The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is down 0.46%, but it’s outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today.

Macquarie shares are $237.68 apiece at the time of writing, while the ASX 200 is down 1.2%.

This follows a two-day summit between the US and China in Beijing that yielded no significant announcements.

The war in Iran continues, and the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas is transported, remains virtually shut down. However, Chinese ships are being allowed through via coordination with the Iranian authorities.

US President Donald Trump insisted that he did not need China’s help to end the war and that Iran’s time to make a deal is running out.

Why is the Macquarie share price in the red?

The main reason is that it’s ex-dividend day.

That means Macquarie shares are no longer trading with the next dividend attached.

Macquarie shares are among 16 ASX stocks with ex-dividend dates in May.

Macquarie shares will pay a final dividend of $4.20 per share with 35% franking on 2 July.

The total dividend for FY26 was $7 per share. Based on today’s share price, this gives Macquarie a trailing dividend yield of 2.95%.

ASX 200 bank shares are a mixed bag today.

Only Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), up 0.4%, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares, up 0.1%, are in the green.

A recap on Macquarie’s FY26 results

The bank announced its full-year results on 8 May.

Macquarie reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $4,847 million, up 30% on FY25.

The 2H FY26 net profit was a half-year record at $A3,192 million, up 93% on 1H FY26.

The earnings per share (EPS) for FY26 was $12.77, up 30% on FY25.

The return on equity (ROE) for FY26 was 14%, up from 11.2% in FY25.

The bank’s net operating income for FY26 was $A19,477 million, up 13% on FY25.

International income formed 68% of Macquarie’s full-year income.

Operating expenses for FY26 were $A12,748 million, up 5% on FY25.

Share buyback program closed

Macquarie also announced the end of its share buyback program.

The bank acquired $A1,013 million worth of Macquarie shares on-market at an average price of $189.80 per share.

The board approved an extension of the buyback in November 2025, but Macquarie chose not to proceed with further purchases.

The bank explained:

Given significant business growth over recent periods, together with the prevailing market conditions, Macquarie has not purchased any shares under the buyback since the Board-approved extension announced on 7 November 2025.

There is currently no expectation of further share purchases under the extended buyback and so the Board has resolved to conclude the on-market share buyback.

The Macquarie share price hit a 52-week low of $187.31 on 19 November before commencing a rapid rebound.

Macquarie shares leapt 17.4% over the next three months, which likely made further buyback purchases unappealing.

Macquarie share price snapshot

The Macquarie share price is up 17% in the calendar year to date, while the ASX 200 is down 2.5%.

The post Why is the Macquarie share price falling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

This $11 billion ASX industrials stock is moving higher on Monday after the company delivered a record FY26 result.

During afternoon trade, shares in ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) climbed 3% to $22.85.

The latest gain adds to what has already been a strong run for shareholders. ALS shares are now up roughly 28% over the past 12 months, comfortably outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen only around 4% over the same period.

So, what impressed investors?

A big jump in profits

The ASX industrials stock delivered strong growth across several key financial metrics.

Revenue climbed 10.7% year on year to a record $3.32 billion. Even more impressive was profitability.

Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 25.8% to $381.2 million. Underlying EBIT jumped 19.3% to $599 million, while margins improved sharply by 129 basis points to 18%. Statutory NPAT also rose strongly, lifting 24.4% to $318.7 million.

Cash generation remained a major highlight too. ALS produced free cash flow of $674.1 million and achieved EBITDA cash conversion of 92%, reinforcing the quality of earnings behind the result.

Shareholders were also rewarded with a final dividend of 23.1 cents per share, partially franked. That brought full-year dividends to 42.5 cents per share.

Commodities keeps firing

One of the standout divisions of the ASX industrials stock was Commodities. Revenue in the segment surged 18.8%, helped by stronger mineral exploration activity globally. That is not surprising given the ongoing demand for critical minerals, copper, gold, and broader resources exploration activity.

Life Sciences also performed well, with revenue rising 6%, driven by strength in the food business.

Environmental was softer, particularly across the Americas, where internal operational issues and weaker market conditions weighed on growth. Management said those issues are now being addressed.

What did management say?

CEO and Managing Director Malcolm Deane said:

ALS has delivered robust financial performance in FY26, reflecting the resilience of our diversified portfolio, disciplined operational execution and the commitment of our people in continuing to deliver high quality service and outcomes for our customers. Throughout the year, we remained focused on executing our refreshed strategy and advancing the priorities outlined in our value creation framework. This included disciplined capital allocation, targeted investment in growth opportunities and ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen returns and position the business for long-term sustainable growth, maximising shareholder returns.

What next for ALS?

Management of the ASX industrials stock remains optimistic heading into FY27. ALS expects mid to high-single-digit organic revenue growth alongside further margin expansion.

New laboratories in Sydney and Lima are scheduled to come online during the second half of FY27, expanding capacity in key growth areas. The company is also leaning heavily into automation, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence through its “Lab of the Future” initiative.

While management acknowledged ongoing macroeconomic and supply chain risks, ALS appears well-positioned, with a strong balance sheet and growing exposure to long-term demand for mining, environmental, and industrial testing.

The post Why is this ASX industrials stock edging higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ALS reports record FY26 earnings and dividend uplift
• Why investors should buy the dip on this ASX industrials stock
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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), and New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are turning heads today.

One of the stocks is shaking off the 1.4% drop in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and marching higher, while the other two are crashing hard.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest on Monday.

New Hope shares lift on earnings boost

New Hope shares are flashing a welcome green in today’s sea of red following the release of the company’s third-quarter results (Q3 FY 2026).

Shares in the ASX 200 coal stock are up 0.6% as we eye the Monday lunch hour, trading for $5.26 apiece.

Highlights include a 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in run of mine (ROM) coal production to 4.26 million tonnes.

New Hope’s coal sales of 3.20 million tonnes were up 10.4% from Q2. And the miner achieved a 1.2% increase in its average realised sales price to $140.7 per tonne.

Earnings were up too, with underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $130.1 million, up 21.7% from the prior quarter.

Turning to the balance sheet, the ASX 200 coal stock held $571 million in available cash at the end of the quarter.

New Hope shares are up more than 45% in 12 months.

Brambles shares hammered on profit guidance cut

Brambles shares are getting smashed today.

Shares in the ASX 200 supply pallets and crates supplier are down a painful 18% at the time of writing, changing hands for $18.13 each following a trading update.

On the positive side of the ledger, management announced a new US$400 million on-market share buyback will start once the current buyback is complete.

But investors are overheating their sell buttons after the company scaled back its full-year FY 2026 sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from prior guidance of 3% to 4% revenue growth (at constant exchange rates).

Profit guidance was also cut, with Brambles now expecting FY 2026 profit growth of 3% to 5%, down from prior guidance of 8% to 11% full-year profit growth.

Brambles shares are down about 17% in 12 months.

Which brings us to…

Elders shares tumble on Iran war cost concerns

Joining Brambles and New Hope shares in turning heads today, Elders shares are crashing 25.3% at the time of writing, trading for $5.38 each.

This carnage follows the release of the ASX 200 agribusiness’ half-year results.

And it comes despite Elders reporting some strong growth metrics for the six months to 31 March.

That includes a 32% year-on-year increase in underlying sales revenue to $1.77 billion.

And on the bottom line, Elders reported a 17% year-on-year increase in statutory profit after tax to $39.5 million.

But investors appear to have the jitters over potential building headwinds from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The company noted that while it’s “well-placed” to manage the issues, the industry is facing disruptions in fertiliser supplies. And Elders added that elevated diesel prices remain a risk to its cost base in the second half of the year.

Elders CEO Mark Allison noted:

International events have caused price volatility in fuel and fertiliser, creating challenges for our supply chain in the first half. Elders’ strong supply relationships, combined with an adept agronomy network for timely advice to growers, has allowed us to manage demand and ensure growers are equipped for the season ahead.

Elders shares are down around 17% in 12 months.

The post Why is everyone talking about Elders, Brambles and New Hope shares on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX 200 coal stock is charging higher after a big profit jump
• Why are Brambles shares crashing more than 15% to a new 12-month low today?
• Which ASX 200 share is crashing 22% on half-year results?
• New Hope Corporation posts stronger coal output and profit in third quarter
• Brambles revises FY26 outlook, announces new US$400m buy-back

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 recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to grow in popularity and it isn’t hard to understand why.

They allow investors to buy groups of shares with a single click of the button, removing the need for stock picking.

But with so many out there, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy over others.

The good news is the team at DP Wealth Advisory has narrowed things down by revealing one ASX ETF it would buy and one it would hold, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what it is recommending this week:

Munro Concentrated Global Growth Active ETF (ASX: MCGG)

DP Wealth Advisory has named the Munro Concentrated Global Growth Active ETF as a buy this week.

This fund provides an easy way for investors to gain access to an actively managed portfolio of 20-40 global growth equities.

This includes some of the most innovative and fastest growing companies in the world today, such as Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), Mastercard (NYSE: MA), and Airbus (ETR: AIR).

Commenting on the fund, DP Wealth Advisory said:

This exchange traded fund holds between 20 and 40 global equities. It invests in North America, Asia and Europe. Holdings include Nvidia, CATL and TSMC. Sectors it invests in include connectivity, climate and high performance computing.

It generated returns of 23.3 per cent in the past year to April 30, 2026. Company performance has been strong since listing in February 2022. The price of the ETF has been enjoying strong momentum since April 1, 2026 and we expect this trend to continue moving forward. I hold this ETF in my self managed super fund.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The team at DP Wealth Advisory has named the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF as a hold this week.

This hugely popular ASX ETF provides investors with access to over 1,000 global stocks, including many of the best companies in the world.

DP Wealth Advisory highlights that the concentration of US technology stocks in this fund could weigh on returns given concerns over their valuations. It explains:

This exchange traded fund provides investors with passive exposure to the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (sic) (MSCI), comprising more than 1500 of the world’s largest companies, excluding Australia. The fund is heavily exposed to the United States and holds names such as Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. The ETF is exposed to fluctuations in the Australian dollar. Performance has been sound in the past 12 months. However, a heavy concentration of US technology stocks, and associated concerns about their valuations leave VGS a hold for now.

The post Expert names 1 ASX ETF to buy and 1 to hold 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 Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Mastercard, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Mastercard, Nvidia, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are climbing on Monday after the coal producer gave investors a stronger quarterly update.

At the time of writing, the New Hope share price is up 2.10% to $5.34.

The move adds to a strong run for shareholders. New Hope shares are now up 32% in 2026 and 35% over the past year.

Here’s what was in the announcement.

Production and sales improve

In its quarterly activities report, New Hope said group run-of-mine coal production reached 4.3 million tonnes for the April quarter.

This was 5% higher than the previous quarter, giving the company a stronger production base heading into the period.

Group coal sales also improved, rising 10.4% to 3.2 million tonnes, while the average realised sales price increased 1.2% to $140.7 a tonne.

Higher sales volumes and a slightly better coal price helped lift underlying EBITDA 21.7% to $130.1 million.

Costs move the right way

New Hope said its key operating asset, Bengalla Mine, achieved run-of-mine coal production of 2.6 million tonnes during the quarter. Saleable coal production rose 13.5% to 2.1 million tonnes, while coal sales increased 14.1% to 2.2 million tonnes.

Bengalla’s FOB cash cost fell 12.4% to $74 a tonne, giving the business more protection against coal price swings.

The company said the lower cost reflected reduced trade coal sales and lower state royalties. It also leaves Bengalla tracking better than its FY26 FOB cash cost guidance range of $81 to $89 a tonne.

Coal prices help New Hope result

The quarterly result also had some help from the coal market, with thermal coal prices improving during the period.

New Hope said the gC NEWC 6000 index price averaged US$127.6 a tonne across the quarter, up 16.5% on the previous quarter. The API-5 index also moved higher, averaging US$86.5 a tonne over the same period.

The company said geopolitical tension in the Middle East supported some gas to coal switching in power generation. Colder weather in North Asia also helped demand, while Japan and South Korea continued to focus on energy security.

These conditions helped coal prices recover during the quarter, even with longer-term pressure still hanging over the sector.

Management also said its forward sales book remains well supported, with most production already sold for the next 3 months.

Strong balance sheet

New Hope also finished the quarter with a strong cash position, holding cash and cash equivalents of $571.6 million.

The company completed a $300 million senior unsecured convertible notes issue due in 2032. It used the proceeds to repurchase 97.7% of its existing senior unsecured convertible notes due in 2029.

By refinancing the notes, New Hope has pushed a large debt maturity out to 2032 and given itself more financial flexibility.

Shareholders also received a return during the quarter, with the company paying an interim dividend of 10 cents per share.

The post This ASX 200 coal stock is charging higher after a big profit jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• New Hope Corporation posts stronger coal output and profit in third quarter
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 are plenty of ASX shares to choose from on the local market.

To narrow things down, let’s see what analysts are saying about three big names, courtesy of The Bull.

Are they buys, holds, or sells this week? Let’s find out:

James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX)

The team at DP Wealth Advisory has named James Hardie as an ASX share to sell this week.

It has concerns about the company’s exposure to a struggling housing construction market in the US and increasing cost of living expenses. It explains:

This Australian building materials company generates most of its revenue in the United States. The acquisition of US decking business AZEK for $US8.75 billion has left the market concerned about earnings risk in response to a flat housing construction market in the US and increasing cost of living expenses. The structure of the contentious acquisition left angry Australian investors without a vote on the deal. Too much uncertainty exists about the company’s outlook.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Dolphin Partners Financial Services has named data centre operator NextDC as a hold this week.

Despite its strong earnings growth outlook, the financial services company appears to believe investors should wait for a more attractive entry point. It said:

This global data centre operator recently raised capital via a 1 for 5.4 pro rata, non renounceable rights issue to institutions and retail investors at $12.70 a share. Proceeds of more than $1 billion will be used to construct data centres to meet rapidly growing demand from cloud computing customers. A compounded annual growth rate in operating earnings of more than 40 per cent is expected between fiscal years 2025 and 2028, as contracted capacity translates to revenue and earnings going forward.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The team at Dolphin Partners Financial Services is more positive on WiseTech Global shares and has named them as a buy this week.

It highlights that the company’s shares are trading at a deep discount to broker valuations following significant share price weakness due to artificial intelligence disruption concerns. It said:

WiseTech develops and provides software solutions to the global logistics industry. The company recently reaffirmed EBITDA and margin guidance for fiscal year 2026. WTC wasn’t immune to the recent sharp sell off in technology stocks due to potential artificial intelligence disruption. Most broker forecasts are at a significant premium to the recent share price.

The post Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, NextDC, and WiseTech shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc and WiseTech Global. 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.

ASX industrials stock GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP) is climbing on Monday after the company unveiled a major acquisition alongside an earnings upgrade.

During morning trade, the ASX industrials stock jumped 6% to $9.74.

That continues what has already been a phenomenal run for shareholders. GenusPlus shares have now surged roughly 219% over the past 12 months, massively outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has gained just 4% over the same period.

So what exactly got investors excited today?

A major acquisition move

The biggest catalyst was GenusPlus’ announcement of the acquisition of MPC Kinetic (MPK), a major infrastructure contractor operating across the gas, water, and energy sectors.

The deal significantly expands GenusPlus beyond its traditional electricity infrastructure operations. It also pushes the company deeper into critical national infrastructure projects.

Importantly, the acquisition also diversifies the ASX industrials stock across multiple utility sectors at a time when infrastructure spending across Australia continues to accelerate. That broader exposure appears to have impressed investors.

What did GenusPlus management say?

Management of the ASX industrials stock believes the acquisition will strengthen earnings, expand the customer base, and create additional long-term growth opportunities.

GenusPlus Managing Director David Riches was clearly enthusiastic about the transaction, commenting:

MPK is a high-quality business with a strong management team. Blue-chip client base and significant potential. The combination diversifies Genus into the attractive gas and water sector and accelerates our strategy to becoming the leading provider of critical infrastructure across Australia.

The market appears to agree.

Infrastructure businesses exposed to electricity, water, gas, and communications are becoming increasingly popular with investors. Massive spending on energy transition projects and utility upgrades is creating a powerful long-term growth tailwind for the sector.

Earnings upgrade

The acquisition was not the only major announcement. The ASX industrials stock also upgraded its earnings guidance on Monday, giving investors another reason to pile into the stock.

The company now expects stronger profitability than previously forecast. This is thanks to continued project momentum, robust demand conditions, and improving operational performance across the business.

Genus upgraded its FY26 earnings guidance, with management now expecting normalised EBITDA of between $96 million and $100 million. That would represent impressive growth of roughly 42% to 48% compared to FY25 levels.

Meanwhile, normalised EBIT(A) is forecast to land between $76 million and $80 million, excluding acquisition amortisation.

Importantly, the ASX industrials stock expects that part of that earnings boost will come from the recently completed Railtrain Holdings acquisition. This should contribute around $2 million to $3 million in EBITDA growth this financial year.

What’s next for GenusPlus?

Of course, risks remain for the ASX industrials stock. Large infrastructure projects can face execution risks, cost overruns, labour shortages, and margin pressure.

And after a staggering 219% share price rally over the past year, some investors may question how much good news is already priced into the stock.

Still, today’s announcements reinforced why momentum around GenusPlus remains extremely strong.

The combination of a major strategic acquisition, upgraded earnings guidance, and growing exposure to long-term infrastructure spending themes appears to be keeping investors firmly interested in the ASX industrials stock.

The post Why is this $2 billion ASX industrials stock racing higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 GenusPlus Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended GenusPlus Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Challenger Gold Ltd (ASX: CEL) are trading higher after the company announced a major capital raising and a positive prefeasibility study for its Hualilan gold project.

Capital a vote of confidence

Despite Challenger announcing it had raised $85 million at 12 cents per share, the company’s shares traded higher on Monday morning, hitting a high-water mark of 15.25 cents before settling to be 3.7% higher at 14 cents.

Challenger also announced that experienced gold company Executive Peter Marrone would join the board as Chairman Elect, and he would also take up $8 million worth of the new placement shares.

Current Challenger Chairman Eduarto Elsztain, who is also taking up shares in the placement, said Mr Marrone’s involvement in the company was noteworthy.

He said:

The placement has been supported by Challenger’s four largest existing institutional investors and two new institutional investors which have a successful history investing alongside Peter Marrone. The funds raised will enable the company to accelerate exploration at Hualilan with Challenger committing to its first material extension drilling campaign in several years.

Mining project looking solid

The prefeasibility study, meanwhile, said Hualilan, in Argentina, would have a payback period of 2.25 years and generate post-tax, free cash flow of US$1,982 million.

This was calculated using a gold price of US$3500 per ounce, compared with the current gold price of US$4518.07.

The capital cost to build the mine came in at US$232 million, with a further US$35 million calculated for contingencies.

The mine is expected to produce 105,000 ounces of gold in its first two years of production, followed by 12 years producing 135,000 ounces per year.

The operation would involve an open-pit mine with a 1.5 million tonne per year flotation plant and an eight million tonne capacity heap leach circuit.

The mine is expected to have an all-in sustaining cost of US$1422 to operate.

Challenger said several opportunities to improve the mine’s performance had also been identified as part of the prefeasibility study process.

These included third-party funding of all electrical infrastructure, which could save US$48 million, metallurgical upside from changes to the heap leaching process, changes to the pit design, and “multiple capital and operatorship scenarios”.

Challenger said the mineral resource also remained open at depth and in both directions along strike.

The company said it now plans to “undertake a re-optimisation phase of the prefeasibility study to determine the final design case to take to definitive feasibility study”.

It will also carry out a 31,500m drill campaign designed to convert inferred resources to the indicated category, which has the potential to extend the life of mine.

Challenger Gold is valued at $329 million.

The post Why are shares in this small-cap ASX gold company charging higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Beating the market over 10 years is not easy.

A company needs more than a good story. It needs a large opportunity, strong execution, and enough room to keep growing after the first wave of investor excitement has passed.

I think the five ASX growth shares in this article have that potential.

They are not low-risk picks. In fact, several could be quite volatile. But for investors willing to think in decades rather than quarters, I think each one has a chance to deliver strong long-term returns.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

NextDC gives investors exposure to one of the biggest physical requirements of the digital economy: data centre capacity.

Cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, streaming, enterprise software, and online platforms all need secure and reliable infrastructure. That demand should keep increasing as businesses and consumers use more data every year.

NextDC is capital-intensive, so investors need to be patient while it builds new capacity. But if demand keeps growing, I think today’s investment could support much larger earnings over time.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport is another way to invest in the cloud, but from a very different angle.

Its platform allows businesses to connect quickly to cloud providers, data centres, and networks without relying on slow traditional infrastructure.

I think this flexibility could become more valuable as companies use multiple clouds, move workloads around, and require faster digital connections.

Megaport has already done some of the hard work by building a global network. The next step is turning that reach into higher usage, stronger margins, and more consistent profitability.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix is an ASX healthcare growth share with a very different risk-reward profile.

The company is focused on radiopharmaceuticals, an area that combines imaging, diagnosis, and targeted cancer treatment.

I like the long-term opportunity because cancer care is moving toward more precise tools. If doctors can see disease more clearly and target treatment more accurately, patient outcomes could improve.

Telix still needs to keep executing clinically, commercially, and on the regulatory front. But if its pipeline delivers, I think the business could be significantly larger in 10 years.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is exposed to a defence and security problem that is becoming harder to ignore.

Drones are changing modern conflict, border protection, critical infrastructure security, and public safety planning. Cheap unmanned systems can create expensive problems.

DroneShield develops technology to detect, track, and respond to drone threats.

This is a higher-risk share, and contract timing can create volatility. But if counter-drone systems become a standard part of defence and security budgets, I think DroneShield could have a long runway.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult Sports brings a focused global sports technology angle.

Its products help elite teams track athlete performance, workload, tactics, and injury risk. Professional sport is becoming more data-driven, and clubs are always looking for small advantages.

What I like is the daily-use nature of the technology. If a club relies on Catapult inside training, coaching, and analysis workflows, the relationship can become valuable over time.

Foolish Takeaway

I think these five ASX growth shares offer exposure to some powerful long-term themes: data centres, cloud connectivity, precision medicine, counter-drone defence, and sports performance analytics.

There will be setbacks along the way. Some may take longer than investors expect to deliver on their potential.

But if even a few execute well over the next decade, I think this group could have a real chance of beating the market.

The post Why I think DroneShield and these ASX growth shares could beat the market over 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Some share price falls are warnings.

Others can be opportunities hiding in plain sight.

That is why I think Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares deserve a closer look after their heavy decline. The ASX 200 healthcare stock has been sold down sharply, and confidence in the business is clearly weaker than it was before.

But for long-term investors, I think this could be one of the more interesting buying opportunities on the ASX today.

A world leader in a specialised market

Cochlear is not just another healthcare company.

It is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, with products that can make a life-changing difference for people with moderate to profound hearing loss.

That gives the business a very different profile from many ASX shares.

Cochlear is not relying on discretionary spending, commodity prices, or housing turnover. It is exposed to a large healthcare need that should keep growing as populations age, diagnoses improve, and access to treatment expands.

Hearing loss is a major global issue, and many people who could benefit from treatment still do not receive it. That creates a long runway for companies with trusted technology, clinical relationships, and global distribution.

I think Cochlear has all three.

Why the fall interests me

The market has become much less willing to pay a premium for Cochlear shares.

There are reasons for that. Investors have questioned growth, margins, competition, and whether the company can keep delivering the level of performance that once justified a much higher valuation.

Those concerns should not be ignored.

But the valuation now looks far more interesting. According to CommSec consensus forecasts, Cochlear shares are trading on an estimated FY27 P/E ratio of 18 times.

For a global healthcare leader with a long runway in hearing solutions, I think that looks attractive.

Cochlear still needs to execute well, keep innovating, and protect its position in a competitive healthcare market. But I think the sell-off may have pushed the share price into more appealing territory for patient investors.

A business worth backing for the next decade

The phrase “once-in-a-decade opportunity” should not be used lightly.

Cochlear shares could fall further. Healthcare funding can be complicated, competition can intensify, and expectations may take time to rebuild.

But I do think the current weakness is unusual for a business of this calibre.

High-quality healthcare companies with global leadership positions do not often trade at depressed prices. When they do, I think investors should at least ask whether the market is being too focused on recent disappointment.

For me, the key question is whether Cochlear’s long-term opportunity has been permanently damaged.

I do not think it has.

The world will still need better hearing solutions. More people will still need diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare systems will still value proven technology that can improve patient outcomes.

If Cochlear can keep investing in product development, supporting clinicians, and expanding access, I think the business can recover and grow over the next decade.

Foolish Takeaway

Cochlear shares are out of favour, and that is exactly why they look interesting.

The market is no longer treating the ASX 200 stock like an untouchable healthcare compounder. That creates discomfort, but it may also create opportunity.

I would not expect a quick or smooth rebound. Confidence can take time to return after a major sell-off.

But for investors willing to think in years rather than months, I think Cochlear could be a rare chance to buy a world-class ASX 200 healthcare stock while expectations are unusually low.

The post Could this fallen ASX 200 stock be a once-in-a-decade opportunity? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Are these 2 battered ASX healthcare shares too cheap to ignore?
• $10,000 invested in Cochlear shares in July is now worth…

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.