Will the Afterpay (ASX:APT) share price hit new highs?

Like the Energizer Bunny, the Afterpay share price just keeps going and going. Is it possible Afterpay will continue to hit new record highs?

ASX shares buy unstoppable asx share price represented by man in superman cape pointing skyward

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Like the Energizer Bunny, the Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price just keeps going and going… higher and higher.

The company's shares hit an all-time closing high of $104.53 per share on 9 November. Since then, the Afterpay share price has slipped 6.75% to $97.47 at the time of writing. Still, that represents a phenomenal 218% gain year to date.

By comparison the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.98% so far in 2020.

With such a stellar performance already in hand for the year, can the Afterpay share price keep going and going?

Based on the company's latest announcement, it certainly seems possible. The update, released after the market closed yesterday, revealed a new sales milestone for the month of November.

What did Afterpay announce?

Afterpay revealed in a market update last night that its global underlying sales in November reached $2.1 billion. That's up 112% from the $1 billion reported in November 2019.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) sales were buoyed by big spending across the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.

The company reported that its United States market reached the highest level of monthly underlying sales ever across all the regions it covers. US consumers purchased $1 billion of goods and services on the company's BNPL platform.

With sales in the US growing 186% year on year, November marked the first month that underlying sales in the US were more than the ANZ region. ANZ spending came in at $900 million, up 54% from November 2019, and also setting a new record for the region.

In fact, Afterpay reported that every region it operates in recorded new monthly underlying sales records in November.

The company's United Kingdom market saw the fastest growth, with November's $200 million in underlying sales 315% higher year on year. The number of UK merchants on its platform also leapt 800% over the year.

What does Afterpay do?

Afterpay is a leader in the BNPL space. The company's payment platform allows people to buy and receive goods and spread the cost of their purchase out over equal payments, without any interest fees.

The company was founded in 2015. The Afterpay share price first began trading on the ASX in June 2017. The company now operates in Australia, the US and the UK, with current expansion plans into the wider European market.

With November's strong sales growth figures in mind, it will be interesting to see how the Afterpay share price performs moving forward.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Share Market News

Smiling woman looking through a plane window.
Travel Shares

Qantas share price hits 52-week high despite new legal probe

The NZ regulator will shortly file proceedings.

Read more »

A young male ASX investor raises his clenched fists in excitement because of rising ASX share prices today
Share Gainers

Why Austal, Core Lithium, Origin Energy, and Sayona Mining shares are storming higher today

These shares are having a strong session on hump day. But why?

Read more »

A male investor sits at his desk looking at his laptop screen holding his hand to his chin pondering whether to buy Macquarie shares
Broker Notes

3 dominant ASX 200 shares just upgraded by top brokers

Top brokers have upped their ratings for these three dominating ASX 200 shares.

Read more »

Three guys in shirts and ties give the thumbs down.
Share Fallers

Why Actinogen Medical, Flight Centre, JB Hi-Fi, and NextDC shares are falling today

Let's see why these shares are out of form on hump day.

Read more »

A female stockbroker reviews share price performance in her office with the city shown in the background through her windows
Broker Notes

Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Here's what brokers are recommending as buys this week.

Read more »

Girl and her grandmother sharing a hug on the porch
Opinions

2 ASX stocks to buy and hold for the long run

I think these two stocks are long-term winners.

Read more »

Business woman watching stocks and trends while thinking
Share Market News

5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Will the local market hit a new record high today? Let's find out.

Read more »

A neon sign says 'Top Ten'.
Share Gainers

Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

It was another day, and another record high for the ASX 200 this Tuesday.

Read more »