Author: openjargon

Shares in Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) hit a fresh 12-month low on Thursday, but to discern why, you need to look beyond the company’s announcements.

Indeed, the company didn’t release any news to the ASX on Thursday, raising the question of what has driven the shares down more than 6%.

Key personnel jumping ship

The answer likely lies in the loss of two senior executives across both the company’s broadcast and print journalism divisions.

Firstly, Amanda Laing, who oversaw the company’s streaming and broadcast division, is leaving just 18 months after taking on the role.

Ms Laing is a seasoned executive, having worked at Foxtel, ACP Magazines, and formerly as general counsel for Nine.

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) is reporting that Ms Laing’s role will no longer exist going forward.

Separately, the Editor-In-Chief of the AFR, James Chessell, has jumped ship to former AFR journalist Joe Aston’s start-up Rampart.

Rampart said:

As well as leading Rampart’s growing editorial team, James will write a regular column and co-host Rampart’s new weekly news vodcast with Joe, launching in early 2027.

Launched by Aston about 18 months ago, Rampart produces regular long-form business articles as well as podcast interviews.

Aston revealed last month that Rampart had accepted $2.3 million in investment from five partners, including former Nine Chief Executive Officer David Gyngell and Ellerston Capital Executive Chair Ashok Jacob.

The deal values the company at $28.75 million.

Aston said further:

Rampart didn’t need external capital to continue on its already steep trajectory as one of Australia’s fastest growing media brands. The company was profitable in financial 2025, profitable again in financial 2026, even after the rapid growth in our headcount in recent months, and would’ve been profitable in 2027. But with our business model now well-proven, I decided there is no time like the present to turbocharge investment in Rampart’s journalism (which in turn will boost our audience and revenue growth); to establish an external market valuation for the company; and to advance our next phase with an incredibly high-quality group of equity partners.

Nine forecasting profit growth

For its part, Nine reported revenue of $2.19 billion in FY26, up 3%, and net profit of $147.2 million, up 11%.

On the outlook, the company said:

The change to our portfolio mix, implemented over the past 12 months, has resulted in Nine’s growth assets (Streaming – Stan and 9Now, Outdoor and Digital Publishing) expected to contribute more than 60% of Revenue and c70% of EBITDA in FY27. As a result, Nine expects to report another year of pro forma revenue and EBITDA growth in FY27. Driving this performance, will be further growth from Nine’s subscription businesses of Stan and Digital Publishing, as well as Outdoor (QMS).   

Nine Entertainment shares on Thursday hit a 12-month low of 66 cents before recovering slightly to be 6.2% lower at 68 cents.

The company is valued at $1.15 billion.

The post Why did Nine Entertainment shares hit a 12-month low today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 63% to 125%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX dividend shares yielding 9.5% (or even more)
• Nine Entertainment secures Premier League rights through 2034
• 3 ASX growth shares experts think could double

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 Nine Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The latest jobs figures are out, and the result wasn’t quite what economists had expected.

While unemployment has climbed again, the economy is still adding jobs, giving the RBA plenty to consider ahead of next week’s interest rate decision.

The central bank has already lifted rates three times this year, with another increase widely expected on Tuesday.

So, could today’s jobs data give the RBA a reason to hold off?

More jobs, but unemployment keeps climbing

According to the ABS release, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in August, up from 4.5% in July.

The number of unemployed Australians increased by 28,200 to approximately 722,900, despite the economy adding 39,500 jobs during the month.

The increase in employment came entirely from part-time work, which jumped by 45,800 positions. Full-time employment fell by 6,300.

The participation rate also climbed from 66.9% to 67.1%, meaning more Australians were either working or actively looking for a job.

There were some encouraging signs, though, with total hours worked increasing 0.7% and the underemployment rate easing slightly to 6.2%.

Will the RBA change its mind?

With the cash rate currently at 4.35%, another 25-basis-point increase on Tuesday would take it to 4.60%.

Speaking at a CEDA event earlier this week, RBA Governor Michele Bullock said unemployment between 4.5% and 5% would probably help ease inflation pressures.

However, Bullock wasn’t giving anything away about next week’s decision.

She also pointed to elevated oil prices, excess demand and inflation expectations as continuing concerns for the central bank.

At the same time, financial markets were pricing in a 95% chance of another rate hike ahead of today’s employment report.

The RBA has also acknowledged that previous interest rate increases are yet to have their full effect on the economy. It said it expects unemployment to continue rising gradually.

What happens next?

The RBA will have to make Tuesday’s decision without another inflation reading.

August’s consumer price index isn’t due until Wednesday, 30 September, a day after the board meets. The next jobs report won’t arrive until 15 October.

In its August forecasts, the RBA expected unemployment to reach 4.6% by June 2027 and 4.8% by mid 2028.

It also expects inflation to return to the midpoint of its target range in early 2028.

With unemployment climbing, I think the RBA has more reason to leave rates at 4.35%. However, another increase wouldn’t surprise me given its ongoing concerns about inflation.

We’ll find out at 2.30pm AEST on Tuesday, 29 September.

The post Unemployment hits 4.6%. Could the RBA hold off on another rate hike? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why did Nine Entertainment shares hit a 12-month low today?
• Down 64%: Has the market lost interest in Myer shares?
• Everything you need to know about the Soul Patts dividend
• Which ASX shares just got downgraded by brokers?
• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, Bluescope Steel, Lovisa shares

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.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) shares have fallen around 2% to a multi-year low of 17 cents a piece, at the time of writing.

This is the lowest price the stock has traded at since April 2020.

The shares are now down 64% year to date and 63% lower than 12 months ago.

It’s been a pretty consistent tumble, too.

The shares hovered around an annual high of 49 cents between October last year and January. But then they fell by around 53% into late May. There was a brief rebound through June before the share price resumed its downward trend.

What has happened to Myer shares?

The company faced operational issues and profitability headwinds in late 2025. And investor confidence only fell further this year.

As a fashion retail stock, Myer shares have been heavily affected by key 2026 themes of market volatility, high inflation, and interest rate fears. A higher cost-of-living has meant Australians have been tightening their purse strings and are spending less on discretionary items.

The retailer posted solid first-half financial results in March, suggesting that the business has its operating costs under control and that its strategic initiatives are gaining traction. But investors weren’t convinced.

In an update to the market in late July, the company confirmed that cost-of-living pressures and challenging trading conditions had flowed through to its bottom line. Myer reported total sales for the financial year to the end of June of $4.089 billion, up 11.3%.

At the time, the company said that it expects to report operating gross profit for the full year in the range of $1.601 to $1.607 billion.

Myer posted its FY26 results yesterday, confirming that operating gross profit came within the guided range at $1.603 billion for the 12 months to the 25th of July. Reported total sales climbed 0.7% to $4.09 billion, from FY 2025 on a comparable basis.

But management also announced a 7% decline in its underlying EBIT on an actual basis, and 23.5% lower on a pro forma basis. The store also reported a 2.9% drop in underlying NPAT on an actual basis, and a 32.1% decline on a pro forma basis.

The board also decided not to pay shareholders a final dividend for FY26.

Myer shares initially leapt higher immediately following the results announcement, but closed the day flat. 

Today, more investors have sold up their holdings.

Can the shares rebound from here?

Despite the strong headwinds this year, experts seem confident that Myer shares can recover some of their losses over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows the majority (four out of five) brokers have a strong buy rating on the consumer discretionary shares. Another one has a hold rating.

They all agree there will be some element of upside ahead. The average 38.5-cent target price implies a 119% potential upside over the next 12 months at the time of writing. And some more bullish brokers think the shares have the potential to rebound 214% to 55 cents a piece. 

The post Down 64%: Has the market lost interest in Myer shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are Myer shares rocketing 9% on Wednesday?

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 Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The latest Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), or Soul Patts, has just announced its dividend for its FY26 results.

It may not have the biggest dividend yield on the ASX, but the investment conglomerate has been incredibly consistent for shareholders.

Soul Patts has rewarded shareholders with another good dividend increase, to add to the payout growth the company has already delivered this decade.

Let’s take a look at what the next payout will be for investors.

Soul Patts dividend

The board of directors declared a final dividend of 63 cents per share, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.8%.

This brought the full-year dividend per share to $1.11, an increase of 7.8% from FY25.

A key driver of the company’s dividend is its net cash flow from investments (NCFI). The NCFI increased 11.5% to $572 million, driven by credit (a larger credit book and strong results), private companies (continued cash generation) and real assets (industrial property). On a per-share basis, NCFI increased by 8.3% year-over-year. So, the company has passed on nearly all of the NCFI increase to shareholders in the form of a higher dividend.

Soul Patts revealed that the FY26 annual dividend is 73% of NCFI, which is both rewarding and sustainable for shareholders.

Its annual dividend has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% over the last five years. Impressively, the business has raised its regular annual dividend for the last 28 years, with dividend growth at a 10.4% CAGR.

At the time of writing, the annual dividend of $1.11 equates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

When will this be paid?

The business has only just announced the dividend, but it won’t be long before the company pays it out to investors.

Before we get to the payment date, we need to look at the ex-dividend date. That’s the cut-off date for entitlement to this payment.

Soul Patts has stated that the ex-dividend date is Monday, 12 October 2026, which is less than three weeks away. That means investors need to own Soul Patts shares by the end of trading on Friday, 9 October 2026, to be entitled to this dividend.

Following that, the payment date for the final dividend is 5 November 2026.

Shareholders can also decide to receive new Soul Patts shares rather than cash as their dividend, if they take part in the dividend re-investment plan (DRP). Investors need to elect to join the DRP by 5pm on 14 October 2026.

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

More reading

• Washington H. Soul Pattinson posts 502% profit surge after Brickworks merger
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $95,000 annual passive income?
• Soul Patts vs BHP: Which ASX share is best for beginners?
• 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork
• 27,131 shares of this ASX dividend stock pays an income equal to the Age Pension

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are down 0.6% to 8,900.2 points on Thursday.

The energy sector is leading today, up 1%, after Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian gave a speech at the UN General Assembly.

Pezeshkian said Iran would not allow ships through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade and sanctions remained in place.

The real estate sector is the laggard today, down 1.7%, as the market continues to anticipate an 0.25% interest rate rise next week.

Meanwhile, the experts have reduced their ratings on numerous ASX shares.

Let’s see a sample.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is $1.20, down 2.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 gold share has fallen 11%.

Macquarie downgraded Resolute Mining shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $1.45 to $1.35.

This implies a potential 12% upside ahead.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

The Elders share price is $6.46, up 0.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer staples share has ascended 11%.

Citi downgraded Elders shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $6.60.

This suggests a potential 2% upside ahead.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The New Hope Corporation share price is $5.84, down 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 coal share has fallen 1%.

Morgans downgraded New Hope shares to a hold recommendation this week.

The broker said: 

Strong run, balanced view – NHC shares have rallied 60% YTD, supported by stronger coal prices and improving market sentiment. While we remain constructive on thermal coal fundamentals, the recent share price performance may provide an opportunity for investors to crystallise some gains.

Cash surprise drives dividend beat – Strong operational delivery and a year-end cash balance of A$485m supported a fully franked 30cps final dividend, materially ahead of MorgansF (20cps) and consensus (14cps).

Operational performance exceeded expectations – NHC delivered record saleable coal production of 11.5Mt and coal sales of 11.8Mt, exceeding the top end of guidance and demonstrating the resilience of its operations despite disruptions throughout the year.

AIC Mines Ltd (ASX: A1M)

The AIC Mines share price is 88 cents, down 4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX mining share has risen 8%.

MA Financial Group downgraded this gold and copper miner to a hold rating yesterday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from 77 cents to 89 cents.

This implies a potential 1% gain over the next year. 

The post Which ASX shares just got downgraded by brokers? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, REA, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares
• Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope: Which ASX coal share offers better value today?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Bought $5,000 worth of New Hope and BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned!
• Soul Patts vs BHP: Which ASX share is best for beginners?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 recommended Elders, Ma Financial Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.8% lower at 8,691.8 points on Thursday.

Here are some new expert recommendations on three ASX stocks.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

The Lovisa share price is steady at $24.52 today, and down 36% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter upgraded this ASX consumer discretionary share from hold to buy.

The broker kept its price target at $27.

Analyst Chami Ratnapala said: 

While we remain cautious on the current weak consumer landscape and investments into market share & store refits to mitigate competitive pressures in key markets, we see a higher tolerance re accessibility from a low price point perspective together with a strong gross margin.

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.

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL)

The Bluescope share price is $30.44, up 1.4% today and up 35% over 12 months. 

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a hold rating on this ASX 200 materials share. 

Wielandt said (courtesy The Bull):  

BlueScope delivered a strong result in full year 2026. Underlying earnings before interest and tax increased to $1.273 billion, supported by stronger US steel production, margins and a record Southeast Asian performance.

Management delivers disciplined cost management. We expect free cash flow to improve and and support total shareholder returns.

However, BSL remains a cyclical business. Despite the business performing well, the operating environment remains volatile, which is behind our hold recommendation.

Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ)

The Echo IQ share price is 69 cents, up 7% today and up 260% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter downgraded this ASX tech share from speculative hold to speculative sell.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $1.75 to 30 cents.

Analyst John Hester said:

The company’s 510(k) application for registration of EchoSolv HF has been rejected by the FDA.

The agency issued a detailed ‘Not Substantially Equivalent’ notice which describes the reasons for its decision.

The company revealed little regarding the contents of the NSE and only highlighted disagreement on matters of statistical
analysis.

EIQ intends to hold further dialogue with the Agency in order to determine if there is a path forward, hence it created an expectation for a future approval either via a resubmission of the 510(k) or alternative registration pathway.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, Bluescope Steel, Lovisa shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top broker names 2 growing ASX dividend shares to buy now
• Down 65%: Is it a good time to buy this exciting ASX tech stock?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Lovisa vs Universal Store shares: Which ASX retail stock is the better buy today?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa. 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.9% to 8,689.1 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile, three experts share their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s take a look.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is $16.02, down 0.4% today and up 4% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Analyst John Hester said: 

TLX has announced a scrip-based merger with the privately owned ITM Group, based in Germany for consideration of up to US$2.35bn.

ITM is a leading manufacturer of therapeutic isotopes, including Lu-177, being the dominant therapeutic isotope for the treatment of cancers including for the Novartis blockbuster Pluvicto.

The merger creates a vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical company with enhanced capabilities across development, isotope production and global manufacturing.

[The merger] represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a dominant share in the supply of Lu-177 that is very difficult to replicate. While earnings may take a year or two to realise, the underlying value is obvious.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The New Hope Corporation share price is $5.86, down 0.09% today and up 49% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a hold rating on this ASX 200 coal share.

The broker said: 

Cash surprise drives dividend beat – Strong operational delivery and a year-end cash balance of A$485m supported a fully franked 30cps final dividend, materially ahead of MorgansF (20cps) and consensus (14cps).

Operational performance exceeded expectations – NHC delivered record saleable coal production of 11.5Mt and coal sales of 11.8Mt, exceeding the top end of guidance and demonstrating the resilience of its operations despite disruptions throughout the year.

Strong run, balanced view – NHC shares have rallied 60% YTD, supported by stronger coal prices and improving market sentiment. While we remain constructive on thermal coal fundamentals, the recent share price performance may provide an opportunity for investors to crystallise some gains.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA share price is $151.55, down 0.5% today and down 34% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a sell rating on this ASX 200 communications share. 

Analyst Michael Ardrey said:

Despite REA’s ability to generate strong results in challenged operating environments, we continue to see significant downside risk to listings volumes/earnings vs. company guidance and consensus and await further data points via lending volumes and market listings before re-considering our thesis.

The post Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, REA, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope: Which ASX coal share offers better value today?
• Bought $5,000 worth of New Hope and BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned!
• Where to invest as interest rates charge higher
• Telix Pharmaceuticals vs Ramsay Healthcare: Which ASX healthcare stock made investors richer in 2026?
• Soul Patts vs BHP: Which ASX share is best for beginners?

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 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.

Just when it looked like oil prices might be settling down, Brent crude has made its way back towards US$103 a barrel.

As of Thursday morning, the global benchmark is trading at approximately US$102.92, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is changing hands at US$92.26.

Brent slipped below US$98 on Tuesday amid signs of improving Middle Eastern oil supplies, but it didn’t stay there long.

According to Trading Economics, Brent has gained around 11.7% over the past month and more than 48% over the past year.

That puts US$110 less than 7% away.

So, what’s driving the rebound?

Oil supply disruptions continue

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is still a long way from normal, and that’s keeping oil traders on edge.

According to Reuters, just 3 commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday, compared with 4 on Monday.

That’s 80% below the 10-day average of approximately 15 vessels.

All 3 were heading out of the Strait, although the figures don’t include ships travelling with their tracking systems switched off.

Before the conflict, approximately 1/5th of global oil and gas flows passed through the waterway.

With traffic still so low, getting oil out of the region remains difficult, and thus helping keep prices elevated.

Saudi Arabia gets oil moving again

There has been some good news on the supply side, with Saudi Arabia restarting its East-West oil pipeline.

This comes after drone attacks forced its closure earlier this month.

The pipeline had been transporting around 4 million barrels per day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

However, operations have only resumed at reduced capacity of late.

It could apparently take another 6 to 8 weeks before the pipeline is fully operational again.

US oil inventories rise unexpectedly

The latest US inventory figures weren’t quite what analysts had expected.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude inventories increased by 3 million barrels to 426.4 million barrels last week.

Analysts had expected a decline of approximately 641,000 barrels.

Fuel stockpiles moved in the opposite direction, though.

Gasoline stockpiles fell by 1.7 million barrels. Distillate inventories, including diesel and heating oil, declined by 400,000 barrels.

US refineries also processed 519,000 fewer barrels per day, with utilisation falling to 94%.

Could Brent hit US$110?

I think US$110 is within reach, although much depends on what happens next between the US and Iran.

Just yesterday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not surrender to the US, but remained open to diplomacy.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within 7 days if Washington eased military pressure.

The next level I’ll be watching is US$105. A move through there would put US$110 right in my view.

I expect more volatility along the way for now, but I do think oil prices have further to climb.

The post Oil prices are climbing again. Could Brent crude hit US$110? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 turns higher after a rocky start. Is a recovery on the table?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Best performing ASX 200 stock is up 350%. Can it keep rising?

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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) are three of the biggest names on the Australian share market.

They also give investors exposure to very different parts of the economy, spanning resources, healthcare, and banking.

But if I were looking at these ASX shares today, I would not treat all three the same.

Here is how I see each one.

BHP shares

BHP would be firmly in the buy category for me.

The mining giant gives investors exposure to some of the commodities I think could remain important for decades, particularly iron ore and copper.

Iron ore remains central to BHP’s earnings, while copper could become an increasingly important part of the story as investment in electrification, power networks, renewable energy, and data centres supports demand.

I also like BHP’s scale. Mining is inherently cyclical, and commodity prices can move sharply, but large, low-cost operations can leave a business in a stronger position when conditions become more difficult.

There will inevitably be periods when weaker commodity prices put pressure on earnings and dividends. That comes with investing in resources.

But for investors prepared to look through those cycles, I think BHP remains one of the ASX mining shares I would be most comfortable owning for the long term. For me, that makes BHP shares a buy.

CSL shares

CSL is another share I would be happy to buy.

The healthcare giant has been through a difficult period, with investors becoming much less enthusiastic about the stock than they were several years ago.

For me, that creates an opportunity. CSL still owns high-quality healthcare businesses with significant global operations. Its plasma therapies business remains the centrepiece, while vaccines and other specialised treatments add further diversification.

What I like here is the potential for earnings growth to improve as the company continues rebuilding margins and growing demand across its major businesses.

CSL also operates in areas where barriers to entry are high. Plasma collection networks, manufacturing expertise, regulatory approvals, and established healthcare relationships are difficult to replicate.

The recovery may still take time, and investors will want to see continued evidence that margins and profit growth are moving in the right direction.

Even so, I think the long-term opportunity looks attractive after the weakness in the share price. That leaves CSL shares as a buy for me.

Westpac shares

Westpac is where I become more cautious. It remains one of Australia’s major banks and has a huge customer base across mortgages, deposits, and other financial services.

That gives the business plenty of stability, and I can understand why existing shareholders may be happy to continue holding it, particularly those focused on dividends.

My hesitation is around how much growth investors can reasonably expect from a mature Australian bank.

Westpac has substantial exposure to residential lending, where competition can be intense and growth depends heavily on the Australian housing and consumer markets. And with the housing market going through a weak period, Westpac’s growth looks challenged to me.

For existing shareholders, I see no strong reason to sell. But if I were investing new money today, I would look for other opportunities.

That makes Westpac shares a hold for me.

Foolish takeaway

BHP and CSL are the two ASX shares here where I would be most comfortable putting new money to work.

They offer very different investment cases, but both have long-term growth drivers that I think can reward patient investors.

Westpac remains a solid business, and I would be comfortable continuing to own it. At current levels, though, I would rather hold than add.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BHP shares fall as mining operations grind to a halt
• Here are the most popular ASX share superannuation investments in SMSFs
• Can CSL shares hit $200? 3 things that need to go right
• Bought $5,000 worth of New Hope and BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned!
• Why I’d invest $50,000 of superannuation into these 3 top ASX ETFs

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

Shares in Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) are down almost 20% over the past 12 months, but according to the analysts at Morgans, now could be the time to buy.

The broker has upgraded its share price target for the company following a new deal to acquire Crown Currency Exchange (CCE) for $135 million.

Before we get to what the share price target is, let’s look at that deal in more detail.

Expansion potential from the new deal

Helloworld announced the deal earlier this week, saying it would buy out CCE, which operates 68 stores across Australia.

The company added:

It was acquired by the vendor in 2019 and has expanded its footprint across Australia under the management of Emily Palermo. Both Emily Palermo and Greg Woolley will be remaining with the business in their respective capacities as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. The business employs over 200 people with the Head Office located in Hobart and outlets throughout Australia.

Helloworld’s Managing Director, Andrew Burnes, said the acquisition would be highly complementary to Helloworld’s retail agency businesses and would present multiple opportunities for expansion across the company’s retail networks.

CCE generated EBITDA of $22 million in FY26.

The size of the acquisition is large relative to Helloworld’s current market capitalisation of $229.2 million.

The deal will be funded by debt, equity, and a vendor loan facility.

Helloworld shares look cheap

Morgans said in its research note to clients that CCE was Australia’s third-largest foreign exchange retailer behind Travelex and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd’s (ASX: FLT) Travel Money Oz.

The broker agreed that CCE was a good fit for Helloworld.

HLO’s retail travel agency network sells roughly 2.4m airline tickets a year to outbound travellers, a natural tie-in for currency exchange. The agents will now have the ability to sell foreign currency alongside travel bookings. Synergies are expected mainly from rolling CCE outlets into HLO’s existing agency network. CCE does not currently operate in New Zealand, unlike its peers, giving HLO a further expansion opportunity.

Morgans said Helloworld was currently paying a 7.3% fully franked dividend yield, and stated:

We think patient investors will be well rewarded when a travel industry rebound eventuates. With ANZ’s largest agency network, HLO is well placed to leverage the structural tailwinds favouring leisure travel given its target market is becoming wealthier, living longer and travelling more. FY27 earnings guidance at the 23 October AGM is the next share price catalyst.

Morgans has increased its share price target for Helloworld from $2.18 to $2.24, against a current price of $1.37.

The post Which ASX travel stock does Morgans tip to jump 60%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, Bluescope Steel, Lovisa shares
• Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, REA, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares
• Oil prices are climbing again. Could Brent crude hit US$110?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Westpac shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Telstra, AGL, PLS shares

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 Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.