The 2020s sounds like a futuristic time. Well it is in the future, but it's only a week away now.
When you think about investing in terms of multi-year time periods rather than months, it makes it much easier to invest for the long-term.
This article isn't about which shares I think will make the biggest returns, but it's about which share will have a moment (or several) in the headlines next decade and what I think it will be about:
Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)
Why I think it will be in the headlines in the 2020s: The ASX has historically not had any giant technology businesses (Atlassian isn't on the ASX), but Xero could be the first one, although there are a couple of other large ones as well.
It's a perfect example of 'SaaS' (software as a service) because virtually its entire revenue is recurring monthly revenue from its subscribers. When you look at that with the very high gross profit margin and the rapidly expanding subscriber base you can see how Xero could turn into a huge profit machine if it keeps growing at the current pace whilst also re-investing for more growth.
Xero will attract more and more media attention as it gets bigger and bigger.
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)
Why I think it will be in the headlines in the 2020s: Altium is one its way to becoming the dominate company in the electronic PCB software space. The world is already extremely technological, the 2020s will see even more of a shift to the digital world and the 'Internet of Things'.
The business that is enabling this technology to be possible will probably get a lot of attention. Even if it doesn't get attention for the technology, it will very likely get attention for the huge revenue, profits and dividends it's going to produce over the next decade.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)
Why I think it will be in the headlines in the 2020s: The NBN has played a massive part in Telstra's journey through the 2010s.
The 2020s could see Telstra take revenge on the NBN as being the biggest provider of 5G mobile and 5G wireless broadband services.
Telstra's InfraCo division may well be the business in the future to acquire the NBN if the national broadband provider doesn't list separately on the ASX.
If 5G turns out to be as good (or better) than expected then it could lead to a resurgence of Telstra's fortunes in the 2020s, which would definitely make a lot of headlines.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)
Why I think it will be in the headlines in the 2020s: The end to the 2020s has seen an enormous number of protests and headlines about bushfires, climate change and environmental policies.
BHP has already set itself apart from other resource businesses by pushing for lower emissions from its customers and by focusing on ESG issues.
Of course, this type of action from BHP may be seen as a little odd considering it produces and exports vast amounts of coal and oil.
It would not surprise me if BHP decided to exit oil and particularly coal before the end of the decade, which would definitely make headlines.
Foolish takeaway
I'll be very interested to see how Telstra and BHP go with their respective challenges this decade, it could define their companies permanently. I prefer Altium as an investment to Xero as it's generating ever-growing free cashflow, Xero is a bit harder to value at the moment.
