Author: openjargon

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is in focus after the company revealed a strategic farm-in agreement to acquire up to 100% of the Centenario lithium brine project in Argentina, bolstering its existing hard-rock lithium operations in Western Australia.

What did Liontown report?

• Entered a farm-in agreement with NEXT Lithium Corp. for the Centenario lithium brine project in Salta, Argentina
• Potential to earn up to 100% interest in the project by funding US$40 million (~A$56 million) over four years, plus milestone payments
• Initial payment will be US$5 million (~A$7 million) in cash and US$10 million (~A$14 million) in Liontown shares
• An initial work program of US$15 million is planned over the first 12–24 months, targeting early-stage exploration and drilling
• Staged structure allows Liontown to increase its project stake based on funding and exploration outcomes

What else do investors need to know?

The project is situated in a promising lithium brine district, close to established operations run by sector giants like Lithium Argentina, Ganfeng, and Eramet. This move offers Liontown a low-cost foothold in a globally significant lithium province and aligns with its strategy to diversify and grow its battery minerals portfolio.

Partnering with NEXT Lithium gives Liontown access to the expertise of a team with a strong track record in Argentinian lithium brine assets. Liontown retains capital discipline through the staged investment and maintains Kathleen Valley as its core focus.

The agreement includes standard conditions precedent, such as the release of security interests over the project and the repayment of certain intercompany loans. If these are not satisfied within six months, either party may walk away without further liability.

What did Liontown management say?

Managing Director and CEO Tony Ottaviano said:

This transaction gives Liontown a low-cost entry into lithium brine. Brine is one of the two primary sources of the world’s lithium, and this is our first step in building real understanding and capability in it. Structuring the deal as a staged farm-in ties our capital to results, so we invest more only as the project proves itself. Kathleen Valley remains our priority, and we will keep pursuing value-accretive growth where it fits our strategy. NEXT Lithium knows lithium, knows brine, and knows Argentina. That depth of expertise is exactly what we want alongside us as we build our own capability.

What’s next for Liontown?

Liontown plans to launch initial exploration at Centenario, with a US$15 million program over the first two years, including drilling and geophysical testing. As results come in, the company can opt to boost its ownership through further staged investments, up to full control of the project.

The Centenario farm-in is designed to complement Liontown’s hard-rock operations, providing diversified growth options and access to both major sources of lithium worldwide. Management remains committed to carefully scaling exposure in step with exploration outcomes and market conditions.

Liontown share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Liontown shares have risen 35%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the sme period.

View Original Announcement

The post Liontown enters Argentina lithium brine farm-in, diversifying future growth 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 team at Betashares has released three new ASX ETFs this week. 

The diversified multi-asset ETFs provide professionally constructed exposure across equities, fixed income, cash and infrastructure. 

The three new funds offer balanced, growth and high-growth risk profiles.

What are diversified ASX ETFs?

ASX ETFs are fast becoming one of the most popular assets for Aussie investors. 

Traditionally, investors used ETFs to track broad indexes like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) or the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX). 

However providers are now developing more sophisticated and thematic options. 

One such sector of ASX ETFs is diversified funds. 

Diversified ETFs have become an increasingly popular route for investors to access professionally constructed portfolios in a single trade. 

By combining multiple asset classes and thousands of underlying securities within one fund, they can offer a simple and scalable alternative to constructing and maintaining a multi-asset portfolio.

In simple terms, it can combine Australian shares, international shares, emerging markets and fixed income, growth etc in one trade. 

Betashares has expanded its Diversified ETF range to provide a simple, low-cost way to implement strategic asset allocation across a range of investor risk profiles.

The three new funds from Betashares

Yesterday, Betashares announced three new diversified funds: 

• Betashares Diversified High Growth ETF (ASX:DVHG) – 90% Growth / 10% Defensive allocation. 
• Betashares Diversified Growth ETF (ASX:DVGR) – 75% Growth / 25% Defensive allocation. 
• Betashares Diversified Balanced ETF (ASX:DVBA) – 60% Growth / 40% Defensive allocation. 

The Funds provide exposure to approximately 2,500 Australian and global companies and 12,000 bonds, with broad diversification across asset classes, regions and sectors. 

According to Betashares, this can reduce the administration associated with managing multiple holdings, while providing either a simple standalone solution or a passive core to which smart beta or active strategies can be added.

The Diversified Balanced ETF leans more heavily into cash and fixed income for their defensive characteristics, while the All Growth ETF invests only in equities, targeting long-term capital appreciation.

All three funds come with a management fee of 0.19% p.a.

More information about the funds can be found here. 

What other diversified ASX ETFs are available?

According to Betashares, Together with the existing Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF), the range now provides investors with diversified portfolio options spanning balanced through to all growth profiles.

For investors looking to compare the new funds with existing ETFs, there are others to consider, including: 

• Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG)
• Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index Etf (ASX: VDAL). 

The post Betashares launches 3 new diversified ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

If you are in the market for a bargain, then it could be worth hearing what Bell Potter is saying about the beaten-down ASX shares in this article.

Are they cheap buys? Let’s find out:

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

This ASX share is down 46% over the past 12 months. 

Unfortunately, Bell Potter isn’t in a rush to buy the shipbuilder’s shares after this decline. In response to its results, the broker has retained its hold rating with a trimmed price target of $4.70. It explains:

Hanwha’s knowledge of recent onerous contracts prior to bid submission suggests a higher likelihood of the deal going ahead. We forecast FY27e sole Australasian EBIT (incl corp. costs) of $32m ($44m normalised in FY26e) implying current multiple of 10- 17x if bid goes ahead vs. global peer group at 16-24x. We believe ramp-up risks are heightened in the Australasian segment over the next 2 years with labour the key constraint. Retain Hold. TP lower on model roll forward.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Bell Potter remains positive on retail giant Harvey Norman, which has seen its shares fall 43% since this time last year.

However, the broker has taken an axe to its valuation following a review of the company’s FY 2026 results. A note reveals that it has retained its buy rating on the ASX share with a reduced price target of $5.00 (from $6.00). It commented:

In HVN’s key Australian market, we see near term pressures with a further challenged operating environment and a period of high comps navigated through Sep-Nov. However, HVN has the second highest global exposure within our coverage, while trading at a 1-year forward P/E of ~14x (as per BPe). We view this as reasonable considering the CY27/28 outlook for the name with the growth opportunity in 8 global markets and as Australia’s single largest owner in large format retail with a global portfolio of ~$4.8b.

Praemium Ltd (ASX: PPS)

This investment platform provider’s shares are down 28% from their highs, and Bell Potter appears to believe this has created a buying opportunity.

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $1.10 (from $1.20). It said:

. We stay Buy rated. Derecognising assets is a setback. However, PPS has flagged an intention to migrate onto its new system over the coming 12-18 months. We see an untapped potential in superannuation and new client wins beginning to convert into revenue.

The post Down 28% to 46%: Are these beaten-down ASX shares cheap buys? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have been strong performers over the past 12 months.

During this time, the lithium miner’s shares have risen 35%.

Despite this, one leading broker believes that the company’s shares could be dirt cheap.

What is the broker saying?

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts felt that Liontown delivered a “solid” result in FY 2026. The broker said:

LTR reported FY26 underlying EBITDA of $147m (BP est. $222m) and NPAT of $14m (BP est. -$3m). Statutory NPAT was $93m, includes a net -$44.3m tax effected charge for fair value movements and FX gain related to the convertible notes issued to LG Energy Solution, and the recognition of a $112.9m deferred tax asset for tax losses carried forward from prior years. LTR did not declare a dividend, as expected. 

The FY26 result was symptomatic of the Kathleen Valley ramp-up, with high depreciation associated with completing the open pit in late 2025. As previously reported, LTR finished FY26 with cash of $561m and debt of $369m (excluding leases) implying a net cash position of $192m.

Looking ahead, Bell Potter highlights that management is working towards a final investment decision (FID) for the Kathleen Valley mine and processing plant expansion, with a decision due in the near term. It said:

LTR intends to take a formal Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Kathleen Valley mine and processing plant expansion in late September 2026. The expansion is designed to lift underground mining and processing throughput from 2.8Mtpa to 4.0Mtpa, thereby lifting concentrate production capacity from around 500ktpa to over 700ktpa. In today’s release, LTR reiterated FID remains on track for end of Q1 FY27.

Are Liontown shares dirt cheap?

Bell Potter believes that Liontown shares are unnecessarily cheap, highlighting that its enterprise value (EV) is trading at a level not seen since lithium prices were significantly cheaper and its debt load was higher. It said:

We still believe that LTR’s EV is lagging the recent recovery in lithium markets and expected tight fundamentals. The last time LTR was trading at its current EV (early December 2025), SC6 prices were US$1,150/t and net debt was $274m. Since this date. Since then, the Kathleen Valley underground ramp-up has been further derisked and spot SC6 prices are above US$2,300/t. 

While we expect lithium markets will be volatile, market fundamentals remain strong. Over FY27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley, a highly strategic asset in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction.

In response to the company’s results, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.90 price target on Liontown’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $1.23, this implies potential upside of approximately 55% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Why Liontown shares could be dirt cheap appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares have stormed higher in 2026, with robust financial results and a series of positive announcements continuing to drive positive investor sentiment.

At the close of the ASX on Monday afternoon, the investment bank’s shares were down around 0.5% to $250.59.

Despite the small decline, the shares are still up 23% for the year-to-date and are 12% higher than 12 months ago.

What do investors like about Macquarie Group?

At the time of writing, Macquarie is Australia’s fifth-largest bank by market capitalisation, and the sixth largest stock listed on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). 

But Macquarie is more than just an ASX bank stock. It provides services across a diverse range of markets.

Aside from banking, Macquarie Group also operates across asset management, commodities and financial markets, advisory, investment, and fund management services across 34 markets globally.

Through most of the year so far, the investment bank has performed strongly, rallying strongly in April and reaching an all-time high in early-August.

In late July, the company had its AGM, posted its first-quarter FY27 update, and announced that CEO Shemara Wikramanayake will retire in November, with Greg Ward to take over the top job.

Macquarie described trading conditions during the first quarter as “satisfactory”. Its Banking and Financial Services segment increased its profit contribution compared with the same period last year. Deposits rose by 4% during the quarter, while home loans grew by 6% and business banking loans increased by 3%.

The news came on the back of the company’s positive earnings results back in May. At the time, Macquarie reported a full-year FY26 net profit of $4.85 billion, up 30% from FY25, and growth across all four of its operating divisions.

The rally of good news was very well received by the market, and many rushed to snap up the shares.

The question now is, can Macquarie keep climbing higher? Or have the shares reached a ceiling?

If I buy $5,000 of Macquarie shares today, what could they be worth in 12 months time?

Analysts are pretty optimistic about the outlook for Macquarie over the next year. 

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the shares. The $270.89 average target price implies 8% potential upside at the time of writing. 

TradingView data shows something similar. Again, the majority (nine out of 12) also have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. The average $268.69 target price implies a potential 7% upside ahead. 

The team at Catapult Wealth have a buy rating on the investment bank. The wealth management company thinks Macquarie shares are a good alternative to the big four banks in the current environment.

Jarden has a buy rating on Macquarie shares, but thinks the stock is now fully priced. It has a price target of $250, just a little above the current share price.

Morgans also thinks the shares are close to being fully valued. The broker has a hold rating and a $255 target price. It said that Macquarie is a quality franchise and a proven performer, but is overvalued.

Assuming the average price target comes to fruition within the next 12 months, that means a $5,000 investment today could be worth between $5,350 and $5,400 this time next year.

The post By September 2027, $5,000 invested in Macquarie shares could turn into… 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 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.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares were among the best performers on the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) in August.

During the month, the lithium giant’s shares surged 30% to end the period at $5.40.

This means the company’s shares are now up a remarkable 120% over the past 12 months.

Why did PLS shares rocket in August?

Investors were fighting to get hold of PLS shares following the release of its FY 2026 results.

For the 12 months ended 30 June, the lithium miner reported a 152% increase in revenue to $1,934 million. 

This was driven by a 17% increase in sales volumes to 891.6kt and a 121% jump in its average estimated realised price to US$1,488 per tonne.

Another positive was that its unit operating cost (FOB) improved by 9% to $569/t (US$386/t), which management advised reflects higher volumes and ongoing operational improvements.

This ultimately underpinned a more than 1,000% increase in underlying EBITDA to $1,137 million (from $97 million) and a net profit after tax of $526 million, which was up from a $196 million loss a year earlier.

The good news for shareholders is that this allowed the PLS board to bring back its dividend. It is paying shareholders a 5 cents per share fully franked dividend for the half.

Commenting on the results, PLS’ CEO, Dale Henderson, said:

FY26 was a record year for PLS, demonstrating our through-cycle strategy in action. We had positioned the business to respond quickly when market conditions improved and, as the lithium market strengthened, we acted – bringing idled capacity back into production and shifting our focus decisively from defence to growth. That preparation is reflected in the results. We delivered record production of approximately 880 thousand tonnes while reducing unit operating costs by 9%, generating $1.1 billion of underlying EBITDA at a 59% margin and $1.4 billion of cash margin from operations. These are strong outcomes and a credit to our team. 

With 100% ownership of Pilgangoora, our shareholders receive the full benefit of the scale, low-cost position and operating leverage we have built. We also strengthened the business for what comes next. During the year we accessed the international debt capital markets for the first time through our US$600 million bond and finished FY26 with $2.3 billion of cash. That financial strength gives us flexibility: we can continue investing in Pilgangoora, bring Ngungaju back into production, advance P2000 and Colina, and pay a fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share. 

We enter FY27 larger, lower cost and financially stronger than we were a year ago. We remain confident in the long-term opportunity for lithium, and our focus is on continuing to execute well, allocating capital with discipline and delivering value for our shareholders.

Should you invest?

According to a note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), its analysts still see value in PLS shares at current levels.

In response to its FY 2026 results, the broker retained its outperform rating and $6.00 price target on its shares.

Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 11% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Why PLS shares rocketed 30% in August appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.

Following earnings results, the team at Ord Minnett is projecting big upside for Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1). 

Megaport provides on-demand data and network interconnection services across multiple continents. 

It released full-year results on August 20. 

Results exceeded expectations

In yesterday’s report, Ord Minnett said Megaport’s FY26 earnings and FY27 guidance exceeded consensus estimates. 

The company also announced three contract wins, together valued at $506 million. 

These contracts will deliver annual recurring revenue of $129 million and start contributing in FY27. 

For FY26, total revenues rose 37% to $312 million, in-line with consensus of $313 million, and within the provided guidance range of $307-315 million. 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 24% to $77 million, ahead of consensus at $72 million, and guidance of $64.5-75.5 million. 

Guidance is for FY27 revenue of $620-$730 million (consensus: $619 million) and an EBITDA margin of 38-40%, which implies EBITDA in the range of $ 236- $ 292 million (consensus: $242 million). 

Soft market reaction 

Despite the positive results, Megaport shares actually fell significantly following the results. 

Ord Minnett suggested this may have been influenced by several factors: 

Some parts of the investment community had been expecting contract wins already, or more of a guidance uplift in guidance from GPU Pool monetisation. 

We see guidance as prudent, and the EBITDA target is achievable purely on a conservative ramp-up of contracts without GPU Pool monetisation. EBITDA of over $300 million is possible with some GPU Pool monetisation on our analysis.

‍MP1 renegotiated two strategic contracts due to supply constraints. Despite this, the outcomes appear more favourable for MP1 given the alternative arrangements include providing higher-grade graphic processing units (GPU). This has increased total contract values in aggregate by US$87.1 million with no material change in aggregate annual recurring revenue or capex requirements.

Big upside remains for Megaport shares

The recent dip may have created a strong opportunity for value investors. 

The team at Ord Minnett placed an accumulate rating and $22 price target on Megaport shares following results. 

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside potential of approximately 33%. 

Our EBITDA estimates fall by 11.2% in FY27 on higher expenses but increase 22.6% in FY28 on higher revenues from contract wins. Our target price is revised to $22.We have an Accumulate recommendation. Catalysts for the shares include upgrades to FY27 guidance and more contract wins.

‍

The post This broker is tipping 33% upside for Megaport shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Megaport. 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares gave investors a wild ride in August. The ASX tech stock finished Monday 0.6% lower at $40.38, bringing its monthly gain to 11%.

That offered some relief after a brutal year. WiseTech shares remain down 41% year to date and 60% over the past 12 months. The big question now is whether September can extend the shaky rebound.

Hitting the accelerator, then slamming the brakes

For much of August, it looked like WiseTech shares couldn’t be stopped. During the first three weeks, the tech stock surged 25%, reaching $45.47 on 25 August. Then came the FY26 result and the rally quickly lost momentum.

Since that result, WiseTech shares have fallen around 11%, leaving them a long way from the $100 level reached almost a year ago.

The numbers themselves were hardly disastrous. WiseTech reported a 46% increase in EBITDA to US$558.4 million for the year to 30 June. That landed within management’s US$550 million to US$585 million guidance range, although it fell slightly short of the US$569.5 million market forecast.

For FY27, management expects total revenue growth of 6% to 10%, reaching US$1.48 billion to US$1.54 billion. Underlying EBITDA is forecast to grow 12% to 21%, with margins improving to 49% to 51%.

The business hasn’t fallen apart

That’s important because the collapse in WiseTech shares hasn’t simply been about deteriorating demand.

WiseTech’s CargoWise platform remains a major logistics software system, used by the world’s top 25 freight forwarders, including Toll and DHL. It helps freight forwarders, customs brokers and supply-chain operators manage increasingly complicated global trade.

That gives WiseTech exposure to powerful long-term trends, particularly the digitalisation of global trade and rising demand for sophisticated logistics technology.

The bigger problems have been investor confidence, governance concerns and regulatory issues.

What do brokers think about WiseTech shares?

Several brokers remain firmly in the bullish camp.

Morgans retained its buy rating with a trimmed $62.50 price target, while Morgan Stanley maintained its buy rating and $70 target. That points to a 73% upside. Bell Potter also remains bullish, despite cutting its target from $71.75 to $65.

Citi lifted its target from $55.05 to $58.75, while UBS reduced its target from $65 to $56 but retained its buy recommendation. Macquarie nudged its target up to $48.20 and also retained a buy rating.

But there is plenty of scepticism. Jefferies downgraded WiseTech shares to hold with a $45 target, while JPMorgan also has a hold rating, with a $40 target.

At $40.38, the huge gap between those valuations tells investors something important: the market remains deeply divided over WiseTech’s recovery.

The August rebound is encouraging. But after such a bruising decline, Wisetech shares still have plenty to prove before investors can confidently declare the turnaround complete.

The post WiseTech shares enjoy best month in over a year. More to come? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. 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.

There are a lot of options for investors to choose from on the ASX.

So, to narrow things down, let’s see what analysts at Morgans are saying about the three popular ASX shares listed below.

Here’s how the broker rates these shares:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

Morgans was disappointed with this uranium producer’s guidance for FY 2027, which revealed weaker than expected production and higher than expected costs.

In response to the update, the broker has downgraded Boss Energy shares to a sell rating with a $1.30 price target. It said:

Guidance rest and expectations move lower – FY27 guidance implies a ~15% production downgrade versus consensus even at the top end of the range, while C1 costs and AISC are ~15-18% above market expectations. While FY26 was broadly in line, FY27 guidance is likely to drive a reset in earnings expectations. 

Honeymoon new feasibility study – The updated feasibility study outlines a more achievable development pathway with improved unit economics and lower sustaining capital intensity; however, the 13.8Mlb production profile sits below the ~15.1Mlb assumed by consensus, shifting the debate towards whether improved margins can offset lower volumes. Following material downgrades to our forecasts, we move to a SELL (previously ACCUMULATE) with a reduced-price target of A$1.30ps (previously A$1.40ps).

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The broker was relatively pleased with Magellan’s performance in FY 2026. Although its profits were down year on year, they were above consensus estimates.

And while there are headwinds in FY 2027, Morgans remains positive on its medium term growth outlook. As a result, it has an accumulate rating and $10.25 price target on Magellan’s shares. It said:

MFG’s group operating profit after tax (A$145m) was down 9% on the pcp (A$159m) and 2% above consensus (A$142m). Guidance was the main factor weighing on the result, with management flagging numerous headwinds for FY27 – which shapes up as a consolidation year – alongside signs of a slowdown in Barrenjoey growth in 2H26 (despite otherwise impressive overall numbers). 

We downgrade our MFG FY27F/FY28F EPS by ~10-20%, reflecting disclosed guidance impacts to earnings and greater conservatism in our Barrenjoey growth forecasts. Our price target falls from A$11.26 to A$10.25. While MFG faces some near-term pressures, we continue to believe the company is well positioned to drive medium-term growth. With >10% upside to our price target, we maintain our ACCUMULATE call.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Finally, this data centre operator impressed with its FY 2026 results and guidance for FY 2027. 

However, Morgans hasn’t seen quite enough to recommend it as a buy. So, for now, the broker has moved to a hold rating with a $15.00 price target. It explains:

NXT’s FY26 and FY27 outlook were both above expectations. Customer demand remains insatiable and NXT is on a glide path to materially higher EBITDA. We lift our EBITDA forecasts materially on a faster ramp-up of contracted MW. 

We see the value creation from substantial FY26 deals but cannot avoid the investment markets reasonable fixation on the funding envelop. We think, until NXT delivers more steps along the path to a capital recycling program, the stock could lack marginal buyers. We move to a Hold recommendation, for now.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Boss Energy, Magellan, and NextDC shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. 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.

ASX airline shares like Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) are a popular choice for income-seeking investors.

The company is a household name operating in a resilient market. The airline has also returned to paying meaningful, fully franked dividends this year, after it suspended payments during COVID-19.

If Qantas’ earnings continue growing and its share price appreciates, investors could potentially get a combination of both capital growth and franked dividends.

But what exactly would it entail to earn the passive income you want?

Let’s take a look at what it takes to earn $10,000 per year of passive income from Qantas shares.

What passive income does Qantas pay its shareholders?

First, we need to understand what dividends the airline giant pays its shareholders.

Qantas resumed its twice-yearly dividend payments in 2025 after a break between 2020 and 2024. The company historically pays its shareholders an interim dividend in April and a final one in October, sometimes with an additional special dividend.

The company paid a fully-franked interim dividend of 19.8 cents per share in April.

Last week, as part of its FY26 results announcement, the airline declared a fully franked final dividend of 19.8 cents per share, to be paid to shareholders in October.

That comes to a total FY26 dividend of 39.6 cents per security.

At the time of writing, this translates to a dividend yield of around 4.2% for FY26. 

In FY27, Qantas is forecast to pay an annual dividend per share of 44.8 cents per security. At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.8%, including franking credits.

How many Qantas shares do I need to generate $10,000 of passive income every year?

Using the FY26 total dividend payment of 39.6 cents per share, investors would need to own around 25,253 shares in order to earn around $10,000 of passive income.

Assuming the 44.8 cent per share dividend forecast for FY27 is correct, investors would need to buy around 22,322 shares to earn the same annual passive income.

How much would that cost?

At the time of writing, Qantas shares are trading for $9.42 a piece. 

That means, in order to buy the 25,253 shares needed for $10,000 of annual passive income in FY26, you would need to invest roughly $238,000.

For the 22,322 shares needed for the same income in FY27, investors would need to invest around $211,000.

It’s not a small sum, but it could be worth it in the long run.

And remember, you don’t need to invest the entire amount in one go. Start off small and enjoy the benefit of compound growth.

What do the experts expect next from Qantas shares?

Market experts are incredibly bullish on Qantas shares over the next 12 months, with many forecasting significant upside.

TradingView data shows the majority (14 out of 15) have a buy/strong buy rating on the airline shares.

The $11.72 average target price implies a potential 24% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. Even the minimum $10.40 target price implies the shares could jump another 10%.

The post How many Qantas shares do I need to buy for $10,000 per year of passive income? 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 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.