Author: openjargon

  • 3 ASX ETFs that could quietly make you rich

    A young couple hug each other and smile at the camera standing in front of their brand new luxury car

    Long term wealth rarely comes from trading in and out of the share market.

    More often, it comes from owning great assets, adding to them regularly, and letting time and compounding do the heavy lifting.

    That’s the beauty of exchange traded funds (ETFs). They take the guesswork out of investing, give you instant diversification, and allow small, consistent contributions to snowball into something meaningful over the years.

    Investing $200 a month, for example, can grow into almost $150,000 over 20 years at a 10% average annual return. Double the contribution and you more than double the outcome. That’s the power of compounding.

    But picking the right ASX ETFs matters. Some simply track the market, while others give you targeted exposure to high-quality stocks that have a track record of outperformance.

    With that in mind, here are three funds that could quietly make you rich over time.

    Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

    The Betashares Australian Quality ETF focuses on local stocks with strong balance sheets, reliable earnings, and resilient cash flows. These are the exact traits that investors want during uncertain periods. After all, quality as a factor has historically beaten the broader market because high-quality businesses tend to survive downturns better and grow faster in recoveries.

    Current holdings include names like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD). These are stocks with deep competitive advantages, strong management teams, and long runways for growth.

    For investors who want Australian exposure without relying heavily on the big banks or miners, this fund provides a cleaner, higher-quality way to compound wealth over time. It was named as one to consider buying by the team at Betashares.

    VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

    The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF could be another top pick for buy and hold investors. It gives investors exposure to companies with wide economic moats. These are businesses with strong pricing power, loyal customers, high switching costs, or unique intellectual property.

    Its portfolio includes global standouts such as Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), and Nike (NYSE: NKE). These companies aren’t just leaders in their industries, they dominate them.

    In addition, it looks for these high-quality businesses that are good value and doesn’t pay over the odds to own them. This gives patient investors both growth potential and downside protection. That is the formula long-term wealth is built on.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    It is hard to go past the iShares S&P 500 ETF. The US market has delivered decades of superior returns, fuelled by world-changing companies across technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financials.

    Through this ASX ETF, Australian investors get exposure to giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM), and Home Depot (NYSE: HD), all through a single ASX trade.

    For investors with a long time horizon and a belief in the resilience of the US economy, it is one of the most straightforward ways to build wealth steadily.

    The post 3 ASX ETFs that could quietly make you rich appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares Australian Quality ETF right now?

    Before you buy BetaShares Australian Quality ETF 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 BetaShares Australian Quality ETF 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 18 November 2025

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL, Nike, ResMed, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Apple, CSL, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, ResMed, Walt Disney, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Apple, CSL, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Walt Disney, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 2 ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade

    a man sits on a ridge high above a large city full of high rise buildings as though he is thinking, contemplating the vista below.

    I’m a big believer that long-term investing is the best way to think about putting money into ASX shares.

    Allowing compounding to work its magic for a longer period of time is more likely to deliver good wealth-building.

    There are not that many ASX share investments that I’d be willing to invest in today for the next decade. However, the two I’m about to highlight are ones I’ve invested my own money into with the intention of holding them for at least the next 10 years.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    TechnologyOne is one of the best software businesses on the ASX, in my view. The enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology it provides is used by businesses, government agencies, local councils and universities.

    Its software is clearly resonating with subscribers because it has a very low customer loss rate each year and it regularly wins new subscribers.

    The UK is a key market for future growth which, like Australia, has businesses, government agencies, local councils and universities. In FY25, it won key London boroughs of Islington and Greenwich from global incumbent competitors.

    It is also winning subscribers in the education sector, including TasTAFE.

    The business reports that customers continue to adopt more TechnologyOne products and modules as they embrace its “enterprise vision and the consequent substantial efficiencies and productivity gains.”

    The ASX share is aiming to reach total annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $1 billion by FY30, compared to $554.6 million at the end of FY25. I think the ARR could rise even further beyond FY30.

    It aims to deliver a net revenue retention (NRR) of 115% each year, implying 15% revenue growth from the existing client base each year. This level of growth helps the business double its revenue every five years.

    TechnologyOne is also expecting to grow its profit before tax (PBT) margins in the coming years, despite investing heavily in research and development (R&D) to unlock more growth.

    The TechnologyOne share price is valued at 51x FY27’s estimated earnings, according to the forecast on Commsec.

    Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

    GYG is a Mexican food restaurant with big plans for how many locations it wants to have in the coming years.

    At the end of the first quarter of FY26, it had 227 Australian restaurants, of which 84 were corporate and 143 were franchised. Excitingly, the business has a goal of reaching 1,000 Australian restaurants within 20 years.

    The ASX share is expecting to open 32 new restaurants during FY26 in Australia and I’m expecting plenty more over the next decade.

    In the coming years, the international division could also be an integral part of the company’s earnings and total network. At the end of the FY26 first quarter, it had 22 Singapore locations, five Japan restaurants and seven US locations.

    GYG is growing sales strongly. The first quarter of FY26 saw 17.4% Australian network sales growth to $305.5 million, 29.2% Asian network sales growth to $20.8 million and 65.4% US network sales growth to $4.3 million.

    With growing scale, I’m optimistic the business can deliver rising profit margins alongside the growing network sales.

    According to the forecast on Commsec, the business is valued at 46x FY28’s estimated earnings, at the time of writing.

    The post 2 ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Technology One Limited right now?

    Before you buy Technology One Limited 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 Technology One Limited 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Guzman Y Gomez and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Leaked Paramount memo reveals what CEO David Ellison told staffers about its hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

    Netflix vs Paramount
    Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters are battling Paramount Skydance's David Ellison for control of Warner Bros.

    • Netflix made a winning bid for Warner Bros., but Paramount Skydance went hostile.
    • David Ellison's Paramount made a direct appeal to investors, and now he's pitching his own staffers.
    • Read Ellison's full memo to Paramount employees.

    Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has now made his pitch to buy Warner Bros. Discovery to that company's board, shareholders, and his own employees.

    Ellison pitched Paramount employees about his renewed offer to buy WBD in an email sent just after 3 p.m. ET on Monday.

    "We believe the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery represents a powerful opportunity to strengthen both companies and the entertainment industry as a whole," Ellison wrote in the memo to staffers, which was first obtained by Business Insider.

    The Paramount CEO said he believes his all-cash, $30-per-share offer for all of WBD is superior to Netflix's $27.75 offer for WBD's streaming and studio assets, like the Warner Bros. film studio, HBO, and HBO Max.

    Paramount made a so-called hostile bid for WBD on Monday morning, hoping to get investors on its side.

    Now, Ellison is making sure employees are on board.

    Read Ellison's full memo to Paramount employees below:

    Dear Team,
    This morning, we filed a tender offer — a public offer to purchase shares directly from a company's shareholders — and made an appeal to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to acquire WBD for $30 per share in cash.
    You can read the details in our press release here, but in short, we believe the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery represents a powerful opportunity to strengthen both companies and the entertainment industry as a whole. Together, we would form a scaled, forward-looking company positioned to invest confidently in future growth and capitalize on rapidly changing industry dynamics — while better serving creative talent and consumers. A combined company would give us the reach, resources, and creative capacity to tell more exceptional stories and bring them to audiences around the world.
    We are taking our offer directly to shareholders because they deserve full transparency and the ability to make an informed choice. Our $30 per share, all cash proposal is superior to Netflix's offer — $27.75 in total, including $23.25 in cash — across every dimension: higher overall value, greater certainty, a clearer regulatory path, and a future that is pro-Hollywood, pro-consumer, and pro-competition.
    Our motivation for pursuing Warner Bros. Discovery has been consistent from the start. We love this industry and believe deeply in its future. And we want to help preserve and strengthen one of America's greatest cultural and economic exports: storytelling. By bringing Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery together, we aim to accelerate both creative engines, delivering a greater slate of high-quality films, television, sports, news, and games to global audiences.
    Bottom line: this transaction is about doing more, not less — for our company, for the industry, for consumers, for shareholders, and especially for the creative talent who power everything we do. We're energized by the opportunity ahead, and we're confident that once Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have the chance to decide for themselves, they'll choose Paramount.
    As this process moves forward, I pledge to keep you informed whenever there are significant updates. Until then, let's stay focused on our North Star priorities and continue pressing ahead. I remain deeply grateful for your hard work, dedication, and passion.
    Let's go!
    David
    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Netflix’s co-CEO shares how he pitched Trump on the Warner Bros. deal

    Sarandos Trump 2x1
    Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos appealed to President Donald Trump as he battles Paramount Skydance's David Ellison for control of Warner Bros.

    • Netflix made a winning bid for Warner Bros., but Paramount Skydance isn't conceding yet.
    • Paramount CEO David Ellison has rapport with Trump, but Netflix executive Ted Sarandos might also.
    • Sarandos pitched Netflix as a company that can "create and protect jobs" if it buys Warner Bros.

    Before Netflix made its winning bid for Warner Bros., its co-CEO pitched President Donald Trump directly on the merits of the deal.

    The pair found common ground, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said.

    "The president's interests in this are the same as ours, which is to create and protect jobs," Sarandos said of Trump at the UBS media conference on Monday afternoon.

    Sarandos said he'd talked to Trump "many times since the election about the different challenges facing the entertainment industry."

    "The president cares deeply about the entertainment industry, and he loves the entertainment industry," Sarandos continued.

    Trump praised Sarandos on Sunday, calling him a "great person" who he said had done "one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies." Still, Trump said Netflix's "big market share" in the streaming space "could be a problem" as it tries to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming and studio assets.

    The Netflix-Warner Bros. deal reached on Friday is worth $82.7 billion, including $72 billion in equity. WBD's TV networks like CNN or HGTV, aren't in the proposal.

    Rival suitor Paramount Skydance responded on Monday with a hostile bid in the form of a $30-per-share, all-cash offer for all of WBD, including the declining TV networks. Netflix's offer is $27.75 per share, comprising mostly cash and some stock. There's debate among analysts about whether Netflix's or Paramount's renewed offer is more attractive, as it depends on the value of WBD's TV networks.

    Paramount's move "was entirely expected," Sarandos said.

    Paramount CEO David Ellison, who seems to be on Trump's good side, went on CNBC on Monday morning to tout his company's public offer as "pro-consumer, pro-creative talent," and "pro-competition." Ellison said his company's offer had "faster regulatory certainty to close" than Netflix's. Ellison's father, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, is a longtime Trump ally and one of the richest people on the planet.

    However, Netflix also seems to be building rapport with Trump. That could help explain why Netflix's Sarandos and fellow co-CEO Greg Peters are optimistic about their deal.

    "We are very confident that regulators should, and will, approve it," Peters said of the WBD deal.

    Sarandos pitched the streaming giant's proposed acquisition as a net positive for the labor market, despite the concerns of many in Hollywood. He also said the company is "deeply committed" to releasing movies from Warner Bros. in theaters, "exactly the way they've released those movies today."

    That overture could help ease Trump's concerns. Sarandos pitched Netflix as a great job saver.

    "What the president has been interested in, in this deal, has been: To what extent does it protect and create jobs in America?" Sarandos said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Better artificial intelligence stock: Palantir Technologies vs. Nvidia

    ASX share investor sitting with a laptop on a desk, pondering something.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Key Points

    • Palantir trades at a stratospheric 109 times revenue while Nvidia’s 24 times sales looks almost (almost!) reasonable by comparison.
    • Palantir’s military-style data analytics platform limits its addressable market compared to Nvidia’s universal AI infrastructure play.
    • Both stocks are priced for a perfect AI future that may not materialize smoothly, and investors could find better opportunities elsewhere in the AI ecosystem.

    The stock market hasn’t been the same since OpenAI unleashed ChatGPT to the public three years ago. As of Dec. 4, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) market index has posted a 75% total return since then. The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index gained a dividend-adjusted 118% over the same period.

    But the kings of artificial intelligence (AI) are soaring far above these not-so-pedestrian returns. AI chip champion Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is up more than tenfold and AI platform master Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) more than doubled Nvidia’s stellar gains:

    PLTR Total Return Level data by YCharts

    But past performance is never a guarantee of future results. What matters to today’s investors is a fundamentally different question — which AI stock is the better investment for new money today?

    When AI valuations go orbital

    Let’s address the elephant in the room, or the rocket ship in the stratosphere directly above Wall Street. Palantir’s stock has gone absolutely parabolic in 2025, trading at roughly 109 times trailing revenue. That triple-digit figure is not a typo. For context, even during the dot-com bubble’s wildest moments, most high-flyers topped out around 50 times sales.

    Nvidia, meanwhile, has seen its valuation actually compress even as its business keeps breaking records. At about 24 times revenue, it’s still priced for perfection. However, compared to Palantir, Nvidia’s stock price looks almost reasonable.

    Mind you, Nvidia is already absolutely massive and it should be harder to keep the hypergrowth going from an annual revenue base of $187 billion. Palantir’s trailing-12-month sales look minuscule in comparison, stopping at $3.9 billion. The law of large numbers says that Nvidia’s sales growth must slow down at some point. Meanwhile, Palantir’s long-term value is limited by its focus on the smaller market of government contracts. The company is pushing into commercial contracts too, but how many businesses need military-style data analytics?

    The political cycle wild card

    Palantir’s recent surge coincides suspiciously with a favorable shift in the federal spending environment. The company’s government revenue, while growing at a respectable 40% year over year, suddenly seems poised for acceleration as Washington embraces AI-powered defense and intelligence applications.

    But here’s the risk nobody’s talking about: government contracts follow political cycles. What happens if spending priorities shift after the 2026 midterms? What if the regulatory environment becomes less friendly to aggressive data analytics? Palantir’s commercial business is growing faster at 54%, but government contracts still represent nearly half of revenue. That’s a lot of exposure to political winds that can change direction every two years (with sharper shifts around the four-year presidential election cycle).

    Nvidia faces its own unique challenge — its biggest customers are becoming its biggest competitors. Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft are all developing custom AI chips while still buying billions worth of Nvidia’s GPUs. It’s like selling weapons to armies that are simultaneously building their own armories. Nvidia can maintain this delicate balance, but it requires constant innovation and careful relationship management.

    “Less overvalued” wins by default

    I can’t believe I’m writing this, but at current prices, Nvidia is the better buy — and that’s despite my concerns about customer competition and a still-rich valuation. Here’s why:

    • Valuation sanity: OK, “sanity” is a stretch but at 24x sales vs. 109x, Nvidia’s premium is at least loosely grounded in financial reality.
    • Proven moat: CUDA’s ecosystem lock-in is real and tested, while Palantir’s competitive advantages remain harder to quantify.
    • Diversification: Nvidia sells to everyone in AI; Palantir’s concentration in government and large enterprises limits its addressable target market.
    • Profit machine: Nvidia’s 57% net margin vs. Palantir’s 20% shows who’s actually printing money today.

    But here’s the real takeaway: Both stocks are priced for a perfect AI future that may not materialize as smoothly as bulls expect. Palantir needs flawless execution and continued government AI spending to justify its valuation. Nvidia needs to fend off increasingly capable competitors while maintaining its innovation edge. Both might actually succeed in the long run, but it won’t be easy. 

    For investors seeking AI exposure today, the smartest move might be looking elsewhere in the ecosystem — perhaps at the hyperscalers building AI services, semiconductor equipment makers enabling the whole industry, or even “boring” companies successfully implementing AI to improve their operations. Sometimes the best investment isn’t choosing between two expensive options — but finding a completely different third path.

    So, if forced to pick between these two AI titans, I’d reluctantly choose Nvidia. But I reduced my Nvidia exposure in 2025, converting some of my AI-boom paper gains into cash profits.

    My highest-conviction call in this duel is simple: Neither stock really offers a compelling risk/reward balance for new money at December 2025 prices. The AI revolution is real, but that doesn’t mean every AI stock is a buy at any price.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Better artificial intelligence stock: Palantir Technologies vs. Nvidia appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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

    Before you buy Nvidia 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 Nvidia 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 18 November 2025

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    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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    Anders Bylund has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 7 ASX mining shares to buy for Christmas amid upgrades from Macquarie

    Five happy miners standing next to each other representing ASX coal mining shares which some brokers say could pay big dividends this year

    Looking to buy a few, or even seven, ASX mining shares to slip into your Christmas stockings?

    Then Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) has some new stock upgrades for you.

    In the broker’s latest Commodities Update report, it notes that for 2026:

    In the short term (CY26) we are overweight Gold (Au) with a 22% increase to CY26 price to US$4,225/Oz; we are 8% above VA consensus. Our Spodumene prices are 15%/20% below consensus/spot for CY26, but we note our med-long prices are 15% above consensus.

    We are even-weight (within 5% of consensus) on Iron Ore (Fe), Met-Coal, Aluminium (Al), Thermal Coal and Nickel (Ni) in CY26E, but note our Fe and Thermal outlooks weaken over time.

    Here’s what that all boils down to for these seven upgraded ASX mining stocks.

    From underperform to neutral

    Two large-cap ASX mining shares just earned upgrades from an underperform rating to neutral.

    The broker noted that Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares were raised to neutral, with the diversified S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) miner seeing “large EPS changes in FY26/27 as iron ore and lithium prices are materially raised”.

    With Macquarie’s bullish outlook on the gold price, ASX 200 gold stock West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) also earned an upgrade to neutral.

    Macquarie expects these five ASX mining shares to outperform

    Turning to the Aussie mining stocks Macquarie expects to outperform in 2026, ASX 200 coal miner Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) was raised from neutral to outperform.

    Macquarie said:

    WHC remains our preferred coal exposure, which benefits from an expanded earnings multiple from 4.0x to 5.0x due to a recent tightening of the spread against peers (BHP/RIO, etc).

    In the diversified ASX mining share space, Macquarie said “We prefer Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) to BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and prefer South32 Limited (ASX: S32) outright.”

    The broker upgraded South32 to outperform “given prospects of an improved returns outlook and a favourable catalyst backdrop”.

    And three ASX gold stocks join the outperforming list.

    Macquarie raised Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) to outperform, stating:

    We switch our large-cap preference from NST to NEM, due to its relatively attractive valuation (P/NPV of 0.9x vs NST at 1.1x) and underperformance over the last three months with NEM +21% and NST +36%.

    Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) also earned an upgrade to outperform.

    Macquarie noted:

    We still expect gold to trade at historically high levels in the near-term while also being held back by an upturn in global growth and a monetary policy easing cycle that falls short of market expectations.

    And stating, “we remain overweight gold”, Macquarie also raised ASX mining share Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) to an outperform rating.

    Happy Christmas stock shopping!

    The post 7 ASX mining shares to buy for Christmas amid upgrades from Macquarie appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

    Before you buy BHP Group 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 BHP Group 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 18 November 2025

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.

  • 2 of the best ASX dividend shares to buy in December

    Happy man working on his laptop.

    There are lots of ASX dividend shares to choose from on the local market.

    To narrow things down, let’s take a look at two that Bell Potter thinks are among the best to buy in December.

    Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

    Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

    This leading household goods retailer could be one of the best ASX dividend shares to buy now according to Bell Potter.

    It highlights that the company is one of the most diversified retailers in terms of both categories and regions, while also benefitting from its significant property portfolio. It commented:

    Despite the strong re-rate in the name, HVN trades at ~2.0x market capitalisation to freehold property value as Australia’s single largest owner in large format retail with a global portfolio surpassing $4.5b and collectively owning ~40% of their stores (franchised in Australia and company operated offshore). This sees our view that of the 1-year forward ~19x P/E multiple as justified considering the multiple catalysts near/mid-term.

    Bell Potter has a buy rating and $8.30 price target on its shares.

    As for income, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 30.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 35.3 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $7.32, this would mean dividend yields of 4.2% and 4.8%, respectively.

    Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

    Another ASX dividend share that has been rated as a best buy by Bell Potter is Universal Store.

    It is a leading youth focused apparel, footwear, and accessories retailer with around ~85 stores under its flagship Universal Store brand. It is also expanding its presence with stand-alone formats for its private label brands Perfect Stranger and Thrills stores.

    Bell Potter thinks its shares are undervalued, especially given its positive growth outlook. It said:

    At ~18x FY26e P/E (BPe), we see UNI trading at a discount to the ASX300 peer group and see the multiple justified by the distinctive growth traits supporting consistent outperformance in a challenging category, longer term opportunity with three brands, organic gross margin expansion via private label product penetration (currently ~55%) and management execution.

    While catalysts associated with further interest rate cuts for Australia in CY25 are not imminent post the third rate cut in August, we continue to see the youth customer prioritising on-trend streetwear and expect UNI to benefit with their leading position.

    The broker has a buy rating and $10.50 price target on its shares.

    With respect to dividends, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked payouts of 37.3 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 41.4 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $8.41, this would mean dividend yields of 4.4% and 4.9%, respectively.

    The post 2 of the best ASX dividend shares to buy in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Harvey Norman Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Harvey Norman Holdings Limited 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 Harvey Norman Holdings Limited 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. 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 Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Coles shares

    a woman smiles widely as she leans on her trolley while making her way down a supermarket grocery aisle while holding her mobile telephone.

    I believe owning Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares is a great option for dividends because of both its consistently rising passive income and the size of the dividend yield.

    On top of the pleasing dividend, Coles has a defensive earnings base – we all need to eat, of course.

    The business has grown its dividend each year since it was listed several years ago, and we’re going to take a look at how large the dividend could grow in the coming years.

    FY26

    Coles has started FY26 strongly, in the first quarter of FY26, it delivered group total sales revenue of $10.96 billion, representing 3.9% growth – this beat UBS’ expectations.

    Broker UBS said that Coles supermarkets are executing strongly and leveraging key investments.

    Those investments include Witron automated distributed centres, which are improving product availability in NSW and Queensland. Ocado customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) helped drive 28% online sales growth in the FY26 first quarter.

    UBS also pointed out that Coles supermarkets are delivering ongoing promotional effectiveness, which are fewer and better, and product ranging is better (which is increasingly store-led), according to UBS. Both of these advantages have been enabled by the supply chain.

    With the effective execution of its strategy, UBS is projecting that the business could decide to pay an annual dividend per share of 79 cents following an increase of the company’s net profit.

    If Coles does decide to pay that projected amount, it would mean a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.2%, including franking credits.

    FY27

    The company could see further dividend growth in the 2027 financial year, thanks to the strength of its revenue and net profit.

    UBS is forecasting the business could grow its dividend to a pleasing 93 cents per share in FY27. If that comes true, it would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.1%, including franking credits, at the current Coles share price.  

    FY28

    The 2028 financial year could get even better for owners of Coles shares.

    In FY28, the board of directors of Coles is projected by UBS to declare an annual dividend per share of 97 cents. If that happens, the business could have a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3%.

    FY29

    The broker is projecting that the business could deliver more profit and dividend growth for investors in FY29. UBS is currently suggesting the Coles annual dividend per share could climb to $1.01.

    If that happens, Coles would deliver investors a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.6%, including franking credits, using the valuation at the time of writing.

    FY30

    The final year of this series of projections is expected to see the biggest dividend of all.

    UBS forecasts that Coles may deliver investors an annual dividend per share of $1.04. That means the business could provide a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.8%, including franking credits.

    The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Coles shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Coles Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Coles Group Limited 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 Coles Group Limited 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 18 November 2025

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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 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.

  • 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields

    Man holding out $50 and $100 notes in his hands, symbolising ex dividend.

    There are a number of reasons why ASX blue-chip shares usually make strong investments each year. Stability, strong earnings generation each year and (usually) a good dividend yield together can be very appealing.

    I wouldn’t focus purely on the dividend income. I think it’s a good idea for investors to ensure that the target business has a good outlook for earnings growth too, otherwise the dividends may not be reliable, with the share price lacking that organic tailwind.

    The two ASX blue-chip shares I’m going to highlight both have strong dividend yields.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    The Australian telecommunications giant is one of the most impressive names for payouts because of how generous it is with its dividend payout ratio. In recent times, it has paid out close to all of its net profit generation each year, though it has held onto a higher proportion of its cash earnings.

    The company has invested significant sums into its spectrum assets and 5G network to ensure that it has the most appealing network for customers. More subscribers mean the business can spread its costs across more users.

    We saw this effect in the FY25 result, with mobile revenue climbing 3% and operating profit (EBITDA) climbing 5%.

    I’m expecting the company’s EBITDA and net profit margin to slowly rise over the rest of the decade. I’m particularly optimistic this can happen if Telstra can win more broadband customers onto its wireless (5G-powered) offering, which would enable a higher margin from that household (rather the margin going to the NBN).

    I think it’s quite likely the ASX blue-chip share will hike its FY26 annual dividend to at least 20 cents per share, which could mean a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.8%, including franking credits. If it paid a dividend of 21 cents per share, it’d be a grossed-up dividend yield of 6%, including franking credits.

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

    The other business I want to highlight for its yield is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a diversified portfolio of properties which are, on average, long-term rental leases.

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of around nine years, meaning its rental earnings are locked in for the long-term.

    The business owns properties in a number of areas including service stations, hotels and pubs, telecommunication exchanges, data centres, distribution centres and more. I like that this lowers the risk of being too exposed to one subsector.

    This REIT has lots of blue-chip tenants, which is one of the reasons why it’s able to provide investors with pleasing defensive earnings. Its rental income (on a per-property basis) is growing thanks to regular rental increases that are either fixed or linked to inflation, providing a tailwind or rental profits and the distribution.

    Charter Hall Long WALE REIT is expecting to grow its FY26 distribution to 25.5 cents per security, translating into a forward distribution yield of 6.3% thanks to its 100% distribution payout ratio.

    The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Telstra Corporation Limited right now?

    Before you buy Telstra Corporation Limited 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 Telstra Corporation Limited 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 18 November 2025

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Billy McFarland’s Fyre Festival follow-up included a bathroom barge, French Montana, and another viral food photo

    Billy McFarland
    Billy McFarland is back.

    • Billy McFarland hosted the PHNX 2025 festival over the weekend.
    • McFarland aimed to redeem himself with excursions and a bathroom barge after the failed Fyre Festival.
    • Viral food photos and a modest turnout marked the event, but no major disasters occurred.

    Billy McFarland is trying to rise from the ashes of Fyre Festival.

    His latest event is PHNX — pronounced "Phoenix." It attracted dozens of attendees over the weekend. Like the original Fyre Festival, it was heavily documented by camera crews and social media users.

    Since being released from prison in 2022, after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges related to Fyre Festival, McFarland has been planning redemption from the disastrous 2017 festival that left hundreds of attendees stranded, hungry, and thirsty on a Bahamian island and became the subject of a hit Netflix documentary.

    On Saturday and Sunday, McFarland ran it back with a smaller crowd, a mix of parties, excursions, and musical guests like French Montana as the headliner on Utila Bay, an island off the coast of Honduras.

    @pyrtbilly

    To everyone who laughed at the bathroom barge. To everyone who said there wouldn’t be power. Who wants to be part of history? See you in 4 days.

    ♬ original sound – Billy McFarland

    General admission tickets to PHNX cost $599. VIP passes went for up to $140,000 and included round-trip flights from Miami. PHNX offered all attendees brunch, lunch, dinner, and a handful of excursions, including scuba diving and a cave hike, in their ticket packages.

    The itinerary was a far cry from the events that unfolded in 2017. Where unsanitary or simply unavailable bathrooms became a hallmark of Fyre Festival's failures, McFarland showed off a "bathroom barge" of floating port-a-potties for PHNX. He also shared fresh fruit stands and food options, including lobster, steak, and fresh salads — a much different menu from the infamous cheese sandwiches served at the first Fyre Festival.

    Festival-goers, McFarland, and performers took their followers along for the ride at PHNX 2025. The event was also available via livestream for paying viewers.

    One performer, a DJ who goes by 220 Kid, documented his time at the festival in several videos. His post about the vegetarian food option went particularly viral. The plate of rice and a single cob of corn drew scrutiny and a call back to the meager cheese sandwiches from 2017.

    @220kidmusic

    Where my cheese sandwiches at

    ♬ original sound – 220 Kid

    Rappers Slim Jxmmi and Bobby Shmurda showed up, and a clip from headliner French Montana's set showed a modest crowd dancing.

    @maddsofficial

    Confirmed ! French showed up every artist did! Love this island so much ! #fyrefestival #PHNX

    ♬ original sound – Madds

    "We set out to bring 400 people and a dozen artists to a private island in the Utila Bay Islands, and the experience exceeded every expectation," McFarland said in a statement. "PHNX 2025 was a milestone moment for us."

    Videos showed dozens of festival-goers on the dance floor at different times. It's unclear how many people attended.

    PHNX appeared to sidestep the big issues that defined Fyre, but it's too early to tell whether the event represents a meaningful reset for McFarland.

    "This is only the beginning — a major announcement is coming soon," McFarland said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider