The recent stock market crash may have dissuaded some investors from buying FTSE 250 shares. However, while some businesses are suffering in the pandemic, others are prospering. With that in mind, here are two ‘coronavirus stocks’ investors might benefit from buying right now.
Coronavirus stocks on offer
AO World (LSE: AO) has seen a substantial increase in its share price this year.
The company is one of the few coronavirus stocks that’s reported rising sales in the pandemic. The online retailer of electrical products reported a 16% increase in sales for the year ending March 31.
The company went on to add that even after the reopening of the UK high street, sales had continued to trend higher. This suggests that AO is in line for a bumper 2020. It may also mean the group is well prepared for a second wave of coronavirus if one develops.
In fact, a second wave, awful though that prospect is, may even be a positive development for AO World. This year customers who usually shopped on the high street, have had no choice but to use the firm’s services. This helped push the group into profit for the first time.
After many years of losses, AO World reported a net profit of £1.7m for 2020. Next year, analysts are forecasting a net income of £24m for the group, followed by £34m in 2022.
This growth potential is the primary reason why AO World stands out in the world of coronavirus stocks. Not only is the company set to perform well this year, but its growth may continue for many years to come.
Computacenter
Tech sector companies like Computacenter (LSE: CCC) have been some of the best performing coronavirus stocks in 2020. Computacenter is a provider of information technology infrastructure services.
The demand for its services has boomed since the crisis began. Following a strong performance in 2019, the company has reported that profit in the first half of the year has been “substantially” ahead of last year. It now expects to report a surge in earnings for 2020 as a whole.
As the world becomes more dependent on computers and computing technology, this trend may only continue. As one of the largest tech stocks on the London market, Computacenter may be the best company to own for investors who want to buy into this theme.
As such, now could be an excellent time to snap up a share of this business as part of a basket of coronavirus stocks. Despite its recent trading performance, the shares are only dealing just above the level at which they began the year. This implies that they could rise substantially in the years ahead as profits grow.
In addition to this growth, the group also offers investors a dividend yield of 2.1%. The payout has more than doubled in the past six years. Further profit growth may help power more payout increases in the years ahead.
