The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price is in focus today after the company confirmed it has ended talks concerning a possible acquisition of Greencross Pet Wellness Company. Coles says it regularly assesses strategic opportunities, but has chosen not to progress with this particular deal.

What did Coles report?

• Coles Group has ceased discussions with TPG Capital about acquiring Greencross Pet Wellness Company.
• No terms or financial details were finalised or disclosed as talks have concluded.
• Coles reconfirms its ongoing disciplined approach to potential acquisitions and strategic growth opportunities.
• The company remains one of Australia’s leading supermarket and retail groups.

What else do investors need to know?

Coles originally announced the talks with Greencross on 1 July 2026. With the discussions now closed, no further negotiations or due diligence will take place regarding this acquisition. Investors will now be looking to see what other strategic moves, if any, Coles may pursue in the future.

Coles has emphasised its careful and methodical approach to mergers and acquisitions. This signals to shareholders that while the company remains open to growth opportunities, it will not proceed with deals unless they align with its broader strategic priorities.

What’s next for Coles?

Looking ahead, Coles is expected to continue reviewing potential partnerships or acquisitions that could complement its core supermarket and retail operations. Management’s decision to step back demonstrates discipline and a focus on protecting shareholder value.

The company has not signalled any immediate alternative acquisitions. Investors should watch for future company updates regarding growth initiatives or developments in its existing business portfolio.

Coles Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Coles shares have risen 10%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

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The post Coles ends talks for Greencross acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 summary of the company announcement. 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.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares jumped almost 10% higher on Thursday, closing the day at $1.90 a piece.

The impressive daily increase came off the back of a positive first-half earnings update out of the company on Thursday morning.

The financial services company said in a statement to the ASX that it expects underlying net profit to come in at $170 to $180 million. This is significantly higher than the $131 million reported for the same period last year. Investors rushed to snap up the stock, sending the share price flying.

The news isn’t the only tailwind AMP shares have enjoyed over the past couple of months. 

After crashing to an annual low in mid-March, the stock has slowly but steadily recovered the losses shed. At the time of writing, the shares have now rebounded 64% from their low, and are now up around 4% for the year-to-date.

Why have AMP shares rebounded from their low?

AMP shares crashed around 26% in February after it posted a disappointing FY25 result. It came in far below expectations, and investors were disgruntled.

Ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns about Australia’s inflation data rate also weighed heavily on financial shares throughout the first half of the year.

Later in April, AMP’s first-quarter update was a little more positive. The company reported 45% growth in Platforms’ net cash flows and improved Superannuation & Investments (S&I) net cash outflows in April. The result proved that business growth is underway and revealed momentum across several key divisions. 

Investors were happy with the results and some confidence was restored. Now it looks like investors have become increasingly confident that the company’s turnaround can translate into a better financial performance and improved shareholder returns.

AMP has also benefited from renewed expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia will start to ease interest rates. Lower interest rate expectations generally boost sentiment for financial stocks like AMP. 

Are they a buy, sell or hold now?

The experts are mostly bullish on the outlook for AMP shares over the next 12 months. But after Thursday’s huge share price spike, it’s unclear exactly what upside we can expect next.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a buy rating on AMP shares. The $1.79 average target price, however, now implies a potential 2% downside ahead.

TradingView data shows something very similar. The majority (six out of 10) have a buy or strong buy rating on AMP shares. Another three rate the stock as a hold.

The average $1.82 target price now implies a potential 4% downside ahead. Although some think that the shares have the potential to climb another 3% higher to $1.95 a piece.

I expect that after yesterday’s news, and share price surge, we may see a flurry of brokers and analysts revise their expectations for AMP shares in coming days.

The post AMP shares rebound 64%: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

A self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) gives investors the freedom to shape their retirement portfolio around their own goals.

For money that may stay invested for decades, I would want a combination of dependable earnings, growing dividends, and exposure to businesses that could look much larger in the future.

These are three ASX 200 shares I would consider.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA is rarely the cheapest major bank, yet it remains the one I would feel most comfortable owning for the long term.

The bank is woven into the financial lives of millions of Australians. Customers use it to receive wages, pay bills, save money, buy homes, operate businesses, and invest. Those relationships create a strong franchise.

CBA also keeps investing in its digital platform, payments, fraud prevention, and customer experience. I think that spending can help the bank protect its market position as financial services become increasingly digital.

Its fully franked dividends could provide income inside an SMSF, while its exposure to lending, deposits, and household finances gives shareholders a direct connection to the Australian economy.

The premium valuation deserves attention, and banking conditions will shift over time. Even so, I think CBA has the financial strength and customer loyalty to remain a leading ASX business for many years.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles would bring a more defensive source of earnings to the SMSF.

Households can delay buying furniture, electronics, or a new car when money becomes tight. Grocery spending is much harder to avoid.

That regular demand gives Coles a strong starting point, although the company still needs to compete hard on price, availability, convenience, and customer trust.

I like the work Coles has been doing across online shopping, loyalty, distribution, and automated fulfilment. These investments can help the supermarket serve customers more efficiently while supporting growth beyond simply opening more stores.

The Flybuys ecosystem also gives Coles greater insight into shopping habits and another way to strengthen customer relationships.

Margins in supermarkets are relatively thin, and competition from Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Aldi, and other retailers will remain intense. Cost inflation and political scrutiny can also create pressure.

Nevertheless, for an SMSF, I think Coles offers a compelling blend of defensive demand, dividends, and measured long-term growth.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The final ASX 200 share would give the portfolio a stronger growth engine.

NextDC develops and operates data centres, which provide the physical infrastructure behind cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, streaming, and digital payments.

The digital economy may feel invisible, but it still needs buildings, electricity, cooling systems, secure connections, and enormous computing capacity.

NextDC is investing heavily to meet that demand across Australia and overseas. Its expansion requires substantial capital, and returns can take time to appear as new capacity is developed and contracted.

That creates risks around funding, project execution, customer concentration, and the timing of revenue. It also means the shares may be much more volatile than CBA or Coles.

I would keep the position measured, but I think an SMSF with a long horizon can afford to own some businesses whose strongest earnings may still lie well ahead.

Foolish takeaway

I would want an SMSF portfolio to keep working through several stages of retirement planning.

Income becomes increasingly attractive as retirement approaches, while growth can help the portfolio keep pace with rising living costs and support larger dividends later.

CBA and Coles could provide a steadier earnings base, while NextDC offers exposure to infrastructure supporting a rapidly expanding digital economy.

I think that combination could give an SMSF enough resilience for uncertain periods and enough ambition to keep growing over the long term.

The post 3 top ASX 200 shares I’d buy for a self-managed superannuation fund appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Woolworths, Wesfarmers shares
• 3 amazing ASX ETFs I’d buy this month
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How many CBA shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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.