Author: openjargon

Global X has announced the estimated distribution amounts for a variety of its ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 2 October.

In order to be eligible to receive an upcoming distribution, you must own the ASX ETF before it goes ex-dividend.

Global X reveals next lot of dividends for ASX ETFs

Here are the distribution amounts, rounded to two decimal places.

Global X will confirm the final payment figures tomorrow.

Investors will receive their distributions on 19 October.

Global X is offering a distribution reinvestment plan (DRP) for all of these ASX ETFs.

If you would like Global X to use your dividends to buy more units, you must complete a DRP election form.

Global X registrar, Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), needs to receive your DRP election form by 5pm AEST tomorrow.

ASX ETF name	Distribution amount
Global X Australia 300 ETF (ASX: A300)	44.32 cents per unit
Global X S&P/ASX 200 Covered Call Complex ETF (ASX: AYLD)	11.14 cents per unit
Global X Australian Bank Credit ETF (ASX: BANK)	6.34 cents per unit
Global X Australia ex Financial & Resources ETF (ASX: OZXX)	9.32 cents per unit
Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call Complex ETF (ASX: QYLD)	8.54 cents per unit
Global X Russell 2000 ETF (ASX: RSSL)	1.43 cents per unit
Global X USD High Yield Bond (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: USHY)	12.42 cents per unit
Global X USD Corporate Bond (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: USIG)	10.44 cents per unit
Global X US Treasury Bond (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: USTB)	8.13 cents per unit
Global X S&P 500 Covered Call Complex ETF (ASX: UYLD)	6.29 cents per unit
Global X S&P/ASX 200 High Dividend ETF (ASX: ZYAU)	16.52 cents per unit
Global X S&P 500 High Yield Low Volatility ETF (ASX: ZYUS)	12.81 cents per unit

Vanguard has also announced its next batch of estimated distributions for its ASX ETFs.

They include the most popular ETF on the Aussie market, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), as well as Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY), and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

The ex-dividend date for Vanguard distributions is tomorrow. Vanguard will pay investors on 16 October.

BlackRock has also announced its next lot of estimated distributions for iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and many others.

Those ETFs have already gone ex-dividend. BlackRock will pay its ETF investors on 9 October.

A group of 15 other ASX stocks and REITs are going ex-dividend this week.

The post ASX ETF dividends: Global X reveals next payments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There has been a sell-off among some of the real estate investment trusts recently, which analysts argue is creating a buying opportunity.

I’ve selected two research reports published this week that make the case that the trusts in question have been oversold and are now worth a look for investors.

Let’s see who the analysts like.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

HomeCo is down nearly 20% on a 12-month basis and is trading not far above its low for the period.

The shares have been sold off, particularly since the release of HomeCo’s results on 13 August.

Bell Potter has run the ruler over the company and believes the shares now represent good value.

One major selling point is the dividend yield, which is now sitting at 8.2%.

Bell Potter also argues that the sell-off in the shares has been overdone.

The broker said:

The stock has fallen 13.3% since results and underperformed peers over 3 months, a reaction we view as disproportionate to the underlying 2.2% FY27 earnings decline.  

Bell Potter said they expected earnings to trough this financial year, with growth returning in FY28 as the cost of debt reduces, assets are sold, and developments are completed.

The broker added that retail supply was lagging demand, “driving vacancy down and rental growth up”.

Bell Potter has a buy recommendation on HomeCo shares with a price target of $1.20 compared to $1.08 currently.

Charter Hall Group Ltd (ASX: CHC)

UBS believes Charter Hall has been oversold since early August and calls the company a “top pick” in the real estate sector.

The broker said:

Of the large cap REITs, CHC’s relative returns are most negatively correlated to bond yields which are up ~50bp in the past two months. While rising yields are clearly a headwind for the business (e.g. via lower valuations and transaction volumes), we think the market is assigning too much weight to a downside outcome despite a more resilient earnings base this cycle.

UBS said the market was likely wary of the shares, which were heavily sold off during the last interest rate increase cycle in 2022-23.

But the broker said the current rate cycle is far less dramatic, and “property values should hold up better given sharp devaluations booked across 2022-24”.

UBS has slightly reduced their price target on Charter Hall from $24.50 to $24, but that’s still well above the current level of $18.56.

Charter Hall is valued at $8.38 billion.

The post 2 ASX real estate funds that could return 23% to 35% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is this the best ASX dividend share to buy in October?
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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 recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Aussie share market is having a strong session on Wednesday.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently up 0.96% to around 8,792 points after climbing as high as 8,797 points earlier today.

That puts the benchmark at its highest level in around 3 weeks and has it knocking on the door of 8,800 points again.

There’s plenty of buying across the market as well.

At the latest check, 149 shares were trading higher, compared with just 44 in the red and 7 unchanged.

But what I find interesting is where the rally has come from.

Wall Street didn’t give the local market much to work with overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI), S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), and Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) all finishing slightly lower.

Instead, it appears investors have found something to like much closer to home.

Inflation comes in below expectations

The big move higher came shortly after the latest inflation figures landed at 11:30am AEST.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4% over the 12 months to August.

That’s up from 3.5% in July and is the highest annual inflation rate since May 2024.

But there was some better news in the numbers.

Economists had been expecting headline inflation to come in at 4.1%, while prices rose 0.4% during August.

That compares with the 0.5% increase economists had predicted.

Underlying inflation was also slightly softer.

The trimmed mean CPI rose 0.2% for the month, below forecasts for a 0.3% increase, while the annual rate remained at 3.6%.

And that was enough to get investors buying.

Bond yields moved lower following the release.

Traders also scaled back expectations for another interest rate hike in November.

That comes just one day after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.6%.

ASX shares rally

The shift in interest rate expectations has helped lift shares across much of the market.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is leading the way, with its shares up 6.74% to $24.86.

The gold miner is rallying amid reports that Gold Fields could return with an improved takeover offer after its initial proposal was rejected.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares are also having a good day, climbing 4.55% to $155.57 after receiving a broker upgrade from Bell Potter.

Elsewhere, Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares are up 2.92% to $26.94, while Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have gained 2.82% to $76.45.

The big miners are also helping push the index higher.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are up 0.9% to $61.18, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have added 0.95% to $165.93.

The post Why has the ASX 200 jumped to its highest level in 3 weeks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Goodman Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Goodman Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There aren’t many S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that have been hit harder than WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

The WiseTech share price is currently trading around $33 a pop, leaving it down almost 20% over the past month.

Zoom out further, and things look much worse, with the logistics software company’s shares losing more than 60% over the past 12 months.

But at these levels, I think the market has gone too far.

In fact, I believe WiseTech is now one of the most undervalued growth stocks on the ASX 200.

And I’m becoming increasingly bullish on where its shares could go from here.

Look beyond the share price

It’s easy to look at WiseTech’s chart and assume something has gone seriously wrong with the business.

But its FY26 numbers tell a very different story.

Revenue jumped 79% to US$1.396 billion, while underlying EBITDA increased 56% to US$644.5 million.

CargoWise remains the part of the business that excites me most.

Revenue from the platform increased 11% to US$756.9 million in FY26, while customer attrition remains extremely low.

WiseTech also has more large global freight forwarders moving onto CargoWise, giving the company another long runway for growth.

That makes the current valuation much more interesting to me than it was when the shares were trading above $100.

The next chapter could be much bigger

But I don’t think investors should value WiseTech purely on what it earned last year.

The acquisition of e2open has dramatically increased the company’s size and created another major opportunity to improve margins.

WiseTech has already been cutting costs across the combined business, while its growing use of AI could drive further efficiencies.

The company is targeting FY27 revenue of US$1.48 billion to US$1.54 billion and underlying EBITDA of US$725 million to US$780 million.

That implies underlying EBITDA growth of roughly 12% to 21%, with margins expected to reach 49% to 51%.

Meanwhile, leverage is expected to fall to around 2.2 times by the end of FY27 and below 2 times in FY28.

Put those pieces together, and I think WiseTech could emerge from this period as a considerably larger and more profitable business.

Would I buy WiseTech shares?

Absolutely.

The market is currently treating WiseTech like its best days are behind it.

I think the opposite could prove true.

CargoWise remains an outstanding global software platform, and margins have plenty of room to improve.

Yes, there are risks, particularly around integrating e2open and delivering its FY27 targets.

But with WiseTech shares around $33, I’m more interested in the potential reward.

I think this sell-off has created one of the most attractive growth opportunities on the ASX 200.

The post Is WiseTech the most undervalued growth stock on the ASX 200? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

CSL vs Pro Medicus shares: Which ASX healthcare stock should you buy in October?

When Aussie investors think “healthcare blue-chip”, CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) probably springs to mind. But rapid-growing tech player Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) is making waves of its own. Both operate in the fast-evolving healthcare sector, but their businesses, fundamentals and shares shape up very differently. With October upon us, here’s how CSL and Pro Medicus compare for investment appeal right now.

The case for CSL

CSL is a long-established giant in global biotherapy and vaccine development, with more than a century under its belt. Its core business sprawls from treating rare diseases and producing vaccines, through to iron deficiency and kidney health, with operations in over 40 countries. CSL’s key divisions include CSL Behring (plasma therapies), Seqirus (vaccines), and Vifor (nephrology), making it a highly diversified healthcare operator.

Looking at the numbers, CSL boasts a massive $87.3 billion market cap, cementing its blue-chip status on the ASX. Its price/earnings (P/E) ratio sits at 18.12, considerably lower than many growth-focused healthcare peers. A dividend yield of 2.29% and a payout of $4.05 per share will appeal to income-minded investors, though notably, its dividends are currently unfranked. For 2026 to date, the shares have delivered a positive return of 4.8%.

Interestingly, CSL’s reported earnings per share (EPS) in this snapshot is negative (-5.35), which doesn’t mathematically square with a positive P/E ratio. Note: CSL’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

The case for Pro Medicus

Pro Medicus is a healthcare technology company specialising in medical imaging software used by radiology clinics and hospitals. Its main products — advanced Radiology Information Systems (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) — help streamline image management and reporting for some of the world’s top medical centres, especially in the US. The company also offers workflow optimisation, network design, and training.

While much younger and nimbler than CSL, Pro Medicus has grown into a $16.94 billion company as of the latest data snapshot. Its valuation is rich: a P/E ratio of 63.49 reflects the high growth investors expect from healthcare tech disruptors. For dividend hunters, Pro Medicus pays out a much smaller (but fully franked) yield of 0.43%, with a dividend of $0.69 per share.

Notably, Pro Medicus has posted positive EPS (2.536), but its shares have struggled this year, dropping -26.8% year to date. That underperformance stands in sharp contrast to CSL’s modest gains.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how CSL and Pro Medicus compare on fundamentals, using the latest available numbers:

Metric	CSL	Pro Medicus
Market Cap	$87.30 billion	$16.94 billion
P/E Ratio	18.12	63.49
Dividend Yield	2.29% (Unfranked)	0.43% (100% Franked)
Dividend per Share	$4.05	$0.69
Year To Date Return	4.8%	-26.8%
Earnings per Share	-5.350	2.536

Note: CSL’s positive P/E and negative EPS figures may seem inconsistent; this could be because underlying or forward earnings have been used for the P/E.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share price action up to 28 September, here’s how their shares moved heading into October:

• As of 28 Sep 2026, CSL shares closed at $181.91, gaining 2.8% on the day and advancing 4.8% year to date.
• As of 28 Sep 2026, Pro Medicus shares ended at $162.15, rising 0.7% for the day but down sharply, by -26.8% year to date.

So while CSL has trended higher in 2026 so far, Pro Medicus has seen a notable pullback despite its earlier strong run.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to choose just one ASX healthcare share for October, my pick would be CSL. Here’s why: Despite a challenging couple of years, CSL offers the steadiness of a global leader with a long track record, a mid-range (for healthcare) P/E ratio, and a solid dividend yield — all with demonstrated year-to-date gains. Its scale, diversification, and staying power make it hard to look past, even allowing for some confusion around current reported earnings.

Pro Medicus is an exciting disruptor with unique tech and exposure to US healthcare, but its lofty valuation (P/E above 60) and steep share price slide this year make it tougher for me to justify at current prices. While Pro Medicus’ 100% franking is a perk, its yield is modest and its short-term momentum is firmly negative.

For a mix of quality, income and market resilience in the current environment, I think CSL stands out as the better buy for October.

The post CSL vs Pro Medicus: Which ASX healthcare share is better? 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’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Pro Medicus. 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.

Holding an ASX share until 2040 is a big commitment.

For me, that means looking for businesses with strong competitive positions, long growth runways, and products or services that should still be relevant many years from now.

These are five leading ASX shares I would be comfortable buying with that timeframe in mind.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus would be one of my first choices. Its Visage imaging software is used by major healthcare organisations to manage and view increasingly large volumes of medical imaging data.

What I like is the combination of a highly scalable software model and exposure to a healthcare system that continues to generate more imaging.

The technology company has also shown it can win large customers in the United States, giving it plenty of room to keep expanding internationally.

By 2040, I think medical imaging will be even more digital, data-heavy, and AI-assisted than it is today. Pro Medicus looks well placed to grow alongside that shift.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA brings a very different type of strength.

It is already Australia’s largest bank, with leading positions across home lending, deposits, and digital banking.

That means I would not expect explosive growth over the next 14 years. The attraction here is the quality and resilience of the franchise.

Banking should remain a core part of the Australian economy for decades, and I think CBA’s scale, customer base, and technology investment leave it well positioned to keep earning attractive returns.

For me, that makes it the major bank I would be most comfortable owning through multiple economic cycles.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is another ASX share I think suits a very long investment horizon.

The company is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, helping people with severe hearing loss regain access to sound.

Ageing populations and greater awareness of hearing loss could continue to increase demand over time, while ongoing innovation should broaden the range of patients who can benefit from treatment.

I also like that Cochlear operates in a specialised medical field where clinical expertise, technology, and trusted relationships with healthcare professionals are difficult to replicate.

That gives me confidence in its ability to remain relevant well beyond the next few years.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero would provide the portfolio with long-term technology exposure.

Its accounting platform is deeply integrated into the day-to-day operations of small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers across the world.

However, with a total addressable market estimated to be around 100 million businesses globally, Xero is still only scratching the surface of its market opportunity with its 4.9 million customers.

If the company can keep growing its market share, I think it could be a much larger business by 2040.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

This ASX share rounds out my five.

NextDC develops and operates data centres, giving investors direct exposure to the enormous growth in digital infrastructure.

Cloud computing was already driving demand before the current AI boom. Artificial intelligence is adding another layer because training and running increasingly powerful models requires huge amounts of computing capacity.

That creates demand for secure facilities with access to power, connectivity, and large amounts of technical infrastructure.

NextDC still has plenty to execute as it expands its capacity, but I think the structural demand behind the business could run for many years.

Foolish takeaway

A lot can change between now and 2040, so I would not expect every year to be smooth for any of these businesses.

What gives me confidence is that each one is exposed to a long-term need I can still see as important well into the future, whether that is healthcare, banking, small-business software, or digital infrastructure.

That is the sort of foundation I would want before committing to holding an ASX share for the next 14 years.

The post 5 leading ASX shares I’d buy and hold until 2040 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

This period of time seems to have heightened uncertainty, with plenty of disruption with energy prices, wider inflation, technology changes, and bond yields. I’m also seeing elevated dividend yields on offer from high-quality ASX dividend shares that pay passive income.

I don’t expect interest rates to stay this high forever, so I believe opportunistic investors can buy stocks at a discount, with a high dividend yield.

With that in mind, I’m going to highlight two ideas that look like unmissable buys right now for investors who want passive income.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

I believe the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector is significantly undervalued, considering the consistent rental income it generates and the importance (and scarcity) of the land it owns.

Industrial properties are in high demand in metropolitan locations because of both a shortage of facilities and tailwinds from multiple demand drivers. For example, e-commerce adoption, data centres, and refrigerated space (for food and medicine) are all increasing the value of industrial real estate over time.

During FY26, the business reported 5.2% like-for-like net operating income (NOI) growth. That was partly boosted by 30% positive re-leasing spreads, meaning that new rental contracts are generating 30% more rental income than the old contract.

According to the ASX dividend share, its real estate portfolio is still on average 17% ‘under-rented’, so its rent could continue to grow strongly over the next several years as leases come up for renewal.

It has guided that it will grow its distribution by 3% in FY27 to 17.3 cents, which now represents a distribution yield of 6.1%, which is an impressive starting point.

In my view, it’s very cheap. It reported net tangible assets (NTA) of $4.01 at 30 June 2026. It’s currently trading at a discount of 30% to that figure.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

The other ASX dividend share I want to highlight is the listed investment company (LIC) MFF.

I think it’s great to be able to invest in one name and get exposure to a diversified portfolio. MFF owns a portfolio and aims to invest in competitively advantaged global businesses with strong outlooks.

Some of the businesses currently in the portfolio include Mastercard, Alphabet (Google), Visa, Bank of America, Amazon, and Microsoft.

By investing in these great companies, MFF is unlocking investment returns which it then uses some of to pay a growing dividend. The retained profits can then be used for further compounding.

I think MFF will grow its FY27 dividend by 19% to 25 cents per share. That translates into a potential forward grossed-up dividend yield of 6.6%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. It has hiked its regular annual dividend every year since 2018, and the payout continues to grow.

The post 2 great ASX dividend share buys for passive income in October appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Inflation is back in focus on Wednesday after the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures were released.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) published its August inflation report this morning, giving investors plenty to digest.

The release comes just one day after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced its latest interest rate decision.

With inflation still a key concern for the central bank, today’s numbers could play a part in where interest rates go next.

So, what did today’s numbers reveal?

Inflation climbs back to 4%

The latest figures showed headline inflation rose 4% over the 12 months to August, up from 3.5% in July.

Consumer prices also increased 0.4% during August, although that climbed to 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Transport prices were a big part of the increase, rising 4.2% during the month and 5.6% over the past year.

Much of that came from automotive fuel prices, which jumped 14.8% in August and were 13.5% higher than a year ago.

Housing costs also remained high, rising 5.7% over the past 12 months, while education prices increased 4.7% and health costs climbed 3.9%.

Meanwhile, the underlying inflation figures were more stable.

Trimmed mean inflation, which removes some of the more volatile price movements, remained unchanged at 3.6% annually.

It was up just 0.2% during August.

Are more interest rate hikes coming?

Today’s inflation figures could give the RBA another reason to keep interest rates higher.

The central bank lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% yesterday, marking its fourth increase this year.

In its statement, the RBA said inflation remained too high and pointed to several risks that could keep prices elevated.

That included higher energy prices, continued capacity pressures in the economy, and businesses passing higher costs onto customers.

Today’s figures show some of those pressures are still hanging around, particularly with fuel prices jumping during August.

However, the unchanged trimmed mean figure of 3.6% suggests underlying inflation hasn’t moved higher.

The RBA has already made it clear that it is prepared to lift rates again if needed.

Foolish takeaway

From here, the next few inflation reports will be important.

Headline inflation is back at 4%, while underlying inflation remains above the RBA’s 2% to 3% target range.

For me, that keeps another interest rate hike firmly on the table.

The RBA has already shown this year that it is prepared to lift rates if inflation remains too high.

If inflation stays around these levels, borrowers could be facing another interest rate hike over the coming months.

The post Inflation jumps back to 4%. Are more interest rate hikes coming? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) telco closed yesterday trading for $4.77. In late morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $4.80 apiece, up 0.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Telstra shares have also modestly outperformed the benchmark index over the past year, with the ASX 200 down 1.5% in 12 months while Telstra stock has slipped a lesser 0.5%.

And we shouldn’t discount the passive income Telstra stockholders receive.

Over the last 12 months, Telstra has paid out two dividends, both franked at 90%, totalling 21 cents a share. The ASX 200 telco currently trades on a 4.4% trailing dividend yield.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

With the company’s full-year FY 2026 profits climbing to $2.4 billion, should you buy shares today?

Telstra shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 telco (courtesy of The Bull).

“Telstra provides relatively defensive earnings and reliable cash flow during what has been a volatile period for equity markets,” he said.

Commenting on the company’s growth in FY 2026, Athanasiou noted:

Reported net profit after tax of $2.4 billion in full year 2026 was up 2.7 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Reported earnings per share of 19.9 cents were up 5.3 per cent. The company announced a further on-market share buyback of up to $1 billion in full year 2027 when releasing its full year results in August.

The mobile division remains the key earnings driver, while infrastructure assets add stability.

Connecting the dots, Athanasiou issued a hold recommendation on Telstra shares.

“However, expectations are already reflected in the share price, and recent network service concerns create reputational risk,” he said. “Hold for income rather than substantial near term capital growth.”

What’s happening with the new $1 billion share buyback?

Telstra released its FY 2026 results on 13 August.

After completing the previous $1.25 billion on-market share buyback in June, the company announced a new buyback of up to $1 billion on the day.

Commenting on the share buyback, Telstra CEO Vicki Brady said:

Buy-backs allow us to lower our cost of capital and manage our sources of funding more efficiently. This approach also supports earnings and dividend per share growth and, together with increased dividends, demonstrates our confidence in our financial strength and outlook.

Despite that news, Telstra shares closed down 3.2% on the day of the results release.

The post With $2.4 billion in FY26 profits, are Telstra shares a good buy today? 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 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.

Morgans says cryopreservation company Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VFY) is at a crucial juncture in its development, with success likely to unlock significant value.

Vitrafy shares are already up 163% on a 12-month basis, but Morgans has an even more bullish price target on the company which I’ll get to shortly.

Firstly, let’s have a look at the business.

Major developments over the past year

Vitrafy said in its recently-released annual report that while it remained an early-stage business, progress made during the year had, “materially strengthened the foundation for the Company’s future”.

The company’s technology involves software and controlled freezing techniques, which it says “preserves biomaterial value, enhances reproducibility, and streamlines cryopreservation workflows at scale”.

The company said further in its annual report:

The clear highlight of the year was the successful completion of our Phase II in-vitro platelet study with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (“USAISR”), part of the Defense Health Agency. Conducted across 20 donors at commercial volumes — our largest blood testing program to date — the study found that every protocol tested using the Vitrafy ecosystem met or exceeded the relevant regulatory and quality guidelines for platelet use. Our simplified “no-wash” protocol achieved a mean post-thaw platelet recovery of 94%, outperforming the wash-based standard on platelet recovery, clot strength and the retention of the platelet receptors critical to clotting function.

Vitrafy said its technology could provide “surge capacity” in settings where a reliable supply of platelets was constrained, such as regional hospitals, emergency response, or battlefield environments.

The company added:

With no FDA-approved no-wash cryopreserved platelet product currently available in the United States, the Board believes these results position Vitrafy to address a genuine unmet market need with a differentiated, first-line offering, supported by independent U.S. Army validation.

Vitrafy in FY26 grew revenues 80% to $3.6 million and made a net loss of $16.2 million.

Shares looking cheap, broker says

Morgans said in a research note to clients that the company had spent the year “turning a single commercially unproven cryopreservation platform into three separate, partially validated commercial pathways”.

The broker said this current year would turn on whether those pathways could be converted into material contracts.

They added:

Commercial success is far from a foregone conclusion, but strong scientific data, a forced re-equipment cycle, and a funded runway make VFY a viable contender, in our view, to become the replacement standard in US frozen blood infrastructure, with Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) and animal reproduction providing optionality on top of that core case.

Morgans has a 12-month price target of $5.06 on Vitrafy shares, compared with $3.43 currently.

Vitrafy is valued at $213.8 million.

The post This ASX biotech could rise almost 50%, Morgans says 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.