Author: openjargon

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are storming higher in Monday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing, the petroleum company’s shares are up around 4% and trading at an all-time high of $41.42 a piece.

Today’s hike means the shares are now up 29% for the year to date, and have rallied 40% higher over the past 12 months.

The latest increase comes off the back of Ampol’s first-half FY26 results, which it posted to the ASX ahead of the market open this morning.

Investors are clearly thrilled with the update, and many are rushing to snap up its shares while they’re still trading for cheap. 

Ampol announced that its Group replacement cost operating profit (RCOP) came in 152% higher versus the first half of FY25, RCOP NPAT surged a huge 376% compared to the prior corresponding period, and statutory NPAT came to $1,363 million, compared to a loss of $25 million last year.

The strong result also meant Ampol was able to raise its fully-franked interim dividend to 185 cents per share, more than four times the prior year.

Ongoing concerns around global oil supply have also helped drive the shares higher over the past 12 months. 

Ampol is Australia’s largest transport energy distributor and retailer, with more than 1,800 Ampol-branded service stations across the country. 

The company has also posted a few updates that have gathered investor attention. In June, Ampol received the green light, with conditions, from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a proposed acquisition of fuel and convenience store operator, EG Australia. 

It also previously confirmed a 10% increase in refinery production, higher refiner margins, and increased production in its Q1 FY26 trading update.

What do brokers tip next for Ampol shares?

Brokers have a very positive stance on Ampol shares, but after today’s price increase, the average target price now implies a downside ahead.

I expect to see the experts revise their forecast for Ampol shares in the coming days, but at the time of writing, Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the shares, and the $41.25 average target price implies a potential 0.5% downside.

TradingView data shows something similar. Out of 10 analysts, five have a buy/strong buy rating on the stock. Four more rate Ampol shares as a hold and one as a sell.

The average $41.78 target price implies a potential 1% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. But the more bullish of the bunch think there is potential for the shares to climb another 19% to $49.25.

So, if I invest $5,000 into Ampol shares today, what could they be worth in 12 months?

These forecasts suggest that a $5,000 investment in Ampol shares today could rise slightly to somewhere around $5,050 within the next 12 months. 

Or if the more bearish broker forecasts are correct, we could see the same investment climb as high as $5,950 by this time next year.

The post By August 2027, $5,000 invested in Ampol shares could turn into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the monster Ampol dividend
• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares experts rate as compelling
• Ampol Ltd delivers huge earnings jump as supply chain supports profit growth

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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are pushing higher again on Monday.

At the time of writing, the WiseTech share price is up 3.12% to $43.65.

The rally has gathered plenty of pace over the past month, with the logistics software stock now up almost 40% during that period.

It is also around 52% above its 23 June low of $28.76. That’s a very different picture from late June, when the shares were trading at their lowest level in 5 years.

However, shareholders are still sitting on a sizeable loss in 2026, with WiseTech shares down 36% since the beginning of the year.

So, has the share price finally left its lows behind?

A big rebound from June

WiseTech shares have spent much of the past year heading in the wrong direction.

The stock has fallen from a 52-week high of $115.75 and remains more than 60% below where it was this time last year.

A mix of governance concerns, regulatory issues, and weaker investor sentiment towards tech stocks has weighed heavily on the shares.

But the mood has changed since late June.

There have been some positive developments as well. Major customer DSV remains committed under its existing contract until September 2028. Bell Potter has also pointed to the appointment of an independent chair as a positive step towards addressing governance concerns.

WiseTech has continued to invest in its business as well, including the acquisition of US-based FRDM.ai in July.

All eyes on Wednesday’s result

The next major test comes on 26 August, when WiseTech is due to release its FY26 results.

Management has reaffirmed revenue guidance of US$1.39 billion to US$1.44 billion, representing growth of 79% to 85%.

EBITDA is expected to come in between US$550 million and US$585 million, up 44% to 53% from FY25.

The company has also reached its US$50 million annualised cost synergy target from the e2open acquisition ahead of schedule.

With the share price already rebounding strongly, investors will likely want to see WiseTech deliver within those ranges and provide a solid outlook for FY27.

Is the bottom behind WiseTech shares?

The recovery from $28.76 is definitely encouraging, but one month of strong gains doesn’t erase the risks that pushed the stock lower.

WiseTech still faces regulatory and governance questions, while the shares remain well below their previous highs.

At the same time, the underlying business continues to grow quickly.

Wednesday’s result could give investors a better idea of whether this rebound can keep going.

The post Up 52% from its low! Has the WiseTech share price finally bottomed out? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX growth shares brokers say could beat the market
• Why did WiseTech shares just crash 10%?
• By August 2027, $8,000 invested in WiseTech shares could turn into…
• WiseTech shares are up 25%. Could this be the start of a huge comeback?
• Down 50% – Are these the best value ASX 200 shares right now?

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.

Shares in Playside Studios Ltd (ASX: PLY) are down more than 40% over the past year, but if the team at Shaw and Partners are to be believed, they could more than double in the coming 12 months.

Strong results posted on the back of new game

Playside last week released its FY26 results, with revenue of $54.9 million coming in higher than guidance of $50-$53 million and 13% up on the previous year.

The company’s EBITDA came in at $15.5 million and net profit was $5.4 million.

A major development for the company during FY26 was the release of its game, Mouse: P.I. For Hire.

Playside Chief Executive Officer Benn Skender said:

There was clear demand for the title well before launch, and the team converted it with a polished, exceptionally well-reviewed game that has translated directly into strong sales and a franchise we can build on. That is a hard thing to get right in this industry, and it validates both the publishing model we have been building and the studios we choose to back. External Projects has been tougher this year and we have aligned our cost base accordingly. At the same time we have expanded our Business Development team and global presence because we view current conditions as cyclical rather than structural, and we intend to be well positioned as demand recovers. The award of several small projects in recent weeks has been a positive in this regard.

In the current year the company will be releasing Games of Thrones: War for Westeros, and Dumb Ways to Build, the latter of which will be released in coming weeks.

Playside said Mouse: P.I. For Hire was the most successful game launch in the company’s history and generated US$28 million in gross sales.

The company also said it had carried out a restructure which had led to $12 million in annualised savings.

Shares looking cheap, broker says

Shaw and Partners said there was not much clarity on the outlook from the company, but with two new games in the pipeline there was the possibility of an earnings boost.

That said they were predicting a fall in earnings.

They said:

FY27 financial guidance is limited, with management highlighting continued MOUSE monetisation, Dumb Ways to Build launching in September, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros in 2H27 and ~$5m of incremental annualised cost savings. We forecast FY27 revenue of $45m (-19% YoY), EBITDA of $11m and cash burn of ~$11m, leaving ~$6m cash at year-end. Our forecasts assume relatively modest contributions from new game launches and External Projects, providing upside should either outperform.

Shaw and Partners has reduced their price target on Playside from 28 cents to 23 cents, still well above the current level of 11.5 cents.

Playside is valued at $56.6 million.

The post This ASX game developer could double in value: Broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the PLS Group dividend
• Everything you need to know about the monster Ampol dividend
• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Fortescue, CBA shares
• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?

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

Investors have learned today what the PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) dividend will be following the release of the FY26 result.

The dividends have been restarted after a weak period for the lithium price. A 121% jump of the realised (sold) price to US$1,488 per tonne helped revenue climb 152% to $1.9 billion and net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 369% to $528 million.

There won’t be many ASX shares with a market capitalisation of more than $10 million that deliver that level of growth during this reporting season.

During the year, and thanks to improving lithium prices and market confidence, the ASX lithium share changed from defensive positioning to growth-focused. This led the business to restart the Ngungaju processing plant and update the study timelines for the P2000 and Colina projects.

The company also noted that the P2000 and Colina project feasibility studies have progressed and the P2000 pre-FID investment of approximately $175 million capital expenditure was approved in June.

PLS dividend announced

The PLS Group board of directors declared a fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share. This represents a total payment of approximately $161 million to shareholders.

PLS Group said the declared amount is in line with its capital management framework and dividend policy.

The dividend represents a dividend payout ratio of 22% of FY26 adjusted free cash flow. The ASX lithium share noted that adjusted free cash flow is statutory operating cash flow minus tax paid and tax payable, minus sustaining capital (including capitalised waste mine development) and excludes customer prepayments.

When will this be paid?

Before we get to the payment date, we need to look at the ex-dividend date.

The ex-dividend date is the cutoff for entitlement to the upcoming dividend. PLS Group announced that its ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 2 September 2026. Therefore, the last day that investors can invest and gain entitlement to the payout is 1 September 2026 – just over a week away.

Following that, owners of PLS shares will receive the payment into their bank accounts on 24 September 2026.

At the pre-open price, the FY26 dividend represents a dividend yield of 1% excluding franking credits and 1.4% including franking credits. That’s not exactly a huge dividend yield, but the company is deliberately holding onto its cash so it can invest in its growth projects like Colina and P2000.

The company’s capital expenditure is expected to more than double to between $620 million to $685 million for FY27 as the business invests for growth.

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

More reading

• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• PLS Group posts record FY26 profit, revenue and resumes dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

Earnings season is rolling on this week, with several prominent S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares dropping their latest numbers today. Amongst those shares was energy stock Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD). Income investors may want to have a read to check out Ampol’s latest dividend, because it’s a doozy.

As we covered this morning, it was a bumper set of numbers that Ampol dropped for the first half of its FY2026. The company reported group earnings of $1.64 billion, up a whopping 152% on what it reported for the first half of FY2025. Net profit after tax (NPAT) (excluding significant Items) roared 376% higher to $857 million, while the company reported a statutory NPAT of $1.36 billion. That was up from a loss of $25 million last year.

But let’s get down to the dividends.

Over the past 12 months, Ampol has doled out a total of $1 per share in dividend payments to its investors. That $1 broke down into an interim dividend of 40 cents per share from last September. As well as a 60 cents per share final dividend from April. As is Ampol’s habit, both of these payments came with full franking credits attached.

Ampol shares lift as new monster dividend unveiled

However, what Ampol unveiled this morning puts those payments to shame. Investors just found out that they can expect an interim dividend of $1.85 per share in 2026, up an astonishing 362.5% over the equivalent payout from 2025. It will come fully franked as well.

Together with that final April dividend, this takes Ampol’s 2026 payouts to a hefty $2.45 per share.

Ampol has nominated 4 September next month as its ex-dividend date for this latest payout. So if investors want to receive this monster Ampol dividend, but don’t yet own shares, they will need to buy some before the close of trade on 3 September. Payment day will then roll aorund on 30 September.

Ampol does not currently offer a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). As such, shareholders will have no option but to accept this dividend as a cash payment.

At the time of writing, the market has reacted positively to Ampol’s earnings, giving the company’s shares a 2.5% boost up to $40.85 each. At this share price, Ampol is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2.45%. However, this dramatically increased new dividend now gives the company a much-improved forward yield of 6%.

That’s certainly worthy of a closer look if you are a dividend investor looking for income on the ASX today.

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

More reading

• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares experts rate as compelling
• Ampol Ltd delivers huge earnings jump as supply chain supports profit growth
• ASX 200 energy shares rise 6% as reignited US-Iran conflict continues

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 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.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are creating a buzz today.

Two of the high-profile S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) are charging ahead of the 0.3% gains posted by the benchmark index in late morning trade on Monday, while one is in the red.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest.

Ampol shares jump on dividend boost

Ampol shares are up 2.5% at time of writing, changing hands for $40.85 apiece.

This follows the release of the Aussie fuel supplier’s half year results (H1 2026).

Highlights for the six months include a 152% year-on-year increase in Replacement Cost Operating Profit (RCOP) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to $1.64 billion (excluding significant items).

And on the bottom line, Ampol shares are getting a boost with the company reporting a statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.36 billion, up from a loss of $25 million in H1 2025.

And with profits surging, management declared a fully franked interim dividend of $1.85 per share, up a whopping 362.5% from last year’s interim payout.

Bendigo Bank shares slide on economic growth outlook

Unlike Ampol shares, Bendigo Bank shares are in the red today, down 1.1% at $10.38 each.

That comes as investors study the ASX 200 bank stock’s full year results release.

On the positive front, Bendigo Bank reported a 3.0% year-on-year increase in cash earnings to $530 million for the year. The bank also achieved a statutory net profit after tax of $375 million.

The fully franked final Bendigo Bank dividend of 33 cents per share was in line with last year’s final payout.

However, as with the other ASX 200 banks, investors may be favouring their sell buttons with an eye on a potentially slowing Aussie economy dragging on the Bendigo’s growth outlook.

The company noted:

Cost-of-living pressures due to higher inflation (especially since the Middle East conflict) have led to a sharp fall in consumer sentiment. Three RBA rate hikes, softening property prices and geopolitical events are expected to result in more modest economic growth this financial year.

Which bring us to…

PLS shares leap on return to profit

Joining Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares in the financial headlines on Monday, we find PLS, formerly known as Pilbara Minerals.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 lithium stock are up 7.3%, swapping hands for $5.44 apiece.

That strong performance follows the release of PLS own FY 2026 results.

Investors are responding positively, with PLS reporting a 152% year-on-year increase in revenue to $1.93 billion. PLS achieved a NPAT of $526 million, up from a net loss of $196 million last year.

And passive income investors will be celebrating the return of the PLS dividend. Management declared a final fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share.

PLS suspended its dividend payouts in 2024 amid cratering global lithium prices.

The post Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the PLS Group dividend
• Everything you need to know about the monster Ampol dividend
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank FY26 earnings: profit lifts to $375.1 million, dividend steady

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. 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 up 0.27% to 9,086.2 points as earnings season continues on Monday.

Among the 11 market sectors, materials and miners are in the lead today, up 1.7%.

The sector pushed higher amid BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares reaching a new record of $67.72, up 3.9%, in early trading.

The financials sector is the laggard today, down 1%.

Let’s check out some new expert ratings on three ASX 200 sector heavyweights.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $191.56, down 0.02% today and down 37% over 12 months. 

Pro Medicus shares jumped 7.1% last week after the company released its FY26 results.

The Pro Medicus share price is up 20% since the downtrodden healthcare sector pivoted on 3 June. 

Morgans maintained its accumulate rating on Pro Medicus shares after the report.

Analyst Iain Wilkie said: 

FY26 confirms PME is executing at an even higher level than the market gave it credit for. EBIT margin of 74.9% and constant currency EBIT growth of 30.6% both beat expectations comfortably, with the FX-driven softness in headline revenue a currency story, not a demand or execution one.

Momentum remains broad-based, implementations are ahead of schedule, renewals are a clean sweep, and the pipeline is opening up in new segments rather than just deepening in existing ones.

Looking ahead, FY27 is shaping as a genuine standout year. With four Trinity cohorts and 15 other implementations already banked rather than still ramping, the P&L gets the full run-rate benefit without needing fresh signings just to stand still.

Nothing in the result gives us any pause for change versus our positive view.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is $18.08, up 1.8% today and down 10% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a hold rating on this ASX 200 mining share following the company’s FY26 report last week.

Analyst Adrian Prendergast said: 

A mixed FY26 result from FMG, with higher revenue helping to offset cost increases and elevated admin/R&D to help keep underlying earnings flat.

With the focus on FY27 guidance, Iron Bridge remained a key issue, with the magnetite operation struggling through ramp up and with elevated costs.

Plans for a green steel plant was big news, although difficult to quantify.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is $155.24, down 1.7% today and down 9% over 12 months. 

CBA reported a 7% increase in its cash net profit after tax (NPAT) to $11 billion for FY26.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a sell rating on this ASX 200 bank share. 

He explained (courtesy The Bull):

CBA shares deserves to trade at a premium given its dominant retail franchise, strong technology platform, solid deposit base and consistent execution.

However, Australian banking remains a mature industry, with intense competition across mortgages and deposits limiting the potential for outsized earnings growth.

At a premium valuation, investors are paying a higher price for quality, leaving little room for disappointment.

After a substantial re-rating, investors may be better served taking some profits and reallocating capital towards businesses offering stronger growth at more reasonable valuations.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Fortescue, CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?
• Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today
• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
• ASX 200 healthcare shares soar 9% amid notable FY26 reports from CSL, Pro Medicus
• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares

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

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have continued sliding since the bank’s latest quarterly update.

A new 52-week low naturally makes the shares look more tempting.

But has the investment case improved enough for me to buy?

The valuation has come down

Westpac shares touched a 52-week low of $33.46 on Monday, well below their 52-week high of $43.32.

That represents a decline of almost 23% from the peak and has taken some of the heat out of the valuation.

According to CommSec, analysts currently expect earnings per share of $2.08 in FY26 and $2.15 in FY27. At $33.46, Westpac is trading at around 16 times FY26 earnings and approximately 15.6 times FY27 earnings.

Those numbers look considerably more reasonable to me than they did when the shares were above $40.

Consensus forecasts also point to fully franked dividends of $1.54 per share in FY26 and $1.55 in FY27, so investors are still being offered a healthy stream of income while they wait.

But a cheaper share price alone is not enough to make me change my view.

My main concern hasn’t gone away

I wrote negatively about Westpac earlier this month after its third-quarter update, and the issue that bothered me then is still important today.

Mortgage applications have slowed.

Westpac reported average monthly mortgage applications of around 29,000 during the third quarter, while the run rate following the federal budget had fallen further to approximately 26,000.

That catches my attention because home lending remains a huge part of Westpac’s business. Its Australian mortgage portfolio stood at $529.1 billion at the end of June.

The bank also expects Australian housing credit growth to slow from 6.8% in FY26 to 4.7% in FY27.

Westpac is still profitable and its third-quarter update contained positives, including growth in business lending and deposits. But I would like to see clearer evidence that the bank can generate stronger growth outside its enormous mortgage business before becoming more positive.

The consensus numbers do not give me much reason to rush either. Earnings per share are currently expected to rise only modestly between FY26 and FY27, while the dividend forecast is almost unchanged.

I’d rather own CBA or NAB

If I wanted to buy an Australian bank today, I would still look elsewhere.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) remains my preferred high-quality banking business.

I like its enormous customer franchise, strong digital capabilities, and ability to grow relationships across personal banking, home lending, business banking, and other financial services.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) also interests me more than Westpac.

NAB’s strong position in business banking gives it exposure to an area I find attractive, particularly when competition and slower growth can make Australian home lending more challenging.

Westpac is working to strengthen its own business banking operations, including adding more regional bankers. That could help over time.

For now, though, I think CBA and NAB give me stronger reasons to invest.

Foolish takeaway

The new 52-week low has made Westpac shares more reasonably priced, but I am still not a buyer.

I would want more than a falling share price to change my mind. The slowdown in mortgage applications remains a concern, while current forecasts suggest earnings growth could be fairly subdued in the near term.

Westpac could certainly recover from here, and its dividend may attract income investors.

For my own money, though, I would rather put it behind CBA or NAB and wait for stronger evidence before reconsidering Westpac.

The post Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares
• Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today
• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares
• 3 reasons to buy CBA shares following its results

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 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.

Shares in automotive repairer AMA Group Ltd (ASX: AMA) have fallen almost 50% over the past 12 months, but the analyst team at Bell Potter thinks the company is worth another look.

Solid profit result posted

The company last week reported its full-year results, with revenue coming in at $1.04 billion and EBITDA tipping the scales at $68 million, up 8.6%.

Managing Director Ray Smith-Roberts said the company had delivered positive results despite a challenging operating environment.

He said:

AMA is increasingly becoming a vertically integrated business that combines vehicle repair services with automotive parts sourcing and supply, enabling greater control over repair quality, turnaround times and costs. Being vertically integrated, with multiple income streams, provides us with a key competitive advantage. Strong performances from our ACM, Mechanical and ADAS businesses demonstrate the value of complementary capabilities across the vehicle repair lifecycle and position the Group to respond to evolving customer and industry needs.

The company opened three new sites during the year, in South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

The company also declared a dividend of 0.5 cents per share – its first since 2019.

On the outlook for FY27, AMA Group said it expected EBITDA to be in the range of $75 to $80 million, “subject to ordinary trading conditions”.

Shares looking cheap, broker says

Bell Potter has a positive outlook on the company despite the earnings results missing consensus estimates.

They said:

The result … missed the guidance of $70-75m and was largely driven by a lower-than-anticipated uplift in repair volumes during Q4 as a result of higher fuel prices and public transport concessions. A highlight of the result was the positive free cash flow of $2.5m – we had forecast around breakeven – and the lower than expected year end net debt level of $18.4m. Positive surprise of the result was a final dividend of 0.5c fully franked where we had not forecast any.  

Bell Potter slightly downgraded its earnings expectations for AMA Group, with its EBITDA forecast now $76.7 million, which is towards the lower end of the company’s own forecast.

This flowed through into a lower price target for the company, down from $1 to 90 cents, but still well above the current share price of 49.5 cents.

Bell Potter said one of the main risks to the company was customer concentration.

They said:

The car insurance market in Australia is heavily concentrated and a significant proportion of AMA’s revenue is derived from the top two insurers, Suncorp and IAG. Any breakdown in the relationship with one or both of these insurers could have a material adverse impact on AMA’s revenue and profitability.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX small cap could almost double in value appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for their global growth potential
• Two ASX data centre stocks rated a buy
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today

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

Some of my favourite ASX opportunities are businesses that have already proven themselves in Australia but still have enormous markets overseas to pursue.

If they can keep building their international presence, I think the three shares below could be considerably larger businesses in the years ahead.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville has turned an Australian appliance brand into a global premium kitchen business.

Its products now compete in major markets around the world, particularly across coffee and food preparation.

I think coffee is one of the most interesting parts of the opportunity.

Consumers have become increasingly willing to spend money on better coffee at home, and Breville has built a strong reputation for machines that sit between basic household appliances and much more expensive professional equipment.

That gives the company room to keep attracting people who want to recreate the café experience at home.

Breville can also grow by entering more countries, expanding its product range, and encouraging existing customers to buy additional products over time.

One thing I like is that the company does not need to become the dominant appliance company everywhere. Winning a larger share of premium kitchen spending across a growing collection of markets could be enough to support many years of expansion.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult Sports operates in a growing part of the technology industry.

Its technology helps professional sporting organisations analyse athlete performance, video, tactics, and other information used by coaches and performance teams.

I think there is a strong long-term reason for clubs to spend more in this area.

Elite sport is enormously competitive. Even small improvements in player preparation, recruitment, injury management, or tactical decision-making can be valuable when teams are trying to gain an advantage.

Catapult can keep expanding by signing more organisations, adding more teams within existing customers, and encouraging those customers to use more of its software and technology.

The company has also broadened its offering through areas such as video analysis and athlete scouting.

For me, that creates the opportunity for Catapult to become increasingly embedded in how professional sporting organisations operate.

There are major leagues, clubs, universities, and sporting programs across the world, so I think the addressable market still gives the business plenty of room to run.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport gives businesses a way to connect their networks directly to cloud providers, data centres, and other digital infrastructure.

I think that becomes more valuable as companies rely on a growing number of cloud services.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could create another source of demand for Megaport’s services.

AI workloads require enormous amounts of computing power and data to move between infrastructure. Businesses may need to connect to several cloud providers or specialised computing platforms rather than keeping everything in one place.

Megaport has also expanded into AI infrastructure through Latitude.sh, giving it exposure to customers looking for access to high-performance computing.

I like the broader idea here. As corporate IT infrastructure becomes more distributed, businesses need flexible ways to connect everything together. Megaport has built a global network specifically around solving that problem.

If cloud computing and AI infrastructure continue expanding, I think the amount of connectivity businesses require could grow substantially with them.

Foolish takeaway

I think Australian investors sometimes underestimate just how large the opportunity can become when an ASX-listed company succeeds internationally.

Breville, Catapult Sports, and Megaport already have businesses that extend well beyond Australia, but I think there is still plenty of territory left to capture.

I would be comfortable buying all three and giving their global ambitions years to play out.

The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy for their global growth potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Two ASX data centre stocks rated a buy
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Why Megaport, Lendlease and JB Hi-Fi shares all crashed 14% to 15% this week
• 8 ASX shares just upgraded by the experts
• 3 ASX shares UBS says will return better than 36%

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