• Is the Transurban share price a good buy right now?

    Green traffic light in front of city office building

    The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price was hit hard during the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Its share price declined from $16.33 on 11 February to $10.50 on 20 March.

    Since then its share price has regained over half of those losses and is currently trading at $14.15.

    Easing of coronavirus restrictions has led to a progressive recovery in traffic on its tollways in local markets.

    So, does the Transurban share price offer good value to investors right now?

    Traffic volumes begin to recover

    Earlier this week, Transurban reported that it has been witnessing a progressive recovery in traffic on its toll networks across Australia. This positive trend began in mid-April, in line with the staged lifting of government lockdown restrictions, as the number of active coronavirus cases gradually dropped.

    Prior to this, there has had been a significant decline in traffic numbers from early March due to COVID-19 restrictions.

    Toll road traffic, however, has been recovering much more slowly in Transurban’s North American market, due to harsher lockdown restrictions.

    Transurban also acknowledged that traffic levels on its toll roads will remain highly sensitive to any further government action.

    Just in the last few days, the Victorian government has announced that it may re-introduce even stricter lockdown measures in selected areas of Melbourne. This is due to a worrying recent trend of double-digit coronavirus infections across the past week. This recent surge in new cases indicates that Australia still has a long path ahead to fully contain the virus.

    Strong balance sheet remains  

    Transurban also revealed earlier this week that it remains in a strong liquidity position. Sufficient funds remain available to meet any capital requirements that may arise before mid next year. This also places the toll road operator in a position to take advantage of any investment opportunities that may arise.

    Transurban also declared a final dividend payment for this financial year of 16 cents per share. This brings its total FY20 dividend distribution to 47 cents per share.

    Is the Transurban share price in the buy zone?

    With the Transurban share price still well down on where it was before the coronavirus pandemic hit, I think now offers a reasonable buying opportunity for patient investors with a long-term investment horizon. Traffic volumes should eventually get back to normal.

    Transurban owns a virtual monopoly on the toll roads in Australia’s 2 largest cities; Sydney and Melbourne and have an expanding overseas presence. I believe it remains well-placed to capitalise on a growing population in these locations over the next 5–10 years.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

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    Motley Fool contributor Phil Harpur has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Transurban Group. 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 retailers beware! Amazon.com is gearing up for its next major attack

    fall, take hit, punch, boxing

    The retail sector isn’t spared from the sharp market sell-off today. But Amazon.com will give them something extra to sweat about as it prepares a major assault on the industry.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) tumbled 1.5% in late morning trade as fears of a second spike in COVID-19 cases dragged on sentiment.

    Most consumer discretionary shares on the ASX fell in sympathy and news that Amazon.com is looking to aggressively expand in Australia is adding pressure.

    Aggressive expansion

    The US online shopping giant is planning on setting up one of the nation’s biggest warehouses in Western Sydney and searching for a mega facility in Melbourne, according to the Australian Financial Review.

    Amazon.com is undoubtedly capitalising on the big shift to online shopping brought on by the coronavirus lockdown.

    While Amazon’s entry into Australia three years ago hasn’t posed much of a threat to local retailers, at least not in my opinion, this may be about to change.

    Good time to attack

    There’s also no better time to go on the offence when the sector is getting hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic.

    The AFR reports that Amazon will occupy a 190,000 square meter multi-level fulfilment centre at Goodman Group’s (ASX: GMG) Oakdale West Estate in Kemps Creek.

    Amazon is also said to be hunting for additional warehouse space up to 80,000 square meters in Melbourne.

    It was only two weeks ago that Amazon announced plans for a new warehouse in Brisbane on another site owned by Goodman.

    What’s also noteworthy is that Amazon’s 2019 sales nearly doubled to $562 million in 2019 from $292 million the year before, and the AFR believes 2020 will be an even bigger year.

    The ASX stocks also benefiting from COVID-19

    But it isn’t only Amazon that’s benefitting from the big shift to online shopping. Our home-grown mini-Amazon Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) is also reaping the spoils from the crisis.

    There’s a host of other retailers that are similarly benefitting from the structural change. The Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) share price surged nearly 30% after reporting a jump in online sales for its print-on-demand products.

    The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price is another noteworthy outperformer today. Shares in the footwear retailer jumped 10% on the back of a positive trading update.

    Others in the sector that have benefitted from the stay-at-home thematic include Bunnings and Officeworks owner Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

    Let’s also not forget electronics and furniture retailer Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) and kitchen appliance maker Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG).

    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 Brendon Lau owns shares of Breville Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group and REDBUBBLE 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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  • Can 5G help push the Telstra share price higher by 2021?

    Man pushing large rock up hill with sunrise in background

    The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has dropped significantly since mid-February, falling from $3.89 on 11 February to $3.14 at the time of writing, a decline of 19%.

    A number of companies on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), have regained a significant proportion of their early phase coronavirus losses since March. However, the Telstra share price saw its downward trend continue until the end of April, falling to $2.99. Since then, Telstra shares have only recovered slightly.

    So, can the launch of 5G services drive the Telstra share price higher?

    Telstra must go beyond its T22 strategy

    Telstra was the undisputed king of the Australian telco market for several decades. It owned the national fixed line network for broadband and voice, and therefore was able to set the price that it charged to other telcos using its network. This flowed through to high margins and high company profits. 

    Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) has changed all that.

    Telstra no longer owns the national network. Australia’s largest telco now operates on a level playing field with other telcos such as Optus, TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) and Vocus Group Ltd (ASX: VOC).

    In a March market update, Telstra commented that it is on track to achieve most of its T22 strategy goals. This includes reducing underlying fixed costs by $2.5 billion annually by the end of FY22. This strategy will help it evolve into a leaner, more efficient telco provider in a new era of Australian telecommunications.

    However, I believe that Telstra must go further than just cost-cutting and restructuring if it is to grow its business over the longer term.

    Launching new 5G services is a key way that Telstra can achieve this.

    Why 5G could be the game changer for Telstra

    By offering wireless mobile broadband via its own 5G network, this will enable Telstra to bypass the NBN.  Telstra will also be able to obtain higher profit margins.

    In late May, Telstra reached a significant milestone in its 5G rollout, will 5G coverage switched on in selected areas of 47 cities and larger regional towns across Australia.

    Telstra’s 5G network has reached speeds of over 700 Mbps – that’s 7 times the current speed of the 4G network. It’s also faster than the plans nearly of all existing NBN customers. It is also significantly faster than its main 5G rival Optus, which currently only offers maximum speeds of 400 Mb/s.

    Can 5G lift the Telstra share price higher?

    5G mobile broadband access is unlikely to ever fully replace NBN’s fixed broadband access. However, it could see Telstra potentially expand its mobile subscriber market share over the next few years. This could flow through to higher revenue, higher profitability and potentially a higher share price.

    However, with a full 5G launch not expected until later this year or early next year, I don’t anticipate any positive impact on Telstra’s share price until well into 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Phil Harpur owns shares of Telstra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Telstra 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 down 1.8%: CSL announces new acquisition, Qantas to raise $1.9bn

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

    At lunch on Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looks set to end its positive run with a sizeable decline. The benchmark index is down 1.8% to 5,858.9 points.

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

    Qantas announces $1.9 billion equity raising.

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price is in a trading halt today while it undertakes a $1.9 billion equity raising. This equity raising comprises a $1.4 billion fully underwritten placement to institutional investors and a $500 million share purchase plan. The airline operator is raising the funds at $3.65 per share, which represents a 12.9% discount to its last close price.

    CSL acquisition.

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price is pushing higher today after announcing another new acquisition. The biotherapeutics company has agreed to acquire AMT-061 from Nasdaq-listed gene therapy company, uniQure for US$450 million. AMT-061, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, could be one of the first gene therapies to provide potentially long-term benefits to patients with haemophilia B. One dose of AMT-061 has shown to increase Factor IX plasma levels to a degree that reduces or eliminates the tendency for bleeding for many years.

    Amazon expansion.

    Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) appear to have found a tenant for their warehouse development at Oakdale West. This morning Brickworks responded to speculation that Amazon will be moving into the warehouse, which will be one of the biggest in the country. It advised that it is in advanced discussions with a customer, but gave no assurance as to whether a transaction will occur.

    Best and worst ASX 200 shares.

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday is the Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) share price with a 3% gain. This is despite there being no news out of the medical device company. However, earlier this week one fund manager suggested that its shares were undervalued. The worst performer has been the Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price with a 7% decline. Investors appear concerned over the state of the domestic travel 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.

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    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. and POLYNOVO FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel 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.

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  • Why Evolution, IDP Education, Oil Search, & Webjet shares are dropping lower

    shares lower

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed the lead of U.S. markets and is tumbling lower in morning trade. At the time of writing the benchmark index is down 1% to 5,908.1 points.

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

    The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is down 3% to $5.44. Investors have been selling Evolution after even the gold price came under pressure overnight during the market selloff. It isn’t just Evolution tumbling lower. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is down 2% at the time of writing.

    The IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) share price is down 4% to $15.60. This follows an announcement which reveals that The Board of Education Australia has sold 14,062,999 shares via an underwritten block trade of shares to institutional investors. Education Australia received $219 million for the shares, which equates to $15.55 per share. Following the sale, Education Australia retains 111,334,485 IDP shares, which represents 40% of its issued share capital.

    The Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) share price is down 3.5% to $3.18. Investors have been selling Oil Search and other energy shares on Thursday after a pullback in oil prices overnight. Concerns over record U.S. crude inventories and a spike in COVID-19 cases led to WTI crude oil falling almost 6% during overnight trade.

    The Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price has fallen 5.5% to $3.50. A number of travel companies have come under pressure today amid concerns over the state of the domestic travel market following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. In addition, this morning Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) announced a $1.9 billion capital raising. Investors may be interpreting this move as a sign that the domestic travel market recovery might not be as smooth as first hoped.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

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

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

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Idp Education Pty 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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  • At $74, Nikola (NKLA) Stock Is Fully-Valued, Says Analyst

    At $74, Nikola (NKLA) Stock Is Fully-Valued, Says AnalystTesla might have posted some serious gains this year – shares are up by 139% – but it has nothing on fellow EV maker Nikola (NKLA).Shares of the electric heavy-truck maker have been on a turbo charged run up, gaining 624% since the turn of the year.But is the hype justified? After all, for a company not generating any revenue – and one that despite this basic prerequisite is currently valued higher than Ford – the price tag seems, well, too high.At least that is the view of J.P. Morgan analyst Paul Coster. Coster initiated coverage of Nikola with a Neutral rating and a $45 price target, which implies a downside of a hefty 39% from current levels. (To watch Coster’s track record, click here)That’s not to say Coster rejects Nikola’s proposition. However, laying out the reasoning behind his review, Coster said, “NKLA is poised to disrupt the transportation industry with rapid deployment of hydrogen infrastructure and FCEV powered vehicles for use on long haul trucking routes, reducing CO2 emissions meaningfully and positioning the firm for a key role in the future hydrogen economy. The resulting business model could be compelling, however risks are elevated for this pre-revenue company, and the stock looks fully valued here, so we look for a pull-back or incremental positive developments to get more constructive.”That said, Coster gets Nikola’s appeal. Calling Nikola “a Hydrogen economy pure-play,” the secular clean energy trend could be a strong tailwind over the next few years. The disruptor is eying a $600 billion TAM (total addressable market), and could potentially bring in “over $10 billion p.a. in Truck revenues within a decade.”Add to that an impressive list of manufacturing partners, which includes CNH Industrial, Bosch and Nel, and a speedy pathway to market is in the cards. Customers, according to the company, are also lining up, with 14,000 truck reservations in place.However, eventually it all leads back to the “fully valued” share price, which Coster notes “trades on very high multiples of distant-future revenue and EBITDA.”In terms of other analyst activity, it has been relatively quiet. Overall, 1 Buy rating and 1 Hold assigned in the last three months add up to a ‘Moderate Buy’ analyst consensus. Meanwhile. the $62 average price target implies a 16.5% downside from current levels. (See Nikola stock-price forecast on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

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  • Redbubble share price rockets 40% on bumper Q4 sales growth

    The Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) share price is flying today as investors react to a business update. At the time of writing, Redbubble shares have rocketed 40.13% to $2.20.

    Redbubble is an owner and operator of two global online marketplaces, Redbubble.com and TeePublic.com, where independent artists can sell their designs on a range of products. This includes everything from apparel and bags to wall art and linen.

    This morning, the company provided financial information from unaudited internal management reports on a ‘paid basis’. 

    According to the release, this means delivery date adjustments will need to be made to the reports to align with accounting standards, which will ultimately reduce the amount of revenue recognised in the period due to timing differences.

    The numbers

    For the fourth quarter to 22 June, the company revealed year-over-year marketplace revenue growth of 107%, or 96% on a constant currency basis.

    Year to date (again to 22 June), marketplace revenue has grown 42%, or 34% on a constant currency basis.

    Redbubble also stated operating expenses for April and May were tracking 7.7% above the first two months of the third quarter (January and February).

    This has translated to operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation profit of $11.9 million for the period 1 July 2019 to 31 May 2020. This represents year-over-year growth of 101%, or 86% on a constant currency basis.

    Constant currency basis reflects underlying growth before the translation to Australian dollars for reporting purposes. This is relevant since Redbubble sources around 94% of its marketplace revenue in currencies other than Australian dollars. What’s more, TeePublic sources most of its marketplace revenue in US dollars.

    Trading conditions

    Redbubble advised it has benefited from an acceleration in online activity throughout the fourth quarter of FY20. 

    The company has seen increased demand at both of its marketplaces, Redbubble and TeePublic, as well as across core geographies and product categories.

    Importantly, the company noted its supply chain has managed the growth and orders are being fulfilled within expectations.

    Organisational restructure

    Redbubble also detailed an organisational restructure in its announcement this morning, which will involve reductions in headcount and related operating costs.

    The reorganised teams will focus on a smaller set of core initiatives to propel profitable growth:

    • Artist acquisition, activation and retention;
    • User acquisition nd transaction optimisation; and
    • Audience understanding and loyalty.

    Redbubble expects the reorganisation to generate annualised gross savings of $5.6 million in operating costs, with one-off costs of $2.1 million.

    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 Cathryn Goh has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended REDBUBBLE 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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  • Why Accent, CSL, Kogan, & Redbubble shares are pushing higher

    beat the share market

    In morning trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end its winning streak. At the time of writing the benchmark index is down 1.25% to 5,891.1 points.

    Four shares that have not let that hold them back today are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

    The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price is up 4% to $1.41 after the release of a trading update. According to the release, despite the pandemic, the footwear-focused retailer expects to deliver a 10% increase in operating earnings in FY 2020. For the 51 weeks ending 21 June, Accent’s total sales stood at $923 million. Impressively, digital sales were up 150% between April and 21 June.

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price is up almost 1% to $294.69. Investors have been buying the biotherapeutics company’s shares after it announced the US$450 million acquisition of AMT-061 from Nasdaq-listed gene therapy company, uniQure. The AMT-061 program, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, could be one of the first gene therapies to provide potentially long-term benefits to patients with haemophilia B. One dose of AMT-061 has shown to increase Factor IX plasma levels to a degree that reduces or eliminates the tendency for bleeding for many years.

    The Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price is up 0.6% to $15.60 despite there being no news out of the ecommerce company. However, a very positive update from one of its fellow online retailers this morning could have given its shares a boost today.

    The Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) share price has jumped 40% to $2.19. This morning the ecommerce company released a trading update which revealed that its sales have been booming over the last few months. Quarter to date, revenue is up 107% on the prior corresponding period. This has led to its operating profit for the 11 months to 31 May increasing 101% to $11.9 million.

    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

    James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. and Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group, Kogan.com ltd, and REDBUBBLE 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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  • Qantas share price on watch as it launches a $2bn cap raise

    Qantas

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price will be in the spotlight this morning for more than one reason.

    The flying kangaroo went into a trading halt as it tapped investors on the shoulder for an extra $1.9 billion in capital.

    The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the US that will pressure travel-related stocks and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) may have influenced its decision to raise capital now and go into a trading halt.

    Flying through the second COVID-19 wave

    It won’t be a pretty day for ASX shares, particularly those exposed to international travel like Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD) and Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB).

    At least Qantas will be spared the carnage. It’s undertaking a $1.4 billion fully underwritten placement to institutional investors and is looking for up to $500 million more through a share purchase plan (SPP).

    The new shares will be sold at $3.65 a pop, or a 12.9% discount to yesterday’s close of $4.19.

    Coronavirus flight plan

    The extra cash will be used to fund its post-coronavirus recovery plan and provide itself with an extra cash buffer to weather the unpredictable crisis.

    The airline outlined plans to shave $15 billion in costs over the next three years and to achieve $1 billion a year in extra savings from FY23 onwards.

    It’s also prepared to ground around 100 aircraft for 12 months or longer and flagged job losses and extended stand downs, particularly in its international division.

    Not letting a pandemic go to waste

    While there’s no denying that the global pandemic is pushing the sector into a corner, I can’t help but feel Qantas is acting opportunistically.

    I am not suggesting that the extra cash won’t help, but make no mistake, its chief executive Alan Joyce is making the most of the crisis to get ahead.

    Firstly, Qantas is capitalising on the near doubling in its share price from the bear market low in March to sell scrip.

    Our largest carrier wants the extra capital flexibility to ensure it grows even bigger as we emerge from the other side of the COVID-19 crisis with archrival Virgin Australia Holdings Limited (ASX: VAH) on its knees.

    It’s also using COVID-19 as a cover to undertake a big industrial relations shake-up that’s sure to anger trade unions. Qantas could never get away with such a move if not for the crisis.

    Qantas is the real winner

    The discount is also looking pretty skinny when compared to what was on offer in the sector at the height of the crisis. Qantas turned to the debt market to shore up its balance sheet while the likes of Webjet did a desperate cap raise.

    But those who participated in desperate cap raises in the past few months have been well rewarded as their shares have surged well ahead of the offer price. This isn’t only confined to the travel sector. The National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) share price is only but one example.

    That will likely mean Qantas’ new share sale is likely to be met with fervour in this climate. This is despite the airline selling new shares near its pandemic trading highs when others did the opposite.

    Love of loath Qantas, this is a well-played move in my view

    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 National Australia Bank Limited and Webjet Ltd. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

    The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel 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.

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  • You don’t have to time the market to get rich with ASX shares

    Hand writing Time to Buy concept clock with blue marker on transparent wipe board.

    Many investors in ASX shares think you have to time the market to build wealth. That’s simply not the case, and in fact, I believe market timing could cause your portfolio more harm than good.

    Here’s why the tried and tested ‘buy and hold’ strategy can often work out best in the long run.

    Why you don’t have to time the market to get rich

    The February/March bear market was the perfect illustration of why trying to time the market can be so dangerous.

    As ASX shares plummeted, many investors panicked and sold their positions. This would trigger a capital gains event (assuming you had picked some winners), meaning there’s tax implications, as well as the requirement to pay brokerage.

    Let’s say your average investor didn’t sell on the first day of the market falling, which was around 20 February. Instead, they might have waited until the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had fallen 25.9% by mid-March.

    And if they were the type of flighty investor that was willing to sell at the first sign of trouble, they may have also had a particularly bearish outlook on ASX shares for the remainder of 2020. This means they probably would have waited for a strong upward trend before buying back into the market.

    Let’s say they waited until the ASX 200 benchmark was up 20.7% from its 23 March lows on 14 April before buying back in.

    That investor would be in a very similar position to what they would’ve been in had they held their investment over the entire period. Only they would have paid brokerage twice and taxes on their gains.

    Trying to time the market is honestly a mug’s game. If you’re a serious investor, I believe it’s best to purchase high-quality companies and hold them for the long term.

    Which ASX shares should I be buying?

    Which ASX shares to buy is the next question. Rather than day trading, which is essentially gambling with your money, remember that you’re investing in actual companies.

    The shares you end up buying will depend on your investment goals and current portfolio construction. I personally like the look of a couple of blue-chips in the current market.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), for example, could be a strong buy ahead of a potential infrastructure boom. Alternatively, picking up Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) on the back of its strong turnover figures could be a consideration.

    Whatever your strategy, trying to time the market should not be a big part of it. Keep your eye on the prize and with a touch of luck you could build a sizeable portfolio over time.

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    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Woolworths 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 You don’t have to time the market to get rich with ASX shares appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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