Author: openjargon

The Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) share price is in focus after the company updated investors on a revised acquisition proposal, highlighting continued interest from Warburg Pincus and ongoing progress with Peet Limited.

What did Ingenia Communities Group report?

• Received a further revised non-binding indicative proposal from Warburg Pincus to acquire 100% of Ingenia at $5.25 cash per stapled security.
• The proposal is subject to due diligence and confidentiality arrangements.
• Ingenia is still advancing its acquisition transaction with Peet Limited under the existing scheme implementation deed (SID).
• No determination has been made that the Warburg Pincus proposal is superior or will be recommended to securityholders at this stage.

What else do investors need to know?

Ingenia has granted Warburg Pincus initial due diligence access on a non-exclusive basis, aiming to let Warburg Pincus firm up its offer. Importantly, the Ingenia Board emphasised that there is no certainty the proposal will become a formal binding offer or result in a transaction.

Meanwhile, Ingenia continues with the acquisition by Peet under the terms agreed in August. The Board has put robust governance in place to assess all proposals with a focus on the best interests of Ingenia securityholders. At this stage, investors are advised that no action is needed.

What’s next for Ingenia Communities Group?

Looking ahead, Ingenia will work through its due diligence process with Warburg Pincus and continue progressing the Peet scheme in line with agreed timelines. The Board will assess any revised proposals to ensure decisions serve the interests of all securityholders.

The outcome depends on whether Warburg Pincus’ proposal becomes sufficiently compelling and certain, and on any future recommendations by the Board under the SID with Peet. Investors should stay tuned for further updates.

Ingenia Communities Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ingenia shares have declined 14%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has fallen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ingenia Communities Group updates on revised Warburg Pincus offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in September?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Ingenia Communities receives further revised $5.25 takeover proposal
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Ingenia Communities rejects revised $5.05 takeover offer

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 CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price is in focus after the company announced an exclusive agreement to co-develop and co-promote lixudebart for rare kidney and liver diseases, with an initial US$355 million payment to Alentis Therapeutics and plans for expanded trials.

What did CSL report?

• Entered exclusive deal with Alentis Therapeutics for lixudebart, a treatment targeting rare kidney and liver conditions
• CSL to make an upfront payment of US$355 million to Alentis
• Additional commercial milestone payments of up to US$1.2 billion possible
• CSL will fund all upcoming Phase 2 and 3 trials for lixudebart in key indications
• Profits from global sales to be shared, with 55% to CSL and 45% to Alentis

What else do investors need to know?

CSL’s new agreement centres around lixudebart, a novel antibody designed to slow both inflammation and fibrosis—key factors in organ damage for conditions like ANCA-associated vasculitis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (AAV-RPGN). Both are life-threatening and currently have limited treatment options.

The company plans to expand clinical trials to cover other rare diseases such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), supporting the growth of CSL’s nephrology portfolio.

What did CSL management say?

Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Dr Bill Mezzanotte said:

We believe lixudebart has the potential to become an important new therapeutic option to help improve kidney function and prevent progression to end-stage kidney disease…Our collaboration with Alentis reflects CSL’s commitment to building a leading global nephrology franchise, and our strategic intent to create high-value external partnerships.

What’s next for CSL?

Looking forward, CSL aims to complete the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial for lixudebart and start new trials in additional rare kidney and liver diseases. The company’s strategy is to strengthen its position in nephrology through innovation and global partnerships.

Investors can expect further updates as results from these trials are released and as CSL moves closer to potential commercialisation, which would generate shared global profits.

CSL share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, CSL shares have declined 15%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post CSL unveils exclusive Alentis deal to advance rare disease treatments 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 positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. 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 ASX dividend stock Universe Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) has fallen 19% from its 2026 high in February 2026, as the chart below shows. I think it’s a great time to invest in the ASX retail share.

Universal Store says it owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands. Its principal businesses are Universal Store (trading as Universal Store and Perfect Stranger) and CTC (trading as the THRILLS and Worship brands),

At the last count, it had 123 physical stores across Australia. Its strategy is to grow and develop its premium fashion apparel brands and retail formats, targeting fashion-focused customers.

Higher dividend yield

When a share price changes, it means investors can get a higher dividend yield.

For example, if a business has a dividend yield of 6% and then the share price drops 10%, then the dividend yield becomes 6.6%, which is a big difference for investors wanting dividend income.

As I’ve mentioned, Universal Store’s share price has fallen 19%, significantly boosting the dividend yield.

In FY26, the ASX dividend stock hiked its annual dividend per share by 11.7% to 43 cents per share. That’s currently a grossed-up dividend yield of 8.1%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The projection on Commsec suggests the business could hike its annual dividend per share by 4.7% to 45 cents per share. That implies a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 8.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

In terms of passive income, the company is clearly expected to deliver huge payouts.

Ongoing growth

The ASX dividend stock is showing it can deliver growth, even in weak economic conditions. Not many ASX retailers can say that right now.

In FY26, the company generated group sales growth of 12.9% to $376.1 million, with particularly impressive performance by Perfect Stranger which grew sales by 40.8% to $35.9 million.

It also reported that the gross profit margin improved by 140 basis points to 62.5%, and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) rose by 16.3% to $40.5 million. As you can see, its profit margins rose despite inflation in costs.

FY27 has started strongly and I think this bodes very well for future growth.

In the first seven weeks of FY27, group direct-to-customer sales were up 9.1%, including Perfect Stranger sales growth of 45.8% (partly powered by like-for-like sales growth of 17.6%). Universal Store sales growth was 5.5%, with LFL sales growth of 2.9%.

Management intends to open between 16 and 20 stores in FY27, including nine to ten new Universal Store locations, six to eight new Perfect Stranger stores and one or two new THRILLS stores.

According to the projection on Commsec, the Universal Store share price is valued at 13x FY27’s estimated earnings. I think this is a great time to invest in the ASX dividend stock, though it’s not the only opportunity out there right now.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 19% I’d buy right now 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of Australia’s leading funds, Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) (AFIC), recently made some S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share investments in its portfolio.

AFIC is the largest and one of the oldest listed investment companies (LICs), meaning it invests in other shares on behalf of shareholders.

The LIC structure is beneficial because it provides permanent capital for long-term investment. LICs can also provide investors with a good source of dividends. AFIC recently announced it would move to pay quarterly dividends, giving investors more regular cash flow.

What are the types of investments that AFIC targets?

It has outlined that it focuses on quality companies and it has built a well-diversified portfolio with the right mix of income and growth. By making those investments, Aussies can benefit from compounding over the long-term.

There were six ASX 200 shares amid three growth trends that AFIC decided to invest in.

Rising dividends per share

Two of the ASX 200 shares that AFIC recently invested in were ASX blue-chips: Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

Both of these companies have achieved a turnaround from a growth halt in recent history.

AFIC highlighted that the supermarket business is delivering dividend growth amid rising profits.

In FY26, Woolworths grew its annual dividend by 15% to 97 cents per share. AFIC highlighted that analysts estimate the annual dividend is projected to increase by another 10% in FY27.

For Telstra, the ASX telco share hiked its annual dividend per share by 10.5% to 21 cents per share. Analyst forecasts suggest the company could hike its dividend again in FY27 by another 4.75% to 22 cents per share.

Growing earnings per share

Some of the best ASX 200 shares have delivered earnings growth for many years in a row, and they can continue to deliver impressive profit growth. Earnings projections suggest profit could compound.

Pro Medicus provides a full range of medical imaging software and services to hospitals, imaging centres and healthcare groups worldwide. Earnings per share (EPS) rose 26.4% in FY26, and it’s predicted to increase another 30.9% in FY27, according to AFIC.

Meanwhile, TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for businesses, local councils, governments, universities and so on. It’s benefiting from rising demand for digitalisation and efficiencies.

The TechnologyOne EPS rose by 16.7% to 42 cents in FY25, and EPS is forecast to increase 19% to 50 cents, according to AFIC.

Compelling gold outlook

The final duo of ASX 200 shares that AFIC revealed it had bought were ASX gold shares.

They are two of the ASX’s largest players and there are various tailwinds for the sector such as inflation, investors seeking safety away from the uncertainty of government bonds (and currency).

A higher gold price over the last few years has led to significant improvements in operating cash flow.

For Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM), operating cash flow grew 60% to US$10.3 billion in FY25 and is projected to rise another 28% to US$13.2 billion in FY26, according to AFIC.

With Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), operating cash flow grew 30% in FY26 to A$2.6 billion, it’s forecast to rise another 3.8% in FY27.

Of course, these aren’t the only ASX shares that could be compelling long-term buys.

The post A leading fund just bought these top ASX 200 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much superannuation do I need to earn $56,000 per year in passive income?
• Tech shares shine while ASX 200 plunges to 4-month low
• Wesfarmers vs Woolworths: Which ASX dividend share looks better this month?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Technology One. 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.

MFF Capital Investments vs PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund shares

If you’re weighing up MFF Capital Investments (ASX: MFF) and PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund (ASX: PGF), you’re looking at two of the most prominent ASX-listed listed investment companies (LICs) specialising in international equities. These vehicles let Aussies invest globally without having to do all the heavy lifting themselves. But which is the better buy right now? Let’s size up what makes each stand out — and dive into the current numbers.

The case for MFF Capital Investments

MFF Capital Investments is a well-established LIC focused on providing investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of international listed securities. MFF has traditionally been known for its disciplined, long-term approach to global blue-chip investing, often with a tilt to quality growth companies around the world.

Looking at the numbers, MFF currently sports a market cap of $3.17 billion, making it the larger of these two funds. Its reported dividend yield is 4.01%, which is fully franked — a nice draw for income-seeking investors. The dividend records show a consistent upward track, with the most recent interim and final payouts at $0.10 and $0.09 per share (both 100% franked) in 2026. That means plenty of tax-effective income is going back to shareholders.

What stands out is MFF’s strong franking credits, plus its reliability: over the past decade, dividends have risen steadily (with a one-off special dividend in 2020). However, 2026 has been negative for performance so far, with a year-to-date return of -5.09%.

The case for PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund

PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund is another major international LIC. PM Capital aims to build investor wealth by investing in a portfolio of global listed securities. The company is managed by PM Capital and has a track record dating back to 2013. PM Capital’s investment approach is long-term and focused on identifying opportunities abroad, from quality stalwarts to special situations.

PGF’s current market cap comes in at $1.95 billion, making it smaller than MFF, but still substantial in the LIC world. The headline yield is a little higher at 4.64%, with 100% franking as well. The most recent dividend was a $0.075 per share final (ex-date in September 2026), also fully franked. Like MFF, PGF has lifted its dividends regularly over the years, with a fairly steady growth curve since 2016.

What really leaps out, though, is performance: year-to-date, PGF is in the green at 3.92%, a sharp contrast to MFF’s negative result.

Valuation comparison

Here’s a side-by-side look at the most meaningful financial metrics available right now:

Metric	MFF Capital Investments	Pm Capital Global Opportunities Fund
Market Cap	$3.17 billion	$1.95 billion
Dividend Yield	4.01% (100% franked)	4.64% (100% franked)
Year To Date Return	-5.1%	3.9%

Recent share price momentum

Comparing share price performance up to is 30 September 2026:

• As of 30 September 2026, Mff Capital Investments closed at $5.48 (having climbed 1.86% on the day).
• As of the same date, Pm Capital Global Opportunities Fund closed at $3.20 (down 0.93% for the day).
• Year to date, MFF shares are down 5.1%, while PGF shares are up 3.9%.

So PGF has clearly enjoyed more positive momentum in 2026 so far. Of course, LICs can trade at a premium or discount to their portfolio’s value, but that data wasn’t supplied here.

Which is the better buy?

With both funds offering global diversification, strong franking, and a rising dividend record, it really comes down to performance and yield, based on these numbers.

I’d lean toward PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund as the better buy in this matchup. Here’s why: PM Capital is offering a higher dividend yield (4.64% vs 4.01%), fully franked, and has managed a positive year-to-date return (+3.9%) while MFF has lost ground (-5.1%). Both have a robust history of dividend increases, but PM Capital’s shares are simply showing stronger recent momentum.

MFF’s larger market cap points to more scale, but for income and growth, the data slightly favours PM Capital right now. I haven’t considered underlying valuation (like P/E or discount to NTA) for this exercise, but based on performance and yield, my pick would be PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund at these levels.

The post MFF Capital vs PM Capital Global Opportunities: Which LIC is the better investment today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments. 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.

Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has returned to the top of the table with short interest of 15.2%, up from 14.3% last week. The counter-drone technology company remains a major target for short sellers, possibly due to the uncertainty created by the ongoing ASIC investigation.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest fall sharply to 13.3%. Short sellers may have concerns over the uranium producer’s production ramp-up at Kayelekera and how quickly it can reach its longer-term targets.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has seen its short interest rise to 13.2%. Despite achieving its revised FY 2026 production guidance, short sellers may be questioning the longer-term production outlook at Honeymoon.
• IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) has short interest of 12.8%, which is up again week on week. Short sellers seem to believe plenty of future growth is already priced in as the titanium company works to scale up its US operations.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has seen its short interest jump to 12.7%. Short sellers may believe higher interest rates could put pressure on the buy now pay later company’s business model by increasing funding costs and weighing on consumer spending.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 12.3% of its shares held short, up from 11.7% last week. Short sellers may be betting that the recent improvement in lithium market conditions will not last.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest ease slightly to 11.9%. The medical technology company continues to make commercial progress, but its high valuation relative to current revenue makes it an obvious target for short sellers.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has short interest of 11.8%, which is broadly unchanged week on week. Short sellers may still be waiting for stronger evidence that the pizza chain operator’s turnaround can deliver a meaningful earnings recovery before closing positions.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 11%. This is a third uranium stock that short sellers are loading up on.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise slightly to 10.9%. Short sellers may remain cautious on the Penfolds owner due to weak luxury wine demand and the work still required to improve its Americas business.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. 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.

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week in a positive fashion. The benchmark index rose 0.8% to 8,682.1 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive start to the week following a strong session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 26 points or 0.3% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.75%, and the Nasdaq stormed 1.2% higher.

Oil prices soften

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a subdued start to the week after oil prices fell on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.9% to US$91.11 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down slightly to US$102.25 a barrel. This appears to have been driven by optimism that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon.

Buy Artrya shares 

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA) shares could have major upside potential according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $6.00 price target on the AI stock. It said: “AYA has secured its fourth customer for its Salix platform which improves the detection and management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Huntsville Hospital Health System (HH) is a 14-hospital system (and 19 care centres) across Alabama and Tennessee in the US. […] The material rise in the share price illustrates how significant the HH signing is, albeit completing integration of NGHS / Cone, as well as the FFR-CT FDA submission / approval are more significant catalysts at present.”

Gold price drops

It could be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price dropped on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was down 0.95% to US$4,162.3 an ounce. A strong US dollar and elevated Treasury yields weighed on the gold price last week.

Buy NextDC shares

Dolphin Partners has named NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares as a buy this week according to The Bull. Commenting on its recommendation, it said: “NXT has invested heavily in infrastructure during the past three years. The recent share price decline enables longer term investors to gain entry into a growth stock with structural tailwinds.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.

When it comes to your superannuation, it’s important to keep on track of how much you should have stashed away.

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

Age 50 and age 60 are important milestones. 

Age 50 marks the final 10-15 years before quitting work. At this point, Australians are usually earning around their peak income, and compound growth is in full force.

At 60, you can access your superannuation if you meet the conditions of release.

These two milestones are important because they mark the lifestyle shift between actively building your wealth, to when you can start drawing down on it.

So, how does your super balance compare to other Aussies the same age?

Let’s take a look.

What is the average superannuation balance of Australian men and women aged 50 in Australia?

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 50, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides a handy guide.

The average 50-54 year old male in Australia has around $254,071 in their superannuation. 

But age 50 is right at the bottom of that age bracket. So it can help to look at the one below, too.

The average balance for men aged 45-49 is $193,501.

Meanwhile, women aged 50-54 have an average of $190,175 in superannuation. Those aged 45-49 have less, at around $147.146.

What is the average superannuation balance for 60-year-old men and women?

Again, there aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 60, but ASFA has some ranges to keep in mind.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 60 to 64 has around $395,852 in their superannuation.

Looking at the bracket below, ASFA’s data shows that the average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 55-59 is $319,743.

Once again, women the same age have less.

The average balance for Australian women aged 60 to 64 is around $313,360. That’s a huge gap of around $83,000 compared to men the same age.

For the age bracket below, the gap is a little lower. Women aged 55-59 have around $242,945 saved in their superannuation for retirement.

How does your super balance compare with that of men or women your age?

Is it possible to retire comfortably off these average balances?

Unfortunately not.

ASFA calculates that a comfortable retirement will cost single Australians $56,166 per year and couples closer to $78,998 per year.

To fund that, individuals need at least $630,000 saved in their super, and couples need at least $730,000 combined.

These figures also assume you’ll start your retirement at age 67. It also assumes that you’ll receive a part Age Pension around this time and that you own your home outright.

That’s significantly less than the average balances of Australians across all the age brackets mentioned above. 

To reach these figures, all individuals need a superannuation balance of $254,500 at age 50. This increases to $457,500 by the time you reach age 60.

The post The average superannuation balance at ages 50 and 60. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• By October 2027, $5,000 invested in this ASX bank stock could turn into…
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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.

PLS vs BHP shares: Which ASX 200 mining stock is the better buy?

When you think Australian mining, two names jump to mind: PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). Both find themselves among the ASX 200’s go-to stocks for anyone keen on Aussie resources exposure, whether it’s booming lithium demand or diversified mining muscle. But with different focuses—PLS charging hard on the lithium front and BHP spanning iron ore, copper, and more—the comparison isn’t apples for apples. If you’re torn between PLS and BHP shares, let’s break down the case for each and see which one might be the better buy right now.

The case for PLS

PLS Group, previously known as Pilbara Minerals, has carved out a spot at the centre of the global lithium story. Its flagship project, the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project in Western Australia, is among the world’s largest hard-rock lithium-tantalum deposits. The company also expanded overseas, adding the Colina lithium project in Brazil via an acquisition in 2025. PLS moved from exploration to production remarkably fast and keeps building its international sales channels as electric vehicle demand surges.

From the fundamentals, a few points stand out:

• Market cap: $11.77 billion—a sizeable player in its space but dwarfed by BHP’s heft.
• P/E ratio: 23.92, suggesting investors are paying up for the growth and excitement around lithium, even as the broader market cools on battery metals this year.
• Dividend yield: 1.3% (fully franked), offering returns, but modest compared to mature resource companies.

EPS sits at $0.161, with a dividend per share of $0.05, and 100% franking for Australian investors. Year to date, its shares are down 7.4%, showing how exposed PLS remains to commodity cycles and market sentiment.

The case for BHP

BHP Group is mining royalty—one of the world’s largest diversified mining giants with a vast portfolio that includes iron ore, copper, coal, and nickel. Since unifying its corporate structure in 2022, BHP’s focus has stayed on stable cash flows from its gigantic operations spanning Australia and overseas. With one of the deepest track records on the ASX, BHP is often viewed as a defensive core holding for income and scale.

Notable fundamentals include:

• Market cap: $306.37 billion—massively larger than PLS, reflecting global reach, asset variety, and institutional confidence.
• P/E ratio: 22.09, actually a touch lower than PLS’s (despite the size difference), highlighting steady profits and mature business appeal.
• Dividend yield: 3.98% (fully franked), making BHP an income hunter’s favourite among resource stocks.

EPS sits at $1.932, with dividends per share at $2.42, a hefty payout. Year to date, BHP shares have soared 39.0%, outstripping many on the ASX and dwarfing PLS’s recent performance.

Valuation comparison

Comparing key valuation metrics side by side:

	PLS	BHP
Market Cap	$11.77 billion	$306.37 billion
P/E Ratio	23.92	22.09
Dividend Yield	1.30% (100% franked)	3.98% (100% franked)
EPS	$0.161	$1.932
Dividend per share	$0.05	$2.42

Both companies’ earnings are fully franked—a plus for Australian dividend seekers. Interestingly, PLS’s P/E multiple is a touch above BHP’s, which might look surprising given BHP’s mature, stable cash flows. However, that premium suggests the market is betting on stronger growth for PLS versus more “steady as she goes” from BHP.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• PLS Group Ltd closed at $3.65, having dropped 5.4% on the day. Year to date, PLS is down 7.4%.
• BHP Group Ltd closed at $60.26, declining 0.9% on the day, but its year to date gain is an impressive 39.0%.

Both stocks have seen volatility, but BHP’s share price has gained serious momentum in 2026, while PLS has had a tougher year.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick one ASX 200 mining stock right now, my vote would go to BHP. The numbers just stack up better at the moment—BHP offers a much higher, fully franked dividend yield (3.98% versus 1.3%), which is a big plus with interest rates still high and investors returning to income stocks. BHP’s year to date share price run (+39.0%) also tells me the market is rewarding its scale and steady cash generation, especially compared to PLS Group’s negative year to date return.

PLS is exciting, no doubt, and will ride every updraft in lithium demand—the P/E premium reflects that optimism. But for income, stability, and sheer momentum, I think BHP is the clearer buy in this head-to-head. If I were seeking higher risk and growth, I might take a deeper look at PLS. But today, BHP’s fundamentals, dividend payout, and recent performance make it my pick of these two ASX mining heavyweights.

The post PLS vs BHP: Which ASX 200 mining stock looks better today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• BHP vs Codan: Which ASX 200 share is the stronger buy today?
• PLS Group vs Mineral Resources: ASX mining shares compared
• Regis Resources vs Fortescue: Which ASX miner is the better buy?
• Commonwealth Bank vs BHP: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy in October?

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 recommended BHP Group. 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.

ASX bank stocks have been in the spotlight over the past month as rising inflation, higher interest rates, and a cooling property market raise concerns about how the banks could perform over the long run.

The experts are pretty reserved about the outlook for the big four major banks, and most mid-tier ones too. Most are expected to fall lower over the next 12 months as macroeconomic pressures increase.

But there is one ASX bank stock with a very rosy outlook ahead.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) works differently to its peers. Unlike many other banks in the sector, Judo Bank was built to provide financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs have annual turnovers of up to $100 million.

The bank was founded in 2016 and received its banking license in 2019. That means it’s relatively new in comparison to the majors. It was listed on the ASX in 2021.

The bank provides business lending starting at $250,000 and touts itself as providing more flexibility than major banks. It also offers personal term deposit products and home loans.

What’s the latest out of Judo Bank shares?

At the time of writing, the ASX bank stock is trading at 90 cents a piece. That’s around 50% lower for the year to date and 49% lower than this time last year.

The shares suffered a crash of around 40% within one day of trading in late June. This happened after the bank downgraded its profit guidance for FY26. The move left investors questioning the bank’s near-term outlook.

But the final result in August seemed to be a little better than expected. Judo Bank announced strong gains across the board. NPAT increased 29% to $111.1 million, and profit before tax increased 34% to $168.1 million. This was at the top end of Judo’s revised guidance range.

Investors rushed to the stock, and the share spiked by around 16% following the announcement. But then a slump in overall sentiment for bank shares and profit-taking investors has seen those gains reversed over the past seven weeks.

What do brokers tip next for the ASX bank stock?

It looks like the sell-off was way overdone, and the shares are now trading well below fair value.

Brokers are very bullish on the outlook for Judo Bank shares, with the majority holding a strong buy rating, according to Market Index data. The average $1.38 target price currently implies around a 52% potential upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. Again, the majority (12 out of 14) have a buy/strong buy rating. The $1.485 average target price implies an upside of around 64%, at the time of writing.

But some think the shares could jump another 86% to $1.68 each over the next 12 months.

Morgans has a buy rating and $1.42 target price on the bank shares.

The broker said Judo’s results were towards the top end of the revised guidance range, and FY27 guidance was reaffirmed, offering strong earnings growth. But it thinks that by the end of this decade, Judo Bank shares could be worth close to $2 per share. 

The bank is higher risk and more cyclically exposed than the major banks, but investors are compensated by higher potential returns at current prices. 

Elsewhere, the team at Macquarie said the question is whether the bank can strike the right balance between margins, growth, and credit quality to achieve returns at scale. Macquarie has a price target of $1.65 on Judo shares.

So, if I invest $5,000 into Judo Bank shares today, what could it be worth by this time next year?

Assuming Judo Bank shares reach the average forecast target price of $1.38 to $1.48 within the next 12 months, a $5,000 investment today could be worth $7,600 to $8,200 by October 2027.

And if the more bullish experts are correct. The same $5,000 investment could climb even higher, up to $9,300, by this time next year.

The post By October 2027, $5,000 invested in this ASX bank stock could turn into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Brokers tip these 3 ASX shares to climb between 50% and 122% in the next 12 months
• Top 3 ASX 200 shares now below their 200-day moving average
• Top 3 ASX shares I’d buy after the most recent sell-off
• Brokers rate these 5 ASX shares as a strong buy, and tip upsides of 28% to 62%

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.