Author: openjargon

  • Is this ASX gold stock a buy, hold or sell after its quarterly results?

    Nervous customer in discussions at a bank.

    Like many ASX gold stocks, Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) enjoyed a stellar run through much of 2025 and into early 2026. 

    Pantoro is a West Australian gold production and development company. Its flagship asset is the 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project (NGP), south of Kalgoorlie in WA.

    However since hitting a recent peak of nearly $6 per share in March, this ASX gold stock has fallen significantly. 

    Since early March, it has dropped more than 46%. 

    At the end of April, the company released a quarterly report, which prompted updated guidance from the team at Bell Potter. 

    What did this ASX gold company report?

    All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) for the quarter was $3,204 per ounce, generating EBITDA was $88.4 million.

    The company reported March quarter gold production of 17,757oz from the Norseman Gold Project (NGP) at All-In-Sustaining-Costs (AISC) of A$3,204/oz. 

    The result was a miss compared with Bell Potter’s forecast of 20,861oz at A$2,604/oz. 

    Production was impacted by flooding at the Scotia underground associated with Cyclone Mitchell in February, and by significant loader downtime throughout February and March.

    The company also said it expects a strong finish to FY2026 and is currently on track to achieve the guidance range of 86,000 to 92,000 ounces by the end of the year.

    Buy, hold or sell?

    After falling significantly this year, investors might be hoping for a buy-low opportunity for this ASX gold stock. 

    However, based on Bell Potter’s guidance, it seems there is limited upside. 

    The broker has maintained its hold recommendation. It also lowered its price target to $3.55 (previously A$4.20). 

    From yesterday’s closing price of $3.16, this indicates a modest upside of 12%. 

    PNR offers unhedged gold production exposure and potential production growth, but we see multiple risks to both the near and medium-term outlook. It has a strong balance sheet, continues to generate positive free cash flow and has an active share buyback program in place.

    However, we expect the market to apply a risk discount until delivery to guidance is restored.

    Brokers views mixed

    It is worth noting that there is more optimism for this ASX gold stock from other brokers. 

    Recently, the team at Morgans said although its production was softer than expected during the third quarter, there is upside for this ASX gold stock. 

    Morgans has put a buy rating and $6.29 price target on its shares. 

    This indicates an upside potential of 99%. 

    The post Is this ASX gold stock a buy, hold or sell after its quarterly results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pantoro Gold right now?

    Before you buy Pantoro Gold 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 Pantoro Gold 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

  • Why I’d still buy these ASX dividend stocks as interest rates rise

    A couple working on a laptop laugh as they discuss their ASX share portfolio.

    On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.35%.

    That changes the income conversation.

    If an investor has a very low tolerance for risk, I think term deposits may be the better option right now. They offer a known return, no share market volatility, and very little effort.

    But for investors with a normal tolerance for risk, I still think ASX dividend stocks can make a lot of sense.

    The reason is simple. Term deposits may offer income, but they do not offer capital growth. Good dividend shares can potentially provide both.

    Below are three stocks I would consider buying for income even as interest rates rise.

    Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

    Harvey Norman is the kind of ASX dividend stock that may divide opinion in a higher-rate environment.

    Retailers can be sensitive to household budgets, and rising interest rates can put pressure on discretionary spending. I would not ignore that risk.

    But I also think Harvey Norman has a few qualities that make it interesting for income investors.

    It has a long history as one of Australia’s best-known retail brands, with exposure to furniture, electrical goods, appliances, and home-related spending. It also has a valuable property-backed model, which gives the business an asset base that many retailers do not have.

    For me, this is not just a simple retail yield story. It is a business with scale, brand recognition, and a history of returning cash to shareholders.

    The dividend can move around with earnings, so I would not treat it like a term deposit. But if investors are willing to accept some volatility, I think Harvey Norman could still play a useful role in an income portfolio.

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

    HomeCo Daily Needs REIT is another dividend option I would consider.

    What I like here is the nature of its property exposure.

    The REIT owns convenience-focused and daily-needs assets, with tenants that often sit in categories such as supermarkets, healthcare, large-format retail, and essential services.

    That kind of tenant mix is useful when the economy becomes more uncertain.

    Higher interest rates can be a headwind for property trusts because debt costs can rise and investors can compare yields more closely with cash and term deposits.

    But I think the quality of the underlying rental income is important too. HomeCo Daily Needs REIT ticks this box with its 99% occupancy and high-quality tenant base that includes Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). 

    Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)

    Cedar Woods is the more cyclical ASX dividend stock pick of the three, but I think it is also one of the more interesting.

    The company develops residential communities and housing projects across Australia. Rising interest rates can weigh on buyer confidence, and Cedar Woods itself recently noted that sales and enquiry activity had softened recently, reflecting lower consumer confidence, rising rates, and the Middle East conflict.

    But I think the bigger picture remains compelling. Australia still has a significant housing shortage, and Cedar Woods highlighted that this structural shortfall is expected to continue supporting sales volumes, while noting it will take many years to address.

    The latest update also showed robust demand, with 9,663 enquiries in the third quarter, the highest quarterly result in the company’s history. It also recorded 442 gross sales, its second strongest quarter on record.

    Just as importantly, Cedar Woods reported record presales of more than $788 million, with over 80% of forecast FY27 revenue already presold. For me, that provides useful visibility.

    This is still a property developer, so I would not call it defensive. But I do think Cedar Woods offers income investors exposure to a powerful long-term housing theme, with the potential for dividends and capital growth if it keeps executing.

    Foolish takeaway

    Rising interest rates make term deposits more attractive, particularly for investors who want certainty.

    But I do not think they remove the case for ASX dividend stocks. For investors who can handle some market risk, I think Harvey Norman, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, and Cedar Woods could still be worth considering.

    They each offer income potential, but also something term deposits cannot provide: the chance of capital growth over time.

    The post Why I’d still buy these ASX dividend stocks as interest rates rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Cedar Woods Properties right now?

    Before you buy Cedar Woods Properties 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 Cedar Woods Properties 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • The ASX small-cap every investor should be paying attention to

    Woman with gold nuggets on her hand.

    Not every investor will actively target ASX small-caps. However when a company is tagged with 130% upside, it’s hard not to pay attention. 

    The ASX small-cap stock in question is gold stock Linq Minerals Ltd (ASX: LNQ). 

    It has already rocketed 95% higher year to date. The Bell Potter team expects this to continue. 

    Linq Minerals is an early-stage gold-copper explorer that has garnered attention from brokers, who have identified potential for significant growth following strong drilling results at its Gilmore project.

    Its Gilmore site is an advanced exploration stage project covering ~597km2 between Temora and West Wyalong in central west NSW.

    In late April, the company released a quarterly report.

    This was followed up by a drilling result from its Dam deposit, part of its 100%- owned Gilmore Gold Project. 

    These updates have prompted new guidance from the team at Bell Potter, who are extremely optimistic about this small-cap. 

    Drilling results 

    According to Bell Potter, the objective of the current round of drilling is to test the extents of a higher-grade gold-copper core zone within the known mineralisation. 

    The latest drill hole, TDRCD005, hit 114 metres at 1.19 grams per tonne gold equivalent from a depth of 144 metres.

    This result extends the higher-grade zone by another 50 metres to the north, bringing the total strike length to about 400 metres.

    Drilling has been successful so far, with four of the first five holes delivering strong results.

    The higher-grade zone is still open, meaning it could continue further along strike and at depth.

    There are still results pending from nine more drill holes, which are testing extensions to the north, south, and deeper underground.

    These are further positive results that continue to build the scale, consistency and add to the economic value of the Dam deposit. This latest assay result is now one of multiple intersections of this scale and width, building a critical mass that we anticipate will be reflected in the next Resource update.

    Big upside for this ASX small-cap

    Following this update, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation, and price target of 90 cents per share. 

    From yesterday’s closing price of 39 cents, this indicates an upside potential of 130% for this ASX small-cap. 

    We see the foundations of a competitive development project that is undervalued by the market. Current and planned drilling programs have the potential to highlight this and catalyse a re-rating. We retain our Speculative Buy recommendation.

    The post The ASX small-cap every investor should be paying attention to appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in LinQ Minerals right now?

    Before you buy LinQ Minerals 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 LinQ Minerals 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

  • Why are investors bidding this ASX 200 share higher today?

    A woman points with her pen at a computer where a colleague sits as though they are collaborating on a project. She has a smile on her face.

    Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) shares are pushing higher in early trade on Wednesday.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 200 share is up 2.5% to $4.28.

    What is lifting this ASX 200 stock?

    This morning, the rail freight operator released a business update ahead of its presentation at the Macquarie Australia Conference.

    Investors appear to be responding positively to Aurizon reaffirming its FY 2026 guidance despite some fuel cost timing pressures.

    According to the release, Aurizon continues to expect group underlying EBITDA of $1.68 billion to $1.75 billion for FY 2026.

    The company also reaffirmed its full year dividend guidance of 22 cents to 23 cents per share.

    This appears to have reassured the market, particularly given ongoing volatility in fuel markets and recent weather-related disruptions.

    Volume growth across key divisions

    Aurizon also provided investors with a ten-month volume update to 30 April 2026.

    Network volumes in the Central Queensland Coal Network reached 173.5 million tonnes, which is up 2.6% on the prior corresponding period.

    Coal volumes increased 0.8% to 158.4 million tonnes. This is despite the impact of adverse weather on customer mine production in Central Queensland during the March quarter.

    The strongest volume growth came from Bulk and containerised freight.

    Bulk volumes rose 6.7% to 48.4 million tonnes, supported by higher grain volumes and the start of the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) Copper South Australia contract.

    Containerised freight volumes increased 13.2% to 194,000 TEUs. This was driven by growth from new and existing customers.

    Fuel cost impact manageable

    Aurizon also addressed fuel supply and pricing pressures.

    The ASX 200 share said its operations have continued without interruption, with its incident management team taking proactive steps in March to ensure ongoing diesel supply across its national network.

    Aurizon noted that most of its fuel costs are recovered through customer contracts with monthly fuel adjustment mechanisms.

    However, a small number of contracts, mainly in the Bulk business, use quarterly fuel adjustment mechanisms. Based on current pricing, this is expected to create a temporary negative EBITDA impact of approximately $10 million in FY 2026.

    Importantly, Aurizon said this is a timing issue and the increased cost should be recovered in future quarterly adjustments if fuel prices reduce.

    The ASX 200 share has kept its capital expenditure guidance unchanged. This includes non-growth capex expected to be between $580 million and $600 million and growth capex forecast at $100 million to $150 million.

    The post Why are investors bidding this ASX 200 share higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Aurizon 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 Aurizon 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie 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.

  • Guess which ASX 200 stock is charging higher on guidance update

    Three smiling corporate people examine a model of a new building complex.

    Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) shares are having a solid start to the day and are pushing higher in morning trade on Wednesday.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 200 stock is up over 2% to $31.98.

    This follows the release of an update from the share registry company after the market close on Tuesday.

    ASX 200 stock rises on update

    Investors appear to be responding positively to Computershare reaffirming its FY 2026 earnings guidance.

    According to the release, the company continues to expect management earnings per share (EPS) of around 144 US cents in FY 2026. This would represent growth of approximately 6% on the prior corresponding period.

    This guidance was previously upgraded in February and has now been maintained following its latest trading update.

    Margin income guidance upgraded

    A key positive in the update was Computershare’s outlook for margin income.

    The company revealed that client balances have continued to grow in the second half of FY 2026.

    Average client balances for the year are now expected to be US$500 million higher than previously forecast, driven by Corporate Actions activity.

    As a result, Computershare has upgraded its margin income guidance to around US$740 million for the year.

    The average weighted yield for FY 2026 is still expected to be 2.37%, in line with the company’s February update.

    Core businesses performing well

    Computershare also provided updates across several of its divisions.

    In Issuer Services, management advised that register maintenance continues to perform consistently, while Corporate Action volumes are broadly in line with expectations. The pipeline is also increasing.

    Its Employee Share Plans business is seeing continued growth in recurring client-paid fee revenue, reflecting greater use of equity in employee remuneration.

    Trading revenue in that division is also up in the second half compared to the prior corresponding period. This is being supported by more transactions from energy sector clients.

    Corporate Trust growth

    Management revealed that the Corporate Trust business is also performing well.

    It reported that issuance volumes and fee revenues are higher in the second half compared with the prior corresponding period.

    The company also noted that Ginnie Mae document custodian approval, secured in March, supports further growth in this business.

    Despite today’s move higher, Computershare shares are still down approximately 18% over the past 12 months.

    The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is charging higher on guidance update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Computershare 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 Computershare 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

  • Down 16% year to date, Bell Potter thinks now is the time to buy low on this ASX 200 stock

    A kid and his grandad high five after a fun game of basketball.

    ASX 200 stock Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) has struggled thus far in 2026. 

    The global gaming content creation company has fallen more than 16% since the start of the year. 

    However it now appears that this ASX 200 company is a value play. 

    Over the last couple of weeks it has drawn several positive outlooks from brokers and experts.

    Yesterday, the team at Bell Potter were the latest to update their outlook. 

    Here’s what the broker had to say. 

    Market share in tact 

    In the recent report from Bell Potter, the broker highlighted that Aristocrat Leisure games remained highly compelling to players in the North American market in March 2026. 

    According to the broker, the company’s titles comprised 29% (31% Dec-25 qtr) of the top New Premium Leased & WAP (PLW) game rankings behind rival Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) at 47%. 

    ALL has recently launched three new franchises into PLW market, some of which are Core market favourites have started off with strong performance in March 2026. In the top New Core game rankings, ALL has declined to 39.6% share (50.2% Dec-25), followed by LNW with 26.5% share (20% Dec-25), the second highest supplier in the rankings. 

    Performance from ALL’s Phoenix Link continues to standout, with the title performing close to 2.4x floor average. Overall, these findings suggest positive near-term growth in ALL’s PLW and Core markets.

    Positive industry conditions for this ASX 200 stock

    Bell Potter also noted that overall, commentary from listed US casino operators remains in line with ALL’s February 2026 comments that “capital budgets appear supportive”. 

    Operators are broadly positive about the US gambler and downplaying the impact of higher fuel costs on consumers. 

    For the states (mature) that have reported, GGR grew 0.6% YoY in March 2026, a moderation in growth from prior periods but not alarming.

    Price target reduced

    Based on this guidance, Bell Potter has slightly reduced its earnings per share forecast

    It has lowered EPS by -3%/-4%/-4% over FY26/27/28e. 

    Additionally, it has reduced its share price target to $61.00 (previously $70.00). 

    However, from yesterday’s closing price of $47.88, this indicates an upside potential of approximately 28%. 

    The broker has also retained its buy recommendation on this ASX 200 stock. 

    We expect ALL’s leading R&D investment will drive market share gains. Top 2 game performance observed in both the core sales and premium gaming ops markets leaves us confident that ALL can grow the install base >4.0k per year and grow global shipments. Further, with leverage standing at 0.2x, ALL has substantial M&A firepower to boost growth inorganically.

    The post Down 16% year to date, Bell Potter thinks now is the time to buy low on this ASX 200 stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Aristocrat Leisure right now?

    Before you buy Aristocrat Leisure 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 Aristocrat Leisure 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • REA Group is on the rise. Is a comeback underway?

    Increasing blue arrow with wooden property houses representing a rising share price.

    This high-quality ASX share has been moving higher, climbing 10% over the past month to $175.71 at the time of writing. Shares in REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) are also up around 28% from its 52-week low in late February.

    Even so, the broader picture is less convincing. REA shares remain down about 5% year to date and roughly 29% over the past 12 months. To put it in perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 6.4% over the same period.

    So, is this the start of a longer-term recovery or just a temporary bounce?

    Dominant property market position

    When it comes to dominant digital platforms, REA Group is hard to beat. The ASX share sits at the centre of Australia’s property market through realestate.com.au, giving it a powerful competitive position.

    Real estate agents need visibility to attract buyers, and REA controls much of that traffic. This dynamic has enabled the company to steadily increase prices through premium listings and depth products, even when property transaction volumes fluctuate.

    It’s a high-margin, scalable business model. Because the platform is digital, incremental revenue tends to flow through to profits at an attractive rate.

    Solid tailwind ahead

    That strength was evident in its recent half-year result. Core revenue rose 5% to $916 million, operating profit (EBITDA) increased 6% to $569 million, and net profit climbed 9% to $341 million.

    Looking ahead, management of the ASX share expects buy yield growth of between 12% and 14% in FY26, which should provide a solid tailwind for earnings.

    Beyond its domestic dominance, REA also has international growth opportunities. Its expansion into offshore markets adds another lever for long-term growth and reduces reliance on the Australian housing cycle alone.

    Impact interest rates and inflation

    However, risks remain.

    The performance of the company and the ASX share is still closely tied to property market conditions. Higher interest rates, persistent inflation, or weaker housing demand could weigh on listing volumes and advertising spend. A softer housing market could also see fewer transactions, limiting near-term revenue growth.

    At the same time, affordability pressures may influence how often Australians move or upgrade properties, which can impact activity levels across the platform.

    What next for the ASX share?

    Despite these concerns, broker sentiment remains broadly positive.

    According to data from TradingView, 12 out of 16 analysts rate the ASX share as a buy or strong buy. The average 12-month price target sits at $211.89, implying potential upside of around 20% from current levels.

    Citigroup has also reiterated its buy rating, with a price target of $199, suggesting a more modest but still meaningful upside of about 14%.

    Foolish Takeaway

    The bottom line is that REA Group remains a high-quality ASX business with strong competitive advantages and solid long-term growth drivers.

    While the recent share price lift is encouraging, the key question is whether property market conditions will support sustained growth.

    For now, the recovery of the ASX share appears to be gaining traction, but investors will be watching closely to see if the momentum can continue.

    The post REA Group is on the rise. Is a comeback underway? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy REA 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 REA 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

  • Perpetual 1H26 earnings: strategy shift and Wealth Management sale

    A businessman looking at his digital tablet or strategy planning in hotel conference lobby. He is happy at achieving financial goals.

    The Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT) share price is in focus today after the company outlined its key financial and strategic highlights at the Macquarie Australia Conference. Perpetual reported $697.9 million in revenue for the first half of FY26, with $219.2 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) as at 31 March 2026.

    What did Perpetual report?

    • Revenue of $697.9 million for 1H26 (up from $1,373.0 million FY25 full year)
    • Assets Under Management (AUM) of $219.2 billion
    • Market capitalisation of $2.1 billion as at 31 December 2025
    • Dividend of 97.1 cents per share (cps) for 1H26, with a payout ratio of 60%
    • Funds Under Administration of $1.3 trillion across key platforms
    • Diluted EPS on UPAT: 97.1cps for 1H26

    What else do investors need to know?

    Perpetual has announced the sale of its Wealth Management division to Bain Capital Private Equity for an upfront cash payment of $500 million, with potential for a further $100 million based on business performance. The transaction aims to simplify Perpetual’s business, strengthen its balance sheet, and reduce net debt to EBITDA to approximately 0.2 times after completion.

    Following the sale, Perpetual will focus on Asset Management and Corporate Trust. The business highlighted steady growth in UPBT (Underlying Profit Before Tax) in Corporate Trust, strong brand presence, and a robust distribution network. The company is also delivering on its Simplification Program, targeting cost savings of $70–$80 million per annum by the end of FY27.

    What did Perpetual management say?

    CEO and Managing Director Bernard Reilly said:

    Post-sale, Perpetual will be a simpler, stronger and more focused company. Our clear strategy is to simplify the business, deliver operational excellence and invest for growth.

    What’s next for Perpetual?

    Looking ahead, Perpetual is investing in its multi-boutique Asset Management model with a strong global footprint and an expanded product offering, including ETFs. The company also aims to maintain its leadership in Corporate Trust services through service excellence, digital transformation, and new partnerships.

    Key initiatives for the coming year include completing the Wealth Management sale, driving efficiency through cost reduction, and accelerating growth opportunities, especially in global asset management and digital solutions.

    Perpetual share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Perpetual shares have risen 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Perpetual 1H26 earnings: strategy shift and Wealth Management sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Perpetual 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 Perpetual 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

  • Emerald Resources gets the green light for Dingo Range Gold Project

    Miner standing in front of a vehicle at a mine site.

    The Emerald Resources (ASX: EMR) share price is in focus today as the company reported it has secured final works approval for the Dingo Range Gold Project and committed to major capital equipment purchases, marking significant steps toward expanding its gold operations.

    What did Emerald Resources report?

    • Received final works approval for the 100%-owned Dingo Range Gold Project in Western Australia
    • Committed to purchase two 8,000kW Metso SAG Mills and a crushing circuit, valued at approximately A$30 million
    • Dingo Range Project is now fully permitted and development-ready
    • Camp facilities completed and ready to accommodate construction and operational staff
    • Ongoing drilling programs to support resource updates, with work on a Maiden Ore Reserve advanced
    • Strong balance sheet: A$337.8 million cash, A$39.2 million bullion, and A$22.3 million in listed investments (as at March 2026)

    What else do investors need to know?

    The Dingo Range Gold Project’s approval means Emerald now has the green light to start construction, with all regulatory hurdles cleared. The company’s bold purchase of key processing equipment signals its confidence in both the Dingo Range and Memot Gold Projects, targeting future growth in Australia and Cambodia.

    Emerald continues to explore and develop its Australian and Cambodian gold projects, aiming to build on the strong reserve bases at Dingo Range and Memot. Long-term, management aims to position the business as a diversified gold producer, reducing risk across multiple jurisdictions.

    What did Emerald Resources management say?

    Managing Director Morgan Hart said:

    Emerald is pleased that the Works Approval has been granted for Dingo Range and we are now fully permitted for development and operations which is a significant milestone for the Company.

    The commitment to purchase long lead capital equipment is the second key construction and infrastructure milestone at Dingo Range following the completion of the camp.

    The Board and Management of Emerald have worked closely with the team at Metso on previous development projects, including the 100% Okvau Gold Mine and are very pleased to continue the relationship on the development of the Dingo Range and Memot Gold Projects. Securing this long lead capital equipment on a very competitive delivery schedule assists with de-risking the development timeline for both projects and is an important step in the Company’s growth trajectory to achieve its strategic objective of becoming a multi-mine 300K-400Kozs gold producer across two continents.

    What’s next for Emerald Resources?

    With all approvals granted, Emerald can now push ahead with developing the Dingo Range Gold Project and progress its Memot Project in Cambodia. The company expects delivery of its major processing equipment in about 12–13 months, aligning with its plan to become a multi-mine gold producer.

    Ongoing drilling and exploration will support updated resource estimates and future reserve growth, while Emerald maintains its focus on strong ESG compliance and regional community engagement.

    Emerald Resources share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Emerald Resources shares have risen 32%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Emerald Resources gets the green light for Dingo Range Gold Project appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Emerald Resources Nl right now?

    Before you buy Emerald Resources Nl 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 Emerald Resources Nl 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 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

  • Why WiseTech shares could shoot 70% higher

    A businessman looking at his digital tablet or strategy planning in hotel conference lobby. He is happy at achieving financial goals.

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have rallied strongly from their lows.

    So much so, the logistics solutions technology company’s shares are up 17% since this time last month.

    But if you thought you were too late to invest, you might be wrong.

    That’s because Bell Potter believes its shares could continue to rise strongly from where they currently trade.

    What is the broker saying?

    Bell Potter was pleased to see the company reaffirm its guidance on Tuesday. This means the company remains on track to achieve the broker’s estimates for the year. It said:

    WiseTech released a presentation for a broker conference and the key take-out was reaffirmation of the FY26 EBITDA and EBITDA margin guidance – US$550-585m (vs BPe US$564m) and 40-41% (vs BPe 40.1%). The key new piece of news was the company also provided guidance for underlying EBITDA and EBITDA margin of US$598.5-637.5m (vs BPe US$612m) and 41-46% (vs BPe 43.5%).

    This underlying guidance implies one-off costs b/w $48.5-$52.5m – comprising US$11-15m in M&A costs and US$37.5m in restructure costs – which was slightly more than the US$45- 50m flagged at the H1 result in February. Notably there was no mention of the redundancy costs related to the flagged 2,000 job reductions so we figure these will be disclosed in or around the FY26 result in August along with the spread of those costs between FY26 and FY27 (assuming it is spread across both years).

    Big potential returns

    In response to the guidance update, Bell Potter has reaffirmed its buy rating and $78.75 price target on WiseTech Global’s shares.

    Based on its current share price of $45.75, this implies potential upside of 72% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Bell Potter sees potential catalysts ahead, which could support a re-rating. This includes its guidance for FY 2027, which Bell Potter believes could be stronger than its current estimates. It concludes:

    There is no change in our $78.75 target price which we only recently updated. Our PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations are generated using our FY27 forecasts and with no change in these forecasts there is no change in the valuations. Our target price remains a significant premium to the share price so we retain our BUY recommendation.

    The next update and potential catalyst for the share price is the FY26 result in August where, assuming the guidance is met, key focus will be on the guidance for FY27. We note our FY27 revenue and EBITDA forecasts of US$1,567m and US$728m imply an EBITDA margin of 46.5% which in our view could be conservative given the underlying guidance for FY26 is b/w 41-46% and the exit margin is likely to be towards the top end of this range.

    The post Why WiseTech shares could shoot 70% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in WiseTech Global right now?

    Before you buy WiseTech Global 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 WiseTech Global 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 20 Feb 2026

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