Author: openjargon

Long-term investing in ASX shares could be the best way to allocate money because it gives strong investments a better chance to perform well.

But I wouldn’t want to invest in something that’s going to be mediocre for a long time; I’d only want to buy investments that could help grow my wealth over time.

Below are two ideas I’d feel comfortable owning for the next 10 years (and beyond).

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne describes itself as Australia’s largest enterprise software company with a global presence. It aims to provide end-to-end software as a service (SaaS) enterprise resource planning (ERP) for clients.

It has 1,300 leading corporations, government agencies, local councils and universities as clients.

The business has won several major clients recently, including the City of Townsville, Cardinia Shire Council, Liverpool City Council, Salisbury City Council, and City of Ryde Council.

The UK could be a strong area of growth for the business over the coming years. According to TechnologyOne, the UK local government sector is currently undergoing a transition period with the planned amalgamation of smaller councils to form larger, economically viable councils. It said in the FY26 result that its sales pipeline for local government in the UK remains strong and it thinks it will see accelerated growth from this sector in future periods.

The education is also growing, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 15% in FY26, with good wins like James Cook University. In the UK, it has won the University of Suffolk and Royal Holloway, University of London.

This business is aiming to reach at least $1 billion in ARR by FY30 from its base of $598 million. The company also thinks economies of scale could help it boost its profit-before-tax margin to at least 35% in the long term.

In the next decade, I think its earnings could rise significantly, making it good value today.

BetaShares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF)

The other investment I want to discuss is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that aims to provide exposure to a diversified, low-cost ‘all-growth’ portfolio.

The idea of the portfolio is that it can provide exposure to global shares across a wide range of global exchanges.

Currently, it has a strategic asset allocation guideline of 37% to Australian shares and 63% to international shares across US shares, developed share markets (excluding the US) and emerging market shares.

The ASX share market allocation is similar to the US share market allocation, while the developed market (excluding the US) has a 15% allocation, and emerging markets has an approximate 7% allocation.

The markets that have the biggest exposure beyond the US and Australia, are Japan, Taiwan, China, Canada, the UK, South Korea and India.

I like how the fund can give exposure to a wide variety of assets with just a single investment, which I’d call very appealing for a long-term investment.

Since the fund’s inception in December 2020, it has returned an average of 11.8% per year.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• With no savings at 50, I’d follow Warren Buffett’s approach to build wealth
• Why I think these are the best ASX shares to buy and hold
• How to build a winning ASX share portfolio and create wealth
• How to build an ASX portfolio you can stick with for 10 years
• Are these 3 top Betashares ETFs a buy in September?

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 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.

Following the announced Federal tax changes earlier this year, the attractiveness of ASX passive income shares may have shifted in investors’ minds.

In my view, listed investment companies (LICs) may be some of the best options to consider, as they can provide a combination of growing dividends, a large dividend yield and long-term capital growth.

Let’s run through why I think the two stocks below are so appealing for dividends.

PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF)

This LIC is managed by an impressive investment team, led by Paul Moore, Chief Investment Officer (CIO).

Having the global share market as a hunting ground is very helpful for generating returns, in my view, because there is a wide array of opportunities across sectors that the ASX can’t necessarily provide exposure to at a meaningful scale. Additionally, global stocks in sectors like banking and mining tend to trade at a lower earnings multiple than the ASX equivalent.

The five sectors that the ASX passive income share has the biggest exposure to European banks, industrial metal commodities, healthcare, industrials and leisure and entertainment.

The investment strategy has performed exceptionally well, with the net return being an average of 17.1% per year since the LIC’s inception in December 2013.

Those net returns have been more than enough for the LIC to pay a good and growing dividend.

Aside from FY23 when it maintained its annual payout, the business has increased its dividend every year since 2016. So, it has already provided a decade of reliable dividends, and I expect the good dividend track record to continue.

In FY26, it grew its annual dividend per share by 26% to 14.5 cents per share. It expects to hike its FY27 annual payout by at least 10% to 16 cents per share. That translates into a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 7.2%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX)

The other ASX passive income share I want to highlight is another LIC.

Future Generation Australia is a very different type of LIC. None of the fund managers involved charge management fees or performance fees – they all work pro bono (for free) – so that the LIC can donate 1% of its net assets each year to youth charities.

The fund is invested in more than a dozen funds that invest in ASX shares. The underlying portfolio is invested in hundreds of ASX shares, providing more exposure to smaller, faster-growing shares than the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) does.

It’s able to provide excellent diversification and less volatility than the wider market, partly thanks to its cash weighting.

The LIC has increased its annual dividend every year since it began paying in 2015, an impressive, consistent record of payout growth.

It expects to pay an annual dividend of 7.6 cents per share for 2026, which translates to a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 8.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. I expect the 2027 dividend will be larger, but I’m using the guided payout for my calculations.

$200 passive income per month

If someone is targeting $200 per month of passive income, that translates into an annual goal of $2,400.

Between the two picks I named above, the average dividend yield is 7.85%. Assuming equal investments in each stock, this would require a total investment of around $30,600 to generate that much passive income.

The post 2 ASX passive income share ideas I’d use to generate $200 a month in 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a disappointing session and dropped deep into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.9% to 8,672.5 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a better session on Wednesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 31 points or 0.35% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.6%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.45%, and the Nasdaq was 0.8% lower.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Wednesday after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 4% to US$105.48 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.65% to US$108.48 a barrel. This follows reports that Saudi Arabia has been forced to cancel some crude cargoes.

Lovisa shares upgraded

Bell Potter thinks that Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) shares are attractively priced. This morning, the broker has upgraded the fashion jewellery retailer’s shares to a buy rating (from hold) with a steady price target of $27.00. It said: “Our TP remains unchanged at $27.00 given we make no changes to our forecasts while our target P/E multiple remains unchanged at ~29x on a blended FY27/28e basis. Post the market sell-off, we think the current valuation at ~22x FY27e P/E (BPe) which is a ~20% discount to LOV’s recent mid-cycle P/E as BPe of 28.5x appears attractive, and we upgrade our recommendation to BUY.”

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after the gold price pulled back again. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.45% to US$4,333.4 an ounce. Traders are betting on inflation spiking due to high oil prices.

Buy Netwealth shares

Bell Potter is also recommending Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shares to clients today. In response to its deal to acquire Paradino, the broker has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $30.00. It said: “The impact from Paradino is limited. There is 10% adviser growth straight away and the price tag is fair for what could be a transformational strategic move. Trading on 33x, NWL continues to offer strong revenue growth potential at a discount to its prior TTC valuations. Buy.”

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

More reading

• Is this the best value stock amongst the ASX consumer discretionary sector?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Santos shares slide from fresh multi-year high: What’s next for the ASX energy stock?
• ASX 200 drops again as selling continues
• Santos shares are up 40% in 2026. Here’s why I’d still buy them today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Two ASX healthcare shares are stealing the spotlight this week. Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares have rocketed by as much as 15%, while 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares have added around 10% at the time of writing.

Here’s the story behind each move, plus what brokers now expect.

Telix now has 3 FDA-cleared diagnostics

Telix just delivered the news investors had circled on their calendars. On Monday, the FDA approved Pixclara, Telix’s PET imaging agent for brain cancer, confirming Pixclara is the only FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical imaging drug for glioma.

That’s a big deal. This asset had already been knocked back once, with the FDA issuing a knockback in mid-2025 over data consistency before Telix resubmitted its application and won a priority review with a September action date. Getting it over the line removes years of regulatory overhang in one shot.

This ASX healthcare share has been a rollercoaster for exactly this reason. Binary regulatory outcomes can swing the price into double digits overnight. With approval finally locked in, Telix now has three FDA-cleared products anchoring its diagnostics franchise, adding a new revenue stream to its existing prostate and kidney imaging portfolio.

Brokers were already leaning bullish before Monday’s news. Consensus data shows 13 out of 16 analysts on TradingView rate Telix a buy or strong buy, with an average 12-month price target around 45% above the current share price.

Citi has been the most bullish, maintaining a $31 target, while JPMorgan sits around $24.40. Not everyone’s on board. RBC downgraded to hold with an $18 target, a fraction higher than the share price at the time of writing.

4DMedical: starting to show commercial traction

4DMedical’s move is smaller in percentage terms but reflects a similar theme: commercial traction finally showing up in the numbers.

The respiratory-imaging company has spent the past two years converting FDA clearances and marquee partnerships into actual revenue, and this ASX healthcare share has rewarded patient holders handsomely with a 112% gain over 12 months.

The engine for this tech stock is CT:VQ, 4DX’s ventilation-perfusion imaging software, which uses ordinary chest CT scans to generate the kind of data that once required nuclear medicine.

Adoption has been building steadily across top-tier US academic centres, and Medicare has already confirmed reimbursement under Category III CPT codes. That’s a crucial unlock for hospital adoption at scale.

Analysts, though, are more split on 4DMedical than on Telix. Bell Potter remains the standout bull, maintaining a $6.00 target, while Ord Minnett carries a sell at $3.00. It’s a name where opinions genuinely diverge on how fast the commercial ramp will actually convert to profit.

Foolish takeaway

Both stocks are classic high-beta plays in the healthcare space. And this week’s rally shows exactly why: regulatory and commercial catalysts can move these ASX healthcare shares fast in either direction.

Telix’s Pixclara approval is about as clean a catalyst as it gets, and brokers have responded accordingly. 4DMedical’s story is earlier-stage and more contested among analysts.

Investors chasing either move after the fact should weigh the excitement of the headline against the underlying pace of revenue growth — and size accordingly.

The post These 2 ASX healthcare shares just jumped up to 15%. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are Telix Pharmaceuticals shares charging higher today?
• Telix Pharmaceuticals shares: FDA approves Pixclara brain cancer drug

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended JPMorgan Chase and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Guzman Y Gomez (ASX: GYG) shares have staged a red-hot comeback since plumbing their all-time closing low of $15.20 apiece on 2 April.

On Tuesday afternoon, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) Mexican fast food restaurant chain were changing hands for $25.39 each.

That sees the stock up a remarkable 67.0% since 2 April.

And that’s not including the 40.8 cent per share fully franked final dividend the company declared when it reported its full year FY 2026 results on 21 August.

Guzman Y Gomez stock traded ex-dividend yesterday. Meaning if you owned shares at market close on Monday, you can expect to see that passive income payout land in your bank account on 30 September.

But following on the strong five-month share price rally, is this ASX 200 stock still a good buy today?

Guzman Y Gomez shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Baker Young’s Toby Grimm recently analysed the outlook for the company’s surging shares (courtesy of The Bull).

“GYG is a Mexican themed restaurant chain,” he said. “The share price has rallied strongly after a decision to exit loss making US operations in May, followed by encouraging full year results in August.”

However, Grimm foresees potential headwinds from exiting the world’s biggest economy.

He noted:

While there’s a near term benefit of withdrawing from the US, the decision also removes long-term expansion potential. Also, it places more pressure on Australia, Singapore and Japan to perform to greater heights to justify what we consider a lofty price-earnings multiple.

And with Guzman Y Gomez shares having rocketed off their lows, Grimm issued a sell recommendation on the ASX 200 stock.

He concluded:

The shares materially exceed our valuation. The shares have risen from $16 on May 20 to trade at $26.85 on September 10. Investors may want to consider taking a profit at these levels given the Australian economy is dealing with a cost of living crisis.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 fast food stock?

GYG reported a 31.6% year-on-year increase in FY 2026 statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $40.6 million.

However, Guzman Y Gomez booked a statutory group NPAT loss of $26.7 million due to its US exit.

Commenting on the results, founder and co-CEO Steven Marks said:

Our Australia Segment has reported network sales of $1.4 billion, up 17.9% on last year, demonstrating continued consumer demand for clean, fresh, made-to-order food, loaded with flavour and prepared at speed.

This momentum has translated into strong earnings growth, with underlying EBITDA up 28.7%, highlighting the strong operating leverage embedded in our business.

Guzman Y Gomez shares closed up 11.4% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 67%! Is it too late to buy the rally in Guzman Y Gomez shares now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Are Inghams and GYG shares a buy, hold or sell following earnings results
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Why I’d still buy Guzman Y Gomez shares after its big rise
• Everything you need to know about the Guzman Y Gomez dividend

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 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.

Recent good news for two energy companies has the analysts at Macquarie interested, with both tipped for strong share price gains.

Let’s see who they like.

Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)

Strike recently struck an agreement with Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Energy to process the gas from its West Erregulla project through Hancock’s Belisama facility.

The deal also included a $30 million loan from Hancock, which Strike will use to support its share of pre-development activities.

The West Erregulla joint venture is targeting a final investment decision in FY28 with first gas expected in CY29.

Strike said of the deal:

The arrangements derisk West Erregulla’s pathway to production and represent a major value inflection point for Strike, providing a clear route to unlock one of Western Australia’s largest undeveloped onshore conventional gas resources and to materially increase the scale and diversity of Strike’s production and earnings base.

Macquarie said in a research note sent to clients that the deal was a true win-win for both companies.

The broker said:

We expect this agreement has been mutually beneficial and creates deeper alignment in the upstream JV (i.e. Hancock earns a healthy return on the tolling, Strike avoids equity dilution and proceeds to first gas more rapidly than the alternative proposal from Waitsia which is 15-20km away – requiring new environmental approvals and likely with less alignment on plant access).  

Macquarie has a target price of 15 cents on Strike shares compared to 10.75 cents currently.

Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL)

Earlier this month Amplitude announced that its Juliet-1 well in the Otway Basin offshore Victoria, had intersected a high-quality, gas-bearing reservoir.

The company said the well had found a gas-bearing interval of at least 60m, and two days later Amplitude said the well would be suspended, ready for development as part of the East Coast Supply Project (ECSP).

Macquarie said once Juliet was added to previous discoveries at Annie and Artisan, the ECSP “is now a material program”.

They also expected further drilling in the area.

As they said:

With success at Juliet-1 (pending flow test outcome, but “excellent” reservoir quality is implied from preliminary data collected so far), we therefore expect Nestor looks more likely to be drilled next. Partner O.G. Energy had deferred any decision on drilling Nestor pending the Juliet results.

Macquarie has a price target of $2.50 on Amplitude shares compared to $1.82 currently.   

Amplitude Energy is valued at $530.8 million.

The post 2 ASX energy companies Macquarie says can jump more than 37% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have delivered markedly different returns over the past year.

On Tuesday, CBA shares were trading for $152.45 apiece. That sees the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock down 9.7% in 12 months. Though those losses will have been modestly eased by the two fully franked dividends CommBank paid out over this period.

CBA stock trades on a 3.3% fully franked dividend yield.

Woolworths shareholders have enjoyed a much more profitable year.

Trading for $38.91 apiece on Tuesday, shares in the ASX 200 supermarket giant have gained 38.6% in 12 months. And that’s not including the passive income Woolies doled out to shareholders over the year.

Woolworths stock trades on a 2.5% fully franked dividend yield.

Looking ahead, however, Shaw and Partners’ James Bills believes that shareholders would do well to exit both ASX 200 stocks (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

CBA shares still trading at a premium

“In our view, the stock trades at a significant premium to domestic peers and on historical valuations,” Bills said.

CBA trades at a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of around 23.5 times, the highest of the big four ASX 200 bank stocks.

Bills added:

While the bank maintains a high-quality franchise and strong market position, earnings growth is expected to remain modest amid competitive lending conditions and regulatory pressures.

Summarising his sell recommendation on CBA shares, Bills said:

Recent Federal government initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply and improving affordability is likely to lead to intensifying competition across the mortgage market and place pressure on lending margins.

Current valuations leave limited scope for further earnings driven upside. Investors may wish to take profits and re-deploy capital into opportunities offering stronger risk-adjusted return potential.

Woolworths share price rally may have run out of puff

Along with CBA shares, Bills also expects that Woolworths shares will struggle to outperform over the coming months.

“The supermarket group has experienced a strong recovery in the past year, with the share price recently trading near the upper end of its historical range,” he noted.

“While the company remains high quality with a leading position in Australian food retailing, much of the recent improvement appears to be reflected in the WOW share price,” Bills said.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Woolworths shares, Bills concluded:

Earnings growth is expected to remain relatively steady rather than exceptional, limiting scope for further share price appreciation from current levels.

Following the recent rally, investors may consider taking profits before re-allocating capital to opportunities with stronger growth potential and a more attractive risk-reward profile.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Woolworths and CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ASX 200 drops again as selling continues
• Down 12%: Are CBA shares a buy, sell or hold now?
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• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, James Hardie, Woolworths shares

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 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.

Codan vs Droneshield shares: Which technology play is the stronger bet?

Many Aussie investors interested in emerging technology, defence, or high-growth markets find themselves comparing Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) and Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO). Both companies operate globally, but their approaches, product lines, and recent fortunes are quite different. So, in a battle of Codan vs Droneshield shares, which one looks the better opportunity?

The case for Codan

Codan is a veteran Aussie tech manufacturer with a global footprint. It designs and builds electronics for communications, metal detection, and mining technology, serving government, military, and commercial clients. Through its brands—Codan Communications, Minelab, Minetec, and Defence Electronics—it supplies everything from metal detectors to secure radio systems. Codan’s engineering and support reach stretches from Adelaide to Canada, the US, Europe, and the Middle East, with most sales revenue coming from North America.

What stands out about Codan today? Firstly, its year-to-date return is a whopping 60.41%, signalling powerful share price momentum in 2026. Earnings per share sits at $0.705, with a fully franked dividend yield of 1.07%. It’s now capped at $8.15 billion, a hefty valuation reflecting its strong global customer base and solid reputation. While the dividend yield isn’t high, the payout is consistent and comes with full franking credits.

The case for Droneshield

Droneshield is an Aussie innovator focused squarely on counter-drone technology—a booming niche as drones become a security threat. Its AI-powered devices, like DroneGun Tactical and DroneSentry, are used to detect and neutralise suspicious drones for clients ranging from governments to airports and big venues. Droneshield’s operations span Australia, the US, and the UK, and its gear is increasingly vital for critical infrastructure protection.

But when it comes to fundamentals, Droneshield is still on a very different footing to Codan. Its market cap is $1.48 billion—much smaller—which reflects both its status as a newer company and the fact it’s still unprofitable, with negative earnings per share of -$0.033. It has no history of paying dividends. Perhaps most striking is this year’s share price dive: a 46.10% year-to-date decline for 2026, reflecting a sharp reversal in fortune after a strong run-up in the prior year.

Valuation comparison

Comparing key numbers, you quickly see a gulf in scale, profit, and price.

Metric	Codan (CDA)	Droneshield (DRO)
Market Cap	$8.15 billion	$1.48 billion
P/E Ratio	47.05	433.75
Dividend Yield	1.07% (fully franked)	0.00%
Earnings per Share	$0.705	-$0.033
Year to Date Return	+60.41%	-46.10%

Codan trades at a much lower P/E than Droneshield. Droneshield’s extremely high P/E—despite negative earnings—reflects expectations of future growth, but for now, the profit simply isn’t there. Only Codan pays a dividend, and at a fully franked rate, that’s a perk for income-focused investors.

Recent share price performance

Looking at the most recent share price history (as of mid-September 2026), Codan has been on a roll. Even with a few day-to-day dips, it’s up more than 60% year to date. Its shares reached $44.71 on 14 September 2026, after a strong rally through August.

Droneshield, on the other hand, has had a rough ride. It closed at $1.61 on 14 September 2026, which is down from earlier highs and represents a 46% fall for the year. While there have been some positive trading days in late August, September brought renewed volatility and downward moves.

Which is the better buy?

For me, the choice between Codan and Droneshield comes down to execution and proven growth. Droneshield has exciting technology and huge long-term potential, but right now the numbers are tough to swallow. Revenue growth may be happening, but the lack of profits, the enormous P/E ratio, and the sharp 2026 decline make it a high-risk punt.

Codan, by contrast, is profitable, rewarding shareholders with dividends, and growing sharply in its share price. With a much lower P/E—yet still reflecting optimism—a global business, and 100% franking, it ticks more boxes for a well-balanced portfolio. If I had to pick, my buy would be Codan. While Droneshield is a thrilling underdog, Codan’s combination of growth, profitability, and momentum makes it the standout today.

The post Codan vs Droneshield shares: Which is the better buy? 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 DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX share market doesn’t stay calm forever, and 2026 has been a reminder of that. With stretched valuations, slowing global growth and stubborn inflation all doing the rounds, more investors are looking to add some ballast to their portfolios.

Here are three defensive ASX shares and three ETFs worth a look.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Supermarkets don’t stop trading in a downturn — people still need to eat. Woolworths’ dominant market share in the Australian supermarket landscape has long held it in good stead even during tough economic conditions.

And the market has noticed: the ASX share is up 33% year to date. Even as households trade down to cheaper essentials, Woolworths tends to keep the lights on and the dividends flowing.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

Healthcare demand doesn’t switch off when the economy slows. Ramsay is one of the largest and well-established private healthcare providers, and elective surgery volumes plus global diagnostic demand tend to hold up regardless of the cycle.

It’s the kind of business people rely on whether markets are booming or busting. The ASX share is up an impressive 56% in 2026.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Insurance is one of those products people keep paying for no matter what. Insurance demand tends to remain steady even in weaker economic conditions.

Suncorp hasn’t been a growth story over the past 12 months, down 5%, but that’s rather the point. This $21 billion ASX share is there to steady the ship, not chase the rally.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

For broad, low-cost exposure with a defensive tilt, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF has characteristics that make it more resilient than many global indices, leaning on Australia’s banks, resources and consumer staples sectors.

It’s a simple, set-and-forget way to add local stability to a ASX shares portfolio.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

If you want global exposure to businesses people buy from no matter the economic weather, this ETF is hard to beat. Its holdings include some of the most dependable companies on the planet, such as Walmart Inc (NASDAQ: WMT), and Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO).

These are businesses with strong brands, pricing power, and customer loyalty, making their earnings far more stable than companies tied to discretionary spending.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

Cash is king in a downturn, and this fund is built around exactly that idea. It focuses on stocks with exceptional cash generation, holding global giants like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Visa Inc (NYSE: V).

Two companies with the balance sheet strength to self-fund growth without leaning on debt when conditions get tough.

Foolish takeaway

None of these picks will make headlines for explosive growth, and that’s the whole point of defensive investing.

Pairing a couple of resilient ASX shares with a broad ETF or two can help smooth out the ride without forcing you to sit entirely on the sidelines.

As always, defensive doesn’t mean risk-free. It means being better positioned to weather the storm.

The post Worried about a downturn? 3 ASX shares and 3 ETFs built to weather it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Woolworths vs Coles: Which supermarket giant is the better ASX buy?
• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, James Hardie, Woolworths shares
• Vanguard ETFs vs. Betashares ETFs: Who’s coming out on top?
• Experts name CBA and these big-name ASX 200 shares as sells this week
• How to build a superannuation portfolio generating $50,000 a year

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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) closed around 1% lower on Tuesday afternoon. The index is also now down 2% for the year-to-date. Now many have their eye focused on which ASX shares could climb even higher over the next 12 months. Here are three ASX shares that brokers think could return up to 122% over the next year.

Meteoric Resources Ltd (ASX: MEI)

Meteoric Resources released its highly anticipated Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its Caldeira Rare Earths project in July. The study included confirmation of a 151 million tonne (Mt) ore reserve grading 3,524ppm TREO and an impressive life of mine (LOM) post-tax NPV of US$847 million at spot prices.

The project has already secured a Preliminary Environmental Licence, with the construction permit (LI) expected by the end of 2026. Meteoric has signed non-binding offtake agreements with major players in South Korea, Canada, and North America and is in advanced funding talks with several government credit agencies.

The company’s next steps involve obtaining the Installation Licence and finalising project funding to move toward a final investment decision and project construction. 

Last month, Meteoric also announced that its shares will begin trading on the US OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker METOF, broadening access for North American investors and supporting future growth.

Experts seem confident the business could boom over the next 12 months. Market Index data shows that all brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX rare earths shares. The 38 cent target price implies a potential 122% upside at the time of writing.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Generation Development Group is a diversified financial services company focused on investment and retirement products.

The company’s shares have consistently tumbled lower over the past 12 months after spiking to an all-time high in October last year.

It looks like the share price decline through 2026 is part of a reset after the shares rocketed around 107% through the first three quarters of the 2025 calendar year. Many investors took profits after the shares rallied strongly over a short period.

But the company’s FY26 results were strong operationally. Generation Development Group posted record funds under management last month, up 37% to $46.5 billion. 

Meanwhile its underlying NPAT increased 21% to $40.7 million for FY26. Group revenue also increased 23% to $178.7 million.

Going forward, the group said it is well-placed to benefit from strong structural tailwinds across superannuation, retirement, and managed account markets in FY27. Management expects continued FUM growth, supported by adviser adoption and stable product revenue margins.

Brokers are bullish too. Market Index data shows that all brokers agree on a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $5.62 average target price implies about 90% upside at the time of writing.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Judo was one of the strongest-performing bank shares on the ASX earlier this year. However, the ASX bank shares crashed 43% in late June after it downgraded its profit guidance for FY26. Since then, it has struggled to recover. 

Even a stronger-than-expected FY26 result in mid-August hasn’t been enough to renew investor confidence. 

Judo reported a 29% increase in NPAT and a 34% increase in profit before tax, at the top end of its revised guidance range. 

The company also expects FY27 profit before tax to be between $210 million and $220 million, driven by growth and operating leverage. That would translate to a 30% increase.

The sell-off earlier this year seems overdone to me, and the bank appears to be performing better than the market expected.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $1.51 average target price implies a potential upside of around 50%, at the time of writing.

The post Brokers tip these 3 ASX shares to climb between 50% and 122% in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX 200 shares now below their 200-day moving average
• Buy, hold, sell: Generation Development, Fletcher Building, Saluda Medical shares
• 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%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 recommended Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a “https://www.fool.com.au/fool-com-au-disclosure-policy/”>disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.