Even though the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has come off the record highs we saw earlier this year, the yields on many ASX 200 dividend stocks remain quite low by historical standards. Popular passive income stocks like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) remain under 3% right now.

With interest rates rising and safe investments like term deposits now offering interest rates above 5%, many income investors are simply looking for larger yields. Fortunately, there are a few ASX 200 dividend shares that still carry yields of 4% or greater, many with full franking credits on the table too. Today, let’s go over three of them.

3 ASX 200 dividend stocks with yields greater than 4% today

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

A huge run-up over the past two months or so hasn’t brought ASX 200 energy stock Woodside’s dividend completely down to earth just yet. At recent pricing, Woodside shares were trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.1%. All ASX dividend shares’ yields should be taken with a grain of salt, and energy shares particularly so.

Despite this, if oil and gas prices remain elevated, there’s a strong possibility that this ASX 200 share will continue to dole out fat, fully-franked dividends for a while yet.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

IGA distributor Metcash is next up. This consumer staples company, and ASX 200 dividend stock, has had a lacklustre few years on the ASX, with its shares down almost 15% from where they were five years ago at the time of writing. However, this unimpressive stock price performance has helped push Metcash’s yield quite high.

At the time of writing, this stock is sitting on a trailing yield of 6.05%, replete with full franking. Some brokers think Metcash is still in for a difficult time over 2026 and beyond. But the company would have to cut its dividend dramatically for it to lose its hefty income potential that its current yield suggests.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Finally, we can’t get through a dividend share list without including an ASX 200 bank stock. Westpac is that bank share today. Unlike its peer, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac still offers a bank-like yield too. At recent pricing, Westpac was sitting on a trailing dividend yield of 4.34%. Again, Westpac usually attaches full franking credits to its payouts as well.

Investors may draw further hope from how Westpac’s last two dividend payments have been larger than the two that preceded them. Let’s see if the next two follow the same pattern.

The post 3 ASX 200 dividend stocks with yields over 4% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• ANZ, Westpac, NAB and CBA shares: Analysts rate 2 a hold, and 2 a sell
• $8,000 invested in Woodside shares in December is already worth…
• Are CBA, Westpac, NAB and ANZ shares heading for more pain?
• 3 ASX stocks that could benefit from oil prices hitting US$105 a barrel

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 and Woolworths 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.

If you are looking for ASX dividend shares to buy, then it could be worth listening to what Bell Potter is saying about the two in this article.

The broker has named them among its best buys for the month and is expecting some attractive dividend yields and major upside in the near term.

Here’s what the broker is recommending to clients:

COG Financial Services Ltd (ASX: COG)

This asset finance company has been named as an ASX dividend share to buy in May by Bell Potter.

Commenting on the company, the broker said:

COG Financial (COG) is a diversified conglomerate of distribution businesses focused on Australia. The group principally provides access to credit providers (and related insurance) for yellow commercial goods. This is delivered through a nationwide broker net. In addition, the company has some balance sheet funded direct originations, with a focus on capturing some of the overflow for non-prime chattel mortgages. A proportion of this is offered under peer-to-peer lending. Following the acquisition of Paywise, the company has articulated an external accumulation strategy, focused on novated leasing and salary packing services.

As for income, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 7 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 8.9 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.50, this would mean dividend yields of 4.7% and 5.9%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.30 price target on its shares, which implies potential upside of 53%.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Another ASX dividend share that has been named as a best buy is youth fashion retailer Universal Store.

Bell Potter highlights its positive growth outlook, strong return on equity, and cheap valuation as reasons to buy. It said:

Universal Store Holdings is a leading youth focused apparel, footwear and accessories retailer in Australia. UNI will continue to increase store numbers over the next few years, supporting earnings growth of 11% p.a. Valuation looks attractive, trading on a forward P/E of ~12.5x. UNI is a quality small cap (ROE ~26%) that is executing on its rollout strategy.

The broker expects this to underpin fully franked dividends of 36.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 39.3 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $6.34, this equates to generous dividend yields of 5.8% and 6.2%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $9.30 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of almost 50% for investors.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX dividend shares to buy in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Hunting passive income? Here are three ASX dividend shares to buy
• Buy, hold, sell: COG Financial Services, Macquarie, CBA shares
• Why this could be one of the best ASX dividend stocks to buy now
• These ASX dividend shares offer big yields and potential upside of 20%+
• Forget BHP shares! Buy these ASX dividend shares instead for passive income

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. 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 Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Most investors chasing the green energy transition head straight for lithium miners or solar stocks.

But there is a quieter, less glamorous, and arguably more interesting way to play the same trend.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) is the world’s largest publicly listed metal and electronics recycler, and the forces driving demand for recycled metals are only getting stronger.

The company provides a crucial circular economy service that reduces the need for new metals and electronics.

What Sims actually does

Sims operates across five business segments, buying, processing, and selling ferrous and non-ferrous recycled metals across 30 countries.

The company also provides IT asset disposal and lifecycle services through its Sims Lifecycle Services division.

Consequently, every electric vehicle manufactured, every wind turbine installed, and every data centre built creates a source of future recyclable material and a driver of demand for the recycled metals Sims produces today.

In that sense, Sims sits at both ends of the green energy supply chain simultaneously.

The numbers are turning in the right direction

Sims delivered a 70.9% jump in underlying net profit after tax to $60 million for the half year ended 31 December 2025, alongside a 3.7% lift in sales revenue.

The standout performer was Sims Lifecycle Services, which delivered a 247.5% jump in underlying EBIT, driven by surging global demand for used DDR4 chips as hyperscale and AI data centre builds accelerate.

Moreover, the North America Metal and SA Recycling divisions both delivered higher trading margins, even as volumes from processed scrap reduced slightly.

Sims shares have comfortably outpaced the performance of the ASX200 these past 12 months.

The FY2026 outlook

In March 2026, Sims flagged an expected FY2026 underlying EBIT of between $350 million and $400 million.

This was driven by a strong third quarter and a materially improved second half in both its North America Metals and SA Recycling divisions.

Management noted that despite continued high Chinese steel exports putting pressure on scrap prices, Sims’ Metal business remains supported by robust non-ferrous pricing and a focus on sourcing more unprocessed material.

Through its SA Recycling investment, the company has also achieved an 8.3% compound annual growth rate in sales volume from FY2021 to FY2026, with 147 operational facilities now running across 15 US states.

Furthermore, the company’s Investor Day in Nashville confirmed a busy pipeline of bolt-on acquisitions through SA Recycling, reinforcing the long-term growth ambition.

Foolish takeaway

Sims does not attract the same headlines as the more trendy names in the green transition.

However, as a critical enabler of the circular economy, it benefits from the same tailwinds as lithium miners and solar developers, while offering a more established earnings base and a more attractive valuation.

For investors looking for an ASX metal recycling stock with genuine long-term credentials, Sims deserves serious attention.

The post Why this ASX stock could be a surprise winner as metal recycling demand surges appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

Coal miner New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) released a quarterly production report this week, prompting the broker community to take a closer look at the company.

Interestingly, the brokers don’t agree on whether the company is fully valued at the moment, with Macquarie breaking ranks with an outperform rating on the shares.

We’ll have a closer look at some of the broker share price targets for New Hope shortly.

First, let’s have a look at what they announced this week.

Robust production numbers

The company said in its quarterly report that its coal production was “strong”, coming in at 4.3 million tonnes for the quarter, up 5% on the previous quarter.

Coal sales were 10.4% higher at 3.2 million tonnes, while the average realised price inched up from $139 per tonne to $140.70 per tonne.

New Hope said the underlying EBITDA for the quarter was $130.1 million, up 21.7% on the previous quarter, and the company had cash of $571.6 million.

The company said the conflict in the Middle East had been supportive of higher coal prices.

It said:

During the quarter, geopolitical conflict in the Middle East caused disruption and uncertainty to global energy markets. Global coal markets observed favourable price movements during the quarter, driven by concerns surrounding Middle Eastern LNG availability and shifting gas-to-coal for power generation. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (JKT) increased coal imports, prioritising energy security amidst LNG supply disruption. Japan and South Korea have eased restrictions on older coal plants and postponed planned retirements. The Company anticipates increased demand in the coming quarter, as the Northern Hemisphere moves out of the shoulder season and into Summer. Looking ahead, the Group’s forward sales book remains well supported with the majority of production for the next three months sold.

Broker dissent

In terms of the brokers that follow the company, both Bell Potter and Morgans have a hold recommendation on New Hope shares.

Bell Potter said they had increased their price target for the company from $4.50 to $5, after they applied “a 10% premium to our sum of the parts valuation with energy security concerns exacerbated by recent geopolitical issues”.

Their price target is still below the current share price of $5.44, however.

Morgans has a price target of $5.25 on the shares, up from $5 previously, saying New Hope “continues to be well-positioned to deliver low-cost, high-margin cash flow from its operations”.

They added:

We believe coal prices can rebound meaningfully above consensus over time, and NHC is positioned to capitalise, driving stronger cash flow and shareholder returns.

Macquarie, however, is an outlier with a bullish price target of $7 on New Hope shares.

Macquarie said:

Improving (stabilising) performance at Bengalla (hitting target run rates) and ongoing ramp-up at New Acland positions New Hope well in what could become a tighter market for thermal coal as global energy disruptions continue from the Middle East conflict.

The post Analysts are split over whether New Hope shares are a buy or a hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why it could be time to move on from this booming ASX energy stock
• What is Morgans saying about Megaport and New Hope shares
• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Elders, Brambles and New Hope shares on Monday?

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.

A 25-year time frame changes the way investors should think about ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Short-term market swings become less important. What matters more is whether the fund gives exposure to businesses, regions, or industries that can keep growing through multiple cycles.

With that in mind, here are five ASX ETFs that could be worth buying and holding for the next quarter of a century.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

It gives investors exposure to many of the companies that have reshaped the modern economy. These businesses sit behind search, cloud computing, streaming, digital advertising, software, artificial intelligence, and consumer technology.

Its holdings include names such as Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

The fund can be volatile, but for patient investors, it offers exposure to some of the strongest long-term growth engines in global markets.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

Another ASX ETF that could be held for decades is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This popular fund tracks the S&P 500 index, which is widely viewed as the benchmark for the US share market.

It gives investors exposure to hundreds of large American companies across technology, healthcare, financials, industrials, consumer goods, and more. This includes Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT).

The strength of IVV is its breadth. Investors do not need to know which sector will dominate the next 25 years. The fund provides exposure to a large part of the US economy and naturally evolves as market leadership changes.

Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)

A third ASX ETF worth considering is the Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF.

It gives investors exposure to global share markets outside the United States. This includes developed markets such as Europe and Japan, as well as emerging markets across Asia, Latin America, and other regions.

Its holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and Nestle (SWX: NESN).

This makes the ETF useful for investors who already have US exposure and want to broaden their global reach.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

Another ASX ETF with a long-term growth theme is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Automation is likely to become more important over the next few decades as businesses look to improve productivity, reduce costs, and operate with greater precision.

This fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and related technologies.

Its holdings include Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Keyence (TYO: 6861), and ABB (SWX: ABBN).

If automation becomes more deeply embedded across the global economy, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF could be well placed to benefit over a long holding period.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

A fifth ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

It focuses on international companies with strong quality characteristics. These can include high returns on equity, stable earnings, and low financial leverage.

That gives the fund a different role from a standard global index ETF. It is not simply buying companies because they are large. It is applying a quality filter to global markets.

Its holdings include NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Visa (NYSE: V), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY).

Over 25 years, quality can matter a lot. Companies with strong balance sheets, durable earnings, and high profitability are often better placed to reinvest, survive downturns, and keep compounding.

This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 25 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 reasons I’d buy the NDQ ETF with $10,000
• Why the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be the best way to capture the AI boom
• How to build a $150,000 ASX share portfolio from scratch
• How to generate $20,000 a year in passive income on the ASX
• 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Abb, Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Broadcom, Eli Lilly, Intuitive Surgical, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tesla, Vanguard International Equity Index Funds – Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF, Visa, Walmart, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Nestlé and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Defence budgets are rising at a pace not seen since the Cold War.

Yet for Australian investors wanting exposure to the theme, picking individual defence stocks can be complex, costly, and risky.

The Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) offers a simpler way to gain exposure to the defence industry in a cost-effective way.

What ARMR actually holds

ARMR tracks the VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index, providing exposure to 60 companies that derive more than 50% of their revenues from the development and manufacturing of military and defence equipment and technology.

Critically, the fund only holds companies headquartered in NATO member and major NATO ally countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Top holdings include some of the most recognisable names in global defence: Lockheed Martin, Palantir Technologies, BAE Systems, and Rheinmetall.

In fact, ARMR currently holds 13 of the top 20 defence contractors in the world by defence revenue, giving investors meaningful concentration in the companies that win the largest government contracts.

The performance backdrop

ARMR has delivered healthy returns over the past twelve months, reflecting the extraordinary surge in global defence spending these last years.

However, as Betashares recently noted in its own research, the fund has returned negative 1.8% over the past six months despite the spending environment remaining exceptionally strong.

This has created what the fund manager described as a counterintuitive divergence between the operational backdrop and near-term price performance.

Tom Wickenden, investment strategist at Betashares, said the first 12 days of the US conflict with Iran alone are estimated to have cost the US around US$16.5 billion.

This is a reminder of how quickly modern conflict depletes equipment and drives reordering.

In response, the US is planning a defence budget of around US$1.5 trillion for FY2027, which would represent the most significant year-on-year defence budget increase in history if approved.

The investment case

The case for an ASX defence ETF like ARMR rests on a simple but powerful observation: the shift in global defence spending is not a one-year event.

Europe’s defence procurement backlog will take years to clear.

NATO members are only beginning to reach the 2% of GDP spending target.

Australia’s own defence budget is expanding under the AUKUS agreement, with the federal government committing to reach 2.4% of GDP within a decade.

For investors who want diversified, low-cost exposure to this theme without the risk of picking individual stocks, ARMR remains the most direct option available on the ASX.

Foolish takeaway

ARMR is not without risk.

Defence spending can be cyclical and the near-term price performance has been softer than the underlying spending environment might suggest.

Nevertheless, for long-term investors who believe elevated defence budgets are here to stay, this ASX defence ETF continues to make a strong case.

The post Why this ASX defence ETF keeps attracting investor attention appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest $5,000 in ASX ETFs this month
• Will global defence ASX ETFs keep climbing? Expert
• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs right now

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall. 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.

A new report from VanEck has reinforced the opportunity for investors lying within China’s artificial intelligence growth. 

According to the report, global semiconductor stocks have surged back to life.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) recently recorded its longest winning streak in more than three decades: 18 straight positive sessions as at 24 April 2026, representing a gain of 47.2% from 30 March to 24 April 2026. 

And while this rally has been front and centre, a similar story is unfolding in China that we believe many investors have not yet fully appreciated.

China’s AI ecosystem developing rapidly 

According to VanEck, DeepSeek, the Hangzhou-based lab whose open-source AI model rivalled OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is now in discussions to raise capital at a valuation of more than US$20 billion. 

While significant, this figure represents a fraction of OpenAI’s current US$852 billion.

Alibaba has set a target of increasing annual cloud and AI revenue fivefold to US$100 billion within five years, while Tencent has unveiled a major upgrade to its foundational open-source AI model. 

Together, the developments suggest China’s AI champions are moving rapidly toward large scale commercial competition.

Beyond the megacaps 

VanEck also pointed out that when investors think about China’s AI story, mega caps including Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) and Tencent (SEHK: 700) come to mind first. 

While these are important companies, they represent only one part of a much deeper ecosystem.

More important, however, are the companies that form the physical backbone of the AI infrastructure build out. These are the manufacturers of optical transceivers that connect AI server clusters, the producers of high-density printed circuit boards (PCBs) and semiconductor materials that underpin chip fabrication, as well as the makers of Internet of Things (IoT) devices that bring AI capabilities into the physical world.

Attractive valuations

Another important aspect of the Chinese AI boom is China’s AI-linked companies are attractively valued compared with their US counterparts.

In the US, AI beneficiaries command eye-watering multiples, with many software companies trading at well above 100x like Palantir (107.9x) and Cloudfare (184.5x) at the time of writing. In contrast, critical AI supply chain companies listed in China are available at 20–35x forward earnings while consumer companies integrating AI into their products trade for as little as 8–15x, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

How to target China’s AI boom 

For investors looking to capture exposure to this rapidly growing sector, there are several ASX ETFs to consider. 

Some options include: 

• VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW) – Invests in 120 fundamentally sound and attractively valued companies with growth prospects in China’s New Economy, targeting technology, healthcare, and consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors. More than 20% of CNEW’s exposure is toward companies that work in either technology hardware or semiconductor production.
• VanEck Ftse China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) – Invests in a diversified portfolio comprising the 50 largest companies in the mainland (A-shares) Chinese market. More than 20% of CETF’s exposure is toward technology companies. 

The post How to target China’s AI boom: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 3 of the best performing Vanguard ASX ETFs over the last year
• $3,000 invested in this ASX 200 tech stock in April is now worth $5,562
• Bell Potter tips nearly 300% upside for one of these ASX small-caps
• Brokers say these ASX 300 shares are too cheap to ignore

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and sank into the red. The benchmark index fell 1.25% to 8,496.6 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong session on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 113 points or 1.3% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 1.3%, the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.55%.

Nvidia results

The market will no doubt be focusing on the Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) results on Thursday. According to CNBC, it reported an 85% jump in revenue to US$81.62 billion, which was ahead of the consensus estimate of US$78.86 billion. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, said: “The buildout of AI factories — the largest infrastructure expansion in human history — is accelerating at extraordinary speed. Agentic AI has arrived, doing productive work, generating real value and scaling rapidly across companies and industries.”

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a tough session on Thursday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5.5% to US$98.44 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 5.7% to US$104.97 a barrel. Traders were selling oil after Donald Trump said Iran peace talks are now in the final stages.

Buy Catapult shares

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) shares may have raced 18% higher on Wednesday, but Bell Potter doesn’t believe the gains are over. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the sports technology company’s shares with an improved price target of $4.65. In response to its FY 2026 results, Bell Potter said: “FY26 management EBITDA – the key earnings metric – of US$24.7m was 8% above our forecast of US$23.0m and 10% above consensus of US$22.4m. Notably, the guidance was 50% growth and it came in at 67%. The beat was driven by a 2% beat at revenue (US$140.7m vs BPe US$137.9m) and a 90bp beat at the margin (17.6% vs BPe 16.7%).”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a positive session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.85% to US$4,549.4 an ounce. Easing oil prices and treasury yields gave the precious metal a boost.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• $8,000 invested in Woodside shares in December is already worth…
• Santos shares smash 4-year high. Is it too late to buy?
• ASX 200 drops to a new 7-week low as banks and miners sink
• Why EOS, Newmont, Webjet, and WIA Gold shares are tumbling today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Three ASX ETF providers currently dominate the ETF landscape in terms of funds under management. 

Vanguard, Betashares and iShares account for more than 60% of the market. 

Yesterday, iShares funds were under the microscope for their performance over the last 12 months. 

Exploring the best performing funds can give great insight into sectors and themes that are capturing returns. 

Today, let’s look at the best performing ASX ETFs in the last year from the largest ETF provider – Vanguard. 

Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

An emerging theme over the last 12 months has been the outperformance of Asian markets and equities. 

This fund has increased over the last 12 months mainly because Asian markets rebounded, led by strong gains in Chinese technology stocks, Indian companies, and semiconductor firms such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), which benefited from the AI boom.

Improving confidence in China’s economy, strong growth in India, and a weaker Australian dollar also boosted returns for Australian investors.

These tailwinds have pushed this fund 26% higher over the last 12 months. 

This fund includes roughly 1,400 companies from 12 markets across Asia, excluding Japan. The key markets of China, Taiwan, Korea, and India make up around 80% of the exposure.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD)

Another strong performing fund over the last year has been this internationally focussed ETF. 

The ETF provides exposure to many of the world’s companies listed on the exchanges of major developed economies around the world.

At the time of writing, it includes over 1,200 underlying holdings, with its largest geographic exposure being to: 

• United States: 73.1%
• Japan: 5.8%
• United Kingdom: 3.7%. 

Because of its US dominant structure, it holds a large weighting towards technology and financial shares. 

This could make it an ideal compliment for an investor looking to diversify away from Australian markets. 

In the last 12 months, it has risen 18%. 

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

This high yield ASX ETF has also been a great investment over the last year. 

It provides exposure to companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange that have higher forecast dividends relative to other ASX-listed companies. 

Security diversification is achieved by restricting the proportion invested in any one industry to 40% of the total ETF and 10% for any one company. Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts (A-REITS) are excluded from the index.

Over the last 12 months, it has not only provided strong dividends, but has also risen by 12% as well. 

The post 3 of the best performing Vanguard ASX ETFs over the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. 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 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) closed 0.75% lower on Wednesday afternoon. 

The index is mostly flat over the past week but it has tumbled 29% over the past year after a crash in investor confidence sent ASX tech stocks plummeting in late-2025 and into early-2026. 

The good news is that it looks like many tech stocks bottomed in late-March and have started a slow but (mostly) steady upward climb. If you invested in the right ASX 200 tech stock at the right time, you could be reaping the rewards already.

Take Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares for example.

At the close of the ASX on Wednesday afternoon, Megaport shares had slumped 1.75% to $12.38. 

While the slump might look disappointing on the surface, its barely dented gains that the shares have made over the past month.

After dipping to a three-year low of $6.71 in early-April, the shares have rebounded a huge 84.5%. They’re now 0.5% higher for the year-to-date and practically flat on this time last year.

So if I invested $3,000 in Megaport shares in the dip, what is that worth today?

The steep rebound is great news for investors who were in the right place at the right time. 

Those who invested $3,000 in Megaport shares in the dip would have $5,562 today. 

That’s an impressive gain over a short period of time.

Megaport has faced some strong headwinds this year

Megaport is a software-defined network (SDN) service provider that allows customers to connect between around 860 data centres globally.

The beaten-down tech stock was caught up in a sector-wide sell-off after investors panicked that artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt traditional software models. Many were worried that AI tools might replace or reduce demand for subscription-based software. 

The company has also been battered by high investor expectations and heavy acquisition spending, which raised concerns about near-term costs and profits. 

Global factors also played their part too. Concerns about global implications following ongoing tensions in the Middle East have also spooked investors this year. In March, we saw investors turn their back on high-growth ASX 200 tech shares, like Megaport, and rotate towards more stable assets instead.

But on the flip-side, the long-term drivers of AI and tech-sector growth haven’t disappeared. Technology is rapidly advancing, and businesses have ramped up their AI investments.

It looks like investors are finally coming around to the idea that AI adoption could benefit technology development.

Are the ASX 200 tech shares now a buy, sell or hold?

I think we’ll see a lot more out of this ASX 200 tech stock this year, and it looks like analysts agree.

Data shows that 11 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the tech shares. Another four have a hold rating.

The average $17.29 target price implies a potential 40% upside over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, the maximum $26.30 target price implies Megaport shares could soar another 112%, at the time of writing.

The post $3,000 invested in this ASX 200 tech stock in April is now worth $5,562 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.