If you have $2,000 to invest then I think the two ASX shares in this article are the smartest ones to buy:

Share 1: Pushpay Holdings Ltd (ASX: PPH)

Not too long ago I wrote an article where I said that I thought the Pushpay share price had run too hard. Since 13 July 2020 the Pushpay share price has dropped 16%. I think it could be back into the buy zone.

Pushpay is an electronic donation payment business. Its current focus is to facilitate digital giving to large and medium sized churches in the US. Pushpay thinks this is a large opportunity. It thinks it can reach annual revenue of US$1 billion if it can reach a 50% market share of this sector.

In these COVID-19 conditions there is obviously more social distancing, so digital giving may be preferred to cash donations by both the church and the person donating.

The ASX share delivered a strong result in FY20 with revenue growth of 32% and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and foreign currency (EBITDAF) growth of 1,506% to US$25.1 million.

In FY21 Pushpay is expecting to at least double its EBITDAF with further expansion of profit margins. In FY20 the gross margin grew by five percentage points from 60% to 65%. Further revenue growth should see the business become even more profitable.

The recent acquisition of Church Community Builder brings exciting cost synergy and cross-selling potential.

At the current Pushpay share price it’s trading at just 34x FY21’s estimated earnings. I think it could be a very smart long-term buy today.

Share 2: Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

I think Bubs is one of the most exciting shares on the ASX due to its international growth plans and improving margins. It has a range of products, with a focus on goat milk. 

If a business can successfully expand into Asia or other populous regions, it opens up huge addressable markets for that company.

Bubs is doing a great job of expanding its distribution reach with agreements with international retailers like Alibaba as well as local ones such as Chemist Warehouse, Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL), Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN).

The increased distribution network is leading to exciting revenue growth. In the FY20 third quarter Bubs generated quarterly revenue of $19.7 million, this was growth of 67% compared to the prior corresponding period and 36% on the previous quarter.

There were a few key areas of growth that delivered that impressive growth for the ASX share. Bubs infant formula revenue grew 137%. Chinese revenue increased 104% and ‘other market’ revenue rose almost 20 times – this represented 12% of gross sales and included significant growth into Vietnam. I think the strong growth can continue for at least the medium-term as the Bubs distribution network and brand awareness continues to grow internationally.

As the ASX share gets bigger its gross profit margin gets better. Indeed, its gross margin increased in each of the December 2018, June 2019 and December 2019 results. The December 2019 gross margin was 24% and the Bubs infant formula gross margin was 41%. To me, this says the business can continue to become even more profitable as it grows bigger and more of its sales are infant formula related.

In the update about the quarter to 31 March 2020, the company said that it was cashflow positive. That means it’s now not burning cash in its day to day operations. That’s an important step for a rapidly growing business.

Foolish takeaway

Perhaps the sale of Pushpay shares by the largest shareholder group unnerved some investors. But I think Pushpay still has a great future. The lower share price makes Pushpay a more attractive buy to me than earlier in July. Bubs is also a great ASX growth share candidate. I’d be happy to buy both of them for my portfolio at the current prices.

More reading

• My top 5 ASX growth shares to buy in FY 2021
• 4 ASX shares I’d buy with $4,000
• 4 ASX shares I’d buy to protect against a recession
• 3 five-star ASX shares to buy
• How to create a yearly income of $65,000 in dividends

Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of PUSHPAY FPO NZX. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BUBS AUST FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended PUSHPAY FPO NZX. 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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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose by 2.6% today with jobkeeper being extended as well as promising vaccine news from the UK.

The Morrison government has announced that jobkeeper will be extended, but at a reduced rate. The $1,500 per fortnight payment will reduce to $1,200 after September and then to $1,000 per fortnight in the first three months of 2021. Businesses will have to show a continued drop in turnover to qualify. The jobseeker coronavirus payment will also reduce.

Meanwhile, a potential vaccine in the UK is showing good signs from a clinical trial. The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca effort showed that the COVID-19 vaccine trial was safe and induced a strong antibody response in all vaccinated volunteers.

The biggest ASX 200 news today was from the biggest resource business:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price rises 1%

BHP announced its FY20 production numbers earlier.

Compared to FY19, petroleum production was down 10%, copper production was up 2%, iron ore production was up 4%, metallurgical coal production was down 3%, energy coal production was down 16% and nickel production was down 8%.

The miner expects to achieve full year unit cost guidance at Western Australia iron ore (WAIO), Queensland coal and New South Wales energy coal. Petroleum and Escondida unit costs are expected to be slightly better than guidance.

BHP said that Chinese domestic industrial activity has been improving, spurred on by supportive credit and fiscal policy. But a second wave of infection is a major risk. Potential negative feedback loops to China from the downturn in the rest of the world is also a potential problem.

The ASX 200 resources company believes if China can avoid a second wave of COVID-19 then steel and pig iron production can both rise in the 2020 calendar year compared to 2019.

Big FY20 for Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

The online retailer released some of its FY20 revenue and profit numbers.

FY20 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by more than 57% to $7.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by more than 149% in the fourth quarter of FY20.

In the three months to 30 June 2020, gross sales and gross profit increased by 95% and 115% respectively. FY20 gross sales were more than $94 million and gross profit was more than $17 million.

Kogan.com added another 109,000 active customers during June 2020 to finish FY20 with 2,183,000 active customers.

The online retailer said it finished with cash on the balance sheet of $147 million with no debt and that doesn’t include the proceeds of the $20 million share purchase plan.

Capital raising by Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW)

ASX 200 share Downer is doing a capital raising to complete the acquisition of Spotless, an integrated services business.

It’s raising $400 million to strengthen its balance sheet as well as buy the rest of Spotless. Some of the cash will be used to invest in Downer’s core business. The raising will be done with a 1 for 5.58 offer at a share price of $3.75, which is a 12% discount to the last closing price.

Downer plans to exit ‘non-core’ businesses like its mining portfolio and laundries business. It also plans to reduce its cost base with annual saving costs of between $15 million to $20 million. It has booked restructuring costs of $142 million.

Downer also announced some FY20 profit numbers. It expects to report underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) of between $410 million to $420 million. Underlying net profit is expected to be between $210 million to $220 million for FY20.

However, Downer expects to recognise $386 million of charges in FY20 which includes goodwill impairment and the restructuring costs.

The statutory FY20 loss is expected to be in the range of $150 million to $160 million.

More reading

• Why Morgans thinks the Afterpay share price could be a reporting season hero
• 4 exciting ASX biotech shares surging higher today
• These ASX eCommerce shares are riding the online shopping wave
• Why the Telstra share price is underperforming the market
• 2 ASX shares to buy during ‘Dry July’

Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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If you have some spare cash to invest in ASX shares right now, I believe Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) are great options.

Here’s why they are both on my buy list right now:

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF – $2,000

There is no doubt that ASX shares offer investors a wide range of quality companies to invest in. However, the Aussie share market only provides access to around 2% of listed global investment opportunities.

This is why the purchase of some quality exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be a great addition to your ASX share portfolio. ETFs give you easy access to a basket of top quality global companies.

By comparison, investing in individually listed global shares can be a complicated process. You generally need to find a broker who deals in international shares and open up a separate share trading account. Also, trying to pick winners out of the vast array of investment options can be overwhelming.

I am particularly attracted to the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF because I believe it complements a portfolio of mostly ASX shares. This ETF seeks to track the return of the MSCI World ex-Australia Index. This includes over 1,500 of the world’s largest companies in a range of major developed countries. Its top five holdings are the tech giants Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google) and Facebook. All of these tech companies have seen share price returns well above the average returns of the  S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past 3 years.

Carsales – $1,000

Carsales is a locally-listed, ASX share, but also offers excellent exposure to a growing number of global markets, including Korea and Brazil. Carsales has had a commanding and entrenched position in the Australian automotive classifieds market for over a decade. This is reflected in its strong share price growth of nearly 300% during the past 10 years.

While growth has slowed down in its local market, it still provides Carsales with a solid revenue base, which I believe is highly sustainable over the medium to long term. A growing overseas presence will also boost the company’s overall revenue growth in years to come.

Carsales’ adjusted total revenue is predicted to be flat for FY 2020. However, if achieved, I think this will be a commendable result in what are highly challenging local market conditions. Once pandemic restrictions eventually ease, I am confident that growth is likely to return to more normal levels for Carsales.

Foolish takeaway

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF and Carsales are two very different types of investments. But I believe both would make excellent additions to your ASX share portfolio right now. In my view, these ASX shares are well positioned for above average shareholder returns over the medium term.

More reading

• 3 quality ETFs I would be adding to my ASX portfolio
• Afterpay and 1 other ASX share to buy and hold beyond 2025
• 2 five-star ASX shares for strong long-term growth
• Here are the 10 shares that move global markets
• Carsales share price on watch after director sells $6.8 million of shares

Motley Fool contributor Phil Harpur owns shares of carsales.com Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended carsales.com Limited and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. 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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The ASX tech sector is tiny when compared to the much larger United States market, which is home to tech giants such as Google and Amazon. However, there is a fast-growing base of high-quality technology companies now listed on the ASX.

Here we look at two such ASX tech shares that are on my buy list right now for long-term growth: Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8).

Afterpay

The Afterpay share price has seen extraordinary gains in recent months, increasing from $8.90 in late March to currently trade at $75.05. That’s a massive gain of 743%.

This strong growth was partly driven by a series of positive market updates, one of which was in late May. In this update, Afterpay revealed it had reached the 5 million customer milestone in the massive US market.

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider did see its share price hit hard in the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Back on 19 February, the Afterpay share price was trading at $40.50 before sinking to $8.90 in March. However, Afterpay’s current share price is now up by over 85% from its February high.

Whether the strong share price growth that Afterpay has experienced recently will continue over the following months is uncertain. However, I am growing increasingly confident about the company’s long-term growth prospects. Afterpay appears to have cemented its position as one of the market leaders in the BNPL market, as this market continues to grow in popularity worldwide.

Audinate

Audinate is an ASX tech share that doesn’t have as high a market profile as Afterpay. But it has been quietly and successfully establishing its market presence over the past few years. Audinate utilises its audio networking solutions in the production of a range of professional audio equipment. Its core networking solutions improve audio quality and reduce the need for extra cabling and installation.

Audinate recently reported unaudited revenue of $30.3 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2020. Unaudited EBITDA came in at $2.0 million for FY20 and Audinate had $29.3 million cash on hand as at 30 June. I believe this was a very solid result in challenging market conditions.

I’m confident that Audinate is well poised for continued growth. Its core solution currently leads the audio market and I believe demand for its audio solutions will be robust over the next few years.

Foolish takeaway

Afterpay and Audinate are 2 ASX tech shares that I believe are well placed to provide above average shareholder returns over the next 5 to 10 years. I would be happy to own either of them as part of a diversified ASX share portfolio.

More reading

• Why Morgans thinks the Afterpay share price could be a reporting season hero
• My top 5 ASX growth shares to buy in FY 2021
• Warren Buffett’s advice for managing uncertainty
• Why Afterpay, Ecofibre, Mesoblast, & Zip Co shares are racing higher
• 3 tips for investing in ASX 200 shares for beginners

Phil Harpur owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of AUDINATEGL FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended AUDINATEGL FPO. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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If you want to construct a balanced portfolio, I think having a few blue chip ASX shares is a smart move.

Blue chip shares tend to be companies that are well-known, long-established, and have strong financial positions. In other words, they are not going anywhere any time soon, which makes them safer than the average share.

Though, it is worth remembering that not all blue chip ASX shares are equal and some are better than others.

Right now, I think three of the best ASX blue chip shares are the ones named below. Here’s why I like them:

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

I think this biotherapeutics company is one of the best blue chip shares to buy. Especially after a recent pullback in its share price due to concerns that the pandemic could reduce its plasma collections and have a negative impact on the cost of future immunoglobulin and albumin production. While this concern is real, I’m confident that other parts of the business, such as vaccines, will offset this. Looking further ahead, I believe its current portfolio of therapies has the potential to drive solid earnings growth over the coming years. However, this should be boosted by CSL’s pipeline of lucrative therapies under development which have significant potential.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

I think Goodman Group is a blue chip share to buy. It is an integrated commercial and industrial property group which I believe is well-positioned for growth over the long term due to the strength of its portfolio and future developments. Especially given its focus on high-quality properties in key locations that it believes will deliver sustainable returns for investors. These include logistics and warehouse facilities which have exposure to the growing ecommerce market through relationships with Amazon, DHL, and Walmart.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Finally, I think that Telstra is another blue chip share to buy today. Times may have been hard for the telco giant over the last few years, but things are looking a lot more positive now. This is thanks to the negative impact of the NBN rollout coming close to peaking and its T22 strategy making very positive progress. Combined with the arrival of 5G internet and rational competition, I believe Telstra’s earnings and dividend could start growing again from FY 2023.

More reading

• Why Morgans thinks the Afterpay share price could be a reporting season hero
• Why the Telstra share price is underperforming the market
• 3 investing strategies to profit from a second ASX share market crash in 2020
• Where to invest $5,000 into ASX shares right now
• Top fund manager names favourite ASX growth shares

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. 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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I’m a big fan of exchange traded funds (ETFs) and believe they can be great additions to a balanced portfolio.

This is because they allow investors to invest across a large and diverse number of different shares through just a single investment.

There are a lot of ETFs for investors to choose from, but three of the best in my opinion are listed below. Here’s why I like them:

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ETF to look at buying is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. This fund gives investors exposure to the 50 largest technology and ecommerce companies that have their main area of business in Asia (excluding Japan). This includes tech giants such as Alibaba, Baidu, JD.com, and Tencent Holdings. Given that these companies are among the fastest-growing in the region, I believe this ETF could generate market-beating returns over the next decade.

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The second option I would suggest investors consider buying is the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF. As its name implies, this ETF gives investors access to the famous NASDAQ 100 index. This means investors will be getting exposure to some of the largest tech companies in the world such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Netflix. Given the positive outlooks of the majority of the companies on the index, I believe the Nasdaq 100 ETF can generate strong returns for investors over the next decade.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A final ETF for investors to consider buying is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to many of the biggest companies from indices across the world. Among the 1,579 shares that the fund gives investors access to are the likes of Apple, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, and Google parent, Alphabet. While I wouldn’t expect it to generate as strong returns as the other two ETFs, it should offer stability and also a source of income.

More reading

• Where to invest $3,000 in ASX shares right now
• Where to invest $5,000 into ASX shares right now
• Instantly diversify your portfolio with these quality ASX ETFs
• 2 tech ETFs to buy for strong returns
• Where I would invest $5,000 into ASX shares in July

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 BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. 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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The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price has surged 100% since late March and is, I believe, poised to climb higher. Here’s why this ASX tech share has my attention.   

Why this ASX tech share has piqued my interest

What does Life360 do?

Life360 operates a platform that aims to protect families and keep them connected. The company’s core offering is the Life360 mobile app, which is a market leading platform that has a range of location sharing, driving safety and communication features. Life360 boasts more than 28 million monthly active users (MUA) located in over 160 countries.  

Why I’m watching Life360

The most attractive feature of Life360’s platform is that it provides users with peace of mind. In addition to location sharing, the platform also provides SOS alerts, roadside assistance, crash detection and driver reports.

Last week, Life360 hosted an investor briefing and provided shareholders with an overview of its new membership offering. The company’s membership tiers include a free basic package and silver, gold and platinum paid memberships. Each membership is designed to target families at different life stages, from families with new-borns or teens through to aging parents.

As a result, the new membership options will allow the company to increase its addressable market, increase premium conversion and provide a longer user lifecycle.

The outlook for Life360

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Life360’s operations remained strong. However, with many families confined to their homes, there was a decrease in new registrations. As a result, the company has temporarily decreased marketing expenditure and expects a short-term reduction in registration rates.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, Life360 remains in a robust capital position with a cash balance of US$57.5 million allowing the company to fund future cash flow requirements. In addition, with the roll out of its new membership options, Life360 could be well on the way to realising its membership milestones once life returns to normal, post-pandemic.

Should you buy this ASX tech share?

Life360 listed on the ASX last year and is currently trading more than 26% below its 52-week high of $4.34. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how complex modern life has become and how quickly things can change. In my opinion, as a consumer subscription business, the Life360 platform addresses these concerns whilst offering great margins and a strong growth profile.

It is also important to note that Life360 was added to the All Ordinaries (INDEXASX: XAO) during the June rebalance, indicating the long-term potential of the company. The Life360 share price has, however, had a strong run from its low in March. As such, perhaps the most prudent strategy is for investors to keep the company on watch and wait for a pullback before investing.

More reading

• Why Alumina, BWX, Life360, & Perpetual shares are charging higher

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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