Many “global” portfolios are really US-heavy.

Even diversified investors often end up with significant exposure to American megacaps. The Magnificent 7 have driven much of the recent market returns, and US companies still dominate broad global indices.

But what if the next wave of AI and growth is broader?

Two themes suggest that the AI opportunity may not be confined to Silicon Valley: India’s structural transformation and Asia’s dominance in the semiconductor supply chain. For investors looking beyond the US, two ASX-listed ETFs offer targeted exposure to those trends.

India’s structural shift

India hasn’t been the standout performer among emerging markets this year. In fact, its equity market has lagged broader emerging indices, reflecting a mix of cautious sentiment and concerns around valuations.

Yet beneath the surface, structural forces are building.

India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. Its young population, rising middle class and ongoing urbanisation create a long runway for domestic demand. At the same time, the government has been pursuing fiscal discipline while maintaining heavy capital expenditure in infrastructure, energy and manufacturing.

That combination matters. Infrastructure spending in transport, power and digital networks lays the groundwork for productivity gains over the next decade. Meanwhile, policy incentives are aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing, including electronics and semiconductors.

There is also a clear AI angle emerging.

Global technology giants are committing capital to cloud and data centre expansion in India. What was once seen primarily as an outsourcing hub is increasingly being positioned as a regional AI infrastructure base. As hyperscaler spending flows into data centres, computing capacity and digital services, Indian corporates may benefit both directly and indirectly.

For investors, an India-focused ETF such as the Global X India Nifty 50 ETF (ASX: NDIA) provides exposure to 50 of India’s largest listed companies. These include leaders in financials, energy, IT services and consumer sectors – businesses that stand to gain if India’s domestic growth story continues to strengthen.

It’s not a pure-play AI bet. Instead, it’s a way to access a large, reform-driven economy that could become increasingly central to the global digital buildout.

Asia’s AI supply chain advantage

While the US designs many of the world’s most advanced AI chips, much of the physical manufacturing happens in Asia.

As American tech giants ramp up spending on data centres and AI infrastructure, demand is flowing through the semiconductor supply chain. That includes chip fabrication, advanced memory and specialist components – areas where Asian companies dominate.

Across Asia, several countries sit at the centre of the global technology supply chain.

Taiwan and South Korea are home to some of the world’s most advanced semiconductor fabrication and memory manufacturing capabilities. These businesses produce the chips and components that power data centres, cloud computing and AI workloads. Meanwhile, parts of China and other Southeast Asian economies host major hardware producers, consumer technology leaders and digital platforms that support the broader ecosystem.

If AI-related data centre spending continues to rise, a meaningful share of that investment is likely to flow through companies based in these markets. An ETF such as the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) provides diversified exposure across key technology-heavy markets including Taiwan, South Korea and China. 

Rather than relying on a single company, investors gain access to a broad mix of semiconductor firms, hardware manufacturers and digital platform businesses that are deeply embedded in the region’s innovation engine.

For investors who feel heavily exposed to US tech, this can provide a complementary angle – capturing the “picks and shovels” of AI beyond American borders.

The Foolish takeaway

Every investment theme comes with risks. Emerging markets can be volatile. Currency movements, geopolitical tensions and regulatory shifts can affect returns. And questions remain about the long-term sustainability of AI-related capital expenditure.

However, AI is increasingly a global infrastructure story, not just a US equity story.

India is investing in the foundations of its next growth phase. Asia is manufacturing the hardware that powers the AI revolution.

For investors building long-term portfolios, broadening exposure beyond the US – through targeted ASX ETFs – could mean participating in a much wider slice of the next decade’s growth.

The post If AI isn’t just a US story, these 2 ETFs could benefit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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.

ASX small-cap stocks can come with more volatility than blue-chip companies.

However, these three ASX small-caps have drawn buy recommendations from brokers, along with price targets suggesting they could double in 12 months. 

For investors considering exposure to ASX small-caps, they may appeal.

Medallion Metals Ltd (ASX: MM8)

Medallion Metals is a minerals exploration company based in Perth, Western Australia. To the north, it has the Ravensthorpe Gold Project, comprising mineral rights yielding amounts of high-grade gold and copper. To the south, the Jerdacuttup Project is prospective for base and precious metals.

It has already rocketed 200% higher in the last year. 

Morgans is bullish this ASX small-cap can continue to grow. 

In a recent note out of the broker, Morgans said the company is now fully funded, supported by a US$50m offtake-linked financing facility with commodity trader Trafigura, removing a key development overhang. 

We maintain our SPECULATIVE BUY rating, with a price target of A$0.87ps (previously A$0.61ps).

From yesterday’s closing price of $0.42, this updated price target indicates an upside of approximately 107%. 

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

Qoria is a leading global provider of cyber safety products and services.

The ASX small-cap released its 1HFY26 result on Thursday. 

In response, the team at Bell Potter downgraded its price target to $0.60. 

However, it maintained its buy recommendation, and projects 100% upside for the stock price based on yesterday’s closing price of $0.30. 

We have reduced the multiple we apply in the EV/Revenue valuation from 6x to 4.5x given the sell-off in the tech sector since we last updated the target price in January.

There is, however, no change in the 9.1% WACC we apply in the DCF. The net result is a 20% reduction in our TP to $0.60 which is still double the share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation.

Trajan Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: TRJ)

Trajan is a developer and manufacturer of analytical science instruments, devices and solutions, focusing on accessing specialist skills and capabilities that improve the analytical workflow of the global life sciences industry. 

The company released its 1H26 result on Thursday. 

Speaking on the results, the team at Bell Potter said: 

TRJ’s 1H26 result was a tale of two discrete quarters. Q1 was impacted by a combination of a slowdown in the Pharma and Food sectors, the US Government funding freeze, and the impact of US tariffs and operational reconfiguration to adjust to the tariff environment. Q2 saw a material recovery due to a pick-up in the Pharma sector and the resumption of US Government funding to the health sector. This resulted in record revenue in Q2 at c.$45.4m and nEBITDA of c.$4.5m.

The broker reduced its price target to $1.050 as a result, and maintained its buy recommendation. 

From yesterday’s closing price of $0.565, this indicates an upside of 85.8% for this ASX small-cap.

The post 3 ASX small-caps that should be on every investor’s radar 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 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.

It is fair to say that DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares have been a great investment over the past 12 months.

But with its shares up around 350% during this time, the upside from here could be more limited than a year ago.

But don’t worry because there’s another ASX drone stock that could generate big returns between now and this time next year, according to Bell Potter.

Which ASX stock?

The stock that the broker is bullish on is Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS).

It is a supplier of communication modules to drone OEMs. Bell Potter notes that the ASX stock offers advanced communication components for unmanned (aerial, ground and sea) systems through its flagship product, the Halo platform, which aggregates all available communication paths into one resilient, encrypted pipe for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) control, video and telemetry.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that Elsight delivered a full-year result that was a touch softer than expected. This was driven by higher than expected costs. It explains:

ELS (pre) reported revenue growth to $22.8m. Gross margin came in at 76.5% (BPe 76.3%). Opex of $9.6m was higher than BPe of $8.7m driven by stronger than expected share-based payments. Underlying EBIT was $7.5m (12% miss vs. BPe). ELS reported statutory NPAT of $7.5m which included favourable tax loss carry forwards offset partially by a $1.8m negative FX movement. Adjusting for these items, Underlying NPAT was $6.1m, $0.7m lower than BPe.

However, the broker remains positive and has still upgraded its earnings estimates for the coming years. It also believes that a further upgrade could be due in time. Bell Potter explains:

We have revised EBIT +22%/+11%/+1% over CY26/27/28e, reflecting a higher Hardware revenue growth rate in CY26e partially offset by higher opex assumptions. We have raised revenue on reduced conservatism with regard to the likelihood of repeat orders from the European drone defence OEM, ELS’ key customer in CY25.

If the current pace of orders from this customer continues then our revenue forecast will likely be upgraded further. In turn, we acknowledge the level of customer concentration embedded in our forecasts and as a result have raised WACC to 12.0% (prev. 9.8%), to account for the inherent risks of customer concentration.

Big potential returns

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX stock with an improved price target of $5.80 (from $5.50).

Based on its current share price of $4.51, this implies potential upside of almost 30% for investors over the next 12 months.

The broker concludes:

We believe ELS has developed a market leading product that is fully leveraged to the emerging use of unmanned systems in both a defence and commercial context. In CY26e, we expect ELS to be a beneficiary of downstream demand from global defence departments, supporting our 115% hardware sales revenue growth estimate.

The post Forget DroneShield shares, this ASX drone stock could rocket 30% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 DroneShield. 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.

ASX healthcare stock Saluda Medical Inc (ASX: SLD) has endured a rough 12 months. 

So far in 2026, its share price is down 24%. 

However it appears the tide could be turning after the company posted its H1FY26 result yesterday. 

The stock price soared 9.6% higher following the release. 

Here’s what the company reported. 

H1 FY26 Results

Saluda Medical Inc is a commercial-stage medical device company focused on developing treatments for chronic neurological conditions using its novel neuromodulation platform. 

It is currently a single-product company, centred around its differentiated SCS product called the ‘Evoke System‘. 

Yesterday the ASX healthcare stock reported: 

• International revenue of US$11.0 million (+27% vs pcp)
• Acceleration in global revenue growth (+ 17% vs prior corresponding period (pcp) to US$39.4 million), driven by increase in US trained sales reps and active physicians
• US implanted patient growth of 17% vs pcp, driven by an increase in active implanting physicians. 

Commenting on the release, Saluda’s Chief Executive Officer, Barry Regan, said: 

We are pleased with the momentum within the first six months of FY26. We saw continued growth in the active implanting physician base and remain confident in our ability to build the size and quality of our sales force as planned heading into the new calendar year. 

Our team continues to be focused on execution and driving the organisation in line with our growth strategy. Our first half performance gave us the confidence to previously increase our FY26 revenue guidance. 

Additionally, we expect to improve on our other key FY26 financial metrics of gross margin, adjusted EBITDA, and cash used in operations. 

Buy recommendation for this ASX healthcare stock

Following the result, the team at Bell Potter reiterated its buy recommendation on the ASX healthcare stock. 

In a report yesterday, the broker said the stock is trading at undemanding multiples of <1x EV/Revenue and ~1.5x Price/Revenue based on its FY27 forecast, with expected growth of +25% in 2H26, mostly driven by the US. 

Management have so far demonstrated strong execution slightly ahead of the plans laid out at the time of the IPO.

Bell Potter has a 12 month price target of $2.70 on this ASX healthcare stock. 

From yesterday’s closing price of $1.085, this indicates a potential upside of 148.8%. 

Bell Potter isn’t the only broker with a positive outlook.

Earlier this month, Morgans put a speculative buy rating and $3.07 price target on its shares.

That indicates a potential upside of 182%. 

The post Is this ASX healthcare stock a buy, hold or sell after jumping 10% on earnings results? 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 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 WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price soared in response to the release of its FY26 first-half result. Experts think the ASX tech share can rise a lot more from where it is right now.

The logistics software provider reported that its revenue grew 76% to US$672 million thanks to the e2open acquisition, the operating profit (EBITDA) grew 31% to US$252.1 million underlying net profit rose 2% to US$114.5 million and statutory net profit fell 36%.

Profitability declined because of costs relating to acquiring e2open, but the business announced a plan that could lead to a headcount reduction of up to 50%, or around 2,000 roles, which could reduce costs.

Let’s take a look at what experts from UBS thought of the report.

Ongoing strong revenue growth

After WiseTech’s recent commercial model change, UBS thinks there are four key drivers for the business that could deliver a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18% over the next three years.

First, UBS is expecting 4% volume growth from a mixture of new and existing customers.

Second, the broker is assuming price growth of 6%.

Third, UBS forecasts a 4% CargoWise value pack (CVP) uplift on the remaining 5% large freight forwarders (FF), representing 30% of CargoWise’s revenue.

Fourth, it expects a container transport optimisation (CTO) contribution of 4%.

The broker thinks that CTO could be the “key swing factor” because of the large total addressable market, which could be somewhere between $4 billion to $20 billion.

UBS highlighted that WiseTech noted the complexity and newness of the CTO product, which is “likely to take time to drive broader adoption, with the company focused on their implementation with ACFS in Aus as proof of concept.”

Thoughts on the job cuts

UBS noted that WiseTech’s job cuts are largely being driven by AI efficiencies.

But, the company had more than tripled its workforce over the last three years as it had retained a large number of tech-related employees from acquisitions, particularly Blume and Envase, amid the competition for tech talent over the last few years.

UBS said it’s conservatively assuming around $200 million of underlying cost reductions by FY27.

Is the WiseTech share price a buy?

The broker certainly thinks the ASX tech share is a buy, with a price target of $89. That implies a possible rise of approximately 80% over the next 12 months, if UBS is right.

UBS wrote:

We viewed WTC’s 1H26 results positively and reiterate Buy: i) WTC highlighted its AI moat being data, integrations with key ecosystem partners, and agentic AI workflows; ii) commercial model change driving price uplift into 2H26.

WTC also signed 2 new large FF rollouts on CVP, and current conversations with large contracted FF to move to CVP appears positive. We continue to remain positive on the growth outlook for WTC and its defensiveness against AI disruption but we see incremental risks on a lower ramp of CTO over medium term.

The post Why this expert thinks the WiseTech share price can rise 80% in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Ord Minnett has been busy updating its financial models and recommendations for a number of ASX shares following the release of results and updates this month.

Let’s see what the broker is saying about the three popular shares named below:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Ord Minnett was pleased with this appliance manufacturer’s performance during the first half of FY 2026. It highlights that risks have reduced materially after it successfully navigated its manufacturing transition in response to US tariffs.

The broker believes this leaves it well-placed to return to strong earnings growth in FY 2027. As a result, it has upgraded its shares to an accumulate rating (from hold) with a $37.20 price target. It said:

Breville posted flattish first-half FY26 earnings but performance was a solid achievement in the face of significant US tariff headwinds. Having largely navigated its manufacturing transition, execution risks have diminished materially. The company is well-positioned to return to double-digit earnings growth beginning in FY27.

In terms of outlook, the company expects a modest increase in earnings before interest and tax in FY26. Such guidance appears prudent to us given residual risk from the impact of tariffs and the transition to new manufacturing facilities. Overall, as transitional pressures subside, we forecast a return to double-digit earnings growth in FY27, and upgrade our recommendation to Accumulate from Hold.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

This biotech giant disappointed Ord Minnett with its half-year results due to the underperformance of the key CSL Behring business. It said:

CSL posted first-half FY26 net profit short of market expectations, driven by weak revenue growth at its dominant Behring plasma products division that erased the benefits of better-than-expected revenue from its Seqirus vaccine and Vifor nephrology businesses. The soft result capped a horror couple of days for the beleaguered biotech – its shares slumped 4.6% after the result, taking its two-session slide since the bungled announcement of CEO Paul McKenzie’s exit to more than 9%.

‍And while CSL has reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026, Ord Minnett appears doubtful that this will be achieved. In response, it has retained its hold rating with a reduced price target of $198.00. It explains:

‍The company reiterated guidance for FY26 net profit growth of 4–7% on a constant-currency basis, although Ord Minnett notes this implies an earnings bias to the second half of 56%, versus a comparable 34% skew recorded in FY25. Post the result, we have cut our EPS estimates by 3.0%, 2.2% and 3.0% for FY26, FY27 and FY28, respectively, which, combined with currency effects, leading us to cut our target price to $198.00 from $217.00.

Cost performance has improved significantly as CSL’s business restructuring plans are implemented but revenue growth is still proving hard to come by, and the CEO’s exit adds a degree of difficulty to the biotech’s outlook. Despite the apparent upside on offer, Ord Minnett will need more evidence of top-line growth and margin expansion before we can become more constructive on CSL. As a result, we maintain our Hold recommendation.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

This ASX defence stock was hit with a short seller attack this month and Ord Minnett was pleased with management’s response.

In light of this, it has retained its speculative buy rating with a price target of $12.92. It said:

EOS has responded to the short-selling attack by US group Grizzly Research with a counter attack of their own, describing the Grizzly report as “misleading, manipulatory and pejorative.” Ord Minnett notes that while EOS produced enough data and credible explanation to counter the Grizzly report, their response still leaves questions around the $120 million conditional Korean High Energy Laser Weapon (HELW) contract. The response did provide greater clarity around existing contracts, including confirmation that the $33 million General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) contract signed late last year was for the new US M1E3 Abrams tank.

Fortuitously, during the trading halt period, the White House tweeted a picture of the new Abrams tank sporting an EOS Remote Weapons System (RWS). Despite the recent upheaval, our investment thesis of increasing geopolitical tensions and defence expenditure on C-UAS, RWS, HELW and Space remains unchanged. As such, we maintain our Speculative Buy recommendation on EOS.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Breville, CSL, and EOS shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Electro Optic Systems. 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.

2026 is off to a flying start where ASX shares are concerned. Since the beginning of January, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained a rosy 5.1%, and has hit several new all-time record highs along the way. But just because markets are at all-time highs doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thinking about buying more.

After all, the markets go up far more often than they go down. And, seeing as the ASX 200 has never failed to exceed a previous all-time high in its long history, logic dictates that we shouldn’t just buy shares when there is a rare stock market correction or crash. Even if these events are often the best opportunities to buy top-quality shares at cheap prices.

With that in mind, let’s discuss a few ASX shares that I would buy in 2026 if I stumbled onto a $10,000 windfall.

3 top ASX shares to buy with $10,000 in 2026

First up is MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF). MFF is a listed investment company (LIC) that specialises in buying high-quality US stocks at cheap prices. It takes a Buffett-esque long-term approach in this endeavour, with many of its largest holdings owned for many years. These include the likes of Amazon, Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa and American Express.

MFF has a long history of delivering solid performance for its investors, and has one of the best dividend growth track records around. I’d happily buy more of MFF with that $10,000.

I would also take a look at Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL). Soul Patts is a diversified investing house that owns and manages a vast underlying portfolio of assets on behalf of its shareholders. These assets are mostly high-quality ASX shares, but also include property, private credit and other investments. Soul Patts has a long history of delivering market-beating returns and has delivered decades of consistent dividend growth for its shareholders.

If you’re still not convinced MFF or Soul Patts is a good choice for our $10,000, a final choice to consider is TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE). This ASX tech stock has been growing at breakneck speed for years. Last November, it reported earnings per share (EPS) growth of 16%, profit growth of 17% and a whopping 55% surge in free cash flow.

Understandably, this stock has long traded at a very expensive valuation. But TechnologyOne has been caught up in the software scare that has hit global markets in recent weeks and is down considerably from last year’s record highs. Although this top ASX share has rebounded since the new 52-week low we saw earlier this month, it is still worthy of a look if you’re looking for a top stock to put that $10,000 in.

The post Top ASX shares to buy with $10,000 in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, American Express, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Visa, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Technology One, Visa, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Technology One, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) continued its positive run and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.5% to 9,175.3 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to edge higher

The Australian share market looks set to edge higher on Friday following a mixed night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 4 points higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, but the S&P 500 is down 0.5% and the Nasdaq is down 1.15%.

Oil prices mixed

It could be a subdued finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after a mixed night for oil prices. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.15% to US$65.31 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.05% to US$70.89 a barrel. Traders appear undecided on where US-Iran nuclear talks are heading.

Coles half-year results

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares will be on watch on Friday when the supermarket giant releases its half-year results. According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts are expecting a 3.5% increase in revenue and a 16.5% jump in underlying net profit after tax to $699 million. The broker said: “We expect COL’s 1H26 result to be largely in line with expectations, following a solid 1Q26 sales update. The company continues to execute well, with Supermarkets sales rising 4.8% in 1Q26 and maintaining momentum into early 2Q26. […] We forecast Supermarkets EBIT margin to increase by 60bp to 5.8% in 1H26.”

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a soft finish to the week after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.45% to US$5,202.9 an ounce. Traders continue to wait for further developments between the US and Iran.

Buy Light & Wonder shares

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) shares could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to its full-year results, the broker has retained its buy rating with a slightly trimmed price target of $220.00. It said: “We rate LNW a Buy due to a compelling GARP profile relative to the ASX 100 and ALL. We expect a continuation in the re-rate observed since the ASX sole listing in November 2025, as long as the company executes on its strategy. We believe LNW’s heightened investment in R&D will drive continued growth, particularly in the Premium leased market. Further, we believe LNW’s R&D engine is difficult to replicate by AI and therefore gives the company an enduring moat.”

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

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

It’s the final day of earnings season and scores of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares have ex-dividend dates coming up.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

Here is a sample of the large number of ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX All Ords shares about to go ex-dividend

ASX share	Ex-dividend date	Dividend amount	Pay date
Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)	2 March	30 cents per share	27 March
Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK)	2 March	39 cents per share	24 March
Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)	2 March	12.5 cents per share	25 March
Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC)	2 March	2.8 cents per share	2 April
PWR Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWH)	2 March	3 cents per share	20 March
Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)	2 March	25.8 cents per share	26 March
Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL)	2 March	15 cents per share	25 March
REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)	3 March	$1.24 per share	18 March
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)	3 March	20 cents per share	2 April
Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)	3 March	14 cents per share	18 March
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)	3 March	12.9 cents per share	2 April
Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB)	3 March	5.3 cents per share	9 April
Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)	3 March	7.5 cents per share	2 April
HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)	3 March	6 cents per share	9 April
SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH)	4 March	32 cents per share	9 April
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)	4 March	25 cents per share	26 March
Servcorp Ltd (ASX: SRV)	4 March	16 cents per share	1 April
Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)	4 March	21 cents per share	26 March
Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)	4 March	45 cents per share	19 March
EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT)	4 March	18 cents per share	19 March
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)	5 March	5.5 cents per share	2 April
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)	5 March	$1.03 per share	26 March
Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)	5 March	3 cents per share	30 March
Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)	5 March	$3.602 per share	16 April
EQT Holdings Ltd (ASX: EQT)	5 March	56 cents per share	26 March
Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)	5 March	50 cents per share	19 March
Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)	5 March	4.1 cents per share	27 March
Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)	5 March	53 cents per share	26 March
QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)	5 March	78 cents per share	17 April
Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)	5 March	5 cents per share	2 April
NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF)	5 March	13 cents per share	8 April
Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND)	5 March	49 cents per share	27 March
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)	5 March	83.4 cents per share	27 March
Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)	6 March	60 cents per share	2 April
Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)	6 March	2.4 cents per share	23 March

Which companies will we hear from today?

The big one today is the half-yearly report from supermarket network Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Woolworths shares ripped this week after the ASX All Ords consumer staples giant reported a 16% profit lift to $859 million for 1H FY26.

We’ll also hear from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX: MHJ), and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA).

The latest report from The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) will also be interesting, as investors seek further news on the turnaround plan for the beleaguered casino operator.

Yesterday, Star Entertainment shares bounced on news of a debt refinancing deal, including extra liquidity to fund the turnaround plan.

The post 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Where to invest $5,000 in ASX mid-cap shares
• Why this ASX copper stock could be a better buy than Rio Tinto
• Why Fortescue was upgraded and Woodside shares could be a buy
• 6% fully-franked yield! Is this ASX income share a buy?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband, HMC Capital, Lovisa, Netwealth Group, PEXA Group, and PWR Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended NIB Holdings, Netwealth Group, PEXA Group, and PWR Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband, BHP Group, Eagers Automotive Ltd, HMC Capital, Lovisa, Nick Scali, Servcorp, and Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I had $5,000 to deploy into ASX mid-cap shares right now, I’d want businesses that are already executing at scale, but still have meaningful runway ahead of them.

Mid-caps are often where I see the most exciting balance of growth and proven economics. They’re big enough to have systems and cash flow, but small enough that store rollouts, new product launches, or geographic expansion can still move the needle.

Here’s where I would put my money.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Lovisa is one of the cleanest global retail growth stories on the ASX in my view.

The company delivered revenue growth of 23.3% in the first-half of FY26 to $500.7 million, with comparable store sales up 2.2%. That tells me growth isn’t just coming from new stores, but from existing locations as well.

What really stands out to me is the gross margin. Underlying gross margin expanded again to 82.9%, up 50 basis points. For a retailer expanding this quickly, that level of margin strength is impressive.

Store rollout remains the engine. Lovisa opened 85 new stores in the half, taking the network to 1,095 stores globally. With operations now spanning more than 50 markets, I believe the global footprint still has room to expand materially.

For a $5,000 mid-cap allocation, I like that Lovisa combines strong cash generation, margin discipline, and a clear growth lever in store rollout.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is a different kind of mid-cap. It’s a premium consumer brand with global scale and pricing power.

The company delivered 10.1% revenue growth in the first half of FY26 to $1.1 billion, despite operating in what management described as a challenging tariff environment. Coffee continued to deliver double-digit growth, and new product launches contributed materially to performance.

What I find encouraging is how Breville managed US tariff pressure. By December, 80% of US gross profit was manufactured outside China. That kind of operational agility gives me confidence in management.

It is also leaning into enterprise-wide AI initiatives and continuing to invest in new geographies and product development. To me, that signals a company thinking long term, not just protecting short-term earnings.

Breville isn’t a hyper-growth stock, but I believe it’s a global brand builder with expanding optionality.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix is the higher-risk, higher-reward pick in this group. Revenue jumped 56% to US$803.8 million in FY25, driven by continued growth in its Precision Medicine franchise. That’s not incremental growth. That’s meaningful scale being built quickly.

The company is also investing heavily in its pipeline, with US$157.1 million deployed into R&D during the year. It now has multiple late-stage therapeutic assets across prostate, kidney, and brain cancer programs.

Importantly, Telix is guiding to FY26 revenue of US$950 million to US$970 million. That forward guidance tells me management sees continued commercial momentum.

This is not a defensive stock. But for a mid-cap allocation, I like having exposure to a company building a global radiopharmaceutical platform with expanding commercial and pipeline depth.

Foolish takeaway

If I were splitting $5,000 across ASX mid-cap shares today, I’d want a mix of global retail execution, premium consumer branding, and high-growth healthcare innovation.

Lovisa offers disciplined global store expansion and exceptional margins. Breville combines brand power with operational agility. Telix brings commercial growth and pipeline upside.

The post Where to invest $5,000 in ASX mid-cap shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 exciting ASX growth shares to buy now
• Top ASX shares to buy right now with $2,500
• 2 ASX stocks under $50 that could skyrocket
• Zip, CSL and BHP among CommSec’s most-traded ASX shares

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