• PEXA vs REA shares: Which property tech company is the better buy?

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    PEXA vs REA Group shares: Which stands out?

    Investors eyeing the property technology space might find themselves comparing PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) and REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares. Both companies are key players behind the digital platforms transforming Australian real estate, but they approach the market in starkly different ways. Let’s break down each case and see which business shines brightest based on the latest available numbers.

    The case for PEXA

    PEXA Group leads Australia’s digital conveyancing market, enabling property settlement electronically—making transactions faster, more reliable, and less error-prone. The company’s core strength lies in its world-first technology that allows almost real-time settlement and fund clearance. It earns revenue predominantly from transaction fees as lawyers, conveyancers, and banks process properties on its network. According to its company profile, PEXA is dominant in Australia and pushing into the UK and other international markets.

    Looking at the fundamentals, PEXA has a market cap of $1.17 billion, placing it well below giants like REA but still substantial in the local tech sector. Its recent numbers reveal:

    • P/E Ratio: 60.86 — reflecting a hefty valuation relative to reported earnings, typical for a tech platform in expansion mode.
    • Earnings per share (EPS): $0.109
    • Dividend yield: 0.00% — it isn’t currently paying dividends, choosing instead to reinvest and grow.
    • Year-to-date return: -50.6%, a dramatic drop suggesting recent heavy selling or market disappointment.

    PEXA’s ambition and early mover advantage can be exciting, but there’s clear risk attached to momentum and profitability at this stage.

    The case for REA Group

    REA Group is best known as the operator of Australia’s leading property portals, realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au. These platforms dominate online real estate advertising, making REA essential for property sellers and advertisers nationwide. The group also owns mortgage broking and property data businesses, giving it a broad footprint across digital property services in Australia and select global markets.

    REA’s scale is on another level:

    • Market cap: $19.32 billion — this is a blue-chip business with massive reach and entrenched network effects.
    • P/E ratio: 28.92, less lofty than PEXA’s and reflecting far higher profit generation at this maturity stage.
    • EPS: $5.106 — showing strong earnings power compared to PEXA.
    • Dividend yield: 2.01% (fully franked at 100%) — with a reliable record of dividend growth, as seen in its consistent payment history.
    • Year-to-date return: -17.9%, which is a notable decline but less severe than PEXA’s drop.

    For those seeking established profitability, scale, and regular income, REA Group clearly ticks the boxes.

    Valuation comparison

    With both companies trading in the property tech space, let’s stack up three key metrics side-by-side:

    PEXA REA Group
    Market Cap $1.17 billion $19.32 billion
    P/E Ratio 60.86 28.92
    Dividend Yield 0.00% 2.01% (100% franked)
    EPS 0.109 5.106

    Note: PEXA Group Ltd’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

    The contrast is stark — REA Group trades on a much lower earnings multiple for the sector, pays a growing dividend, and generates stronger profits. PEXA carries a higher valuation multiple, reflecting big growth expectations rather than current earnings. For income-focused investors, REA also delivers with franked dividends.

    Recent share price performance

    Looking at recent share price history until 25 September 2026 — here’s how the two stack up:

    • PEXA: Closed at $6.64, down 2.2% on the day. Year-to-date, shares are down 50.6%.
    • REA Group: Closed at $147.66, down 2.9% on the day. Year-to-date, shares are down 17.9%.

    While both have suffered in 2026, PEXA’s sell-off has been much heavier, suggesting the market’s patience for its growth story is wearing thin—or that risk levels look substantially higher right now.

    Which is the better buy?

    If I had to choose between PEXA and REA Group based on the numbers above, my pick would be REA Group. Here’s why: it’s a clear industry leader with far stronger earnings, an attractive dividend that’s fully franked, and more reasonable valuation for its scale and recurring profit streams. REA is down in 2026, but not nearly as battered as PEXA, whose shares have been cut in half this year.

    PEXA does have an exciting platform and international ambitions, but the lack of dividend, a very high P/E ratio, and ongoing heavy share price declines make it a riskier bet. Unless I was explicitly seeking high-risk, early-stage tech exposure, I wouldn’t look past REA’s combination of stability, income, and dominant market share in the Australian property sector.

    The post PEXA vs REA shares: Which property tech company is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in PEXA Group right now?

    Before you buy PEXA Group 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 PEXA Group 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 Laura Stewart 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 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.

  • How much is needed in superannuation to target a $10,000 monthly passive income?

    Senior couple sledding in the snow.

    Superannuation is one of the best things about Australia’s retirement system. Both capital gains and passive income are taxed at a lower rate within superannuation compared to outside of superannuation for a full-time worker.

    Tax changes announced earlier this year have made non-superannuation investments less attractive – capital gains are going to be taxed more, negative gearing’s appeal is being reduced, and trust distributions are under the spotlight.

    With the lower tax rate during the accumulation phase and potentially a 0% tax rate in the retirement phase of superannuation (depending on the balance), it’s a very effective investment vehicle for people saving towards retirement and in retirement too.

    Tax makes a big difference for passive income because it’s the after-tax income figure that investors can use.

    Every household has a different tax position, so I’m not going to refer to tax for the rest of this article. Let’s talk about dividend yields.

    The power of a dividend yield

    Every investment that pays dividends comes with a dividend yield.

    A dividend yield tells us how much passive income an investment pays.

    The dividend yield is influenced by two factors.

    First, there’s the dividend payout ratio – how much of a business’ profit is paid out as a dividend. Obviously, the more they pay out, the bigger the dividend yield.

    The other factor is the valuation of the investment, which can often be measured by the price-earnings ratio (P/E) ratio. The more expensive an investment goes, the lower the dividend yield.

    Investors can then look at the different dividend yields and decide what investments to choose. Higher dividend yields aren’t necessarily better, but they do mean an investor can receive more passive income for the same portfolio balance.

    For example, someone with a $200,000 investment balance at a 3% dividend yield would have $6,000 in annual passive income. If that same person were invested in investments with a 5% dividend yield, it would be $10,000 of annual passive income. That’s 66% more income!

    Generate $10,000 of monthly passive income from superannuation

    To target $10,000 per month of income, we’re talking about an annual goal of $120,000. That’s a big goal, and would certainly unlock a pleasing retirement for whoever is receiving that level of money.

    Targeting $120,000 of annual passive income would require a sizeable portfolio. The actual size depends on the dividend yield.

    If the dividend yield was 3%, it would require a portfolio worth $4 million.

    If the dividend yield was 5%, it would require a portfolio worth $2.4 million.

    If the dividend yield was 7%, it would require a portfolio worth $1.71 million.

    If I were looking to invest for a 3% dividend yield, I’d think about ideas like Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

    Investments with a dividend yield of around 5% that I’m a fan of include L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF), APA Group (ASX: APA), and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

    Finally, potential investments with a 7% dividend yield I’d consider for high dividend yields in superannuation include MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), and Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL).

    Overall, there are some great investments to consider, and I’ve filled my portfolio with a mix of the above ASX shares, each with different dividend yields.

    The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $10,000 monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Telstra Group right now?

    Before you buy Telstra Group 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 Telstra Group 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 Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Global, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wcm Global Growth. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Mff Capital Investments, Telstra Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Ten happy friends leaping in the air outdoors.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) kicked off the trading week on a sunny note this Monday, recording a healthy rise that pushed up the value of many ASX shares.

    After a bumpy week last week, investors seemed to come back from the weekend with a bit of pep in their steps. The ASX 200 stayed in green territory all session, and ended up closing 0.17% higher today. That leaves the index at 8,679.7 points.

    This happy start to the week for the Australian markets followed an even bubblier close to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) put on a heck of a show, gaining 0.93%.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn’t quite as euphoric, but still managed a 0.48% rise.

    But let’s return to this week and our local markets now for a closer look at what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this Monday.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the broader market’s lift, there were still a few corners of the market that went backwards today.

    Leading those losers were gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was hit hard today, plunging 1.57%.

    Broader mining stocks weren’t much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking by 1.34%.

    Tech shares were also unlucky. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw its value cut by 0.74% today.

    Energy stocks weren’t finding buyers either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.22% dip.

    Industrial shares didn’t find much love. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slid 0.19% lower this session.

    We could say something similar for consumer discretionary stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) slipping 0.02%.

    That’s it for the losers, though.

    Turning to the green sectors now, it was healthcare shares that played the starring role today. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) saw a 1.49% surge this Monday.

    Utilities stocks ran hot as well, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 1.17% jump.

    Financial shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) had roared 1.16% higher by the closing bell.

    Consumer staples stocks didn’t miss out, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) vaulting up 0.83%.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) saw some comfortable gains, too. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) added 0.57% to its tally.

    Finally, communications shares slid home unscathed, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.32% bump.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Our top stock this Monday was gold miner Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST). Northern Star shares soared 56.15% higher this session to finish at $23.47 each.

    This came after news that the company was approached for a takeover.

    Here’s the rest of today’s best:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) $23.47 6.15%
    Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) $4.76 5.78%
    CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) $181.91 2.80%
    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) $19.06 2.69%
    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) $244.98 2.28%
    Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) $12.62 2.27%
    Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) $16.59 2.16%
    Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) $1.75 2.04%
    Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) $145.13 1.99%
    Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) $7.98 1.79%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Northern Star Resources right now?

    Before you buy Northern Star Resources 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 Northern Star Resources 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 Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Cochlear, Macquarie Group, and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.