The three sectors Fidelity backs for value opps


Fidelity has identified three sectors that are attractively priced for investors looking to pick up blue-chip stocks at cheap prices following the COVID-19 fallout.
Many stocks had seen their share price decimated in recent weeks with some falling by as much as 40%-50%.
Fidelity Australian Equities fund manager Paul Taylor said this made it a great time for investors to pick stocks up cheaply.
“This is an opportunity to upgrade and buy those things which you have always wanted to own, so long as it has a good structural outlook then this is an opportunity. This is a real good opportunity to buy cheap stocks that will perform well over the next 5-10 years.”
He said resources, technology and travel all presented good options for investors looking for cheap stocks. Resources firm BHP Billiton fell 12% in one day and lost its position as the largest company in the ASX, replaced by biotech firm CSL.
“The market has come down [for resources] and they are looking attractively valued, they are cheap with strong balance sheets and good cashflow. Lots of projects are being cancelled or delayed so the balance sheets are in better than they would have been,” Taylor said.
“Technology has been hard hit and is linked to global growth. Travel has been the hardest-hit sector, we expect to see a lot more volatility in this sector for a longer period as consumers are holding off from booking trips or booking them much further ahead.”
The Fidelity Australian Equities fund lost 3.4% over one year to 12 March, according to FE Analytics, versus losses of 10.4% by its ASX 200 benchmark.
Performance of Fidelity Australian Equities fund versus ASX 200 over one year to 12 March
Recommended for you
Clime Investment Management has welcomed an independent director to its board, which follows a series of recent appointments at the company.
Ethical investment manager Australian Ethical has cited the ongoing challenging market environment for its modest decrease in assets over the latest quarter.
Commentators have said Australian fund managers are less knowledgeable compared with overseas peers when it comes to expanding their range with ETFs and underestimating the competition from passive strategies.
VanEck is to list two ETFs on the ASX next week, one investing in residential mortgage-backed securities and the other in Indian companies.