Author: openjargon

Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC) shares are slipping on Friday after the property and investment group released another market update.

At the time of writing, the Lendlease share price is down 2.52% to $3.09.

That comes after a big move on Thursday, when the ASX 300 stock rocketed 8.93% following its previous update.

Even after today’s pullback, Lendlease shares are still up around 10% over the past month.

However, it has been a much tougher year for shareholders. The stock remains down roughly 40% since the start of 2026, which shows how much ground still needs to be recovered.

Here’s what the company told investors today.

Lendlease completes another asset sale

According to the release, Lendlease has completed the portfolio recycling of its UK build-to-rent assets, which will bring in more cash before the end of FY26.

The sale covers 404 residences at Elephant Park in London. These were developed between 2021 and 2024 through Lendlease’s investment partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investments.

With the project itself now largely complete, and the assets fully stabilised, the company has been able to recycle capital from the portfolio.

Management said the transaction is in line with the December 2025 book value and should settle before 30 June.

Once that goes through, Lendlease expects to receive around $260 million in cash proceeds in FY26.

Still a long road back

The sale gives Lendlease more cash to work with, which is a positive. But the size of the share price fall this year shows investors are still looking at the bigger picture.

Lendlease is trying to rebuild confidence after a difficult period, and that will take more than one completed transaction.

The company has been selling assets, recycling capital and trying to simplify the business. Those steps should help, especially if they give management more room to reduce debt.

However, investors will still want to see whether these moves lead to a stronger balance sheet and a cleaner business over time.

Can the recovery continue?

That is the harder question after such a big fall this year.

Lendlease shares have had a better month, and yesterday’s jump showed investors are willing to reward signs of progress.

However, the market isn’t going to get carried away just yet.

The company is still in repair mode. More asset sales should help, especially if they bring in cash, reduce debt, and make the business easier for investors to follow.

Lendlease needs to show that the turnaround is leaving the business in better shape, and fewer unwanted surprises for shareholders.

The post Lendlease shares slide after yesterday’s big jump. Is this ASX 300 stock running out of steam? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Lendlease shares jump 6% after $525 million deal. Is the worst over?
• Why A2 Milk, EchoIQ, Lendlease, and Qantas shares are racing higher today
• Lendlease offloads Keyton stake in $525m deal
• Lendlease Group shares paused pending further announcement

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is ending the week in a disappointing fashion. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 8,713 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is up 2.5% to 85.5 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the energy producer. However, with its shares down heavily over the past month, some investors may believe that the selling has been overdone. Beach Energy shares are down 22% since this time last month.

Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR)

The Ioneer share price is up 7% to 15 cents. This morning, this ASX lithium stock announced that it has received a conditional award from the United States Army. This relates to a long-term land lease on the Tooele Army Depot for the purpose of establishing a critical mineral processing facility. The company highlights that it is one of only four companies to be selected for the award and “is proud to be partnering with the U.S. Army to help build a secure, domestic boron supply chain.” Ioneer’s construction ready Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project hosts the largest undeveloped boron ore reserve in the world outside of Turkiye. It is also the only undeveloped boron ore reserve in North America.

Solstice Minerals Ltd (ASX: SLS)

The Solstice Minerals share price is up 27% to $1.99. Investors have been buying this mineral exploration company after it announced multiple wide, high-grade copper-gold intercepts from its first diamond drillhole at the Nanadie Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia. Management notes that this confirms it as an extraordinarily well mineralised drillhole. Solstice Minerals’ CEO and managing director, Nick Castleden, said: “We are delighted to release an outstanding set of wide, high-grade copper-gold intercepts in our first diamond drillhole at Nanadie, providing strong validation of our geological model and providing definitive evidence that this part of the deposit hosts multiple zones of high-grade mineralisation that extend to substantial depths beyond the current MRE limits.”

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

The Transurban share price is up 1% to $15.33. This follows the release of an update on its North American operations. Transurban revealed that 95 Express Lanes, which Transurban indirectly holds a 50% interest, has entered a development framework agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation. This will see the two parties assess an enhanced Bi-Directional Project on the I-95 Express Lanes. It notes that the proposed project scope would add approximately 120 additional new lane miles.

The post Why Beach Energy, Ioneer, Solstice Minerals, and Transurban shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This small-cap ASX stock is soaring after a major US Army boost
• Transurban Group announces major North America project expansion
• Downgrade alert! 4 ASX shares re-rated by experts this week
• 2 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for passive income that can last
• 1 ASX share to accumulate, one to hold, and one to sell

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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. 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 end the week with a small decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 8,735.1 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are ending the week in the red:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is down almost 11% to $4.08. This is despite the respiratory imaging technology company announcing that its non-contrast ventilation-perfusion imaging solution, CT:VQ, has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA has also included the product in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), which enables commercial deployment across Australia. Broad weakness in the tech sector on Friday could be overshadowing this news.

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

The Centuria Capital share price is down 2.5% to $1.98. This has been driven by the property company’s shares going ex-dividend this morning for its latest payout. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving Centuria Capital’s 5.2 cents per share final dividend in a couple of months. The company is expecting to make the payment on 27 August.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo Capital share price is down a further 1.5% to 90 cents. This small business lender’s shares have been sold off this week after it increased its cost of risk and downgraded its earnings guidance. Judo Capital revealed that it now expects its FY 2026 cost of risk to be in the range of $116 million to $122 million. This has been caused by three exposures across different sectors that have recently emerged. As for its earnings, Judo Capital now expects its profit before tax in FY 2026 to be between $163 million and $169 million. This is down from its previous guidance of between $180 million and $190 million. The company’s CEO, Chris Bayliss, said: “While today’s update is partly a result of the macro environment, it is nevertheless disappointing.”

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR)

The Worley share price is down 4% to $10.64. This may have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Ord Minnett. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the professional services company’s shares to a hold rating (from accumulate) with a trimmed price target of $12.70 (from $13.10). This was driven by a profit guidance downgrade this week due to the negative impacts of the Middle East conflict.

The post Why 4DMedical, Centuria Capital, Judo Capital, and Worley shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why DroneShield, WiseTech and Judo shares are leading the ASX 200 lower this week
• What on earth’s going on with Judo Capital shares?
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Centuria Capital Group opens $35m retail offer, targets growth in AI and real estate
• This ASX 200 stock has soared 1,800%. Is there more to come?

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.

With just a few hours of trade left before Friday’s closing bell, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.7% for the week, with DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares all falling far harder.

Here’s why investors have been bidding down the ASX 200 heavyweights this week.

Judo shares plunge on profit downgrade

Judo shares are down 2.2% in intraday trade today, changing hands for 90 cents apiece. That sees shares in the ASX 200 challenger bank down a sharp 39.9% since last Friday’s close.

All of those losses can be pinned to Thursday’s decidedly underwhelming market update.

Judo shares closed down a precipitous 40.4% yesterday after the bank increased it forecast full year FY 2026 cost of risk to between $116 million and $122 million.

And investors were overheating their sell buttons after Judo downgraded is FY 2026 profit before tax guidance to be between $163 million and $169 million. While that still represents year on year profit growth of around 30%, the revised guidance was down from prior FY 2026 profit expectations of between $180 million and $190 million.

Commenting on the downgrade, Judo Bank CEO Chris Bayliss said:

We continue to see strong underlying momentum in the business. Recent credit outcomes have been driven by a small number of customers, who we are actively working with.

DroneShield shares losing altitude

DroneShield shares also had a week to forget, though not nearly so bad a Judo shares.

Shares in the ASX 200 drone defence company are down 4.8% at time of writing, trading for $2.30 each. That sees the DroneShield share price down 16.4% since last Friday’s close.

There was no market sensitive news out this week to explain the sharp decline. Though the company did announce the appointment of retired Rear Admiral Lee Goddard as an independent non-executive director.

But investors may have been favouring their sell buttons amid expectations that the peace deal in the Middle East could impact future demand for drone defence systems.

Which brings us to…

WiseTech shares sink on new White allegations

Joining DroneShield and Judo shares on the decline this week is WiseTech.

Shares in the ASX 200 logistics software solutions company are down 1.7% at time of writing, trading for $30.85 apiece. That sees the WiseTech share price down 16.4% for the week.

WiseTech shares plunged 18.4% on Monday following concerning new media reports involving founder and executive chairman Richard White.

Investors were heading for exit following news that the Australian Federal Police are investigating White over allegedly exploiting a female employee’s immigration status and financial position and providing false information on a visa application.

The post Why DroneShield, WiseTech and Judo shares are leading the ASX 200 lower this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 4DMedical, Centuria Capital, Judo Capital, and Worley shares are dropping today
• What on earth’s going on with Judo Capital shares?
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Down almost 75%, are WiseTech shares really cheap?
• Is DroneShield the ASX growth share investors should be buying?

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

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is paying shareholders a fully franked interim dividend of 77 cents per share today.

For many investors, this is exactly why bank shares are so popular. The major banks regularly return billions of dollars to shareholders through dividends, and these payments can form an important part of a passive income strategy.

Some Westpac shareholders will have elected to use the dividend reinvestment plan, allowing their dividend to buy more shares in the bank.

Others will receive the dividend as cash. That money could be spent, saved, or reinvested elsewhere on the ASX.

For investors wanting to use their Westpac dividends to diversify into other high-quality blue chips, the three shares below could be worth considering.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The first ASX blue chip to consider is Goodman.

Goodman gives investors exposure to logistics, industrial property, and data centres across key global markets.

These assets sit behind some of the biggest changes in the economy. Ecommerce needs warehouses close to customers, global supply chains need efficient distribution networks, and cloud computing and artificial intelligence are increasing demand for data centre infrastructure.

That gives Goodman a powerful long-term growth profile.

The company has also built a strong reputation as a developer and manager of complex property assets. This means it is not simply collecting rent from warehouses. It is helping major customers solve infrastructure problems in markets where well-located land can be scarce.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

Another option for Westpac dividend cash is ResMed.

ResMed is a medical device company focused on sleep apnoea treatment and connected respiratory care.

This gives it exposure to a large medical need. Many people with sleep apnoea remain undiagnosed, while greater awareness of sleep health could support demand for treatment over the long term.

The company’s business model also has an attractive recurring element. Patients using its devices often need masks, accessories, software support, and ongoing care. That can create repeat revenue over time and help smooth the business beyond one-off device sales.

Healthcare shares can still be volatile, but ResMed’s global market position and long-term demand drivers make it a high-quality blue chip to consider.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

A third ASX blue chip to look at is Wesfarmers. It owns a collection of strong retail and industrial businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and its chemicals, energy and fertilisers operations.

This gives investors exposure to a diversified group with multiple ways to grow.

Bunnings remains one of the strongest retail franchises in Australia, while Kmart has built a powerful position in value-focused retail. These businesses benefit from scale, trusted brands, and a long history of disciplined execution.

Wesfarmers has also shown a willingness to invest in new opportunities and reshape its portfolio over time. That capital allocation track record is one reason investors often view it as one of the ASX’s highest-quality companies.

The post Where to invest your Westpac dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could Goodman shares rise more than 20%?
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How to decide whether to buy, hold, or sell a fallen ASX share
• Is the Westpac share price a buy for its 6% dividend yield?

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

Vanguard has announced estimated distributions (dividends) for scores of its ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Friday.

The ETFs include the market’s most popular exchange-traded fund, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

The ex-dividend date for this next lot of distributions is next Wednesday, 1 July.

Vanguard will pay investors on 16 July.

Let’s take a look.

Mid-year dividends for Vanguard ASX ETF investors

Here is a summary of the estimated distributions that Vanguard will pay investors on 16 July.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which seeks to track the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) before fees, will pay a dividend of 48.99 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index. The ASX VHY will pay 40.82 cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VSO) will pay 219.83 cents per unit. The VSO tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Small Cap Index.

The Vanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF (ASX: VAF) tracks the Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index before fees. It will pay a dividend of 53.42 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF (ASX: VAP) tracks the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index before fees. It will pay 146.84 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Ethically Conscious Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VETH) tracks the FTSE Australia 300 Choice Index before fees. It will pay 34.38 cents per unit.

Vanguard MSCI Australian Large Companies Index ETF (ASX: VLC), which tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Large Cap Index, will pay a dividend of 26.81 cents per unit.

What about ETFs holding international shares?

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) is the largest exchange-traded fund holding diversified international shares on the ASX. It provides exposure to 1,500 stocks in developed nations ex-Australia. ASX VGS will pay 80.11 cents per unit in dividends.

The currency-hedged, version of VGS is Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD). VGAD ETF will pay a monster dividend of 234.31 cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI International Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VISM) will pay a whopping great dividend of 323.31 cents per unit. The VISM ETF tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia Small Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars before fees.

Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500) tracks the US benchmark S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and will pay 11.80 cents per unit.

Vanguard FTSE Europe Shares ETF (ASX: VEQ), which tracks the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars, will pay 97.91 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) will pay cents per unit. This ASX ETF provides exposure to 16,000 ASX and international shares. VDHG ETF will pay 121.86 cents per unit.

Vanguard Ethically Conscious International Shares Index ETF (ASX: VESG) will pay 64.45 cents per unit. This ASX ETF tracks the FTSE Developed ex Australia Choice Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars.

Monster dividends

The two biggest payers on Vanguard’s mid-year schedule of dividends are as follows.

Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Active ETF (ASX: VMIN) is an actively managed ETF invested in about 200 global shares. The ETF aims to deliver lower volatility than the FTSE Global All Cap Index (AUD Hedged), before fees. VMIN ETF will pay a monster dividend of 409.57 cents per unit.

Vanguard Global Value Equity Active ETF (ASX: VVLU) is also actively managed, and targets global value stocks drawn primarily from the FTSE Developed All Cap Index and the Russell 3000 Index. VVLU ETF will pay the largest dividend of 626.68 cents per unit.

The post Own Vanguard ASX ETFs? Here is your next dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 excellent ASX ETFs for easy buy and hold investing
• How to build a winning ASX portfolio with just 3 investments
• Which ASX ETFs are good options for a $1,000 investment?
• VAS vs VSO: Do small-cap stocks beat the ASX 300?
• 3 reasons why the VDHG ETF could be a top buy and hold investment

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 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.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares have been relatively positive performers this year.

Since the start of the year, the industrial property giant’s shares have risen approximately 4%.

This compares favourably to a largely flat performance from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

But what’s to come for this popular stock? Could it deliver double-digit returns over the next 12 months? Let’s see what analysts are saying.

Could Goodman shares deliver big returns?

The broker community is overwhelmingly positive on Goodman, with many brokers having the equivalent of buy ratings on its shares.

One of those brokers is Bell Potter, which has a buy rating and $35.50 price target on them.

Based on the current Goodman share price of $32.17, this implies potential upside of 10% for investors over the next 12 months. It recently commented:

While we do have some question marks visà-vis leasing progress, extension of timelines and associated impact on earnings mix and booking of profits, the moat around the haves and have nots for scaled data centre players appears to be widening, recognising the scale and complexity of execution. Post pull back, GMG trades at a discount to its 5yr PE vs. ASX200 avg (28% prem. vs. 52% 5yr avg) with forward customer signings a key driver.

Who else is bullish?

The team at Morgan Stanley is another bull. Earlier this week, the broker put an overweight rating and $36.15 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 12% is possible between now and this time next year.

Another broker that is positive is Morgans. It has a buy rating and $36.00 price target, which offers similar upside. It commented:

GMG’s 3Q26 update reinforced a deliberate strategy: deploy balance-sheet capital ahead of customer commitments to win the race for power-enabled metro data centre (DC) capacity. WIP is set to step from $14.5bn at Mar-26 to a record c.$18bn by Jun-26 (Consensus $17.7bn), with the power bank lifted to 6.4GW.

Operationally the update was mixed, with pre-committed share, production rate and Yield On Cost (YOC) all relatively flat hoh. The structurally important note was management’s view that industry DC capex requirements likely exceed global capital market funding capacity, a backdrop that favours those with secured power, sites and locked-in capital partners. FY26 OEPSg guided to ‘at least 9%’ (prior 9%; MorgansF 9.2%; Consensus 9.8%), marginally up.

Finally, the team at Citi has a buy rating and $40.00 price target on Goodman shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 24% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Could Goodman shares rise more than 20%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest your Westpac dividends
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• These ASX shares are riding the AI boom. Investors keep overlooking them
• The ASX investing strategy that could quietly make you rich
• New to investing? 3 ASX shares to set and forget until 2036

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

It has been another painful day for shareholders of Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares.

The ASX bank stock extended its heavy sell-off on Friday morning, falling another 2% to $0.90 after already shedding around 40% over recent trading sessions.

That leaves Judo Capital shares down roughly 49% in 2026 and 42% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained approximately 2.2% over the same period.

So, what’s behind the dramatic collapse?

Investors didn’t like Judo’s latest update

The sell-off began after Judo released revised expectations for FY 2026 on Thursday that left investors questioning the bank’s near-term outlook.

While management still expects earnings to grow this financial year, it also revealed that bad debt costs are rising faster than previously anticipated.

The biggest concern was the bank’s updated cost of risk guidance. Judo now expects its FY 2026 cost of risk to come in between $116 million and $122 million, reflecting an increase in specific loan provisions.

Management of Judo Capital shares said the higher provisioning relates primarily to three individual customer exposures across different industries that have deteriorated following customer-specific developments.

Although the issues appear concentrated rather than widespread, investors rarely welcome surprises when it comes to credit quality.

The bank also expects loans that are either more than 90 days overdue or classified as impaired to rise to around 3% of gross loans and advances by 30 June. That’s another sign that some borrowers are finding conditions increasingly challenging.

There were a few positives

The update wasn’t entirely negative. Judo said its collective provision coverage should remain broadly unchanged from its third-quarter trading update, equating to 94 basis points of gross loans and advances.

Management also noted that current provisioning includes additional overlays designed to protect against ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty across vulnerable sectors.

In other words, Judo Capital believes it has built a reasonable buffer against further deterioration.

Profit growth is still expected, just not as much

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for investors in Judo Capital shares was a downgrade to earnings guidance. Judo now expects FY 2026 profit before tax of between $163 million and $169 million.

While that would still represent approximately 30% growth on FY 2025, it falls well short of the bank’s previous guidance of $180 million to $190 million.

Looking further ahead, management of the $2 billion ASX share expects FY 2027 profit before tax of between $210 million and $220 million, implying another year of roughly 30% earnings growth despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Chief Executive officer Chris Bayliss acknowledged the disappointment but maintained confidence in the business. He said the latest update was partly driven by the broader economic backdrop but stressed that Judo Capital remains profitable, well capitalised, and has a clear pathway to delivering a return on equity in the low-to-mid teens.

What’s next for Judo Capital shares?

For now, investors appear focused on rising credit losses rather than future profit growth.

The market has become far less forgiving of banks reporting deteriorating loan quality, particularly when expectations were already high.

That said, Judo’s long-term growth story hasn’t disappeared overnight. The lender continues to grow its business banking franchise, remains profitable, and is forecasting another two years of double-digit earnings growth.

The post What on earth’s going on with Judo Capital shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Why Judo Capital, Minerals 260, Santos, and Worley shares are dropping today
• Which ASX 200 bank stock is crashing 46% on profit guidance downgrade?
• RBA keeps cash rate at 4.35% – What does it mean for investors?
• Broker names 3 ASX shares to buy now

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

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) shares are edging lower today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) healthcare stock closed yesterday trading for $42.74. In late morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for $42.65 apiece, down 0.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Ramsay Health Care shares have strongly outperformed in 2026, up 23.3% compared to the 0.3% year to date gains posted by the benchmark index.

And the ASX 200 healthcare stock also recently increased its passive income payouts, boosting its fully franked interim dividend by 6.3% to 42.5 cents a share.

Ramsay Health Care stock currently trades on a 1.9% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

And looking ahead, Nathan Hughes, an Australian equities portfolio manager at Perpetual, believes there’s plenty more upside potential for the Aussie-focused healthcare provider (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review).

Here’s why.

Should I buy Ramsay Health Care shares today?

Asked which stock his fund holds that’s most undervalued by the market, Hughes replied, “Ramsay Health Care presents compelling upside.”

He noted, “The negatives, such as labour inflation and changes to private health insurance rebates that may impact industry participation, are now well understood.”

And Ramsay Health Care shares could benefit from their renewed focus on the Aussie market.

According to Hughes:

Beyond the demerger of the Ramsay Santé assets – the European hospitals business Ramsay announced it would spin off in February – we think it’s clear the focus of the company is the core Australian business.

There is significant opportunity to improve operating performance and asset productivity in this division, with a sensible approach to capacity and utilisation in contrast to years of expansion. As such, return on invested capital should improve.

Hughes also pointed to the company’s strong balance sheet and the fully franked dividend on offer as reasons to be optimistic for ongoing share price growth.

He concluded:

Further capital repatriation from offshore is not out of the question in the medium term. This would give the company plenty of financial flexibility, noting Ramsay has a large balance of surplus franking credits.

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

Ramsay reported its half year results (H1 FY 2026) on 26 February.

Highlights for the six months to 31 December included underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $536.7, up 7.3% year on year.

And on the bottom line, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $171.7 million increased by 8.1%.

Ramsay Health Care shares closed up 10.4% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 23% this year, why Ramsay Health Care shares are tipped for more ‘compelling upside’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Ramsay Health Care shares rebound 15% in June: Can they keep going?
• Healthcare shares led the ASX 200 last week. Is a sector comeback underway?

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.

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: RCE) shares are being hammered on Friday after the ASX biotech company released an update.

At the time of writing, the Recce share price is down a massive 18.48% to 37.5 cents.

That leaves the ASX healthcare stock down 40% since the start of 2026, wiping out a large chunk of its earlier momentum. However, the stock is still up 25% over the past year.

The latest announcement appears to have rattled investors, raising questions about Recce’s funding needs and whether the market is losing patience.

Recce is developing synthetic anti-infectives designed to address antimicrobial-resistant infections.

The capital raise behind the sell-off

According to the release, Recce has received firm commitments to raise $4 million before costs through an institutional placement.

The company will issue 10 million new shares at 40 cents per share.

The placement price appears to be the sticking point for investors. It is slightly above the current share price, but still well below where Recce shares were trading before the update.

Reece is also launching a share purchase plan (SPP) to raise up to another $4 million. Eligible shareholders can apply for up to $30,000 worth of new shares on the same terms as the placement.

Investors taking part in the placement and SPP will also receive one free attaching option for every two new shares issued. These options will have an exercise price of 60 cents and expire on 30 June 2027.

On top of that, holders who exercise those attaching options will receive two piggyback options, with an exercise price of $1 and an expiry date of 30 June 2028.

Where the money is going

Recce said the funds will be used across several parts of the business.

The cash will help strengthen its balance sheet, support commercial licensing work with a leading Middle Eastern pharmaceutical company, and fund clinical trials.

The company pointed to ongoing work on diabetic foot infections, including a Phase 3 registration trial in Indonesia and another in Australia.

Funds will also go toward activities linked to an Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Indonesia’s BPOM.

After the offer, Recce expects pro forma cash liquidity of approximately $29.5 million before offer costs.

Can Recce win back investors?

Capital raisings can be very hard for smaller biotech companies, especially when commercial revenue is still limited.

Recce’s market capitalisation is now about $108 million, so a potential $8 million raise is definitely meaningful.

The company now needs to show that this funding can support clinical progress, regulatory work, and commercial deals. 

Until then, it looks like investors are staying on the sidelines.

The post Guess which ASX stock is crashing 18% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest your Westpac dividends
• Own Vanguard ASX ETFs? Here is your next dividend
• Could Goodman shares rise more than 20%?
• What on earth’s going on with Judo Capital shares?
• Up 23% this year, why Ramsay Health Care shares are tipped for more ‘compelling upside’

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