Author: openjargon

With almost $900 million in funds under management, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) is a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX.

Although not quite in the same league as the index fund heavy-hitters like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), many Australian investors have entrusted the MOAT ETF with their hard-earned cash.

Most index funds are incredibly simple, and easy to wrap one’s head around. VAS, for example, holds the largest 300 shares on the ASX, weighted by market capitalisation. Nothing more, nothing less.

MOAT is another kettle of fish, though, and works a little differently from a basic index fund. So today, let’s dive deeper into the VanEck Wide Moat ETF, see how it works, and discuss what an investor will actually own if they buy this ASX ETF.

Unlike a simple index fund, MOAT uses a complex approach to build an underlying portfolio of investments that the ETF indirectly allows investors to purchase. Its portfolio is determined by a series of formulas. These seek to identify US stocks that show clear signs of possessing a wide economic moat.

This term, originally coined by legendary investor Warren Buffett, refers to a durable competitive advantage that a company can possess. It is used to keep customers within the company’s ‘walls’, as well as keeping competitors out.

What’s in the VanEck Wide Moat ETF?

This competitive advantage could be a strong brand, a low-cost advantage, or providing a good or service that customers find difficult to replace or avoid using.

The VanEck Wide Moat ETF identifies a series of companies that show signs of possessing at least one of these moats, and adds said company to its portfolio if the price is attractive. As such, MOAT tends to have a portfolio of around 50 individual stocks, all held at an equal weighting.

Here are the fund’s current ten largest stocks, as of 15 May:

1. Fortinet Inc
2. NXP Semiconductors N.V.
3. NVIDIA Corporation
4. Mondelez International Inc
5. Airbnb Inc
6. Masco Corp
7. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co
8. Kenvue Inc
9. Constellation Brands
10. Microsoft Corporation

As you can see, there are clearly some wide moats there. It could be Microsoft’s sticky Office or Windows software suites, Nvidia’s dominance in AI and chip technology, Airbnb’s network effects, or the power of Mondelez and Constellation’s popular brands (which include Cadbury chocolate and Corona beer, respectively).

Some other names that you may recognise in MOAT’s current portfolio include Amazon, Nike, PepsiCo, and Walt Disney Company.

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF charges a management fee of 0.49% per annum.

The post Own the VanEck Wide Moat ETF? Here’s what you’re really buying appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Amazon, Microsoft, Mondelez International, PepsiCo, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Airbnb, Amazon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Fortinet, Kenvue, Microsoft, NXP Semiconductors, Nike, Nvidia, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Constellation Brands and Masco. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Airbnb, Amazon, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM) shares are pushing higher on Monday after the company locked in a fresh batch of infrastructure contracts.

At the time of writing, the Service Stream share price is up 4.91% to $2.245.

The gain adds to a solid recent run, with the stock now up around 13% over the past month. However, it remains broadly flat since the start of 2026.

Let’s take a look at the announcement.

$455 million in new contracts

According to the release, Service Stream has secured new agreements worth $455 million across two major customers.

The biggest part of the update is a new 9-year contract with Yarra Valley Water under its Maintenance Services Delivery Partners program.

The agreement is worth about $405 million over the term and covers work across one of Victoria’s largest water utilities.

Yarra Valley Water services more than 2 million people across Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs.

Under its refreshed delivery model, the utility has split its operational areas into North and South, with Service Stream selected as the delivery partner for the Northern Region.

The work will cover mechanical, electrical, and civil maintenance services across water and sewerage networks and treatment facilities. Service Stream will also handle responsive maintenance and selected programmed activities.

Mobilisation is expected to start immediately, with operations due to begin in October 2026.

More work in Queensland

Service Stream has also picked up two key contracts with Millmerran Operating Company at its power station in Millmerran, Queensland.

The contracts are worth a combined $50 million over the next 3 years and cover a range of outage and maintenance work. This includes major and forced outage works, mechanical inspections, testing, overhaul, and repair activities.

Service Stream said it will support the boiler and balance of plant across the 425MW units.

Why the size of the deal stands out

The market appears to be responding to the size and length of the newly announced work.

A 9-year contract with a large utility customer gives Service Stream a longer revenue runway, and the work sits in a part of the economy that doesn’t really switch off.

Water networks still need to be maintained, treatment facilities still need servicing, and sewerage systems still need to keep running. This means demand for this type of infrastructure work should remain fairly steady.

The Millmerran contracts also give Service Stream more secured work in energy infrastructure.

With Service Stream valued at about $1.36 billion, the $455 million in contract wins is large enough to explain why investors are taking a closer look today.

The post Investors are buying this ASX stock after a $455 million update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Pro Medicus, Service Stream, and Woodside shares are charging higher

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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’s been a rough start to the trading week for most ASX shares so far this Monday. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has shed a nasty 1.4% or so and is back to just above 8,500 points. By comparison, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are doing quite well.

Westpac is holding its head above water at present. The ASX 200 bank stock is currently up a decent 0.33% at $35.96 a share, easily outperforming the broader market.

Unfortunately for Westpac shareholders, that gain doesn’t quite make up for the rough couple of months that this bank stock has endured on the ASX. At today’s prices, Westpac remains down by about 7.8% year to date in 2026 so far, and down almsot 16% from the near-$43 levels we were seeing just last month.

However, most investors who own Westpac shares arguably aren’t holding them for the capital appreciation potential. As a big four ASX 200 bank share, Westpac is typically beloved as a dividend investment above all else.

So today, let’s check out exactly what kind of dividends you can expect from this bank if you buy Westpac shares right now.

Westpac dividends

At the current Westpac share price, this bank is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 4.28%. This is derived from the latest two dividend payments that Westpac has made to its shareholders. The first of these payments was the final dividend from December last year, worth 77 cents per share. The second is the 2026 interim dividend, also worth 77 cents per share.

Now, the latest dividend hasn’t arrived in investors’ bank accounts just yet, and is due on 26 June next month. However, Westpac shares have already traded ex-dividend for the payment, meaning it technically contributes to the company’s trailing dividend yield.

Both of these dividends came (or will come) with full franking credits attached, as is Westpac’s norm.

So Westpac is looking pretty compelling from an income potential standpoint today. However, as any good dividend investor knows, trailing yields reflect the past, not what shareholders will receive in the future. There’s no way to determine any ASX’s dividend shares’ future income potential until the company itself reveals its dividends. Saying that, my Fool colleague Tristan looked at some analyst predictions earlier this month for Westpac shares.

In some potentially good news for investors, analysts are pencilling in $1.625 worth of dividends per share over the 2027 financial year. If that turns out to be the case, Westpac shares could be trading on a forward yield of 4.52% today.

Let’s see if that prediction turns out to be on the money.

The post Buying Westpac shares? Here’s the yield you’ll get today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares pushed higher on Monday as investors cheered both stronger oil prices and a major production milestone in Alaska.

During afternoon trade, Santos shares climbed 2.5% to $8.08. The energy giant has now surged around 31% year to date and roughly 26% over the past 12 months.

That is a massive outperformance compared to the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which was down 1.2% on Monday and has gained only around 4% over the past year.

Alaskan oil production boost

Rising global oil prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and tighter supply expectations have been the main driver for this year’s share price rally.

But Monday’s gains received another boost for Santos shares after the company announced first oil production from the Pikka phase 1 development on Alaska’s North Slope.

For Santos, this is a major milestone. The company is one of Australia’s largest oil and gas producers, supplying LNG, natural gas, and oil across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and, increasingly, Alaska.

Its earnings move with energy prices and production growth. Major project developments can sharply shift investor sentiment.

The company revealed that oil flow has now been established through the Lease Automated Custody Transfer (LACT) meter into the Pikka sales oil line. Santos operates the project and holds a 51% interest in the Pikka Unit, while partner Repsol SA (BMEX: REP) owns the remaining 49%.

Major production ramp-up

Importantly, this is only the beginning of the production ramp-up. Pikka phase 1 has officially started production. At first oil, 28 development wells were already drilled. 21 had been stimulated and flowed back as expected.

Output is now ramping toward 20,000 barrels per day over the coming weeks as key systems progressively come online. Production will remain intermittent during commissioning before stabilising for around one month once the Seawater Treatment Plant begins water injection.

The company then expects output to accelerate sharply, targeting a production plateau of 80,000 barrels per day during the third quarter. First sales revenue should start flowing within three months. Santos and Repsol will alternate tanker shipments from the Port of Valdez.

What did Santos management say?

Management clearly views Pikka as a transformational long-term asset.

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said:

Alaska has a huge runway ahead of it which will underpin value-accretive production growth for Santos for the long term. When the Pikka Field was discovered, the Nanushuk formation was recognised as a new generation play in an established global super basin and we are proud to be at the forefront of unlocking its resource potential. The Pikka phase 1 project has demonstrated Santos’ capability to develop this world-class resource safely, responsibly and efficiently. We are already implementing technical drilling improvements that save time and cost, and we will continue to drive improved performance into the future.

What next for Santos shares?

For investors, the announcement reinforces Santos’ strategy. It is expanding long-life, cash-generating energy assets. It is also benefiting from a stronger oil price environment.

With Pikka now producing first oil, momentum is building. The market is growing more confident that Santos still has meaningful production growth ahead.

The post Why are Santos shares jumping higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Which ASX energy company has just signed off on a major gas project?

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

One of the ASX’s biggest defence stock winners is back in the spotlight today.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares have been placed in a trading halt after the company launched a capital raising of up to $175 million.

The halt follows another strong session on Friday, when EOS shares rose 4.13% to finish at $8.82 after the company announced a new MARSS contract.

Despite being down around 7% in 2026, the stock remains up 583% over the past year.

The latest update gives investors a lot to digest as EOS looks to build on its much larger order book.

Let’s take a closer look at the release.

EOS taps investors for more cash

In a statement to the ASX, EOS advised it is raising up to $175 million through a placement and share purchase plan.

The larger part is a fully underwritten $150 million institutional placement, with about 18.8 million new shares being issued at $8 apiece.

The issue price represents a 9.3% discount to Friday’s closing price of $8.82.

EOS said the placement will account for about 9.7% of its existing shares on issue.

Eligible shareholders will also be offered the chance to apply for up to $30,000 worth of new shares under the share purchase plan (SPP).

EOS said the placement and SPP shares will rank equally with existing shares.

The company expects the trading halt to lift on Tuesday, when it plans to announce the completion of the placement.

MARSS order book grows

The raising follows another strong update from MARSS, the counter-drone business EOS is buying.

MARSS has landed new orders worth 102 million euros, or about $165 million, from an existing Middle East customer.

Those latest orders lift the MARSS order book to about $217 million. If the acquisition completes, EOS expects its combined order book to rise to $726 million.

That’s a big jump from $459 million at the end of 2025 and $136 million at the end of 2024.

The timing is also worth watching, with EOS expecting up to 80% of the combined order book to convert into revenue across 2026 and 2027.

What to watch next

All eyes will be on how EOS shares trade once the halt lifts tomorrow.

While the cap raising gives the company more cash, it also brings new shares at a discount after a huge one year run.

That means existing shareholders will face some dilution when EOS shares are unfrozen.

Attention will also be turning to whether the MARSS deal completes as expected, and how quickly the order book can turn into revenue.

The post EOS shares halted after huge run as $175 million raising lands appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• EOS shares rocket as $726 million order book turns heads
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• Down 13% in a week, are EOS shares now too cheap to ignore?

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider closed on Friday trading for $28.26. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $28.27 apiece, down 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 1.3% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Technology One shares are down 14.5% over 12 months, with those losses modestly eased by the stock’s 1.3% partly franked dividend yield.

However, with the ASX 200 tech stock having surged 40.2% since plumbing a one-year closing low on 13 February, Morgans Financial’s Mitch Belichovski believes investors would do well to consider heading for the exit (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Time to sell Technology One shares?

“TNE is one of Australia’s largest enterprise software-as-a-service companies,” Belichovski said.

“TNE provides enterprise resource planning software to thousands of corporations, government departments and statutory authorities,” he added.

As for his bearish outlook on Technology One shares, Belichovski said:

While TNE enjoys strong market positions in Australia and New Zealand, the stock was recently trading on a lofty price-earnings ratio above 65 times, indicating it may be overvalued if growth falters.

Then there’s rising interest rates, which tend to throw up headwinds for most ASX growth shares like tech companies. As well as the rapid rise of AI.

Summarising his sell recommendation, Belichovski concluded:

The company is exposed to higher interest rates and its subsequent implications regarding valuations of technology companies. Some uncertainty exists about the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on companies in the broader technology sector.

What is the ASX 200 tech stock saying about AI?

From mid-October through to mid-February, Technology One shares plunged more than 49%.

But it wasn’t just Technology One stock getting hammered.

Over this same period, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) crashed around 39%.

A lot of that pressure was driven by investor concerns that the rapid rise of AI could replace many of the services these tech companies offer. You may have heard this called the SaaSpocalypse.

But Technology One CEO Ed Chung expects that AI will help, rather than hinder, his company’s performance in the years ahead.

In a market update on 18 February that saw the company upgrade its full year profit and revenue guidance, Chung noted:

SaaS+ and our products turbocharged through AI are our not so secret weapons, giving us the confidence to increase PBT growth to 18% to 20%, upgraded from our prior range of 13% to 17%, as well as guiding to ARR growth of 16% to 18%. We are targeting the top end of the guidance range for both PBT and ARR.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Technology One shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. 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 is down 0.46%, but it’s outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today.

Macquarie shares are $237.68 apiece at the time of writing, while the ASX 200 is down 1.2%.

This follows a two-day summit between the US and China in Beijing that yielded no significant announcements.

The war in Iran continues, and the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas is transported, remains virtually shut down. However, Chinese ships are being allowed through via coordination with the Iranian authorities.

US President Donald Trump insisted that he did not need China’s help to end the war and that Iran’s time to make a deal is running out.

Why is the Macquarie share price in the red?

The main reason is that it’s ex-dividend day.

That means Macquarie shares are no longer trading with the next dividend attached.

Macquarie shares are among 16 ASX stocks with ex-dividend dates in May.

Macquarie shares will pay a final dividend of $4.20 per share with 35% franking on 2 July.

The total dividend for FY26 was $7 per share. Based on today’s share price, this gives Macquarie a trailing dividend yield of 2.95%.

ASX 200 bank shares are a mixed bag today.

Only Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), up 0.4%, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares, up 0.1%, are in the green.

A recap on Macquarie’s FY26 results

The bank announced its full-year results on 8 May.

Macquarie reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $4,847 million, up 30% on FY25.

The 2H FY26 net profit was a half-year record at $A3,192 million, up 93% on 1H FY26.

The earnings per share (EPS) for FY26 was $12.77, up 30% on FY25.

The return on equity (ROE) for FY26 was 14%, up from 11.2% in FY25.

The bank’s net operating income for FY26 was $A19,477 million, up 13% on FY25.

International income formed 68% of Macquarie’s full-year income.

Operating expenses for FY26 were $A12,748 million, up 5% on FY25.

Share buyback program closed

Macquarie also announced the end of its share buyback program.

The bank acquired $A1,013 million worth of Macquarie shares on-market at an average price of $189.80 per share.

The board approved an extension of the buyback in November 2025, but Macquarie chose not to proceed with further purchases.

The bank explained:

Given significant business growth over recent periods, together with the prevailing market conditions, Macquarie has not purchased any shares under the buyback since the Board-approved extension announced on 7 November 2025.

There is currently no expectation of further share purchases under the extended buyback and so the Board has resolved to conclude the on-market share buyback.

The Macquarie share price hit a 52-week low of $187.31 on 19 November before commencing a rapid rebound.

Macquarie shares leapt 17.4% over the next three months, which likely made further buyback purchases unappealing.

Macquarie share price snapshot

The Macquarie share price is up 17% in the calendar year to date, while the ASX 200 is down 2.5%.

The post Why is the Macquarie share price falling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and 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.

This $11 billion ASX industrials stock is moving higher on Monday after the company delivered a record FY26 result.

During afternoon trade, shares in ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) climbed 3% to $22.85.

The latest gain adds to what has already been a strong run for shareholders. ALS shares are now up roughly 28% over the past 12 months, comfortably outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen only around 4% over the same period.

So, what impressed investors?

A big jump in profits

The ASX industrials stock delivered strong growth across several key financial metrics.

Revenue climbed 10.7% year on year to a record $3.32 billion. Even more impressive was profitability.

Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 25.8% to $381.2 million. Underlying EBIT jumped 19.3% to $599 million, while margins improved sharply by 129 basis points to 18%. Statutory NPAT also rose strongly, lifting 24.4% to $318.7 million.

Cash generation remained a major highlight too. ALS produced free cash flow of $674.1 million and achieved EBITDA cash conversion of 92%, reinforcing the quality of earnings behind the result.

Shareholders were also rewarded with a final dividend of 23.1 cents per share, partially franked. That brought full-year dividends to 42.5 cents per share.

Commodities keeps firing

One of the standout divisions of the ASX industrials stock was Commodities. Revenue in the segment surged 18.8%, helped by stronger mineral exploration activity globally. That is not surprising given the ongoing demand for critical minerals, copper, gold, and broader resources exploration activity.

Life Sciences also performed well, with revenue rising 6%, driven by strength in the food business.

Environmental was softer, particularly across the Americas, where internal operational issues and weaker market conditions weighed on growth. Management said those issues are now being addressed.

What did management say?

CEO and Managing Director Malcolm Deane said:

ALS has delivered robust financial performance in FY26, reflecting the resilience of our diversified portfolio, disciplined operational execution and the commitment of our people in continuing to deliver high quality service and outcomes for our customers. Throughout the year, we remained focused on executing our refreshed strategy and advancing the priorities outlined in our value creation framework. This included disciplined capital allocation, targeted investment in growth opportunities and ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen returns and position the business for long-term sustainable growth, maximising shareholder returns.

What next for ALS?

Management of the ASX industrials stock remains optimistic heading into FY27. ALS expects mid to high-single-digit organic revenue growth alongside further margin expansion.

New laboratories in Sydney and Lima are scheduled to come online during the second half of FY27, expanding capacity in key growth areas. The company is also leaning heavily into automation, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence through its “Lab of the Future” initiative.

While management acknowledged ongoing macroeconomic and supply chain risks, ALS appears well-positioned, with a strong balance sheet and growing exposure to long-term demand for mining, environmental, and industrial testing.

The post Why is this ASX industrials stock edging higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), and New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are turning heads today.

One of the stocks is shaking off the 1.4% drop in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and marching higher, while the other two are crashing hard.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest on Monday.

New Hope shares lift on earnings boost

New Hope shares are flashing a welcome green in today’s sea of red following the release of the company’s third-quarter results (Q3 FY 2026).

Shares in the ASX 200 coal stock are up 0.6% as we eye the Monday lunch hour, trading for $5.26 apiece.

Highlights include a 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in run of mine (ROM) coal production to 4.26 million tonnes.

New Hope’s coal sales of 3.20 million tonnes were up 10.4% from Q2. And the miner achieved a 1.2% increase in its average realised sales price to $140.7 per tonne.

Earnings were up too, with underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $130.1 million, up 21.7% from the prior quarter.

Turning to the balance sheet, the ASX 200 coal stock held $571 million in available cash at the end of the quarter.

New Hope shares are up more than 45% in 12 months.

Brambles shares hammered on profit guidance cut

Brambles shares are getting smashed today.

Shares in the ASX 200 supply pallets and crates supplier are down a painful 18% at the time of writing, changing hands for $18.13 each following a trading update.

On the positive side of the ledger, management announced a new US$400 million on-market share buyback will start once the current buyback is complete.

But investors are overheating their sell buttons after the company scaled back its full-year FY 2026 sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from prior guidance of 3% to 4% revenue growth (at constant exchange rates).

Profit guidance was also cut, with Brambles now expecting FY 2026 profit growth of 3% to 5%, down from prior guidance of 8% to 11% full-year profit growth.

Brambles shares are down about 17% in 12 months.

Which brings us to…

Elders shares tumble on Iran war cost concerns

Joining Brambles and New Hope shares in turning heads today, Elders shares are crashing 25.3% at the time of writing, trading for $5.38 each.

This carnage follows the release of the ASX 200 agribusiness’ half-year results.

And it comes despite Elders reporting some strong growth metrics for the six months to 31 March.

That includes a 32% year-on-year increase in underlying sales revenue to $1.77 billion.

And on the bottom line, Elders reported a 17% year-on-year increase in statutory profit after tax to $39.5 million.

But investors appear to have the jitters over potential building headwinds from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The company noted that while it’s “well-placed” to manage the issues, the industry is facing disruptions in fertiliser supplies. And Elders added that elevated diesel prices remain a risk to its cost base in the second half of the year.

Elders CEO Mark Allison noted:

International events have caused price volatility in fuel and fertiliser, creating challenges for our supply chain in the first half. Elders’ strong supply relationships, combined with an adept agronomy network for timely advice to growers, has allowed us to manage demand and ensure growers are equipped for the season ahead.

Elders shares are down around 17% in 12 months.

The post Why is everyone talking about Elders, Brambles and New Hope shares on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX 200 coal stock is charging higher after a big profit jump
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• Which ASX 200 share is crashing 22% on half-year results?
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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to grow in popularity and it isn’t hard to understand why.

They allow investors to buy groups of shares with a single click of the button, removing the need for stock picking.

But with so many out there, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy over others.

The good news is the team at DP Wealth Advisory has narrowed things down by revealing one ASX ETF it would buy and one it would hold, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what it is recommending this week:

Munro Concentrated Global Growth Active ETF (ASX: MCGG)

DP Wealth Advisory has named the Munro Concentrated Global Growth Active ETF as a buy this week.

This fund provides an easy way for investors to gain access to an actively managed portfolio of 20-40 global growth equities.

This includes some of the most innovative and fastest growing companies in the world today, such as Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), Mastercard (NYSE: MA), and Airbus (ETR: AIR).

Commenting on the fund, DP Wealth Advisory said:

This exchange traded fund holds between 20 and 40 global equities. It invests in North America, Asia and Europe. Holdings include Nvidia, CATL and TSMC. Sectors it invests in include connectivity, climate and high performance computing.

It generated returns of 23.3 per cent in the past year to April 30, 2026. Company performance has been strong since listing in February 2022. The price of the ETF has been enjoying strong momentum since April 1, 2026 and we expect this trend to continue moving forward. I hold this ETF in my self managed super fund.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The team at DP Wealth Advisory has named the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF as a hold this week.

This hugely popular ASX ETF provides investors with access to over 1,000 global stocks, including many of the best companies in the world.

DP Wealth Advisory highlights that the concentration of US technology stocks in this fund could weigh on returns given concerns over their valuations. It explains:

This exchange traded fund provides investors with passive exposure to the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (sic) (MSCI), comprising more than 1500 of the world’s largest companies, excluding Australia. The fund is heavily exposed to the United States and holds names such as Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. The ETF is exposed to fluctuations in the Australian dollar. Performance has been sound in the past 12 months. However, a heavy concentration of US technology stocks, and associated concerns about their valuations leave VGS a hold for now.

The post Expert names 1 ASX ETF to buy and 1 to hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 Vanguard ETFs for Australian investors to build wealth by 2036
• How much $500 a month could become with ASX shares
• Why Aussie investors are pouring into international ASX ETFs
• Are these ASX ETF giants still worth buying today?
• 5 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold in 2026

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Mastercard, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Mastercard, Nvidia, 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.