Are you looking forward to living a comfortable retirement lifestyle but are concerned about whether or not you’re on track?

Or perhaps you want to find out the superannuation balance you’d need to maintain a good standard of living, do some regular activities, meals out, and perhaps even an occasional overseas trip.

Here’s a rundown of the average super balance for Australians at age 40, versus age 50 and age 60 in 2026, and what you’d need at each age to have enough for retirement. 

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 40?

There isn’t an exact figure for Australians at each age, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides some brackets that can help.

According to ASFA, at age 40-44, the average male has $140,680, and the average female has $109,209. 

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 50?

The data also shows that, at age 50-54 years old, the average male has $254,071, and the average female has $190,175.

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 60?

The average 60 to 64-year-old Australian male has an average superannuation balance of $395,852, and women have around $313,360.

40 vs 50 and 60: Why is the gap so wide?

The difference between super balances at age 40 versus age 50 and then age 60 is significant.  

Over the 20-year period between age 40 and 60, average balances increase by over $200,000 for both men and women.

It could be that these individuals have had more time to add additional contributions to their superannuation balance. 

But it also shows the importance of compounding. It’s clear that accumulating wealth early on, investing in a well-performing fund, and at a risk profile that suits your own, can supercharge your balance down the line.

Are these average balances enough to retire on?

No. In fact, the average Australian is quite far behind.

A comfortable retirement is expected to cost around $54,840 per year for individuals and $77,375 per year for couples.

To afford that, by retirement, a single person will need a superannuation balance of around $630,000, and couples need around $730,000.

Using ASFA’s Super Balance Detective tool, I’ve calculated what you’d need at ages 40, 50, and 60 to reach that sum.

At age 40, you need around $178,000 in your superannuation.

At age 50, this should be more like $313,500.

Then, at age 60, you should have around $496,500 in order to live comfortably when the time comes. 

As you’ll see. These sums are significantly higher than the average at each age milestone.

And this means you’ll need to bridge the gap another way.

Additional contributions are a good place to start. You can take advantage of additional concessional or non-concessional contributions, whether this is salary sacrificing or after-tax payments (within your annual limits).

Applicable government initiatives could also help bridge the gap between the superannuation balance you have and what you need. 

The post Average superannuation balance in 2026: 40 vs 50 and 60 years old Australians appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Historic: Here’s why CSL shares are looking very interesting right now
• 5.4% dividend yield: Are Woodside shares a buy for income today?
• 5 steps to bring in $1,000 per month in passive income
• 5 ASX shares set to soar 40% to 80% in 12 months: experts

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a very pleasant end to the trading week indeed this Friday. After yesterday’s nasty drop, investors seemed keen to turn over a new leaf before the end of the week. The ASX 200 opened sharply higher and stayed in green territory all session. The index ended up closing with a healthy 1.62% gain, leaving it at 8,731.7 points as we head into the weekend.

This happy Friday for the ASX comes after a more measured night of trading on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a nervous session, finishing with a tentative 0.049% rise.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, though, rising a solid 0.91%.

But let’s return to the local markets now and check out how today’s terrific trading conditions spilled over into the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As anyone who owns CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares would be painfully aware, it has been a brutal few weeks to own this ASX 200 healthcare stock, and former market darling.

Back on 11 May, CSL lost almost 16% of its value in one session after reporting that it is expecting even lower revenues and profits than it had previously flagged for FY2026.

Investors responded by giving the company its worst one-day session in history. Of course, CSL was already on the nose with investors. Far from its halcyon days of over $340 a share in early 2020, the company lost more than half of its valuation between August 2025 and May 2026. And that was before that one-day car crash.

This has been devastating for many CSL investors, especially for those who have held on for years. The company today is at a price it first reached more than ten years ago. And it’s not like CSL has paid out a lot in dividends over that time to make up for the loss of shareholder capital.

But now we are on the subject of dividends, let’s dive in a little deeper, for something very interesting is happening on the CSL income front.

What’s happening with the dividend on CSL shares?

As any good dividend investor knows, a company’s dividend yield is the function of two metrics. The first is the raw dividends per share that a company declares and pays out. But that alone doesn’t determine a company’s dividend yield. It is also influenced by its share price. A company can increase its dividends every single year. Yet if its share price rises at an even faster rate, its running yield will fall. The opposite is also true, though, which brings us to CSL.

On the first factor, CSL remains a winner. The company has been growing its annual payouts for more than a decade. Its final dividend last year was the largest it has ever funded (in US dollar terms), coming in at US$1.62 per share. The interim dividend that investors bagged last month was tied for its largest interim payout, matching last year’s US$1.30 per share.

If we combine this with the fact that CSL shares are at a ten-year low, it may come as no surprise to see that its yield is currently at a record high. For much of CSL’s recent history, investors would be lucky to see the company trade on a yield above 1%. Today, it is sitting at 3.08% (at the time of writing), ahead of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), if you can believe it.

Of course, just because CSL is trading with an historically high dividend yield doesn’t mean it’s a screaming buy. If CSL’s profits are sagging, the company might be forced to cut its payouts next year. This, as we’ve already discussed, would naturally bring the company’s yield back down. Even so, it’s a very interesting development to see this company hit a 3% dividend yield. Let’s see what happens next.

The post Historic: Here’s why CSL shares are looking very interesting right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX healthcare stocks have been crushed in 2026. They could be set for a comeback
• 3 ASX financial shares to buy: experts
• Should I buy CSL shares in June?
• After CSL’s 60% share price crash, insiders are starting to buy
• Investors are celebrating yesterday’s inflation news. Here’s how it might impact ASX financial stocks

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Looking at Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares today, one metric might catch your eye. That would be this ASX 200 energy stock‘s rather large dividend yield.

As it currently stands, this Friday (at the time of writing anyway), Woodside shares are going for $30.30 each, down a nasty 1.13% for the day so far.

At this share price, Woodside would appear to be trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.45%.

That’s large by any standards. But when you consider that most other blue-chip ASX dividend shares don’t have nearly anything of that size to offer up to income investors, it is of particular note. To illustrate, the closest rival to Woodside’s yield from the big four ASX banks, traditionally some of the ASX’s most formidable dividend payers, is currently ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ). It’s offering up a yield of just over 4.7% right now.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) isn’t even in the same league, with its 3%-ish yield. Other blue chips, including Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), are in a similar boat.

So should income investors prioritise loading up on Woodside shares if they are seeking to maximise their dividend income in 2026?

Are Woodside shares a screaming buy for that 5% yield?

Well, there’s nothing wrong with Woodside’s 5% yield itself. It hails from the last two dividend payments that the company dished out to investors. The first was the interim dividend from August, worth 81.82 cents per share; the second was the 83.49 cents per share interim dividend from March. Both payments came with full franking credits attached, as is Woodside’s habit.

Together, that 12-month total of $1.65 per share in dividends gives Woodside shares that 5.45% yield at the current stock price.

However, this merely reflects what Woodside has already paid out, not what it will pay out to investors who buy shares today.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict even the most reliable dividend stock’s payouts before the company reveals what they will be. Woodside is particularly unreliable given the highly cyclical nature of energy companies’ earnings. The reality is that the single largest factor determining Woodside’s future dividends will be the global price of oil. That is going up and down like a yo-yo at the moment, depending on the latest developments out of the Middle East. If oil prices do stay elevated, it obviously bodes well for the Woodside dividend.

However, the opposite could also be true. Earlier this week, my Fool colleague Bronwyn reported on the views of an ASX expert. He argued this:

Given Middle East tensions are expected to ease over time, energy prices could soften and reduce earnings support.

The stock now appears fully valued. In response to share price gains, it makes sense to lock in profits and re-allocate the proceeds to opportunities with stronger growth outlooks.

At the end of the day, Woodside is a relatively unreliable income provider. It certainly has the potential to gush cash when factors outside its control work in its favour. I think it has a place as a part of a well-diversified income portfolio. But investors may want to think twice before putting all of their eggs in Woodside shares’ basket.

The post 5.4% dividend yield: Are Woodside shares a buy for income today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 3 ASX shares that could benefit most if the US-Iran peace deal holds
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Buy, hold, sell: Kingsgate, Metcash, Woodside shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Generating $1,000 per month in passive income from ASX shares is a big target, but it is possible.

At an average dividend yield of 5%, an investor would need around $240,000 invested to generate $12,000 a year in dividends. That works out to $1,000 a month, before tax and before considering franking credits.

Getting there takes time, but I think there are five steps that can make the journey realistic.

Start with sustainable dividends

The first step is to focus on dividends that can last.

A high dividend yield can look attractive, but it is not always a good sign. Sometimes the yield is high because the share price has fallen and the market expects the dividend to be cut.

I would rather look for ASX shares with solid earnings, sensible payout ratios, manageable debt, and businesses that should still be relevant in five or 10 years.

That could include shares such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which has a long record of owning strong businesses and returning cash to shareholders. Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) could be another option for investors who want exposure to technology distribution and income.

The key is not just the dividend today. It is whether the company can keep supporting and growing that dividend over time.

Spread the risk

The second step is diversification.

Relying on one or two dividend shares can be risky. Even good businesses can have difficult years. A dividend cut from a major holding can quickly reduce passive income.

That is why I would spread money across different types of dividend shares.

An investor could also consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) or the Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD). They provide exposure to a basket of higher-yielding Australian shares, which can make diversification easier than picking every stock individually.

Pay attention to franking

The third step is to think about franking credits.

Many Australian companies pay fully franked dividends, which means tax has already been paid at the company level. For some investors, franking credits can improve the after-tax income received.

That does not mean investors should buy a share only because it is fully franked. The business still needs to be strong enough to support the dividend.

But when comparing two similar income options, franking can make a meaningful difference.

Reinvest before withdrawing

The fourth step is patience. If the goal is to eventually generate $1,000 per month, I would reinvest dividends while the income stream is still being built.

Reinvesting dividends allows investors to buy more shares, which can increase future income. It can feel slow at first, but over time the compounding effect can become powerful.

The longer an investor can leave the income machine to grow before drawing from it, the better the eventual passive income stream could be.

Keep reviewing the plan

The final step is to review the holdings regularly.

That does not mean trading constantly. But it does mean checking whether the original reason for owning each share still makes sense.

If earnings weaken, debt rises, or the dividend starts looking stretched, it may be time to reconsider. Passive income investing still needs active attention from time to time.

Foolish takeaway

A $1,000 monthly passive income stream is not built by chasing the highest dividend yield on the market.

I think the better approach is to build gradually, focus on dividend quality, reinvest along the way, and let the income base grow over time.

Once the portfolio reaches around $240,000 and can produce an average yield of 5%, that $12,000 annual target becomes achievable. The real challenge is having the patience to build it properly.

The post 5 steps to bring in $1,000 per month in passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 top ASX dividend shares to boost your passive income in June
• Buy, hold, sell: Eagers, Dicker Data and Endeavour Group shares
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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are rising strongly on hopes that the US and Iran will shortly announce a deal.

The ASX 200 is up 1.5% to 8,721.7 points at the time of writing.

Reported expectations are that the ceasefire will be extended by 60 days and the Strait of Hormuz may be reopened.

Despite today’s recovery, ASX 200 shares remain in the red for 2026.

However, the experts have flagged five ASX shares that they believe will outperform over the next 12 months.

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) 

The Champion Iron share price is $4.51, down 5.7% today.

This ASX mining share is down 27% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

RBC Capital has a buy rating on Champion Iron shares with an $8.11 target.

This indicates a potential 80% upside ahead.

Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

The Kogan share price is $4.17, up 1.5% today.

This ASX consumer discretionary share has increased 12.4% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $7.50 target.

This implies potential capital gains of 80% ahead.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price is $6.10, up 4.1% today.

This ASX gold mining share is up 5.7% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $10.30 target.

This implies a potential near-70% upside ahead.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman y Gomez share price is $19.50, up 0.6% today.

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 9.6% in 2026.

After Guzman upgraded its earnings guidance and announced its US exit, Morgans renewed its buy rating.

The broker also raised its 12-month price target from $26.70 to $29.40.

This suggests capital growth of 51% over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

The exit removes a loss sooner than consensus anticipated and simplifies the story while the Australian operations are performing well and in line with expectations.

Stripping out the US losses results in material upgrades to our EBITDA and NPAT forecasts.

We maintain our BUY rating and upgrade our price target to A$29.40.

Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC)

The Australian Agricultural Company share price is $1.31, up 0.5% today.

This ASX agriculture share is down 9.8% YTD.

Bell Potter has a buy rating with a $1.85 price target.

This implies a potential 41% capital gain over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

AAC delivered a record operating performance that was understated, due to the inclusion of $9m in flood related costs.

While costs are currently experiencing inflationary pressure (grain and oil), continued strong pricing in core offshore markets, uplifts in grainfed cattle capacity (FY27-28e sales program) and a larger herd are reason for optimism in future periods.

The post 5 ASX shares set to soar 40% to 80% in 12 months: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market?
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Kogan.com. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) share price is in focus today after the company announced it has completed its $165 million acquisition of Lightning Broadband, significantly expanding its national fibre presence and accelerating its Smart Communities strategy.

What did Superloop report?

• Acquisition of 100% of Lightning Broadband for $165 million in cash
• Lightning Broadband operates an open-access wholesale FTTP network across 400+ developments
• Approximately 56,000 lots secured, including 16,000 services in operation as at April
• Acquisition funded by cash and debt; net debt post-acquisition expected to be about 1.4x EBITDA
• Joint Functional Separation Undertaking now approved and effective

What else do investors need to know?

The acquisition marks a major step forward for Superloop’s Smart Communities growth strategy, expanding its fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) reach across six Australian states and territories. By integrating Lightning Broadband, Superloop strengthens its position as a challenger in the national FTTP market.

The approval and commencement of the Joint Functional Separation Undertaking by the ACCC ensures that Superloop’s wholesale FTTP activities will operate within a clearly separated and regulated framework, enhancing transparency and access for retail service providers.

What’s next for Superloop?

Superloop is expected to focus on integrating the Lightning Broadband business into its existing operations and leveraging its open-access FTTP infrastructure to attract new retail partners. The company will continue advancing its Smart Communities platform, aiming to grow its footprint and service capability nationwide.

With net debt remaining low post-acquisition, Superloop states it will maintain financial flexibility to pursue further growth, while the JFSU is set to support healthy competition in the wholesale fibre market.

Superloop share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Superloop shares have risen 29%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Superloop completes Lightning Broadband acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are rising strongly, up 1.5% to 8,721.4 points, on new hopes of a US-Iran deal.

While the world waits for further news, the global oil shock continues to cause direct economic ramifications worldwide.

The conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has resulted in the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

That’s a key global shipping channel through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply is transported.

We are now in the third month of the conflict, which has exacerbated already resurgent inflation in Australia.

Despite today’s recovery, ASX 200 shares remain just inside the red for 2026 so far.

Experts say some stocks have strong potential upside ahead, despite the impact of the war.

Here is a selection of them.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The Web Travel share price is $2.71, up 6.5% today.

This ASX 200 travel share is down 44% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

In a new note this week, Morgans gave Web Travel shares a buy rating with a price target of $3.75.

This suggests 38% capital growth over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

Given the Middle East conflict affected trading in March, WEB’s FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance, albeit better than consensus, proving its resilience.

Unsurprisingly, WEB’s FY27 update showed that trading has slowed materially given the conflict. Adverse FX has been another headwind.

Given the uncertainty, WEB did not provide any formal FY27 earnings guidance.

We have made significant downgrades to our forecasts. We assume that the conflict and a subdued consumer environment impacts WEB’s 1H27 (seasonally stronger half), followed by a recovery in the 2H27.

After material share price weakness, we upgrade WEB to a BUY rating. The company is worth materially more than the current share price.

We know from past economic and geopolitical events, that after a downturn, travel demand rebounds and so will its earnings and share price.

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is $5.04, up 2.3% today.

This ASX 200 consumer staples share has tumbled 30% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $6.88 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 37% over the next year.

Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG)

Nexgen shares are $15.86, up 2.9% today.

The ASX 200 uranium share has lifted 10.9% YTD.

In light of the Iran war, energy security is a hot topic these days.

Nations are highly motivated to develop new domestic energy supplies, and modern nuclear reactors are one way to do it.

This trend bodes well for ASX 200 uranium shares like Nexgen.

UBS has a buy rating on Nexgen shares with a $21 target.

This indicates a potential 32% upside ahead.

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

The Charter Hall share price is $20.33, up 4.5% today.

This ASX 200 real estate investment trust (REIT) has declined 16.8% YTD.

Morgan Stanley has a buy rating with a price target of $26.89.

This implies a potential 32% upside ahead.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to rise 30% or more in the year ahead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Macquarie names 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy right now
• How high could Web Travel Group shares go? 3 brokers weigh in
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There’s been plenty of market-moving news out this week, which has given the analyst team at Macquarie plenty to look at.

They’ve issued a bunch of new research notes, and I’ve selected three focused on ASX 200 companies that Macquarie has given an outperform rating to.

Let’s see what they’re saying.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos held its annual investor briefing this week, which focused on the company’s growing free cash flow.

The company’s Barossa and Pikka projects are also now producing, with Macquarie saying Santos was now past “peak capex”.

Santos’ break-even oil price is now US$45 to US$50 per barrel, compared to current prices of about US$88 per barrel.

Macquarie said Santos outlined US$4.9 billion in shareholder returns over CY26-30 and a US$2.5 billion reduction in debt by 2030.

Macquarie said in its research note:

Santos now has a suite of higher-quality opportunities to pursue in Alaska, PNG, Beetaloo (potentially Bedout). This focus should see it create currently unrecognised value from its existing footprint.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.15 on Santos shares compared to the current price of $7.73.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

Web Travel Group earlier this week delivered a strong set of full-year numbers, reporting that total transaction volume (TTV) was up 20% year over year to $5.8 billion, driven by “significant organic growth in the Americas and Europe”, while TTV margins improved by 0.1% to 6.8%.

Revenue increased 20% to $394.1 million while net profit was up from $11.1 million in FY25 to $35.5 million.

Macquarie said while TTV was in line with consensus estimates, TTV margins were better than expected.

They said margins could come under pressure as the Middle East conflict drags on, but that the company’s ongoing investment should position them well for any recovery in travel activity.

As Macquarie said:

Outlook continues to be impacted by ongoing conflict disruption and uncertainty, continued investment supports WEB’s ability to improve margins as it scales over the medium term.

Macquarie has a price target of $4.05 on Web Travel Group shares compared with $2.70 currently.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

Infratil, which invests in data centre and renewable energy businesses, this week reported that full-year EBITDAF rose 11% to NZ$989 million, while total asset value increased 13% to NZ$20.6 billion.

The company said its earnings were mainly driven by investments in its Australasian data centre business CDC and its US renewable energy business Longroad Energy, and it expected earnings to increase by 21% in FY27.

Macquarie said there were several potential catalysts to boost the share price, including the possible sell-down of an additional $1 billion in assets, which would simplify the company.

Further announcements around contracting for signings to CDC could also be a positive, they said.

Macquarie has a price target of $17.23 on Infratil shares compared to $13.17 currently.

The post Macquarie names 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to rise 30% or more in the year ahead
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• How high could Web Travel Group shares go? 3 brokers weigh in
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

With a strong performance today as we head into the end of trade on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.5% for the week, but these three ASX 200 stocks certainly haven’t helped the recovery.

One of this week’s laggards is a major iron ore miner, the second is a telecommunications company, and the third is a listed exchange group I’m confident you’re well familiar with.

So, which stocks are tumbling amid this week’s rebounding market?

I’m glad you asked!

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

The first stock having a week to forget is Champion Iron.

Champion Iron shares closed last Friday trading for $4.93. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $4.50 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 8.7% for the week.

Shares in the iron ore miner closed down 4.6% on Thursday, and are down another 6.1% today, following the release of the company’s March quarter results.

On the plus side, the miner reported an 8% year-on-year increase in iron ore concentrate production to 3.4 million wet metric tonnes (wmt).

But investors have been favouring their sell buttons, with Champion Iron reporting a 2.3% year-on-year decline in quarterly revenue to US$414.5 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$114.3 million were down a steeper 10.3%.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

Also taking a tumble this week, we have Tuas.

Shares in the Singapore-based telecom stock closed last Friday trading for $2.31, and are currently trading for $2.05 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 11.3% for the week.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from the company this week. But Tuas shares have been under intense selling pressure since 18 May. This follows an admission by the company that its SIMBA mobile business “may have been using radio frequency bands that it was not authorised to use”.

Tuas then terminated its agreement to acquire Singapore telecom company M1 Limited, noting it would not move forward with its intended purchase.

Tuas shares are now down 66.1% since market close on 15 May.

Which brings us to…

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The worst performing ASX 200 stock this week is Australian stock exchange operator ASX Ltd.

ASX shares closed last Friday trading for $59.50. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $45.88.

This sees the ASX share price down a steep 22.9% for the week.

ASX shares closed down 13.2% on Tuesday after the company released an update pointing to a sharp rise in costs in FY 2027.

The telco expects total expenses to increase between 18% and 21% in the financial year ahead, partly driven by ongoing technology investments.

The post Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?
• Warning: Champion Iron shares slide as profits take a hit
• Why ASX, CBA, Endeavour, and Tuas shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.