Author: openjargon

It has been another bruising week for investors in DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares.

The ASX defence stock was down another 5% to $2.29 in Friday afternoon trading, extending its weekly decline to roughly 15%.

The recent sell-off has been relentless. DroneShield shares have tumbled around 28% over the past month, erasing much of this year’s spectacular rally.

Even so, the ASX stock remains up approximately 4.6% over the past 12 months.

Why are DroneShield shares falling?

The biggest shift has been investor sentiment.

Earlier this year, DroneShield shares were one of the market’s hottest defence plays. Rising geopolitical tensions, growing military spending across Europe and elsewhere, and surging demand for counter-drone technology helped fuel a powerful rally in the company’s share price.

But markets don’t just price in growth — they price in expectations.

Following the stock’s rapid rise, investors appear to have started questioning whether DroneShield can grow quickly enough to justify its lofty valuation. That’s left the shares particularly vulnerable to any disappointment.

Perhaps most notably, a steady stream of contract announcements has done little to halt the selling. Normally, fresh customer wins would be expected to support a high-growth defence stock.

Instead, investors have largely shrugged them off, suggesting concerns now centre more on valuation than on the strength of the underlying business.

Adding to the pressure has been an easing in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, reducing some of the urgency around defence-related investments after months of heightened enthusiasm.

ASIC investigation rattled investors

Governance concerns have also weighed on sentiment. A major turning point came in May when DroneShield revealed that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) had requested the company provide reasonable assistance in connection with an investigation under the Corporations Act.

The investigation relates to market announcements and share trading during November 2025. Importantly, DroneShield has not been accused of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, regulatory investigations often create uncertainty, and uncertainty is something investors rarely reward.

Combined with the elevated valuation of DroneShield shares, the announcement was enough to trigger a sharp reversal in momentum.

So, are DroneShield shares a buy?

Broker opinion is anything but unanimous. According to TradingView data, just four analysts currently cover DroneShield, and they’re evenly split. Two have strong buy recommendations, while the other two rate the stock as either a sell or strong sell.

That wide divergence highlights just how polarising the investment case has become. Despite the split, analysts generally agree there is upside from current levels. The average 12-month price target sits at $3.41, implying potential upside of around 49%.

The most bullish analyst has a target price of $4.80, suggesting the shares could more than double from current prices. Among the optimists is Canaccord Genuity, which last week reaffirmed its buy rating on DroneShield shares. The broker has a 12-month price target of $3.75, implying upside of approximately 62%.

The post After a horror week: Are DroneShield shares a buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why DroneShield, WiseTech and Judo shares are leading the ASX 200 lower this week
• Is DroneShield the ASX growth share investors should be buying?
• Should I invest $5,000 in DroneShield shares before the end of June?
• Own DroneShield shares? Here’s some news you might have missed
• DroneShield shares lifting off on Monday amid big leadership news

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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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 slipped into the red at lunchtime on Friday.

ASX 200 shares are currently down 0.003% to 8.748.4 points.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated new confidence in several ASX shares this week.

Here are six stocks that have been upgraded.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $12.05, down 0.08% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has ripped 22%.

Jarden upgraded Flight Centre shares to a buy rating with a $15.90 target price.

This suggests a potential 30% upside ahead.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is $1.27, down 1.5% today.

Karoon Energy shares tumbled 11% last Tuesday when the company issued production downgrades.

Calendar year 2026 total production guidance was revised to a range of 7.2 MMboe to 8.2 MMboe.

That’s down from 8.1 MMboe to 9.2 MMboe previously.

Macquarie upgraded the ASX 200 energy share to a hold rating this week.

The broker’s 12-month target is $1.50, suggesting an 18% upside ahead.

Oil prices have slumped back to pre-war levels following the signing of the US-Iran interim peace deal.

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka Resources share price is $6.95, down 3.2% today.

This ASX 200 mining share has risen 18% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Canaccord Genuity upgraded Iluka Resources shares to a buy rating on Wednesday.

The broker upped its 12-month price target from $8.10 to $8.45.

This implies a potential 20% upside ahead.

Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

The Baby Bunting share price is $1.41, up 0.7% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX consumer discretionary share has tumbled 43%.

Ord Minnett upgraded Baby Bunting shares on Thursday.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $2.30.

This implies a potential 60% upside ahead.

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

The Collins Food share price is $8.16, down 1.3% on Friday.

Over the past six months, the KFC fast food restaurant operator has lost 23% of its market valuation.

Citi upgraded Collins Foods shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $10.45 to $10.30.

This indicates capital gains of 26% over the next year. 

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is $28.13, up 0.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX industrial share has ascended 15%.

Jefferies upgraded Sims shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $31.

This indicates a potential 10% upside over the next year. 

The post 6 ASX shares with upgraded ratings from experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 of the best ASX dividend shares to buy in July
• Morgans says these ASX shares could rise 5%, 20%, and 55%
• Buy, hold, sell: Karoon Energy, Brambles, REA shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Jefferies Financial Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods, Flight Centre Travel Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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
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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.

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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 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.