S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares have slipped into the red for 2026, down 1% in the calendar year-to-date (YTD).

Let’s check out some new ratings from the experts.

Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL) 

The Regal Partners share price has plummeted 29% over the YTD.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating on this specialist alternative investment manager.

In a new note, the broker said:

Regal Partners (RPL) delivered a strong first-half FY26 result (1H26), although the attention was mainly on the announced transition to retirement of founder and portfolio manager Philip King.

Mr King is responsible for approximately 16% of RPL’s funds under management (FUM), or $3.4 billion, and will remain in his current roles until at least 30 June 2027.

Financially, the result was robust. Normalised net profit after tax reached $93 million (guidance was for at least $90 million), more than double the prior corresponding period, and 3% ahead of consensus.

RPL ended FY26 with approximately $289 million of balance sheet capital and access to a further $130 million of undrawn debt facilities. 

Despite the leadership transition risk, RPL is trading on an attractive FY27 price to earnings multiple of circa 8x, and on our numbers, offers around 14% per annum growth in EPS over FY26–29.

APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA)

The APA Group share price is up 20% over the YTD.

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a hold rating on this ASX 200 utilities share. 

Wielandt said (courtesy The Bull): 

APA owns an extensive portfolio of energy infrastructure assets across Australia and benefits from long term contracts and inflation-linked tariff increases, which the company negotiates directly with its customers.

APA delivered a strong performance in full year 2026. Underlying EBITDA of $2.183 billion was up 8.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Underling EBITDA margins increased to 77.9 per cent.

APA remains a reliable income focused investment, but with more capital to be invested, we retain a hold recommendation.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price has fallen 20% over the YTD.

This ASX ETF is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that holds properties in the retail, health, and services sectors.

Wielandt has a sell rating on this ASX REIT.

He explains:

Occupancy was 99 per cent in full year 2026. The underlying properties continue to perform well, with a steady increase in rental income.

However, like a number of other REITs, I believe the prospect of higher interest rates, finance costs amid struggling consumers may pressure HDN’s performance numbers in full year 2027 in what is a challenging retail sector.

HDN shares have fallen from $1.38 on September 18, 2025 to trade at $1.105 on September 17, 2026.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Regal Partners, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, APA Group shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance?
• Ord Minnett tips this ASX financials stock to double within the next 12 months 
• 3 ASX income shares I’d buy outside Westpac and the major banks
• Rio Tinto vs APA Group: Which is better for passive income?
• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income

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

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.3% to 8,757.8 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a decent session on Wednesday despite a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 18 points or 0.2% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.35%, the S&P 500 was flat, and the Nasdaq was 0.45% higher.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.6% to US$95.21 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.8% to US$98.52 a barrel. Traders were selling oil on US-Iran peace hopes.

ASX shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes gold miner St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM), energy company Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE), and toll road operator Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX). The latter will be rewarding its shareholders with an unfranked 20 cents per share dividend next month on 7 October.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.3% to US$4,396.4 an ounce. Falling oil prices have eased rate hike bets.

Hold Seek shares

Bell Potter thinks Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) shares are around fair value at current prices. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the job listings company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $13.00 (from $13.80). It said: “We await a positive shift in sentiment or visibility on jobs volumes recovery; potential near term Growth Fund monetisation remains an asymmetric upside risk, though the rising interest rate backdrop may also be an additional headwind in seeking a desired exit price for nominated assets. SEK appears to be improving operations to sustainably target 10% yield growth on top of strong cost controls, however, despite trading at deep value ex. Growth Fund, macro-based headwinds suggest difficult sentiment near-term for the stock. Maintain Hold.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Best performing ASX 200 stock is up 350%. Can it keep rising?
• Average superannuation balances at age 42, 52 and 62 in Australia
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 4 ASX shares that pay a dividend yield of 8% (or more)
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Washington H Soul Pattinson vs BHP Group shares: which is better for beginners?

Looking to start your investing journey but not sure which ASX giant is a better fit? Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are both popular with Aussie investors, but their profiles couldn’t be more different. Let’s dig into how these two stack up and which might be a smoother way in for share market newcomers.

The case for Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co

Washington H Soul Pattinson (“Soul Patts”) is one of Australia’s oldest listed investment companies, having started out in pharmacies but now a diversified investment house. Its portfolio covers listed stocks (including big stakes in businesses like TPG Telecom and New Hope), private companies, real assets, and more. After merging with Brickworks in 2025, Brickworks is now part of the group, further boosting its diversification. Soul Patts has a reputation for steady returns and aims to deliver both capital growth and reliably increasing dividends.

Looking at the fundamentals, I think Soul Patts stands out with:

• A low P/E ratio of 7.03 – making it look attractively priced compared to the wider market and (as we’ll see) BHP
• A franked dividend yield of 2.37%, not massive, but backed by a long and consistent history
• A YTD return of 22.7%, showing robust capital gains recently

And for those who like fully franked income, every dividend here is 100% franked—a plus for Aussie investors focused on after-tax returns.

The case for BHP

BHP is a global mining powerhouse, best known for producing iron ore, copper, coal and other commodities. It’s not just the biggest ASX stock by market cap, but also a name synonymous with resources investing. BHP’s profits—and share price—are tied pretty closely to global commodity prices, so it’s naturally a bit more volatile than your typical diversified investment company.

A few standout metrics on BHP’s side:

• A current dividend yield of 3.96%, fully franked
• A P/E ratio of 22.4, much higher than Soul Patts’—though that comes with sector caveats (resources are typically ‘boom and bust’)
• Year to date, BHP is up an impressive 39.5%, outpacing even Soul Patts’ recent gains

In short, BHP is a way to gain exposure to global mining and commodities, with the kind of scale and profitability that few can match on the ASX.

Valuation comparison

When I line these two up on key numbers, here’s how they look:

Metric	Soul Patts	BHP
P/E Ratio	7.03	22.40
Dividend Yield	2.37% (100% franked)	3.96% (100% franked)
Earnings per Share (EPS)	6.417	1.932
Market Cap	$17.13 billion	$310.39 billion
Year to Date Return	22.7%	39.5%

Note: Both companies report 100% franking on all recent dividends. Also, BHP’s earnings per share and relatively high P/E ratio reflect its resources focus, and its larger size shouldn’t be mistaken for a safer or “better” buy.

Recent share price performance

Comparing 21 August to 18 September 2026:

• BHP: Share price has risen from $65.16 to $61.05 in this recent stretch, with a volatile ride—including a jump as high as $67.40 and some sharp drops. Overall, BHP has delivered 39.5% YTD return as of the last recorded date.
• Soul Patts: Price moved from $44.38 to $45.08, trending higher but with smaller daily swings. Year to date, Soul Patts is up 22.7% as of 18 September 2026.
• Both shares have seen some volatility, but BHP’s larger gains have come with bigger day-to-day moves—worth keeping in mind if you’re new to the market.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m picking the company that’s friendliest for beginners, my vote goes to Washington H Soul Pattinson. Here’s why: Its low P/E signals a more conservative valuation, while its business is built on diversification—meaning no single sector or commodity determines its fate. While BHP’s juicy dividend yield and huge YTD gain might tempt, its performance goes hand-in-hand with the wild swings of global commodity prices. For someone just dipping their toes in, I’d favour the relative steadiness and broad exposure of Soul Patts. BHP, for all its scale, feels better suited to those ready for a bit more risk and a rollercoaster ride. Of course, both feature fully franked dividends and proven track records—but for a beginner, simplicity and sleep-at-night-factor really matter. Based on all the numbers and characteristics here, Soul Patts is my pick as a starter stock.

The post Soul Patts vs BHP: Which ASX share is best for beginners? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance?
• Are the BHP and CBA share price headed for parity?
• 3 reasons to buy BHP shares for 2027
• BHP Group vs Rio Tinto shares: Which pays better dividends?
• Up 52% and paying dividends: Are BHP shares a buy, hold, or sell today?

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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP 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.