Stock Pick

Author: openjargon

  • Analysts expect 4% to 6% dividend yields from these ASX stocks

    Middle age caucasian man smiling confident drinking coffee at home.

    Do you have room for some new additions to your income portfolio in December?

    If you do, then it could be worth considering the two ASX dividend stocks in this article that brokers rate as buys. Here’s what they are recommending as buys:

    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

    Analysts at Morgans think that Flight Centre could be an ASX dividend stock to buy in December.

    The broker believes that it is worth holding the travel agent’s shares through the current period because when the tide turns, its earnings growth is expected to accelerate. Morgans believes this could put a rocket under its share price. It said:

    FLT’s FY25 result was broadly in line with its recent update. Corporate was weaker than expected while Leisure and Other were stronger. FLT’s guidance for a flat 1H26 was stronger than we expected however it was weaker than consensus. Earnings growth is expected to accelerate in the 2H26 from an improvement in macro-economic conditions and internal business improvement initiatives. We have made minor upgrades to our forecasts.

    We are buyers of FLT during this period of short-term uncertainty and share price weakness because when operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price leverage to the upside will be material.

    With respect to income, Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of 51 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 58 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on the current Flight Centre share price of $13.76, this would mean dividend yields of 3.7% and 4.2%, respectively.

    The broker currently has a buy rating and $15.65 price target on its shares.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Over at Bell Potter, its analysts think that Rural Funds could be an ASX dividend stock to buy this month.

    Rural Funds is an Australian agricultural property company with a total of 63 assets across five sectors

    At the last count, it boasted a weighted average lease expiry of 13.9 years, which gives it significant visibility on its future earnings and distributions.

    Despite this, Bell Potter notes that its shares are trading at a significant discount to net asset value. It said:

    Our Buy rating is unchanged. The -~35% discount to market NAV remain higher than average (~6% premium since listing) and likely reflects the proportion of assets that are underearning as operating farms. With a continued improvement in most counterparty profitability indicators in recent months (i.e. cattle, almond and macadamia nut prices), resilience in farming asset values and the progress made in creating headroom in funding lines to complete the macadamia development we see this as excessive.

    Bell Potter believes the company is positioned to pay dividends per share of 11.7 cents in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.97, this would mean dividend yields of almost 6% for both years.

    The broker has a buy rating and $2.45 price target on its shares.

    The post Analysts expect 4% to 6% dividend yields from these ASX stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Flight Centre Travel Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Flight Centre Travel Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Flight Centre Travel Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group. 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.

  • Up over 200% in 6 months: Are Pilbara Minerals shares still a buy?

    two people sit side by side on a rollercoaster ride with their hands raised in the air and happy smiles on their faces

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are trading in the red on Thursday afternoon. At the time of writing the lithium producer’s share price is down 4.5% to $3.72 a piece. It’s not done much to dent the surging stock’s latest price rally though. Over the past month the shares have jumped 20.62%. They’re now an impressive 209.17% higher than just 6 months ago.

    What’s happened to the Pilbara Minerals share price?

    Pilbara Minerals shares have been on the rise since June, and they’ve been climbing pretty steadily too. Improved lithium market sentiment and demand has primarily been driven by a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EV) and battery energy storage. Global EV sales have been rising faster than carmakers can keep up! And demand for grid-scale energy storage to stabilise renewable energy is also booming.

    It’s not just the lithium demand and strong prices pushing the producer’s share price higher though. Its business has also strengthened substantially over the past year, positioning the company as a major producer in the market. 

    In its September quarter update, Pilbara Minerals posted a 2% increase in spodumene production and a 20% increase in realised pricing. This resulted in an exceptional 30% rise in revenue to $251 million.

    Pilbara Minerals is also the 100% owner-operator of relatively low-cost, long-life spodumene mines. The company has a strong net cash balance sheet, which gives it more flexibility and a competitive edge over some of its peers.

    Is there any more upside ahead?

    The rally for lithium demand has exploded this year, and while there are concerns that some lithium producer’s shares have now peaked, I don’t think this is the case for Pilbara Minerals.

    The stock has made headlines recently for being one of the most-traded shares last week, albeit the majority was selling activity. This also supports claims it is also one of the 10 most-shorted shares on the ASX.

    Data shows that analysts are divided on the stock, with most having hold or buy ratings on the stock. Out of 20 analysts, 9 have a hold rating and 6 have a strong buy rating on Pilbara Minerals shares. The average target price is $3.11, however some think the share price could rise as high as $4.40 over the next 12 months. At the time of writing that represents anything from a potential 16.41% downside to an 18.28% upside. 

    The post Up over 200% in 6 months: Are Pilbara Minerals shares still a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pilbara Minerals Limited right now?

    Before you buy Pilbara Minerals Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Pilbara Minerals Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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.

  • Elon Musk says Tesla FSD lets you text while being driven. I tried it. Here’s what happened.

    Texting in a Tesla
    Texting in a Tesla

    Alistair Barr/Business Insider

    • The Tesla FSD update now allows drivers to text while the vehicle is in self-driving mode.
    • I tested this out on Thursday, using my 2024 Tesla Model 3 with FSD v14.2.1.
    • I was driven to a local salon, and I typed live updates to my colleagues with my iPhone.

    Elon Musk confirmed on Thursday that Tesla FSD will now let you text while the software drives you around.

    This is part of a recent FSD update, and the CEO said it allows texting in certain situations.

    So, I decided to test this out with my 2024 Tesla Model 3, to see how far the system would go and whether it performed under this new scenario.

    I have a new version of the FSD software, v14.2.1 2025.38.9.6. And I'm using Tesla's free FSD trial, which it rolled out to millions of vehicles in recent days. FSD usually costs $100 a month, but the company is promoting its latest software for free right now.

    I started in my driveway in Silicon Valley and picked a short route to the local salon to get my hair cut. I pressed a new blue button on the screen that says "Start Self-Driving," and off it went.

    To make the test feel more real, I used my iPhone while being driven to send live updates via Slack to my colleagues at Business Insider. Here's the action I shared during the trip:

    "I'm typing this as I'm being driven by FSD."

    "The car hasn't stopped me doing this or alerted me."

    "I'm in Chill Mode, so not an aggressive mode."

    "Ok it just asked me to apply slight pressure to the steering wheel."

    "Then it beeped at me to pay attention to the road."

    "But it kept on driving anyway."

    "Ok I've arrived at my haircut. It's parking for me. I'm still typing."

    "Ok the trip ended."

    The FSD drive lasted about seven minutes, and it took me through my hometown during a clear, sunny afternoon.

    My Tesla went down a tricky road at one point that's just wide enough for two-way traffic, but gets tight because residents park their vehicles on either side.

    While I was typing, my Tesla was pausing and dipping in and out of gaps between these parked cars and oncoming traffic, which included a large trash-hauling truck doing its rounds.

    There were no incidents during the trip. The car maneuvered smoothly and carefully, giving way at the right times and stopping at all stop signs.

    Just because Musk says you can text behind the wheel with the latest FSD, that may not mean you can do this in California. There are well-established rules about distracted driving, and pretty hefty fines. Now, these regulations are based on humans driving cars, not being driven by autonomous vehicles, so we've just entered new territory.

    After my haircut, on the way home, I repeated the FSD test and texted my wife while being driven.

    "I went to get a haircut and I'm texting you while Tesla fsd drives me home."

    No response…

    "You can text while driving now."

    No response…

    "Wdyt? Good idea?"

    No response…

    Smart lady.

    Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • How Guantanamo Bay actually works, according to a former detainee

    Mohamedou Ould Slahi was imprisoned without charge at Guantanamo Bay for nearly 15 years.

    Ould Slahi speaks to Business Insider about the prison layout, the facilities, the food, and yard time. He reveals what torture methods were used and how guards interacted with detained people.

    Arrested in 2001 and transferred through various prisons before arriving at Guantanamo, Slahi endured years of torture and harsh interrogation under the US government's post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts. He was detained on suspicion of terrorism, but no charges were ever filed against him.

    His memoir, "Guantánamo Diary," was released in 2015. It was adapted into a feature film, "The Mauritanian," starring Jodie Foster and Tahar Rahim. Slahi now writes and speaks about human rights, justice, and reconciliation.

    For more:

    https://www.instagram.com/mohamedououldsalahi/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedou-ould-slahi-houbeini-4834a1136/

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Good news: Buying a home might actually be more affordable in 2026

    A young couple embraces each other while looking at a property with a for sale sign displayed.

    Cravetiger/Getty Images

    • Redfin forecasts that 2026 will mark the start of a "Great Housing Reset" in the real estate market.
    • Researchers expect a multiyear stretch of improved affordability, as incomes outpace home price growth.
    • It could set the stage for more Americans to have a better shot at homeownership.

    If you're among the many Americans who lament that the pandemic housing boom passed you by, 2026 might finally be your moment.

    A new Redfin report predicts that next year will usher in what the company calls "The Great Housing Reset." Researchers expect a multi-year stretch of slowly rising home sales and improved affordability, as incomes outpace home prices for the first sustained period since the Great Recession.

    Redfin forecasts that mortgage rates will gradually decline over the course of 2026 and that, by year's end, the median home-sale price will be up just 1% from a year earlier. Existing-home sales — the sale of previously owned homes — are expected to climb 3% from 2025, reaching an annualized pace of 4.2 million.

    Daryl Fairweather, Redfin's chief economist, told Business Insider that home sales will pick up as the "rate-lock" effect fades and more homeowners with low mortgage rates finally decide to sell.

    "A lot of people bought during the pandemic; there was just a huge surge of activity because of how low rates were," Fairweather said. "A typical homebuyer stays in their home for 10 years, and we're five years out from the start of the pandemic. Naturally, we'll start to see more people be ready to sell homes again — it's not going to be a drastic change; it'll just be more of a loosening of the market."

    The market went haywire in the pandemic, but things are finally starting to settle

    Over the last few years, the housing market has been strained. It all stems from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ripple effects on the real estate market.

    In the early stages of the pandemic, the US government rolled out a massive stimulus package to prop up the economy. That, combined with rock-bottom mortgage rates, inadvertently set off one of the most dramatic homebuying frenzies in US history. Between late 2020 and 2021, a surge in demand drove home prices to record highs, exacerbating the nation's long-standing housing shortage.

    Those pandemic-era dynamics have shaped the market ever since.

    Homeownership has felt out of reach for years for many would-be buyers, especially millennials and Gen Zers who have watched mortgage rates climb (and since fall, but not to pandemic lows), starter homes vanish, newly built homes shrink, and the amount of cash needed to buy skyrocket.

    By late 2025, though, there are signs the market is easing up. In many cities — even once-red-hot pandemic boomtowns like Austin and Tampa — softer demand has meant homes sit on the market longer, pushing sellers to cut prices and offer more incentives and concessions as buyers regain leverage.

    Redfin expects that dynamic, along with gradually declining mortgage rates, to lure more would-be buyers back into the market. Still, researchers warn that even as conditions improve, affordability will remain a major barrier to homeownership for many, especially younger buyers.

    "We're not going to see this wave of people rushing into the market again; we'll see more of a normalization — more of a return to what the housing market felt like pre-pandemic," Fairweather said. "It's still going to be more expensive, but wages have increased considerably since 2018 and 2019, so I think more people will feel like, for their own personal circumstances, it's finally the right time to buy."

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Fletcher Building updates funding: repays USPP, extends bank facilities

    A senior couple sets at a table looking at documents as a professional looking woman sits alongside them as if giving retirement and investing advice.

    The Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) share price is on the radar today after the company announced further steps to simplify its funding structure, including fully repaying all US Private Placement notes and securing new debt facilities to strengthen its liquidity.

    What did Fletcher Building report?

    • Prepaid all outstanding US Private Placement (USPP) notes on 10 November 2025, simplifying its funding mix
    • Terminated associated cross-currency swaps and made a make-whole payment, totalling $7.2 million in cash costs
    • Established a new two-year $200 million club facility on 10 September 2025
    • Extended Tranche C ($325 million) of its Syndicated Facility Agreement by four years
    • Extended Senior Interest Cover covenant at 2.25x to 31 December 2026; dividend restrictions remain in place until covenant lifted

    What else do investors need to know?

    Fletcher Building has deferred its next material debt maturity until FY28, giving it more breathing room to manage market uncertainty and operational priorities. The group continues to restrict dividend payments until it meets its standard covenant requirements, prioritising a conservative approach to capital management.

    Banking partners have affirmed their ongoing support as the company works through its strategic reset, with covenant levels carefully managed to provide added balance sheet resilience while debt remains above guidance.

    What did Fletcher Building management say?

    Andrew Reding, Managing Director and CEO said:

    These steps represent another milestone in strengthening our financial foundations. Simplifying our funding structure and extending key facilities gives us greater flexibility, lowers our ongoing cost of capital, and supports the disciplined execution of our strategic reset. We remain committed to reducing leverage and ensuring the business is well positioned to navigate current market conditions and return to sustainable, long-term performance.

    What’s next for Fletcher Building?

    Looking ahead, Fletcher Building’s focus remains on reducing leverage and maintaining investment-grade credit metrics. Management aims to further simplify funding arrangements and prioritise balance sheet flexibility, supporting the company as it navigates tough market conditions.

    The board believes these funding and covenant changes will help safeguard operations and place Fletcher Building on a more resilient footing for a return to long-term, sustainable growth. Investors can expect capital management discipline to remain central to company strategy until balance sheet targets are comfortably met.

    Fletcher Building share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Fletcher Building shares have risen 18%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 2% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Fletcher Building updates funding: repays USPP, extends bank facilities appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fletcher Building Limited right now?

    Before you buy Fletcher Building Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fletcher Building Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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.

  • 3 ASX dividend shares to buy with $5,000

    Man holding out Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.

    Thankfully for income investors, there are a lot of options out there for them to choose from on the Australian share market.

    But which ASX dividend shares could be buys for investors with $5,000 to put into the market? Let’s take a look at three that analysts are recommending to clients this month:

    Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)

    Cedar Woods could be an ASX dividend share to buy according to Bell Potter.

    It is one of Australia’s leading property companies with a portfolio that is diversified by geography, price point, and product type. This includes subdivisions in emerging residential communities, high-density apartments, and townhouses in vibrant inner-city neighbourhoods.

    Bell Potter notes that this leaves Cedar Woods well-positioned to be a big winner from Australia’s chronic housing shortage.

    The broker expects this to underpin dividends per share of 34 cents in FY 2026 and then 38 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $7.69, this equates to 4.4% and 4.9% dividend yields, respectively.

    The broker has a buy rating and $9.70 price target on its shares.

    Harvey Norman Holdings (ASX: HVN)

    Another ASX dividend share that brokers are positive on is Harvey Norman.

    This retail giant is a household name in furniture, electronics, and appliances. It also has one of the largest retail property portfolios in Australia, which provides both stability and an additional layer of asset backing for shareholders.

    Bell Potter is positive on the retailer and expects fully franked dividends of 30.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 35.3 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $7.24, this would mean dividend yields of 4.25% and 4.9%, respectively.

    Its analysts have a buy rating and $8.30 price target on the company’s shares.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Transurban is a third ASX dividend share that could be a good option for the $5,000 investment.

    It is a toll road giant that operates a network of roads across Australia and North America. This includes CityLink in Melbourne, the Eastern Distributor in Sydney, and AirportlinkM7 in Brisbane.

    This portfolio of roads has been experiencing growing traffic volumes over the years and this looks set to continue thanks to urbanisation and population growth. And with its pricing linked to inflation, Transurban is well-placed to steadily grow distributions over the long term.

    Citi is forecasting dividends per share of 69.5 cents in FY 2026 and then 73.7 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $15.10, this equates to dividend yields of 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively.

    Citi currently has a buy rating and $16.10 price target on the ASX dividend stock.

    The post 3 ASX dividend shares to buy with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Cedar Woods Properties Limited right now?

    Before you buy Cedar Woods Properties Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Cedar Woods Properties Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Give me more Spotify Wrapped. I have thoughts on what companies should (and shouldn’t) launch their own versions.

    A Spotify Wrapped billboard is pictured in New York.
    Spotify is expanding its out-of-home bet for 2025.

    Spotify

    • Spotify Wrapped dropped this week. That got me thinking, what else can we wrap?
    • YouTube joined in on the fun this year, and apps like Apple Music and Strava are partaking, too.
    • Here are my pitches for more apps that should wrap things for us. Perhaps TikTok or LinkedIn.

    It's that time of year. No, not the holidays. It's the season of Spotify Wrapped — and, apparently, Many Other Things Wrapped.

    Spotify and other music streaming services, such as Apple Music, aren't the only companies releasing wrapped services this year.

    YouTube launched its own "recap" feature to summarize all the creators and content you've consumed this year. Running app Strava plans to roll out a "Year in Sport" recap for its users next week. And last year, apps like Partiful and Duolingo also partook in the data wrapping trend.

    Why do we care so much about seeing all of our personal data summarized, though?

    "In general, people love looking in the mirror," said Jad Esber, who's building an app called Shelf that lets people document all sorts of media they're consuming in real time. "People are fundamentally really interested in themselves."

    Seeing our personal data reflected back to us helps people understand themselves and is an instant conversation starter, Esber said.

    Spotify Wrapped culture has some people documenting their personal data and wrapping it each year. One of them is Neha Halebeed, a 24-year-old in New York City who recaps her own annual personal data, such as every ice cream flavor she tried or everything she bought.

    Halebeed said she'd love to have her Gmail, text messages, or phone calls wrapped.

    There's an opportunity for every social media platform to get in on the fun. Some should absolutely try this out. Others should think twice.

    "Not every data needs to be wrapped," Halebeed said.

    There's also the argument that our obsession with collecting and now sharing our data is a form of surveillance.

    Here are my pitches about what tech companies should (and shouldn't) roll out their own wrapped products:

    • TikTok and Instagram. Let me see my favorite videos! Tell me about the rabbit holes I went down on TikTok. Tally how many videos I sent to friends without a response. How many followers did I lose this year?
    • LinkedIn, hear me out. Imagine if you got a recap of all the connections you made that year. Or a summary of who your top profile viewers were. Or a defining label for your genre of LinkedIn poetry.
    • Can the streaming services hold hands for just one day? I've lost track of all the shows I've been watching this year, and Letterboxd still doesn't do a great job of tracking TV. I want to know how many hours I've clocked on each streaming service and what I spent the most time watching. This could have the added benefit of helping me see which services I've hardly been using.
    • Literally every dating app. People have already taken this into their own hands on TikTok, creating slideshows that summarize the number of dates they've gone on or how many times they've been ghosted. But imagine if the dating apps let you know how many times you swiped, your most liked profile photo, or the profiles you matched with but never followed up with. This could also be a horrible idea, I admit.
    • ChatGPT. This is a plea. Don't do this, please. I don't want to know. It's bad enough that it logs every query and remembers what I've said before.
    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Dollar General’s CEO sees potential in 11,000 locations left empty as rivals like pharmacies shutter stores

    A Dollar General store is seen at night as customers walk in the main entrance from the parking lot.
    Dollar General sees opportunities to fill spots left behind as rivals close stores.

    Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    • Dollar General is planning to open fewer stores in 2026 than it did this year.
    • But its CEO sees plenty of space for thousands more Dollar General locations.
    • That's because rivals, such as drug stores, have shuttered many locations.

    Dollar General has over 20,000 stores. Its CEO says it has the opportunity to add thousands more in the long run.

    In 2026, Dollar General plans to open 450 new stores, the company said on Thursday. That's a slower pace compared to the 575 it planned for 2025.

    But CEO Todd Vasos said that the chain has identified about 11,000 places in the continental US where it could open a Dollar General store in the future.

    On the company's third-quarter earnings call on Thursday, an analyst asked if Dollar General executives see expansion opportunities as other chains, such as rival Family Dollar and drugstores such as Rite Aid, shutter locations.

    Dollar General won't necessarily open a store at each of those 11,000 locations, though the company sees opportunities to open up shop where its rivals once were, Vasos said.

    "We won't get all those," he said in response to the analyst. "But your question pointed to the reason we're bullish on getting a lot of these."

    "Our competition today is really not opening a lot of stores," Vasos said. "We don't feel compelled to have to rush to open a lot of stores."

    At the same time, Dollar Generals' executives feel "very bullish about what the future looks like" because of the availability of store locations, Vasos said.

    Dollar General opened its 20,000th store early last year. Besides its standard store format, it also operates locations focused on fresh groceries and suburban shoppers seeking decor.

    Dollar General's third-quarter earnings results largely beat analysts' expectations, and the company raised its profit forecast for 2025. The chain's stock is up 49% so far this year.

    Do you have a story to share about Dollar General? Contact Alex Bitter at abitter@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Meet the newest ASX ETF from Betashares

    Three happy construction workers on an infrastructure site have a chat.

    There are plenty of well-established, index tracking ASX ETFs. 

    In Australia, funds like Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) and iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) track the biggest companies domestically. 

    Additionally, there are similar funds to track US blue-chips.

    However, there have been plenty of new funds hitting the market this year as providers try to focus on niche sectors and themes.

    At the end of October, Betashares dropped its newest fund. 

    The fund is the FTSE Global Infrastructure Shares Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: TOLL). 

    ASX ETF overview 

    According to Betashares, the fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides exposure to infrastructure companies from developed countries, hedged into Australian dollars.

    It is currently made up of 135 holdings. 

    The provider said 50% of the portfolio is invested in utilities, 30% in transportation companies and 20% in infrastructure REITs, energy pipelines and telecommunications.

    Infrastructure companies provide capital-intensive essential services that tend to be in consistent demand across the economic cycle. As a result, they typically enjoy strong market positions and pricing power, making them a useful portfolio building block. Low historical correlations with global equities mean an allocation to global infrastructure can also contribute to portfolio diversification.

    According to the provider, the companies that this fund invests in tend to generate stable, long-term cash flows that are often linked to inflation. 

    It aims to generate attractive quarterly income, funded by the dividends paid by the companies in the portfolio.

    It has a 12 month trailing dividend yield of 3.2%.

    Geographically, its largest exposure is to companies in: 

    • United States (59.0%)
    • Canada (10.8%)
    • Australia (6.2%)
    • Spain (5.7%)
    • Britain (4.2%)

    The fund is currency-hedged to AUD. This means the fund seeks to neutralise fluctuations in foreign currencies vs the Australian dollar. That means investors hold a “global infrastructure” exposure but with reduced foreign-exchange risk.

    How has it performed?

    This ASX ETF has only been listed for roughly one month so far. 

    However, it is up 1.26% in that span. 

    The fund may be ideal for investors wanting global infrastructure exposure without currency risk. 

    It is worth mentioning there are some funds already listed on the ASX that may be directly competing with this Betashares ETF. 

    For example: 

    • Vanguard Global Infrastructure Index ETF (ASX: VBLD) – This fund offers exposure to infrastructure sectors, including transportation, energy and telecommunications. The ETF is exposed to the fluctuating values of foreign currencies.
    • VanEck Ftse Global Infrastructure (Hedged) ETF (ASX: IFRA) – Also gives investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of infrastructure securities listed on exchanges in developed markets around the world.

    The post Meet the newest ASX ETF from Betashares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.