Author: openjargon

You might know how much money you have stashed away in your superannuation, but how does it compare to other Aussies the same age as you?

How else will you know if you have enough money to retire when the time comes?

At age 56, many Aussies are approaching their final decade of working life. At this point, you’re just four years away from your preservation age (when you can access your super, provided you’ve stopped working), and nine years from full access, regardless of whether you’re still working.

It’s an important life milestone, and how you manage your superannuation in your late 50s can determine the quality of life you live in retirement.

Here’s a breakdown of the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 56.

How does your balance stack up?

The average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 56 in FY27

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 56, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has a rough guide.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 55 to 59 has around $319,743 in their superannuation.

The average superannuation balance for Australian women aged 56 in FY27

Women in the same age bracket have a lot less, most likely because women are more likely to take time out of the workforce or work reduced hours. The lower superannuation income then makes a significant difference over time, and the balances between men and women at age 56 are wide.

The average balance for Australian women aged 55 to 59 is around $242,945. That’s a gap of around $77,000 compared to men the same age.

How does your super balance stack up with men and women the same age as you?

But not only that, is it actually enough?

How much superannuation should I have by age 56 to afford a good retirement lifestyle?

ASFA calculates that in order to live a comfortable retirement lifestyle, Australians will need around $630,000 each in their superannuation by age 67. Couples can get away with $730,000 combined.

In order to reach that goal, ASFA expects that Australians earning around $100,000 per year should have close to $369,000 in their superannuation by age 56.

That’s significantly higher than the average balances of both men and women around that age.

What can I do to raise my balance in the next 5 to 10 years?

If your balance is falling behind, it’s not too late to catch up. Even the smallest change can help boost compound growth over the next 5 to 10 years.

The first thing you need to do is check that your super fund is performing well and that your investment strategy and risk profile are appropriate for your personal circumstances. 

Also, consolidate your funds and double-check that your insurance coverage is necessary and the premiums are appropriate for you. 

You can also add extra contributions wherever possible. Take advantage of concessional and non-concessional limits and any potential tax reduction that may come with it. Ask your spouse to add extra too. Couples can boost their combined super savings if the higher-income earner contributes after-tax funds to the lower-income earner’s account.

You should also take advantage of any applicable government contributions that might help your personal circumstances. There is a downsizer contributions rule, a bring-forward rule, a government co-contribution rule, and many others.

The post Average superannuation balance at age 56 in Australia in FY27. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Fortescue vs PLS Group: Which ASX mining share is the better buy?
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises vs Guzman y Gomez: Which fast food stock offers better value?
• My favourite ASX passive income shares for retirees
• How much could the Macquarie share price rise in the next year?

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.

It was a wild and ultimately red session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Wednesday. After yesterday’s gains, investors were far more cautious today, with the ASX 200 spending time in both positive and negative territory. The bears won out, though, with the index closing at 8,727.7 points, down 0.092%.

This disappointing midweek session for the Australian markets comes after a more upbeat morning on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) overcame some early jitters to finish 0.18% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little more decisive, rising 0.45%.

But let’s return to the local markets now and examine how today’s trading conditions filtered down into the various ASX sectors this hump day.

Winners and losers

We had plenty of both winners and losers this Wednesday.

Leading the latter were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was left out in the cold today, plunging 0.59%.

Mining shares had a rough one as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) sinking 0.2%.

Industrial stocks were also left out. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up retreating 0.17% this session.

Next came communications shares, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.14% downgrade.

Our last losers this Wednesday were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) ended up dipping 0.06%.

Let’s get to the winners now.

Leading the charge were healthcare shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) roaring 1.09% higher.

We can say the same for gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) experienced a 0.94% surge.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) ran hot too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.8% jump.

Consumer discretionary shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) lifted 0.47%.

Energy stocks were next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) advancing 0.45% this hump day.

Consumer staples shares held up well, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) had gained 0.11% by the closing bell.

Finally, tech stocks only just got across the line, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 0.01% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

This Wednesday’s winner was the real estate investment trust Arena REIT (ASX: ARF). Arena units soared 12.98% higher today to close at $2.35 each.

This came after the REIT released a pleasing update regarding its childcare portfolio.

Here’s how the other high flyers landed their planes:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Arena REIT (ASX: ARF)	$2.35	12.98%
Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)	$1.14	4.61%
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)	$21.28	4.47%
NextGen Energy (Canada) Ltd (ASX: NXG)	$13.48	4.25%
Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)	$3.56	4.09%
Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)	$2.74	3.01%
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)	$15.87	2.99%
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)	$36.87	2.76%
Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX)	$4.50	2.74%
Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)	$14.76	2.57%

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.

More reading

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• Arena REIT shares in focus as Edge Early Learning lease update issued
• This up-and-coming ASX gold producer could rise more than 50%: Broker
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Fortescue vs PLS Group shares: Which blue chip miner has more upside?

When it comes to ASX-listed mining giants, Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) both stand out for investors seeking exposure to the resources sector. While both operate out of Western Australia and count as blue-chip names in their field, their businesses are shaped by very different commodities: iron ore for Fortescue, and lithium (with a dash of tantalum) for PLS Group. With both sectors facing different market dynamics, it’s worth digging into the numbers to see which share might offer more upside from here.

The case for Fortescue

Fortescue is one of the world’s major iron ore producers, operating extensive mines and infrastructure in the Pilbara. As of its company profile, Fortescue’s integrated operations cover multiple mining hubs, its own heavy haul rail, and port facilities at Port Hedland. It has long leveraged its scale to keep costs competitive, making it a key supplier to steelmakers worldwide.

Notable points from Fortescue’s current stats:

• Market cap of $49.85 billion, making it a heavyweight on the ASX.
• P/E ratio of 12.08, notably lower than PLS Group’s.
• A generous dividend yield of 6.67%, fully franked at 100%.
• Earnings per share of $0.931, with a dividend per share of $1.08, suggesting strong cash return to investors (though dividend yields can fluctuate).

One particularly attractive factor is the consistent, fully franked dividends Fortescue has paid, even as iron ore markets have gone through some turbulence.

The case for PLS Group

PLS Group, formerly Pilbara Minerals, is well known as a top lithium and tantalum miner. The company’s mainstay is the Pilgangoora project in the Pilbara—one of the largest hard-rock lithium-tantalum deposits globally. According to its most recent public description, the company’s reach now extends to Brazil through its Colina lithium project. PLS Group has made impressive strides from exploration to production in less than four years and is aggressively expanding its global footprint.

The most eye-catching fundamentals for PLS Group:

• Market cap of $12 billion, making it smaller than Fortescue but still a top ASX resource name.
• A P/E ratio of 22.92, substantially higher than Fortescue’s.
• Dividend yield of 1.35%, also fully franked.
• EPS of $0.161 and dividend per share of $0.05.

While its dividend is modest for now, PLS Group is clearly still focused on early-stage expansion in a sector (lithium) that’s pegged to major growth in battery and EV markets.

Valuation comparison

Presented side-by-side, here’s how the key stats stack up:

Metric	Fortescue	PLS Group
Market Cap	$49.85 billion	$12.00 billion
P/E Ratio	12.08	22.92
Dividend Yield	6.67% (100% franked)	1.35% (100% franked)
Earnings per Share	$0.931	$0.161

Note: P/E ratios for both companies are based on reported figures, but if you do the math, Fortescue’s EPS and P/E are roughly consistent; likewise for PLS Group, though payout ratios differ. Both companies’ franked dividends are a plus for Australian investors.

Fortescue trades at a P/E almost half of PLS Group’s, despite offering a substantially higher dividend yield. That reflects current market scepticism around iron ore pricing, but also perhaps optimism on lithium’s future for PLS Group.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent performance as at 5 October 2026:

• Fortescue closed at $16.19, after a flat day, and has returned -21.5% year to date.
• PLS Group closed at $3.72, up 0.5% that day, and is down -11.1% year to date.

So both shares are in negative territory this year, but PLS Group has held up better, falling about half as much as Fortescue over 2026 so far.

Which is the better buy?

Looking at the fundamentals, Fortescue offers a much higher fully franked dividend yield and a far lower P/E ratio than PLS Group. That tells me the market sees more risk or less growth in old-school iron ore compared to the lithium sector, which is still brimming with hype and optimism. However, Fortescue’s ability to pay out substantial and consistent dividends, even while its share price is down more than 20% year to date, is hard to ignore for income-focused investors.

PLS Group, in contrast, is delivering modest profits and a small, fully franked dividend, but it’s valued at almost double Fortescue’s earnings multiple. That’s a big vote of confidence in the future of battery materials, but with a dividend that’s more a gesture than a consistent income stream, and a share price that’s still down 11% year to date.

If you’re looking for robust, income-driven returns and value, I’d lean toward Fortescue. If you’re happy to take on more volatility for the chance of outsized growth—should the lithium sector take off again—PLS Group is the pick. Personally, given the current data, my pick would be Fortescue for its combination of scale, franked dividends, and more appealing valuation, with the caveat that its upside rests on iron ore not staying depressed for too long. PLS Group could have more explosive upside if lithium surprises to the upside, but at today’s pricing, I think Fortescue’s risk-reward trade-off stands out more.

The post Fortescue vs PLS Group: Which ASX mining share is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• PLS vs BHP: Which ASX 200 mining stock looks better today?
• Fortescue vs National Australia Bank: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy this month?
• PLS Group vs Mineral Resources: ASX mining shares compared
• Is the Fortescue share price a cheap buy?

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 draft. 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.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises vs Guzman y Gomez shares

If you’re hungry for fast food stocks on the ASX, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) and Guzman y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) are two tempting names. Both companies run sizeable quick-service restaurant networks with bold growth ambitions, but their shares come with very different price tags and outlooks. So, which looks better value today?

The case for Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises is Australia’s largest pizza chain, with operations spanning not just locally but across Europe and parts of Asia. According to its company profile, it controls the Domino’s brand in countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan and several European nations. Domino’s has also extended its reach into Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia as of its most recent public description.

On the numbers front, Domino’s is sitting on a $1.87 billion market cap and offers a dividend yield of 2.91%. That’s pretty solid for a fast food business, and investors have banked fully franked dividends in the past – though recent payments have not been franked. The company’s P/E ratio stands at 29.61, though its latest earnings per share (EPS) figure is negative at -1.418. That mismatch suggests the P/E may be based on an adjusted or forward measure rather than statutory profit. Note: Domino’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure than the EPS shown, so they appear inconsistent.

Year to date, Domino’s shares have slipped 3.2%. Its dividend history shows regular payments over many years, but recent dividends have switched from full franking to 0% franking. That may impact after-tax yield for local investors.

The case for Guzman y Gomez

Guzman y Gomez is a homegrown, Mexican-inspired fast food operator and franchisor. The company’s main focus is its growing Australian footprint, with an ambition (per its company profile) to expand toward 1,000 local stores over the next couple of decades. Internationally, it’s kept a footprint in Singapore and Japan but has exited the US market as of May 2026 to double down on core regions.

Guzman y Gomez sports a larger market cap at $2.57 billion and an impressive 18.2% year-to-date share price gain. Its P/E ratio comes in steep at 62.21, considerably higher than Domino’s. However, its latest EPS is positive at 0.404 and, notably for income-focused investors, its current dividend yield is 1.34% with 100% franking on all recent payouts.

The company paid its first dividends in 2026, including a final, interim, and special dividend, all fully franked. That means Guzman is a much newer name on the dividend scene, but every payout so far maximises franking credits, which provides extra value for some investors.

Valuation comparison

There are some clear contrasts in the numbers here, especially with respect to valuation and income:

Metric	Domino’s Pizza Enterprises	Guzman y Gomez
Market Cap	$1.87 billion	$2.57 billion
P/E Ratio	29.61	62.21
EPS	-1.418	0.404
Dividend Yield	2.91%	1.34%
Franking	0% on recent dividends	100% on recent dividends
Dividend per share	$0.58	$0.34

A few things stand out to me:

• Guzman y Gomez trades at a much higher P/E, suggesting the market is pricing in faster expected growth (or perhaps factoring in its more recent profitability). Meanwhile, Domino’s posted a negative EPS but still carries a P/E ratio—so that headline multiple may not reflect underlying earnings as neatly as it seems.
• Domino’s currently offers a higher yield but with recent dividends not franked, whereas Guzman y Gomez’s yield is lower but fully franked, which can be a game-changer for Australian shareholders looking for tax-effective income.
• In terms of size, Guzman y Gomez is now the larger business by market cap.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance as at 2 October 2026:

• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises closed at $19.76 on 2 October 2026, down 3.2% year-to-date.
• Guzman y Gomez closed at $25.12 on 2 October 2026, up a whopping 18.2% year-to-date.
• Short-term movement reveals Domino’s shares have been relatively soft, while Guzman y Gomez has enjoyed recent positive momentum, with a more pronounced upward trend over the past few months.

Which is the better buy?

Personally, I’d lean toward Guzman y Gomez as the better value play today—despite its higher P/E ratio and lower stated yield. Guzman y Gomez is delivering positive earnings, fully franked dividends, and strong share price momentum—plus the market seems to be rewarding its clear growth strategy and recent profitability. The promise of future growth is being bid up, but that’s common with strong consumer brands gaining ground.

Domino’s, on the other hand, is offering a higher yield but has posted a recent loss, and its dividend franking has dried up. The negative EPS clouds the value of its headline P/E and puts question marks over near-term earnings recovery.

If growth and fully franked income are your priority, Guzman y Gomez looks like the fresher, more energetic pick to me. Domino’s might appeal as a recovery story if you believe strongly in its turnaround potential, but based on the numbers in front of me, my pick would be Guzman y Gomez.

The post Domino’s Pizza Enterprises vs Guzman y Gomez: Which fast food stock offers better value? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. 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 draft. 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.

For retirees, a good ASX dividend share needs to offer more than a high headline yield.

I would want businesses with strong earnings, the capacity to continue paying dividends, and the potential for income to grow over time.

These are three ASX passive income shares I particularly like.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles would be one of my first choices because grocery spending tends to be relatively resilient.

Households may change what they buy when budgets become tighter, but supermarkets remain an essential part of everyday life. That gives Coles an earnings base that I think suits investors who depend on their portfolio for income.

There is also growth behind the story. Coles generated earnings per share (EPS) of 81.3 cents in FY26. Consensus forecasts point to 98.2 cents in FY27, $1.05 in FY28, and $1.15 in FY29.

I expect that profit growth will create room for dividends to rise as well.

For retirees, I think that combination of defensive demand and potentially rising income is compelling.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra could be another quality share for an ASX passive income portfolio.

Mobile and internet services have become essential for households and businesses, giving Australia’s largest telecommunications company a substantial base of recurring demand.

I also think Telstra’s investment case has improved because management is aiming to grow the business rather than simply protect the dividend.

Under its Connected Future 30 strategy, Telstra is targeting mid-single-digit growth in cash earnings through to FY30 and has expressed an ambition to deliver a sustainable and growing dividend.

That is the direction I would want to see as a retiree.

I would still expect periods of share price volatility, but the underlying telecommunications demand gives me confidence in Telstra as a long-term income holding.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA would round out my three picks.

The bank is not necessarily the highest-yielding option on the ASX, but I think the strength of the franchise counts for a lot when passive income reliability is important.

CBA has leading positions across deposits and home lending, a huge customer base, and one of Australia’s strongest digital banking platforms.

That has helped it consistently generate the profits needed to fund substantial fully-franked dividends.

CBA paid $5.05 per share in FY26. Consensus forecasts point to $5.15 in FY27 and $5.30 in FY28, alongside modest earnings growth over the same period.

The shares can trade at a premium valuation, and that is something I would consider before buying. But for retirees looking beyond the highest immediate yield, I think CBA’s financial strength and dividend record make it one of the ASX banks worth considering.

Foolish takeaway

For retirees looking for passive income, I think Coles, Telstra, and CBA are three strong options to consider.

Each has an established business, dependable cash flow, and the potential to keep growing dividends over time.

The post My favourite ASX passive income shares for retirees appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price has been an excellent performer over the long term. This year, it’s up 22%; over the past three years, it’s up 50%; and over the past decade, it’s up around 200%, at the time of writing.

The business has four divisions – Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), banking and financial services (BFS), commodities and global markets (CGM), and Macquarie Capital (investment banking).

Some of those divisions are quite cyclical/volatile, but the BFS division is growing rapidly in each result, which is a great sign of success. It’s quickly growing to challenge National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) in scale.

Let’s look at what experts think could happen with the Macquarie share price in the year ahead and how the business is performing.

Analyst projections for the Macquarie share price

Excitingly, experts are expecting the ASX financial share to rise from here.

According to CMC Invest, there have been 9 analyst ratings in the last 3 months. Six of those ratings calls were a buy rating and three were a hold rating.

Those analysts each issued a price target. A price target tells investors where the analyst thinks the share price will go in the next 12 months. Of course, this is not a guaranteed return; it’s just a projection.

The average price target of those nine ratings calls is $267.99. At the time of writing, that implies a possible rise of around 7% over the next year. When you add in the projected dividend yield of 3% (excluding franking credits), the total return could be around 10%, according to CMC Invest.

From those nine analysts, the most optimistic price target is $301.73, implying a possible rise of 21% over the next year (at the time of writing).

The most pessimistic Macquarie share price target is $241.38, suggesting a possible decline of 3% over the next 12 months.

How is the ASX financial share performing?

The latest update from the business was the first quarter of FY27, being the three months to 30 June 2026.

The Macquarie Asset Management division reported it had $748 billion in assets under management (AUM) at June 2026, up 4% compared to 31 March 2026, primarily driven by increased net asset valuations, favourable market movements, and positive net flows.

BFS saw its deposits grow 4% quarter over quarter to $223.3 billion at 30 June 2026. The home loan portfolio grew 6% quarter over quarter to $191.5 billion. Finally, the business banking loan portfolio improved by 3% quarter over quarter to $18.7 billion. Those are strong growth trends on an annualised basis.

The CGM division saw a higher quarterly profit year over year, thanks to increased trading activity in North American Gas and Power.

The ASX financial share said that Macquarie Capital had higher investment-related and brokerage income. At 30 June 2026, the private credit portfolio of $27.2 billion was in line with 31 March 2026, and the equity portfolio was $5.1 billion, broadly in line with 31 March 2026.

According to CMC Invest, the Macquarie share price is valued at 18 times FY27’s estimated earnings. It seems like the company has a positive future, but there could be even stronger returns available with other ASX shares.

The post How much could the Macquarie share price rise in the next year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

The Arena REIT (ASX: ARF) share price is in focus after the real estate investment trust provided an update on the administration process for tenant Edge Early Learning. Arena is currently receiving rent on all 27 centres it owns and leases to Edge, with major developments underway regarding future lease arrangements.

What did Arena REIT report?

• Goodstart Early Learning has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire 31 business operations from Edge Early Learning.
• 20 of Arena’s 27 Edge-leased centres are included in the proposed transaction.
• Rent continues to be received on all 27 Arena-owned Edge centres.
• Arena holds bank guarantees and security deposits of approximately $4 million for the Edge portfolio.
• Due diligence and final agreements on lease assignments are in progress.

What else do investors need to know?

Arena says the proposed transfer of Edge centres to Goodstart is still subject to ongoing due diligence and final agreement between all parties. Arena is actively involved in reviewing the transaction as it decides whether to consent to the assignment of leases.

The sale of Edge’s remaining 33 centres, which includes seven still leased from Arena, is being pursued separately. Arena is engaging closely with the appointed Administrator and has reassured investors it continues to proactively seek the best long-term outcome for its securityholders.

What’s next for Arena REIT?

Arena REIT will provide another update once there is more certainty regarding the outcomes of the lease assignments and the future of the remaining Edge-operated centres. The company continues to reserve all legal rights concerning the portfolio, underlining a measured approach as it works to protect investors’ interests.

The group will maintain its focus on maximising long-term value across its social infrastructure real estate and intends to keep engaging constructively with all stakeholders as the process unfolds.

Arena REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Arena REIT shares have declined 38%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Arena REIT shares in focus as Edge Early Learning lease update issued 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.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares have had an extraordinary run in 2026.

The stock is trading around $21.12 on Wednesday, up over 75% for the year after investors responded enthusiastically to a string of major artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure deals.

Does this mean Megaport shares are one of the ASX stocks to own for the AI boom?

Megaport has become a different business

For years, Megaport was primarily a connectivity story. Its network enables businesses to connect quickly across data centres, cloud providers, and other digital infrastructure worldwide.

I still think the business has a strong future as companies use more cloud services and move greater amounts of data between different locations.

But the acquisition of Latitude.sh has added a completely new dimension.

Latitude.sh gives Megaport direct exposure to AI compute through GPU and CPU infrastructure. Instead of simply connecting customers to the infrastructure they need, Megaport can now provide some of that computing capacity itself.

That puts the company closer to the enormous spending currently taking place around artificial intelligence.

And early demand suggests the opportunity could be substantial.

Megaport recently announced three additional strategic AI infrastructure contracts worth approximately $979 million, taking the value of strategic contracts announced since April to around $2.3 billion. Once those contracts are fully deployed, the company expects group annual recurring revenue to reach roughly $1.1 billion.

For me, that is when the AI story becomes much easier to take seriously.

Why AI inference could be important

Much of the attention around AI has focused on the enormous data centres required to train increasingly powerful models.

But models also require computing power every time somebody actually uses them. This is known as inference, and demand should increase as AI becomes embedded in more software, businesses, and everyday applications.

Bell Potter believes Megaport is particularly well placed here.

The broker recently described the company as offering “one of the few direct exposures on the ASX to a neocloud provider”, with particular exposure to growing inference demand.

Megaport is building a distributed compute network rather than trying to construct enormous AI data centres itself. That potentially gives it a more flexible way to participate as demand develops across different markets.

Its relationship with NVIDIA is another positive. NVIDIA recently named Megaport among the Australian partners it is working with to expand AI infrastructure, which Bell Potter believes could improve Megaport’s access to GPUs and help it win AI-native customers.

Bell Potter sees much more growth ahead

The scale of the earnings growth Bell Potter expects is striking.

The broker forecasts underlying EBITDA increasing from $77 million in FY26 to $329 million in FY27 and $726 million in FY28, with much of that growth supported by strategic contracts already being rolled out.

Bell Potter has consequently initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $27 price target.

From the current Megaport share price of around $21.12, that would represent potential upside of roughly 28%.

I would not buy purely because a broker has put a higher price target on the stock. But I think those forecasts help illustrate just how dramatically Megaport’s earnings profile could change if it successfully delivers the business already contracted.

What could go wrong?

There is plenty of execution required. Megaport has signed enormous contracts, but it now needs to deploy the infrastructure, secure the necessary hardware, and turn those agreements into recurring revenue and profits.

AI infrastructure is also evolving extremely quickly. Competition could increase, technology could change, and today’s exceptionally strong demand may not develop exactly as investors currently expect.

After the share price rally this year, expectations are also much higher. Any delays or weaker contract momentum could produce some sharp volatility.

Foolish takeaway

I think Megaport shares are among the most compelling ways to gain direct exposure to AI infrastructure on the ASX.

I would be comfortable buying shares around $21.12, provided I was prepared for a bumpy ride as this much larger business takes shape.

The post Are Megaport shares a must-buy for the AI boom? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) recently reported first-quarter gold production results, which piqued the interest of the analyst team at Barrenjoey.

The Barrenjoey team has a bullish price target on Capricorn shares, after the company reported better-than-expected gold production for the quarter.

I’ll get to the specifics of that price target shortly, but first, let’s look at what the company reported.

Ramping up gold production

Capricorn said it had produced 31,218 ounces of gold from its Karlawinda gold project, up from 30,437 ounces in the previous quarter, while construction of the Karlawinda expansion project was successfully completed on schedule and within budget.

The company said it was now on track to produce 137,000 to 147,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,900 to $2,100 per ounce in FY27.

Capricorn’s cash and gold on hand at the end of the September quarter was $535 million, up from $507 million at the end of the June quarter.

Development activities at the company’s Mt Gibson gold project also progressed, with detailed engineering complete and all major contracts finalised.

Analysts like the growth story

Barrenjoey said in their research report that the solid results during the quarter were an example of the company’s ability to execute well.

They added that Capricorn had bigger things planned:

CMM has made clearer its growth agenda unveiling a new business plan, which includes a production target of ~410koz in FY31, a large uplift on the 124koz delivered in FY26 and a prior business plan target of ~300kozpa. This growth is to come from an expansion of Karlawinda (to 150kozpa) and delivery of the Mt Gibson project (now ~260kozpa; prior business plan was ~150kozpa). This growth is projected to be high margin, with the prefeasibility study outlining all-in sustaining costs of less than $2000 per ounce.

Barrenjoey said the growth projects would be funded through cash.

They added:

We do not think this growth agenda is fully priced in, with the market at face value pricing in a discount for execution risk. We have high regard for the ability of management to execute, which has again been demonstrated this quarter, with the Karlawinda mill expansion commissioned on schedule and ramping up well. We think CMM looks attractive, with the share price a ~30% discount to our net present value.

Barrenjoey said Capricorn was trading at a higher multiple than many of its peers, but they believed this was justified by its robust growth pipeline.

The broker has a price target of $22.50 for Capricorn shares, compared with the current price of $14.85.

This would constitute a 51.5% increase if achieved. The company is valued at $6.58 billion.

The post This up-and-coming ASX gold producer could rise more than 50%: Broker 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 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.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have all slumped lower over the past month, likely due to macroeconomic headwinds, weaker energy prices, and shifts in investor sentiment.

Here’s the latest out of the ASX 200 shares, and what brokers expect next.

Brokers rate AGL shares as a SELL

AGL shares are down around 0.1% to $8.31 at the time of writing on Wednesday morning. The ASX energy shares are now down around 4% over the past month and 11% lower year to date.

Over the past month, AGL shares have come under pressure from softer wholesale electricity prices and government regulation changes have also added a layer of uncertainty.

Mild weather, higher renewable energy generation, and battery storage growth are pushing wholesale electricity prices lower and reducing high-price spikes.

At the same time, the government is trying to push for lower costs by introducing price caps and limiting price increases. This could put pressure on AGL’s margins going forward.

Brokers are mostly bearish on the outlook for the power company going forward. Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a sell rating on AGL shares, and the $9.70 average target price implies a downside of around 16%, at the time of writing.

Brokers rate Cochlear shares as a HOLD

Cochlear shares have also slipped further into the red on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing, the shares are down around 0.2% to $129.99 each. The shares are down 7% over the past month and 50% lower year to date.

The shares fell around 14% in late September after the company announced to the ASX that it had received a class action claim filed against it in the Supreme Court of Victoria. 

The claim is on behalf of persons who acquired interests in Cochlear shares between 15 August 2025 and 21 April 2026 (inclusive). It relates to Cochlear’s forecast of underlying net profit for FY26. 

Cochlear said it denies the allegations set out in the claim and will be defending the proceedings. But the news rattled investor confidence and the shares have continued falling ever since.

The update comes off the back of ongoing operational headwinds. Looking ahead to FY27, the ASX healthcare company expects low-single-digit constant currency revenue growth and an underlying net profit between $330 million and $350 million. 

According to Market Index data, the majority of brokers have a hold rating on Cochlear shares. The $126.24 average target price implies a downside of around 3% at the time of writing.

Brokers rate WiseTech shares as a BUY

WiseTech shares are also down on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing, the shares have fallen around 0.5% to $31.79 each. Over the past month WiseTech shares have tumbled 12%, and they’re also down 54% for the year-to-date.

There hasn’t been any price sensitive news out of the company over the past month to explain the latest selloff. 

But it’s been well-documented that the business has been smashed by a combination of headwinds over the past few months. Including an overall investor rotation away from tech shares, a series of regulatory investigations, and governance concerns. 

The company’s FY26 results announcement in August didn’t help confidence either. On the surface the earnings result was positive, and earnings were in line with analyst expectations. But its EBITDA figures came in short of market forecasts and investors rushed to sell up.

But it looks like the experts are still confident that WiseTech shares can bounce back over the next year. Market Index data shows all brokers have a strong buy rating on the shares. The $58.07 target price implies an upside of around 82% at the time of writing.

The post AGL, Cochlear, WiseTech shares: Buy, hold, sell 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 Cochlear and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.