• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

    Businesswoman working with laptop and documents in office, with virtual finance related graphs and charts.

    It was a busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released. 

    Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

    According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have initiated coverage on this cloud infrastructure provider’s shares with a buy rating and $27.00 price target. Bell Potter believes Megaport is exceptionally well-placed for growth over the coming years thanks to strategic contracts which are being rolled out this year. In fact, the broker believes that underlying EBITDA will grow from $77 million in FY 2026 to $329 million in FY 27 and then $726m in FY 2028. Importantly, it notes that all the capex required for the roll out of the strategic contracts is fully funded. Bell Potter also highlights that Megaport is trading on an FY 2028 EV/EBITDA multiple of around 7x, while the median multiple of the domestic comps is around 15x and international comps is around 11x (based on 2027 forecasts). The Megaport share price ended the week at $22.34.

    Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

    A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $3.04 price target on this global investments company’s shares. The broker notes that Navigator Global has agreed to sell a stake in Invictus Capital Partners to New York Life Investment Management. It points out that the sale crystallises a premium of up to ~8% to cost on the initial 12.7% stake, while the company keeps its carry and future upside through a residual 8.3% stake. The good news is management believes the retained stake could be worth meaningfully more, on a pro-rata basis, when it is transferred in 2031, helped by the New York Life Investment Management partnership. In Morgans’ view, the sale shows the optionality and embedded value in its portfolio. The Navigator Global share price was fetching $2.30 at Friday’s close.

    Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

    Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this investment platform provider’s shares with a reduced price target of $25.00. The broker has updated its model to reflect equity market movements and commentary on net flow expectations. Bell Potter believes that consensus forecasts are too high. It notes that they imply that net inflows would be run rating at the upper end of the $18 billion to $20 billion guidance range during the final six weeks of the first quarter despite equity markets weakening. Nevertheless, the broker remains positive and sees value in its shares at current levels. As a result, it thinks investors should be buying the dip. The Netwealth share price ended the week at $17.21.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Megaport right now?

    Before you buy Megaport 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 Megaport 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 James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • How much superannuation do I need to earn $56,000 per year in passive income?

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    The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) calculates that a comfortable retirement will cost single Australians approximately $56,166 per year.

    To fund that, the association assumes that a single retiree will need a superannuation balance of at least $630,000.

    That’s the minimum amount you’ll need to have stashed away to be able to afford the retirement lifestyle you want.

    But what if you didn’t live off your superannuation balance at all?

    Instead of steadily drawing down on your superannuation capital to cover retirement lifestyle expenses, what if you could earn enough passive income to cover your living expenses?

    This would let your superannuation balance keep compounding. Instead, you’d live solely off the income it generated.

    It’s very possible.

    Here’s how it could work.

    How much superannuation do I need to generate $56,000 per year in passive income?

    The calculation is relatively straightforward. You’ll need to divide your annual passive income by the overall dividend yield of your investment portfolio.

    The tricky part is that the answer varies depending on what that dividend yield is.

    Generally, as the dividend yield of your portfolio increases, the superannuation balance you need to earn the same passive income goes down.

    It means, for example, that a portfolio yielding around 6% only needs to be half the size of one with a dividend yield of around 3% to generate the same level of passive income.

    How much do I need if my portfolio yields, 4% to 6%?

    If your overall portfolio has a dividend yield of 4%, you’ll need a superannuation balance of around $1.4 million. That’s because $56,000 ÷ 4% = $1.4 million.

    If your portfolio yield is a little higher, at around 5%, your balance will need to be closer to $1.12 million to earn the same amount.

    Raise that to 6% and you’ll need around $934,000 to earn $56,000 per year in passive income.

    Remember that not every ASX share in your portfolio needs to yield the same amount. What matters is the overall dividend yield of your portfolio.

    Ideally, you want to buy shares with various yields to hedge against volatility and protect your portfolio from fluctuating prices.

    You don’t need to invest the whole sum in one go. Start with regular monthly investments and let compounding do some of the hard work for you.

    What ASX shares pay a dividend yield between 4% and 6%?

    Several options are available at this level, but here are my top picks.

    Large blue-chip companies like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) pay around the 4-6% level.

    Elsewhere, defensive shares like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG), AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL), or Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC) are another solid choice for income-seeking investors. These picks could be particularly advantageous in the current environment, marked by rising inflation and heightened volatility.

    The post How much superannuation do I need to earn $56,000 per year in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Agl Energy right now?

    Before you buy Agl Energy 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 Agl Energy 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 Samantha Menzies has positions in BHP Group. 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 Amcor Plc and Telstra Group. 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.

  • Tech shares shine while ASX 200 plunges to 4-month low

    Technology written in orange in tech sector financial diagram.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tech shares led the 11 market sectors with an impressive 7.34% increase last week.

    Meanwhile, the benchmark index edged 0.2% higher to close at 8,682.1 points on Friday.

    ASX 200 tech shares were the surprise performer during a topsy-turvy week for the local bourse.

    Tech shares are recovering from a 48% drop between 29 August 2025 and 30 March due to fears over artificial intelligence (AI).

    Since then, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has rallied 15% versus a 3% lift for the benchmark.

    A changing of the guard helped push the tech sector higher amid turbulent trading on the ASX 200.

    Communications and metals detection designer and manufacturer Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) overtook logistics software provider WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) as the sector’s largest company by market capitalisation after a trading update last week.

    Meanwhile, the ASX 200 had its worst one-day fall in six months on Thursday amid concerns over rising interest rates and bond yields trading at close to multi-decade highs.

    The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the official cash rate by 0.25% to 4.6% on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury bond yield was 5.24% and Australia’s was 5.33% on Friday.

    Six of the 11 ASX 200 market sectors finished in the green last week.

    Let’s review.

    ASX 200 tech shares led the market sectors last week

    Let’s take a look at how the biggest ASX 200 tech shares by market cap performed last week.

    The Codan share price soared 29.09% to close at $67.45 on Friday after a trading update.

    Codan’s market valuation is now $12.3 billion.

    The WiseTech share price ascended 6.7% to close at $33.43 with a valuation of $10.5 billion.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares rose 4.2% to $30.52 apiece.

    The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price edged 0.85% higher to $57.85.

    The Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price fell 4.19% to $10.74.

    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares soared 13.86% to $22.34 on news of $1 billion in new AI infrastructure contracts.

    The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price rose 5.59% to $20.40.

    The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price lifted 2.67% to $15.40 apiece.

    The Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) share price soared 22.61% to $13.61 on the back of a trading update.

    The Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS) share price rose 0.96% to $3.15.

    ASX 200 market sector snapshot

    Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

    Over the five trading days:

    S&P/ASX 200 market sector Change last week
    Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) 7.34%
    Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) 2.64%
    Communication (ASX: XTJ) 1.81%
    Utilities (ASX: XUJ) 0.64%
    Industrials (ASX: XNJ) 0.47%
    Financials (ASX: XFJ) 0.15%
    A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) (0.19%)
    Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) (0.2%)
    Materials (ASX: XMJ) (0.45%)
    Energy (ASX: XEJ) (1%)
    Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) (1.21%)

    The post Tech shares shine while ASX 200 plunges to 4-month low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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    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 positions in and has recommended Bravura Solutions, Life360, Megaport, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data, Life360, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Data#3. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.