We asked our writers to name their favourite stock picks for the month of October. Here's what they came up with:
Matt Brazier: Nearmap Ltd
Aerial mapping company Nearmap has a highly profitable growing business in Australia which currently funds its nascent US division. However, US cash receipts are growing rapidly based on recent quarterly trends and so it may not be long before it contributes to the group. The company has an attractive subscription-based model whereby it gets paid in advance and fees are recurring. Its historical image database can't be replicated and becomes increasingly valuable with each passing day. Success in the US would justify a valuation of multiples of the current share price.
Motley Fool contributor Matt Brazier owns shares in Nearmap.
Tom Richardson: ResMed Inc.
This global healthcare business is a market leader in the treatment of sleep-disorders. It invests heavily in research to promote organic sales growth, while it is also expanding via acquisition into China, alongside a February 2016 US$800 million deal to acquire cloud-based medical software business Brightree in the US.
Its founder-led senior management team has extensive experience in kicking goals for shareholders and I expect it will succeed in justifying the Brightree price tag to investors' long-term benefit. It also offers exposure to a stronger US dollar in 2017 and shares look good value at $8.48.
Motley Fool contributor Tom Richardson owns shares in ResMed Inc.
James Mickleboro: Freelancer Ltd
I think Freelancer has a bright future ahead of it. In its recent half year results the operator of the world's largest outsourcing marketplace reported a 56% increase in revenue over the prior corresponding period. Supporting this exceptional performance was strong growth in both registered users and projects posted. As of July 2016 Freelancer had over 20 million registered users and 9.6 million projects posted on its platform. With its shares down 16% year to date I believe now could be an opportune time to make a long-term investment.
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no financial interest in Freelancer Ltd.
Regan Pearson: CSL Limited
While I'm cautious of the increasing warnings that many assets are expensive or over-bought, I think CSL represents value for long-term investors after the recent decline in price. It also offers the defensive characteristics of both healthcare and consumer staples.
As I noted in September, CSL embodies many of the traits of a great company; a strong competitive position, quality reputation, efficiency and significant returns on shareholder equity. The company's history of compounding is the stuff of legend and well considered investment decisions will support growth for years going forward.
Motley Fool contributor Regan Pearson has no financial interest in CSL.
Matt Bugden: Touchcorp Ltd
Touchcorp provides fintech solutions to customers which include 7-Eleven, Optus and Cornèr Bank in Switzerland. With a current market capitalisation of around $250 million, it appears cheap relative to its earnings considering it also holds an investment in high-flying Afterpay worth around $140 million alone.
Touchcorp completed a $25 million capital raising this week at $2 a share in order to invest in a European business platform. Currently trading slightly above $2 and down 25% from recent highs, Touchcorp looks like good value considering its growth potential.
Motley Fool contributor Matt Bugden owns shares in Touchcorp.
Edward Vesely: CBL Corp FPO NZX
The share price of credit and financial risk specialist insurer CBL Insurance has enjoyed a stellar run since this New Zealand-based business listed on the ASX in October 2015 at $1.62. Explaining the company's popularity with investors is its almost nil exposure to natural catastrophe risk, a truly global reach, a focus on niche markets, and profitable underwriting leading to a 45% rise in profit for the half-year to 30 June.
The recently announced NZ$60m capital raising will assist the company's organic and acquisition-led growth strategy and, for these reasons, I believe buying shares today at around $3.60 will look an astute decision in a year's time.
Motley Fool contributor Edward Vesely owns shares in CBL Insurance.
Tim McArthur: TPG Telecom Ltd
If you like buying shares in good companies when they're cheap then, to paraphrase investment legend Warren Buffett, don't expect a cheery consensus. Over the past couple of weeks, the share price of TPG has slumped by close to 30% to trade at its lowest level in a year. TPG's shares were previously priced for perfection. After providing guidance for FY 2017 which failed to meet the lofty expectations of the market, analysts' forecasts have been reigned in and the stock de-rated. While EPS growth expectations are now lower, analyst consensus estimates still have growth pinned at 22% over the next two years.
Motley Fool contributor Tim McArthur has no financial interest in TPG Telecom.
Christopher Georges: Appen Ltd
Appen is an exciting small-cap technology company that provides language and voice-recognition services to some of the world's biggest companies, including nine out of the top ten global technology firms. The company enjoys a strong growth outlook, with the demand for language-based services expected to grow at a rapid rate as consumers become more reliant on products that rely on natural language processing. Pleasingly, Appen is already profitable and, at the same, time carries no debt on its balance sheet. The shares have enjoyed a period of consolidation recently and could head higher over the long term.
Motley Fool contributor Christopher Georges has no financial interest in Appen.
Mike King: IVE Group Ltd
Nominated as my top stock pick for June and September, IVE Group makes it into October as well thanks to the share price still being cheap. IVE recently reported a net profit of $20.9 million placing it on a P/E ratio of 9.3x at a price of $2.19 and paying a forward dividend yield of 7.95%.
The company is a marketing and print communications provider and the market leader in its sector, but still with a tiny market share of 8%. IVE counts a number of Australia's leading companies and multinationals as clients including Vodafone, Toyota, AMP, Foxtel, Commonwealth Bank and Bauer Media Group.
Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King has no financial interest in IVE Group.
Rachit Dudhwala: Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd
Shares in Australian travel industry leader Flight Centre continue to trade at undemanding multiples, despite a spate of recent acquisitions in the corporate travel segment. During September, Flight Centre acquired a 49% stake in Ignite Travel Group and 100% of eDreams ODIGEO, enabling the $3.7 billion behemoth to better compete against Australian corporate / business-to-business travel sector incumbents, Webjet and Corporate Travel Management.
I believe Flight Centre is one top stock to buy at current prices.
Motley Fool contributor Rachit Dudhwala does not have any interest in Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd.
Sean O'Neill: Yowie Group Ltd
Today could be a good starting point for an investment in children's chocolatier Yowie. Shares have fallen despite the company's progress in raising capital, increasing capacity, marketing, and in expanding its distribution footprint. Already one of the best-selling chocolates in the market, Yowie has a good base for growing its sales and distribution, as well as parallel opportunities in media. Recent executive appointments add much-needed expertise, while the company is well-funded and roughly breaking even at an operating level. It also has around $40 million in cash.
Motley Fool contributor Sean O'Neill owns shares in Yowie Group Ltd.
The tables on this website are converted with the the Div Table online. Please subscribe for an online HTML editor membership to stop adding promotional messages to your documents.
