Author: openjargon

The ASX tech share space has been a painful place to be invested over the last few months. Some investors have decided to hit the sell button. But, that’s not the strategy I’d choose to go with right now.

I think it’s important not to be too influenced by the share price movements. I wouldn’t buy something just because it has gone up in value and I wouldn’t sell something just because it has gone down.

The cliché phrase to make money with the share market is ‘buy low, sell high’ not ‘buy high, sell low’.

So, there are a few strategies I’d think about in this situation.

Stick with it

It’s not ideal to see our portfolio values fall, particularly when the decline is around 50% (or more).

However, the huge drops we’re seeing don’t necessarily mean there has been a deterioration of business profitability. Yes, AI may affect some businesses and industries. But, don’t forget that AI could also assist profitability at certain companies that have been sold off.

Either way, Warren Buffett – one of the world’s greatest investors – once made this very astute observation:

The stock market is a device to transfer money from the impatient to the patient.

It’s at times like this that I think investors need to be patient with good businesses/investments, even when share prices fall.

There are certain times when share prices look expensive and there are times when share prices become dramatically cheaper.

For me, ASX tech share volatility is not a bad thing, instead I think it’s a great opportunity to buy shares at a much cheaper price.

Look for (ASX) share opportunities

Bear markets can be stressful times, but for patient investors they seem like the best time to invest.

As Warren Buffett once said:

If you expect to be a net saver during the next five years, should you hope for a higher or lower stock market during that period?

Many investors get this one wrong. Even though they are going to be net buyers of stocks for many years to come, they are elated when stock prices rise and depressed when they fall.     

Only those who will be sellers of equities in the near future should be happy at seeing stocks rise. Prospective purchasers should much prefer sinking prices.

Buying at lower prices can help unlock bigger long-term returns and create better margins of safety for investors. I’m looking at ASX tech share names like TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO).

I also try to only buy investments that I’d be excited to buy more at cheaper prices. That way, declines can be seen as an opportunity (and hopefully fairly short-term) for investors.

Look at ASX defensive shares

I believe investors should regularly put money towards building their portfolio. If investing in heavily sold-off ASX tech share seems too risky, then investing in defensive areas of the Australian economy could be more reassuring.

Names like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), APA Group (ASX: APA) and so on could be smart buys, in my view.

If they can deliver resilient profits then the share prices could hold up better than other areas of the market, as we’ve already seen over the last few months.

The post 3 ways to play the ASX tech share sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Technology One and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, Wesfarmers, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Telstra Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

These 2 ASX dividend shares are very different from each other. Different sectors. Different drivers.

But both Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) are quality companies and now sit at more compelling prices.

For investors chasing a mix of income and potential upside, the 2 ASX dividend shares could be worth a closer look.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The first ASX dividend share has found fresh momentum, climbing about 8% this year to $6.70 as oil prices rebound and investors rotate back into energy.

The story is shifting. Santos is emerging from a heavy spending phase just as major projects near completion. That timing matters.

At its core, the ASX dividend share owns long-life oil and LNG assets across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the US. LNG under long-term contracts helps steady cash flow when spot prices swing.

Now the growth projects loom large. Barossa LNG and Alaska’s Pikka oil development are edging toward first production. If delivered on time and on budget, they should lift output, free cash flow, and earnings power. In a few years, Santos could look leaner, higher-margin, and more cash-generative.

Income adds to the appeal. The stock currently offers a dividend yield of around 5.4%, well above the broader market. Management has tightened its capital return framework, linking dividends directly to free cash flow rather than stretching the balance sheet. That’s more disciplined — but not immune to commodity cycles.

Still, if prices hold and projects deliver, Santos offers income plus upside. Consensus broker targets sit around $7.22, an 8% capital upside from here, before dividends. The team at Macquarie has an outperform rating and a 12-month price target of $7.77, which would be a 16% return from the current share price.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

This ASX dividend stock isn’t the flashy growth name stealing headlines. Sonic Healthcare is the steady compounder. The ASX dividend share that keeps delivering.

This is a defensive business by design. When the economy slows, people still need blood tests, biopsies, and scans. Diagnostic demand is essential, recurring, and far less sensitive to consumer confidence than most sectors.

The ASX dividend share’s pathology and imaging network stretches across Australia, Europe, the US, and the UK. That global footprint gives it multiple earnings engines and a natural hedge if one region softens. Few ASX healthcare shares can match that diversification.

The structural tailwinds are hard to ignore. Ageing populations and the shift toward preventative healthcare mean more testing, not less. Higher volumes support steady cash flow, while management’s disciplined acquisition strategy has added scale without blowing out margins.

Then there’s the dividend.

The $10 billion ASX dividend share pays shareholders twice a year and has a long history of maintaining — and gradually increasing — payouts. Bell Potter expects partially franked dividends of 109 cents per share in FY26 and 111 cents in FY27.

At a recent share price of $21.20, that implies yields of roughly 5.1% and 5.2%. Brokers are cautiously optimistic, with an average 12-month price target of $25.65, suggesting a potential upside of 21%.

Analysts at Bell Potter have a buy rating and a $28.50 price target on its shares. This suggests a 34% upside.

The post 2 quality ASX dividend shares trading at a discount appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price is in focus today after the company reported a 39.6% drop in EBITS to $236.4 million, meeting previous guidance. Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) swung to a $649.4 million loss due to a significant non-cash impairment, while underlying performance of key brands remained positive.

What did Treasury Wine Estates report?

• Net Sales Revenue (NSR) fell 16.0% to $1.3 billion.
• EBITS dropped 39.6% to $236.4 million; EBITS margin shrank to 18.2% from 25.3%.
• NPAT before material items and SGARA was $128.5 million, down 46.3%.
• Statutory NPAT loss of $649.4 million, reflecting a non-cash impairment of US-based assets.
• Cash conversion reached 82.4%; net debt to EBITDAS (leverage) at 2.4x.
• Interim dividend suspended for FY26 to prioritise capital preservation.

What else do investors need to know?

Treasury Wine Estates is taking steps to respond to softer trends in the US and China by actively reducing customer inventory holdings and restricting shipments linked to parallel import activity. The company finalised an agreement with US distributor RNDC for the closure of its California operations in 2025, which includes an inventory repurchase and compensation arrangement.

The TWE Ascent transformation program remains a core focus, targeting $100 million in annual cost savings over 2-3 years. The company expects to deliver these benefits through changes to its brand portfolio, operating model, and cost optimisation, with more details to come at the June 2026 investor day.

What did Treasury Wine Estates management say?

Chief Executive Officer Sam Fischer said:

Today’s results come at a time when we are already making meaningful progress with the decisive actions required to return TWE to a path of sustainable, profitable growth. Our focus is firmly on the future to strengthen execution and ensure we build a stronger, more resilient business for the long term.

TWE Ascent is the key enabler of this reset. It is a disciplined, multi-year transformation program designed to sharpen our portfolio, simplify the organisation and optimise our cost base, and I am pleased with the progress we have made to date.

Encouragingly, we are seeing our key brands continue to perform in the marketplace and resonate strongly with consumers, reinforcing confidence in the strength of our portfolio and our ability to deliver improved performance as we execute the transformation of the business.

What’s next for Treasury Wine Estates?

Looking ahead, Treasury Wine Estates is prioritising efficient execution across markets, focusing on cash flow and accelerating the benefits of the TWE Ascent program. The company expects its second-half EBITS to exceed the first half, aided by improved momentum in California as distribution transitions are completed.

Management has suspended the interim dividend to preserve capital and further reduce leverage, with an eye towards resumption depending on the pace of financial performance improvement. Full-year leverage is expected to rise modestly due to lower earnings and reduced cash conversion, but the company remains confident in its strategy to build a more resilient future.

Treasury Wine Estates share price snapshot

Ove the past 12 months, Treasury Wine Estates shares have declined 52%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

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The post Treasury Wine Estates posts $649.4m loss, suspends dividend as transformation accelerates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. 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.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares have had a tumultuous run.

The cloud accounting software company plunged to a 3-year low of $72.26 in early trade on Friday, marking its weakest level since 2023. The stock later recovered slightly but still finished the session down 4.46% at $73.49, reflecting continued heavy selling pressure.

After once trading as high as $196.52 in June 2025, Xero’s decline has been staggering, to say the least.

But after such heavy losses, can Xero shares recover from here?

Let’s take a closer look.

Tech sector panic is driving the fall

Thankfully, Xero’s weakness is not happening in isolation.

The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has plunged roughly 22% over the past month, as investors reassess the outlook for technology stocks. Across the globe, markets have been rattled by concerns about the artificial intelligence (AI) disruption.

Recent media reports show Wall Street falling as the tech rout intensified on AI concerns. Investors are reassessing which industries will benefit and which may be disrupted. Software stocks have been hit particularly hard.

In the US, the S&P 500 software index has fallen sharply as investors seek clearer returns on heavy AI spending. There are growing concerns that businesses may struggle to justify large investments if productivity gains fail to materialise quickly.

Back at home, investors are starting to question Xero’s long-term growth outlook. Given the stock was already trading on a premium valuation, that multiple has now compressed quickly.

What about Xero’s fundamentals?

Xero recently highlighted ongoing growth opportunities in AI and its expanding US presence following the Melio acquisition. Management continues to target long-term margin expansion and subscriber growth.

Melio is not expected to reach adjusted EBITDA breakeven on a run-rate basis until the second half of FY28.

More broadly, investors are rotating away from growth stocks until there’s greater clarity on how AI will affect company earnings and the economy.

What are brokers saying?

Despite the sell-off, several brokers still see significant upside.

Macquarie has retained an outperform rating and previously lifted its price target to around $234 per share. It believes Xero remains well positioned for long-term global growth.

Jefferies has taken a more cautious stance, trimming its target to roughly $101, reflecting near-term margin pressure and integration risks from Melio.

Overall, the average broker target still sits above $100, suggesting analysts believe the recent sell-off may have gone too far.

Can Xero bounce back?

History shows that high-quality software companies can recover strongly once sentiment improves. But that recovery usually requires two things. Stabilisation in the broader tech sector and strong evidence that earnings growth is accelerating.

If AI fears subside and Xero continues executing on subscriber growth, US expansion, and margin improvement, a rebound is more than likely.

The post Can Xero shares bounce back after crashing to a 3-year low? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is in focus today after the bank announced cash earnings of $256.4 million for the half year to December 2025, up 2.8% on the previous half but down 3.3% year on year. The board declared a fully franked interim dividend of 30 cents per share, holding steady compared to the same period last year.

What did Bendigo and Adelaide Bank report?

• Cash earnings of $256.4 million, up 2.8% on the prior half
• Statutory net profit after tax of $230.6 million
• Net interest margin increased by 4 basis points to 1.92%
• Fully franked interim dividend of 30 cents per share
• Customer deposits grew 1.1% over the half; lending balances contracted 1.9%
• Total operating expenses rose 4.2% from the previous half

What else do investors need to know?

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank continued its digital transformation, rolling out the Bendigo Lending Platform across all branches and expanding app functionality. The bank completed the migration of 180,000 Adelaide Bank customer accounts to a single core platform, simplifying its operations.

A key strategic move included the pending acquisition of RACQ Bank’s loan and deposit book, set to add around 90,000 new customers and boost the bank’s presence in Queensland. The bank is also launching a multi-year AML/CTF improvement program, with up to $90 million expected spend, including about $15 million in the upcoming half.

What did Bendigo and Adelaide Bank management say?

Managing Director and CEO Richard Fennell said:

This result reflects good progress on our strategy over the half, with our deposit-led approach to drive sustainable loan growth gaining momentum and improving our earnings. This improvement was largely driven by the growth in lower cost deposits benefiting margin, as well as a reduction in costs in the second quarter. In addition, we made the strategic decision to exit our legacy mortgage partner business which impacted loan growth for the half. We remain confident that our residential lending book will return to growth over the second half of the financial year. […] We reaffirm our objective to deliver improved returns to shareholders, targeting a ROE of above 10% by 2030.

What’s next for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank?

Looking forward, the bank is focusing on completing its AML/CTF remediation program and preparing for the integration of RACQ Bank customers. Management highlighted further progress with technology partnerships and productivity initiatives aimed at holding costs in line with inflation.

Despite broader economic challenges, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank sees its balance sheet as resilient and well positioned for future growth. The board remains focused on achieving stronger returns and supporting its strategic roadmap to 2030.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank shares have risen 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

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The post Bendigo and Adelaide Bank earnings: Profit up, dividend holds steady appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. 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.

The GPT Group (ASX: GPT) share price is in focus after the diversified property investor announced a statutory net profit after tax of $981 million for 2025, driven by strong investment portfolio gains and solid operational results.

What did GPT Group report?

• Funds from operations (FFO) of $650.5 million, or 34.0 cents per security
• Adjusted FFO of $494.4 million; full-year distribution of 24.0 cents per security
• Statutory net profit after tax of $981.0 million, including a $308.5 million portfolio valuation uplift
• Net tangible assets per security of $5.53
• Portfolio occupancy of 97.6% and $39.8 billion in assets under management
• Net gearing at 31.1% with $1.2 billion in available liquidity

What else do investors need to know?

GPT’s retail, office, and logistics portfolios delivered positive results across the board. Retail portfolio occupancy reached 99.8%, specialty sales rose 5.3%, and the $200 million Rouse Hill Town Centre redevelopment remains on schedule for completion in late 2026.

The office and logistics sectors also saw growth, with like-for-like net property income lifting 8.3% and 5.1% respectively. Key partnerships included acquiring a 50% share in Grosvenor Place, Sydney, and launching the $1 billion GPT QuadReal Logistics Trust 2, underpinning ongoing expansion.

During the year, GPT completed gross transactions totalling $4.9 billion and maintained healthy financial flexibility by securing $8 billion in new and refinanced debt facilities.

What did GPT Group management say?

GPT’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Proutt, said:

2025 has been a year of strong execution and strategic progress for GPT. As I reflect on the past twelve months, I am proud of how we have advanced our position as a leading diversified property investment manager. We have delivered very strong financial results and continued the operational excellence our stakeholders have come to expect.

We believe our competitive advantage lies in our ability to excel at both investment and operations, as it is the combination that enables us to effectively originate, price and optimise investments. This depth of expertise across sectors positions GPT well for success going forward.

What’s next for GPT Group?

Looking ahead, GPT expects to deliver funds from operations of about 35.4 cents per security in FY 2026—an anticipated 4% increase. Management is also forecasting a distribution of 24.5 cents per security for the coming year.

With development projects like Rouse Hill Town Centre and logistics facilities underway, and the introduction of new local and global capital partners, the Group is positioned to capitalise on opportunities across its key markets.

GPT Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, GPT Group shares have risen 4%, trading is in line with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

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The post GPT Group delivers strong 2025 profit and distribution uplift appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

If you are looking for some portfolio additions, then it could be worth hearing what analysts are saying about the ASX 200 shares in this article, courtesy of The Bull.

Do they rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s find out.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

Fairmont Equities is positive on the outlook for commodity prices over the remainder of 2026. However, while it sees BHP shares as a top pick for investors looking for mining sector exposure, it has only put a hold rating on them. It said:

Despite recent volatility, I expect commodity prices to continue heading higher during 2026. I believe investors who are still underweight in the resources sector will start to rotate into the miners. Global diversified miner BHP Group, which recently was the biggest company on the ASX by market capitalisation, is likely to be the top choice of most investors looking for a blue chip company paying a healthy dividend amid the prospect of capital growth.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Over at Bell Potter, its analysts are tipping this investment platform provider as an ASX 200 share to buy this week.

They believe Hub24 is well-placed for growth thanks to structural tailwinds and the quality of its platform. Bell Potter explains:

The company operates an investment and superannuation platform. It continues to deliver impressive organic growth, underpinned by strong platform inflows and adviser engagement. The company posted record annual platform net inflows of $19.8 billion in full year 2025, up 25 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Underlying earnings per share (EPS) rose 45 per cent. Despite margin pressures from competitive pricing, HUB24 is forecast to maintain high double-digit earnings before interest and tax and EPS growth into fiscal year 2027. The launch of HUB24 Private Invest and growing demand from inter-generational wealth transfers are structural tailwinds, positioning HUB24 well in the platform landscape.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

Fairmont Equities may be lukewarm on BHP shares this week, but it is more positive on this coal miner. Its analysts have put a buy rating on New Hope’s shares on the belief that coal demand will remain strong and supply will be constrained. They said:

I believe global demand for coal will remain elevated moving forward. New supply is also constrained due to ESG (environmental, social, governance) concerns. Governments around the world are keeping coal in the mix when it comes to power generation and the price of coal was recently starting to rise again. Strong buying support is emerging in coal producers, such as NHC, and I believe it’s still early enough to buy back into this company.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Hub24, and New Hope shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price was crunched last week. It’s down by 20% since 11 February 2026, as the chart below shows, after announcing its FY25 result for the 12 months to 31 December 2025.

When a business as large as AMP falls that hard, it could be an extremely attractive, contrarian opportunity to take advantage of.

While the underlying profit growth was strong, investors were seemingly not pleased with guidance and margins.

The company reported that underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew by 20.8% to $285 million, with platforms underlying net profit growth of 9.3% to $106 million, superannuation and investments (S&I) underlying net profit growth of 14.8% to $62 million and AMP Bank underlying net profit declined 9.8% to $55 million.

Let’s take a look at experts at broker UBS think of the business.

What happened with the result?

UBS noted that while underlying net profit was in line with expectations, there were a few factors driving the sell-off.

The broker said that compositionally, the result missed by around 10% in the second half of FY25 across the operating divisions due to broad-based revenue pressure, a flat (and weaker than expected) dividend per share and there was global platform sector weakness.

AMP’s platforms and S&I both missed on the revenue margin guidance due to fee tiering and capping and mix-related fee pressure from the rise in managed accounts. Additionally, the bank missed by 16% on expectations because of a lower net interest margin (NIM), with AMP Bank GO contributing an FY25 loss of $10 million.

The positive offset to the operating miss was a large half over half step-up in China partnership income (with $45 million compared to $27 million in the first half of FY25).

Is the AMP share price a buy?

The broker UBS thinks the business is a buy, with a price target of $1.75, suggesting a sizeable potential rise from here.

UBS wrote when the AMP share price was $1.28:

However, given relatively modest FY26 EPS cuts (-4%), we now see value with the stock trading below NTA ($1.33/shr) at an ~11.4x PE despite offering a 10% pa EPS growth outlook. This excludes potential upside from capital management noting AMP’s $287m of surplus CET1 and scope to divest non-core partnership investments (PCCP $193m). We reduce our PT to $1.75, and upgrade our rating to Buy (from Neutral).

The broker’s forecasts suggests the business is trading at less than 13x FY26’s estimated earnings.

The post Is the AMP share price a buy after the huge sell-off? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) share price was in focus on Thursday after the company posted a 4% lift in sales revenue to $8,224 million and a 118% jump in reported net profit after tax (NPAT) to $390.8 million for the six months ended 31 December 2025.

What did BlueScope Steel report?

• Sales revenue rose 4% to $8,224 million (1H FY2025: $7,914 million), mainly driven by higher benchmark prices and volumes in the US.
• Reported NPAT increased 118% to $390.8 million; underlying NPAT up 117% to $382.0 million.
• Underlying EBIT lifted 81% to $557.5 million; underlying EBITDA up 39% to $915.3 million.
• Reported earnings per share rose 119% to 89.1 cents.
• The interim ordinary dividend declared at 65.0 cents per share (unfranked), up from 30.0 cents last year.
• Net debt reduced to $2.2 million compared to $28.4 million at 30 June 2025; group gearing effectively nil.

What else do investors need to know?

BlueScope confirmed several significant developments post-period. In January, the board announced an unfranked special dividend of $1.00 per share, returning $438 million of surplus cash to shareholders. The company also outlined a buy-back program of up to $310 million and raised its annual target ordinary dividend to $1.30 per share for calendar 2026.

Additionally, BlueScope’s board rejected an unsolicited $30 per share takeover offer from an Australian-US consortium, citing significant undervaluation. Tania Archibald took on the role of Managing Director and CEO in February 2026, signalling a focus on accelerating value delivery.

What’s next for BlueScope Steel?

BlueScope expects underlying EBIT for the second half of FY2026 to be in a range of $620–700 million, reflecting forecast higher steel spreads in North America but softer conditions in Australia and Asia. Major growth projects like North Star’s capacity expansion and the New Zealand electric arc furnace are progressing, aimed at boosting efficiency and supporting decarbonisation goals.

The company’s new capital management policy targets the distribution of at least 75% of free cash flow to shareholders. Management will remain focused on unlocking further operational savings and land value realisation, while progressing low-emissions steelmaking initiatives.

BlueScope Steel share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BlueScope Steel shares have risen 15%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

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The post BlueScope Steel books strong 1H FY26 profit and dividend surge appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to grow in popularity with Aussie investors, and it isn’t hard to see why.

With just one investment, you can gain exposure to hundreds or even thousands of stocks at once. This makes it easier than ever to build a diversified portfolio.

But which ASX ETFs could be buys right now? Let’s take a look at two that analysts are tipping as buys, courtesy of The Bull. Here’s what you need to know about these funds:

Betashares Global Shares Ex US ETF (ASX: EXUS)

The team at DP Wealth Advisory thinks that investors should be buying the Betashares Global Shares Ex US ETF.

This ASX ETF is invested in global shares outside the United States. The advisory firm notes that the fund provides diversification for a portfolio by focusing on the 30% of the global market that is found off Wall Street. It said:

This exchange traded fund focuses on global investments outside the United States. The US accounts for more than 70 per cent of global market size. Some investors are seeking further diversification and less concentration risk. At end of January 2026, main holdings in this ETF included ASML, Roche and HSBC. Geographically, exposure at the end of January 2026 included Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. While the ETF was only listed on the ASX in November 2025, the index it follows has shown returns of more [than] 12 per cent per annum over the past five years.

BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: FUEL)

Another ASX ETF that is being tipped as a buy by experts this week is the BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF.

Fairmont Equities is positive on this fund. After a strong run for precious metals and base metals, it believes that the energy sector could be next in line for a bull run. As this ETF gives investors exposure to the biggest players in the sector, Fairmont Equities sees it as a good option for 2026. It explains:

I have been bullish on commodities for the past two years. The uptrend in precious metals was followed by base metals. Now, I believe the energy sector is poised for a bull run in response to increasing demand. This exchange traded fund captures the biggest global oil and gas companies. Not only are many investors still underweight in the energy sector, but this ETF is now breaking out of a multi-year trading range. This means the ETF is most likely at the start of a major uptrend, which should last throughout 2026, in my view.

The post Experts name 2 ASX ETFs to buy this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs to target with exposure outside the US and Australia
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy now
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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.