Author: openjargon

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares are flying 11.7% higher in Wednesday trade, at $20.13 a piece. 

The price rally continues from yesterday’s bumper session, where the shares rebounded 18.55% in a day. It means the fast food retailer’s shares have soared 32.7% this week alone.

It’s a very welcome reprieve for investors after the Mexican-themed fast food retailer’s shares hit a historic low of just $15.20 a piece at the close of the ASX last Thursday, ahead of the long Easter weekend. 

The share price recovery means GYG shares are now down just 6.5% year to date and 35.1% over the past 12 months.

What caused the reversal in GYG’s share price this week?

GYG posted its Q3 FY26 results ahead of the ASX market open yesterday morning, and investors were clearly thrilled with the result, with many falling over themselves to buy the shares.

The company announced that its network sales grew 19.5% over the quarter and comparable sales grew 6.6% in Australia and 2.2% in the US. GYG also confirmed that five new Australian restaurants bring the company’s total number of global locations to 278.

GYG also reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting the Australia Segment underlying EBITDA as a percentage of network sales to climb to 6.0 to 6.2% in FY26, versus 5.7% the prior year. 

The company said it is on track to open 32 new Australian restaurants in FY26, with a focus on drive-thrus making up the bulk of planned launches.

Is this the recovery we’ve all been waiting for?

It most certainly looks like it.

The beaten-down shares have steadily tumbled since late 2024, and this is the first time we’ve seen a meaningful share price recovery.

I’m confident that the rally can continue going forward, too, with its huge ambitions for business expansion already underway. GYG plans to reach 1,000 restaurants within 20 years.

While its expansion success in Australia so far has been exceptional, the company has fallen short of its overseas expansion goals, particularly in the US. However, the latest results suggest global growth is finally kicking into gear.

How high can GYG shares go?

If analyst sentiment is anything to go by, we can expect to see a lot more upside from GYG shares.

TradingView data shows that analyst sentiment on the outlook for Guzman Y Gomez shares is now mostly bullish. Out of 13 analysts, eight have a buy or strong buy rating, and another four have a hold rating. One has a strong sell rating.

The average target price is $23.03, which implies a potential 14.7% upside at the time of writing. But some think the stock has the potential to soar another 60% to $32 each over the next 12 months.

The post GYG shares skyrocket 33% this week: Is this the recovery we’ve been waiting for? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans names two ASX 200 shares to buy and one to sell this week
• Why Bank of Queensland, Guzman Y Gomez, NextDC, and Telix shares are racing higher today
• Down 52%, is this ASX fast food stock a screaming buy?
• Guzman y Gomez posts 20% Q3 FY26 sales growth
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are both leaping higher today.

In early afternoon trade on Wednesday, Domino’s shares are trading for $18.26 apiece. That sees shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fast food pizza retailer up 7.0% today.

Pro Medicus stock is enjoying an equally strong. At $130.44 apiece, shares in the ASX 200 health imaging company are up 6.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 2.6% at this same time, buoyed by news of a ceasefire in Iran.

Unfortunately for longer-term stockholders, today’s outperformance of Pro Medicus and Domino’s stock is not par for the course.

Despite today’s boost, Domino’s shares remain down 29.5% since this time last year. And the Pro Medicus share price remains down 30.7%.

While both ASX 200 stocks pay dividends, those haven’t come close to making up for the capital losses suffered over the past year.

And looking ahead, Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable doesn’t expect a near-term rebound for either company (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Time to sell Pro Medicus shares?

“The company provides medical imaging software and services to hospitals and healthcare groups across the world,” said Gable.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Pro Medicus shares, he said:

We remain negative on the technology sector as higher interest rates, continuing market volatility and increasing uncertainty leaves investors questioning the high multiples that companies, such as Pro Medicus, trade on.

As we saw in the early 2000s, technology stocks can lose a significant amount of value before they become attractive again. This rotation out of technology stocks often sees investors flocking to hard assets, such as mining company shares. This is what we’re seeing in share markets at the moment, and this dynamic has further to go, in my view.

Is there more pain to come for Domino’s shares?

Atop Pro Medicus shares, Gable also recommends selling Domino’s shares.

“Although the share price of this fast food company has lost a lot of value in the past few years and recently remained in a downtrend, I don’t see any price support emerging at current levels,” he said.

Gable concluded:

The company is entering a challenging period, where increasing costs and lower consumer confidence could erode margins and put downward pressure on earnings. I can’t identify a positive catalyst at least until the company posts full year results in August.

I expect investors to continue selling the stock on any sharemarket bounce.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Domino’s and Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• After a 30% 2026 slide, Pro Medicus shares are rocketing again
• Pro Medicus announces $23m US contract
• Buy, hold, or sell? Treasury Wine, Domino’s Pizza, and Telstra shares
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, QBE, and Pro Medicus shares
• If I could buy just one ASX stock in April, it’d be Pro Medicus shares

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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8) recently announced the results of exploration drilling near its developing Tabba Tabba lithium project in Western Australia, with the team at Shaw and Partners impressed with the results.

Shaw has a buy recommendation on the shares and a very bullish price target on the company, which we’ll come to shortly.

Exploration success

First, let’s have a look at this week’s news.

The company said that exploration drilling at the Bolt Cutter lithium discovery had shown that mineralisation extended more than 2.3km to the northwest and up to 800m to the northeast.

The Bolt Cutter discovery is 10km west of the Tabba Tabba project, which is in the Pilbara region of WA.

Some of the best drilling results from Bolt Cutter included 9.4m at 1.3% lithium oxide from a depth of 23.2m and 8.1m at 1.2% from a depth of 39.7m.

Wildcat said further drilling on Bolt Cutter would start soon to both extend the discovery and for infill purposes.

The company also said it remained well-funded with $48.5 million in cash as at the end of December.

The company said re the Tabba Tabba project:

The Tabba Tabba Project is an advanced lithium and tantalum development project that is located on granted Mining Leases just 80km by road from Port Hedland, Western Australia. It is nearby some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mines. The Project was one of four significant … pegmatite projects in WA, previously owned by Sons of Gwalia. The others were Greenbushes, Pilgangoora and Wodgina which are now Tier-1 hard-rock lithium mines. Tabba Tabba is the last of these assets to be explored and developed for lithium mineralisation.

Shares looking cheap

The Shaw and Partners analysts said they expected demand for lithium to remain high.

They added:

Current high fuel prices have created a perfect storm for electric vehicle demand and we expect will tip the lithium market into deficit by the end of the year. With prices surging, Wildcat is poised to be producing lithium during the current cycle.

They were also encouraged by the drilling results from Bolt Cutter:

Results to date demonstrate strong potential for Bolt Cutter to grow in scale both laterally and at depth. Bolt Cutter is likely to be a key component of Wildcat’s two-pronged strategy of exploration and development, with organic growth from discoveries providing a clear pathway for integration into broader development plans. Wildcat is moving quickly toward production, having made its major discovery on already granted mining leases. This unusual status, combined with a signed Native Title Agreement, significantly truncates the regulatory and permitting timeline, allowing the company to target first production in 2028. This will allow Wildcat to capitalise on the current lithium price cycle as the market moves into deficit later this decade.

Shaw has a price target of $1.20 on Wildcat shares compared with 39.5 cents currently. Wildcat is valued at $509 million.

The post Looking for an ASX lithium share with plenty of potential upside? This could be the one appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Challenger, Lotus Resources, Mesoblast, and Wildcat shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

There are a lot of ASX shares to choose from on the Australian share market.

But not all are necessarily buys.

So, let’s see what Morgans is saying about three very popular shares this month:

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Morgans believes has been looking at supermarket giant Coles and sees an opportunity for investors after recent weakness in its share price.

While the broker wasn’t overly impressed with its performance in the first half, it has seen enough to upgrade its shares to an accumulate rating and $22.90 price target. It explains :

While COL’s 1H26 result was slightly softer than expected, execution remains strong in the core Supermarkets division. […] Despite the slight downgrade to earnings, our target price remains unchanged at $22.90 due to a roll-forward of our valuation to FY27 forecasts. With a 12-month forecast TSR of 15%, we upgrade our rating to ACCUMULATE (from HOLD).

In our view, COL continues to perform well with key Supermarkets metrics such as customer scores, sales growth, cost discipline and store execution remaining solid. We hence view the recent share price pullback as an attractive entry point.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

This drinks giant is going through a tough period. And while Morgans has seen a few positives, it thinks investors should keep their powder dry until at least its investor day next month.

The broker has put a hold rating and $3.65 price target on Endeavour’s shares. It said:

There were no major surprises in EDV’s 1H26 result following the company’s trading update in January. While EDV continues to work on its refreshed strategy with further details to be provided at an investor day on 27 May, management confirmed that the combined Retail and Hotels portfolio will be retained. Management also noted that they will continue investing in Dan Murphy’s to restore its price leadership, while accelerating hotel renewals and electronic gaming machine (EGM) replacements. We decrease FY26-28F underlying EBIT by between 0-1%. Our target price falls to $3.65 (from $3.70) and we retain our HOLD rating.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Finally, Rio Tinto shares are fairly valued according to Morgans following a recent pullback.

This has seen the broker put a hold rating and $147.00 price target on the mining giant’s shares. While it is a fan of the company, it just isn’t cheap enough to call it a buy yet. It explains:

We upgrade RIO from TRIM to HOLD with a revised target price of A$147 (prior A$146). The recent share price pullback closes the valuation stretch, while a lift in our medium-term iron ore assumption from US$80/t to US$85/t provides a firmer earnings floor. RIO remains a top-tier diversified miner. Not cheap enough for a BUY, but the pullback removes the overshoot that justified TRIM. Iron ore earnings platform, copper and aluminium leverage, and lithium optionality, RIO represents an attractive mix with good execution in the Pilbara and Oyu Tolgoi.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Endeavour, and Rio Tinto shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares hitting 52-week lows amid today’s market rally
• The reliable ASX dividend shares I’d buy with $10,000
• Experts name 3 ASX shares to sell
• How did these ASX defensive shares hold up in March?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Endeavour 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 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.

The mood in markets has shifted quickly.

After a period of volatility driven by rising oil prices and geopolitical tension, the agreement on a ceasefire between the US and Iran has helped ease some of that pressure. 

Oil prices have pulled back and equities have responded, with the ASX pushing higher as risk appetite returns.

That kind of environment can create opportunities and here are five ASX 200 shares I would be looking at as the market rebounds.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is one of the more dependable shares on the ASX 200.

What I like here is the consistency across its portfolio. Bunnings continues to perform well, Kmart’s value positioning remains strong, and the broader group has shown it can grow earnings even in a mixed environment.

As sentiment improves, I think shares like Wesfarmers can quietly keep compounding.

It may not be the most exciting stock in a rebound, but it is one I would feel comfortable owning through different market cycles.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 is another ASX 200 share I’d buy as the market rebounds.

It operates an investment platform used by financial advisers to manage client portfolios, which puts it at the centre of a growing part of the wealth management industry.

What stands out to me is how embedded these platforms become once advisers and their clients are onboarded. That tends to create a sticky and steadily growing base of funds under administration.

As confidence returns, I think there is also potential for renewed inflows as investors re-engage with markets.

For me, it is the combination of structural industry growth, recurring revenue, and operating leverage that makes Hub24 an appealing long-term opportunity.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

Codan brings exposure to a different set of themes.

Its communications and defence-related technologies, including links to drone and counter-drone systems, place it within an area that is seeing increasing global demand.

Governments and organisations are continuing to invest in security and communications capabilities, and Codan is positioned within that ecosystem.

That combination of underlying demand and improving sentiment is interesting to me.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech is one of the more polarising shares on the ASX 200 right now.

The share price has pulled back significantly, and concerns around AI disruption, acquisition integration, and business model changes have weighed on sentiment.

But when I look at the business, I still see a company building out a global logistics platform with strong long-term potential.

As the market rebounds, I think there is scope for sentiment to stabilise.

If the company can continue to execute and demonstrate progress, even modestly, that could support a recovery over time.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville adds a consumer-facing growth angle.

What I like here is the global expansion story. The company continues to grow through new product development and increasing its presence in international markets.

Its premium positioning also appears to be holding up, even in a more cautious consumer environment.

As conditions improve, I think businesses with strong brands and global reach can benefit from a recovery in spending and sentiment. Breville ticks these boxes.

Foolish takeaway

Market rebounds can feel encouraging, but I think it is important to stay focused on the underlying businesses.

Wesfarmers offers consistency, Hub24 provides platform-driven growth, Codan brings exposure to defence and communications, WiseTech represents long-term software potential, and Breville continues to expand globally.

They are very different companies, but each has drivers that go beyond short-term market moves.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares I’d buy as the share market rebounds appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• New to investing? 3 ASX ETFs to set and forget for 10 years
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today’s market rally
• 2 ASX 200 tech shares this fund manager backs to survive the AI threat
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 22% I’d buy right now
• Down 35% in 2026, are Xero shares the bargain buy of April?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Codan, Hub24, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24, Wesfarmers, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Are you looking for ASX 200 shares to buy this week?

Well, the team at Morgans has narrowed things down by naming two shares to buy and one to sell, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what it is recommending:

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

Morgans thinks that this gaming technology company could be an ASX 200 share to buy now.

With Aristocrat’s shares trading on lower than normal multiples, the broker believes an attractive buying opportunity has opened up. It said:

Aristocrat Leisure designs, develops and distributes gaming content, platforms and systems. It offers high quality recurring earnings from generating real money online gaming opportunities. An under geared balance sheet provides options for acquisitions, and ALL is a capital light business with strong cash conversion. The company is trading well below historical levels. The stock is attractively valued given its track record of proven earnings growth.

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

Another ASX share that Morgans has named as a buy this week is copper miner Capstone Copper.

Once again, it believes the company’s shares are trading at an attractive level for investors. It explains:

This copper miner and developer has five long-life assets strategically located in the Americas. CSC is one of a limited number of pure play copper names listed on the ASX. Copper production growth differentiates CSC from its peers. Growth is driven by a combination of near term and longer dated brownfield and greenfield projects, alongside a declining cost profile. CSC was recently trading on a modest price-earnings ratio in 2026 and offers good value at these price levels.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Morgans has named this ASX 200 share as a sell this week according to The Bull. It highlights that the Mexican fast food company’s US business is underperforming and will need to improve to deliver value for shareholders. It said:

Guzman Y Gomez owns, operates and franchises Mexican inspired quick service restaurants in Australia, Singapore, Japan and the United States. The company’s premium valuation is predicated on expectations it will deliver material earnings per share growth over many years. In our view, the company is exposed to execution risk as it aggressively continues to open new restaurants in Australia. Australian earnings were up strongly in the first half of 2026.

However, segment underlying EBITDA in the United States posted a loss of $8.3 million. Management will need to narrow its losses in the US and increase the pace of US expansion to ultimately deliver value for shareholders. GYG shares have fallen from $31 on March 31, 2025 to trade at $15.735 on April 2, 2026.

The post Morgans names two ASX 200 shares to buy and one to sell this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Bank of Queensland, Guzman Y Gomez, NextDC, and Telix shares are racing higher today
• Down 52%, is this ASX fast food stock a screaming buy?
• Guzman y Gomez posts 20% Q3 FY26 sales growth
• Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, BHP, and Woodside shares 
• Brokers rate these 3 top ASX shares as buys in April

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.

Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) shares are racing higher on Wednesday after the gold and copper miner delivered another strong quarterly production update.

In afternoon trade, the Greatland share price is up 10.63% to $14.78, after earlier surging to a new all-time high of $15.25 before some profit-taking trimmed the gain.

Even after pulling back from the session peak, the stock is still up roughly 40% in 2026 and more than 120% over the past 12 months.

Let’s dive right into what was announced today.

Cash pile tops $1 billion after another strong quarter

According to its March 2026 quarter production update, Greatland produced 82,723 ounces of gold and 4,128 tonnes of copper from Telfer.

Sales were even stronger at 97,800 ounces of gold and 4,620 tonnes of copper, helping drive another big lift in cash generation.

Management revealed its cash balance climbed to $1.208 billion at 31 March, up from $948 million at the end of December. That means the business added $260 million in cash during the quarter, despite capital expenditure and a $73 million tax payment linked to the Telfer acquisition.

The company also remains debt-free, leaving it in a strong position as it continues development work across the wider Paterson region.

One point likely helping sentiment is that management said Telfer remains insulated from the current Middle East conflict’s effect on fuel supply.

Diesel is sourced under a long-term contract via Port Hedland, while processing power comes from Pilbara natural gas infrastructure.

With gold prices still trading near record levels, that operating stability may be giving investors more confidence in near-term earnings visibility.

Production guidance still points to a strong FY26 finish

Greatland said current production is tracking slightly above the upper end of its FY26 guidance range of 260,000 ounces to 310,000 ounces of gold.

That’s a strong signal heading into the final quarter of the financial year and helps explain why buyers pushed the stock to fresh highs in today’s session.

The March quarter update also follows a strong first-half result released in February, when the miner reported revenue of $977.3 million and net profit after tax of $342.9 million.

With a market capitalisation now approaching $10 billion, Greatland is quickly cementing its place among the ASX’s major gold names.

The stock currently ranks 60th on the ASX by size.

Foolish Takeaway

I think gold prices could be the next major catalyst for another leg higher in Greatland shares.

The company is already generating strong cash flow from Telfer, and today’s update showed production is tracking above FY26 guidance. If gold prices stay near record highs, that leverage could translate into even stronger cash generation.

With more than $1.2 billion in cash, no debt, and growing exposure to Havieron, I believe Greatland still has room to climb from here.

The post Why Greatland shares just hit a record high after a $260 million cash jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Greatland Resources posts March quarter update
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Why Greatland Resources, Newmont, Northern Star, and Qantas shares are rising today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX gold shares tumble as bull run faces its first big test in 1Q CY26

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are charging higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech stock closed yesterday trading for $140.31. During the Wednesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $143.10 apiece, up 2.0%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 2.5% at this same time amid renewed hopes of a deescalation in the Iran war.

Despite today’s welcome boost, however, CSL shares remain down a sharp 41.8% since this time last year. Those losses will have only been modestly eased by the two unfranked dividends the company paid out over the past year.

CSL stock trades on a 3.0% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

Looking ahead, however, Morgans Financial’s Mitch Belichovski expects “diminishing headwinds” for the ASX 200 healthcare share (courtesy of The Bull).

CSL shares: buy, hold or sell?

“This biotechnology giant has a strong research and development pipeline and a successful track record in launching new products,” Belichovski said.

“Its first half result in fiscal year 2026 was softer than expected, with net profit after tax and amortisation declining 7%,” he noted.

Explaining his hold recommendation on CSL shares, Belichovski concluded:

However, the company’s outlook appears supported through a combination of cost-outs, marketing initiatives and diminishing headwinds, which are all reinforced by the board’s urgency around operational delivery.

This provides long term appeal for investors already holding the stock.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 biotech stock?

CSL reported its half year results (H1 FY 2026) on 11 February.

Atop the 7% year on year decline in NPATA Belichovski mentioned above, the company also suffered a 4% decline in revenue on a constant currency basis to US$8.3 billion.

The company said it had been negatively impacted by a number of factors over the six months including government policy changes, one-off restructuring costs and impairments.

On the positive side, CSL reported a 3% year-on-year increase in cash flow from operations to US$1.3 billion. And management increased the share buyback program from US$500 million to US$750 million.

“We are clearly not satisfied with our performance and have implemented a number of initiatives to drive stronger growth going forward,” CSL’s chief financial officer Ken Lim said of the half year results.

Looking ahead, Lim said, “In the second half we have an ambitious growth plan, driven by immunoglobulin, albumin and our newly launched products.”

Pleasingly, CSL reaffirmed its full year FY 2026 guidance for 2% to 3% revenue growth and 4% to 7% NPATA growth.

CSL shares closed down 4.6% on the day of the results release.

The post Why beaten down CSL shares now offer ‘long-term appeal’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• Why the recent ASX share market selloff is a wealth-building opportunity
• 2 classy ASX healthcare stocks to buy before the next market surge
• New to investing? 3 ASX ETFs to set and forget for 10 years
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today’s market rally

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

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) insurance giant closed yesterday trading for $21.92. In late morning trade on Wednesday, shares are swapping hands for $22.18 apiece, up 1.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 2.7% at this same time amid renewed hopes of a deescalation in the Iran war.

Taking a step back, QBE has strongly outperformed the benchmark index in 2026.

Since market close on 31 December, QBE shares are up 11.5% compared to the 2.7% year to date gain posted by the ASX 200.

QBE also trades on a partly franked trailing dividend yield of 4.9%.

And looking ahead, Investor Pulse’s Mark Elzayed expects more outperformance from the Aussie insurer (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should you buy QBE shares today?

“Elevated premium rates and higher interest yields combine to drive earnings momentum,” said Elzayed, citing the first reason he’s bullish on the stock.

He noted:

Improvement was clear in its full year 2025 results released in February. Net profit after tax of US$2.157 billion was up from US$1.779 billion in the prior corresponding period. Premium growth remained solid, with gross written premiums increasing 7% to $US23.9 billion, driven by rate increases across North America and international markets.

As for the second reason you might want to buy QBE shares today, Elzayed said, “At the same time, catastrophe costs were well below expectations.”

Which leads to the third reason, namely the company’s growing passive income appeal.

“This combination of underwriting strength and cost control supported a 25% increase in the full year dividend to $1.09 a share,” Elzayed said.

QBE’s passive income payouts in 2025 represented a full year dividend payout ratio of 50%.

“Improved quality of earnings and reduced volatility adds to QBE’s appeal,” Elzayed concluded.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 insurer?

QBE released its full calendar year 2025 results on 20 February.

Atop the strong growth metrics Elzayed mentioned up top, the company also achieved a 17% year-on-year increase in its funds under management to US$35.8 billion.

And the company’s total investment income of $1.63 billion equated to a return of 4.9%.

“QBE delivered strong performance in 2025, exceeding our financial plan for the year,” QBE CEO Andrew Horton said. “Profitability remains attractive across the majority of lines and the year ahead appears constructive for further growth, and a continuation of solid returns.”

QBE shares closed up 7.1% on the day of the results release.

The post 3 compelling reasons to buy QBE shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, QBE, and Pro Medicus shares
• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, QBE, and Qantas shares
• 5 ASX shares that could benefit from rising interest rates
• 3 reasons to buy QBE shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Magellan, and QBE shares

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.

April is shaping up as a good time to take a step back and think about where I want my money working over the long term.

After recent volatility, I think it makes sense to look at where long-term opportunities still exist, rather than getting caught up in short-term market moves.

For me, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the simplest ways to do that. They provide broad exposure, reduce stock-specific risk, and allow you to lean into themes that can play out over many years.

Here are three Vanguard ETFs I would be comfortable buying in April.

Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

One area I think is often underrepresented in portfolios is Asia.

The region is home to some of the most important economies in the world, yet many investors remain heavily weighted toward Australia and the United States.

The VAE ETF offers a way to rebalance that.

It provides exposure to large and influential companies across markets like China, Taiwan, India, and South Korea. These are economies that are continuing to evolve, supported by industrial growth, rising consumption, and increasing technological capability.

What I like about this ETF is the diversity within the region.

It is not a single-country bet. It is a collection of different growth stories, from semiconductor manufacturing to digital platforms and financial services.

Over time, I think that kind of exposure can complement a more traditional portfolio.

Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500)

The United States remains one of the most important drivers of global equity returns.

Even after a strong run over many years, I still see reasons to maintain exposure.

The V500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, giving access to 500 of the largest companies in the US across a wide range of industries.

What stands out to me here is the breadth. This is not just a technology story. It includes healthcare, financials, consumer brands, and industrial leaders. That creates a more balanced exposure to the US economy.

The recent pullback, with similar funds like the iShares S&P 500 ETF down from their highs, has also made valuations a bit less stretched than they were previously.

For long-term investors, I think maintaining exposure to this market remains important.

Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF (ASX: VTEK)

Technology continues to shape how the global economy operates. Having exposure to it could be a smart long-term move.

The VTEK ETF focuses on around 300 technology stocks across both developed and emerging markets. That includes not just well-known US names, but also companies in other regions that are playing key roles in areas like semiconductors, software, and digital infrastructure.

I see this ETF as a way to capture innovation more directly.

It is more concentrated than a broad market fund, which means it can be more volatile. But it also offers more targeted exposure to a sector that I think will remain central to growth over the long term.

The global nature of the fund is also important. It reflects the fact that innovation is not limited to a single country.

Foolish takeaway

ETFs can play different roles within a portfolio. The VAE ETF provides exposure to a region with long-term structural growth potential, the V500 ETF offers broad access to one of the most influential equity markets in the world, and the VTEK ETF adds a more focused tilt toward global technology and innovation.

Each brings something different, and I think that combination can help build a portfolio that is both diversified and positioned for the future.

The post Why I’d buy these excellent Vanguard ETFs in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A simple 3-ETF portfolio I’d use to build long-term wealth
• Here are 5 ASX ETFs that I would buy with $50,000
• Why I’m seriously thinking about buying these ASX ETFs in April
• Where I’d invest $50,000 into ASX ETFs today
• Why these Vanguard ETFs could be best buys in 2026

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 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.