A stock can crash 66% and still not be a bargain. That’s the trap staring down anyone eyeing WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares right now.

The numbers are brutal: down 24% for the month, 52% year to date, and 66% over 12 months. That kind of collapse makes any stock look tempting. But don’t confuse cheap with fixed and that’s exactly the confusion WiseTech needs investors to avoid.

The logistics software giant has been through a bruising stretch, with governance and leadership concerns gutting investor confidence. The price of WiseTech shares has already taken its beating. Now comes the harder part: proving the business actually deserves that confidence back.

Here are three things investors should be watching.

Make governance boring again

For WiseTech, boring would be the best possible outcome right now.

The company needs to show its governance, board oversight and leadership structures can function without constantly becoming the headline. Why does this matter so much? Because investors in WiseTech shares aren’t just paying for today’s earnings, they’re paying for confidence in tomorrow’s earnings.

AFP investigations into founder Richard White. An ACCC search warrant executed on the company. ASIC and AFP raiding WiseTech’s HQ in late October 2025. If governance drama keeps stealing the spotlight, the market will keep applying a discount, no matter how good CargoWise looks on paper.

WiseTech needs investors talking about its software again, not its boardroom.

Let CargoWise do the talking

This is WiseTech’s real opportunity, and it’s a genuine one.

CargoWise sits at the heart of the investment case for WiseTech shares. Its software is so deeply embedded in customers’ logistics operations that switching becomes a genuine headache — a real competitive moat.

But here’s the catch: investors aren’t buying a moat. They’re buying future cash flows. That means WiseTech has to keep proving CargoWise can convert its dominant position into sustainable revenue and earnings growth. Watch customer adoption, revenue growth, margins and cash generation like a hawk.

The best response to scepticism isn’t another promise. It’s another strong result.

Earn back the benefit of the doubt

This might be the hardest test of all.

Once trust is broken, management doesn’t get the easy pass anymore. The fix isn’t complicated, but it takes time. Set expectations, meet them, communicate clearly, execute consistently. Repeat.

WiseTech doesn’t need fireworks. It needs predictability. Say something, then do it. That’s progress. Turn strategy into measurable results. That’s progress. Keep governance out of the headlines. That’s progress.

Stack enough of those wins together, and confidence in WiseTech shares starts to rebuild on its own.

Don’t mistake a rebound for a turnaround

That’s the line investors need to hold. A stock can bounce without the underlying business actually being repaired. WiseTech has to prove something more durable is happening. Fix governance, keep CargoWise growing, rebuild credibility.

If those three pieces click into place, investors will have a real reason to reassess. But the order matters: proof comes first, confidence comes second, and only then does a genuine rebound of WiseTech shares become easy to justify.

WiseTech doesn’t need investors to believe in a comeback story. It needs to earn the right to tell one.

The post WiseTech shares need more than a rebound. 3 things it must prove first appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have staged a remarkable recovery since plumbing a multi-year closing low of just $92.24 on 3 June.

How remarkable?

Well, in mid-day trade on Tuesday, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech giant were trading for $180.17 apiece. This sees the CSL share price up 95.3% in less than four months. That compares to a 0.4% loss posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And this doesn’t include the unfranked $2.244 a share final CSL dividend. While that passive income payout won’t be made until 2 October, CSL stock traded ex-dividend on 9 September.

If we add that back into Tuesday’s share price, then the accumulated value of CSL shares has soared 97.8% since the 3 June lows.

CSL trades on an unfranked 2.3% trailing dividend yield.

But following this meteoric recovery, and noting that CSL stock remains down more than 43% since August 2024, is the Aussie biotech company still a good buy today?

CSL shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recently ran his slide rule over the ASX biotech giant (courtesy of The Bull).

“The CSL share price has partially recovered after the company posted a brighter outlook at its 2026 full year results,” he noted.

“A promising sign was profit growth guidance in full year 2027, driven by the core blood plasma business,” he added.

Connecting the dots, Evans issued a hold recommendation on CSL shares for now.

He concluded:

This guidance should provide the market with confidence about CSL’s brighter future after a difficult period. There’s potential value in the stock, particularly if CSL achieves guidance and growth recovers.

What’s been sending the ASX 200 biotech stock soaring?

CSL reported its full year FY 2026 results on 18 August.

Although revenue declined 1% from FY 2025, and CSL reported net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion, investors were more focused on the company’s profit growth guidance that Evans mentioned above.

For the full year FY 2027, management forecast steady revenue and underlying NPAT growth of approximately 5%.

“FY26 has been a year of reset. We have taken decisive action and created a clear path to return to sustainable growth,” CSL interim CEO Gordon Naylor said on the day.

Naylor added:

We have made solid progress on our transformation program and continue to simplify the business. We have also invested in our commercial capabilities and development programs to drive top line growth in the future.

CSL shares closed up 17.3% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 98%: Are CSL shares now a buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Insurance Australia Group vs QBE Insurance Group shares

When it comes to hunting for passive income from the ASX, investors often weigh up Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE). Both are heavyweight insurers, but their investment case, size, and income prospects do show some key differences. If you’re deciding between IAG and QBE shares, especially with income in mind, here’s how I see the strengths and weaknesses stack up.

The case for Insurance Australia Group

IAG is the largest general insurer in Australia and New Zealand, with a long history rooted in NRMA Insurance and an impressive portfolio focused on home and motor cover. In FY26, IAG underwrote over $18.4 billion in premiums across well-known brands.

Some highlights that stand out for me:

• Dividend Yield: The latest reported yield is 4.00%.
• Dividend History: IAG has reliably paid dividends for decades, although franking levels have fluctuated dramatically over time. In recent years, franking has become partial, with 25% franking for the most recent payout.
• Market Cap and Stability: Backed by a substantial $18.73 billion market cap, IAG offers size and proven market leadership.

However, I have noticed IAG’s dividend per share (0.32) trails QBE’s, and the relatively modest franking may reduce its tax effectiveness for some Australian income seekers.

The case for QBE Insurance Group

QBE Insurance Group is a genuinely global insurer and re-insurer, with a much broader international footprint than IAG. Established in the late 19th century, QBE now serves institutions, corporates, and individuals in over two dozen countries.

Here’s what jumps out from QBE’s numbers:

• Dividend Yield: QBE’s current yield is 4.75% – a solid edge over IAG.
• Dividend Per Share: QBE’s annual dividend per share (1.11) is well above IAG’s (0.32).
• Recent Momentum: A standout 23.2% year-to-date return signals strong recent market support.
• P/E Ratio: At 11.66, QBE’s P/E sits comfortably lower than IAG’s, which may hint at relative value – both operate in the same sector so this is a fair, like-for-like comparison.
• Franking: Recent QBE dividends have seen only partial franking, generally in the 10%–30% range, which remains low compared to historical fully-franked periods.

QBE’s ability to generate much higher earnings per share (1.422) also underpins its more generous payouts.

Valuation comparison

Since both companies sit squarely in the insurance sector, their fundamentals can be sensibly compared. Here’s how a few critical numbers stack up:

Metric	IAG	QBE
Market Cap	$18.73bn	$34.95bn
P/E Ratio	18.71	11.66
Dividend Yield	4.00%	4.75%
Dividend per Share	0.32	1.11
Franking % (recent dividend)	25%	30%
Earnings per Share	0.428	1.422

Note: Both companies’ P/E ratios and EPS appear mathematically consistent in the data provided.

The gap in P/E is particularly interesting: QBE looks relatively lower-valued, while offering a higher income payout. Both are only partially franked, which is worth considering if tax efficiency is a priority.

Recent share price performance

Comparing 21 August 2026 to 18 September 2026:

• IAG: Over this span, IAG dropped from $7.87 on 21 August to $8.01 on 18 September, with some volatility, including a notable one-day 5.46% jump on 2 September. The year to date return is a modest 4.4%.
• QBE: QBE climbed from $22.40 on 21 August to $23.39 on 18 September. Over this short window, the share price mostly edged higher, echoing QBE’s strong 23.2% year-to-date return.

In short, QBE’s shares have outperformed IAG not only year to date, but also over the most recent one-month stretch in the data.

Which is the better buy?

Chasing passive income, my pick would be QBE Insurance Group. QBE edges out IAG on yield (4.75% vs 4.00%), has a noticeably higher dividend per share, and sports a lower P/E ratio paired with much higher earnings per share – all positive signs for income-oriented investors. While both offer only partial franking, QBE’s slightly higher franking on the last declared dividends doesn’t close the gap, but the sheer scale of QBE’s distribution makes it more attractive to me.

Add to this QBE’s far stronger share price performance both in the short term and year to date, and I think it tips the balance for those focused on total returns as well as cash flow. IAG remains a quality, defensive blue-chip, but for pure passive income, QBE looks a step ahead in the current climate.

The post Insurance Australia Group vs QBE Insurance: Which is best for income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Down 6%: What is going on with the IAG share price?
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
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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.