Author: openjargon

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a negative hump day, sending the value of many ASX shares lower.

After opening sharply lower this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire session in red territory. By the time the closing bell rang, the index had dropped 0.18% to finish at 9,053.8 points.

This miserable Wednesday for the local markets came after a similarly pessimistic night up on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t hold water, dropping 0.22%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit far harder though, falling 1.33%.

But let’s return to ASX shares now and dive into how the different ASX sectors handled today’s tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

The losers easily outnumbered the winners this Wednesday.

Leading said losers were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a shocker, plunging 3.15%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were also hit hard, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) cratering by 1.15%.

Financial shares fared a little better. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) still tanked 0.64%, though.

Consumer discretionary stocks were in a similar boat, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.58% dive.

Gold shares weren’t much of a safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) saw its value shrink 0.18%.

We could almost say the same for broader mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) retreating 0.04%.

Let’s turn to the winners now.

Leading the team were healthcare shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) roared 2.6% higher today.

Energy stocks also ran hot, as evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.77% surge.

Utilities shares were a little tamer. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumped 0.35% this session.

Consumer staples stocks were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) advancing 0.31%.

Industrial shares got out unscathed this hump day. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up lifting 0.05%.

Finally, communications stocks notched a dodge, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.04% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It was REIT Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) that took out today’s top spot. Stockland units shot up 12.35% this Wednesday to finish at $4.55 each.

This came after the REIT reported its latest earnings, which clearly delighted the market.

Here’s how the other top shares landed their planes:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)	$4.55	12.35%
Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU)	$3.35	8.77%
Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)	$3.33	6.73%
Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)	$1.85	6.32%
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)	$166.48	5.49%
Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)	$3.51	4.46%
SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)	$4.10	3.54%
Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)	$5.66	2.72%
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)	$8.31	2.47%
Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)	$23.56	2.35%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Sonic Healthcare, and Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Well, one of the biggest pieces of news on the ASX so far this week has been the blockbuster earnings of healthcare giant CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). CSL delivered its full-year results for FY2026 yesterday. And boy, did the markets grab them (and plenty of CSL shares) and run.

By the end of yesterday’s session, the CSL share price had rocketed a massive 17.25% for its best day in 20 years.

As we covered yesterday, there were a lot of lukewarm numbers in this ASX 200 healthcare stock‘s latest report. The company reported total revenues of US$15.89 billion for the year ended 30 June 2026. That was down 1% year-on-year. Underlying net profits after tax dropped 2% to US$3.1 billion.

A number of one-off costs and impairments drove CSL to a statutory net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion.

However, as my Fool colleague Mark discussed yesterday, it seems that the unbridled optimism we have seen for CSL shares this week has stemmed from its optimistic guidance for FY2027 and beyond.

CSL told investors to expect underlying net profits after tax growth of around 5% over FY27. This indicates a return to form is on the cards for a company that repeatedly dazzled investors for the decade leading up to 2020, before a series of events tanked the company’s fortunes.

Hopefully, CSL can deliver this turnaround. But now, I want to focus on one metric that has caught my eye in CSL’s latest numbers.

CSL shares surge despite a dividend hold

That metric is the final dividend that CSL will pay out in October. Yesterday, CSL revealed that this dividend will be worth US$1.60 per share. Coupled with April’s interim dividend of US$1.30 per share, the company is set to dole out a total of US$2.92 in dividends per share in 2026.

That metric is significant because it marks only the second time that CSL will not be delivering a dividend hike to its shareholders. In fact, the last time that CSL didn’t increase its year-on-year payouts was in 2022, largely thanks to the aftermath of the pandemic. You’d have to go back at least another decade to find any more instances of a dividend hold from this company.

This is a personal disappointment for me. I bought CSL shares many years ago, in part thanks to its strong history of dividend growth. As such, I was rather dismayed to see another hold on CSL’s 2026 payout. A company’s dividend growth is, in my view, one of the most vital indicators of a company’s health. It is difficult to fudge and provides a sharp insight into the health of a company. Not to mention the fact that ASX shares that consistently grow their dividends over time tend to be market beaters.

Now, CSL has been upfront about its challenges for a while now. So this hold isn’t really a surprise. But it is still something I didn’t want to see. That’s why I’ll be watching the payouts that this company declares next year like a hawk.

The post CSL shares: 1 number that investors shouldn’t ignore appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• CSL shares just had their best day in 20 years. What did I just miss?
• Is the CSL share price in the buy zone after the biotech giant’s results?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares have both underperformed the 3.6% gains posted by S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in 2026.

In afternoon trade on Wednesday, Xero shares are changing hands for $82.32 apiece. That sees shares in the accounting software provider down 26.6% since 2 January.

Northern Star has struggled as well.

At time of writing, shares in the ASX 200  gold stock are trading for $22.55 each, down 7.7% year to date.

Though we shouldn’t forget the fully franked 25 cent per share dividend that Northern Star paid out on 26 March. If we factor that in, then the accumulated value of Northern Star stock is down a lesser 5.4% this calendar year.

Despite the underperformance in 2026, Lazarus Capital Partners’ Tom Fairchild expects that both ASX 200 stocks could continue to struggle in the months ahead (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should I sell Northern Star shares today?

“The gold producer operates mines and exploration programs in Western Australia and Alaska,” Fairchild said.

Commenting on the miner’s June quarter update, released on 29 July, Fairchild noted:

The company announced total gold sales of 1.543 million ounces for full year 2026, which was above revised group guidance of 1.5 million ounces. NST disappointed investors after downgrading production guidance twice in fiscal year 2026 following weaker than expected operational performance.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Northern Star shares, Fairchild concluded:

The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $23.28 on August 13. The company’s final investment decision regarding the Hemi project is targeted for late fiscal year 2027. In our view, other gold companies appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

Northern Star is scheduled to report its audited full year FY 2026 results tomorrow, 20 August.

Time to exit Xero shares?

Atop his sell recommendation on Northern Star shares, Garipoli also recommended selling Xero shares.

“Xero is an accounting software provider,” he said.

Xero released its full year results on 14 May, with shares closing down 9.0% on the day.

Commenting on those results, Garipoli said:

The company generated revenue of NZ$2.75 billion in full year 2026, up 31% on the prior corresponding period. The company acquired Melio, a US business-to-business payments platform in June 2025 for about US$2.5 billion.

The company recently surpassed 5 million subscribers.

But with Xero shares up more than 33% since late July, Garipoli recommended taking profits.

He concluded:

Xero shares bounced off a low of $61.58 on July 24 to trade at $77.51 on August 13, 2026. However, the stock was priced at $168.78 on August 13, 2025. Justifiable investor concerns about margin pressure, artificial intelligence growth and US expansion performance have weighed on the stock and sentiment.

Investors can consider cashing in some gains.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Xero and Northern Star shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares were climbing higher in early-morning trade on Wednesday before nosediving around 14% just after midday.

At the time of writing, the ASX tech shares are down around 10% for the day at $38.90 a piece.

The latest decline means the shares are now down 43% for the year-to-date and 66% lower than 12 months ago.

What happened to WiseTech shares today?

Investors rushed to sell up their shares after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) executed a search warrant on the company. The move is part of an investigation into potential breaches of competition law.

In a statement to the ASX, WiseTech said that an “ACCC search warrant was executed on the Company requiring the production of documents and electronic data in relation to the supply of global logistics services and software”.

The company added that it intends to “fully cooperate with the investigation”.

WiseTech said the action forms part of an ACCC investigation into alleged contraventions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. It didn’t offer any further details about the allegations or which sections of the business the ACCC is investigating.

WiseTech shares have been smashed this year

Today’s decline is just one of many steep sell-offs that the company has suffered from this year. The declines have mostly been driven by a tech sector-wide sell-off and an investor rotation to more stable assets amid global volatility earlier this year. 

WiseTech shares also experienced a steep and sustained share price crash through to a five-year low of just $28.76 in late June. The dip followed media reports that the Australian Federal Police was investigating founder Richard White over alleged trafficking matters. The matters relate to a former cleaner at WiseTech.

The company responded at the time that the alleged investigation concerns Richard White in a personal capacity. It added that there is no suggestion in this media commentary of an investigation into WiseTech. But it didn’t stop investors rushing for the exit.

ASIC and the AFP also searched WiseTech Global’s headquarters in late October 2025. The search concerned alleged trading in WiseTech shares by founder Richard White and three employees. At the time, WiseTech said no charges had been laid and that there were no allegations against the company itself. 

There is no indication that any of these events are related to today’s search warrant. 

Should investors buy in the dip or stay clear of WiseTech shares?

At the time of writing, the outlook for WiseTech shares is unchanged. Brokers and analysts are still very bullish on where we’ll see the share price travel from here.

Market Index shows that the majority of brokers (three out of four) are very bullish on the ASX tech stock and hold a strong buy rating. The average $54.71 target price implies a potential 39% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The post Why did WiseTech shares just crash 10%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 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.

The European Lithium (ASX: EUR) share price is in focus today after the company announced key changes to its proposed merger with Critical Metals Corp (NASDAQ: CRML), including a new floating share exchange ratio and updates to the timeline for implementation.

What did European Lithium report?

• The previously fixed share exchange ratio for the merger is now a floating ratio, subject to a cap (0.045 CRML shares for each EUR share) and a collar (minimum 0.025 CRML shares per EUR share), depending on CRML’s 20-day VWAP before the scheme vote.
• Based on current market prices (CRML VWAP below US$8.00), the maximum exchange ratio applies, increasing consideration by 28.6% compared to earlier terms.
• The merger rationale and key deal protections, including a reimbursement fee, remain in place.
• The independent board committee continues to recommend the scheme, and the timeline now anticipates completion in October 2026, following shareholder and court approvals.

What else do investors need to know?

European Lithium holds a significant 31% stake in Critical Metals and has additional direct and indirect interests in strategic minerals projects, such as Tanbreez in Greenland and Wolfsberg in Austria. With the revised scheme terms, shareholders’ equity in the merged group will directly reflect movements in CRML’s market value.

The scheme booklet, including the independent expert’s report, is on track for distribution in early September 2026. Shareholder and optionholder meetings will be held to approve the transaction, with the court process to follow. If successful, European Lithium shareholders are expected to own around 38% of the combined entity.

What’s next for European Lithium?

The updated transaction structure aims to give shareholders more value certainty by softening the impact of CRML’s share price volatility before the deal closes. European Lithium and Critical Metals Corp continue to seek the required approvals and are focused on meeting regulatory, court, and shareholder milestones to complete the merger in October.

Strategically, the combination could position the combined group as a key supplier to Europe’s critical minerals and battery industries, with assets that align well to rising demand from the clean energy and electric vehicle sectors.

European Lithium share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, European Lithium shares have risen 227%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post European Lithium updates merger terms with Critical Metals Corp appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The WAM Global Ltd (ASX: WGB) share price comes into focus after the company announced a fully franked full-year dividend increase to 13.2 cents per share, despite the investment portfolio falling 4.2% in FY26 while the MSCI World Index (AUD) climbed 14.8%.

What did WAM Global report?

• Investment portfolio declined 4.2% for the twelve months to 30 June 2026
• MSCI World Index (AUD) benchmark rose 14.8% over the same period
• Fully franked full year dividend increased to 13.2 cents per share
• Fully franked final dividend of 6.6 cents per share, payable 16 November 2026
• Reported operating loss before tax of $50.3 million (last year: $147.6 million profit)
• Operating loss after tax was $35.2 million (last year: $103.3 million profit)

What else do investors need to know?

The Board highlighted that the fund’s listed investment company structure and profits reserve enabled ongoing payment of fully franked dividends, even during challenging market conditions. Shareholders benefit from a fully franked dividend yield of 6.0% and a grossed-up yield of 8.6%, both well above global equity averages.

Performance lagged its benchmark primarily due to historic concentration of returns among AI-driven companies and a 4.3% negative impact from a stronger Australian dollar. While WAM Global held several AI beneficiaries, this was not enough to outpace broader markets as seen over the year.

The company’s experienced investment team maintains a diversified, quality-focused portfolio. Participation in the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) is available, with new shares issued at the VWAP following the ex-dividend date, and no discount applied.

What did WAM Global management say?

Chairman Geoff Wilson AO said:

The benefits of the listed investment company structure, together with the profits reserve available, have enabled the Board to continue to provide fully franked dividends to shareholders through market cycles. The investment team remains focused on our proven investment process, particularly during times where there is a lack of breadth in the market.

What’s next for WAM Global?

Looking ahead, WAM Global’s management remains disciplined and focused on investing in high-quality AI beneficiaries across sectors such as hardware, infrastructure, and semiconductors, while avoiding speculative names with stretched valuations.

Despite ongoing market volatility and elevated index valuations, WAM Global expects ongoing dispersion in company returns to create opportunities for patient, value-seeking shareholders. The team is committed to using its investment process to identify undervalued growth companies and maintain dividend payments through various market cycles.

View Original Announcement

The post WAM Global lifts dividend despite underperforming global benchmark appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Xero and Northern Star shares
• Why did WiseTech shares just crash 10%?
• European Lithium updates merger terms with Critical Metals Corp
• These 3 ASX 200 shares look like classic Warren Buffett investments
• 20% a year: Is this the ASX’s best index fund?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Oracle of Omaha Warren Buffett is one of the world’s greatest investors.

His basic investing concepts include a long-term, value-focused approach to investing, and he has decades of experience identifying high-quality businesses and holding them over the long term.

His investing wisdom boils down to a few key philosophies: rational decision-making, patience, and focus on high-quality businesses.

With that in mind, there are three ASX 200 stocks that I think look like something Warren Buffett would invest in.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Warren Buffett famously prioritises good-quality businesses. He always looks for companies with a strong history, trustworthy management, and reliable long-term profit growth. 

Australian conglomerate, Wesfarmers, embodies all three of these key traits. 

The company is well-established and financially sound with a history of reliable growth and stability. 

The retail giant also has a huge and highly diversified exposure across multiple industries and sectors. It owns and operates major everyday brands including Bunnings, Kmart, Target, and Officeworks. It also has operations across health and wellbeing, industrials, chemicals, energy, and even more.

Not only that, but it continually focuses on expanding its markets, product categories and digital capabilities to drive long-term growth. 

It’s this stability and consistent long-term net profit growth that make Wesfarmers stand out amongst other ASX blue-chip shares. 

Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL)

One of the key qualities Warren Buffett looks for in an investment is a strong competitive moat.

Major toll-road operators, like Transurban, are a great example of businesses with deep structural advantages that help protect their long-term profitability.

Transurban shares are classically defensive because its services are essential. The company builds and operates major urban toll road networks, tunnels, and bridges and operates 22 assets across Australia, the US, and Canada.

Even in the event of a downturn, people still need to travel to work or transport goods and services. Transurban’s toll roads typically have stable traffic volumes year-round, which means the business enjoys resilient cash flow regardless of whether the economy is booming or slowing.

Transurban’s tolls generally increase according to inflation or its long-term agreements. That means Transurban can increase revenue over time without necessarily needing to win more customers.

Transurban owns an asset that can raise prices while customers continue using it. That’s a very attractive trait for investors like Warren Buffett.

Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is another ASX 200 share which fits perfectly into the Warren Buffett style of investing. 

In fact, the Australian diversified investment house is often compared to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway because it invests in a broad portfolio of assets. These range from ASX-listed companies, to private credit, to real estate, and others.

It is widely regarded as Australian dividend royalty and it’s also one of the few ASX shares that have continually raised its dividend payments over the past 28 years.

Soul Patts is heavily value-orientated. The company explicitly targets businesses capable of long-term compounding. It also focuses on investments where the price paid is justified by the company’s underlying quality, cash flows and long-term prospects. That’s a classic Warren Buffett strategy. 

The post These 3 ASX 200 shares look like classic Warren Buffett investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Warren Buffett has long been touted as one of, if not the, greatest investors of all time. Although he has now stepped back from running his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B), Buffett has achieved immortality by securing an average return of 19.9% per annum between 1965 and 2024. That’s almost double what the broader S&P 500 Index has managed over the same span (10.4% per annum). As such, it might surprise readers to learn that there is an ASX index fund on our own market that has topped even Buffett’s average return over the past ten years.

That ASX index fund is none other than the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ). Yep, as of 31 July, NDQ units have delivered an average of 20.87% per annum over the preceding ten years. Since its inception in May of 2015, this index fund has averaged 19.32%.

Does that make NDQ the best index fund on the ASX? Perhaps even its best investment, period?

How has this ASX ETF delivered Buffett-like returns for ten years?

Well, there’s no denying that NDQ has been a phenomenal asset to have held for at least the past 16 years. A return of around 20% per annum is real wealth-building stuff. Just look at Buffett’s net worth. But before declaring it the best investment on the ASX, let’s go deeper into how it has delivered those returns.

At its core, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is a simple index fund that holds the largest 100 non-financial stocks listed on the American NASDAQ exchange. The NASDAQ is one of the USA’s two major stock exchanges. The New York Stock Exchange is the historic, flagship market, holding some of America’s most storied stocks. These include General Motors, Coca-Cola Co, Procter & Gamble, and Ford Motor Company.

The NASDAQ is the NYSE’s hip younger cousin. It is more modern and has attracted many of the companies that first found success in more recent decades. That includes almost every major tech stock listed in the United States.

That’s why NDQ’s top holdings are dominated by tech. To illustrate, NDQ’s current top-ten holdings are as follows:

1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)
2. Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL)
3. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT)
4. Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MU)
5. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN)
6. Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ: AMD)
7. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL)
8. Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO)
9. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA)
10. Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META)

As almost every investor under the sun knows, tech shares have been the driving force behind much of the US’ incredible returns over the past decade or two. This ASX index fund holds the US’ largest tech stocks at even higher concentrations than the broader market. That’s why NDQ’s returns have been so Buffett-esque of late.

Foolish takeaway

I think the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF will continue to be a solid investment going forward. Depending on how tech and AI continue to unfold, it could well keep up its returns going forward. However, investors need to be cautious. Many of NDQ’s largest holdings are now in the trillion-dollar club. Whilst this highlights their success, it also places a significant handicap on their future growth potential. After all, it’s a lot easier to go from a million-dollar company to a billion than from a billion to a trillion, and so forth.

Additionally, investors need to be aware that if sentiment turns on the tech sector, this ASX index fund could be hit hard, far harder than a fund covering the broader market.

Even so, it’s hard not to conclude that the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has been one of the best ASX investments to have owned for the past decade. Let’s see if it can keep it up going forward.

The post 20% a year: Is this the ASX’s best index fund? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Berkshire Hathaway, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended General Motors. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Berkshire Hathaway, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL) have fallen more than 40% over the past 12 months, but if the analysts at Macquarie are to be believed, they are in line for a re-rating.

The broker has published a new research note on the gas producer with a bullish share price target which I’ll get to shortly.

First, let’s have a look at Amplitude’s recent full-year results release.

Solid operating results from Amplitude

The Otway Basin-focussed company delivered record full-year production of 27.6 petajoules of gas, up 3% on the previous year.

Revenue meanwhile was up 7% to $285.8 million, and underlying earnings were a record $191.8 million, up 12%.  

Managing Director Jane Norman said the company was delivering on its strategy.

She added:

Amplitude Energy has delivered record financial results for the third consecutive year, underpinned by solid operational performance and continued cash flow improvement through FY26. The business remains resilient in the face of external challenges. With strong base business cash flows providing funding for our growth projects, the Company is well placed to maximise its long-term value. Record production performance was driven by Orbost, where production was increased above the plant’s previous 68 TJ/day nameplate level. Orbost has since demonstrated an ability to operate well above 70 TJ/day, recently setting a series of new production records.

Ms Norman said the company was on track to achieve “transformational growth through the East Coast Supply Project, one of the most significant sources of new domestic gas supply currently being advanced in south-east Australia”.

She added:

Our acquisition of the discovered Artisan gas field, combined with our existing Annie discovery, provides the basis for a very attractive project, with further potential near-term exploration upside from Juliet drilling. The Artisan transaction is a good example of cooperation between Otway Basin participants leading to project synergies, and was made possible in part by our strong relationship with O.G. Energy.

Amplitude is forecasting production of 26.6-28.5 petajoules of gas in FY27.

Amplitude Energy shares looking cheap

Macquarie said in its research note that 80% of Amplitude’s legacy gas was contracted for the current calendar year, along with 80% of Annie and Artisan.

Macquarie added:

Recent contracts with AGL & Energy Australia have been well timed, and reflect the prudent approach of steadily engaging high quality, well capitalised customers over time and de-risking the project. AEL now has an impressive track record of operational delivery (not the case in exploration, however this could change very soon with Juliet), and production guidance was in line with our expectations.

Macquarie has a price target of $2.45 for Amplitude Energy shares, compared with the current price of $1.62.

The post Macquarie tips this ASX gas company to jump more than 50% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are climbing higher again today.

At the time of writing, the ASX biotech shares are up another 5%, and are changing hands for $165.76 a piece.

Today’s increase follows a huge 17% share price rally on Tuesday after CSL posted its FY26 results. The day goes down in history as the shares best day in 20 years.

CSL reported total revenue of US$15.8 billion and NPAT of US$2.6 billion. It also recorded a net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion for FY26, coming from pre-tax impairments and restructuring costs. 

The result came in way ahead of guidance. In May, the company cut its FY26 revenue guidance to around US$15.2 billion and NPAT to around US$3.1 billion. IT also flagged US$5 billion of impairments.

CSL management describes FY26 as a ‘reset year’, with FY27 marking a return to growth.

Clearly investors are thrilled with the update, and many are rushing to snap up the shares while they’re still trading for cheap.

CSL shares have now rebounded 79% from a multi-year low of $92.24 each in early-June. They’re now just 4% lower for the year-to-date, but still around 27% lower than 12 months ago.

Can they keep climbing higher?

Here’s what the experts think.

What’s the outlook for CSL shares over the next 12 months?

I think there is a lot of potential for the company to grow over the next few years. CSL is operating in a high-growth market, and its blood plasma division dominates the market for rare blood disorders and immunoglobulin products.

The company’s growth initiatives are clearly working, but it’s likely it will take a while longer to see the financial benefits.

I think we’ll see an upside ahead, but I don’t think we’ll see a material increase in the share price from here until we get more visibility into the company’s earnings over the first half of FY27.

It’s possible that some experts could revise their outlook on CSL shares in the coming days, off the back of the company’s results announcement.

But at the moment, forecasts suggest that they’re on the fence.

Market Index data shows that the majority have a hold rating on CSL shares. The $132 average target price now implies a potential 20% downside, after this week’s share price rally.

It’s the same case on TradingView. The majority (10 out of 17) have a hold rating on the stock. However, the other seven rate CSL shares as a buy/strong buy.

The average $160.28 target price is higher, but it still implies a potential downside of around 3%, at the time of writing.

However the range between the maximum and minimum target price is quite large. Some tip the shares to climb another 26% to $206.91 but others think CSL shares could drop 35% to just $106.80 over the next 12 months.

The post CSL shares rebound 79% from multi-year low: Here’s what brokers tip next appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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