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Investors prep for reporting season – and tech is back in play

How nabtrade’s investors are seeking value in this market.

As reporting season starts in earnest, investors are grateful to no longer be focussed only on the pervasive challenges of inflation and interest rates. Volumes are modestly creeping up as is the ASX200, which has climbed 1.3% over the last five days, and more than 5% over the last month. Quarterly reporting in the US has seen the Nasdaq Composite jump nearly 14% in the last month, and the S&P500 up more than 8%, with some believing the worst of the bear market is behind it.

S&P500 Index over twelve months

Source: nabtrade

The big news of the week is the return of tech, which many hope is a turning point for the beaten down sector. Former darling of the buy-now, pay-later sector, Zip Co (ZIP) fell to 43c in June, from an eyewatering high of $14.53 a little over twelve months earlier – then bounced to $1.50 last week, before falling back on Thursday. The volatility is encouraging traders – who have pounced on the stock since it announced it was walking away from its takeover offer for smaller BNPL player Sezzle (SZL). Many are already taking profits from earlier buys. Sezzle has also returned to the trades; again, longer term investors are not willing to take a position.

One of the former WAAAX stocks, Appen (APX), downgraded its earnings outlook on Tuesday, further disappointing the market after announcing an earnings downgrade just 10 weeks ago. The stock fell 25% on the announcement, but bounced 4% on Thursday. Appen shares were trading at $40 just two years ago, but fell below $4 this week; some nabtrade investors thought sufficient value had emerged to pick up a parcel. Appen has major global tech clients including Facebook’s parent company Meta (META.US), which have been under pressure this year – Meta’s stock suffered the largest share price fall (by total value) in history earlier this year, and has fallen 50% from its high, leading to concerns that it will cut the value of its contracts with companies like Appen.

Appen (APX) shares over five years

Source: nabtrade

Beyond the more speculative plays in tech, investors keep returning to materials and banks to ensure their portfolios stay on track. With a further 50bpts rise in interest rates announced by the RBA on Tuesday, investors are betting that the big four banks will be able to expand their margins without a significant reduction in volume. Commonwealth Bank (CBA) will report on 10 August, giving the market an insight into the impact of higher rates on both margins and volumes. The remainder of the big 4 have a 30 September end of year and will not report their full year results until October, but will give updates to assist investors in understanding the implications of the changing macro environment. Nab (NAB) has been sold above $30, while ANZ (ANZ), generally the least popular banking stock, has been a popular buy post its Suncorp acquisition announcement.

On global markets, reporting season continues to throw up opportunities. Many investors have been buying Nasdaq ETFs listed in Australia (such as NDQ from Betashares) to ensure they participate in any upside. Intel (INTC.US) has seen high value buying, following a disappointing earnings report and an increasingly clouded outlook. Global PC sales have been in decline for a decade, arrested only by the demands of working from home during Covid which saw a surge in demand. Once a blue chip company (no pun intended), Intel is now smaller than rival chip makers Nvidia (NVDA.US), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.US) and Taiwan Semiconductors (TSM.US). You can now buy Intel shares at 2017 prices, and some nabtraders have done just that.

Intel shares over five years (INTC.US)

Source: nabtrade
 

Analysis as at 4 August 2022. This information has been provided by WealthHub Securities Ltd the ASIC Market Integrity Rules and a wholly owned subsidiary of National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL 230686 (NAB). Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by WealthHub Securities in reviewing this material, this content does not represent the view or opinions of WealthHub Securities. Any statements as to past performance do not represent future performance. Any advice contained in the Information has been prepared by WealthHub Securities without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any such advice, we recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.


About the Author
Gemma Dale , nabtrade

Gemma Dale is Director of SMSF and Investor Behaviour at nabtrade. She is the host of the Your Wealth podcast, a fortnightly podcast for investors, featuring insights and updates from markets and finance experts across a range of topics. She provides regular market and finance commentary on ausbiz and in other media including AFR, the Australian, ABC and commercial tv and radio. Gemma was previously the Head of SMSF Solutions for nab, and the Head of Technical Services for MLC, where she led a team of specialists providing advice to advisers and their clients on SMSF, super, tax, social security and aged care.