It was a rough end to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Friday. In a particularly disappointing end to the week, following the spirited recovery of the past few days, the ASX 200 spent the entire session in the red and closed 1.51% lower. That leaves the index at 8,744.4 points as we head into the weekend.

This tough bookend to the week’s trading for ASX investors follows a sobering session on the American markets overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t keep its early rise and closed down 0.63%.

Things were a little tamer on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), though, which fell 0.13%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now to take a look at what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this Friday.

Winners and losers

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

More reading

• 5.7% yield: Is Super Retail stock a buy for dividend investors?
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Why is this ASX financial stock dropping despite solid results?
• Why Block, News Corp, REA Group, and TechnologyOne shares are storming higher today
• 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher in this week’s flat market

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block, Cochlear, Life360, Light & Wonder Inc, Super Retail Group, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Cochlear, Light & Wonder Inc, and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of ASX shares out there to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s see what analysts at Ord Minnett are saying about the three popular options named below.

Here’s what you need to know:

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

Ord Minnett remains positive on this 4×4 auto parts manufacturer despite weak new vehicle sales.

It has a buy rating and $31.00 price target on its shares. The broker is focusing more on the longer-term outlook, which it believes is positive. It said:

New vehicle sales have been impacted by inconsistent supply from manufacturers throughout the March quarter. Elevated fuel prices in March may adversely impact demand for ARB’s Australian aftermarket operations. Longer term, the outlook for ARB is positive, with robust demand for its products, a healthy order book, and new vehicles and products being released globally. Earnings growth should be driven by new and refurbished stores, offshore expansion, and strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEM). We maintain a Buy rating on ARB.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The broker is less positive on this rail freight operator. It has put a hold rating and $3.50 price target on its shares.

While the broker likes the company, it feels that its shares are fully valued now. Ord Minnett said:

Post the result, we raised our EPS estimates by 2.7%, 3.5% and 0.9% for FY26, FY27 and FY28, respectively. These earnings upgrades led us to increase our target price on Aurizon to $3.50 from $3.10, although we maintained our Hold recommendation on valuation grounds.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Another ASX share that Ord Minnett has been looking at is Goodman Group.

In response to a major data centre deal with DataBank in the US, the broker retained its hold rating and $29.15 price target on Goodman’s shares. It said:

The deal is a win for Goodman, allowing to realise circa $235 million of development earnings before interest tax (EBIT) in the second half of FY26, and introduces DataBank’s valuable intellectual property into its data-centre business.

We note Goodman and DataBank are looking at developments in other capacity-constrained (typically because of power supply issues or planning restrictions) markets in the US, with the model based on combining the Australian company’s development pipeline and American group’s operational capability and customer base. Ord Minnett made no changes to its earnings estimates post the deal, but highlights that Goodman will have to make more of these type of deals to meet market expectations for FY26 earnings. We maintain our target price of $29.15 and a Hold recommendation on Goodman.

The post Buy, hold, sell: ARB, Aurizon, and Goodman shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are investors bidding this ASX 200 share higher today?
• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows
• 2 ASX 200 shares I’d buy and 2 I’d sell this month
• 3 ASX blue chip shares to buy with $10,000
• Should you sell in May and stay away?

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

It’s been an… interesting week for Super Retail Ltd (ASX: SUL) stock, to say the least.

The ASX retail stock and owner of the Super Cheap Auto, Macpac, Rebel, and BCF brands had a dramatic day indeed on Thursday. The preceding day, investors were greeted with the news that the company had released a trading update after the markets had closed.

This trading update didn’t contain a lot of positive news. It revealed that the company’s group like-for-like sales growth came in at 0.4% for the first 18 weeks of its second half of FY 2026. Total sales growth for the same period was 1.9%, and 3.3% for the first 44 weeks of FY 2026.

Super Retail also told investors that sales momentum had been severely impacted by “inflationary pressures, including higher fuel prices and rising interest rates, together with concerns around fuel availability”. The impact of this was felt particularly hard over the Easter weekend.

As a result of this update, Super Retail stock fell dramatically on Thursday morning, dipping more than 13.5% and hitting a new 52-week low of $10.08 a share at market open.

That pessimism didn’t last long though, and Super Retail ended up finishing the day down just 2.9% yesterday. Today, much is forgiven, with the company rebounding a healthy 2.3% at the time of writing to $11.58 a share.

Despite this recovery, Super Retail stock has had a rough time of it lately. The company remains down 14% or so over the past 12 months, down 26.8% in 2026 to date, and down almost 40% from the highs of September last year.

Perhaps this miserly performance has a silver lining, though. At current prices, Super Retail stock is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.7%.

Is Super Retail stock worth the 5.7% dividend yield right now?

That yield is obviously a pretty compelling proposition for income investors today. However, I don’t think it’s a screaming buy. Super Retail, as a consumer discretionary stock, is vulnerable to what’s going on in the wider economy. With petrol prices still elevated and with interest rates rising, the company is clearly under strain at the moment.

Unfortunately for Super Retail, the reality is that when times are tough, people tend to cut back on exactly the kinds of products that this company sells – camping and fishing gear, sporting apparel, and automotive products.

As such, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dividend cut when the company reveals its final dividend for 2026 later this year.

Saying that, there is still the potential for Super Retail to be a significant source of income for dividend investors. I would still be happy to have this stock as a part of a diversified income-focused portfolio if that were my primary investing goal. Even so, I think this high dividend yield indicates risk and is not a sure thing. As such, I wouldn’t be betting the farm on it today.

The post 5.7% yield: Is Super Retail stock a buy for dividend investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Light & Wonder, Super Retail, Tabcorp, and Woodside shares are falling today
• Why are Super Retail shares crashing 13% today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Super Retail Group provides a trading update

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

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are falling on Friday after the release of the investment bank’s FY26 results.

But I do not think this is a reflection on its results. The broader share market is having a poor end to the week, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down around 1.7% this afternoon. 

Macquarie shares also hit a 52-week high earlier this week, so some weakness after the result does not surprise me.

The bigger question is what the result says about the business. Here are my three key takeaways.

Profit growth was strong

The first takeaway is that Macquarie delivered a strong FY26 result.

The company reported net profit of $4.85 billion, up 30% on FY25. Earnings per share also rose 30% to $12.77. The second half was particularly strong, with Macquarie reporting a record half-year profit of $3.19 billion, up 93% on the first half.

That is a good reminder of why I rate Macquarie so highly.

This is not a normal bank. Its earnings can move around from year to year because it is exposed to asset management, commodities, markets, investment banking, private credit, and banking.

But over time, that diversity has helped Macquarie find growth in different environments.

Return on equity also improved to 14% in FY26, compared with 11.2% in FY25.

For me, that supports the view that Macquarie remains a high-quality financial business, even if the share price is not cheap after its recent run.

The operating businesses are performing

The second takeaway is that the growth was spread across the business.

Macquarie Asset Management delivered a net profit contribution of $2.6 billion, up 27%, with the result helped by higher performance fees. Banking and Financial Services lifted its contribution 17% to $1.61 billion, supported by growth in the loan portfolio and deposits.

Commodities and Global Markets was the standout, with net profit contribution up 49% to $4.22 billion. Macquarie Capital also performed well, with its contribution rising 43% to $1.49 billion.

That breadth is important.

If Macquarie were relying on just one engine, I would be more cautious. But this result shows multiple parts of the group contributing.

I also like the long-term themes across the business. Macquarie has exposure to infrastructure, private markets, commodities, energy transition, digital banking, private credit, and global markets.

These are not all smooth growth areas. But I think they give Macquarie plenty of ways to keep finding opportunities.

The balance sheet remains strong

The third takeaway is Macquarie’s financial position.

The company ended FY26 with a Bank Group CET1 ratio of 12.8%, a liquidity coverage ratio of 173%, and a net stable funding ratio of 116%.

It also reported that total deposits increased 25% to $221.5 billion.

Confidence, funding, and risk management are crucial in the markets where Macquarie operates.

A strong balance sheet gives the group flexibility. It can support clients, invest in growth, and take advantage of opportunities when markets are unsettled.

Are Macquarie shares a buy?

Macquarie shares are not cheap.

After reaching a 52-week high this week, the market clearly already recognises a lot of the quality in the business.

But I think this strong result demonstrates why it deserves a premium valuation. 

I would be happy to buy Macquarie shares for the long term, even if the valuation is not especially cheap today.

The post 3 key takeaways from the Macquarie results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why QBE, Block and Macquarie shares are grabbing headlines on Friday
• Macquarie shares slip despite FY26 profit jump

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 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.

It has been another busy week for many of Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this gaming technology company’s shares with a reduced price target of $190.00. This follows the release of its quarterly results, which fell short of expectations. While Bell Potter was disappointed with the results and highlights that Light & Wonder has had a poor start to the year, it isn’t overly concerned. That’s because it thinks the earnings miss was driven by international shipments, which are notoriously lumpy quarter to quarter. As a result, the broker thinks this is a one-off and believes Light & Wonder’s international shipments will soon catch back up. In light of this, it sees significant value in the company’s shares after recent weakness. The Light & Wonder share price is trading at $114.60 on Friday.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this gold miner’s shares with an improved price target of $1.40. This follows news that the company has awarded a major construction contract for the Bullabulling operation. It feels that this is a key step toward development. In addition, it highlights that ongoing drilling continues to support resource growth, conversion and strike continuity. The broker thinks this reinforces confidence in the scale and quality of the system. As a result, it has updated its model to reflect a larger-scale operation, lifting Stage 2 milling capacity to 8Mtpa (from 7Mtpa) and increasing forecast production to ~228,000 ounces per annum. The Minerals 260 share price is fetching 79 cents at the time of writing.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have upgraded this enterprise software provider’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $31.75. This follows news that Technology One has won a new contract with James Cook University. Bell Potter believes this is significant from a product perspective as it demonstrates the power of Technology One’s Agentic AI product to win contracts. As a result, it has boosted its annual recurring revenue forecasts for the medium term and its valuation accordingly. The TechnologyOne share price is trading at $28.13 this afternoon.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

ASX mining shares are falling on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) down 1.3%.

The long-term outlook for mining stocks is positive, with 5 key drivers behind the new commodities super cycle underway.

Several commodities have risen in value this week.

The iron ore price is 3.5% higher this week at US$110.95 per tonne, supported by fresh buying in China amid depleting steel inventories.

Gold is up 2.2% to US$4,714 per ounce, silver is up 6.1% to US$79.48 per ounce, and copper is up 3.4% to US$6.14 per pound.

The lithium carbonate price is up 9.6% to a three-year high of US$28,508 per tonne this week.

This represents a massive increase in 2026 — find out how much and why here.

Meanwhile, let’s check out these 4 ASX mining shares with buy ratings from the experts.

Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX: FEX)

The Fenix Resources share price is 33 cents, down 4.4% today, and up 10% over 12 months.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX iron ore mining share with a price target of 63 cents.

This suggests 91% capital growth ahead.

After reviewing the miner’s 3Q FY26 report, Bell Potter said:

FEX has maintained guidance (upgraded December 2025) of 4.2-4.8Mt sales at average C1 cash cost of A$70-80/wmt.

The company is confident it will maintain sufficient diesel supply for all operational activities.

However, costs are expected to rise in the current quarter with higher fuel and freight rates.

Fenix Resources reported group iron ore production of 1,243kt and sales of 974kt at an average realised price of A$146 per tonne.

Group C1 cash costs were A$70 per tonne, down 7% over the quarter.

The broker added:

FEX has outlined a clear pathway to incrementally grow iron ore production to 10Mtpa at significantly lower unit costs, leveraging its integrated logistics network to underpin cash flows and fund its substantial organic growth outlook.

FEX holds the largest storage position at the strategic and fast-growing Geraldton Port.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The Ramelius Resources share price is $3.50, down 1.4% on Friday and up 22% over 12 months.

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX gold mining share with a price target of $6.10.

This suggests a potential 74% upside ahead.

For 3Q FY26, Ramelius reported gold production of 38.1koz at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,211 per ounce.

Morgans noted “strong operating cash flow of A$171.3m with underlying FCF of A$101.9m after A$51.2m growth capex and A$26.4m exploration investment.”

The broker added:

We forecast FY26 production within guided midrange of 192.1koz; AISC guidance revised to A$1,900-2,050/oz driven by Dalgaranga commercial production reclassification (~A$100/oz), diesel (~A$35/oz) and royalties (~A$40/oz).

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is $2.48, down 1.2% today and up 358% over 12 months.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX 200 lithium mining share.

The broker recently lifted its 12-month target from $2.42 to $2.65.

After reviewing Liontown’s 3Q FY26 report, the broker said:

LTR is now in a net cash position. Over FY26-27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley.

With current lithium price strength, LTR can rapidly generate cash to support incremental production expansions and shareholder returns.

Kathleen Valley is highly strategic in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction.

LTR has offtake contracts with top-tier EV and battery OEMs.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)

The Capricorn Metals share price is steady at $13.57, up 39% over 12 months.

Bell Potter gives this ASX 200 gold mining share a buy rating and recently raised its target from $16.10 to $16.25.

This suggests a near-20% upside ahead.

The broker explained its positive stance:

CMM is a sector leading gold producer, unhedged and debt free.

It is fully funded to grow production from ~120kozpa to ~300kozpa from two gold mines in WA, each with +10 year mine lives.

CMM is run by a management team that has an excellent track record of delivery.

The post 4 ASX mining shares to buy: brokers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher in this week’s flat market
• ASX lithium stocks to buy amid commodity price rocketing 58% already this year
• How ASX 200 gold stocks like Newmont, Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares have their shine back today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• This ASX 200 gold stock rose 10% yesterday: Is it a buy, hold or sell?

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 1.7% lower on Friday, and 10 of the 11 market sectors are in the red.

The world is waiting for Iran’s response to a US proposal to end the war and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping channel for Middle Eastern oil and gas, with about 20% of the world’s supply transported through it.

For now, the Strait remains effectively closed for a tenth week amid fresh clashes between the US and Iran overnight.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares by reaffirming their buy ratings this week.

Let’s take a look.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is $2.57, down 2.7% today.

Over the past 12 months, this ASX 200 financial share has risen 40%.

That sounds impressive, but it hides the fact that Zip shares have weakened 23% in the calendar year to date.

UBS remains confident that Zip shares will rebound.

The broker renewed its buy rating this week with a 12-month price target of $3.10.

This suggests a potential 20% upside ahead.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is $73.87, down 0.8% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 retail share has fallen 25%.

Morgans renewed its accumulate rating on JB Hi-Fi shares with a lowered target of $82.90 this week.

This suggests a potential 12% upside ahead.

Morgans said:

JBH provided a solid 3Q26 sales trading update, showing the ongoing resilience in demand for its product categories.

Management did caution going into one of the key trading periods (EOFY), that they were seeing supplier component costs increases, stock availability shortages and ongoing heightened competitive activity.

We see this as likely reflecting potential margin pressure in the 4Q.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

The Bellevue Gold share price is $1.55, down 2.2% on Friday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 gold mining share has fallen 17%.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Bellevue Gold shares this week.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target to $2, suggesting a 28% upside ahead.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $120.61, down 1.2%, after hitting a 9-year low of $119.61 today.

CSL shares have halved in value over the past 12 months.

UBS renewed its buy rating on CSL shares today with a reduced price target of $205.

This indicates a potential 68% upside ahead.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $10.73, down 1.5% today.

This ASX 200 travel share is struggling in 2026, down 29% in the calendar year to date.

Morgans remains confident of a turnaround though.

The broker renewed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares this week.

However, it slashed its 12-month price target from $18.05 to $14.55.

This still suggests a potential 35% capital gain ahead. 

Morgans said:

Surprisingly, FLT has maintained its FY26 earnings guidance. It noted that the conflict is creating near-term uncertainty and temporarily disrupting international travel patterns. It is having a more significant impact on Leisure (April profit was down ~A$10m on the pcp).

While the reiteration of guidance was better than feared, our concern is that following its key trading period (May-June), FLT will likely need to revise guidance as we expect leisure demand will remain weak.

If it wasn’t for this conflict, FLT would have had a great year given its results for the first nine months were strong. 

Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) 

The Polynovo share price is $1.01, down 2.7% today.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has lost almost a third of its valuation over the past 12 months.

Morgans maintained its buy rating on Polynovo shares this week.

The broker lowered its price target from $1.83 to $1.56, which still implies a great potential upside of 54%.

Morgans commented:

We have reviewed our FY26 and FY27 forecasts and conclude the company is set to deliver a strong 2H26 and continue that growth trajectory into FY27.

PNV is one of the most shorted stocks on the ASX. If PNV can demonstrate a growing profit profile the short position could be reduced materially. 

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The Magellan share price is $8.92, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 10.5%.

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Magellan shares today.

The broker trimmed its 12-month price target from $11.99 to $11.19.

This suggests a potential 24% upside ahead.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is $12.86, down 1.5% on Friday.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen 32% in the calendar year to date.

However, Bell Potter is confident that the stock price will come back.

The broker renewed its buy rating today with a 12-month price target of $22.

This implies a near-70% capital gain ahead.

The post 8 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Guess which ASX healthcare stock could rocket 70%
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• What is Morgans saying about Imdex, JB Hi-Fi, and Lottery Corp shares?
• Morgans names two ASX shares to buy right now for returns of 20% to 50%

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Magellan Financial Group and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and PolyNovo. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Flight Centre Travel Group, and PolyNovo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The tech sector has been under pressure this year, and some former market favourites have fallen a long way from their highs.

But I think that can create opportunities when the business is still growing, improving, and building a stronger platform for the future.

One ASX tech share that looks interesting to me today is SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR).

A big fall from the highs

SiteMinder shares are trading at $3.14 on Friday.

That compares to a 52-week high of $7.96, meaning the share price is down around 60% from that level.

A fall like that should not be ignored. It tells me the market has become far more cautious on the stock, whether because of valuation pressure, weaker sentiment toward technology shares, or concerns about how long it will take for the company to prove its growth story.

But it also means investors today are looking at the business from a very different starting point.

At $3.14, a $3,000 investment would buy around 955 shares. At its high, it would have only bought around 377 shares.

Why I like the business

SiteMinder provides hotel commerce technology.

Its platform helps accommodation providers manage distribution, bookings, pricing, revenue, and connections across different online channels and hotel systems.

I think that is an attractive niche.

Hotels are operating in a more complex world. They need to manage direct bookings, online travel agencies, wholesalers, metasearch, pricing changes, availability, and guest demand across multiple markets.

That is a lot for independent and mid-market hotels to handle.

SiteMinder sits in the middle of that complexity. In my view, that gives the company an important role in the hotel technology stack.

The company’s recent investor presentation showed it had 53,000 properties on the platform, more than 2.5 million rooms, 450-plus distribution partners, and annual activity of more than 135 million reservations. It also highlighted more than $85 billion of gross booking value across the platform.

Those numbers suggest to me that SiteMinder already has meaningful scale.

The growth story is still alive

What I like most is that SiteMinder is not just adding customers. It is also trying to increase the value it earns from each customer.

The company’s Smart Platform strategy is central to that.

This includes initiatives such as Smart Distribution, Channels Plus, and Dynamic Revenue Plus. The aim is to help hotels make better revenue decisions, improve distribution, and automate more of the process.

I think this is important because it gives SiteMinder more ways to grow than simply signing up new hotels.

Strong metrics

With its half-year results, the company reported annual recurring revenue growth of 27.4%, total revenue growth of 23%, and adjusted EBITDA of $12.3 million, which more than doubled from the prior corresponding period.

It also reported monthly revenue churn of 1%, average revenue per user (ARPU) growth of 11.3%, and LTV/CAC of 6.7 times.

Those are the kinds of metrics I want to see from a software business. They suggest customers are valuable, acquisition economics are improving, and the company is becoming more efficient as it scales.

AI could be an advantage

I also think SiteMinder is an interesting artificial intelligence (AI)-related stock, but not in the obvious hype-driven way.

AI could make hotel distribution and pricing even more complex. More dynamic pricing, more personalised offers, and more AI-driven discovery could increase the need for reliable systems that keep inventory, rates, and channels synchronised.

That is where SiteMinder’s infrastructure could become more valuable.

The company argues that AI increases complexity and raises the cost of errors. I think that makes sense. Hotels cannot afford overbookings, incorrect rates, or broken distribution links.

If SiteMinder can use AI to improve insights, automate workflows, and help hotels capture more revenue, then the Smart Platform could become a more important part of the business over time.

Foolish takeaway

SiteMinder is not risk-free.

The share price has fallen heavily, tech sentiment remains fragile, and the company still needs to keep proving that its Smart Platform strategy can turn strong activity levels into durable earnings growth.

But I think the ingredients are attractive.

The business has scale, recurring revenue, improving profitability, strong unit economics, and a large opportunity to monetise more of the hotel bookings flowing through its platform.

After a 60% fall from its 52-week high, I think a $3,000 investment in SiteMinder shares could be a worthwhile move for investors who are comfortable with growth stock volatility and willing to take a long-term view.

The post Down 60%, why I’d invest $3,000 in this ASX tech share now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are down 1.7% at 8,955.5 points on Friday.

Meanwhile, Bell Potter has reiterated its buy rating on two ASX All Ords shares.

Let’s take a look.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

The Orica share price is $21.38, down 5% today and down 12% in 2026 to date.

Bell Potter has issued a new note on this ASX All Ords materials share and maintains a buy rating.

This followed the explosives manufacturer releasing its 1H FY26 report this week.

Orica reported EBIT of $512 million, up 5% year over year, and an 8% rise in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $283.1 million.

Earnings per share (EPS) (pre-significant items) rose 12% to 60.7 cents. The return on net assets was 14.7% — the highest in 13 years.

Orica shares will pay an unfranked interim dividend of 28.5 cents per share, up 14% on 1H FY25, on 3 July.

The broker commented:

ORI is well positioned to deliver EBIT growth in the short-to-medium term, underpinned by cyclical tailwinds in mining and exploration markets.

The broker added:

ORI is not currently experiencing any immediate material constraints relating to the Middle East conflict.

ORI sees positive momentum continuing beyond FY26, with medium term targets unchanged.

The majority of benefits from a >$100m cost-out program underway is expected to be realised in FY27 and beyond.

Bell Potter reduced its price target from $28.50 to $25, suggesting 17% upside from here.

Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)

The Beacon Lighting share price is $1.70, up 5.3% on Friday but down 40% in 2026 to date.

This week, Bell Potter retained its buy call on the ASX All Ords consumer discretionary share but noted concern about broader economic conditions today.

In a new note, the broker said:

Following the third 25bps rate hike for 2026 in May, and the effect of intensified geopolitical events on global supply chains and consumer sentiment, we have adjusted our expectations for Beacon’s Retail business.

Recent data on auction clearance rates has shown the lowest monthly clearance rate since Apr-20, which as a leading indicator for the Retail segment, points to a difficult outlook.

On top of this, consumer sentiment has significantly deteriorated because of not only interest rate increases but petrol price inflation directly impacting the consumer wallet.

However, the broker said increased renovation spending and house building approvals boded well for Beacon Lighting’s trade segment.

Bell Potter added:

The growth outlook for Beacon’s Trade business is built off our expectations that homeowners are choosing to invest in and refurbish their existing homes rather than relocate.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $2.85 to $2.05, but this still suggests significant upside potential.

While our PT decreases by ~28% to $2.05, it remains almost 32% (incl. yield) above the current share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation.

The post 2 ASX All Ords shares to buy now: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is this ASX industrial stock storming higher today?
• Orica posts record first-half earnings and higher dividend
• 3 ASX shares tipped to grow 75% or more in the next 12 month!
• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings

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

Amcor Plc (ASX: AMC) released its third-quarter results this week, and while the headline numbers were impressive, there’s more to the figures than meets the eye.

This is because the company finalised the massive acquisition of Berry in late April last year, and hence any figures this year are naturally expected to be well up on the same period last year. That means it’s helpful to look to the experts, in this case Macquarie, to get a handle on how the company is really travelling.

Massive revenue jump

So what did Amcor announce this week?

Amcor said earlier this week that sales for the third quarter came in at US$5.91 billion, up 77%, and adjusted EBITDA was US$492 million, up 87%.

Amcor Chief Executive Peter Konieczny said regarding the result:

Third quarter results were in line with expectations and reflect the resilience of our business as we mark the first anniversary of bringing legacy Amcor and Berry together as One Amcor. Over the past year, we have executed a smooth integration, built a strong leadership structure, and made meaningful progress on synergy delivery and portfolio optimization. While we continue to operate in a challenging market environment, our global scale, diversified portfolio, and strong customer and supplier partnerships position us well.

Mr Konieczny said the company was pricing responsibly to offset inflation and it had “clear visibility to additional synergy benefits”.

Amcor, he said, had a proven ability to navigate volatility and “we are confident in our outlook and the continued strength of our business”.

While the company’s financial results were strong, Amcor estimated that volumes were about 1.5% lower than for the combined Amcor and Berry businesses in the March quarter last year.

The company did boost its dividend, from US63.75 cents to US65 cents, with Australian shareholders to be paid 91 cents.

Shares looking like a good buy

Macquarie said in its note to clients this week that Amcor was managing raw materials costs well, “with no material impact expected on Q4 earnings”.

They added:

Having been hit hard by rising oil prices, stock is a beneficiary of any end to the Middle East war as supply chains & oil prices normalise in that event.

Macquarie said their investment thesis was based on the company delivering on further synergy savings, managing their controllables well, and a bounce back as the Middle East situation normalised.

Macquarie has a price target of $72 on Amcor shares compared with $55.02 currently.

Amcor also pays a dividend yield of 6.6%, with Macquarie expecting that to increase marginally in the coming years.

Amcor is valued at $24.37 billion.

The post What does Macquarie say Amcor is worth after this week’s quarterly? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Amcor, Credit Corp, Neuren, and Zip shares are charging higher today
• Why Tabcorp, Light & Wonder and Amcor shares are making waves on Thursday
• Why are Amcor shares surging higher today?
• Amcor earnings surge on Berry acquisition
• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows

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 Amcor Plc and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.