• Are Stockland shares a buy after its FY26 results announcement?

    Three smiling corporate people examine a model of a new building complex.

    Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) shares are climbing higher into the green on Thursday.

    At the time of writing, the shares are up around 2% and changing hands at $4.64 a piece. 

    Today’s increase means the shares have now risen over 14% since the company posted its FY26 results ahead of the ASX open on Wednesday morning.

    The property group reported a statutory profit up 20.2% to $994 million for FY26, and a 10.4% increase in post-tax Funds From Operations (FFO) to $892 million, hitting the top end of its guidance range.

    Stockland announced a full-year dividend distribution steady at 25.2 cents per security, at a payout ratio of 69%. For FY27, the company expects to maintain the same 25.2 cents per security, dividend payment.  

    Investors are clearly thrilled with the result and many rushed to buy the shares following the announcement yesterday. The rally has continued this morning, with many more buying into the stock, sending the share price higher again.

    There is still a long way to go before Stockland shares can recoup the losses it shed in late-2025 and early-2026, but its certainly a step in the right direction.

    Stockland shares are now down around 19% for the year-to-date and 24% lower than 12 months ago.

    The question now is, can the shares keep climbing higher. Or has the property group’s shares now reached fair value?

    Here’s what the experts think.

    Analysts forecasts for Stockland shares over the next 12 months

    If analysts’ predictions are anything to go buy, it looks like Stockland shares could be approaching fair value.

    Market Index data shows that brokers are split between a buy and hold rating on the shares. But the $4.69 average target price implies a potential 1% upside at the time of writing.

    Sentiment is a little more positive according to TradingView data. The majority (seven out of 10) have a buy/strong buy rating on Stockland shares, and another two rate the stock a hold. There is one sell rating.

    The average 5.10 target price implies a potential 10% upside at the time of writing. But some are even more bullish and forecast the shares to climb another 26% to $5.80 over the next 12 months.

    Ahead of the results announcement, the team at Shaw and Partners confirmed their hold rating on the ASX 200 property shares. They said the business is well positioned to benefit from Australia’s long term population growth and housing supply constraints, while its development pipeline supports future earnings growth.

    The broker added that higher interest rates have created some short term headwinds across the property sector. However, Stockland’s robust balance sheet and quality asset portfolio provide resilience.

    The post Are Stockland shares a buy after its FY26 results announcement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Stockland right now?

    Before you buy Stockland 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 Stockland 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 Samantha Menzies 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.

  • This fund just declared a dividend yield of better than 7%

    Australian dollar notes in the pocket of a man's jeans, symbolising dividends.

    Wam Microcap Ltd (ASX: WMI) is paying a dividend yield of 7.6%, or 10.9% including franking credits, despite reporting an operating loss for the full year.

    The fund’s investment portfolio also underperformed, increasing just 0.1% for the year, while its benchmark, the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index, rose 8.1%.

    Could do better, fund manager says

    WAM Microcap Lead Portfolio Manager Oscar Oberg said regarding the result:

    Following eight consecutive years of outperformance since listing, FY2026 was a challenging year for the WAM Microcap investment portfolio. The underperformance relative to the benchmark was primarily driven by our limited exposure to resources companies during a period of exceptionally strong performance from the sector, combined with stock selection that was not at the level we expect. The strongest headwind for the portfolio was the significant divergence between resources and industrial companies. While this positioning detracted from investment portfolio performance in FY2026, we believe our focus on identifying undervalued micro-cap industrial companies will continue to create opportunities for shareholders over the long term.

    Mr Oberg said the managers believed the fund was well-positioned at the start of the financial year, and they remain confident in the opportunities in the microcap sector.

    Since inception, WAM Microcap has increased 14.4% per annum, outperforming the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index by 7.4% per annum.

    Dividend yield still looking healthy

    Wam Microcap will pay its fully-franked dividend of 5.35 cents on October 29 to shareholders on the register on October 16.

    The dividend is up slightly from 5.3 cents for the same period last year.

    Some of the fund’s largest holdings include EDU Holdings Ltd (ASX: EDU), Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA), and Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ).

    The fund focuses on companies with a market capitalisation of less than $300 million at the time of acquisition.

    Other Wilson funds also paying good dividend yields

    The fund’s dividend yield is better than others in the Wilson Asset Management Stable, with WAM Strategic Value Ltd (ASX: WAR), WAM Active Ltd (ASX: WAA), and WAM Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: WMX) all paying solid dividends, yet not up to that level.

    WAM Strategic Value reported earlier this month that it would pay an increased, fully-franked dividend of 6.5 cents per share, up 8.3% on the previous year and representing a yield of 5.9%.

    This increases to 8.4% once franking credits are factored in.

    WAM Active is paying the same return as WAM Strategic Value; however, if you include capital gains, it returned 40.2% for the year to the end of June.

    The post This fund just declared a dividend yield of better than 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Wam Microcap right now?

    Before you buy Wam Microcap 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 Wam Microcap 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.

  • Why these ASX ETFs are on my watchlist

    Businesswoman with a pleased smile reading on her laptop at a desk in the office with a look of satisfaction.

    I like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they can open the door to markets and industries that are harder to access through individual ASX shares.

    There are a few funds I am watching presently because I can see a strong long-term reason for owning them.

    Here are three currently on my watchlist.

    Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

    Semiconductors sit behind an enormous amount of modern technology.

    Artificial intelligence has pushed chips further into the spotlight, but the opportunity extends across data centres, smartphones, vehicles, industrial automation, cloud computing, and connected devices.

    The SEMI ETF provides exposure to 30 major companies involved in the development and manufacturing of semiconductors.

    I like the idea of approaching this industry through an ETF because predicting which chip company will lead the next generation of technology is difficult.

    Demand can also shift across the semiconductor supply chain. One period might favour chip designers, while another could benefit memory manufacturers or the companies producing the equipment needed to make advanced chips.

    The SEMI ETF spreads the investment across established industry leaders, allowing investors to participate in the broader growth of semiconductor demand.

    Technology spending can move in cycles, so I would expect plenty of volatility along the way. But over a long timeframe, I think increasingly powerful computing creates a strong reason to keep this fund on my watchlist.

    VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

    The MOAT ETF takes an approach that closely resembles how I would think about selecting individual shares.

    The fund invests in US companies that have sustainable competitive advantages and are trading at attractive prices relative to their fair value.

    That combination catches my eye. A strong competitive position can come from factors such as brand strength, switching costs, network effects, or cost advantages. These characteristics can help a business protect profits and continue investing as competitors try to take market share.

    The valuation element is also important. Even an excellent company can produce disappointing returns if investors pay too much for it.

    I think having both considerations built into the investment process makes the MOAT ETF an interesting alternative to simply buying the largest US businesses by market capitalisation.

    Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

    The VAE ETF is on my watchlist because I think Asia could offer some exciting long-term opportunities.

    The fund invests across Asian markets, excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, providing access to economies such as China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea.

    This brings exposure to areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, online commerce, financial services, industrial development, and rising consumer spending.

    I think the semiconductor exposure is particularly interesting, with Taiwan and South Korea playing major roles in the global technology supply chain.

    There is also a much broader story. Rising incomes across parts of Asia could support businesses serving increasingly wealthy consumers for many years.

    The VAE ETF will come with political, regulatory, and currency risks that can create periods of volatility. But I think the size and long-term growth potential of the region still make it worth watching.

    Foolish takeaway

    I think all three ETFs offer exposure to areas with strong long-term growth potential.

    Semiconductors, high-quality US businesses, and Asia’s economic development could all create attractive opportunities over the coming decade.

    As a result, these are three funds I would be comfortable considering for a long-term investment.

    The post Why these ASX ETFs are on my watchlist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF right now?

    Before you buy VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF 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 VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF 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 Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.