• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, James Hardie, Woolworths shares

    Man with a backpack hiking outdoors.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.5% to 8,702.6 points on Tuesday.

    Here are some new ratings from the experts this week.

    Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ)

    The Echo IQ share price is steady at 49 cents today, and up 73% over 12 months. 

    Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX tech share with a 12-month price target of $1.10.

    The broker said: 

    EIQ has received a Not Substantially Equivalent (NSE) determination on its initial EchoSolv HF 510(k), despite an extensively validated dataset generated in line with FDA guidance. The device cannot be marketed under this application as submitted, pushing back the biggest near-term catalyst and revenue driver. Decision is a setback, but the timing points to a fixable problem.

    The determination landed day 264 of the FDA’s 270-day clock, leaving the agency no scope to seek further information and forcing a decision on what it had. Management confirms a single outstanding statistical point, not a safety or clinical issue, and says the letter invites resubmission.

    We read this as a file closed on expiry rather than a technology rejected, and the 510(k) route stays open.

    In any case, the regulatory and timing risks have increased, reflected in a valuation cut to A$1.10.

    Warrants the negative market reaction but ultimately view the validity of the tool as intact, this reads as a setback in how the data was presented and assessed, not a failure of the underlying technology itself.

    James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX)

    The James Hardie share price is $39.58, up 1.2% today and up 31% over 12 months. 

    James Bills from Shaw and Partners has a hold rating on this ASX 200 materials share. 

    He said (courtesy The Bull): 

    James Hardie remains a global leader in fibre cement building products and continues to benefit from strong brand recognition and market share gains, particularly in North America.

    The company has delivered solid long term earnings growth through product innovation and operational efficiency.

    However, housing activity remains sensitive to interest rate movements and broader economic conditions, creating some uncertainty around demand in the near term. Given its strong fundamentals and balanced valuation, a hold recommendation remains appropriate.

    Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

    The Woolworths share price is $39, up 0.6% today and up 39% over 12 months. 

    Bills has a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer staples share

    He explained: 

    The supermarket group has experienced a strong recovery in the past year, with the share price recently trading near the upper end of its historical range.

    While the company remains high quality with a leading position in Australian food retailing, much of the recent improvement appears to be reflected in the WOW share price.

    Earnings growth is expected to remain relatively steady rather than exceptional, limiting scope for further share price appreciation from current levels.

    Following the recent rally, investors may consider taking profits before re-allocating capital to opportunities with stronger growth potential and a more attractive risk-reward profile.

    The post Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, James Hardie, Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Echo IQ Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Echo IQ Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Echo IQ Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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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 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.

  • A Gina Rinehart investment has fired up this ASX copper stock

    Pile of copper pipes.

    Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart has invested $8.7 million into copper explorer White Cliff Minerals Ltd (ASX: WCN), sending its shares more than 20% higher.

    Major investment to drive exploration

    Ms Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, has acquired the stake via a private placement, which constitutes about 13.5% of White Cliff’s shares on issue.

    The money raised via the placement will be used to expand and accelerate the company’s exploration activities at the Rae copper project.

    White Cliff’s Managing Director, Troy Whittaker, said:

    Hancock Prospecting’s decision to invest is a major milestone for White Cliff and powerful third-party validation of what we are building at Rae. We have spent the past two seasons demonstrating that Rae can deliver exceptional grades across a mineralised system with genuine district-scale potential. The timing could not be more compelling. Copper prices have reached record highs, supply is tightening and global demand continues to grow. The search for large, high-quality new copper discoveries has rarely been more important, and we believe Rae has the potential to become one of them.

    Mr Whittaker said the money would help accelerate drilling at the Danvers one deposit, “aggressively test the scale” of Danvers two and three, and advance exploration across the broader area.

    He added:

    We are still at an early stage in understanding the full scale of this system, but the results to date demand an ambitious program, and that is exactly what we now intend to deliver.

    The issue of shares to Hancock Prospecting is subject to shareholder approval. White Cliff intends to hold a meeting in mid-October to hold a vote on the placement.  

    White Cliff shares traded as high as 2.1 cents on the news before settling back to be 17.7% higher at 2 cents.

    The company is valued at $56.2 million.

    Recent results are promising

    White Cliff in early September released new drilling results, including an intersection of 6.18% copper over a length of 23 metres from drill hole DAN26036 at the Danvers three discovery.

    Mr Whittaker said of the results:

    DAN26036 is exactly the type of result we want from step-out drilling. More than 220m from DAN26012, it has delivered 23m at 6.18% Cu, including 3.90m at 16.45% Cu and a new Danvers record assay of 23.5% Cu – Assays that demonstrate thick and high-grade continuity of the copper mineralisation. The high-grade zone remains open, with another 248m still untested towards the next drillhole in the southwest.

    The post A Gina Rinehart investment has fired up this ASX copper stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in White Cliff Minerals right now?

    Before you buy White Cliff Minerals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and White Cliff Minerals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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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.

  • Westpac, ANZ, NAB or CBA shares? Which ASX bank stock should I buy for $5,000 a year in passive income?

    Hand holding Australian dollar (AUD) bills, symbolising ex dividend day. Passive income.

    If you’re looking to bank an extra $5,000 a year in passive income, should you buy National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), or Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares?

    All of the big four S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stocks have a lengthy history of paying twice-yearly dividends. But there are some marked differences in both the yields you might expect, as well as the level of franking credits you may receive.

    We’ll look at the past year’s share price moves and passive income payouts from CBA, NAB, ANZ, and Westpac shares below.

    Just bear in mind that the yields you generally see quoted are trailing yields. Future yields may be higher or lower depending on a range of macroeconomic and company-specific factors.

    With that in mind…

    Tapping the ASX 200 banks for $5,000 in passive income

    Kicking off with the biggest ASX 200 bank stock, CBA shares closed on Monday trading for $154.97 each. That sees the CBA share price down 8.3% over the last 12 months.

    On the passive income front, CBA paid (or shortly will pay) two fully-franked dividends totalling $5.05 a share over the full year. CBA shares trade ex-dividend on 19 August. Eligible stockholders will receive the final dividend on 29 September.

    At Monday’s closing price, then, CBA trades on a fully-franked dividend yield of 3.3%.

    Moving on, NAB shares closed yesterday at $38.72 each, putting the NAB share price down 11.6% over 12 months.

    Over the time, NAB paid two fully-franked dividends totalling $1.70 a share. This sees NAB trading on a fully-franked dividend yield of 4.4%.

    Next up, ANZ shares ended Monday trading for $37.54. Unlike the other big four ASX 200 bank stocks, ANZ shares have gained 13.8% over the past 12 months. Over this period, ANZ paid two dividends (franked at 70% and 75%), totalling $1.66 a share.

    At Monday’s close, ANZ shares trade on a partly franked dividend yield of 4.4%.

    And last up, Westpac shares closed on Monday at $34.53 each, which sees the ASX bank stock down 10.9% over 12 months.

    As for that passive income, Westpac paid two fully-franked dividends over the full year, totalling $1.54 a share. Westpac stock trades on a fully-franked 4.5% trailing dividend yield.

    Which ASX 200 bank stock to buy?

    While all four ASX 200 banks offer reliable dividend payments, Westpac is well ahead of CBA and edges out ANZ and NAB shares with the best yield. And it provides full franking credits.

    For $5,000 a year in passive income, based on the trailing yield, you’d need to buy 3,247 Westpac shares today.

    The post Westpac, ANZ, NAB or CBA shares? Which ASX bank stock should I buy for $5,000 a year in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Westpac Banking Corporation right now?

    Before you buy Westpac Banking Corporation shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Westpac Banking Corporation wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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    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 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.

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