Author: openjargon

It has been a brutal year for these two ASX tech stocks who have lost more than half of their market value over the past year. 

Two of the ASX’s former market darlings — WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) — have endured savage share price declines.

At the time of writing, WiseTech shares are down 21% over the past month, 53% in 2026, and around 70% over the past year. Xero hasn’t fared much better. Its shares have fallen 20% over the past month, 38% year to date, and 61% over the past 12 months.

After such a dramatic sell-off, are brokers starting to see value?

WiseTech: Governance overshadows a quality business

The problems of this ASX tech stock haven’t stemmed from weakening demand. Its CargoWise software remains one of the world’s leading logistics platforms, used by freight forwarders, customs brokers, and global supply chain operators.

Instead, the market has become increasingly concerned about governance issues surrounding founder and executive chairman Richard White. The controversy first emerged late last year and has continued to weigh heavily on investor confidence.

Markets dislike uncertainty, particularly when it involves senior leadership. As governance concerns dominated headlines, investors steadily reduced the valuation they were willing to pay, regardless of the company’s operational performance.

Yet the underlying business continues to perform well. CargoWise keeps winning customers globally, recurring revenue remains strong, and the company still enjoys high switching costs that create a powerful competitive moat.

Stuart Bromley, investment adviser at Medallion Financial Group, believes those strengths remain intact.

Despite ongoing management and governance scrutiny, WiseTech remains one of Australia’s highest quality technology businesses with a dominant position in global logistics software, The company’s CargoWise platform continues to gain market share globally. In our view, WTC offers a substantial long-term growth opportunity. While near-term sentiment may remain volatile, we believe the quality of the underlying business warrants a hold rating amid management executing its long-term strategy.

Bell Potter continues to rate the stock as a buy, although it has lowered its 12-month price target from $78.75 to $71.75. Based on the current share price of $32.01, this still implies potential upside of around 124%.

Xero: Higher rates hit valuations

Xero’s challenges have been very different. Rather than governance concerns, investors have been worried about rising interest rates and their impact on high-growth software valuations. Higher rates reduce the present value of future earnings, putting pressure on technology companies that trade on premium multiples.

Artificial intelligence has added another layer of uncertainty, with some investors questioning how rapidly AI could reshape accounting software.

However, the business itself continues to impress. In its latest result, Xero delivered strong customer growth, rising recurring revenue, and increasing average revenue per user. The company now serves almost five million subscribers worldwide, while annualised recurring revenue continues to grow at an impressive pace.

That operational momentum has encouraged brokers. Morgans recently reaffirmed its buy recommendation with a price target of $111 per share, suggesting a 57% upside over the next 12 months.

The post These ASX tech stocks have lost billions. Buy the dip or stay away? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares down at least 50% in FY26
• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027
• Down 70%, is now the time to finally buy WiseTech shares?
• 3 ASX tech stocks tipped to rocket higher in FY27
• Xero shares are down 60%, is it time to buy, hold or sell?

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

The Age Pension is a fortnightly sum paid to Australians aged 67 years or over. It’s one of Australia’s most important safety nets which ensures Australians have a minimum income in retirement if their superannuation isn’t enough.

The catch is that it isn’t available to everyone. Your eligibility depends on your age, income and your assets and the amount you get can vary significantly.

But the question many Australians approaching retirement ask is: What about my superannuation balance? Does that affect my Age Pension eligibility?

Lets break it down, with everything you need to know about your super and the Age Pension.

Age limit and maximum payment

The Age Pension is available only to Australians aged 67 years and older.

It is paid on a fortnightly basis up to a maximum total payment of $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles and $1,810.40 for couples combined. 

These sums include the maximum basic rate, the maximum pension supplement, and the energy supplement.

As I mentioned above, the final amount you’ll receive (if anything) is heavily dependent on Centerlink’s income and asset test. 

And these also include your superannuation.

Yes your superannuation affects your Age Pension eligibility: Here’s how

The income test assesses all of your income, pooled from all sources. That includes anything from superannuation income, investment income, part-time wages, bonuses, or commission payments. It’s applicable regardless of your age. 

According to Services Australia, assessable income includes but is not limited to reportable super contributions and from any funds invested in superannuation if you’ve reached Age Pension age, or any funds that are invested in a super pension fund or income stream, regardless of age. 

The asset test includes everything you own in full, in part, or have an interest in, but excludes the home you live in. Again, this includes your superannuation balance (as an asset). 

To ensure the system is fair, Centrelink assesses you under both tests and applies what it calls the ‘lower rule of two’. This means your potential fortnightly Age Pension is calculated under both tests, and the one that results in the lower payment is the amount you will actually receive.

What are the rules for the Age Pension income test?

In order to receive the full Age Pension, single Australians (as of the 1st of July) can earn a total of $226 per fortnight, while couples can earn up to $396 per fortnight from all pooled sources, including and superannuation income.

But it’s still possible to receive a part pension if you earn over those thresholds. 

From the 1st of July, singles can earn up to $2,627.80 per fortnight. Couples (living together) can earn up to $4,016.80 per fortnight and still qualify for at least a part-Age Pension. 

But, it’s important to note that your income is assessed on a sliding scale.

For a single person, your Age Pension will reduce by 50 cents for each dollar over $226. For couples it will reduce by 25 cents for each dollar over $396.

It means that the more you earn, the lower your Age Pension payment will be, until it reaches zero.

What are the rules for the Age Pension asset test?

In order to receive the full Age Pension, from the 1st of July, single homeowners can own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $333,000. For non-homeowners, this will be up to $600,000.

But a couple has a different threshold, and it’s not double the amount of one person. From the 1st of July, a couple combined can own up to $499,000 in total if they own a property, or $766,000 if they don’t.

But like the income test, it’s also possible to get a part-payment if you’re over those thresholds.

From the 1st of July, if your assets are less than $733,500 if you’re a single homeowner, and $1,000,500 if you’re a non-homeowner, you are still entitled to some level of payment.

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment so long as their combined assets aren’t more than $1,102,500 for homeowners. Non-homeowners can own assets totalling up to $1,369,500.

The post Does my superannuation affect my Age Pension eligibility? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Emerald Resources locks in major mining deals at Dingo Range, Okvau
• Genesis Minerals: FY26 guidance met and growth projects advance
• Meridian Energy gets green light to expand Lake PÅ«kaki storage

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.

Although the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) edged higher in FY 2026, it was a bruising year for a number of former market favourites.

For example, three ASX shares that fell 50% or more during the last financial year are named below. Here’s why they were sold off:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear shares were hammered in FY 2026, falling around 60% over the 12 months.

The biggest blow arguably came in April, when the hearing implant leader cut its earnings guidance.

Cochlear said trading conditions for cochlear implants in developed markets had been softer than expected since January. Management pointed to hospital capacity constraints, reduced referral activity from the hearing aid channel, weaker consumer sentiment in key markets, and uncertainty from the Middle East conflict.

That was a damaging update because Cochlear has long been viewed as a high-quality healthcare compounder. Investors had been prepared to pay a premium for reliability, market leadership, and long-term growth in hearing implants.

When the company reduced its underlying net profit guidance to between $290 million and $330 million, that premium was quickly reassessed.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL was another healthcare giant that had a dreadful FY 2026, with its shares crashing around 50%.

The biotechnology company suffered from a painful reset in expectations. In October, CSL downgraded its outlook after weaker US flu vaccination rates hurt its Seqirus vaccines business. It also delayed the planned spin-off of Seqirus, which had been expected to help simplify the company.

The pressure continued in February when the company reported a weak half-year result and announced the sudden exit of chief executive Paul McKenzie.

Then in May, CSL cut its FY 2026 guidance again following a review by interim CEO Gordon Naylor. It pointed to issues including US immunoglobulin inventory normalisation, lower albumin market value in China, slower growth from HEMGENIX, competition in iron products, and additional asset impairments.

CSL also faced tariff uncertainty during the year, although the company later indicated that most of its US product sales were not expected to be subject to the new tariffs.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech Global shares had an even rougher FY 2026, falling around 70% over the period.

The logistics software company continued its growth, but the market became increasingly uncomfortable with governance uncertainty, concerns over its transition to a new pricing and sales model, and questions about potential artificial intelligence disruption.

At the same time, WiseTech was dealing with a more demanding market for expensive technology shares. Investors were unwilling to pay a premium for ASX tech stocks and de-rated them to some of the lowest multiples that have been seen in years.

The post 3 ASX shares down at least 50% in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $5,500 per month in passive income?
• Down 70%, is now the time to finally buy WiseTech shares?
• Where I’d invest $20,000 into ASX 200 shares this month
• CSL shares are up 25%: is it time to buy, hold or sell?

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

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:

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $110.00 price target on this investment platform provider’s shares. The broker highlights that despite early weakness, global equity markets recovered and posted outsized returns for the June quarter. In light of this, Bell Potter has upgraded its model to reflect strong positive mark-to-markets. Outside this, the broker believes that a heavy decline since its November peak, despite earnings upgrades and further positive adjustments yet to flow through, has created a buying opportunity for investors. The Hub24 share price ended the week at $81.04.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $29.70 price target on this gold miner’s shares. The broker was pleased with Northern Star’s quarterly update, which revealed gold sales comfortably ahead of expectations during the fourth quarter. It notes that this helped take Northern Star’s gold sales beyond its revised guidance for FY 2026. As a result of this strong performance, Citi continues to see plenty of value in the company’s shares at current levels. The Northern Star share price was fetching $22.16 at Friday’s close.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their buy rating and $41.72 price target on this sleep disorder treatment company’s shares. According to the note, the broker highlights that ResMed’s shares have de-rated to just 16 times forward earnings. This is its lowest valuation in over a decade and comes despite the market continuing to forecast double-digit earnings per share growth. And while there are risks from GLP-1 therapies, an oral OSA therapy, and the potential re-entry of a key competitor next year, Morgans points out that current industry data and its operating performance provide limited evidence of a material deterioration in underlying demand. The ResMed share price ended the week at $30.50.

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

More reading

• Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace
• Buy, hold, sell: Objective Corp, ResMed, and South32 shares
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27
• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 healthcare shares led the 11 market sectors last week with a 5.64% gain over the five trading days.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 0.92% in the final trading week of FY26. 

The ASX 200 finished the week at 8,844.4 points.

This is the second time in three weeks that ASX 200 healthcare shares have been out in front. 

A sector rotation appears underway as value investors swoop on blue-chip favourites like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME). 

The healthcare sector appears to have turned on 3 June when the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) hit a 9-year low.

That represented a 39% decline over 12 months. You can read comprehensive analysis of why the healthcare sector struggled in FY26 here.

Since then, healthcare shares have increased 20% in just one month compared to an 0.7% rise for the ASX 200 overall. 

In a new note, top broker UBS said ASX 200 healthcare shares and US biotech stocks both rose strongly in June, commenting:

There was limited company specific news to explain this recovery, suggesting it was due to broader market forces including sector rotation.

Healthcare was the worst performer among the 11 market sectors in FY26. You can read more about the market’s winners and losers in FY26 here. 

Now, let’s review some individual stock performances from last week.

Healthcare shares led the ASX sectors last week

The CSL share price rose 6.05% to $121.81 last week, and it’s up 32% since 3 June. 

Pro Medicus shares jumped 11% to $209.65 on Friday, and are up 31% since 3 June. 

Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD) shares ascended 5.39% to $30.50 last week, and are 18% higher since 3 June. 

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares rose 4.06% to $21.25 last week, and are up 13.1% over the month. 

The Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) share price lifted 2.46% to $44.16 last week, and is up 21% since 3 June. 

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price increased 5.87% to $124.96 last week, and is up 31% since 3 June. 

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares ripped 10.11% to $16.88 on Friday, and are up 38% over the month.

Respiratory imaging technology company 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) rose 2.16% to $4.25 per share on Friday. 

4DMedical shares are up 12% since 3 June. 

The ASX 200 healthcare share was the best performer of the entire ASX 200 in FY26 after skyrocketing 1,786%. 

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
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	5.64%
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	2.42%
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	2.08%
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	1.74%
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	0.74%
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	(0.91%)
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	(1.04%)
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	(1.31%)
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	(1.68%)
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	(3.7%)
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	(5.78%)

 

The post Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares down at least 50% in FY26
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Buy, hold, sell: Objective Corp, ResMed, and South32 shares
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $5,500 per month in passive income?
• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027

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 CSL, Cochlear, ResMed, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, Pro Medicus, Sonic Healthcare, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

After a record-breaking year, S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium stocks had a month to forget in June.

From market close on 29 May through to the closing bell on 30 June, the ASX 200 gained 0.5%.

Here’s how these ASX 200 lithium stocks performed over the month just past:

• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares tumbled 15.5% to close June at $62.07 apiece
• Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares fell 30.2% to close June at $1.69 apiece
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) – formerly Pilbara Minerals – shares dropped 22.3% to close June at $5.02 each
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares tumbled 23.1% to close June at $7.37 apiece

What sent ASX 200 lithium stocks crashing lower?

The common headwind pressuring all the big Aussie lithium producers was a sharp pullback in spodumene (a lithium-bearing ore) prices. Spodumene prices fell around 12% in June, according to data from Trading Economics.

Though it’s important to note that the spodumene price remains up around 160% over past 12 months, which also still sees the ASX 200 lithium stocks racing ahead of the 1.5% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

Here’s what I mean (price data below through to 2 July):

• Mineral Resources shares are up 183.9% in 12 months
• Liontown shares are up 143.9% in 12 months
• PLS shares are up 273.0% in 12 months
• IGO shares are up 80.4% in 12 months

Which helps put the June retrace into some perspective!

What else moved the Aussie miners in June?

PLS shares closed down 4.7% on 19 June after the ASX 200 lithium stock reported that it had approved up to $175 million of spending ahead of the final investment decision (FID) at its P2000 Project, within its Pilgangoora hard-rock lithium operation.

The miner is studying the potential to increase Pilgangoora’s concentrate production capacity to around 2 million tonnes a year.

PLS CEO Dale Henders noted:

P2000 has the potential to represent the next major phase of growth at Pilgangoora and further strengthen PLS’ position as one of the world’s leading lithium producers. This pre-FID capital expenditure preserves optionality and maintains momentum along the critical path.

By progressing long-lead procurement, engineering and early works now, we are positioning PLS to respond to future lithium demand while retaining optionality for the timing of any final investment decision.

Mineral Resources was the only other ASX 200 lithium stock to release major news in June.

Mineral Resources shares closed down 2.5% on 25 June after the diversified miner announced that its Western Australia-based Lucky Bay Garnet Project would enter care and maintenance commencing on 1 July.

The company said it expects to book a non-cash impairment on the written down value of Lucky Bay of around $40 million for FY 2026.

The post Why did ASX 200 lithium stocks like PLS, Liontown and Mineral Resources shares get smashed in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27
• 5 best ASX 200 mining shares of FY26
• ASX shares vs. property in FY26: Which investment outperformed?
• 6 ASX 200 large-cap shares that rose 60% to 275% in FY26
• The ASX 200 sector that outperformed the benchmark 7 to 1 in FY26. Can it keep delivering?

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 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose 2.77% and delivered total returns, including dividends, of 7% in FY26.  

The financials sector underperformed in FY26, which was in stark contrast to its outperformance in FY25.  

Financials were actually the best performer of the 11 market sectors in FY25, delivering a near-30% total return to investors.  

Things changed dramatically in FY26. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) fell 1.89%, but the 3.58% dividend yield lifted it into the green for a total return of 1.69%. 

Here are the top five ASX 200 financial shares for capital growth in FY26. 

1. Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

Infratil is a New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company.

This ASX 200 financial share lifted 28.8% to finish the year at $12.61 apiece. 

One of the highlights of FY26 was Infratil’s data centre business, CDC Data Centres (CDC), signing Australia’s largest-ever data centre contract.  

CDC was already the largest data centre provider across Australia and New Zealand before the deal was done. 

The 30-year, 555MW agreement with a US customer highlighted the structural global theme of surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. 

Infratil also delivered impressive earnings growth for FY26.

The company reported an 11% rise in proportionate operational EBITDAF to NZ$989 million. The company also raised its FY27 guidance by 21%.  

2. AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

The AMP share price rose 27.4% to close out the year at $1.61. 

AMP has been on a multi-year comeback journey following the Banking Royal Commission in 2018.

AMP was amongst the companies exposed for the worst conduct, prompting a multi-year restructure of the business. 

Brokers appear positive on the outlook for this ASX 200 financial share from here.  

As my colleague Samantha reports, AMP is focused on improving its operational leverage and looking at new capital relief strategies to boost returns. 

Out of 10 analysts rating AMP shares on the TradingView platform, eight have a strong buy or buy rating on AMP shares.

Nine analysts have provided a 12-month target price ranging from $1.68 to $1.94.

Thus, there is a uniform expectation of a further share price rise for AMP in FY27.

3. Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price rose 23.8% to finish at $10 on 30 June. 

This ASX 200 financial share went up on increased investor confidence that Challenger is gaining market share as Australia’s leading retirement income provider.

Arguably, the biggest catalyst for Challenger’s share price in FY26 was the 1H FY26 report.

Challenger reported record annuity sales of $3.8 billion, up 32% year over year.

The company also bumped up its fully-franked interim dividend by 7%, and launched a $150 million buyback.

This reinforced investor confidence in the earnings outlook ahead.

4. ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price rose 21.2% to $35.35 on 30 June. 

New CEO Nuno Matos has been restructuring the business and integrating Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)’s banking division post-acquisition. 

In 1Q FY26, ANZ achieved a quarterly cash profit of $1.94 billion, up 75% from the 2H FY25 quarterly average.

Management said the strong profit was driven by a 4% increase in operating income and a 21% cut in operating expenses.

The ASX 200 bank share rose 8.5% on the day of the report, and hit a record high of $41 the next day. 

This ASX 200 financial share is also attractive because it offers the highest trailing dividend yield of the big banks. 

5. Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) 

The Magellan share price rose 13.2% to $9.69 on 30 June. 

The defining event in FY26 was Magellan’s proposed merger with the highly successful boutique investment bank, Barrenjoey Capital Partners.

Magellan and Barrenjoey completed the merger on 1 July. 

Former UBS bankers Matthew Grounds and Guy Fowler OAM founded Barrenjoey in 2020.

Magellan was a seed investor in Barrenjoey, and will seek shareholders’ approval to rebrand as Barrenjoey Group Limited at the October AGM.

Magellan received more than 90% approval from shareholders at the merger vote in April. 

This ASX 200 financial share has crumbled almost 80% over five years. The stock entered a downward spiral in 2021 after losing a major client. Its co-founder, Hamish Douglass, also resigned.

Assets under management have dropped from $113 billion in July 2021, when Magellan shares traded at $50 apiece, to $38 billion as of the last update in March. 

The post 5 best ASX 200 financial shares of FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are AMP shares a good buy for passive income?
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27
• Top ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY26
• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income
• How much passive income can I earn off a $100,000 portfolio?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Magellan Financial 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 recommended Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares climbed higher at the end of June, recouping losses shed earlier on in the month.

The same can’t be said for the year-to-date, though. 

After a strong start to the year, AMP shares crashed by around 26% in February following the financial services company’s FY25 results. It came in far below expectations, and investors were disgruntled.

The decline marked the company’s largest one-day fall since 2003, when its value tanked 36%.

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

Thankfully, 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. 

It looks like AMP is still viewed as a potential turnaround story by the experts, too.

Many think that if management successfully executes its strategy, improves profitability, and restores market confidence, the share price could benefit from both earnings growth and a higher valuation multiple.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on AMP shares. The $1.72 average target price implies a potential 7% upside at the time of writing.

The outlook for AMP shares looks positive. But it’s not the only reason investors should think about adding the stock to their portfolio.

AMP shares are a great passive-income opportunity

While AMP is inherently financial cyclical stock, it does have some defensive qualities.

The company is well-known for its superannuation funds, home loans, and everyday/savings accounts. But, a significant portion of its revenue comes from the AMP’s wealth management and superannuation accounts.

Superannuation is often considered defensive because it is an essential financial service, the customer relationships are generally sticky because this type of customer doesn’t usually switch providers, and AMP also benefits from recurring fees.

What dividend does AMP pay its shareholders?

AMP typically pays its investors twice-yearly dividends: an interim dividend in September and a final dividend in April.

AMP’s latest dividend payment in April was 2 cents per security, with 20% franking. Shareholders were also paid an interim 2 cents per security, 20% franked, in September last year.

At the time of writing, that translates to a trailing dividend yield of around 2.5%. 

 

The post Are AMP shares a good buy for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 reasons to buy AMP shares today

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.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares may be one of the most popular dividend options due to the company’s perceived stability and dividend yield.

The ASX telco share usually has a higher dividend yield than the ASX bank shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), though typically lower than names like Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ).

Telstra has consistently increased its annual payout since the onset of the inflationary period in FY22.

Plus, the FY26 half-year result was yet another example of the bank providing investors with stability and growth – it hiked its interim dividend by 10.5% to 10.5 cents per share.

The HY26 result also showed the business is capable of growing earnings. It reported total income of 0.2% to $11.8 billion, operating profit (EBITDA) rose 4.7% to $4.4 billion, net profit for Telstra shareholders increased 9.4% and earnings per share (EPS) climbed 11.2%.

The cash profit was particularly good. Cash operating profit (EBIT) rose 14%, cash earnings grew 17%, and cash EPS increased 19.7%.

In this article, we’re going to look at the annual FY27 dividend, which will be paid in 2027.

2027 dividend projection for owners of Telstra shares

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the ASX telco share is projected to pay an annual dividend per share of 22 cents in the 2027 financial year.

At the time of writing, this forecast translates into a dividend yield of 4.4% excluding franking credits and a grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 6.1%, including franking credits.

If someone were to invest $8,000 in Telstra, they would be able to buy 1,603 Telstra shares (with a little bit of money left over).

With those 1,603 Telstra shares, investors could receive $352.66 of cash and approximately $136.03 franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX telco share?

According to CMC Invest, there have been six analyst ratings calls on the business in the last three months.

Of those six, one was a buy rating and five were hold ratings. So, the investment professionals are largely neutral on the appeal of the company’s valuation right now.

The average price target of those six ratings is $5.33. That means, collectively, those analysts are predicting the Telstra share price could climb by around 7% within the next year (at the time of writing).

The Telstra share price was above $5.33 earlier this year, though it has clearly dropped back since then.

Telstra looks like a solid option for dividends, though there seem to be more compelling ASX shares out there to buy.

The post If I invest $8,000 in Telstra shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra 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.

Australia’s property market has been the defining economic story of 2026.

Three RBA rate hikes since January have pushed the official cash rate to 4.35%, the highest level since 2011.

The impact on house prices is now showing up in the data. 

CBA’s own economists forecast that dwelling price growth will slow to just 3% by December 2026, down from a prior forecast of 5%. 

What’s more, the Federal Budget’s negative gearing changes add a further headwind for established property prices.

For three of the most widely held ASX shares with direct property exposure, the implications are significant.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA): The listing volume threat

Rea Group is the most directly exposed of the three to the property price cycle. This is because its revenue depends on the volume and value of properties listed for sale rather than on owning property itself. 

REA Group shares have fallen 25% so far in 2026, as a combination of a softening property market and a Bell Potter downgrade to sell, with a $137 target, dented the stock’s long-held premium.

The concern is straightforward: if falling prices reduce vendor confidence, fewer Australians choose to list their properties for sale, and REA’s listing volume and yield per listing both come under pressure simultaneously.

That double headwind is precisely what Bell Potter flagged, noting that REA “currently trades around 28x FY27 P/E, which is a level it has historically only traded at during EPS declines.”

The counterargument is equally straightforward: falling prices can extend the time a property sits on the market before selling, which actually increases the total listing revenue REA generates per transaction.

Whether that offset is enough to compensate for lower volumes is the core debate about REA’s FY27 earnings.

Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP): New builds vs established markets

Stockland Corporation is one of Australia’s largest residential developers.

The company develops new residential communities rather than selling existing ones. This has meant that the Federal Budget’s negative gearing exemption for new builds directly benefits the company by channelling investor demand away from established properties and toward the new homes Stockland sells. 

Stockland shares have fallen 31% in 2026, dragged lower by interest rate fears alongside the broader real estate sector rather than by any deterioration in the company’s operational performance.

The operational picture actually tells a different story.

In Q3 FY26, Stockland reported a 43% year-on-year lift in Masterplanned Communities sales and a 162% surge in Land Lease Community sales. These results were driven by the same housing shortage that policy changes are trying to address.  

Seven of 10 analysts covering Stockland have a buy or strong buy rating, reflecting confidence in the stock’s future prospects.

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR): A new-build tailwind hiding inside a falling market

Mirvac Group shares the same structural advantage as Stockland, developing new residential properties rather than trading established ones. 

The Federal Budget’s decision to preserve the negative gearing concession for new builds while restricting it for established properties creates a direct demand incentive for investors to buy new Mirvac apartments and townhouses rather than established properties.

In Q3 FY26, Mirvac delivered a 28% year-on-year lift in residential sales, with management reaffirming full-year guidance. Furthermore, management confirmed the new-build demand tailwind is translating into real sales momentum. 

Mirvac shares have fallen approximately 25% over the past twelve months as the rate-hiking cycle weighed on REIT valuations across the sector. 

Despite this, Macquarie carries an outperform rating on Mirvac with a price target of $2.70. The broker has argued that the residential recovery and build-to-rent growth story can drive earnings higher even in a higher-for-longer rate environment. 

The common thread for ASX property stocks

Falling house prices are not uniformly bad news for every ASX company with property exposure.

REA Group faces the most direct headwind, with its listing revenue model exposed to both lower volumes and reduced vendor confidence. 

Stockland and Mirvac, as new residential developers, are paradoxically better positioned than their share price declines suggest. These companies benefit from the very policy changes driving established property prices lower.

For investors, understanding which side of that distinction each company sits on is the most important question heading into FY27. 

Foolish Takeaway

Property prices are falling in Australia’s two largest cities, and the impact on ASX property shares is material.

REA Group faces the clearest earnings headwind as listing volumes soften.

Stockland and Mirvac, counterintuitively, may be among the few property-exposed ASX shares that benefit from today’s policy environment. 

The post Property prices are falling. Here are the ASX shares most affected appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares upgraded by experts this week
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• How to get started with a portfolio delivering $500 a week in passive income
• How much passive income can I earn off a $100,000 portfolio?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to get $1500 per week in passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.