Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL) share price is in focus today after it lifted its expected FY26 underlying net profit after tax to around $46 million, beating its May forecast. The company also reported a stronger year-end net debt position than anticipated.

What did Tourism Holdings report?

• FY26 underlying net profit after tax (uNPAT) from continuing operations now expected to be ~$46 million (up from previous guidance of $40–$43 million)
• Net debt at 30 June 2026 was $436 million (below previous forecast of $460–$470 million)
• Normalised net debt averaged $453 million over the last month of FY26
• Strong late booking trends and robust vehicle sales in New Zealand drove the improved result

What else do investors need to know?

Tourism Holdings noted favourable year-end interest outcomes and better-than-expected vehicle sales contributed to the upgraded profit forecast. The company also highlighted strong booking momentum across all key regions.

Notably, North America bookings are tracking well ahead of last year, with recent US bookings more than 50% higher. Australia and New Zealand forward bookings have also bounced back after earlier disruptions linked to Middle East geopolitical events.

Tourism Holdings will release its full audited FY26 results and Integrated Report on 25 August 2026.

What’s next for Tourism Holdings?

Management says forward booking trends remain positive, especially in North America where growth rates are strong. With Australia and New Zealand recovering from recent disruptions, Tourism Holdings is increasingly confident about the FY27 Southern Hemisphere summer.

The company sees improved opportunities for growth in both Australia and New Zealand. Investors will be watching the August results for further detail on strategy and outlook.

Tourism Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tourism Holdings shares have risen 23%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the sam period.

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The post Tourism Holdings ups FY26 guidance as bookings surge 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.

The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is in focus today after the company announced that CEO Shemara Wikramanayake will retire in November 2026, with Greg Ward named as her successor. The board thanked Wikramanayake for her transformative eight-year tenure and highlighted Macquarie’s ongoing strong business performance.

What did Macquarie Group report?

• Shemara Wikramanayake retiring as CEO effective 6 November 2026
• Greg Ward, current Head of Banking and Financial Services, to become CEO effective 7 November 2026
• Ongoing strong performance across Macquarie’s diverse businesses
• Succession plan subject to necessary approvals

What else do investors need to know?

The announcement marks a major leadership change for Macquarie Group after nearly a decade under Wikramanayake’s leadership and almost 40 years of her service overall. The board credited her with driving Macquarie’s expansion into new markets and enhancing the group’s global brand and client impact, including navigating through the COVID pandemic.

Greg Ward brings vast experience to the role, having served as Macquarie’s Global CFO and Deputy Managing Director before becoming Head of Banking and Financial Services. Under his stewardship, the division grew to become a key player in Australian personal banking, business banking, and wealth management.

What did Macquarie Group management say?

Mr Greg Ward said:

I’m honoured to be asked by the Board to succeed Shemara as Macquarie CEO. Shemara leaves Macquarie incredibly well positioned, with each of our businesses performing strongly. I look forward to working with the Board, management and our entire Macquarie team to build on Shemara’s legacy for the benefit of all of our stakeholders.

What’s next for Macquarie Group?

The board has expressed confidence in a smooth leadership transition as Macquarie enters its next phase. With Ward at the helm, the focus is expected to remain on sustained performance and innovation across all business units.

Investors can anticipate strategic continuity, with Ward’s deep knowledge of the business and commitment to Macquarie’s culture aiming to support growth and deliver long‑term value.

Macquarie Group share price snapshot

Macquarie Group shares have outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months. During this time, the investment bank’s shares have risen around 13%, while the ASX 200 is up 1%.

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The post Macquarie Group announces new CEO as Shemara Wikramanayake prepares to retire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie 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 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.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can make it much easier to invest in global companies from Australia.

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) has become a popular choice for investors seeking long-term growth.

But does it deserve a place in a portfolio today?

What does the NDQ ETF own?

The NDQ ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq market.

Its holdings include businesses such as NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla.

These companies sit behind many of the products and services people and businesses now rely on every day. The portfolio reaches across semiconductors, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, online shopping, digital advertising, streaming, software, and consumer technology.

I think that gives the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF a good chance of benefiting as more economic activity moves online and companies keep investing in technology.

The index also changes over time. Companies that grow can become more influential, while businesses that lose ground can shrink within the portfolio or eventually leave it.

That allows investors to back the Nasdaq’s future leaders without needing to identify each winner in advance.

Why I like the long-term opportunity

Technology spending is becoming part of almost every industry.

Banks want better fraud detection, manufacturers want greater automation, healthcare providers need improved data systems, retailers want to understand customers more clearly, while companies across the economy are investing in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure.

Many of the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF’s holdings provide the chips, software, platforms, and digital services supporting that investment.

The companies in the index also tend to have substantial global reach. Their growth is rarely limited to the US economy because they sell products and services to customers around the world.

That combination of innovation, scale, and global demand makes the ETF attractive to me as a long-term growth investment.

What should investors consider?

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is more concentrated than a broad global ETF.

Technology companies account for a large part of the portfolio, and several enormous businesses carry significant index weight. A difficult period for technology shares could therefore cause the ETF to fall sharply.

Valuation also deserves attention. Investors often pay high earnings multiples for companies expected to grow quickly. Those share prices can react badly when earnings disappoint or interest rate expectations change.

Australian investors also face currency movements because the ETF is unhedged. A stronger Australian dollar can reduce returns from US holdings when translated back into Australian dollars, while a weaker dollar can lift them.

The management fee and costs are currently 0.48% per annum. That is higher than some broad-market ETFs, although I think the focused exposure could justify the cost for investors who specifically want the Nasdaq 100.

I would hold the fund alongside other investments rather than rely on it as an entire portfolio.

My verdict

I think investing in the NDQ ETF is a good idea for investors with a long time horizon and enough tolerance for volatility.

The fund provides access to companies that could remain central to how the global economy develops over the next decade.

There will be periods when technology sentiment weakens and the ETF falls heavily. I would see those declines as part of owning a growth-focused investment.

Foolish takeaway

The NDQ ETF gives ASX investors a straightforward way to own many of the world’s leading technology and consumer businesses.

Its concentration means the journey could be volatile, and I would balance it with broader Australian and international exposure.

For investors who can remain patient through market swings, I think the NDQ ETF is a strong long-term buy.

The post Is it a good idea to invest in the NDQ ETF? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.