Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) remains the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 22.8%. This ASX uranium stock suspended its shares late last month pending an update on its Kayelekera Project. At present, Lotus shares are due to stay suspended until 16 July.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease again to 14%. It seems that short sellers aren’t confident the pizza chain operator’s turnaround will be successful.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 13.4%, which is down week on week again. This uranium miner’s production outlook from 2027 is uncertain, with an update due by the end of August.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has seen its short interest fall to 12%. This counter-drone technology company has been targeted by more short sellers since it announced an ASIC investigation into some announcements and insider share sales.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 12%, which is down meaningfully since last week. Short sellers may have been closing positions after the radiopharmaceuticals company announced the successful outcome of a Type B meeting with the US FDA.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has 11.55% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. It is yet another uranium producer that short sellers are targeting.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has short interest of 11.5%, which is down since last week. There may be concerns that higher interest rates could weigh on the automotive market and listing volumes.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has 11.4% of its shares held short, which is down slightly week on week. This travel agent downgraded its earnings guidance last month due to negative impacts from the Middle East conflict. Short sellers may believe the recovery won’t be as quick as many expect.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has short interest of 11%. The Penfolds owner is facing tough trading conditions due to the cost of living crisis.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest ease again to 11%. This medical technology company is growing rapidly but its shares trade on sky-high multiples. Short sellers may believe its valuation is excessive.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace
• ASX shares vs. property in FY26: Which investment outperformed?
• Boss Energy shares surging 12% today on big uranium news
• This ASX wine stock looked ready to recover. Why did it stumble again?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades
• Down 35%+, should you buy Zip and WiseTech shares?
• Gold, cash, and a takeover twist: Why this ASX 200 gold stock is climbing today
• Move over Regis Resources! Vault Minerals shares leaping 11% as Genesis Minerals’ lobs $5.6 billion takeover bid
• Dexus’ portfolio valuations show office fall, industrial gain

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 Cochlear, DroneShield, Hub24, Light & Wonder Inc, PEXA Group, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear, Hub24, Light & Wonder Inc, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Although ASX investors love to buy financial stocks if they are seeking dividend income, most often start and stop with the ASX banks. Whilst the banks are indeed lucrative sources of passive dividend income, there are many other financial stocks that are popular too. Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares are a great example. 

IAG, the insurance company behind popular insurance brands like NRMA, has been listed on the ASX for decades. Over its ASX life, it has built up a solid reputation as a reliable income stock. Heck, even Warren Buffett invested in IAG a few years ago.

IAG shares have enjoyed a happy few months, currently up more than 20% since March. However, the company is also down by about 5% over the past year. 

But let’s dive into just how much IAG shares are offering investors who are searching for dividends today.

IAG shares: How’s that dividend yield looking?

At the time of writing, IAG shares are trading at $8.08 each, down 0.49% for the day thus far. At this price, the insurance stock is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 3.84%.

That comes from IAG’s last two dividend payments. The first of those was the final dividend, worth 19 cents per share, that investors received last September. The second, the interim dividend from March, was worth 12 cents per share. Both payments came partially franked, at 40% and 25% respectively.

That 12-month total of 31 cents per share gives IAG that 3.84% yield at current pricing. 

However, this yield doesn’t mean investors are guaranteed a 3.84% yield going forward. Like all trailing dividend yields, it only reflects what investors have already received in income, not what they might get going forward. We can’t know for sure what kind of dividends IAG will pay out over the next 12 months until the company reveals them. Insurance stocks do tend to be a bit more unpredictable than the average ASX dividend share, too, given the unpredictable nature of their business models. 

In some comfort to IAG investors, though, some ASX brokers are eyeing off IAG at the current price. As my Fool colleague covered late last month, brokers at investment bank Goldman Sachs have recently given IAG shares a ‘buy’ rating, together with a 12-month share price target of $8.60. That would see some decent upside for investors if accurate. But we shall have to wait and see what IAG pulls out of its hat over the rest of the year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Buying IAG shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Invested in ASX 200 bank shares for dividends? This fundie prefers other stocks

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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares are higher on Monday, but the bounce follows a brutal month for shareholders. 

At the time of writing, the Judo share price is up 2.27% to 90 cents. 

Despite the small lift today, the ASX bank stock is still down roughly 37% over the past month and almost 50% in 2026. 

That follows a massive 40% plunge on 25 June after Judo updated the market on its asset quality and trading performance. 

So, why is the stock getting attention again today?

Morgan Stanley wants more answers

According to The Australian, Morgan Stanley analysts have cut their target price on Judo by around 32% to $1.25.

The broker said Judo’s June update hurt confidence in its near-term earnings outlook. 

It also raised questions about its risk appetite, lending standards, broker use, and early risk detection.

Morgan Stanley lowered its earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for Judo by 10% to 22% across FY26 to FY28.

The broker is now forecasting FY27 profit before tax of around $179 million. That is well below Judo’s own FY27 guidance range of $210 million to $220 million. 

The analysts also want more disclosure around Judo’s loan book, particularly its loans to property operators and construction.

The report pointed to $2.7 billion of loans to property operators and $1 billion to construction.

What spooked the market in June

Judo’s update last month showed FY26 cost of risk is now expected to be between $116 million and $122 million.

The company said this was mainly due to higher specific provisions for 3 customer exposures.

FY26 profit before tax is expected to be between $163 million and $169 million, which still represents 30% growth from FY25.

Judo also said it remains on track for its existing FY26 guidance for gross loans and advances, net interest margin, and cost-to-income ratio. 

However, the profit growth isn’t the main issue right now. The focus is on whether the bad loans are isolated.

Keep in mind that Judo is a specialist business lender, not a major retail bank. Its model is built around lending to small and medium-sized businesses, often through relationship bankers.

Hence, when credit quality starts to slip, questions naturally turn to the rest of the book.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s rise looks more like bargain hunting than a proper recovery. 

The share price has bounced from its recent lows, but Judo still needs to show these credit issues are under control.

The FY26 results in August should give investors a clearer view of the loan book, provisions, margins, and whether management can rebuild confidence. 

Until then, Judo shares may keep getting some support from bargain hunters after the heavy sell-off.

But don’t expect the share price to rally to previous levels just yet. 

The post Judo Bank shares rise despite Morgan Stanley price target cut appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX shares downgraded by brokers this week
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• What happened with ASX 200 bank stocks CBA and Westpac shares in June?
• Is it time to buy the dip on Judo Capital shares?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is slipping on Monday as Friday’s strong rebound loses momentum.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down 0.15% to 8,831 points.

That follows a 1.37% rise on Friday, when the index bounced back from the previous session’s weakness.

The ASX 200 has traded between 8,817.5 points and 8,856.8 points, meaning buyers have stepped in from the morning low.

But the market has struggled to hold those gains, with banks, supermarkets, and resources keeping the index in negative territory.

There are more losers than winners as well, with 116 shares falling, 74 rising, and 10 trading flat.

Let’s take a closer look.

Banks drag the index lower

The banks are doing a fair bit of the damage today.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.36% to $164.42, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are down 0.83% to $35.395.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are also lower, down 0.20% to $35.19, and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are down 0.62% to $250.10.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is holding up a little better, with its shares up 0.13% to $38.62.

The supermarkets are adding to the pressure.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares are down 1.28% to $39.27, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are down 0.67% to $23.125.

Some sectors are still fighting back

Despite the ASX 200 sitting in the red, there are still a few pockets of strength.

Energy shares are giving the market some support, even with oil prices slightly softer.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.26% to $28.22, while Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.11% to $7.25.

Healthcare is also helping.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are up 1.15% to $123.21, and ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) shares are up 1.28% to $30.89.

Gold shares are also drawing interest, with takeover activity giving the sector some extra attention.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 12% to $5.11 after receiving a takeover offer from Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD). Genesis shares are down 7.15% to $5.84.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares are also higher, up 3.6% to $6.87.

Can the ASX 200 recover?

The ASX 200 isn’t falling heavily, but today’s move still shows how quickly Friday’s rally has faded away.

The market is getting support from energy, healthcare, and gold, but the banks are making it difficult for the index to turn positive.

From here, the ASX 200 probably needs financials to steady and a few more large-cap stocks to join the rebound.

Without that, today may end up looking like a breather after Friday’s strong rally.

 

The post ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made
• 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio
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• Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today?
• Better buy? NAB vs Westpac shares

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

Of all of the blue chip shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares probably command the largest army of long-term investors. 

This is likely down to a few factors. For one, CBA is one of the largest companies in Australia, and certainly the largest consumer-facing one. A good chunk of us bank with CBA, and use its products and services daily. For another, Commonwealth Bank used to be a publicly owned company before it was privatised back in the 1990s. The manner of its privatisation, where shares were offered to the general public in huge tranches, resulted in a huge retail base of ‘mum-and-dad investors’. 

Many of these original buyers of CBA still hold their shares today.

And they have always been lavishly rewarded for doing so. 

Back in the 1990s, CBA shares were floated at a few different prices, one as low as $5.40. Given the bank hit $25 a share in 1999, $60 in 2007, $95 in 2015 and $192 (its current all-time high) in 2025, selling this ASX bank stock has always looked like a mistake in hindsight.

Particularly when considering that these healthy capital gains have always been accompanied by even healthier dividend returns. Like its peers in the banking sector, CBA has tended to pay fat, fully franked and rising dividends, albeit with some short-term volatility.

Considering CBA shares’ history of capital growth, as well as its dividend track record, many investors might want to know how just how profitable this bank stock has been over the last ten years. That’s what we’ll be diving into today.

CBA shares: Just how much money have investors made since 2016?

So let’s assume an investor bought $10,000 worth of CBA shares back in July of 2016. Early in that month, you could have picked up this bank for just $72.56, meaning $10,000 would have got you approximately 138 shares.

At the time of writing, those same shares are going for $164.56 each, down 0.28% for the session thus far. That means our $10,000 would today be worth about $22,710, representing a compounded average growth rate of about 8.53% per annum. Not bad for a big ASX bank.

But that’s before we get to the dividends.

CBA has paid out two dividends every year since 2016. These have varied from year to year, but have trended upwards over time. For example, the bank doled out $4.29 worth of dividends over 2017, $3.50 in 2021, and $4.85 over 2025. 

Since mid-2026, investors have enjoyed a total of $41.81 in dividends per share. Our investors’ 138 shares would have thus yielded a total of roughly $5,770 in dividend income over the last ten years as well.

So our investor who started with $10,000 ten years ago would today have a position worth approximately $28,480. That represents an overall compounded growth rate of 11.03% per annum. Not a bad return for a bank. But let’s see what CBA shares deliver over the next ten years.

The post Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades
• 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio
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• Should I buy, hold, or sell CBA shares in July?
• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Share price falls can create better entry points when the underlying business still has a long runway.

That is how I see Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

Both shares have fallen heavily from their highs, both remain volatile, and both still need to keep proving themselves.

Even so, I think they are worth buying today.

Zip shares

Zip shares are down around 35% from their high, despite a strong recent recovery.

The share price has climbed around 25% over the past month, which shows that investors are starting to warm to the story again. But I do not think the opportunity has disappeared.

The reason I like Zip is that the company has moved beyond the old growth at any cost story.

A few years ago, many investors viewed buy now, pay later (BNPL) companies with scepticism, and fairly so. The sector was highly competitive, funding costs mattered, and profitability was not always clear. Zip now looks like a much more disciplined business.

It is the US opportunity that interests me most. Zip is targeting a very large market where many consumers still want flexible payment options and may not be well served by traditional credit products.

If Zip can keep growing transaction volumes while managing credit quality and improving profitability, the upside could be material.

The company will not have a smooth ride. Payments and consumer finance can be sensitive to economic conditions, regulation, and investor sentiment.

But I think the market may still be underestimating what a better-run Zip could become.

WiseTech shares

WiseTech shares have had an even tougher run, falling almost 70% over the past 12 months.

Clearly, sentiment is weak and confidence may take time to rebuild, especially for a company that was once priced for a lot of growth.

But I think WiseTech remains one of the highest-quality software businesses on the ASX.

The company’s CargoWise platform helps logistics companies manage the messy work behind global trade. Freight forwarding, customs, compliance, documentation, tracking, tariffs, shipping data, and warehouse coordination all involve enormous complexity. That is where software can become valuable.

I like businesses that solve problems customers deal with every day. WiseTech is trying to become core infrastructure for companies that move goods around the world.

That can create sticky customer relationships if the software keeps improving.

The risks are clear. WiseTech needs to maintain growth, execute on acquisitions, manage governance concerns, and rebuild market trust. A recovery in the share price may not happen quickly.

But I think the long-term opportunity remains very attractive. Global trade is unlikely to become less complex, and logistics companies should keep looking for better digital tools.

Foolish takeaway

I think Zip and WiseTech are both buys, but neither is the kind of share investors should expect to behave calmly.

That is part of the opportunity. The market has already taken a much more cautious view of both companies, even though the long-term growth stories still look alive to me.

Zip needs to keep proving that its recovery is built on better discipline, not just improving sentiment. WiseTech needs to rebuild confidence and show that its software platform can keep growing into a much larger global opportunity.

That makes both shares higher-risk buys, but I think the potential reward is now interesting enough to justify a closer look.

The post Down 35%+, should you buy Zip and WiseTech shares? 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 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.

Some ASX 200 shares earn a place in a portfolio because they look cheap.

Others earn a place because the quality of the business is hard to ignore.

That is the way I see the two shares below. They are rarely available at bargain prices, but I think both have the kind of long-term strengths that can make them valuable holdings for patient investors.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA is not usually the cheapest bank on the ASX, and I would not expect that to change.

But I still think it is one of the highest-quality blue-chip shares on the market.

The reason is quality. CBA has a leading retail banking franchise, a huge customer base, a strong deposit position, and one of the best digital banking platforms in the country. Those advantages can be easy to underappreciate when investors are focused only on valuation.

Banking is never risk-free. Bad debts, housing market weakness, competition, and regulation can all affect earnings.

Even so, I think CBA remains the strongest bank in Australia. It has scale, brand strength, customer trust, and a long record of navigating different economic conditions.

For investors wanting exposure to the banking sector, I would rather own the business I think is best positioned than simply chase the cheapest option.

That is why I would want CBA in my portfolio.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is another ASX 200 share I would want to own for the long term.

The company provides enterprise software to customers such as councils, government departments, universities, and large organisations. These customers need reliable systems to run important operations, from finance and payroll to property, student administration, and compliance.

That gives TechnologyOne a useful kind of resilience. Its customers are not buying software for fun. They are using systems that help them operate properly. Once those systems are embedded, they can be difficult and disruptive to replace.

I also like the long-term shift toward cloud-based software. If TechnologyOne can keep improving its platform and expanding in markets such as the UK, I think it has room to grow annual recurring revenue (ARR) at a strong clip for years to come.

The shares can trade at a premium, so valuation is important. But I think world-class businesses are often worth considering even when they are not obviously cheap.

For me, TechnologyOne has the product quality, customer relevance, and growth runway to be a long-term winner.

Foolish takeaway

I think CBA and TechnologyOne are two ASX 200 shares I would be happy to own in my portfolio.

What I like about both is that their strengths are not built on short-term excitement. They come from scale, trust, customer relationships, and products or services that are deeply woven into daily activity.

Both companies can look expensive at times, and neither is without risk. But I think the best portfolios should include businesses with durable advantages, long-term relevance, and the ability to keep compounding value.

That is why these two world-class ASX 200 shares stand out to me.

The post 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades
• Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $5,500 per month in passive income?
• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027
• Should I buy, hold, or sell CBA shares in July?

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

The oil price has taken a hit, but some ASX energy shares are moving higher on Monday.

During early afternoon trade, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.15% to $28.19. That leaves the Woodside share price up around 20% in 2026.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is also having a stronger session. Its shares are up 2.25% to $7.26, taking its gain for the year to around 17%.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) is climbing 1.49% to 85.3 cents, while Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is moving the other way, down 0.77% to $10.28.

The move comes as investors look past weaker oil prices and focus on a more positive view from brokers.

Let’s take a closer look.

Oil prices have cooled quickly

The oil market has lost a lot of heat over the past month.

Based on Trading Economics, Brent crude is trading at around US$72 a barrel today, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is sitting near US$69 a barrel.

The pullback follows another move from OPEC+ to lift supply. The group has agreed to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August, extending its run of monthly increases.

At the same time, energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz are recovering. That has eased some of the supply worries that were pushing oil higher just a few weeks ago.

The market has gone from worrying about Middle East supply risks to focusing again on extra production and softer prices.

Brokers find value after the selloff

The weaker oil price has not stopped Morgan Stanley from turning more positive on parts of the ASX energy sector.

According to the broker update, analyst Rob Koh has upgraded Santos to ‘overweight’ and lifted the price target to $7.67, up from $7.50.

Woodside and Beach Energy were also upgraded to ‘equal-weight’ from ‘underweight’.

Morgan Stanley pointed to better valuations, free cash flow yields, and a more favourable risk-reward setup across parts of the sector.

It also noted that the ASX 200 energy index has fallen around 15% over the past 2 months, while earnings estimates have been dragged down as much as 28%.

Origin misses out

Origin Energy did not get the same treatment.

Morgan Stanley cut its price target on Origin to $10.35, down from $11.00, and kept it as its least preferred pick in the group.

The broker is concerned that lower east coast domestic gas prices could flow through to weaker electricity prices and put pressure on earnings.

It also flagged the proposed 2027 domestic gas reservation policy as another uncertainty hanging over the sector.

Foolish takeaway

The upgrades should give Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy some support after a rough stretch for oil.

However, I wouldn’t read too much into it just yet.

This looks more like a valuation call after a tough couple of months for the sector.

Woodside and Santos have already climbed strongly in 2026, so investors are not exactly buying them at a big discount.

From here, the oil price needs to settle down. If crude keeps sliding, broker upgrades alone probably won’t be enough to keep these ASX 200 energy shares moving higher.

 

The post Oil price crash sparks broker upgrades for ASX energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today?
• Woodside shares soared, then stumbled. What’s next for investors?
• Origin Energy sell-off continues, shares hit fresh 52-week low: Buy, sell or hold?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Betashares has built a large range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for ASX investors.

Some are designed for broad market exposure, while others target more specific themes, sectors, or investment styles.

I think the best ones are those that can earn a place in a long-term portfolio.

With that in mind, here are three Betashares ETFs I would consider buying in July.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ETF I would look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. In practice, that means a heavy weighting toward some of the world’s most important technology and growth companies.

I like the NDQ ETF because many of its holdings sit inside long-term changes in the global economy. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital advertising, software, semiconductors, streaming, online shopping, and cybersecurity are all areas where large US technology companies continue to play major roles.

That does not mean this fund is low risk. It can be volatile, particularly when investors become worried about interest rates or technology valuations.

But for long-term investors, I think it offers access to companies that have reshaped how people work, shop, communicate, and consume information. That makes it a top ETF to consider.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The next ETF I would consider is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

This fund is designed to provide exposure to Australian companies with quality characteristics, such as strong profitability, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability.

I think that can be useful because not all ASX shares are created equal.

Some businesses can generate strong returns through different parts of the cycle, while others are much more dependent on commodity prices, credit conditions, or short bursts of market enthusiasm.

A quality-focused ETF can help investors tilt their Australian exposure toward companies with stronger financial foundations.

That does not guarantee better returns every year. There will be periods when lower-quality or more cyclical shares perform better. But over the long term, I like the idea of owning businesses that have already shown signs of durability.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The third ETF I would consider is Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity is one of those areas where demand is unlikely to disappear. Businesses, governments, schools, hospitals, banks, and households keep shifting more activity online. That creates more data, more digital systems, and more potential points of attack.

Cybersecurity spending can therefore become less of a nice-to-have and more of a basic operating requirement.

The HACK ETF gives investors exposure to a group of global companies involved in protecting networks, devices, cloud systems, identities, and digital infrastructure.

The theme can still be volatile, and specialised ETFs can move sharply when sentiment changes. But I think cybersecurity has a long runway because the problem it addresses keeps becoming more important.

Foolish takeaway

I think the NDQ, AQLT, and HACK ETF are three Betashares ETFs worth considering.

What I like about this group is that each fund approaches long-term investing from a different angle. One leans into global growth, one filters the Australian market for quality, and one targets a security problem that keeps becoming more important.

None of them will be right for every investor, and all can have weak periods. But for those looking beyond the next few months, I think these could be some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy and hold.

The post Are these some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy? 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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.