• Why Warren Buffett’s net worth has cratered in 2020

    warren buffett

    Warren Buffett – usually regarded as one of the best investors of all time – hasn’t had a particularly good 2020.

    Financially speaking, it’s been a difficult year for Buffett and his famous holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B).

    Not only has Berkshire not deployed a cent of its estimated US$137 billion cash pile (even on Berkshire stock buybacks), Buffett also sold Berkshire’s significant positions in 4 US airline companies at a hefty loss.

    Adding to that, Berkshire shares have not recovered nearly as much as the broader US markets. For some context, since 23 March, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen by just under 35% – whilst Berkshire’s Class A shares have only recovered ~12.6%. The Berkshire Class B shares have fared even more poorly, banking only 11.23%.

    According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Warren Buffett owns around 16% of Berkshire Hathaway, which means that his net worth has plunged around US$20 billion in 2020 to roughly US$69 billion.

    The AFR also noted that Buffett is now worth considerably less than Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose 13% ownership of Facebook puts him at a net worth of US$86.5 billion.

    Should Buffett fans be worried?

    Not in my opinion. This is a man who has proved he knows how to take advantage of the share market over a very long period of time to build massive wealth.

    In the past, such as during the dot-com bubble of the early 2000s, Buffett’s investing style has been out of favour for periods of time. Some new investors have dismissed him as ‘too old’ or ‘out of touch with technology’. Whilst it’s true Buffett hasn’t invested in some of the biggest US growth companies over the past decade, he has still generated meaningful returns for his shareholders at the same time as amassing one of the largest war chests on the market.

    If I were a shareholder in Berkshire Hathaway, I would feel very comfortable knowing Buffett has over US$130 billion ready to go in these uncertain times.

    Yes, Warren Buffett’s net worth (on paper) has fallen in 2020, but that doesn’t mean he’s a spent force or a ‘has been’. On the contrary, I think he’s one of the best investors to watch right now, and when he finally starts putting that US$137 billion to work, it’s a good hint to take!

    So for some shares to add to your watchlist in the meantime, make sure you don’t miss the report below!

    NEW. The Motley Fool AU Releases Five Cheap and Good Stocks to Buy for 2020 and beyond!….

    Our experts here at The Motley Fool Australia have just released a fantastic report, detailing 5 dirt cheap shares that you can buy in 2020.

    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off it’s high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

    More reading

    Sebastian Bowen 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 Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2021 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short June 2020 $205 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). 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 Warren Buffett’s net worth has cratered in 2020 appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Are these exciting small cap ASX tech shares the next Afterpay?

    Woman standing in front of computerised images, ASX tech shares

    I think that having a little exposure to the small cap side of the market can be a good thing for a portfolio.

    After all, if you unearth the next Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) when it is just starting out, you could generate significant returns.

    With that in mind, I have picked out three small cap ASX tech shares which I think could be worth a closer look. They are as follows:

    Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8)

    Audinate is a digital audio-visual networking technologies provider. It was growing at a rapid rate prior to the pandemic thanks to the significant expansion of its Dante product offering and the increased adoption by Original Equipment Manufacturers. While the pandemic will put a dampener on its growth, given the benefits it offers end users, I expect demand to pick up once the crisis passes. In addition to this, the company has recently expanded its offering into the audio-video category and could soon revolutionise this market.

    ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO)

    ELMO Software is a provider of cloud-based human resources and payroll software. Its increasingly popular unified platform allows users to streamline processes for everything from employee administration, recruitment, and payroll. It has been growing very strongly in the ANZ market and delivered a 42.8% increase in annualised recurring revenue (ARR) to $52 million during the first half. The good news is that the company has still only captured a small slice of the local market. I believe this provides it with a long runway for growth. In addition to this, as its platform is jurisdiction agnostic, I believe an international expansion is a real possibility in the future.

    Serko Ltd (ASX: SKO)

    Serko is a technology company with a focus on developing innovative solutions to address the challenges of corporate travel and expense management. It is a market leader in its category and has over 6,000 corporations and travel management companies using its platform. While Serko’s business has been negatively impacted by the pandemic, it is well-funded and appears to be positioned for a return to growth when travel markets normalise.

    And here are more top shares to buy right now. All five recommendations below look dirt cheap after the crash…

    NEW. The Motley Fool AU Releases Five Cheap and Good Stocks to Buy for 2020 and beyond!….

    Our experts here at The Motley Fool Australia have just released a fantastic report, detailing 5 dirt cheap shares that you can buy in 2020.

    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off it’s high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

    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 Serko Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. recommends Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AUDINATEGL FPO and Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Serko 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.

    The post Are these exciting small cap ASX tech shares the next Afterpay? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Is the Ampol share price in the buy zone?

    The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price has faced a turbulent past 12 months. Formerly known as Caltex Australia, the company’s recent change to its original name Ampol has meant the fuel convenience brand has largely flown under the radar in recent weeks.

    Earlier this year, the Ampol share price nudged $36 per share as the prospects of a takeover by Canadian firm Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc appeared likely. However, the double-whammy of COVID-19 and the unprecedented oversupply of oil have put pressure on this blue-chip company in recent months. This pressure led to the Ampol share price halving in value to a low of $18.32 on 23 March.

    With its shares having now rebounded to around the middle of their 52-week high/low range at $26.42, here are 3 reasons I believe Ampol may be heading back to the high 30s in the near future:

    Greater fuel demand

    The winding down of COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia will inevitably mean more cars on the road and domestic planes in the skies. That’s a good thing for Ampol.

    In his presentation to the 2020 Macquarie Conference in early May, Interim CEO Matt Halliday confirmed that retail fuel volumes had decreased by 16% in 2020 alone. At the same time, demand for jet fuel had shrunk by a staggering 80–90%. In response to these downward pressures, the company has implemented rigorous cost-cutting measures. These include a reduction of retail staff hours and executives’ compensation, and limiting its capital expenditure (capex) to below $250 million in 2020.

    Despite this challenging environment and the negative implications this may have for Ampol’s short-term cash flow, the company will benefit from the easing of restrictions. In particular, it is likely that people will use a private vehicle in their daily activities rather than take public transport, especially due to the lingering health threats of COVID-19. Additionally, the impending resumption of domestic air travel will positively impact jet fuel demand. This will allow Ampol to claw back some of its recent losses.

    Overall, the renewed demand for fuel compounded by easing COVID-19 restrictions may result in a short-term spike in the company’s share price, seeing Ampol’s shareholders benefit from the gains of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) more broadly.

    Strong future earnings outlook  

    Although FY20 will likely see Ampol underperform due to the challenging economic environment, I believe the company’s strong financial position makes it likely to outperform in FY21 and beyond.

    In its 2019 annual report to shareholders, the company showcased its robust balance sheet, featuring $35 million in cash, $2.1 billion in inventories and $1.4 billion in receivables. This substantial liquidity pipeline was also supported by the paying of 83 cents per share in fully-franked dividends, representing a handy 3.13% yield to shareholders. Whilst this yield may be on the smaller side, investors may be comforted to know the company hasn’t skipped a dividend payment since 2009.

    In addition to its strong balance sheet, Ampol’s proposed initial public offering (IPO) of a 49% stake in 250 of its service stations represents a significant opportunity for shareholders. By placing these sites in a real estate investment trust (REIT) and maintaining a majority interest in the sites, the company estimates that rental payments of $80–$100 million in the first year alone will notably improve returns. These rental payments, projected to be in the form of long-term lease agreements, will likely provide a consistent stream of capital to shareholders, perhaps in the form of an increased dividend.

    It appears as though Ampol’s management is looking to reduce its costs and provide innovative profitability opportunities – a good sign the company is heading in the right direction.

    Lingering acquisition speculation

    COVID-19 and the increased volatility of oil prices derailed a cash takeover of Ampol earlier this year. However, I believe re-negotiations between the company and Alimentation Couche-Tard appear likely in the coming months.

    Alimentation had previously offered $35.25 per share for the company. It also assured the market on 20 April that no material issues had been revealed throughout due diligence. Despite being the wrong time and place for a major deal like the one proposed, the Canadian buyer continues to see Ampol as a “strong strategic fit” as part of its Asia-Pacific business. Consequently, I wouldn’t be surprised if both parties looked to re-negotiate a deal in the coming 12 months. A buyout would facilitate a premium return for shareholders.

    Foolish takeaway

    I think the Ampol share price will experience tailwinds from an easing of lockdown restrictions and its property IPO in the coming months. The company has tightened its belt and effectively conserved capital during COVID-19. This may allow it to emerge from the pandemic relatively unscathed.

    For more shares set for post-COVID-19 growth, don’t miss the free report below.

    5 “Bounce Back” Stocks To Tame The Bear Market (FREE REPORT)

    Master investor Scott Phillips has sifted through the wreckage and identified the 5 stocks he thinks could bounce back the hardest once the coronavirus is contained.

    Given how far some of them have fallen, the upside potential could be enormous.

    The report is called 5 Stocks For Building Wealth after 50, and you can grab a copy for FREE for a limited time only.

    But you will have to hurry — history has shown the market could bounce significantly higher before the virus is contained, meaning the cheap prices on offer today might not last for long.

    See the 5 stocks

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    Motley Fool contributor Toby Thomas owns shares of Caltex Australia Ltd. 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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  • Singapore Exchange shares post steepest drop since 2008 on end of MSCI licence

    Singapore Exchange shares post steepest drop since 2008 on end of MSCI licenceShares in bourse operator Singapore Exchange Ltd suffered their steepest daily fall in more than a decade after the company said its profit would be hit when a licence to offer a suite of regional equity derivatives ends in February 2021. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd will instead host trade in the contracts, which are tied to MSCI Inc’s indexes and licensed from MSCI. Singapore Exchange estimates a potential 10-15% hit to next year’s profit as a result.

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  • Is now the right time to be buying ASX bank stocks?

    Recession

    The breathtaking rally in ASX bank stocks ensured that financials were the best performing sector on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) on Wednesday.

    Adding to the “wow factor” was volume. The big surge in big bank share prices was on the back of very high turnover.

    The Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX: ANZ) share price led the charge with an 8.6% rally to $17.94. Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is close behind with an 8% rise to $17.61, while National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) gained 7.8% to $17.94.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price was last in line but shareholders are unlikely to complain about its 4.9% jump to $64.30.  

    This buying frenzy suggests a couple of things about our market and where we might be heading.

    Pent up demand for bank stocks

    The first is that institutional investors who have been underweight banks may now be having a change of heart.

    While it’s hard to tell who was frantically buying bank stocks today, many professional investors had shunned the sector due to worries that a wave of loan defaults from the COVID-19 pandemic would bring the sector to its knees.

    But a string of better than expected economic data and updates from numerous ASX stocks exposed to discretionary spending showed things might be springing back to life as coronavirus restrictions are eased across Australia.

    This is further evidence that the worst of the coronavirus fallout is behind us and the big discount on ASX bank stocks are starting to unwind.

    Bank dividends on the way back up

    This is why three of the big banks are outperforming CBA. These stocks were trading at around a 20% discount to book value to reflect their lower quality balance sheet relative to CBA, while the outlier was trading at around 1.5 times book value.

    What I also believe is that NAB will be the only bank raising capital during this downturn and that ANZ and Westpac will resume paying dividends at their next profit results.

    CBA shareholders are the lucky ones. Our largest domestic bank has a different reporting cycle and didn’t have to declare its profit and dividend during the height of the COVID-19 disaster.

    This doesn’t mean it won’t lower its final dividend in August, but even if it does, I suspect it won’t be as much as the market expects.

    Rotation from defensive stocks

    The final observation is that investors are using defensive shares to fund their purchases of bank stocks. This includes outperformers like healthcare leader CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) and gold producers like Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

    This trend could continue, particularly for healthcare stocks, although I think it would be a mistake to go underweight on gold stocks in this environment.

    Foolish takeaway

    But this isn’t to say the banks have a clear run ahead. There are questions about what happens when the government’s JobKeeper payment ends and goodwill from loan repayments and rents run out.

    There are also concerns about falling house prices as property investors desert the market and structural changes that can shake the foundations of office and retail properties.

    However, I think these risks are manageable unless house prices fall by substantially more than 10%, we get a big second wave of COVID-19 infections, or both.

    If you have no or limited exposure to the big banks, you should be adding these stocks to your portfolio.

    5 “Bounce Back” Stocks To Tame The Bear Market (FREE REPORT)

    Master investor Scott Phillips has sifted through the wreckage and identified the 5 stocks he thinks could bounce back the hardest once the coronavirus is contained.

    Given how far some of them have fallen, the upside potential could be enormous.

    The report is called 5 Stocks For Building Wealth after 50, and you can grab a copy for FREE for a limited time only.

    But you will have to hurry — history has shown the market could bounce significantly higher before the virus is contained, meaning the cheap prices on offer today might not last for long.

    See the 5 stocks

    More reading

    Brendon Lau owns shares of Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Evolution Mining Limited, National Australia Bank Limited, and Westpac Banking. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. 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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  • New to investing? Put $500 into these top ASX 200 shares

    Money

    With the share market now out of its bear market, it could be a great time to start investing.

    Even if you only have $500 to invest, I would suggest you consider putting it into shares.

    Although it may not seem like a life-changing sum to invest, if you do it consistently you can generate material wealth.

    If you were to invest $500 every three months ($2,000 a year) and earned a 9% per annum return, in 30 years your investments would be worth $300,000.

    But which shares should start with? I think the 3 ASX 200 shares listed below would be great long-term options for investors:

    Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

    I think this electronic design software platform provider could be a long term market-beater. This is due to its extremely positive outlook thanks to its industry-leading software and the tailwinds of the Internet of Things boom. Its exposure to this rapidly growing market looks set to drive strong demand for its software for many years to come. In fact, management is targeting 50,000 software subscriptions this year, but then expects to double it to 100,000 subscriptions by FY 2025. I believe it is well-positioned to achieve this target. Which, combined with its other growing businesses, should support strong earnings growth for years to come.

    NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    Another top option for investors to consider buying is this innovative data centre-as-a-service provider. As with Altium, the wind is firmly in NEXTDC’s sails right now. This is because of the rise of cloud computing which is driving increasingly strong demand for data centre services. And given how its centres are among the highest quality in the world and strategically situated in key capital cities, I believe NEXTDC is well-positioned to capture this demand. I expect this to lead to strong earnings growth over the next decade as its scales.

    Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

    A final option to consider investing $500 into is Ramsay Health Care. Although the leading private healthcare company is not having the easiest time right now, I’m optimistic that these headwinds will ease in the coming months. After which, I believe it is well placed for solid long term growth thanks to the ageing populations tailwind. Ramsay is better positioned than most thanks to its massive footprint. At the last count it had 480 facilities across 11 countries.

    And if you have some funds leftover, these five recommendations below look like potential market beaters…

    NEW. The Motley Fool AU Releases Five Cheap and Good Stocks to Buy for 2020 and beyond!….

    Our experts here at The Motley Fool Australia have just released a fantastic report, detailing 5 dirt cheap shares that you can buy in 2020.

    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off it’s high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of NEXTDC Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Altium. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended 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 New to investing? Put $500 into these top ASX 200 shares appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Gold hits two-week low on optimism around reopening of economies

    Gold hits two-week low on optimism around reopening of economiesU.S. gold futures were down 0.6% to $1,695.80. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington was working on a strong response to China’s planned national security law for Hong Kong, adding it would be announced before the end of the week. “The biggest risk is people getting complacent and forgetting that the long-term consequences of this lockdown are not going away anytime soon and we aren’t going to have the perfect economy,” Spivak added.

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  • Top broker says this ASX stock is a better buy than Afterpay

    the words buy now pay later on digital screen, afterpay share price

    If you feel like you missed the chance to jump on the surging Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price, there could be another boat you can catch.

    They are big shoes to fill though as Afterpay is the best comeback kid on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) with the stock surging from its COVID-19 low point in March to around $45 this afternoon.

    That represents a near 500% gain when other buy now, pay later (BNPL) players have been left far behind.

    Afterpay stealing the spotlight

    Mind you, the Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price and FlexiGroup Limited (ASX: FXL) share price have also staged a strong recovery, but their 200% odd rebound isn’t quite as exciting as the bounce in Afterpay.

    The silver-lining is that FlexiGroup is far more attractively priced than Afterpay even though they both are exposed to similar tailwinds, according to UBS.

    Cheaper alternative to Afterpay

    “While COVID-19 uncertainties remain, recent feedback has been relatively positive with respect to customer arrears holding stable and resilience in BNPL,” said the broker.

    “While near-term earnings risks are high, we believe this is more than reflected in FXL’s price (9.7x FY21E PE, 6.1x FY22E ‘normal year’ PE).”

    The latest consumer survey undertaken by UBS also added to the broker’s bullish view towards the stock.

    Consumer spending coming back with debt

    What the broker found was the spending intentions were holding up better than it feared, even though consumers were looking to dip into savings and take on more debt to fulfill their shopping desires.

    That doesn’t sound particularly sustainable to me – but hey, that’s something to worry about later.

    There was also a marked increase in the number of consumers intending to use BNPL services. This went up to 7% from 4% in October last year.

    Is FlexiGroup a buy?

    Further, the survey found that 20% of respondents were looking to reduce the number of credit cards they held and 13% of them nominated BNPL as the reason for this.

    UBS is recommending FlexiGroup as a “buy” with a 12-month price target of $1.60 a share, while slapping a “sell” rating on Afterpay as it believes the stock is way overpriced.

    If you are looking for other attractively priced stocks to buy for the COVID-19 recovery, you might want to download this free report from the experts at the Motley Fool.

    Follow the free link below to find out more.

    NEW. The Motley Fool AU Releases Five Cheap and Good Stocks to Buy for 2020 and beyond!….

    Our experts here at The Motley Fool Australia have just released a fantastic report, detailing 5 dirt cheap shares that you can buy in 2020.

    One stock is an Australian internet darling with a rock solid reputation and an exciting new business line that promises years (or even decades) of growth… while trading at an ultra-low price…

    Another is a diversified conglomerate trading over 40% off it’s high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield over 3%…

    Plus 3 more cheap bets that could position you to profit over the next 12 months!

    See for yourself now. Simply click here or the link below to scoop up your FREE copy and discover all 5 shares. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.

    CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE REPORT!

    More reading

    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 ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended FlexiGroup 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 Top broker says this ASX stock is a better buy than Afterpay appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • If the ASX 200 crashes again, which shares should you sell?

    man with head in hands after looking at stock market crash on computer, asx 200 share market crash

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having another day in the green. After posting a solid day of gains yesterday (2.9%), the ASX 200 initially fell this morning on open before recovering and moving ever higher. At the time of writing, it’s sitting at 5,781 points – an impressive 27% above the lows we saw in March.

    But with the coronavirus pandemic still wreaking havoc across the economy, many investors are starting to fear another market downturn after such a spectacular return to form for the ASX 200.

    So if another market crash does hit the ASX, how should we as investors react? More importantly, which ASX 200 shares should we sell?

    The first thing that might come to mind are cyclical shares – those companies that tend to outperform in good times but underperform in bad.

    These include financials shares like the ASX banks and asset managers such as Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) or energy stocks like Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL). Organisations involved in the construction industry also tend to be cyclical. These include companies such as Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) and Boral Limited (ASX: BLD).

    If the markets get choppy, should these companies be on your chopping block?

    Should you sell ASX 200 shares in a market crash?

    Well, here’s where people can be misled by emotion or a false idea of what successful investing is all about. I don’t think any company should be sold in a market crash on the grounds that you might lose money in the short-term.

    Owning shares means owning shares of businesses, real businesses. These businesses operate within our economy, which is itself a very cyclical environment.  

    If you are happy owning a company (be it a financial, energy or construction company) during good times, then you should be happy owning it through all economic climates. If you’re not, then perhaps you shouldn’t have bought in the first place.

    One of the greatest investors of all time, Warren Buffett, still owns some shares that he bought 40 or 50 years ago. He once said his favourite time to sell is never.

    That’s the kind of attitude I think all investors should have.

    Yes, by all means, sell a company if you’re not happy with the decisions it’s making or if it can’t execute on its growth plans. Sell a company if is failing and you think it will continue to fail or if its values no longer align with your own. But the time to do this is not in the middle of a market crash – when irrational panic is driving market pricing.

    Just remember that old phrase about fixing a leaky roof when the sun is shining!

    If you’d rather buy than sell today, make sure you don’t miss the dividend share named below!

    NEW: Expert names top dividend stock for 2020 (free report)

    When our resident dividend expert Edward Vesely has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, he’s the investing genius that runs Motley Fool Dividend Investor, the newsletter service that has picked huge winners like Dicker Data (+92%), SDI Limited (+53%) and National Storage (+35%).*

    Edward has just named what he believes is the number one ASX dividend stock to buy for 2020.

    This fully franked “under the radar” company is currently trading more than 24% below its all-time high and paying a 6.7% grossed-up dividend.

    The name of this dividend dynamo and the full investment case is revealed in this brand new free report.

    But you will have to hurry — history has shown it can pay dividends to get in early to some of Edward’s stock picks, and this dividend stock is already on the move.

    See the top dividend stock for 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks. 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 If the ASX 200 crashes again, which shares should you sell? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • These beaten down ASX shares could be bargain buys

    Earlier today I looked at a few shares which have shaken off pandemic concerns and surged to record highs this week.

    Unfortunately, not all shares have been so fortunate. A number are still trading materially lower than their 52-week highs.

    For example, the two shares below are down very heavily from their highs. Here’s why I think they could be bargain buys:

    Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

    The Aristocrat Leisure share price has risen strongly this month but is still trading 30% lower than its 52-week high. Investors have been selling the gaming technology company’s shares because of the closure of casinos globally during the pandemic.

    While these closures have been a blow, it is worth noting that it has given its lucrative digital business a huge lift. The company has millions of daily active users playing its games and generating significant recurring revenues. And with casinos now reopening, I expect demand for its poker machines will start to rebound. Overall, I feel it is well-positioned for solid long term growth once the crisis passes.

    Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

    The Jumbo share price has lost 56% of its value since peaking at $27.92 in October. The catalyst for this disappointing pullback was a surprise slowdown in the online lottery ticket seller’s earnings growth in FY 2020. After years of explosive growth, this year’s earnings are only expected grow at a reasonably modest rate due to a step change in expenses to support the increase in scale of the business and planned future growth.

    However, I believe investors should look beyond this and focus on the future. These investments are expected to play a key role in the company achieving its “billion-dollar vision.” This will see the company grow its business to the point that it is processing $1 billion of tickets on the Jumbo software platform by 2022. This will be a significant lift on FY 2020’s expected ticket sales and should drive strong earnings growth over the coming years.

    And here are more top shares to consider. All five recommendations below look dirt cheap after the crash…

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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 Jumbo Interactive Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jumbo Interactive 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 These beaten down ASX shares could be bargain buys appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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