It feel like 2019 seems to be slipping away before our eyes – it's already mid-September, October is barrelling towards us like a freight train and I'm sure that before we all know it, we'll be doing our Christmas shopping. But time stops for no man, woman or investor, so I've been thinking about which shares would make a great addition to a share portfolio in the month of October.
Here are my two picks for next month:
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
CSL is the biggest and (in my opinion) best healthcare company on the ASX. CSL is a leader in both the blood disorders and diseases as well as vaccine research and development fields. The company has grown from a government-run healthcare division to an ASX powerhouse – boasting share price appreciation of nearly 600% over the past decade.
This is one of the most common 'heartbreaker' stocks you can find – many investors (this writer included) banked gains after buying in, only to watch CSL shares keep on climbing. The calibre of this company creates one of those rare scenarios where shares are always expensive, but always worth it in hindsight. CSL has recently pulled back from an all-time high of $242.10 and is going for $234.70 at the time of writing – a possible buying opportunity.
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)
Fresh from the successes of its Lion King Ooshie toys promotion, I've recently noticed Woolworths has kept things sharp with a new 'Secret Garden' offering, where shoppers (read: shoppers' young ones) are rewarded with easy-to-grow vegetable seeds and pots.
I think this company's innovation, strong branding power and defensive earnings base make it a stellar candidate to buy in October and hold for the long-term – and a recent bump in Woolworth's dividend payout only confirms this view. Blue chip, dividend-paying shares like Woolworths are a great way to give your portfolio a strong backbone, so if you're looking to add some defensive ballast to your portfolio, Woolworths would (in my view) make a great candidate.
Foolish takeaway
I think anyone looking to deploy some cash into the markets this October would do well in checking out these two ASX powerhouses. Both offer defensive earnings bases as well as opportunities for dividend growth, in my view, and would be at home in any ASX portfolio.
