As we embark upon the fifth month of 2026, it’s a great time to take stock of how some of the ASX’s most popular shares have been faring. Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is one of those shares, currently the seventh largest stock in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
Wesfarmers has been around for a very long time and has a loyal following on the ASX. It has a proud history of growing its capital base, looking after its shareholders, and paying strong, reliable dividends.
Wesfarmers is a rather unique company on the ASX. It is a sprawling conglomerate, with businesses that cover almost every corner of the economy. Its core holdings, and crown jewels, are the leading retailers Kmart, Target, OfficeWorks and, last but not least, Bunnings Warehouse.
But the company also owns operations in mining and mineral processing, gas, clothing, and healthcare, just to name a few.
As such, many ASX investors would be interested in this company’s performance. So today, let’s take a look at how Wesfarmers fared over the month of April.
Wesfarmers shares began April at $72.91 each. Yesterday, those same shares wrapped up the day’s trading at $72.92. That’s almost a dead rubber, with the company rising just 0.01% over the month. In stark contrast, the broader ASX 200 had a relatively pleasant month, rebounding 2.2% after March’s nasty 7.8% plunge.
Of course, Wesfarmers’ April bookends don’t tell the entire story. Last month saw this ASX 200 stock rise as high as $77.31 on 14 April, and get as low as $71.88 just two days ago on 29 April. That’s a difference of about 7.5%.
How have Wesfarmers shares been faring?
Wesfarmers shares have had a rather awful 2206 to date. The company began the year on a roll, rising more than 9.2% betwween 1 January and mid-February. However, Wesfarmers’ poorly-received half-year earnings report threw water on that fire. The company’s share price plunged after the company warned of imminent headwinds to its profitability.
Since 18 February, the Wesfarmers share price has taken a 17.4% dive (as of current pricing). Year to date, the company is sitting on a 9.9% loss, which narrows to 6.35% over the past 12 months. Investors are still comfortably in the green over a five-year period, though, with the company up 36% since May 2021.
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Wesfarmers 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…
Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The NDQ ETF sits right in the middle of those trends.
That does not mean the ride will be smooth. Technology stocks can be volatile, especially when interest rates are rising or sentiment shifts.
But over longer periods, I think the direction of travel has been fairly clear.
As more of the global economy becomes digital, companies that enable that shift are likely to keep growing.
A simple way to access global tech
Another reason I like the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF is its simplicity.
Instead of trying to pick individual winners, the NDQ ETF gives you diversified exposure across a wide range of technology-focused businesses.
That reduces the risk of getting a single stock wrong.
At the same time, it still allows you to participate in the upside if the broader sector performs well.
For me, that balance is important. It is a way to gain exposure to a high-growth area without relying on one company to deliver all the returns.
Foolish takeaway
The NDQ ETF is not a low-risk investment. It can be volatile, and there will be periods where it underperforms other parts of the market.
But when I look out over the next 10 years, I think the combination of global technology exposure, structural growth, and diversification makes it a compelling option.
Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF right now?
Before you buy BetaShares Nasdaq 100 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 Nasdaq 100 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…
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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
If you are searching for a combination of major upside and an attractive dividend yield, then read on.
That’s because Bell Potter has named one ASX 200 share that it believes offers both.
Which ASX 200 share?
The share in question is Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA).
It is focused on the processing, manufacturing, and distribution of dairy and associated products to both Australian and international markets. This includes the iconic Vegemite brand.
According to the note, the broker was pleased with what it heard from Bega Cheese at its investor day event.
Bell Potter highlights that management continues to target strong earnings growth over the coming years. It said:
FY28e targets: FY26e EBITDA guidance $222-227m was unchanged, with recently announced product levies of 8-15¢/L or kg implemented quickly and with the ability to move on short notice. FY28e EBITDA guidance has been firmed from >$250m to $260-265m with the majority of the uplift from FY26e to FY28e linked to already announced initiatives, principally the closure of Strathmerton.
FY31e targets: BGA has issued its initial FY31e baseline EBITDA target of $310m+, which is driven by two strong themes in the branded business, being: (1) Continued investment in high growth categories such as milk based beverages and yoghurt, where category growth has been +8-10% p.a. and BGA unveiled a planned +25% uplift in yoghurt capacity; and (2) Continued investment in its Tatura cream cheese capability, where volumes have grown at +14% p.a. and a +28% capacity expansion is planned.
Importantly, Bell Potter believes this is achievable. The broker explains:
The FY28-31e baseline projections would look highly achievable based on current dynamics in the categories being targeted and requires BGA to execute at a rate not inconsistent with what they have achieved over the FY23-26e.
Big potential returns
In response to the investor update, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and $7.75 price target on the ASX 200 share.
Based on the current Bega Cheese share price of $5.54, this implies potential upside of 40% for investors over the next 12 months.
In addition, it expects a 2.5% dividend yield over the period, rising to 3.5% by FY 2028.
Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:
Our Buy rating is unchanged. BGA has articulated a strategy to generating double digit EPS growth to FY31e, through low risk investment in its core competencies of yoghurt, cream cheese and milk based beverages. In addition, BGA has also implemented levy frameworks that reduce the risk of prolonged Middle East disruption on the cost base and retailers have already followed suit with on shelf price moves.
Should you invest $1,000 in Bega Cheese right now?
Before you buy Bega Cheese 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 Bega Cheese 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…
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.
Sriram cites currency challenges for companies reporting in US dollars, and the likelihood of further interest rate rises in Australia.
Cost-of-living pressures in Australia and worldwide are also prompting people to delay treatments, such as surgeries.
Higher shipping costs due to the Iran war, new caps on insurance payouts in some nations, and higher staff wages are also having an impact.
However, 4DMedical has cleared one of the biggest hurdles for ASX biotechs today: regulatory uncertainty in the world’s biggest market, the United States.
Amid leadership changes at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are also conflicting signals on future approval standards.
A US rare diseases advocacy organisation says uncertainty has become so great that biotechs are finding it difficult to raise funding.
Sriram said:
While other ASX healthcare stocks are being hammered by FDA uncertainty under Trump, 4DX had already cleared the hurdle.
In September 2025, 4DMedical received FDA 510(k) clearance for its CT:VQ platform.
4DX also secured a one-year contract with GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK), starting in May 2026, to provide lung imaging biomarkers for pharmaceutical clinical trials.
What is CT:VQ?
4DMedical describes CT:VQ as the world’s first nonâcontrast postâprocessing technology that transforms routine chest CTs into quantitative, lobar ventilation and perfusion maps without the need for patients to be injected with contrast agents or radioisotopes.
It’s a software-as-a-service (SaaS) system compatible with the 14,500 CT scanners already installed across the US.
Sriram said 4DMedical shares are bucking the trend because the company is in a different stage of its regulatory and commercial journey than its healthcare sector peers.
She said:
The headwinds hammering CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) and ResMed CDI (ASX: RMD) don’t apply to a company that cracked the US market open from scratch.
It’s a pure growth story in a sector that’s otherwise in a value reset.
UK clearance opens access to one of the world’s most developed diagnostic imaging markets, with millions of chest CT scans performed annually across respiratory, oncology and acute care pathways.
Should you buy 4DMedical shares?
This ASX 200 healthcare share sure is popular with Aussie investors.
Over the past 30 days, 4DMedical shares were the most traded ASX 200 healthcare stock on Stake, and 70% of orders were buys.
There is a consensus hold rating among three analysts on the CommSec trading platform today.
Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group also has a hold rating on 4DMedical shares.
Bromley noted that 4DMedical has a strong regulatory moat in the US, and commented (courtesy The Bull):
In a relatively short time since the US Food and Drug Administration approved its CT:VQ product, US hospitals are adopting it, including the highly renowned Mayo Clinic.
Also, 4DX has been included in the S&P/ASX200 Index, which should generate more interest in the company.
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and 4DMedical 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…
Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended GSK. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Cochlear. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) likes to be fashionably late when it comes to earnings. Most shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) report their half-year earnings between February and March. But, as of this first day of May, ANZ’s have only just arrived. So let’s talk about them and the next ANZ dividend.
As we covered this morning, it was a seemingly pleasing set of numbers that the bank had to show for itself.
ANZ reported a statutory profit of $3.65 billion for the six months to 31 March, up 62% on the prior half. The ASX bank also unveiled a cash profit of $3.78 billion, up 70% or 14% excluding significant items. Meanwhile, operating income was up 3% to $11.2 billion, helped by a 22% drop in operating expenses to $5.54 billion.
It seems investors were expecting better from the bank, though. ANZ shares closed at $36.65 each yesterday. However, at the time of writing, the ANZ share price is down a hefty 1.01% to $36.29. Given that the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is presently up a happy 0.94%, we can only conclude that this earnings report hasn’t gone down too well. Perhaps that has something to do with the dividend that ANZ just announced.
ANZ shares drop as interim dividend steady
Despite the notable jump in profits for the half, ANZ has revealed that its interim dividend for 2026 will come in at 83 cents per share. That matches both the interim and final dividends from last year. In fact, 83 cents per share is the same payout that investors have been receiving every six months since July 2024.
This latest ANZ dividend has been scheduled for payment on 1 July, kicking off the new financial year with a bang for investors. If investors wish to receive it, though, and don’t already own shares, they will need to buy some before the ex-dividend date of 11 May.
Eligible investors then have until 13 May to decide if they wish to participate in the optional dividend reinvestment plan (DRP)Â and receive additional ANZ shares in lieu of a cash payment.
At the current ANZ share price, this ASX 200 bank stock trades with a trailing dividend yield of 4.58% â the highest among the big four ASX banks at present. Since ANZ is holding its interim dividend steady, we can also assign the company a forward yield of 4.58%.
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Anz 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…
Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.
In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1% to 8,753.2 points.
Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:
The EQ Resources share price is down 5.5% to 25.5 cents. This follows news that the tungsten producer announced that it will not go ahead with the proposed acquisition of Tungsten Metals Group. EQR Resources’ managing director, Craig Bradshaw, said: “Following thorough engagement with TMG Group throughout 2025 and a careful review of our strategic priorities during the second and third quarters of FY2026, the Board has determined that proceeding with the acquisition is not in the best interests of shareholders at this time.”
The Inghams share price is down 4% to $1.81. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the poultry producer’s shares to a hold rating (from buy) with a reduced price target of $2.00 (from $2.75). It said: “We downgrade our rating from Buy to Hold. Recent commentary from other ASX listed entities would imply a softening in foodservice and out-of-home channels as consumer confidence has weakened over March-April.”
The ResMed share price is down 4% to $28.53. Investors have been selling the sleep disorder treatment company’s shares following the release of its third-quarter update. ResMed reported an 11% (8% in constant currency) increase in revenue to US$1.4 billion. However, higher expenses meant that net income increased at a slower rate of 9% to US$398.7 million. ResMed’s CEO, Mick Farrell, said: Our third quarter results reflect the continued strength of our global business, driven by ongoing demand for our market-leading products and disciplined execution of our strategy.”
The Skycity share price is down over 3% to 52.2 cents. This morning, the casino and resorts operator downgraded its earnings guidance. It now expects underlying EBITDA to be $180 million to $190 million. This is down from its previous guidance of $190 million to $210 million. The company blamed the negative impact that rising fuel prices are having on consumers.
Should you invest $1,000 in EQ Resources Ltd right now?
Before you buy EQ Resources Ltd 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 EQ Resources Ltd 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…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
After more than a week of constant selling, our local Aussie shares are finally catching a break on Friday.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is pushing higher, snapping an 8-session losing streak that had started to wear on sentiment.
At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.94% to 8,680 points.
Today’s rebound comes after stronger leads from overseas markets overnight, which has helped steady the tone early throughout the day.
Here’s the latest.
Wall Street gives local shares a lift
US markets pushed higher overnight, which has helped lift confidence across the ASX.
The Nasdaq climbed 0.98%, while the Dow Jones rose 1.62%, helping build momentum heading into Friday’s session.
Tech earnings have been holding up, which is giving the broader market some support even with ongoing tension in the Middle East.
Oil prices also pulled back, with Brent crude slipping back towards US$112 a barrel, easing some of the pressure around inflation.
Resources lead the rebound
The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) is doing most of the heavy lifting, with iron ore majors and gold names pushing higher. The index is up around 2.1% intraday, which is helping drive the broader market higher.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is up 2.68%, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has added about 3.05%, while gold giant Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) is pushing closer to 2.6% higher.
The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) is also firmer, while the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index(ASX: XFJ) is more mixed. ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is down 1.09% following its latest result, while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and the major banks are holding up better.
Across the broader market, the majority of stocks are trading higher, with around three quarters of the index in positive territory.
Foolish takeaway
After a brutal run like that, the market was always going to find some kind of support.
What stands out to me is how quickly things can stabilise once selling slows down.
There was not really a single trigger behind the bounce today. It just feels like pressure eased enough for buyers to step back in.
Even so, I am not treating this as a clear shift.
The past week showed how easily sentiment can turn, and that does not disappear after one strong session.
I am more interested in whether this holds without much resistance.
Until then, I’ll be keeping my powder dry for now.
Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right nowâ¦
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 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.
There were a couple of retail trends laid bare this week.
Neither is particularly surprising, for those who’ve been keeping an eye on the market⦠but they are stark and likely to continue to be impactful. And they’re inextricably linked.
Let’s start with the topline numbers.
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) released its third quarter sales, which included 5.9% growth for the Australian supermarket business). A pretty good result, continuing its good form from the previous quarter, but the company flagged an earnings downgrade due primarily to increased fuel costs.
Amazon (I own shares, for the record) Australia’s 2025 retail revenue hit $4.8 billion, up 25%. Interestingly, that’s a minority of the company’s overall Australian revenue, eclipsed by the remainder of its business (primarily Cloud computing, advertising and Prime subscriptions).
McDonald’s Australia did $7.5 billion in sales in 2025, up 7%.
And David Jones sold $2 billion worth of merchandise, but that was down 8%, and the company reported an almost-$100 million loss.
Those are each really interesting numbers, I reckon, for lots of company specific reasons.Â
Just the fact that Amazon’s retail business is the minority of its local revenue is fascinating (and a reminder of the growth of cloud computing in general and AI in particular). And the ongoing tussle between Woolies and Coles is always interesting to watch.
But, with the exception of Amazon (for reasons that will soon become clear!), the topline numbers aren’t the key story, I don’t reckon.
What’s fascinating to me is the ongoing surge of ecommerce. And I think many investors are still missing it.
Let’s look at each of those companies.
Woolworths’ online sales grew by over 20%, more than three times the almost-6% in total revenue growth.
Macca’s home delivery sales â through the company’s own app and other delivery apps â topped $1 billion – essentially $1 in every $7.
Amazon’s sales are obviously all online, but 25% is impressive growth on an already-massive base.
And while DJs sales fell 8%, the company’s online sales were up 10%.
Stating the bleeding obvious, online sales are growing in total, but are also growing strongly as a proportion of sales for those companies with a ‘bricks and clicks’ channel mix.
Now, it’s certain that the strong growth across each of those companies’ online operations will moderate at some point. But it could run at these or similar levels for a long while yet.
Why?
Well, online sales are starting from a low base, and so can grow at decent rates for a while; as total multichannel sales grow, and as online cannibalises physical retail.
And not just those companies’ own physical retail⦠but the retail business of those competitors who can’t, won’t or don’t manage to make that transition as successfully as others.
The impacts? They’re impossible to forecast exactly. But I think we can take a decent swing at the likely directional impacts.
We’ve already seen some predominantly or solely physical retailers go to the wall. Mosaic Brands, the parent of Millers, Rockmans, Noni B, Rivers and others, is probably the clearest example. Godfrey’s, Barbecues Galore and this week bedmaker A.H. Beard are all likely to have fallen victim â in large part, though not entirely â to this broader retail trend.
Speaking of which, I think it’s very likely that both Myer and DJs, which are sailing into stiff headwinds anyway, would have probably gone very close to collapse long before now had they not been able to secure a very decent slice of their sales through their respective websites.
(If I was to grab a crystal ball, I suspect that in a decade or so if they’re still around, they’re predominantly online businesses with a handful of CBD stores.)
And for investors?
If I’m right about the trend, the opportunity is to identify which businesses are winning, and likely to keep winning, the online race.
If they do, they’re likely to be able to grow above the market growth rate by winning online and taking sales and customers from other retailers.
I would also suggest it’s worth thinking about the end result, rather than the short term. That is, if I’m right about the end stage, companies investing now (and making less money for a while) to put themselves in a better place as that end result plays out, might be cheaper than they appear.
Real estate? I wouldn’t want to invest in mid-tier retail real estate for quids. The big ‘destination’ centres will probably be okay. The local shopping centres will be fine for now, but bear watching if/when some individual stores become unprofitable as more shopping goes online. But the mid-tier stuff, that is neither a destination, nor local? That feels really risky to me.
And the pure-play companies? If those trends above are right, and the online-only mobs can stay relevant (not something we should just assume, of course), they could have a long runway ahead.
Ecommerce has been around for a while. It’s easy to take it for granted. But I think it has a long way to play out.
1,000 reasons to celebrate!
It occurred to me the other day that I probably don’t talk about the Motley Fool Money podcast enough. Hopefully you already know about it (and hopefully you’re already listening!).
And if you don’t? Well, today might be a good time to start â because today is something of a milestone.
This afternoon, at 4.30pm AEST, we’ll publish our 1,000th episode!
Back in 2016, I got a call from Triple M, asking if we’d ever considered a podcast. Everyone is doing them these days, but back then it was a pretty new thing. Frankly, we hadn’t thought about it, but we were happy to give it a go.
(And do me a favour: please don’t go and listen to those early episodes! I haven’t relistened to them, either, but I’m pretty sure I’d be horrified!)
For some reason, Triple M liked that first episode enough to let us keep going (or perhaps just didn’t have a better option?). We’re now part of the LiSTNR podcast stable, a sister brand to Triple M.
Over the past 10 years, the podcast has ebbed and flowed, with my original co-host, Andrew Page, departing and then rejoining me, and the pod expanding to a couple of core episodes a week â our ‘regular’ Friday episode, and our originally-extra-but-now-permanent Sunday ‘mailbag’ episode.
But it’s not really about us. I wanted to thank those of you who listen regularly (more than a few of you ever since Episode 1!). You suffer our in-jokes and quirks gladly, and we really love hearing from you with questions, suggestions and even the occasional disagreement.
We hope we return your loyalty with a combination of fun, education and investing news and views.
If you’re not listening yet, why not tune in and see what you’ve been missing?
It’s free, it’s capital-F Foolish, and I hope it’ll be a regular companion to your Motley Fool membership or readership.
You can find it on iTunes, Spotify, the LiSTNR app or wherever you get your podcasts!
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Myer 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…
Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $320 calls on McDonald’s and short January 2028 $340 calls on McDonald’s. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Capstone this week said in its quarterly report that it had recorded its sixth consecutive quarter of record EBITDA generation, “driven by solid operations and all-time high copper prices”.
The company’s total consolidated copper production came in at 47,690 tonnes, at a cost of US$2.66 per pound, compared with 53,796 tonnes at a cost of US$2.59 per pound in the first quarter last year.
The lower production was caused in part by a 35-day strike at the company’s Mantoverde mine.
Capstone also reiterated its 2026 production guidance of 200,000 to 230,000 tonnes of copper at a cost of US$2.45 to US$2.75 per pound.
Macquarie said in its report on Capstone that it was a “good start to the year under the circumstances”.
They did hint at cost issues coming down the line however, with increased diesel costs having the potential to cut US$75 million from EBITDA, the Macquarie team said.
Macquarie has a $16.40 target price on Capstone shares compared with $11.71 currently.
In Jupiter’s third quarter report the company said it had produced 849,772 tonnes of manganese and sold 839,989 tonnes, figures which Macquarie said were marginally higher than consensus estimates.
The company said it had being paying more for freight and diesel during the quarter due to the war in the Middle East, but, “manganese prices increased sufficiently to compensate for these cost increases”.
The company booked a net profit of $21 million for the quarter, up on $14.6 million the previous quarter but lower than the $28.3 million achieved in the same period the previous year.
Macquarie said in its report that the recent rally in manganese prices sets the company up for a positive end to the year.
Macquarie has a price target of 33 cents on Jupiter shares compared with 26.5 cents currently.
The company is now expecting to ship more iron ore this year, increasing its guidance from 17.1-18.8 million tonnes to 17.7-19.4 million.
The company’s mining services division also increased its guidance from 305-325 million tonnes to 330-330 million tonnes.
MinRes also increased its expected lithium production from 260-280,000 tonnes to 270-290,000 tonnes.
Macquarie said the company outperformed in terms of costs at its iron ore operations and with regards to lithium production and mining services production.
Macquarie has a price target of $75 on MinRes shares compared with $66.88 currently.
Should you invest $1,000 in Mineral Resources right now?
Before you buy Mineral Resources 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 Mineral Resources 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…
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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The company reported a 4.5% lift in group sales to $18.1 billion for the third quarter, led by strong Australian Food sales up 5.9% and a 20.2% jump in eCommerce sales.
Additional results included:
New Zealand Food sales up 1.4% (NZD), with a challenging retail environment
W Living division (BIG W and Petstock) sales up 4.8%; Petstock grew 15.9%
Group Net Promoter Score (VOC NPS) of 47, up 3 points on March 2025.
However, investors were seemingly left wanting more as Woolworths shares crashed 10% on Thursday.
At the time of writing, they have recovered just over 0.4% today.
The team at Morgans see upside potential following yesterday’s strong sell-off.
Here’s what the broker had to say.
Sales update mixed
Morgans said the 3Q26 sales trading update was mixed.
Strong sales growth was offset by softer FY26 earnings guidance for Australian Food and NZ Food, as management chose to absorb higher fuel costs and invest in pricing.
Management noted that value is becoming increasingly important, as customers become more cautious amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
We reduce group FY26-28F underlying EBIT marginally by 1%. Our target price remains unchanged at $37.30. With a 12-month forecast TSR of 12%, we upgrade our rating to ACCUMULATE (from HOLD).
From today’s share price of $34.52, this share price target from Morgans indicates an 8% upside.
Outlook mixed for Woolworths shares
Morgans noted that while absorbing higher costs and investing in pricing will weigh on margins in the near term, it believes this is the right strategy in the long-term as Woolworths works to improve its value perception with customers.Â
These are levers within management’s control, and improving sales and volume momentum indicates the strategy is resonating. In an uncertain macro environment with soft consumer sentiment, WOW’s dominant market position and relatively defensive characteristics should support steady and resilient earnings growth.
It’s worth noting that not all brokers share the same outlook for Woolworths shares.
Bell Potter downgraded the supermarket company’s shares to a hold (previously buy) following the sales results.
It also downgraded its share price target to $35.50 (previously $38.25).
The broker said food inflation looks to be returning which should be beneficial for the topline.
This looks largely offset by the margin impact of absorbing supply chain inflation, which is likely to be amplified in 4Q26e as a run rate into FY27e, where outcomes will be dependent on an easing in middle east tensions.
Should you invest $1,000 in Woolworths Group right now?
Before you buy Woolworths 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 Woolworths 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…
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 positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
