Author: openjargon

For most Australians, building wealth starts with the income they earn from working.

But I like the idea of gradually building something alongside it.

ASX shares can give investors ownership in businesses that may grow, pay dividends, and become more valuable over time. Given enough patience, that portfolio could eventually become a substantial asset in its own right.

I would invest in ASX shares regularly

I would start by making investing a habit.

Rather than waiting for the perfect moment, I would aim to put a manageable amount into the share market regularly and gradually build my ownership of strong businesses.

The early years may not look particularly exciting. A few thousand dollars invested here and there can feel small compared with a salary or a home.

But each investment adds another asset working on my behalf.

And as the portfolio grows, dividends can be reinvested into more shares, while successful companies can increase in value. Eventually, the returns generated by the portfolio itself can become a meaningful part of the wealth-building process.

I would own businesses that can compound

For the core of the portfolio, I would look for ASX shares with potential to become more valuable over many years.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is the type of business I have in mind.

Its enterprise software is deeply embedded within organisations such as councils, universities, and government bodies. It can grow by attracting more customers, expanding internationally, and encouraging existing customers to use more of its products.

If a company can repeatedly reinvest in opportunities like these, earnings can grow and shareholders can benefit from that progress over a long period.

I would not expect every investment to produce spectacular returns. I would be looking for a collection of strong businesses that can steadily do more over time.

Dividends can help as well

Capital growth would be a major part of my plan, but I would not ignore income.

A company such as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) can potentially grow over time while also returning cash to shareholders through dividends.

During the wealth-building stage, I would generally reinvest that income.

This means the dividends buy more shares, which can generate further dividends in later years. The effect may look small initially, but decades of reinvestment can make a considerable difference.

Later in life, the same portfolio could potentially provide income without requiring every share to be sold.

That gives me another reason to think of share investing as building a second pool of wealth rather than simply trying to make money from share price movements.

I would spread the risk

I would also avoid relying too heavily on one company or sector.

An Australian portfolio could include businesses exposed to healthcare, technology, financial services, resources, consumer spending, infrastructure, and overseas markets.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), for example, gives investors exposure to global demand for sleep apnoea treatment, while BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) provides ownership of major mining assets supplying commodities used around the world.

I think owning a collection of strong businesses makes it easier to stay invested when one company or industry goes through a difficult period.

That patience is important because building meaningful wealth through shares is usually a long process.

Foolish takeaway

I would approach ASX investing as something I build gradually in the background for years.

Every regular investment adds another small piece of ownership, while business growth and reinvested dividends can make that portfolio increasingly valuable over time.

The goal would be to reach a point where my wealth is no longer being built solely from the money I earn from working.

I think a patient portfolio of quality ASX shares can be a powerful way to get there.

The post How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today
• Buy, hold, sell: Judo Capital, Healius, BHP shares
• BHP share price hits new record high
• $6,000 invested in BHP shares 12 months ago is now worth….
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP 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.

Several ASX mining shares, including BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), reached new 52-week highs on Tuesday.

The BHP share price reached a record $68.22, up 1.6% for the day and 56% over 12 months, in earlier trading.

This pushed two ASX mining exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to record highs as well, given their 40% weighting to BHP shares.

They are SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources ETF (ASX: OZR) and Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE).

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.6% higher at 9,153.6 points.

As earnings season continues, let’s look at the other ASX mining shares reaching new peaks today.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The ASX 200’s largest pure-play copper mining share rose 2% to a record $22.89 today.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

ASX 200 gold mining share, Genesis Minerals rose 1.75% to a 52-week high of $8.72 per share.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)

Fellow gold mining share, Capricorn Metals, spiked 1.6% to a new record of $18.02 today.

Andean Silver Ltd (ASX: ASL)

ASX silver mining share, Andean Silver increased 6.2% to a record $2.90 per share.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Gold and copper mining share, Vault Minerals rose to a 52-week peak of $7.06, up 1.9%, on Tuesday.

Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)

Gold and antimony miner Alkane Resources hit a 52-week high of $1.91 per share.

Carnaby Resources Ltd (ASX: CNB)

Copper and gold miner Carnaby Resources rose 4% to a 52-week high of $1.05 per share.

What about the ASX mining ETFs?

QRE and OZR were among the 6 top-performing ASX ETFs of FY26 amid the new mining boom underway in Australia.

The OZR ETF rose 1.1% to an all-time high of $19.38 on Tuesday.

OZR ETF delivered an exceptional total one-year return of 51% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.4%.

This ASX ETF seeks to mirror the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index.

After BHP (40%), its other top holdings are Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) (7.7%) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) (7.4%).

The QRE ETF increased 1.9% to a record $11.16 today.

QRE ETF produced a similarly impressive total one-year return of 50% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.3%.

This ASX ETF seeks to track the Solactive Australia Resources Sector Index.

After BHP, its next top holdings are also Woodside (7.5%) and Rio Tinto shares (7.4%).

Both ETFs invest predominantly in ASX mining shares, along with oil and gas suppliers, and other resources companies like steel makers.

QRE also invests 2.5% in utilities, which is a key difference to OZR, although Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is the only stock.

The post 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• Buy, hold, sell: Judo Capital, Healius, BHP shares
• BHP share price hits new record high
• $6,000 invested in BHP shares 12 months ago is now worth….
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

This morning, we discussed the most popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX for investors wishing to invest in the US markets. The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) easily takes that crown, with over $14 billion in funds currently under management. But could the Vanguard Morningstar US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) be a better choice for that slice of America in an ASX portfolio?

In theory, the iShares S&P 500 ETF and the Vanguard US Total Market ETF are quite different.

For one, IVV is an index fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index. This flagship index represents the largest 500 stocks on the US markets, weighted by market capitalisation (size).

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF tracks a far less common index, the Morningstar U.S. Total Market Index. Instead of following just the largest 500 stocks on US markets, this index tracks more than 4,000. As such, it offers significantly more coverage of mid- and small-cap US stocks than IVV.

Is this enough to make VTS the better choice over IVV? Well, diversification is usually a good thing for investors seeking to increase their exposure to an entire market.

However, as we touched on above, the differences between the IVV and VTS ETFs are more theoretical than practical. That’s because, while both funds have different scopes, they both weight their portfolios by market capitalisation. That means the largest shares take up far more room than the smaller ones in both funds. Since both IVV and VTS both share the same stocks at the top of their portfolios, buying either will get you a similar investment profile.

IVV vs. VTS: Top ETF holdings compared

To illustrate, as of 31 July, IVV’s top five holdings, and their respective weightings, were as follows:

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) at 7.53%

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) at 7.03%

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) at 5.85%

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) at 5.35%

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) at 4.12%

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF’s largest stocks, as of 31 July, were:

NVIDIA at 6.39%

Apple at 6.28%

Alphabet at 5.2%

Microsoft at 4.78%

Amazon at 3.64%

As you can see, there’s not a lot of daylight between these two ETFs’ holdings.

But let’s look at performance.

Over the 12 months to 31 July, IVV returned 9.42%. That rose to an annualised 17.41% over three years, and 13.61% per annum over five.

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF returned 9.82% over the year to 31 July. Over three years, it managed an average of 17.19% per annum, and 12.77% per annum over five years.

So it’s clear we’re doing a bit of hair splitting here. Overall, these two ASX ETFs can be expected to deliver a similar return over time, given their overlapping, heavy exposure to the largest US stocks on the market. It’s my view that ASX investors who are looking for cheap, easy exposure to US stocks can’t go wrong with either fund.

The post Is the Vanguard US Total Market ETF (VTS) the best buy for investing in America? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, 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 have been many ASX dividend shares that I’ve been impressed with so far this earnings season. Over the past week or two, we’ve seen the likes of Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD), and many more announce dividend pay rises for their investors.

Today, another income stock joined that party. It was none other than Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Coles is, of course, the famous name behind the dominant supermarket chain and Liquorland bottle shop network. As we covered earlier today, it was a decent set of numbers that the company had to show for its 2026 financial year. For the 12 months to 30 June 2026, Coles reported revenues of $45.58 billion, up 2.8% over FY2025.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose 9.9% to $2.32 billion, while net profits after tax (NPAT) surged 13.7% to $1.26 billion.

Perhaps it is these numbers that have prompted the market to push Coles shares 2.3% higher so far this Tuesday to $23.20 each (at the time of writing). Or perhaps it was the dividend hike that Coles just announced.

Coles: An ASX share with seven years of dividend growth

Yep, Coles has just revealed that its final dividend for 2026 will be worth 37 cents per share. It will come with full franking credits attached, as is Coles’ habit. That represents a 15.6% hike over the final dividend of 32 cents per share that investors enjoyed last year.

Together with the April interim dividend of 41 cents per share, this latest payout takes Coles’ full-year dividends to 78 cents per share. Again, that is a nice 13.04% rise over 2025’s total of 69 cents per share.

So why would I buy Coles shares for income post-earnings? Well, a big reason is this company’s dividend history. Consistent dividend growth over time is difficult to fake. Dividends are a heavy burden on a company’s finances. As such, only the strongest companies tend to be able to keep their payouts growing year in, year out.

2026 happens to be the seventh year in a row that Coles has grown its annual dividends per share. Bear in mind that Coles was only listed on the ASX back in late 2018.

Given that this ASX share is a mature, healthily profitable business in a defensive sector of the market, this dividend pedigree is worth a lot. As such, I would be happy to add Coles shares to a diversified income-focused portfolio today.

The post Post-earnings: Why I’d buy this ASX dividend share for income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The SkinKandy Ltd (ASX: SK1) share price is in focus as the company reported pro forma revenue up 29% to $90.2 million and pro forma net profit after tax up 41% to $9.0 million, both ahead of Prospectus forecasts.

What did SkinKandy report?

• Pro forma revenue of $90.2 million, up 29% on FY25 and 2% ahead of Prospectus forecast
• Pro forma net profit after tax (NPAT) of $9.0 million, up 41% on FY25 and 5% ahead of forecast
• Pro forma EBITDA of $24.6 million, up 41% on FY25 and 5% ahead of forecast
• Like-for-like revenue growth of 9.6%, ahead of Prospectus forecast of 8.1%
• 22 new stores opened, expanding the network to 109 across Australia and New Zealand
• Net cash at year end of $13.8 million with no drawn debt

What else do investors need to know?

SkinKandy surpassed both statutory and pro forma targets set out at its IPO. Cost management was notable, reducing the cost of doing business from 65% to 62% of revenue, which helped drive EBIT margins higher.

Statutory NPAT came in at $0.6 million, swinging from $8.1 million the previous year but remaining ahead of the Prospectus forecast. The company funded growth without taking on new debt, maintaining a strong cash position backed by term deposits.

The group ended the period with 109 stores after opening 22 new locations, and has already added four more in early FY27. Store rollouts and a disciplined retail approach are central to its steady expansion.

What did SkinKandy management say?

CEO Dain Friis said:

FY26 was an important year for SkinKandy. We listed on the ASX in May and have delivered results ahead of the forecasts included in the Prospectus. Pro forma revenue was $90.2 million, up 29% on FY25, and pro forma net profit after tax was $9.0 million, up 41% on FY25.

Two things drove the result. We opened 22 new stores, taking the network to 109, and the stores we already had grew like-for-like revenue by 9.6%. That combination is what we care about most. The roll-out is repeatable and the existing store network keeps improving.

We now have more than 770 SK Certified piercing specialists, every one of them trained in-house. That in-house training program is what lets us open stores at this pace.

Gross margin held at 89% and our cost of doing business came down to 62% of revenue from 65% last year. We keep the business improving through constant product innovation, development of our piercing offer and a measured approach to promotional tactics. That discipline is a large part of why earnings grew faster than revenue, and revenue grew faster than the store network.

We enter FY27 with the same plan we set out at the IPO: build towards 180 to 210 stores across Australia and New Zealand, keep improving the economics of every store, and take our first steps into a second international market.

Our people are the business, and they held up well in a year of change and acceleration of our growth plans and strategy. I am very proud of what this team has achieved while simultaneously taking the business through an IPO. Thank you to all of them.

What’s next for SkinKandy?

SkinKandy is pushing ahead with its growth strategy, aiming to increase its store count to between 180 and 210 across Australia and New Zealand. Plans are also progressing to enter a second international market, with management targeting openings in the second half of FY27.

Early FY27 results are encouraging, showing 22% revenue growth over the prior comparable period. The company continues to trial service innovations and build its annual events, such as Piercing Culture Week. Management says the business remains on track with store openings and is focused on improving store economics and customer experience.

View Original Announcement

The post SkinKandy: FY26 earnings lift 41% as store growth outpaces forecast 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Carindale Property Trust (ASX: CDP) share price is in focus after reporting Funds From Operations of $32.3 million, up 8.8% in FY26, and a 5.0% rise in distributions to $24.7 million.

What did Carindale Property Trust report?

• Funds From Operations (FFO) rose 8.8% to $32.3 million
• Statutory profit reached $59.0 million, inclusive of a $25.6 million property revaluation gain
• Distribution for FY26 totalled $24.7 million, or 29.883 cents per unit, up 5.0%
• Annual retail sales hit a record $1,137.8 million, up 2.9%
• Occupancy at Westfield Carindale was 99.9% as at 30 June 2026
• Property independently valued at $1,628 million (CDP share: $814 million), up 3.3%

What else do investors need to know?

The Trust completed 72 leasing deals during the year, including the addition of 30 new merchants, which contributed to the high occupancy rate. Net tangible assets sat at $7.20 per unit at the end of June 2026.

Gearing was a moderate 25.3%, and 83% of the Trust’s interest rate exposure is hedged at an average base rate of 3.3%. The final distribution of 14.9415 cents per unit will be paid to unitholders on 31 August 2026.

What did Carindale Property Trust management say?

Chief Executive Officer Elliott Rusanow said:

These results demonstrate the continued strength in operating performance, with our focus on providing customers with more reasons to visit.

The strength of the operating performance of Westfield Carindale reflects the initiatives and investment we have undertaken over recent years and underpins the Trust’s ability to continue to deliver sustainable distribution growth for unitholders.

What’s next for Carindale Property Trust?

Looking ahead, Carindale Property Trust expects to distribute 31.38 cents per unit in the year ending 30 June 2027, representing another 5.0% year-on-year growth, subject to no material change in the operating environment.

Management says the ongoing investments and high occupancy rates should help drive further performance, supporting its objective to deliver sustainable income growth to unitholders over the long term.

Carindale Property Trust share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cardinale Property Trust shares have risen 5%, slightly outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Carindale Property Trust FY26: FFO jumps, distributions up 5% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are heading north on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the WiseTech share price is up 3.17% to $44.87.

Today’s rise continues what has been a strong turnaround over the past month, with the logistics software stock climbing around 50% over that period.

There is still a long way to go, though. WiseTech shares remain down around 35% since the start of 2026 and are trading more than 60% below their 52-week high of $115.75.

And investors have another development to digest today after the company announced a new appointment to its board.

Let’s dive right in!

WiseTech adds another independent director

WiseTech announced this morning that Tim Ebbeck will join the board as an independent non-executive director from 1 September.

He will also become chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and join the People & Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.

Ebbeck has spent much of his career in senior technology and finance roles. He has previously led Oracle Australia and New Zealand and SAP Australia and New Zealand, while also holding senior positions at NBN Co and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ).

WiseTech chair Raelene Murphy said his experience across technology, financial management, and governance would further strengthen the board.

The appointment forms part of an ongoing board renewal program. Once Ebbeck joins, WiseTech will have 5 independent non-executive directors and 2 executive directors.

However, there is another part of today’s announcement that caught my attention.

An interesting AustralianSuper connection

As reported in The Australian, Ebbeck currently serves as a nominee non-executive director and senior adviser to AustralianSuper.

That connection stands out because AustralianSuper was previously one of WiseTech’s major shareholders before selling its entire $580 million stake in March 2025.

The super fund said at the time that it could not get “sufficient comfort” around WiseTech’s governance following several months of board and management upheaval.

AustralianSuper also wanted to see a sensible transition plan around founder Richard White’s role and said it could reconsider its position if circumstances changed.

There’s nothing in today’s announcement to suggest AustralianSuper is looking to buy back into WiseTech. Still, appointing one of its senior advisers to the board is noteworthy given the fund’s previous concerns.

WiseTech shares continue to recover

Today’s gain continues the recent recovery, although the past week has been far from quiet.

WiseTech shares fell 8.7% to $39.58 last Wednesday after the ACCC executed a search warrant at the company’s headquarters.

The warrant forms part of an investigation into alleged breaches of competition law relating to the supply of global logistics services and software. WiseTech said it intends to fully cooperate with the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Despite that setback, the shares have quickly recovered and are now trading above where they were before the announcement.

The rebound has been impressive, but investors still have plenty to weigh up.

Much of the attention now turns to WiseTech’s financial results, which are due to be released tomorrow.

The post Why WiseTech shares are pushing higher again on Tuesday 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.

The MyState Ltd (ASX: MYS) share price is in focus today after the company reported a strong FY26 result, highlighted by a 41.2% lift in underlying net profit after tax to $58.3 million and an improved earnings mix from higher-return businesses.

What did MyState report?

• Underlying NPAT up 41.2% to $58.3 million (up 22% pro forma)
• Statutory NPAT rose 58% to $56.2 million
• Total operating income climbed 37.1% to $255.9 million
• Core earnings jumped 43.9% to $85.8 million
• Final dividend of 12.5 cents per share, fully franked (full-year 24.5 cps, up 3.0 cps)
• Home loan book increased 5.8% to $13.6 billion; customer deposits grew 4.0% to $10.6 billion

What else do investors need to know?

MyState moved to a single banking licence in December 2025, streamlining operations and capital management. Integration of its acquisitions delivered $11.8 million in run-rate synergies so far, and the company remains confident of reaching its synergy targets by FY28.

Management raised integration investment slightly to support a new AI-enabled core banking platform, aiming to drive ongoing efficiency, flexibility, and growth. Asset quality was strong, with 90-day home loan arrears improving from 0.44% to 0.32%. The group remains well-capitalised for future investments.

What did MyState management say?

Managing Director and CEO Brett Morgan said:

FY26 is our first full-year as a merged Group and I’m very proud of the way the team has come together, executed on our key priorities with discipline, delivered strong financial outcomes and continued serving our customers with care and commitment. I’m very pleased with our financial performance, with Underlying NPAT increasing 41%. We are seeing clear benefits from scale, reflected in strong income growth, disciplined cost management and an increasing contribution from higher-returning businesses. Together, these factors have improved the quality, sustainability and resilience of our earnings.

What’s next for MyState?

Looking ahead, MyState will continue to focus on integrating its businesses and rolling out its new banking technology platform. Management expects further efficiencies from consolidating systems and operating as a single retail brand, supporting long-term growth.

The company’s strong capital position and diversified earnings base put it in a good spot to keep executing on its strategy. Shareholders can expect ongoing focus on cost control, digital transformation, and delivering long-term value.

MyState share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, MyState shares have risen 16%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post MyState FY26 earnings: Strong profit growth and integration wins 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are climbing higher again on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX energy shares are up around 1% and changing hands for $33.82 a piece. 

Today’s increase means the shares are now up around 43% for the year to date and 26% higher than 12 months ago.

The update comes as Woodside posted its first-half FY26 results this morning.

The company reported a 13% increase in operating revenue, a 27% increase in NPAT, a 7% increase in underlying NPAT, and a huge increase in free cash flow to US$352 million.

The strong result saw management declare a fully-franked interim dividend of 57 US cents per share.

Woodside also reaffirmed its full-year FY26 production and capital expenditure guidance. The company expects to complete key projects, including Scarborough, Trion, and Louisiana LNG, in line with previously announced timelines. 

Woodside shares have rocketed higher in 2026

The oil and gas giant’s shares have enjoyed an incredible rally through 2026 so far.

A key driver has been major oil supply concerns and volatility around conflict in the Middle East.

The US and Iran have shown new signs of reaching a potential agreement. But each time it looks like conflict is calming down, it quickly returns. The region is highly volatile, and the movement of oil from the area will continue to be uncertain until a resolution is reached. 

Shipping disruptions and production cuts pushed crude oil prices to a multi-year high of around US$113 per barrel in April, according to Trading Economics data. While the price of oil softened in June and early July, it is now trading back up at around US$85 per barrel.

What do the experts tip for the shares over the next 12 months?

It looks like brokers now think the oil major’s shares are trading around fair value. In fact, some are tipping a downside over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a hold rating on Woodside shares. But the $28.52 average target price now implies a potential 17% downside ahead, at the time of writing.

TradingView data is a little more positive. Out of 16 analysts, eight have a buy/strong buy rating, seven have a hold rating, and 1 rates the stock as a sell.

The average $32.31 target price implies a potential 5% downside, at the time of writing. 

But the difference between the maximum and minimum target price is significant. Some forecast the shares to climb about 29% to $43.47 over the next 12 months. But others think Woodside shares have the potential to fall up to 26% to $25.01, at the time of writing.

The post Here’s what brokers tip for Woodside shares over the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Abacus Group Ltd (ASX: ABG) share price is in focus today after the company posted Funds from Operations of $81.2 million, down 1.9% on last year, and announced a flat annual distribution of 8.50 cents per security.

What did Abacus Group report?

• Funds from Operations (FFO) of $81.2 million, down 1.9% compared to FY25
• Statutory net loss of $74.5 million, impacted by ASK investment reclassification
• Distribution of 8.50 cents per security, flat year-on-year (payout ratio: 93.6% of FFO)
• Net Tangible Assets (NTA) per security of $1.59, down 7.6% on FY25
• Gearing at 36.2%, within target range (up 1.7 percentage points over FY25)
• Retail operating earnings up 4.5% to $30.0 million; Office operating earnings down 3.2% to $89.6 million

What else do investors need to know?

Abacus Group completed the internalisation of Abacus Storage King during FY26, simplifying its operating model and positioning as a pure-play commercial REIT. This transition enables the company to target operational efficiency and focus on optimising its commercial property portfolio across eastern seaboard markets.

The company’s Office Portfolio, valued at $1.4 billion, remains concentrated in high-quality A-grade assets, with a notable weighting toward Sydney. Retail holdings recorded strong performance, with like-for-like rental growth and 97.4% occupancy, reflecting solid customer demand during the period.

What did Abacus Group management say?

Abacus Group Managing Director Steven Sewell said:

ABG’s strategic priorities are now centred on three clear areas: simplifying the business model, strengthening the platform and positioning the Group for sustainable growth. The Commercial team has a focused platform to concentrate on its core investment, asset management and customer priorities, supporting the delivery of sustainable long-term returns for securityholders.

What’s next for Abacus Group?

Looking ahead, Abacus Group will continue with its focused commercial REIT strategy, aiming for operational efficiency and capital discipline. Non-core asset sales, gearing reductions, and improving free cash flow are near-term priorities.

For FY27, the company has guided to a distribution of 6.70 cents per security, with a targeted full-year payout of 80-90% of FFO and a higher expected franking level. Management intends to drive further value creation through disciplined asset management and selective investment in core office markets.

Abacus Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Abacus Group shares have declined 30%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post Abacus Group FY26 results 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.