Author: openjargon

Index funds are becoming increasingly popular on the ASX. According to fund provider BetaShares, August saw a record $7 billion flow into ASX index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Australia, pipping what was a previous record of $6.83 billion in July. Are you one of those investors who put additional cash into an ASX ETF or index fund last month? If you weren’t, let’s talk about why you might want to change that in September.

The ASX is full of ETFs and index funds. More seem to pop up every month, with more than 500 different ETF products now available on the ASX.

Before we get too much further, let’s make an important distinction. One can buy an ETF for almost every investing goal one can think of. Want to invest in oil futures? There’s an ETF for that. Just as there is for buying Korean shares, Japanese stocks, global mining companies, global healthcare companies, banks, defence companies… You name it. ASX investors have never been more spoiled for choice when it comes to ETFs.

Index funds and ETFs on the ASX

What I am talking about today are simple, plain-Jane index funds. These are ETFs that invest in a straightforward, market-wide index that covers every meaningful company in a particular market.

The most obvious examples are, of course, ASX index funds. There are a plethora of such funds available right now for the Australian share market. Most track the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is an index that covers the largest 200 public Australian companies, weighted by market capitalisation (size). A few outsiders opt for the larger S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) instead.

To put it simply, when you buy an index fund that tracks the ASX 200 or the ASX 300, you are buying a small piece of each of those 200 or 300 companies. That market-cap weighting means that the larger companies get a larger allocation in the ETF than the smaller ones. To illustrate, an ASX 200 ETF will (right now anyway) usually allocate about 11.6% of its portfolio to BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), but less than 0.5% to smaller stocks like JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH).

These allocations are readjusted every few months to reflect the companies’ share prices (thus valuations). This means that, over time, the index fund adds to the shares that perform well, and sells down the stocks that fare poorly. This is all done passively, without any input required from the fund’s investors or managers.

In this way, an index fund is guaranteed to match the performance of its ‘market’. After fees, of course. Most investors in Australia who choose to buy and invest in individual ASX shares do so to try and beat the market, that is, get a better return than an ASX index fund. Some succeed, but not many. As we discussed last week, statistics show that the vast majority of investors, even those whose job it is to invest, don’t beat the market over long periods. Those who do are exceptionally skilled, or (more often) are just plain lucky.

Heads you win, tails you don’t lose

That’s why I think almost every ASX investor should be allocating at least some portion of their overall portfolio to index funds. If you enjoy stock picking, and think you have what it takes to beat the market, perhaps an allocation of 30%, 40% or even 50% to index funds is still prudent. That way, up to half of your portfolio will always match the market’s return. If your stock picking is successful, you still get to beat the market overall. If it falls short, your index funds can help ease the burden of that underperformance.

Of course, this won’t suit everyone, and you should always consider your own circumstances and goals before implementing an investing strategy. But at the end of the day, I think most Australians who invest in the share market will be financially better off if they allocate at least some portion of their portfolios to simple, cheap index funds.

The post Every ASX investor should own an index fund. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance?

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

A difficult year can sometimes create an opportunity for long-term investors.

Several ASX shares I like have been hit hard over the past 12 months despite having plenty of growth ahead.

Here’s why I think this has created a buying opportunity.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Netwealth shares have had a particularly difficult year and are down almost 40%.

I remain positive on the wealth management platform provider. The company continues to attract money onto its platform as financial advisers and their clients look for better technology to manage investments, superannuation, and reporting.

I think there is still a long runway here. Australia’s pool of superannuation and investment assets should continue growing over time, while Netwealth has been steadily increasing its share of the platform market.

The company is also investing in technology that could make advisers more efficient. Its proposed acquisition of Paradino adds AI-enabled workflow and automation capabilities, which I think could strengthen the platform rather than weaken its position as technology changes the industry.

So, after the share price weakness, I think investors are getting a much more attractive entry point into a business that is still growing.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Online retailer Temple & Webster has also been punished by the market. Its shares are down over 80% on a 12-month basis.

I still like the long-term opportunity because online furniture and homewares remain a relatively small part of the broader Australian market.

Temple & Webster does not need to dominate the entire industry to become a much larger business. It simply needs online penetration to keep increasing while the company continues taking share.

Its online model also allows it to offer a large product range without needing the same physical store network as traditional retailers.

The business is targeting significant revenue growth over the next few years, and I think the current share price gives investors the chance to buy before that opportunity is fully reflected again.

There are risks if consumer spending remains weak, but I would be willing to look through shorter-term conditions and focus on where the business could be several years from now.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

SiteMinder is another ASX share I think has become interesting after a difficult period. Its shares are down over 60% since this time last year.

The company provides technology that helps hotels manage room distribution, bookings, pricing, and their connections with online travel platforms.

I like that SiteMinder sits behind an important part of how hotels operate.

As more accommodation providers move away from manual processes, the company has an opportunity to sell them more software and automate more of the work involved in managing rooms across different sales channels.

Products such as Channels Plus and Dynamic Revenue Plus could also help SiteMinder earn more from existing hotel customers over time.

The share price may remain volatile, but I think the underlying opportunity in hotel technology is still substantial.

Foolish takeaway

A bad 12 months does not necessarily change how I feel about an ASX share.

Netwealth, Temple & Webster, and SiteMinder have all had their challenges, but I can still see clear ways for each company to be much larger in the years ahead.

At lower share prices, I think all three are worth a closer look.

The post 3 ASX shares down 40% to 80% I’d buy on the cheap appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, Tabcorp, Healius shares
• Should I buy Coles shares for passive income?
• 2 ASX 200 shares to buy and 1 to sell now
• Buy, hold, sell: Temple & Webster, Kelsian, Boss Energy shares
• Lovisa vs Temple & Webster: Which ASX retailer is the better growth stock today?

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 Netwealth Group, SiteMinder, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Superannuation is a fantastic tool to help build wealth to live off in retirement. And an $800,000 balance will provide enough money to live comfortably when the time comes.

But you don’t have to let it sit idly in the meantime.

Instead, you can invest your superannuation balance and generate a regular source of passive income for when you’ve stopped working.

But exactly how much passive income could a $800,000 superannuation balance generate each year?

Let’s investigate.

How much passive income can I generate from an $800,000 superannuation balance?

To calculate the potential passive income from an $800,000 superannuation balance, you need to multiply your total balance by the dividend yield of your portfolio.

It’s a simple calculation, but the problem is that the answer varies depending on the yield of the stocks you pick.

For example, a 3% yielding portfolio needs to be twice the size of one that yields 6% to earn the same passive income.

Which also means that as your dividend yield increases, the passive income you can earn from your $8000,000 superannuation balance climbs higher. 

Here’s a breakdown by yield. These figures are based on cash dividends before tax or franking credits. 

What can I earn from a 3% to 4% yielding portfolio?

If your superannuation portfolio has a dividend yield of around 3%, your passive income will be around $24,000 per year, because $800,000 x 3% = $24,000.

If your portfolio yields closer to 4%, your passive income could be closer to $32,000 every year ($800,000 x 4% = $32,000).

Major miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) yield around this level. As do banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

What passive income can I earn if my superannuation portfolio yields 5% or 6%?

If your superannuation portfolio yields closer to 5%, you could earn $40,000 every year in dividend payments off the same superannuation balance ($800,000 x 5% = $40,000).

At a 6% yield, you could earn an annual passive income closer to $48,000.

Classic dividend stocks like APA Group (ASX: APA), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) all pay around this level.

What about a portfolio yielding much higher, around 7% or 8%?

But if your portfolio has a slightly higher dividend yield of around 7% or 8%, your passive income will go up again to around $56,000 or $64,000, respectively.

Again, it’s possible to buy shares around this level, but there are fewer options.

Solvar Ltd (ASX: SVR), Waypoint REIT Ltd (ASX: WPR), and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) all pay around this yield at the time of writing.

Is it possible to invest in ASX shares yielding 10% or higher?

It’s possible, but generally, the higher the yield, the higher the volatility and risk associated with the stock. 

If high yield and high risk are what you’re after, at a 10% yield, a $800,000 balance could earn around $80,000.

You could invest in ASX-listed stocks such as Tower Ltd (ASX: TWR) or Kina Securities Ltd (ASX: KSL). Another option is to invest your superannuation in a high-yielding exchange-traded fund (ETF), such as the VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) or the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX). These all yield 10% or more at the time of writing.

The post How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Are the BHP and CBA share price headed for parity?
• 3 reasons to buy BHP shares for 2027
• Which big 4 bank stock will rise the most before the end of 2026?
• BHP Group vs Rio Tinto shares: Which pays better dividends?
• Up 52% and paying dividends: Are BHP shares a buy, hold, or sell today?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Passive income is one of the reasons many investors turn to the ASX.

But rather than simply chasing the highest dividend yields available today, I would recommend investors own businesses that can grow over time.

With that in mind, these four ASX passive income shares would be on my long-term shortlist.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre may not be the first company that comes to mind for passive income, but I think it has an interesting long-term case.

The travel company has rebuilt strongly since the pandemic and once again has the capacity to return cash to shareholders.

I especially like its exposure to both leisure and corporate travel. Those businesses give Flight Centre several ways to benefit as travel spending grows over time.

The dividend will probably be more cyclical than those of some defensive companies, particularly if economic conditions weaken.

But I think there is room for earnings and dividends to grow as the business becomes larger and more profitable. For investors willing to accept some volatility, I would be happy to own Flight Centre for income and growth.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is a much more defensive option. Australians need groceries regardless of what is happening in the economy, giving the supermarket giant a relatively dependable source of sales.

That stability is one reason I think Coles can work well in an income portfolio.

The company also has opportunities to grow through population increases, online shopping, and continued investment in its supply chain and automated distribution network.

I am not expecting spectacular growth from Coles. But a business capable of steadily increasing earnings and returning part of those profits to shareholders can be a valuable long-term holding, particularly when passive income is the priority.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

Lottery Corporation is another business I think suits an ASX buy-and-hold passive income strategy.

It operates many of Australia’s major lottery brands, giving it a strong position in a market with high barriers to entry.

I like the relatively simple nature of the business. Lottery tickets require little physical infrastructure compared with many other consumer businesses, and the company can generate substantial cash from its established brands.

There is still some variability depending on jackpot activity, but I think the underlying business is well-placed to keep generating cash over the long term.

That should give management the capacity to continue paying dividends while investing enough to maintain the strength of its brands and digital offering.

Amcor plc (ASX: AMC)

Amcor provides a different source of passive income.

The packaging company supplies products used across food, beverages, healthcare, personal care, and many other everyday categories.

That gives the business exposure to demand that can remain relatively resilient through different economic environments.

I also like Amcor’s global scale. Packaging is not a particularly exciting industry, but that is not necessarily a problem for an income investment.

What I want is a business capable of generating cash consistently and returning some of it to shareholders.

Amcor’s large international operations and exposure to everyday consumer products make it the type of company I would be comfortable holding through a range of market conditions.

Foolish takeaway

I would happily own these four ASX passive income shares for the long term rather than focusing only on the ASX stocks offering the highest yields today.

They give investors exposure to travel, supermarkets, lotteries, and packaging, with each business generating cash in a different way.

For me, that mix of income and the potential for earnings to grow over time is much more interesting than simply chasing yield.

The post Why I’d buy and hold these ASX passive income shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, NAB, CSL shares
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• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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 The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Amcor Plc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In morning trade on Tuesday, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are trading for $60.95 each, while the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price stands at $153.56.

As it stands then, CommBank shares have a 151.9% higher valuation than BHP shares.

Although with a market cap of approximately $310.2 billion, BHP has taken a commanding lead as the biggest company on the ASX. With a market cap of $256.9 billion, CBA comes in at number two.

BHP retook that title from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock on 27 January this year after CBA had held the biggest ASX share crown for almost 18 months. As you may recall, the following few weeks saw the two ASX titans hand that crown back and forth as one stock alternately outperformed the other.

But by April the winds had turned decidedly in BHP’s favour, with iron ore prices remaining resilient and copper prices racing to new record highs.

At the same time, the CBA share price began to come under pressure as investors eyed a potentially deteriorating Aussie economy. With ongoing elevated inflation and higher interest rates, the bank could be facing lower home loans coupled with higher default rates.

With this picture in mind, and their bullish outlook on copper, the team at Regal Partners believe that not only is BHP likely to maintain a larger market cap than CBA, but that both stocks could be trading at a similar price within five years.

BHP and CBA share price matched at $100?

“Phil King and I have often discussed the scenario over the next five years where CBA and BHP are both trading at $100,” Regal Partners investment director Charlie Aitken said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review).

“We’ve generally kept that view to ourselves because it once sounded so outrageous. Today, it doesn’t sound so far-fetched,” he added.

Pointing to the recent growing stresses emerging in the private Aussie credit market, Aitken noted, “I would be astonished if arrears, bad and doubtful debts and credit card delinquencies aren’t all increasing sharply for … banks.”

Regal’s five-year forecast would see the CBA share price fall by almost 35% from current levels, putting it back to November 2023 prices. While Regal expects that BHP’s copper exposure will see the ‘undervalued’ miner outperform over this time amid booming demand for the red metal, spurred in part by the AI revolution.

According to Aitkin:

Where we prefer to invest is where productivity gains from developments in AI and an associated lift in demand for the given product driven by AI: welcome to mining. The modern world simply can’t open for business each day without BHP’s mined products, yet, unlike Jensen Huang, 99.99 per cent of the world wouldn’t recognise BHP chief executive Brandon Craig if they walked past him in the street.

The post Are the BHP and CBA share price headed for parity? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are the most popular way in which more than 8,500 investors are investing, new data shows.

A survey conducted by CMC found Aussies are still keen to invest despite today’s market volatility.

ETFs allow investors to buy a basket of stocks in one trade. Part of the appeal is access to international shares via the ASX.

This week on The Bull, Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has two buys and one sell recommendation for us to consider.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF share price is $84.35, down 0.2% today and up 8% over 12 months.

VHY ETF tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index, before fees.

VHY invests in ASX dividend shares that have higher forecast dividend yields than other stocks.

Wieland has a buy recommendation on VHY, and explains:

This exchange traded fund provides exposure to a portfolio of Australian companies selected on the basis of their expected dividend yield.

The portfolio is dominated by the major banks and large resource companies, which should continue to generate attractive income and franking credits for investors.

However, as the portfolio is weighted towards financial stocks, it’s not as diversified as other broader based Australian ETFs on the ASX.

Given quarterly distributions and a relatively appealing forecast dividend yield, VHY is more suited to income focused investors.

Plato Global Alpha Fund (ASX: PGA1)

The Plato Global Alpha Fund share price is $15.31, up 1.2% today and up 18% over 12 months.

PGA1 aims to outperform the MSCI World Net Returns Unhedged Index by 4% per annum, after fees.

Wieland also gives this ASX ETF a buy rating, and comments:

PGA1 operates as a long-short exchange traded fund. Since its inception in September 2021, the fund has achieved an annualised return of 23.5 per cent after fees. It has outperformed the global benchmark by 11.74 per cent per annum.

The fund delivered a return of 18.68 per cent in the past year. Stocks in the ETF at June 30, 2026 included Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon.

PGA1 has generated a strong track record of performance and offers a relatively bright outlook in volatile financial markets.

I hold PGA1 in my self managed super fund.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price is $1.11, up 0.6% today and down 19% over 12 months.

This ASX ETF is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that holds properties in the retail, health, and services sectors.

Wieland has a sell rating on this ASX REIT, explaining:

Occupancy was 99 per cent in full year 2026. The underlying properties continue to perform well, with a steady increase in rental income.

However, like a number of other REITs, I believe the prospect of higher interest rates, finance costs amid struggling consumers may pressure HDN’s performance numbers in full year 2027 in what is a challenging retail sector.

HDN shares have fallen from $1.38 on September 18, 2025 to trade at $1.105 on September 17, 2026.

The post 2 ASX ETFs to buy and 1 to sell: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS) recently released prefeasibility studies for four separate mining projects in Western Australia, which, if developed, will keep the company producing gold for more than 10 years.

Bell Potter has run the ruler over the projects and has actually reduced its price target on Forrestania shares, while maintaining a very bullish outlook for the company.

I’ll get to that price target shortly. First, let’s look at what Forrestania is proposing.

Mining projects working through central hub

The company plans to develop four mining projects, which all process their ore through the Edna May processing facility.

The developments are costed with an assumed gold price of $5500 per ounce, compared to the current price of gold, which is $6130 per ounce.

The Edna May project alone is expected to generate $728.7 million in cash flow over a 10-year mine life, while costing only $98 million to develop.

Using a gold price of $6,140 per ounce, the cash flow figure rises to $961 million.

Forrestania said there is potential upside from upgrading inferred mineral resources within the current pit shell, which are currently treated as waste and excluded from the production target.

Forrestania Chairman David Geraghty said:

The Edna May Ore Reserve and Pre-Feasibility Study provide a strong technical and economic basis for the redevelopment of this established gold operation. The study benefits from substantial existing infrastructure, a proven processing facility and a long operating history, while identifying a clear pathway to restart and future production. With a 400,000-ounce Probable Ore Reserve underpinning 100% of the production target and strong projected cash generation at the PFS gold price assumption, Edna May is expected to form a key part of Forrestania’s Westonia Hub strategy.

Three other mining projects will also feed into Edna May. These are the British Hill, Tycho, and Johnson Range projects.

ASX gold shares looking cheap, broker says

Bell Potter said in its research note to clients that the cost of gold production came in higher than they had expected at $3,329 per ounce.

The broker added:

On a filled two-hub configuration we see a pathway to improving on this figure, offering valuation upside. We anticipate further reserve announcements on the remaining deposits and those that incorporate Lake Johnston in due course. FRS is sufficiently funded to first production, subject to completing the proposed $100m facility. FRS remains underrated, in our view, with significant upside through a dual processing hub and >200koz steady state capabilities.

Bell Potter has a $1.05 price target for Forrestania, compared with the current price of 33 cents.

The company is valued at $802.9 million.

The post 4 reasons this ASX gold stock could more than triple appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.4% to 8,764.6 points on Tuesday.

Among the 11 market sectors, the technology sector is in the lead today, up 2.3%.

The energy sector is the laggard, down 0.9%. 

Let’s check out some new ratings on ASX shares today.

Netwealth Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price is $19.09, up 1.4% today and down 38% over 12 months. 

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a buy rating on this ASX financial share. 

Evans said (courtesy The Bull): 

The company’s full year 2026 results continued to deliver strong growth, with the platform’s funds under administration increasing 20.3 per cent to $135.7 billion and earnings per share growing 16 per cent to 55.2 cents.

Despite these strong results, the share price has fallen significantly, most likely and partially in response to a compensation payout of about $101 million to members in the collapsed First Guardian Master Fund.

Share price weakness presents an opportunity, as Netwealth still holds a net cash position and is poised to generate strong revenue growth moving forward.

Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)

The Healius share price is steady at 38 cents, down 53% over 12 months. 

Ord Minnett has a hold rating on this ASX healthcare share. 

In a new note, the broker said: 

Revenues rose 2% to $1.4 billion, in-line with consensus, while underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 8% to $259 million, 1% shy of consensus. 

The FY26 EBIT margin of 1.8% was below consensus expectations of 2.0% reflecting the burden of a largely fixed-cost operating base.

Management has made progress in controlling costs, especially labour, but will need to do more if it is to offset headwinds from continued weak volumes and the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) gender-based undervaluation decision on wages.

We increase interest cost assumptions which lowers our earnings estimates, and we do not see HLS returning to profitability until FY28.

Reflecting the earnings downgrades, the target price has been reduced from $0.56 to $0.49.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

The Tabcorp share price is 96 cents, up 4.4% today and down 3% over 12 months. 

Evans has a sell rating on this ASX consumer discretionary share. 

The analyst said: 

The company generated group revenue of $2.636 billion in full year 2026, up 0.8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Group EBITDA of $431.7 million was up 10.3 per cent.

In our view, a major challenge for Tabcorp is the highly competitive gambling industry and the underlying trend towards digital wagering amid the risk of potentially tighter regulations.

The company expects domestic wagering turnover growth in fiscal year 2027 to be broadly consistent with fiscal year 2026, excluding the FIFA World Cup.

The shares have fallen from $1.17 on May 1 to trade at 90 cents on September 17. Other stocks appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, Tabcorp, Healius shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should I buy Coles shares for passive income?
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Tabcorp and NAB shares
• 2 ASX 200 shares to buy and 1 to sell now
• Netwealth Group vs HUB24: Which financial platform is better from an investor’s perspective?
• Down 40%: Why I’d buy this ASX 200 share before sentiment improves

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

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is one of the ASX shares I would be happy to own heading into 2027.

The mining giant already has a collection of large, high-quality assets, but I think there are also some interesting growth opportunities ahead.

Here are three reasons I would buy BHP shares.

Copper could become increasingly important

Copper is probably the part of BHP I am most interested in over the next decade.

The metal is needed across electricity networks, renewable energy, electric vehicles, data centres, and a wide range of other infrastructure.

At the same time, bringing major new copper mines into production can take many years.

That puts established producers such as BHP in a strong position.

The company already has significant copper operations and the expertise to invest further as demand grows. I think that could make copper a much bigger contributor to BHP over time.

Commodity prices will always move around, but I like owning an established producer rather than trying to guess which early-stage copper project might eventually succeed.

BHP is still investing for the future

I also like that BHP is not relying solely on its existing mines.

The company continues to put capital into projects that could support production for decades.

Its Jansen potash development in Canada is one example. Potash is used in fertiliser, giving BHP exposure to a market driven by global food production rather than the same forces that influence iron ore or copper.

For me, this is an interesting addition to the portfolio.

BHP already has enormous exposure to metals and minerals used in construction and industrial activity. Building a meaningful potash business could give it another source of earnings over the long term.

Major projects come with execution risks and require substantial investment before they begin generating returns.

But BHP has the financial strength to pursue opportunities of this scale, which is one of the reasons I am comfortable taking a long-term view.

Scale gives BHP plenty of options

The final reason is BHP’s existing strength.

Its large iron ore operations can generate substantial cash flow when market conditions are supportive, while the company also has exposure to copper and other commodities.

That cash gives management choices.

BHP can reinvest in existing assets, develop new projects, pursue acquisitions when opportunities arise, strengthen the balance sheet, or return money to shareholders.

I think that flexibility is particularly valuable in mining, where commodity cycles can create opportunities for companies with the financial capacity to keep investing when conditions become more difficult.

There will still be weaker periods for commodity prices, and BHP’s earnings and dividends will move around with them.

But I think its scale puts the company in a strong position to keep building the business through those cycles.

Foolish takeaway

BHP is the type of share I would be comfortable buying heading into 2027 and then leaving alone for years.

I like the growing copper opportunity, investment in new areas such as potash, and the financial strength of the existing business.

There will inevitably be ups and downs along the way, but I think BHP has plenty of ways to be a bigger and stronger company a decade from now.

The post 3 reasons to buy BHP shares for 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• BHP Group vs Rio Tinto shares: Which pays better dividends?
• Up 52% and paying dividends: Are BHP shares a buy, hold, or sell today?
• BHP shares are up 53%. Here are 5 reasons why they may not be done yet
• Buy, hold, sell: Orica, GQG Partners, BHP shares
• If I invest $15,000 in BHP shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?

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

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) copper stock closed yesterday trading for $14.55. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $14.78 apiece, up 1.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.4% at this same time.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest today.

Capstone Copper shares lift on asset sale

Capstone Copper shares are lifting after the miner announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Cozamin copper-silver zinc-lead mine, located in Mexico.

Capstone said that Luca Mining Corp will pay up to US$385 million (AU$542.3 million) in total consideration for the mine.

The ASX 200 copper stock noted that figure is comprised of:

• US$275 million in upfront cash, subject to customary closing adjustments
• US$15 million in Luca shares, to be issued to Capstone at closing
• US$35 million in deferred consideration, to be received on the first anniversary of closing
• And up to US$60 million in contingent cash consideration tied to annual average copper prices

Capstone said it will use the fund to strengthen its balance sheet and as well as support its growth pipeline.

What did management say?

Commenting on the $542 million divestment helping boost Capstone Copper shares today, president and CEO Cashel Meagher said, “Cozamin has been an important part of our portfolio, providing stability and strong cash flows as Capstone has matured into a diversified copper producer.”

Meagher added:

The transaction optimises our portfolio and further strengthens our balance sheet, enabling us to redeploy capital into our high-return growth projects and allowing leadership to focus on the opportunities we believe will create the most value for our shareholders. It is an ideal time to streamline our portfolio through this divestiture as we advance towards transformational copper growth in Chile and the United States.

We are also pleased to retain exposure to the exploration upside at Cozamin, through our shareholding in Luca, following completion of the Transaction. Given the strong operational track record of the Luca team in Mexico, we believe they will be excellent stewards of the mine and are well placed to unlock its full potential.

What’s happening with the copper price?

Capstone Copper shares have surged 33.5% since this time last year, supported in part by soaring global copper prices.

The red metal is back near all-time highs today, trading for US$14,661 per tonne. That sees the copper price up a whopping 47% in 12 months, spurred by spiking demand from data centres, EVs and the ongoing energy transition.

The post Capstone Copper shares take off on $542 million divestment news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target
• Down almost 10%! Why are ASX copper shares tanking?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.