Author: openjargon

If I had $5,000 to deploy into ASX mid-cap shares right now, I’d want businesses that are already executing at scale, but still have meaningful runway ahead of them.

Mid-caps are often where I see the most exciting balance of growth and proven economics. They’re big enough to have systems and cash flow, but small enough that store rollouts, new product launches, or geographic expansion can still move the needle.

Here’s where I would put my money.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Lovisa is one of the cleanest global retail growth stories on the ASX in my view.

The company delivered revenue growth of 23.3% in the first-half of FY26 to $500.7 million, with comparable store sales up 2.2%. That tells me growth isn’t just coming from new stores, but from existing locations as well.

What really stands out to me is the gross margin. Underlying gross margin expanded again to 82.9%, up 50 basis points. For a retailer expanding this quickly, that level of margin strength is impressive.

Store rollout remains the engine. Lovisa opened 85 new stores in the half, taking the network to 1,095 stores globally. With operations now spanning more than 50 markets, I believe the global footprint still has room to expand materially.

For a $5,000 mid-cap allocation, I like that Lovisa combines strong cash generation, margin discipline, and a clear growth lever in store rollout.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is a different kind of mid-cap. It’s a premium consumer brand with global scale and pricing power.

The company delivered 10.1% revenue growth in the first half of FY26 to $1.1 billion, despite operating in what management described as a challenging tariff environment. Coffee continued to deliver double-digit growth, and new product launches contributed materially to performance.

What I find encouraging is how Breville managed US tariff pressure. By December, 80% of US gross profit was manufactured outside China. That kind of operational agility gives me confidence in management.

It is also leaning into enterprise-wide AI initiatives and continuing to invest in new geographies and product development. To me, that signals a company thinking long term, not just protecting short-term earnings.

Breville isn’t a hyper-growth stock, but I believe it’s a global brand builder with expanding optionality.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix is the higher-risk, higher-reward pick in this group. Revenue jumped 56% to US$803.8 million in FY25, driven by continued growth in its Precision Medicine franchise. That’s not incremental growth. That’s meaningful scale being built quickly.

The company is also investing heavily in its pipeline, with US$157.1 million deployed into R&D during the year. It now has multiple late-stage therapeutic assets across prostate, kidney, and brain cancer programs.

Importantly, Telix is guiding to FY26 revenue of US$950 million to US$970 million. That forward guidance tells me management sees continued commercial momentum.

This is not a defensive stock. But for a mid-cap allocation, I like having exposure to a company building a global radiopharmaceutical platform with expanding commercial and pipeline depth.

Foolish takeaway

If I were splitting $5,000 across ASX mid-cap shares today, I’d want a mix of global retail execution, premium consumer branding, and high-growth healthcare innovation.

Lovisa offers disciplined global store expansion and exceptional margins. Breville combines brand power with operational agility. Telix brings commercial growth and pipeline upside.

The post Where to invest $5,000 in ASX mid-cap shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

There has been a flurry of results releases this week. Some have gone down well with the market, others have not.

Three ASX shares that impressed enough to get an upgrade from Morgans are named below. Here’s why the broker has become bullish on them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

This footwear retailer delivered a profit result that was down heavily over the prior corresponding period, but in line with expectations.

Outside this, the broker was pleased to see management decide to close down the Glue Store brand and believes it will be supportive of earnings growth in FY 2027.

In light of this and the low multiples its shares trade on, the broker has upgraded the stock to a buy rating with a $1.30 price target. It said:

AX1 reported 1H26 EBIT which was down 30% yoy to $56.5m, in line with the revised guidance range provided in November ($55-60m). The decline was driven by soft comp sales and significant operating de-leverage from lower gross margins. AX1 has made the unsurprising decision to cease operations of loss-making Glue store, which contributed $8.4m EBIT loss in 1H26. On an underlying basis, EBIT fell 10%. We see this providing incremental benefit on group earnings in FY27.

We have increased our EBIT by 1.5% in FY26 and by 11% in FY27. Our blended valuation lifts to $1.30 (from $1.10). We have upgraded to a BUY (from HOLD). We see significant earnings growth in FY27, driven by underlying FY26 run-rate (ex-Glue), this makes the stock look inexpensive at ~10x FY27 P/E and ~5.6% yield.

Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE)

Morgans notes that this financial technology company delivered a profit result ahead of expectations. In response, it has upgraded its forecasts, bumped its valuation higher, and lifted its recommendation.

The broker now rates Iress shares as a buy with a $10.95 price target. It explains:

IRE delivered a solid FY25 result with underlying EBITDA of A$136.2m, +4.7% ahead of our estimate, and the group’s FY25 guidance range. Divisionally each segment delivered solid EBITDA growth half on half, with APAC Wealth up +24.5%, UK Wealth +46%, and GTMD +8.6%. FY26 Cash EBITDA guidance (underlying EBITDA less capex) was provided at A$116-126m (representing 15-26% growth YoY).

IRE flagged that capex for FY26 will remain in line with FY25, which implies further operating leverage is expected. We upgrade our underlying EBITDA forecasts by +5-6%, which sees our price target increase to $10.95 from $10.50. With over 50% implied TSR, we move to a BUY rating from ACCUMULATE.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

A third ASX share that has been upgraded by Morgans is hotel technology company Siteminder.

In response to its mixed half-year result and recent share price weakness, the broker has upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $7.00 price target. It said:

SDR’s 1H26 result was largely per expectations at the revenue line (A$131m, +23% on the pcp on a constant currency basis), however marginally below at EBITDA. Growth in transaction revenue and the mix shift towards the higher margin Smart Platform offering saw the group gross margin expand ~98bps to 67.8%. Key business metrics remain robust (e.g LTV/CAC of 6.7x, ARR and Rule of 40 growth).

We undertake a broad review of our assumptions in this update. Our price target is lowered to A$7.00 (from A$8.10) as a result. However, given the significant discount of the current share price versus our valuation we upgrade to a BUY recommendation.

The post Morgans just upgraded these ASX shares to buy ratings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Accent, DroneShield, WiseTech Global, and Woolworths shares are racing higher

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

If I were looking for passive income on the ASX, I wouldn’t just focus on the headline dividend yield. I want reliability, visibility, and a business model that can support distributions year after year.

That’s why APA Group (ASX: APA) comes up on my radar.

At a share price of $9.06 and FY26 distribution guidance of 58 cents per security, APA is offering a forward yield of approximately 6.4%. In today’s market, that is certainly attention-grabbing. But I think the real question is whether that passive income stream looks sustainable.

A business built for predictable cash flow

APA owns and operates critical energy infrastructure assets across Australia, including gas transmission pipelines, storage, and electricity generation and transmission assets.

What I like about this model is that much of its revenue is contracted and often linked to inflation. In its latest half-year update, APA delivered underlying EBITDA growth of 7.6% to $1,092 million and lifted EBITDA margins to 77.3%, reflecting both tariff escalation and cost discipline.

High margins and predictable cash flows are exactly what I want backing a 6%+ yield.

The company also reaffirmed its FY26 distribution guidance of 58 cents per security, which gives investors a clear line of sight on passive income over the next year.

Growth without recklessness

One of my concerns with high-yield stocks is that sometimes they are mature businesses with little growth left. APA doesn’t look that way to me.

Management recently increased its FY26–FY28 organic growth pipeline from $2.1 billion to around $3 billion. That’s a meaningful uplift and suggests the company sees real opportunities in its core infrastructure markets.

Importantly, APA also highlighted that its balance sheet remains strong, with additional funding capacity following an S&P threshold modification that increased capacity by more than $1 billion.

To me, that combination of a solid balance sheet and visible project pipeline reduces the risk that the dividend is being stretched.

Positioned for Australia’s energy transition

Another reason I find APA interesting is its strategic role in Australia’s evolving energy system.

It continues to expand its East Coast Gas Grid and invest in electricity transmission and storage. Regardless of where you sit on the energy debate, it is clear that gas and electricity infrastructure will remain critical to Australia’s economy for decades.

APA’s assets are not speculative. They are embedded in the national energy network.

That gives me confidence that the cash flows supporting its 6.4% yield are underpinned by long-life, hard-to-replicate infrastructure.

Is it one of the best ASX shares for passive income?

No dividend is guaranteed. APA itself notes that guidance is subject to asset performance, macroeconomic factors, and regulatory changes. Investors also need to be comfortable with exposure to interest rate movements and energy policy risk.

But when I weigh up the contracted revenue base, high EBITDA margins, reaffirmed distribution guidance, and visible growth pipeline, I think the risk-reward looks attractive at $9.06.

The post With a yield of 6.4%, is this one of the best ASX shares to consider buying for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Growth shares are not always comfortable to own. They can soar when sentiment is strong. They can fall sharply when investors become nervous about valuations, interest rates, or new technologies.

But over long periods, it is often growth companies that reshape industries and deliver the strongest returns.

That is why I still believe quality ASX growth shares deserve a place in a long-term portfolio.

Growth is not about hype

True growth investing is not about chasing whatever is trending.

It is about identifying businesses that are expanding their markets, reinvesting profits at high returns, and strengthening their competitive positions over time.

Take Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO). It continues to add subscribers globally and deepen its ecosystem of accounting and business tools. The opportunity is not just in signing up new customers, but in increasing revenue per user as more services are adopted.

Or consider NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT). Demand for data centres is being driven by cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. While capital intensive, the long-term structural drivers behind digital infrastructure remain intact.

These are businesses riding enduring trends rather than short-lived fads.

Volatility is part of the journey

Growth shares often trade at higher valuations because investors are pricing in future earnings expansion.

When confidence wobbles, those valuations can compress quickly. That volatility can be uncomfortable. But it can also create opportunities for patient investors.

History shows that many of the market’s biggest winners experienced multiple 30% to 50% pullbacks along the way. Short-term weakness does not necessarily mean the long-term thesis is broken.

The key is distinguishing between temporary sentiment shifts and genuine structural deterioration.

The compounding effect

If a company can grow earnings at 15% to 20% per year for a decade, the impact is enormous.

Revenue doubles, then doubles again. Margins improve as scale builds and cash flow increases.

That is how businesses like ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) have created long-term shareholder value. Not through explosive single-year gains, but through sustained expansion backed by structural demand.

The long view

Growth investing requires patience.

It requires the willingness to hold through volatility and focus on business fundamentals rather than daily price movements.

For investors with a multi-year horizon, quality ASX growth shares can still be one of the most powerful ways to build wealth. The path will not always be smooth. But the destination can be worth it.

The post Why I’m still backing ASX growth shares for the long run appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc, ResMed, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX materials stock Wagners Holding Co Ltd (ASX: WGN) is in focus today after its share price jumped 7.8% on the back of its most recent earnings result.

The company is an Australian construction materials provider. It produces and sells construction materials through its Composite Fibre Technologies and Earth Friendly Concrete business.

Investors reacted positively to its H1 FY26 results.

What did the company report?

Included in yesterday’s report were key financial highlighted: 

• Operating EBIT $35.0 million (+72% versus H1 FY25), exceeding H1 guidance range
• Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of $21 million (+70% vs $12.3 million in H1 FY25)
• Revenue of $251.7 million, driven by growth from core Construction Materials (CM) business (+21%) and uplift in demand for Composite Fibre Technology (CFT) products (+36%). 

The company also released a FY26 guidance update. 

The company upgraded full-year FY26 Group Operating EBIT. It is now expected to be in the range of ~$62 to $66 million. 

Commenting on the results, Wagners’ Managing Director, Cameron Coleman said: 

The Group has continued its strong performance into H1 FY26, delivering improved top line and earnings performance. Achieving impressive growth across Construction Materials and Composite Fibre Technologies, these results have been driven by the elevated demand for Wagners’ products and services, strong market conditions and a commitment to improving efficiencies in all aspects of our operations to drive sustainable margin improvement. 

Share price snapshot 

This ASX materials stock rose 7.8% higher yesterday following this result. 

It has now risen 22.5% year to date, and 171.6% in the last 12 months. 

After such a rise, investors may be wondering if they missed their chance to gain exposure to this stock at an attractive entry point. 

However, the team at Morgans believes there is more growth to come. 

Here’s what the broker said. 

Materials stock upgraded

Morgans said the company delivered an exceptional set of results, with 1H26 EBIT beating guidance (+9.5%), Morgans expectations (+8.4%), and consensus (+10.6%). 

Full year guidance was materially upgraded, with the implied 2H26 EBIT of $27-$31m a 32% beat vs prior guidance and consensus, as strong demand continues across construction materials, while CFT poles are on track to triple (vs FY25).

Morgans also said the balance sheet is also now net cash, with the business well positioned to execute on its capex plans and capture continued demand for cement/concrete in South-East Queensland, along with CFT demand. 

Based on this guidance, Morgans upgraded its recommendation to a buy, along with a $5.00 price target.

From yesterday’s closing price of $4.40, this indicates a further upside of 13.64%. 

The post This ASX materials stock just climbed 8% on earnings results and hasn’t finished rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

I am not an investor who buys shares solely for the purpose of receiving passive dividend income. Don’t get me wrong, I love bagging a payout from an ASX dividend stock as much as the next investor. However, my portfolio’s overall priority is obtaining the highest rate of return possible through a combination of capital growth and dividends.

Saying that, there are a few stocks in my portfolio whose sole purpose is providing a stream of dividend income. This cash flow is useful for a few reasons. Firstly, it provides ballast. If there is a stock market correction or crash, the income that I receive from these shares helps buttress my portfolio. Secondly, this cash flow can be deployed to buy other stocks for the portfolio. This means I don’t have to constantly rely on fresh capital injections, or sales of other positions, to fund new stock buys. 

One of the ASX dividend stocks I lean on to provide this cash flow is Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8).

Plato Income Maximiser is a listed investment company (LIC) that is specifically designed to deliver high levels of fully-franked dividends to its investors. Like most LICs, it owns an underlying portfolio of investments that it manages on behalf of its shareholders. 

This ASX dividend stock pours cash into my portfolio every month

This portfolio consists of blue-chip dividend stocks. As of the most recent data, these included Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

These portfolio holdings pour dividend cash flow into Plato’s coffers, which the LIC passes on to its shareholders in monthly dividend payments. These monthly payments represent highly beneficial cash flow for my portfolio thanks to this regularity. 

In recent years, Plato’s monthly dividends have come in at 0.55 cents per share, always with full franking credits attached. The annual total of 6.6 cents per share gives this ASX dividend stock a trailing dividend yield of 4.55% at the $1.45 share price at the time of writing.

However, I was fortunate enough to pick up my Plato shares at a price much closer to $1 per share. This means that my cash flow yield-on-cost is sitting closer to 6%. The benefits of that yield to my portfolio and ability to keep adding shares to it are obvious.

Although the cash flow that this ASX dividend stock provides is enormously valuable to my investing, it’s not the only reason I own Plato shares. High dividends are fantastic, but they are not worth buying a share for if they come at the expense of my capital, as payouts from some other popular ASX income stocks can.

Fortunately, in Plato’s case, this LIC has actually outperformed the broader market since its inception in 2017. As of 31 January, Plato shares have delivered an overall return (growth plus dividends) of 10.3% per annum. That’s 0.1% higher than its S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) benchmark.

The post This 4.5% ASX dividend stock is my go-to for cash flow planning appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Plato Income Maximiser and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Yesterday, Zimplats Holdings Ltd (ASX: ZIM) reported that it had more than doubled its revenue to US$641.8 million for the half year ended 31 December 2025.

What did Zimplats report?

• Revenue: up 83% to US$641.8 million (H1 FY2025: US$350.2 million)
• Profit after tax: up 3376% to US$143.7 million (H1 FY2025: US$4.1 million)
• Profit before income tax: US$203.4 million (H1 FY2025: US$8.9 million)
• Basic/diluted earnings per share: 134 cents (H1 FY2025: 4 cents)
• No interim dividend was declared for the half year
• Net tangible assets per share: up 9% to US$20.92 (H1 FY2025: US$19.16)

What else do investors need to know?

Production volumes of platinum group metals increased across the board, with 6E ounce output up 13% to 316,765 ounces and sales volumes also rising. The improved result was largely due to higher global metal prices and higher volumes, while cost of sales climbed 31% as labour, maintenance and royalty costs increased with revenue.

The board maintained a cautious approach to capital management, opting not to pay a dividend this half. Zimplats ended the period with US$145.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, a substantial improvement from the US$41.4 million held at the end of the previous corresponding period.

What did Zimplats management say?

Chief Executive Officer Alex Mhembere said:

Safety remains our unwavering priority, and I am proud of the significant strides we have made toward our zero-harm goal. The improvement in platinum group metal prices has strengthened our position, enabling us to focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth. Our investments in innovation, including the solar plant and smelter expansion operations, continue to deliver value and resilience. Together, we are building a stronger, safer, and more sustainable future—one that thrives on excellence and creates lasting value for all stakeholders.

What’s next for Zimplats?

Looking ahead, Zimplats is continuing with major capital projects to expand production and improve sustainability. Construction of mine replacements and upgrades is on track, with further investment in smelter expansion and renewable energy. The solar plant roll-out will continue, with the next phase forecast for completion in the first half of FY2027.

The company says it remains focused on operational excellence, keeping safety front of mind and aiming for reliable growth. There were no material events after period end impacting the outlook.

Zimplats share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Zimplats shares have increased 66%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Zimplats Holdings: Profit surges, no dividend for half year 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.

When I look for buy-and-hold investments, I’m not necessarily chasing the fastest quarterly growth.

I’m looking for businesses with large addressable markets, recurring revenue, and operating leverage that can play out over many years.

Right now, three ASX stocks stand out to me for those reasons.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne might not grab headlines like some global SaaS giants, but I think it’s one of the most consistent software businesses on the ASX.

The company provides enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to government, education, and corporate customers. These are mission-critical systems. Once embedded, they are rarely replaced.

What I like most is the quality of earnings. Recurring revenue continues to rise as the company transitions customers to its SaaS platform. Churn is low, margins are strong, and management has a clear long-term strategy.

TechnologyOne has also been expanding into the UK market, which gives it a new growth runway beyond Australia and New Zealand. If it can replicate its domestic success offshore, earnings could scale meaningfully over the next decade.

For me, this is a classic compounding business: steady, profitable, and quietly growing.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult operates in a very different market, but I think the long-term opportunity is compelling.

The company provides performance analytics and wearable technology to professional and collegiate sports teams globally. Its platform integrates coaching, scouting, athlete monitoring, and analytics.

Among its customers are many of the most successful sports teams from across the globe.

What makes Catapult attractive to me is the recurring revenue model. As teams adopt the platform, they tend to stick with it, and average contract values can expand over time as additional modules are added.

The addressable market is still relatively underpenetrated, particularly across smaller leagues and international markets. If Catapult continues converting teams and scaling its SaaS metrics, I believe earnings growth could accelerate.

It’s not without risk, but as a smaller-cap growth name, I see genuine upside if execution continues.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport gives exposure to the ongoing shift toward cloud computing and software-defined networking.

The company enables businesses to connect directly to major cloud providers through a flexible, on-demand platform. As enterprises move more workloads into the cloud, demand for scalable, low-latency connectivity should grow.

Megaport has faced volatility and operational resets in the past, but I think the underlying industry tailwinds remain intact. Cloud adoption is still expanding, and enterprises increasingly value flexibility over fixed infrastructure.

If management can execute consistently and improve profitability while continuing revenue growth, I believe sentiment could shift significantly. It also boosted its addressable market with the recent acquisition of Latitude.

Over a long-term horizon, I think the combination of structural demand and operating leverage could make this an attractive buy-and-hold growth story.

Foolish Takeaway

Buy-and-hold investing works best when the businesses themselves are still growing.

TechnologyOne offers steady, recurring software compounding. Catapult provides scalable sports technology exposure. Megaport taps into cloud and network infrastructure growth.

Each carries risk, but over a 5 to 10-year horizon, I think these growing ASX stocks have the ingredients to become very successful long-term investments.

The post Why I think these growing ASX stocks could be strong buy-and-hold investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Fund manager reveals views on Life360, Catapult, and Xero shares amid tech turmoil
• This oversold ASX stock is so cheap it’s crazy
• Why ASX tech shares still deserve a place in your portfolio in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

If you have $1,000 ready to invest next month, you do not need to overthink it.

At that level, the goal is not precision timing. It is gaining exposure to powerful long-term themes while spreading risk sensibly. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) make that easy, giving you access to entire sectors and strategies with a single trade.

Here are three ASX ETFs to consider in March.

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF offers a focused way to back Australia’s homegrown tech names.

Rather than buying one or two ASX tech shares, this ETF spreads exposure across a range of local technology businesses involved in areas such as accounting software, fintech, and enterprise platforms.

Holdings include companies such as WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

Australian tech shares have experienced significant volatility recently amid AI disruption concerns, but many of these businesses continue to grow revenue and expand internationally.

This could make it a great time to gain exposure to this side of the market. And with the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF, investors can do so without having to pick a single winner.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

If you prefer something steadier, the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF could be worth considering in March.

Instead of targeting hype-driven growth, this ASX ETF screens for companies generating strong free cash flow. That cash can be reinvested into the business, returned to shareholders, or used to strengthen the balance sheet.

The portfolio includes global heavyweights such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Visa (NYSE: V), and ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML). These companies convert a meaningful portion of revenue into real, usable cash.

Over long periods, businesses that consistently produce cash tend to be more resilient when economic conditions tighten. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

For investors looking for something more thematic, the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF provides investors with easy access to the global gaming ecosystem.

This is not just about console makers. The fund holds companies across hardware, software, and chip design, including Nintendo, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA).

Gaming has evolved from a niche hobby into one of the world’s largest entertainment industries. Digital downloads, online services, and in-game purchases have created recurring revenue streams for leading developers and publishers.

Over time, as younger generations grow up in digital environments, gaming and esports could become even more embedded in mainstream culture. This bodes well for the fund’s holdings.

It was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post Where to invest $1,000 in ASX ETFs next month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Technology One, Visa, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts and Nintendo. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Technology One, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There have been some big result releases this week from popular ASX shares.

Let’s see what analysts at Morgans are saying about them after reviewing their numbers:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Morgans was pleased with this travel agent’s performance during the first half. It notes that its net profit before tax came in stronger than expected thanks to an impressive corporate result and a better than feared leisure result.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with a new price target of $18.05. It said:

FLT’s 1H26 NBPT was up 4.1%, a beat on guidance for a flat result. The Corporate result was the highlight with NPBT up 20%, while Leisure was better than feared down only 4%. The 3Q26 is off to a strong start and importantly Leisure is back in growth. FY26 guidance was reiterated. We have made minor upgrades to our forecasts. FLT’s fundamentals remain attractive (FY27 PE of 10.6x) and we retain a Buy recommendation with a new A$18.05 price target.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Another ASX share that outperformed expectations was logistics software provider WiseTech.

The broker also highlights that management has unveiled a plan to leverage AI to bring its EBITDA margins back to 50%. It said:

WTC’s 1H26 result was a modest beat to MorgF/Consensus with Revenue of US$672m (~2% ahead MorgF/consensus), Underlying EBITDA was US$252.1m (margins of 38%) and Underlying NPATA was US$114m, ~3% ahead of consensus of US$111.0m.

FY26 guidance was reiterated, however the next phase of WTC’s AI-led transformation came as a surprise with the group targeting a material head count reduction over FY26/FY27 as it leans into companywide Ai adoption to drive cost and workflow efficiencies on the path to a return to 50% EBITDA margins.

Morgans has retained its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a reduced price target of $83.60 (from $112.50).

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths also delivered a half-year result that was ahead of expectations.

However, Morgans wants to see further evidence of consistent execution before it will become more positive. As a result, the broker only rates its shares as a hold with an improved price target of $37.30 (from $28.25). It said:

WOW’s 1H26 result overall was above expectations, with productivity and cost efficiencies a key highlight as all divisions delivered improved margins. Management said competition remains elevated and customers continue to be value-focused.

While there were tentative signs of improving customer sentiment toward the end of CY25, persistent inflation and rising interest rates have led customers to revert to finding ways to save. We increase FY26-28F underlying EBIT by between 0-3%. While 1H26 performance was solid, we would prefer to see further evidence of consistent execution before moving to a more positive view on the stock.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, WiseTech, and Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global and Woolworths Group. 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 and Woolworths 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.