Sharesight users' top 20 ASX trades of FY20/21

Welcome to our annual Australian financial year trading snapshot, where we look at the 20 most traded ASX stocks by Sharesight users during the Australian 2020/21 financial year. To find out the market-moving news behind some of these stocks, keep reading.

In this FY20/21 trading snapshot, trades were strongly led by Zip Co (ASX: Z1P), which has had a strong year with global expansion and impressive earnings reports, as well as a share price increase of almost 50% throughout the financial year. Afterpay (ASX: APT) was another highly traded stock, which saw record-breaking earnings and a share price increase of over 90% during the period. Other popular ASX trades included medical stocks CSL (ASX: CSL) and Mesoblast (ASX: MSB), both of which struggled throughout the pandemic but have seen recent recovery in their share prices towards the end of the financial year.

Zip Co (ASX: Z1P)

• July 2020: Market cap rises by more than AU$1.4 billion after Quadpay acquisition announcement
• August 2020: Zip Co has a record-breaking Q4
• September 2020: Zip Co completes QuadPay acquisition
• October 2020: Zip Co has almost doubled its transaction volumes and revenue compared to last year
• November 2020: Shares rise following announcement of strong FY21 growth figures
• December 2020: Zip Co raises AU$120 million for overseas expansion
• January 2021: Announces strong quarterly earnings; 88% revenue growth YoY
• February 2021: Seeks US investors; potential US exchange listing
• March 2021: Share price drops as Zip Co reports mounting losses
• April 2021: Raises AU$400m for US growth and further global expansion
• May 2021: Zip Co expands global presence with buyouts in EU and UAE

Afterpay (ASX: APT)

• July 2020: Records highest ever quarterly earnings as COVID shutdown encourages online shopping; announces AU$800 million global expansion plans
• August 2020: Afterpay lands AU$80 million European expansion deal
• September 2020: Online sales help boost Afterpay share price by 800%
• October 2020: Afterpay enters partnership with Westpac, giving users access to banking services
• November 2020: Moves to co-CEO model to manage international growth
• December 2020: RBA rules merchants using BNPL cannot pass fees onto customers
• January 2021: Share price has grown 250% YoY
• March 2021: Launches Clearpay in European payments market
• April 2021: Afterpay seeks Nasdaq listing; could delist from ASX
• May 2021: Signs that Afterpay may enter SME lending space
• June 2021: Share price could come under pressure as PayPal expands Australian payment offerings

CSL (ASX: CSL)

• July 2020: Initiates US Coronavirus vaccine trial
• October 2020: Finalises deal to produce 51 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine
• November 2020: CSL to build AU$800m vaccine manufacturing facility
• December 2020: Coronavirus vaccine by UQ and CSL abandoned due to false-positive HIV response
• January 2021: CSL trading around its COVID lows
• February 2021: CSL certain it could produce vaccine to tackle COVID-19 variants
• March 2021: Share price up following AstraZeneca vaccine approval
• April 2021: CSL to make 50 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses despite public pushback
• June 2021: Share price lower despite plans to buy rights for haemophilia treatment

a2 Milk (ASX: A2M)

• August 2020: a2 Milk sees record-breaking profits, spurred by ‘pantry stocking’ amid pandemic
• October 2020: Analysts bearish on a2 Milk due to poor projected growth
• December 2020: Share price plummets more than 20% following forecasted revenue decline
• January 2021: a2 one step closer to acquiring majority of Mataura Valley Milk
• March 2021: Lowers 2021 outlook due to COVID-related losses
• April 2021: a2 shares down 63% in 9 months
• May 2021: a2 forced to dump NZ$96m of expired infant formula due to reduced Chinese demand
• June 2021: With its share price trending up, is a2 Milk on the rebound?

Fortescue Metals (ASX: FMG)

• August 2020: Fortescue posts record profit; increases dividend to shareholders
• October 2020: Accused of withholding AU$1.9m in royalties from Aboriginal people
• January 2021: Fortescue reports AU$1.2b December profit on back of high iron ore prices; raises dividend expectations
• February 2021: Senior executives resign over cost blowout of AU$2.6b Iron Bridge project
• March 2021: Fortescue declares goal to go carbon neutral by 2030
• April 2021: Achieves 1.5b tonnes of iron ore exports from Pilbara operations
• May 2021: Iron Bridge project faces US$3.5b cost blowout

Mesoblast (ASX: MSB)

• August 2020: Share price soars as Mesoblast progresses on COVID-19 vaccine and stem cell treatment
• October 2020: Mesoblast’s remestemcel-L drug rejected by FDA
• December 2020: Share price plummets following poor trial results for COVID-19 treatment
• March 2021: Mesoblast receives AU$138 million cash injection from US backer
• June 2021: Share price gains 18% following 52-week low

Telstra (ASX: TLS)

• July 2020: Share price reaches turning point following COVID-19 slump
• August 2020: FY20 profits see 14% drop
• September 2020: Share price hits 52-week low following weak FY21 guidance
• October 2020: Share price drops 23%; hits multi-year low
• November 2020: Telstra announces its biggest restructure since privatisation, splitting into three legal entities
• February 2021: Share price reaches 6-month high; dividend price maintained
• May 2021: Telstra fined AU$50 million for mistreatment of Indigenous customers

Kogan (ASX: KGN)

• July 2020: Kogan reports strong June quarter; gross profit increase of over 115%
• August 2020: Profits surge 56% as shoppers turn online
• November 2020: Kogan condemned over AU$80m executive bonuses
• April 2021: Share price plummets following disappointing Q3 earnings report
• May 2021: Earnings drop by over 42% as consumer appetite dwindles

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Disclaimer: The above article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a product recommendation, or taxation or financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Always check with your financial adviser or accountant to obtain the correct advice for your situation.

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