price fell 16% in June

    satellite in space orbiting the earth

    The Electro Optic Systems Hldg Ltd (ASX: EOS) share price suffered a rocky end to last month following its strong start. Electro Optic shares finished June at $4.68, despite reaching prices above $6.60 during the month.

    Since the end of June, the company’s share price has risen on the back of a recent announcement confirming negotiations were underway for a major new contract with the Australian Government.

    What does Electro Optic Systems do?

    Electro Optic Systems specialises in three sectors:

    • Defence: Electro Optic Defence Systems specialises in technology for weapon systems optimisation and integration, as well intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for land warfare. Its most notable products are its vehicle turrets and remote weapon systems.
    • Space: Electro Optic Space Systems specialises in applying optical sensors to detect, track, classify and characterise objects in space. It can be applied both for military and commercial applications. Electro Optic technology played an integral part in the successful launch of the SpaceX rocket.
    • Communication: Electro Optic Systems provides global satellite communications services and systems.

    What influenced the Electro Optic System share price?

    There was very little news out of Electro Optic over the month of June, which ended up being a month of two halves. Electro Optic traded very strongly at the start of the month after news in late May that it had completed the acquisition of satellite communications business, Audacy Corporation, before falling away strongly towards the end of the month.

    The Electro Optic share price had dropped as low as $2.98 during the coronavirus pandemic, as military spending was diverted elsewhere. However, the Electro Optic share price steadily climbed through May and early June as news of the acquisition landed.

    After reaching a high of $6.60 during early June, the return of volatility to the markets saw the Electro Optic share price reversing those gains and plunging to a low of $4.68. This was despite news of the company being added to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    What now

    Recently, Electro Optic Systems announced it had entered into contract negotiations for a deal with the Commonwealth of Australia for the acquisition of 251 remote weapon stations and related material. This sent the Electro Optic share price flying up to prices of $6.56, however it has since dropped back to a price of $5.41 at time of writing. 

    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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    Daniel Ewing has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Electro Optic Systems 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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  • Is the Boral share price next to be hit by M&A action?

    Smashed

    The Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) share price is in the spotlight as the stock is likely to be hit by corporate action or mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in FY21.

    The speculation is given a new lease on life after Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) revealed that it’s lifted its stake in the embattled building products supplier.

    The Seven Group share price jumped 3.3% to $17.43 while the Boral share price added 1.3% to $3.79 in morning trade.

    In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) gained 1.3% at the time of writing with every sector trading higher.

    M&A spotlight shines bright on Boral

    Coming back to Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group, the Australian Financial Review reported that the construction equipment rental group upped its holdings in Boral to 16.3%.

    Seven Group bought 50.5 million extra shares in Boral in July to add to its 12.2% holdings, prompting investors to ask what its game plan is.

    It’s unlikely that Seven Group will want to swallow Boral whole, in my view. Its primary interest is to split Boral into pieces and to acquire the Australian assets.

    Boral’s divestment and spin-off opportunities

    This will allow Seven Group to broaden its offering to the infrastructure construction market at a time when governments are ramping spending on projects. Our state and federal governments are using infrastructure building as a key strategy to revive our COVID-19 afflicted economy.

    Seven’s move puts further pressure on Boral’s incoming chief executive Zlatko Todorcevski, who has barely gotten his feet under his deck.

    While Todorcevski isn’t showing his hand yet, there’s speculation that he will divest Boral’s troubled US assets that were acquired under his predecessor Mike Kane.

    Boral’s road to redemption

    All of Boral’s woes can be laid at Kane’s feet as he presided over six profit downgrades over two years.

    It’s little wonder the Boral share price is a woeful underperformer after having shed more than 40% of its value over the period.

    Even the struggling CSR Limited (ASX: CSR) share price is holding up better. It too had to a few skeletons in the closet to clear but the stock only lost a more modest 11% in the past two years.

    The star of the sector is James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price, which is a key pick in the industrials space for me.

    Is the Boral share price a buy?

    But Boral may have a chance to redeem itself in this financial year with new leadership and a list of ideas from activist shareholders on how to unlock value in the group – while benefitting themselves, naturally.

    COVID-19 or no COVID-19, the next 12 months will likely be a roller coaster ride for Boral shareholders.

    Investors with a strong stomach for risk might went to hop on, although I would wait till the reporting season to decide.

    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 Brendon Lau owns shares of James Hardie Industries plc and Seven Group Holdings Limited. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

    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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  • Is the Southern Cross Media share price cheap right now?

    Woman smashes dollar sign for dividend share investment

    It’s fair to say 2020 has not been a good year for the Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX: SXL) share price. The Aussie media company’s value slumped 5.7% lower yesterday and is now down 80% in 2020.

    What does Southern Cross Media actually do?

    Southern Cross Media Group is a media provider in the communications services sector on the ASX. The group is one of Australia’s major media companies, as the parent company of Southern Cross Austereo.

    The group owns and engages in the broadcasting of content on free to air commercial radio (AM, FM and digital), TV and online media platforms across Australia. Southern Cross (formerly Macquarie Media Group) is responsible for brands including 2Day FM, Triple M and the Hit Network.

    Despite Southern Cross Media shares slumping in 2020, the company still boasts a market capitalisation of $436 million. That still keeps the Aussie media company within the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as of S&P’s latest June rebalancing.

    What do the numbers say?

    Clearly, shares in Southern Cross have been smashed this year. But they’re far from the only ones with media being one of the hardest-hit sectors alongside travel and hospitality. The likes of oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML) and Seven West Media Ltd (ASX: SWM) have also been smashed in the coronavirus-triggered sell-off.

    As a result of the recent bear market, Southern Cross Media shares currently trade at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 3.7. That means for every $3.70 paid for the share, investors would expect to receive $1 worth of earnings. That’s a great ratio, but also potentially misleading given the lagging nature of the ratio. If you still think you can rely on that number, take a look at Southern Cross’ dividend yield.

    The Aussie media share is currently paying investors a whopping 40.4% trailing dividend yield. Of course, with minimal earnings this year, I’d be more than surprised if there is any dividend in 2020.

    Given the company’s dividend yield and P/E aren’t that informative, I’d look to its most recent trading update on 6 May. Encouragingly, Southern Cross reported positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in April. That came as revenue declines were offset by cuts to operating expenses.

    The group’s net debt sat at $161.8 million as at 4 May, inclusive of the company’s $169 million equity raising announced on the same day.

    Is the Southern Cross Media share price cheap?

    Despite what the numbers say, I’m not sure if the Southern Cross Media share price is cheap right now. No investors want to be ‘trying to catch a falling knife’, particularly given so much uncertainty.

    So much has changed in the last 6 months, so at a minimum, I’d be waiting for the August earnings season before investing in Southern Cross. That should give a better idea of earnings potential and management’s outlook for FY21. With government stimulus like JobKeeper set to fall away in September/October, it could be a volatile period for Southern Cross Media shares.

    However, where there is risk there could be a reward. As the great Warren Buffett says, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful“. However, I personally think the media industry outlook is too uncertain to speculate on the company as a long-term buy right now. 

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    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended oOh!Media 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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