Over the last few days, it seems as if global investors ex China have suddenly woken up to the economic threat posed by the coronavirus, more than a month after the virus became widely reported.
In an uncertain world, should investors have a strategy that looks beyond current trends and accommodates a range of different possible futures? In recent years growth stocks have had a winning streak, is now a good time to consider shifting the balance of your holdings towards companies that can demonstrate the ability to generate profits today.
A standout amongst small caps this earnings season to date was specialty apparel retailer, City Chic Collective (ASX:CCX), which reported 21 per cent growth in 1H20 underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to $19 million, well ahead of market expectations and triggering solid upgrades to consensus forecasts.
IMDEX Limited (ASX:IMD) has made a positive start to the current financial year reporting seven consecutive halves of revenue and earnings growth. Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Paul House came in to share the highlights of the announced results. IMDEX reported strong half-yearly revenue of $127.
Just when you thought the world of money could not get any more unusual, there is now talk – albeit only talk at this stage – of the Federal Reserve possibly buying equities.
When Marcus Blackmore oversaw the float of his family’s business 35 years ago at $1. 00 per share, little did he (or anyone) realise that total dividends since 1985 would have aggregated to $27. 65 per share. Today, Blackmores (ASX:BLK) has a market capitalisation of $1. 36 billion, and the share price at $77.
IDP Education’s (ASX: IEL) 1H20 result was warmly welcomed by the market. And why wouldn’t it be? The result surpassed all expectations, and recent concerns about the effect of the coronavirus on company earnings were covered off.
Last week Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) reported its fourth quarter 2019 earnings, capping out a solid year for the tech giant. We highlight some interesting datapoints and insights to emerge from the result and explain why we are still optimistic about the growth prospects for Facebook. In Q4, there were 2.
With many Australian companies sitting on lofty valuations, woe betide those that disappoint the market. Because, as we have already seen, investors have taken a big stick to companies that cut their earnings outlook.
Since listing in 1994, Australian biotech company CSL has powered ahead to become our second largest company by market cap. Lying just ahead is the Commonwealth Bank. But with a more compelling growth story, it’s probably just a matter of when, not if, CSL will hit the front.
With reporting season about to commence amid the bush fires and coronavirus, the environment is ripe for more positive and negative surprises than we have seen in some time. Meanwhile the ASX 200 industrial index, excluding financials, is trading on a record PE of 28. 5 times.
Since early 2009, soaring global markets have made shares an extremely rewarding place to invest. With profits likely to keep recovering, and interest rates and inflation likely to stay low, I see no reason why this bull market will not continue.
