ASX shares have slid lower this week as investors digest the latest interest rate hike and inflation data remains stubbornly high.

But, while the outlook looks bleak for some S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XKO) shares, there are some which are tipped to drag the index higher over the next 12 months.

Here are three of them.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 has tumbled lower over the past week after persistent inflation and September’s interest rate increase dragged down growth shares like Life360.

At the same time, investors may still be digesting the company’s second-quarter FY26 update released last month. Life360 announced a 38% increase in revenue and a 53% hike in EBITDA. It also said it expects FY26 revenue growth to accelerate from 33% to 40% year-on-year.

But it wasn’t enough to impress investors, who may have expected another upward revision in full-year guidance. 

The latest slump also follows multiple headwinds over the past year, including a tech-sector-wide sell off, loss in confidence for AI-related stocks and a general investor rotation away from growth shares.

But it looks like the shares are finally considered to be trading below fair value. Market Index shows that all brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $31.72 target price implies a potential 67% upside at the time of writing.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

A2 Milk shares have been relatively resilient over the past week after investors flocked to defensive assets like ASX consumer staple stocks, ahead of the Reserve Bank announcement on Tuesday. Shares like A2 Milk are considered defensive because their products aren’t discretionary.

It’s good news for the company after it suffered a difficult start to the year. The shares crashed to a multi-year low in June but rebounded quickly and have stayed relatively stable since. However, the share price still has a long way to go to recover to 2025 levels.

The company’s FY26 results last month weren’t as bad as many were expecting. It reported a 12.4% increase in revenue but a 2.5% decline in full-year statutory EBITDA and a 5.8% drop in statutory NPAT. The announcement didn’t have much impact on A2 Milk’s shares.

The shares still look well below fair value, though. Market Index data shows most brokers rate the shares a buy. The $8.04 average target price implies a potential 21% upside at the time of writing.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

Aussie Broadband shares are around flat for the week so far, again likely supported by the company’s defensive qualities at a time when investors are flocking to less risk-averse assets.

The ASX telecommunications and internet retail service provider’s shares crashed in August after it posted its FY26 results. The company posted a 19.6% increase in underlying EBITDA and a 9.2% increase in revenue. But investors quickly sold off, possibly due to concerns about the company’s momentum and outlook.

The shares dropped to an annual low in mid-September but have since rebounded around 6%.

It looks like they could keep climbing higher. Market Index data shows all brokers rate the telco’s shares a strong buy. The $5.73 average target price implies a potential upside of around 36% at the time of writing.

The post Brokers tip up to 67% for these 3 ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Goodman Group vs Charter Hall Group shares: Which ASX REIT pays better income?

Comparing Goodman Group (ASXL GMG) and Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) makes a lot of sense if you’re looking for reliable REIT income on the ASX. Both companies have built significant property portfolios spanning industrial, office, and retail assets, but their approach to dividends, franking, and portfolio focus differs in interesting ways. I’ve dug into the numbers to see which REIT might suit those chasing income – and why the choice isn’t as simple as size or brand alone.

The case for Goodman Group

Goodman Group is a global giant in industrial and logistics property. Since its 2005 merger, Goodman has expanded into 14 countries, with a hefty development and investment presence in Australia, Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. It owns, develops, and manages warehouses, distribution centres, and logistics hubs – putting it at the heart of e-commerce and supply chain growth. As of 30 June, its global portfolio is worth $89 billion, making Goodman the largest REIT on the ASX.

Looking at the fundamentals, I see three things stand out for Goodman:

• Market cap of $54.04 billion puts it in a different league to most local REITs.
• The P/E ratio of 19.85 (with reported EPS at $1.329) is matched by Charter Hall, so it doesn’t look unusually “expensive” within this pair.
• Dividend yield is 1.14%, with dividends per share steady at $0.30 annually. Goodman’s dividends have remained flat at 15 cents per half since 2020, but crucially, all payments are unfranked.

Goodman’s enormous scale and prime global assets make it a core holding for many institutional money managers, especially those seeking stability and growth from industrial property.

The case for Charter Hall Group

Charter Hall Group is a diversified property manager and investor, with major activities in funds management and operating a series of listed and unlisted REITs. Charter Hall’s interests range from shopping centres and logistics hubs to office buildings and early learning assets. As of 30 June, the managed portfolio covers $76 billion in assets and a strong property development pipeline.

Here’s what catches my eye about Charter Hall’s numbers:

• Market cap is $8.45 billion, making it a mid-sized REIT relative to Goodman.
• P/E ratio is also 19.85, with EPS reported at $0.888.
• Dividend yield is 2.87% – more than double Goodman’s rate.
• Dividends per share are $0.52 annually and, importantly, heavily franked. Recent dividend history shows franking up to 90% for some payments, with a current blended franking rate around 80%.

For income-focused investors, Charter Hall looks more rewarding at first blush, not just for its higher yield but also that generous franking credit potential. Its track record over the past decade has also seen regular increases to dividends per share.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how Goodman and Charter Hall stack up on key income and value metrics:

	Goodman Group	Charter Hall Group
Market Cap	$54.04 billion	$8.45 billion
P/E Ratio	19.85	19.85
Earnings per Share (EPS)	$1.329	$0.888
Dividend Yield	1.14%	2.87%
Dividend per Share	$0.30	$0.52
Dividend Franking	0%	~80%

Note: Both companies report matching P/E ratios despite different EPS figures. This could reflect slight differences in the earnings calculation method or timing.

Charter Hall comes out ahead for dividend yield and offers substantial franking, making each dollar of payout potentially more valuable for after-tax income than Goodman’s unfranked distributions.

Recent share price performance

Let’s see how Goodman Group and Charter Hall Group shares have performed recently.

Comparing share price activity up to 28 September 2026:

• Goodman Group closed at $26.30 on 28 Sep 2026, down 14.4% year-to-date.
• Charter Hall Group closed at $17.86 on 28 Sep 2026, down 26.8% year-to-date.

In recent weeks, Goodman’s share price has shown a small dip but relative resilience. Charter Hall has faced steeper year-to-date declines, despite a recent day or two in positive territory.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m focusing on income, my pick is Charter Hall Group over Goodman Group. The headline reasons are hard to ignore: Charter Hall’s dividend yield is more than double Goodman’s, and its dividends come with substantial franking – which means extra value at tax time for many Australian investors. Charter Hall also has a history of boosting its payout per share over time, and its current yield of 2.87% stands out in a sector where steady, inflation-beating income is prized.

Goodman Group is the titan of the sector, but with its low (and unfranked) income distributions, I think it suits those seeking global growth and stability rather than immediate income rewards. Its share price has been more resilient than Charter Hall’s during this tough period for property stocks, but if reliable, tax-effective passive income is my main goal, I’d lean toward Charter Hall Group as the more attractive buy right now.

The post Goodman Group vs Charter Hall: Which ASX REIT pays better income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Lovisa vs Baby Bunting shares: A retail face-off for ASX investors

It’s not every day you pit a global fast-fashion jewellery success against a homegrown baby goods specialist, but Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) and Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN) give investors two very different options in the ASX consumer discretionary space. Whether you’re drawn to Lovisa’s international expansion or Baby Bunting’s niche positioning, choosing between these shares means weighing growth, value, dividends, and momentum.

The case for Lovisa

Lovisa operates a sprawling network of fashion jewellery and accessories stores, starting from humble Sydney beginnings in 2010 and now spanning over 900 locations in 45+ countries, with seven online stores as well. This business model is fast, vertically integrated, and sharply focused on affordable, on-trend pieces for a global shopper.

When I look at Lovisa, a few data points leap out:

• Market cap of $2.66 billion shows major scale for an Australian retailer.
• P/E ratio of 28.21 positions Lovisa at a growth-type multiple.
• Dividend yield is 3.53% — healthy for a retailer, though only 50% franked according to latest data.
• Year-to-date return is down, at -14.0%, signalling a recent pullback after a strong run in prior years.

Lovisa’s dividend history suggests some variability in franking and amount, with recent payments split between fully and partially franked. According to its most recent public profile, the brand has achieved impressive global penetration.

The case for Baby Bunting

Baby Bunting is a specialist in baby and young children’s products, running around 76 stores across Australia and New Zealand. It’s a familiar destination for expectant or new parents, stocking all the essential brands as well as some exclusive private-label ranges.

Looking at Baby Bunting right now, what stands out is:

• Market cap of just $143 million makes it much smaller than Lovisa — a real David and Goliath scenario.
• P/E ratio of 13.48 means the market currently prices this business at less than half the earnings multiple of Lovisa.
• Dividend yield is 0.00% based on the latest fundamentals — a big change from a solid dividend payer history, possibly reflecting current earnings pressure.
• Year-to-date return has been very tough at -58.4%, pointing to a challenging operational period or structural concern.

Dividend history shows Baby Bunting was consistently fully franked and paid (if small) dividends up to 2024; the absence of a yield now suggests a pause due to weaker earnings or cash flow. According to its latest company profile, Baby Bunting has grown into a category leader in baby goods, supported by a focused product range and a loyal customer base.

Valuation comparison

There are some big numbers on display when you line up Lovisa and Baby Bunting. Let’s break down the key metrics:

	Lovisa	Baby Bunting
Market Cap	$2.66 billion	$143 million
P/E Ratio	28.21	13.48
Dividend Yield	3.53% (50% franked)	0.00% (100% franking in most recent payments)
EPS	$0.792	$0.079
Dividend per Share	$0.86	$0.07
Year-to-date Return	-14.0%	-58.4%

It’s worth noting Lovisa’s higher market cap, higher multiple, and higher yield, offset against Baby Bunting’s rock-bottom valuation multiple — a reflection of recent struggles. Lovisa’s P/E and EPS, and Baby Bunting’s P/E and EPS, do appear mathematically consistent based on the data given. Also, Lovisa’s dividends are only partially franked, while Baby Bunting’s prior dividends were fully franked, though now absent.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share activity up to 28 September 2026:

• Lovisa closed at $24.06. Over the prior 15 trading days, its price fluctuated, recording sharp daily changes both up and down, but trended lower since the start of September 2026. Its year-to-date return is -14.0%.
• Baby Bunting Group closed at $1.05. Its share price has dropped steeply over the same period, with several negative sessions and only minor positive days. Its year-to-date return sits at a bruising -58.4%.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m forced to pick between Lovisa and Baby Bunting, I’d lean towards Lovisa for now. The company is showing clear profit generation (EPS and dividend), has the scale and international reach to weather retail storms, and continues to pay a reasonably attractive dividend — even if only 50% franked.

Baby Bunting trades at a far lower earnings multiple and looks much cheaper on paper, but the absence of a dividend and the sharp share price decline tell a story: confidence in near-term recovery is weak, and market doubt is high. While I can see the value argument, I’d need to see a turnaround before getting confident.

For investors after growth plus income, Lovisa ticks more boxes. For contrarians happy with a turnaround gamble, Baby Bunting is a speculative play — but I wouldn’t call it the better buy.

The post Lovisa vs Baby Bunting: Which ASX retailer is the better buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.