Author: openjargon

Are you invested in Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) or Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200)?

You’ll receive your next dividend today.

Let’s find out how much.

Betashares ETF dividends

Here are the final distribution amounts confirmed by Betashares for today’s dividend payments.

The Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) will pay 167 cents per unit. 

Betashares Ethical Diversified Balanced ETF (ASX: DBBF) will pay 15.6 cents per unit.

The Betashares Ethical Diversified Growth ETF (ASX: DGGF) will pay 10.3 cents per unit.

Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) will pay 19.6 cents per unit.

The Betashares Diversified Balanced ETF (ASX: DVBA) will pay 14.6 cents per unit. 

Betashares Diversified Growth ETF (ASX: DVGR) will pay 14.3 cents per unit. 

The Betashares Diversified High Growth ETF (ASX: DVHG) will pay 12.3 cents per unit.

Betashares Ethical Diversified High Growth ETF (ASX: DZZF) will pay 4.6 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Green Bond Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: GBND) will pay 23.1 cents per unit.

Betashares US Treasury Bond 20+ Year Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: GGOV) will pay 15 cents per unit.

The Betashares S&P Global High Dividend Aristocrats ETF (ASX: INCM) will pay 15.1 cents per unit.

Betashares FTSE Global Infrastructure Shares Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: TOLL) will pay 21.3 cents per unit.

The Betashares U.S. Treasury Bond 7-10 Year Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: US10) will pay 53.6 cents per unit.

Betashares Inflation-Protected U.S. Treasury Bond Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: UTIP) will pay 27.8 cents per unit.

Betashares Global Aggregate Bond Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: WBND) will pay 57.2 cents per unit.

View final distributions for Betashares ETFs that pay monthly dividends here.

DRP investors: Did you elect to receive new units instead of cash?

If you are participating in Betashares’ distribution reinvestment plan (DRP), you will receive your new units today.

You can find out the DRP prices here.

Own other ASX ETFs?

Vanguard is also paying dividends today.

Vanguard manages some of the most popular ASX ETFs on the market.

They include Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which is the largest ETF on the market, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY), and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

VanEck is also paying dividends to ASX ETF investors today.

Find out how much here.

Global X will pay its next round of dividends on Monday.

The post Dividend payday for ASX ETF investors! Here is how much you'll get appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Own Betashares ASX ETFs? Here’s your next dividend
• 3 top Betashares ETFs for beginners to buy
• ASX ETF market just surpassed $7 billion in net inflows – Here’s where the money is going

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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 recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Retailers have been out of favour due to cost of living pressures and recent interest rate rises, and Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN) has not escaped the downturn.

The baby goods retailer’s shares are down more than 60% on a 12-month basis and are trading just a few cents higher than their 52-week low of $1.

However, the analyst team at Morgans believes they’re ripe for a re-rating and have a buy rating on the shares and a bullish share price target, which I’ll get to shortly.

First let’s have a look at the trading update which the company issued just this week.

Solid start to the year

In a statement to the ASX, Baby Bunting said that over the first 14 weeks of the financial year, it had achieved comparable store sales growth of 2.2%, with 2% growth in Australia and 8.7% growth in New Zealand.

Under the company’s “store of the future” program, it has now refurbished 17 stores, which have delivered cumulative sales growth of 20%.

This financial year, the company plans to refurbish 10-12 stores, with six to be completed in the first half.

Baby Bunting said the risks involved in the program included the duration of store closures, targeted at 10-12 weeks per store, and the level of sales redirection.

The company also plans to open three new large-format stores during the year, with the first opening in December.

Net profit for the full year is expected to come in at $19-$21 million, with total sales revenue of $585-$600 million.

The company added:

In light of interest rate rises and cost-of-living pressures, we continue to closely monitor and react to trading conditions as we execute our plans for the key promotional periods during the balance of the year, including the important trading periods of November, Boxing Day and June Storktake. Outlook assumes no significant changes in economic and retail trading conditions, and no significant increases in sea and land freight expenses.

Retailer’s shares looking cheap

In a research note, Morgans said that Baby Bunting was Australia’s largest specialist provider of baby goods, and there was still room to grow.

The broker added:

It has an opportunity to build its share of this large market segment as it expands its store network, extends its private label range, enters New Zealand, and increases its online presence. We expect earnings growth into FY27, driven by Store of the Future.

Morgans has a price target of $1.62 on Baby Bunting shares, compared to $1.05 currently. If achieved, this would be a 54.3% increase.

Baby Bunting is currently valued at $150.5 million.

The post Trading near 12-month lows, this ASX retailer could be set for a 54% gain appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX small-cap shares with 48% to 128% upside ahead: Morgans
• Lovisa vs Baby Bunting: Which ASX retailer is the better buy today?

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.

Knowing how much superannuation you have in the first place is a great starting point for figuring out how much income you’ll be able to rely on in retirement.

And while comparisons with others might not always be useful, there are tools available to help you discern whether you’ll be able to afford a comfortable retirement when the time comes.

How much superannuation do people aged 45 actually have?

The most recent figures from the Association of Superannuation Funds (ASFA) show that the average superannuation balance for men aged 45-49 is $193,501, while for women it is $147,146.

What is perhaps more useful is ASFA’s Super Detective tool, which allows you to enter your age, and one of two income brackets, and it will give an estimate of how much you need in your superannuation to be on track for a comfortable retirement.

For people aged 45 earning $75,000 per year, this comes out to $209,500, while for those earning $100,000, it is $173,000.

Keep in mind that ASFA’s Retirement Standard assumes that you retire at 67 and own your home outright.

The Retirement Standard calculates that a comfortable retirement needs an annual income stream of $56,166 for singles and $78,998 for couples.

This so-called comfortable retirement includes the ability to afford top-level private health cover, to own and maintain a reasonable car, and to enjoy occasional travel and leisure activities.

What if your superannuation is falling short?

If your superannuation needs a top up, it’s worth looking into concessional contributions.

These are pre-tax contributions you can make into your superannuation up to a cap of $32,500.

Your employer’s contributions and any salary sacrifice amounts are included in this amount.

If you have unused cap amounts at the end of the financial year, you can check your myGov account to see how much you can contribute, with those contributions attracting a 15% tax rate, and therefore likely to be tax-effective.

If you have unused amounts from the previous five financial years, these amounts can also be used as concessional contributions. However, your superannuation balance must be less than $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year in order to be able to take advantage of this method.

It is also possible to make non-concessional contributions of up to $130,000, with these amounts not offering any tax benefits.

Under what is known as the “bring forward arrangement”, it is also possible to use 1-2 years of future non-concessional contributions, as long as you are aged under 75 and have less than $1.84 million in superannuation on 30 June of the previous financial year.

The post Average superannuation balance at 45. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

It was a volatile and ultimately negative session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Thursday.

After yesterday’s drop, it seemed investors were in the mood to keep selling this morning when the market opened sharply lower. However, the ASX 200 spent much of the day recovering, and only ended up closing with a loss of 0.094%. That leaves the index at 8,719.7 points.

This wild day on the Australian markets came after a gloomy mid-week session on the American markets this morning.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI), in a strange coincidence, exactly matched today’s showing from the ASX, falling 0.094%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more decisive, dropping a hefty 1.88%.

Let’s get back to the local markets now and take a look at how today’s trading conditions percolated down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Despite the market’s slight loss, we saw many corners of the market do quite well.

First though, let’s get the red sectors out of the way.

Leading the losers this Thursday were mining stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was hit hard, tanking by a nasty 3.95%.

Tech shares had a day to forget too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) crashing 3.41%.

Gold stocks were no safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) cratered by 2.88%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were a little tamer, though, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.74% slump.

Our last losers this Thursday were energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was set back by 0.04% today.

Let’s turn to the winners now. Leading said winners this session were consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) rocketing up 3.47%.

Financial shares also had a strong day. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) soared 2.19%.

We can say the same for utilities stocks, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 2.09% surge.

Communications shares also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) jumped 1.54% today.

Healthcare shares didn’t miss out, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting 0.68%.

Nor did consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) bounced up 0.63% this Thursday.

Finally, industrial shares finished comfortably ahead, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.28% improvement.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Financial services stock Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) was our winner this session. Generation shares exploded 17.16% higher today, closing out at $3.14 each.

There wasn’t any news from Generation that easily explains this. However, the company has been bouncing back with a vengeance after recently hitting a 52-week low.

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

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)	$3.14	17.16%
4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)	$4.08	7.37%
Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)	$6.87	5.86%
Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)	$0.65	4.84%
Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)	$5.94	4.58%
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)	$41.28	4.27%
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)	$10.62	3.81%
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)	$6.82	3.65%
Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)	$61.35	3.45%
Vivcinity Centres (ASX: VCX)	$2.81	3.31%

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

• Everything you need to know about the BOQ dividend
• Would I buy Bank of Queensland shares after looking at its results?
• Bank of Queensland earnings: FY26 profit up 88% as dividends stay steady
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 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 Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group and Nine Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.2% to 8,714.8 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile, brokers have lifted their ratings on several ASX 200 shares this week. 

Let’s review. 

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $2.97, down 6.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 lithium share has tumbled 30%.

Bell Potter upgraded PLS Group shares to a buy rating on Wednesday.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $5.20 to $4.40.

This still implies a potential 48% upside ahead.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Minerals Resources share price is $44.36, down 4.9% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has fallen 18%.

Morgans upgraded Mineral Resources shares to a buy rating on Wednesday.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $71 to $65.

This suggests a potential 46% upside ahead.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is $6.89, down 5% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 uranium share has descended 28%.

Morgans upgraded its rating from accumulate to buy this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $13.10.

This implies a potential 90% upside ahead.

Morgans said:

PDN’s 1Q27 result reflected the anticipated slow start to FY27, with Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) uranium production of 1.0Mlbs below consensus expectations of 1.16Mlbs.

Uranium sales of 1.16Mlbs were in line with consensus expectations of 1.13Mlbs.

The result was impacted by the flagged and planned July plant shutdown and weaker recovery rates due to ore characteristics.

Mining momentum and realised pricing – mining performance improved qoq following strong performance in 4Q26 and realised pricing increased 12% to US$79.4/lb, a record at LHM.

Following recent share price weakness, we upgrade our rating to BUY (previously ACCUMULATE) …

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is $10.88, down 6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 rare earths share has lost one-fifth of its market capitalisation.

Morgan Stanley upgraded Lynas Rare Earths shares to a buy rating on Monday.

The broker lowered its price target from $15.45 to $14.65.

This indicates a potential gain of 34% over the next year. 

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The Ampol share price is $43.24, down 0.6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 energy share has risen 2%.

UBS upgraded Ampol shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker upped its 12-month price target from $41.50 to $47.75.

This suggests a potential 10% upside ahead.

The post 5 ASX 200 stocks analysts have upgraded this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 41% to 85% in the next 12 months
• Could Paladin Energy shares return 90% in 12 months?
• Own ASX mining shares? Official forecasts show commodity prices peaking in FY27
• Paladin Energy: Q1 FY2027 uranium output and outlook
• 2 ASX lithium shares to buy with 38% to 120% upside

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) shares among my top picks for passive income.

The company is a major ASX energy company that supplies electricity, natural gas, and solar power to homes and businesses across the country.

The company operates a huge electricity generation fleet powered by traditional fuels like natural gas and coal, including the Eraring Power Station in New South Wales.

It is also expanding its footprint into large-scale batteries, wind, and solar assets. 

Through joint ventures, Origin Energy has also diversified into natural gas supply and exports liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally.

And there’s more. Origin has also invested outside of the energy sector. The company also offers NBN broadband internet packages, electric vehicle (EV) charging integrations, and what it calls “virtual power plant orchestration”. This is where it uses smart software to sync thousands of home batteries, solar panels, and EVs so they act as one giant, decentralised power station.

Given both energy and connectivity are essential services, Origin Energy is widely considered as a classically defensive stock. 

This means its shares can usually be relatively resilient to sharemarket volatility, global uncertainty and inflation shifts. 

After all, Australians won’t stop powering their homes and businesses because the purse strings have tightened.

And there is another defensive quality too. Origin’s assets operate under long-term contracts, often with rising income. This means the company can lock in a stable cash flow and manage volatility as it arises.

And it passes these benefits directly onto its shareholders.

What’s the latest out of Origin Energy shares?

At the time of writing, Origin Energy shares are trading at $11.82 a piece. That’s a 9% increase during the first two weeks of October alone, and they’re now up 4% for the year-to-date.

What does Origin’s dividend look like?

Origin has historically paid its shareholders every six months, consisting of an interim dividend in March and a final dividend in October.

In FY26, the company paid its investors a total 60 cents per share dividend – 30 cents per share in March and another 30 cents per share in October – fully franked.

At the time of writing that translates to a dividend yield of around 5.2%.

What is the ASX energy company forecast to pay shareholders in FY27 and FY28?

According to CommSec forecasts, Origin Energy is expected to continue paying shareholders a 60-cent annual dividend in FY27 and FY28. Is it then expected to pay a slightly higher 62-cent dividend in FY29.

At the time of writing, that implies a forward yield of 5.2% for FY27 and FY28. For FY29 the forward yield is a little higher, at 5.24%.

So, how many Origin energy shares do I need to generate $1,000 of passive income every month?

Origin Energy doesn’t pay its dividends on a monthly basis so first we need to calculate what $1,000 per month in passive income is over the whole year ($12,000). 

In order to earn $12,000 per year in passive income from Origin Energy shares in FY27 and FY28, at 62 cents per unit, investors would need to own around 20,000 shares.

To earn the same amount from the projected 62-cent dividend in FY29, investors would need to own roughly 19,354 shares.

What would that cost?

At $11.82 per share, 20,000 shares would require an investment of around $236,400 for FY27 and FY28. This would give the equivalent passive income of around $1,000 per month.

To earn the same in FY28, investors would need to spend closer to $228,764.

These aren’t small sums but Origin’s stable dividend payment could make the investment worthwhile. And remember, you don’t need to invest the whole lot in one go. Let compound growth do some of the work.

The post How many Origin Energy shares do I need for $1,000 per month of passive income in FY27? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Origin Energy vs Woodside Energy: Which ASX 200 share is more likely to beat the market?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Which does Macquarie prefer out of AGL and Origin?
• ASX 200 defensive sectors outperform amid volatile trading
• How much superannuation do I need to generate $100,000 per year in passive income?

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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have climbed higher into the green in Thursday afternoon trade.

At the time of writing the shares are up over 3% and changing hands for $156.04 a piece.

At one point this afternoon, the shares reached as high as $157.08 each.

Today’s increase means the ASX bank shares are now up around 5% over the past week, recouping some losses shed earlier this year.

CBA shares are still down around 3% for the year-to-date and down roughly 6% compared to this time last year.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is travelling in the other direction today. At the time of writing the index is down slightly, around 0.5%.

Why are CBA shares climbing higher again today?

There isn’t any price sensitive news out of CBA today to explain today’s share price jump. 

It looks like the ASX bank sector as a whole is rallying higher, with the other big four banks also making gains in afternoon trade.

The main catalyst is most likely the result of fresh economic data, announced today. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released data showing that, in seasonally adjusted terms, Australia’s employment rate increased 0.1ppt to 4.7% for September. 

It looks like this has significantly boosted investor confidence that the Reserve Bank will decide to hold interest rates steady at its next meeting on the 3rd of November, rather than implement another hike as originally feared.

Renewed confidence that the RBA will pause rates for the time being looks to have lifted the entire financial sector. And as CBA has the most dominant market position as Australia’s largest bank, it is leading the share price increase today.

Are the bank shares a buy, hold, or sell now?

The latest analysts data still shows the experts are wary about the outlook for CBA shares over the next 12 months. 

Market Index data shows that all brokers still have a strong sell rating on CBA shares. The $125.20 target price implies the shares could fall another 20% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

TradingView shows something similar. The majority (14 out of 16) have a sell/strong sell rating on the shares. However, two more have a hold rating on CBA.

The average $128.29 target price still implies a potential downside of around 18%, at the time of writing.

It looks like today’s news was positive for CBA shares, but it’s most likely to be short-lived. The bank is still significantly overvalued versus its peers and the mortgage market still remains under pressure.

The post CBA shares jump 3% today: Is this the start of a rebound? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I compared 5 of the ASX’s best shares. Here’s which one I’d buy today
• How much passive income can I earn off a $700,000 superannuation balance?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Wildcat Resources, Ramsay Health Care, CBA shares

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.

ASX small-cap shares are underperforming in 2026 amid four interest rate rises from the Reserve Bank and one in the US.

The S&P/ASX Small Ords Index (ASX: XSO) has collapsed 18% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) has fallen 2%.

Morgans reckons there are buying opportunities among the small caps today.

Let’s check out three that the broker highlighted in new notes this week.

Atomic Eagle Ltd (ASX: AEU)

Atomic Eagle shares are 35 cents, down 6.7% today and up 46% since listing last November.

Morgans has initiated coverage with a speculative buy call on this ASX small-cap energy share. 

The broker has a 12-month price target of 80 cents.

This indicates a potential 128% upside ahead.

Morgans said: 

AEU offers exposure to Muntanga, a simple, low-capex heap leach uranium project in Zambia, plus a 60% interest in the high-grade Madaouela project in Niger. Buy Muntanga, get Madaouela for free.

AEU trades on just A$2.1/lb EV/resource versus the peer average of A$4.8/lb. In our view, the market is largely valuing Muntanga alone, with Madaouela’s 116.5Mlb U3O8 foreign resource estimate contributing little to the current share price despite its scale, grade and strategic importance.

Near-term catalysts include Madaouela JORC conversion (end-2026), Muntanga North drilling results (Q4 2026) and a Muntanga resource upgrade as AEU works toward its 100Mlb+ target.

Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

The Baby Bunting Group share price is $1.07, down 2.7% today and down 62% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX small-cap consumer discretionary share. 

The broker has a 12-month share price target of $1.62.

This implies a potential 51% upside ahead.

Morgans said: 

BBN has provided a trading update for the first 14 weeks of FY27 which was broadly in line with expectations.

Comparable sales growth has moderated to +2.2% from +4.3% in the first 6 weeks of FY27 driven by the ramp up of temporary store closures in the period.

17 stores have now been refurbished to the Store of the Future format; they continue to deliver strong results, with average sales growth of 20% in the first year after re-opening, which sits within the 15-25% target range.

BBN has reiterated FY27 guidance for pro-forma NPAT of $19-21m, with sales of $585-600m (3-5% LFL sales growth), and 42% gross margin. Capex guidance was also maintained at $33-37m.

BBN is trading on <8x FY27F PE, which we believe undervalues its earnings growth profile over the next few years.

MotorCycle Holdings Ltd (ASX: MTO)

The MotorCycle Holdings share price is $2.89, up 0.4% today and down 11% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a buy recommendation on this ASX small-cap retail share. 

The broker has a 12-month price target of $4.30.

This suggests a potential 48% upside ahead.

Morgans said: 

MTO’s investor day reinforced a business transformed in scale and mix, with wholesale driving earnings in a challenging market, retail and data offering the next leg of improvement, and FY31 targets giving clarity on the growth trajectory ahead.

The group set FY31 targets (A$1.2bn+ revenue, ~6% implied ROS) pointing to ~8% pa sales growth and ~11-15% pa PBT growth over the 5 year period.

We’re encouraged by MTO’s clear strategy ahead. We think the market overlooks MTO’s wholesale business, which has meaningful growth levers across product, categories and partnerships.

We see scope for Retail upside from Harley-Davidson scale, ongoing brand rationalisation and data and systems integration.

Double-digit earnings growth and a net cash balance sheet look compelling on ~7x PE.

The post 3 ASX small-cap shares with 48% to 128% upside ahead: Morgans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could this ASX uranium developer more than double in value?
• This high-dividend ASX small cap could rise more than 50%: Broker
• Lovisa vs Baby Bunting: Which ASX retailer is the better buy today?

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

Owning Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) shares today is expected to translate into a sizeable dividend payment in the coming years following the ASX bank share‘s release of its FY26 result.

The company revealed that statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) soared 88% to $250 million, though cash earnings after tax fell 7% to $358 million.

While commercial lending grew 16%, or $2 billion, home lending declined 8% to $4.6 billion, so there was a net reduction of lending between those two areas. The net interest margin (NIM) improved 6 basis points to 1.70% despite competition.

The bank’s annual cash earnings per share (EPS) was 54.4 cents (down 7%), which is a key figure that shows how easily (or not) it can fund the dividend.

BOQ dividend declared

The board of directors of the ASX bank share decided to declare a FY26 second-half dividend of 20 cents.

At the time of writing, this payout alone translates into a dividend yield of approximately 3% excluding franking credits and 4.2% including franking credits. In other words, it’s a sizeable payout.

The FY26 second-half payout represents a dividend payout ratio of 72.9% of reported second-half cash earnings, excluding notable items.

This upcoming payout is in addition to the FY26 first-half dividend and the special dividend that have already been paid.

When will the passive income be paid?

Before we get to the payment date of the BOQ dividend, we should look at the ex-dividend date.

The ex-dividend date tells investors the cut-off date for eligibility for the dividend payment. Investors need to own shares before the ex-dividend date, so that means they have until the end of trading on the previous trading day to be entitled to the upcoming payment. If the ex-dividend date is a Monday, they’ll need to own shares on Friday to be entitled to the payout.

For the FY26 second-half dividend, the ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 27 October 2026. That’s less than two weeks away!

After that, the payment date is 19 November 2026, so investors only have to wait just over a month until they receive this payout.

Owners of Bank of Queensland shares can also decide to take part in the dividend re-investment plan (DRP), where they receive new BOQ shares rather than dividend cash.

If someone wants to take part in the DRP, they need to elect to do so by 5pm on Thursday, 29 October 2026. DRP allows investors to grow their ownership of the business without paying additional brokerage for that investment.

The post Everything you need to know about the BOQ dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Would I buy Bank of Queensland shares after looking at its results?
• Bank of Queensland earnings: FY26 profit up 88% as dividends stay steady
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank vs Bank of Queensland: Which is better value?
• 6 ASX shares downgraded by experts this week

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 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.06% lower at 8,722.8 points on Thursday.

Brokers have reduced their ratings on numerous ASX 200 shares this week.

Let’s see a sample.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy Group share price is $3.21, down 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 energy share has risen 5%.

UBS downgraded Viva Energy shares to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $2.90 to $3.20.

This implies the stock is fully valued already.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.54, down 4.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has fallen 7%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded South32 shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $5.10 to $5.20.

This suggests a potential 15% upside ahead.

TechnologyOne Limited (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is $30.53, down 2.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 tech share has ascended 7%.

RBC Capital downgraded TechnologyOne shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $33 to $32.

This implies a potential 5% upside ahead.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The Sandfire Resources share price is $20.16, down 4.4% on Thursday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 copper share has edged 2% lower.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Sandfire Resources shares to a sell rating this week.

The broker raised its price target slightly from $20 to $20.35.

This indicates a potential gain of just 1% over the next year. 

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is $1.22, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) uranium share has tumbled 18%.

Jefferies downgraded Boss Energy shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $1.85 to $1.70.

This suggests a potential 39% upside ahead.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

The Sonic Healthcare share price is $18.35, down 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen 5%.

Goldman Sachs downgraded Sonic Healthcare shares to a hold call this week.

The broker slashed its price target from $23.70 to $19.20.

This suggests potential capital growth of 5% over the next year. 

The post 6 ASX shares hit by broker downgrades this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I think could still be thriving in 2040
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Own ASX mining shares? Official forecasts show commodity prices peaking in FY27
• 2 ASX energy players that could return 20% to 30% over the next year
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.