Big broker updates for the Woolworths share price, page-14

Having dined or drunk at multiple Woolworths (Endeavour Drinks)/ALH pubs in Melbourne in the last couple of weeks, they are getting busier every day.

They were very quiet when the initial reopening limited numbers to below 50, but now that standing at the bar not just being seated is allowed and the severe numbers cap indoors (or outdoors) no longer applies, the hotels division of WOW in Victoria will trade far better. Unfortunately though thanks to Daniel Andrews' disastrous mismanagement of COVID-19 (the worst in Oz by a country mile), the business won't recover lost sales.

As for population numbers in Oz over Christmas, 800000 Australians (or students etc) departed for overseas in December 2019. Few can do so this year as sadly most of us are banned, even to 'safe' countries like South Korea.

International tourists aren't here but they typically don't buy the new Tropic Co two kilogram frozen raw prawns (on special for $45, a great TGR Tassal product) as locals who are here.

Net effect should be about four per cent more population here for Christmas 2020 than Christmas 2019, so ought be a net positive for WOW sales notwithstanding that unemployment and underemployment have risen due to the virus and Premiers' until recently shutting State borders, although already there are green shoots of economic recovery.