Perhaps I am just a big kid at heart (no need to agree) but each year I am getting more and more into the Halloween spirit. This year as I contemplated what decorations I should buy the house, I started to wonder if there is a theme from Halloween that I could use as an investor.
My first thought was to do with zombies and ghosts, but unfortunately I haven't seen many companies specialising in that sector although I bet my life there would be many investors "dying" for a chance to get into such an investment. (Apologies for the dad joke, but you knew it was coming, it's Halloween after all.)
Anyway I know you are here for investing ideas not my pathetic attempts at humor so here are my best Halloween investing selections which are actually sitting on my current watch list.
InvoCare Limited (ASX:IVC)
If there is a better Halloween special than this company I am yet to find it. If you are unaware Invocare provides funeral services and while that means its customers rarely come back for more, it does mean that unless we find the secret to eternal life, Invocare will continue to operate in a growing market. Unfortunately there must be plenty of ghoulish investors out there because this company never seems to trade cheaply, sitting on price to earnings ratio of 26. It does however support a healthy fully franked dividend and is worthy of a place on my watch list as I wait for a market correction to offer a Halloween price treat.
Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL)
Dracula himself would be proud to own shares in this company. Not only does it collect blood, but it turns a profit doing so. What I like as an investor about Sonic is its overseas expansion that is diversifying its risk away from medicare reform in Australia. Sonic's latest report was a good one with NPAT (Net Profit After Tax) rising by 30%. While I think the current price is a good entry point, I am waiting for the share price to die a little more.
Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL)
I guess you are wondering why Blackmores makes my Halloween list. Quite simple really, have you ever seen what a zombie looks like? If there is ever anyone that needs a good dose of vitamins then zombies fit the bill.
Long-term shareholders can be forgiven for feeling a bit zombie like with the roller coaster that its share price has been on lately falling over 50% from a high of $220 back in December. While its latest quarterly report would have investors turning over in their graves, management indicated it is confident sales are starting to turn around. Similarly to Sonic Healthcare, I think Blackmores' current share price is a good entry point, but I would like the market to surprise me with a lower price.
