Author: openjargon

The Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) share price could be in focus after the company secured US FDA approval for a new potency assay for its commercially approved Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd). This milestone further strengthens quality controls for its flagship cell therapy product.

What did Mesoblast report?

• Received FDA approval for the T-cell Proliferation Inhibition BioAssay (TIBA), a new potency assay for Ryoncil.
• TIBA will be used alongside existing assays to ensure consistent product quality.
• Ryoncil remains the only FDA-approved MSC therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGvHD) in children 2 months and older.
• The new assay supports ongoing manufacturing improvements and quality monitoring for commercial product lots.

What else do investors need to know?

Mesoblast’s updated testing process aims to improve the release and stability monitoring of each batch of Ryoncil. The TIBA assay offers added sensitivity to detect any changes in potency during manufacturing scale-up or when production shifts to new facilities.

Mesoblast continues to develop and expand its cell therapy portfolio, with Ryoncil being evaluated for additional diseases and rexlemestrocel-L in late-stage trials for heart failure and chronic lower back pain.

What’s next for Mesoblast?

The new assay’s FDA approval paves the way for smooth ongoing commercialisation of Ryoncil. Mesoblast remains focused on broadening Ryoncil’s use to other inflammatory conditions and advancing its other cell therapies.

Investors can look for updates as the company works toward new product indications, international partnerships, and continued investment in manufacturing and intellectual property.

Mesoblast share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Mesoblast shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is flat over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Mesoblast wins FDA nod for new Ryoncil potency test 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.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have come back a fair way from their highs.

The shares are trading around $73.79 on Thursday, compared with a 52-week high of $94.70.

Could they recover and make their way to $100 in 2027? Let’s run the numbers and find out.

Could Wesfarmers reach $100?

I think $100 is possible, but it looks unlikely to me over that timeframe.

From $73.79, Wesfarmers shares would need to rise around 36% to reach $100.

The business itself remains one I rate highly. Wesfarmers owns Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and several other businesses, giving it multiple ways to grow earnings over time.

But the current forecasts suggest that growth will be fairly steady.

According to CommSec, consensus estimates point to earnings per share of $2.72 in FY27, rising to $2.90 in FY28 and $3.11 in FY29.

If Wesfarmers reached $100, the shares would be trading on a P/E ratio of around 34 times forecast FY28 earnings and 32 times FY29 earnings.

I think that would be a fairly demanding valuation, even for a business of Wesfarmers’ quality.

What has Wesfarmers traded at historically?

Wesfarmers has commanded a premium valuation for some time, so a high P/E ratio would not be unusual.

Its average annual P/E ratios over the past five years, according to CommSec, have ranged from around 22 times to 32 times earnings.

That helps put a $100 share price into perspective.

Wesfarmers could certainly trade above its historical averages for a period, particularly if investors become more optimistic about earnings growth.

But I would not want to base my expectations on the market pushing the valuation significantly higher while earnings are growing at a relatively measured pace.

Could Wesfarmers get back to $90?

I think $90 looks much more achievable.

That would require a gain of around 22% from today’s price and would still leave the shares below their 52-week high.

At $90, Wesfarmers would trade at around 31 times forecast FY28 earnings and 29 times FY29 earnings.

Those multiples are still high, but they sit much more comfortably within the range investors have been willing to pay for Wesfarmers shares in recent years.

If Bunnings and Kmart continue to perform well and group earnings keep rising, I could see the market becoming more positive on the shares again.

Dividends provide something along the way

Wesfarmers should also continue returning cash to shareholders while investors wait.

Consensus forecasts point to fully-franked dividends of $2.34 per share in FY27, $2.49 per share in FY28, and $2.71 per share in FY29.

At today’s price, the FY27 forecast represents a dividend yield of around 3.2%.

Foolish takeaway

I would not be counting on Wesfarmers shares reaching $100 in 2027.

The business is still one I would happily own, but $100 would require both a strong share price recovery and a valuation towards the expensive end of its recent history.

Around $90 looks more realistic to me. If Wesfarmers keeps growing earnings and its major businesses perform well, I think a return towards that level is quite achievable.

The post Could Wesfarmers shares reach $100 in 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) share price is in focus today after the company declared a quarterly unfranked distribution of 2.15 cents per unit for the period ending 30 September 2026.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT report?

• Declared a quarterly distribution of 2.15 cents per unit
• Distribution is unfranked
• Ex-date: 29 September 2026
• Record date: 30 September 2026
• Payment date: 24 November 2026
• The distribution relates to the September 2026 quarter

What else do investors need to know?

The distribution announced by HomeCo Daily Needs REIT is unfranked, which means it will not include any attached tax credits for investors. This can affect after-tax returns for some unitholders, especially those in higher tax brackets.

The company has confirmed a Dividend/Distribution Reinvestment Plan (DRP) is available for this distribution, providing existing investors with the option to reinvest their payout into more HDN units without incurring brokerage fees.

Aside from the distribution details, there were no other financial results, additional commentary, or operational updates included in this notification.

What’s next for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT?

Investors can look forward to the distribution being paid on 24 November 2026, with the ex-date falling on 29 September 2026. Continued quarterly distributions are a feature of HomeCo Daily Needs REIT’s approach to returning income to unitholders.

Future results and distribution levels may depend on rental collection, property valuations, and broader economic conditions affecting the real estate sector. Investors should monitor future announcements for updates on performance and strategy.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT shares have declined 21%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is flat over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post HomeCo Daily Needs REIT announces September 2026 quarterly distribution 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 recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. 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.

Investors looking for the biggest casualties amongst S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares in 2026 don’t have to look far. WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK), and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) have all been smashed this year, down 49% or more and hovering near their 52-week lows.

Rising interest rates have punished growth stocks. Now fears that AI could gut traditional software moats are piling on.

But a collapsing share price doesn’t automatically make a share cheap. Here’s what’s actually happening beneath the surface of each ASX 200 share.

WiseTech is facing a slowdown in growth

WiseTech has delivered one of Australia’s most spectacular tech share price reversals. The stock closed at $32.34 on Wednesday, down roughly 53% for the year.

The underlying business is still profitable, but investors are grappling with a sharp slowdown in expected growth – FY27 revenue growth is forecast at just 6% to 10%. That’s forced the market to strip away the hefty premium valuation this global logistics software company used to command.

Still, a genuine value argument is emerging. Recent analysis puts WiseTech on a considerably lower earnings multiple than it has carried historically, and several brokers remain constructive on the long-term opportunity.

The bull case rests on a simple idea: the market may be underestimating just how durable and profitable CargoWise really is. Morgans currently has a price target of $62.50, almost a 100% rise from current levels.

Fewer jobs, less demand for Seek

Seek has also copped a serious rerating, down about 49% year to date to $11.91.

Unlike WiseTech, this ASX 200 share’s fortunes are tied directly to the health of the employment market. When businesses hire fewer people, they typically advertise fewer jobs. As a result, that means less demand for Seek’s core service.

The company is still generating solid revenue and earnings, but investors need real evidence that hiring conditions can support renewed growth before they’re willing to pay up again.

Bell Potter recently retained its hold rating on the stock, trimming its price target to $13 from $13.80. That implies roughly 9% upside from here.

Xero: Major valuation reset

Xero has experienced a dramatic fall, too. The $10 billion ASX 200 share now sits at $58.20, 49% lower than where it sat 12 months ago.

Yet the business itself keeps growing rapidly. FY26 operating revenue rose 31% to NZ$2.75 billion, and Xero finished the year with 4.92 million customers. Management is targeting another roughly 30% increase in revenue for FY27.

That disconnect is what makes Xero so interesting. The growth engine hasn’t slowed, but investors have dramatically slashed what they’re willing to pay for it.

Broker targets currently average around $111.25 a share. Getting there would mean a 91% rise from today’s price.

Foolish takeaway

The biggest ASX 200 fallers can be tempting hunting grounds, but investors shouldn’t confuse ‘down a lot’ with ‘undervalued’. WiseTech faces genuinely slower growth expectations, Seek remains hostage to the jobs market, and Xero is working through a major valuation reset despite still-strong underlying growth.

For investors willing to look past the share price chart, the real question isn’t which stock has fallen the furthest — it’s whether today’s lowered expectations are already conservative enough, or whether there’s still further to fall.

The post These 3 ASX 200 shares have lost 49%+ in 2026. Are any now bargains? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX consumer discretionary sector has been hit hard by several headwinds in 2026. 

The sector relies heavily on an economic environment that supports strong household spending, because these companies sell non-essential goods and services. 

Headwinds aplenty 

Success largely depends on household disposable income, employment and wage growth, consumer confidence, interest rates, and the cost of living. 

When incomes rise and borrowing costs are manageable, consumers generally have more capacity to spend, while higher interest rates and weaker real incomes can reduce discretionary purchases.

These factors have weighed heavily against the sector in 2026, pushing many share prices down. 

Because of this, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) has fallen over 12% year to date, and over 22% in the last 12 months. 

However, this pressure has created value opportunities that should these headwinds ease in the near future. 

One such stock that has been identified by Ord Minnett is Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX). 

Its share price is down over 35% year to date.

Company overview

Beacon Lighting engages in the retail of lighting products in Australia and internationally. The company designs, develops, sources, imports, distributes, merchandises, markets, and sells light fittings, ceiling fans, light globes, and electrical accessories products.

According to Ord Minnett, this ASX consumer discretionary stock delivered a solid FY26 result against a volatile macro backdrop, achieving 4Q26 same-store sales growth of 7.1%, with momentum continuing into FY27. 

We believe accelerating sales momentum, a strong pipeline of new stores, a favourable FX swing for margins, and improving returns from its property fund underpins an improved outlook.

Strong growth expected in FY27

According to the broker, Beacon Lighting is expected to return to growth in FY27, supported by several key drivers: 

• Improving underlying sales momentum
• An acceleration in the store rollout program
• Favourable currency movements that are expected to support gross profit margins
• Stronger earnings contributions from the Large Format Property Fund

In combination, these factors are expected to drive an improvement in earnings growth and support a stronger overall financial performance.

Based on this guidance, Ord Minnett has retained its buy recommendation on this ASX consumer discretionary stock. 

It also has a price target of $2.65, indicating 45% upside from current levels. 

BLX continues to execute its long-term strategy of evolving from a traditional lighting retailer into Australia’s leading provider of quality lighting and electrical products for both homeowners and trade professionals. Central to this strategy is increasing trade sales to approximately 50% of revenue, which should enhance revenue diversification, reduce reliance on discretionary consumer spending, and support more resilient earnings growth across the cycle. Overall, BLX remains well-placed to capture upside from any improvement in trading conditions.

The post Ord Minnett thinks this ASX consumer discretionary stock can rise 45% by this time next year 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.

The Australian Age Pension is one of the most generous in the world and it’s becoming increasingly rewarding. Despite that, there are high-yield ASX dividend stocks I’d rather rely on for income.

The Age Pension rates have recently had a boost. The maximum normal Age Pension for a single person is now $1,237.70 per fortnight. That translates into an annualised approximate $32,180.

I’m going to talk about why I prefer the Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) over the Age Pension.

High-yield ASX dividend stock

Following interest rate rises and market uncertainty surrounding interest rates, I’d suggest that real estate investment trusts (REITs) are being overlooked by the market as long-term opportunities.

This particular business is an Australian REIT that is invested in high-quality industrial warehouses. At 30 June 2026, its property portfolio was valued at $1.5 billion and is located across major Australian cities, with a goal to provide sustainable income and capital growth for investors.

The business has provided guidance that it will pay a distribution of 16.6 cents per security in FY27, representing a distribution payout ratio of 97.6% – that’s high but sustainable.

The forecast payout translates into a distribution yield of 7%, which is a high and pleasing dividend yield.

To match the annual Age Pension, an investor would need 193,856 units of the REIT.

Rising rental income

One of the main reasons why I think this high-yield ASX dividend stock is so appealing is because it’s experiencing solid rental growth.

In FY26, it saw strong like-for-like portfolio income growth of 5.3%, supported by rental escalations, strong re-leasing spreads of 21.4% (new contracts generating stronger revenue than old rental contracts) and a high occupancy rate of 98.8%.

The high-yield ASX dividend stock suggests that moderating supply supports stronger market fundamentals and the outlook for its existing portfolio. Construction costs are forecast to compound faster than CPI, so its existing $217 million development pipeline offers a hard-to-replicate pathway to growth.

The business has a lot of its revenue linked to CPI, so it can provide long-term impacts of inflation.

Capital growth potential

The final reason I think this option is superior to the Age Pension is that it can provide capital growth, whereas the Age Pension doesn’t.

As rents increase over time, this can provide a boost to the value of the properties and support the Dexus Industria REIT unit price.

During FY26, its net tangible assets (NTA) per security grew 2.4% to $3.42. That means it’s now undervalued by 31% compared to the June 2026 NTA. I think it’s a great time to invest for the long-term.

The post 193,856 shares of this high-yield ASX dividend stock pays an income equal to the Age Pension appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares were turning heads yesterday after tumbling 6% in a single session. 

This halted strong momentum from the Australian agricultural chemical and seed technology company. 

Its share price remains up 29% year to date. 

What were investors reacting to?

Nufarm shares fell following the release of an ASX announcement from the company. 

As reported by Aaron Teboneras, Nufarm announced an updated FY26 guidance. 

According to the release, underlying EBITDA is expected to increase approximately 25% on the prior corresponding period. 

For FY26, underlying EBITDA is expected to be between $370 million and $380 million, representing 25% growth at the midpoint compared to FY25. 

Despite these positive numbers, investors were exiting their positions in Nufarm shares. 

It’s possible this is because Nufarm is facing another $90 million to $110 million of restructuring costs, adding to last year’s large statutory loss and raising concerns about ongoing costs and uncertainty.

Although underlying EBITDA is improving, investors want to see whether the restructuring actually leads to sustainable profits and cash flow, rather than repeated one-off charges.

What is Bell Potter’s outlook for Nufarm shares?

Following the fall to $3 a share for Nufarm shares, Bell Potter released updated guidance. 

Ultimately, the broker’s view is positive. 

Bell Potter said Nufarm’s underlying performance is stronger than expected, particularly in Seeds, while the balance sheet is improving and the restructuring is progressing.

Bell Potter expects underlying EBITDA to remain strong and grow from FY26 onward, but NPAT will remain weighed down by largely non-cash restructuring costs, meaning statutory profit may lag the underlying EBITDA improvement.

Buy rating unchanged 

Bell Potter ultimately sees plenty of upside despite the announcement. The broker retained its buy recommendation and raised its price target to $3.90 for Nufarm shares (previously $3.75).

Our Buy rating is unchanged. In FY26e NUF has delivered a result that was consistent with our expectations, while incurring costs related to plant outages that were not expected. The underlying performance looks to be stronger than what is implied at the headline, with material YoY growth in Seeds and the basis of the next leg of cost outs now articulated.

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside potential of 30%. 

Importantly for investors, Bell Potter isn’t the only broker with a positive view. 

The team at Morgans recently placed a $4.15 price target on Nufarm shares. 

From current levels, this indicates an upside potential of 38%. 

The post What is Bell Potter’s updated view on Nufarm shares after crashing 6% 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.

The Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) share price is in focus after the company posted a net profit from continuing operations of $129.2 million, down 10.3% from last year, with total revenue from ordinary activities slipping 2.8% to $808 million.

What did Premier Investments report?

• Total revenue from continuing operations: $808.0 million (down 2.8%)
• Net profit after tax (continuing operations): $129.2 million (down 10.3%)
• Final dividend: 36 cents per share, fully franked (record date 11 December 2026; payable 22 January 2027)
• Interim dividend: 45 cents per share, fully franked
• Total ordinary dividends for FY26: 81 cents per share (up from 50 cents in FY25, which included a large in-specie distribution)
• Net tangible assets per share: $4.19 (down from $4.43)

What else do investors need to know?

The 2026 financial year was Premier Investments’ first full year after selling its five Apparel Brands to Myer Holdings in January 2025. The group is now focused on its Peter Alexander and Smiggle retail brands, alongside its investment in Breville Group.

Peter Alexander continued to perform strongly, recording $565.3 million in sales (up 3.2%), aided by the successful launch of the ‘Peter’s Dreamers’ loyalty program. However, subsequent to year-end, the group announced the closure of its three UK Peter Alexander stores due to sustained weak trading in that market—an impairment expense of $7.7 million was recognised.

In contrast, Smiggle recorded global sales of $230.2 million, down 12.9% from the prior year, and has embarked on a strategic brand repositioning, targeting its original core age group for renewed growth.

Premier also remains a major shareholder in Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) (holding 25.2%), booking $34.8 million in associate profit and receiving $13.9 million in dividends from Breville during the year.

What did Premier Investments management say?

John Bryce, Chief Financial Officer at Premier Retail, said:

Despite challenging conditions, we were able to maintain strong gross margins and continue investment in our brands. The resilience of Peter Alexander and our ability to adapt at Smiggle shows the underlying strength of our focused retail platform.

What’s next for Premier Investments?

Looking ahead, Premier Investments will focus on deepening customer engagement, particularly through the Peter Alexander loyalty program. With the winding down of UK store operations, Peter Alexander’s international strategy will now centre on online rather than bricks-and-mortar in Europe.

For Smiggle, the brand refresh is expected to underpin future growth, with a relaunch planned for FY27 targeting the core 6–12 year age demographic. The group also plans ongoing investment in both brands, supply chain innovation, digital channels, and sustainability initiatives.

Management remains confident in the group’s financial flexibility and cash position, supporting continued dividends and capital management.

Premier Investments share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Premier Investments shares have declined 45, significantly trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

View Original Announcement

The post Premier Investments earnings: Net profit slips, dividend steady in FY26 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 recommended Premier Investments. 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.

Magellan Financial Group vs GQG Partners shares

When it comes to picking ASX-listed fund managers, Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) and GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) stand out as two big names vying for investor attention. Both are global equities managers with well-known brands and diverse client bases, but recent share price volatility and shifting fundamentals have made this a much more interesting contest than it might have been a few years ago. If you’re weighing up Magellan Financial Group vs GQG Partners shares, here’s what sets them apart right now.

The case for Magellan Financial Group

Magellan Financial Group is an Australian-based diversified financial services group with its roots in global equities and infrastructure fund management. Founded in 2006, it recently made waves by merging with Barrenjoey Capital Partners, expanding into areas like investment banking and private capital. Magellan has faced considerable outflows from its flagship funds, underperforming peers and sparking a broader strategic reset—including outsourcing some global equities funds.

Looking at its fundamentals:

• Market cap of $2.47 billion
• Fully franked trailing dividend yield of 7.69%
• P/E ratio of 16.90
• Earnings per share of $0.500
• Year-to-date return of -8.8%

Franking is a standout here—Magellan’s dividends remain 100% franked, which may appeal for investors seeking tax-effective income. But it’s worth noting the dividend per share appears much lower than last decade’s peak, reflecting pressure on earnings.

The case for GQG Partners

GQG Partners operates as a global boutique asset manager focused on active stock-picking across global markets. Headquartered in the US but with a strong ASX listing, GQG’s client base spans big pension funds, sovereign wealth, and individual investors. Its strong global presence makes it a recognised player in global equities.

GQG’s recent fundamentals stand out:

• Larger market cap of $3.21 billion
• Staggering reported dividend yield of 19.39% (unfranked)
• P/E ratio of 4.78—a fair bit lower than Magellan’s
• Earnings per share of $0.159
• Year-to-date return of -30.1%

It’s hard to ignore that eye-popping yield and rock-bottom P/E for an asset manager of this size, but the dividend is entirely unfranked—a key point for local income hunters.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how some key metrics stack up:

Metric	Magellan Financial Group	GQG Partners
Market Cap	$2.47b	$3.21b
P/E Ratio	16.90	4.78
Dividend Yield	7.69% (100% franked)	19.39% (unfranked)
Earnings per Share	$0.500	$0.159
Year-to-date Return	-8.8%	-30.1%

Note: GQG Partners’ low P/E and high yield jump off the page, but the EPS figure used to compute the P/E ratio may differ from the trailing earnings number reported here. If it seems mathematically inconsistent, it’s likely due to different definitions of earnings in these calculations. Magellan’s 100% franked dividends stand in contrast to GQG’s unfranked payouts—potentially a big factor, depending on your tax situation or income needs.

Recent share price performance

Comparing share recent share price momentum from 25 August to 21 September 2026:

• Magellan shares have fallen -8.8% year to date with some sharp swings. From $10.78 on 25 August to $8.43 by 21 September, the shares lost significant ground, with a particularly steep fall on 27 August (-14.0%).
• GQG Partners shares suffered an even heavier YTD drop of -30.1%. Between 25 August ($1.49) and 21 September ($1.09), GQG lost about 27% of its value, also weathering large one-day drops, especially on 26 August (-6.7%).

It’s fair to say recent performance has been negative for both, but the speed of decline for GQG has been particularly severe.

Which is the better buy?

This is a tricky face-off. GQG Partners clearly screens as far “cheaper” on P/E and headline yield, but it’s missing franking credits and has been hammered much harder on price—in fact, I’d want to understand the sustainability of that 19.4% yield before counting on it. Magellan looks steadier, both in how its payout is franked and in less severe recent share price losses, though it’s hardly immune to volatility and has well-known business challenges on its plate.

If pushed to pick, I’d lean modestly towards Magellan Financial Group for its franking, more stable payout record, and less dramatic share price drawdown over the last quarter. That said, GQG’s value metrics are so extreme that, for brave investors who can stomach volatility and do their homework on the dividend, it remains tempting as a contrarian punt. Right now, my pick would be Magellan—pragmatically, for income consistency and overall relative stability. But it’s closer than it looks, and both have things to prove moving forward.

The post Magellan Financial Group vs GQG Partners: ASX fund manager showdown 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 recommended Gqg Partners. 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 draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd (ASX: SOL) (Soul Patts) share price is in focus after the investment house delivered a landmark year to 31 July 2026, with statutory NPAT soaring 502% to $2.19 billion and revenue jumping 96% as a result of the merger with Brickworks Limited.

What did Washington H. Soul Pattinson report?

• Revenue from continuing operations rose 96% to $1.87 billion (FY25: $955 million)
• Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) attributable to shareholders up 502% to $2.19 billion (FY25: $364 million), including one-off merger gains
• Net Cash Flow From Investments (NCFI) increased 12% to $572 million
• Final dividend of 63 cents per share, fully franked (up 6.8% on FY25); total FY26 ordinary dividends 111c (up 7.8%)
• Net Asset Value (pre-tax) up 10.4% to $13.7 billion; post-tax NAV $14.5 billion (up 27.2% per share basis)
• Available liquidity of $3.8 billion in cash and facilities

What else do investors need to know?

FY26 was transformative for Soul Patts, driven by the completed merger with Brickworks in September 2025. The new group consolidated two of the country’s most recognised compounders and led to a significant reset of Soul Patts’ capital structure, tax base, and portfolio mix. With the cross-shareholding unwound, Brickworks’ results are now fully included from the merger date, with prior holdings equity-accounted.

Beyond record profit, Soul Patts demonstrated active portfolio management, selling down equities including its TPG Telecom stake, divesting the Goodman industrial property joint venture for $1.9 billion, and expanding allocations to global private markets and fixed income. The business remains Australia’s only dividend aristocrat, marking its 28th consecutive year of increased ordinary dividends.

What did Washington H. Soul Pattinson management say?

Todd Barlow, Managing Director & CEO said:

One year on, the Brickworks merger decision has delivered a cleaner capital structure, a stronger balance sheet and great firepower for new investments, without compromising the disciplined governance and capital allocation Soul Patts has always been known for.

What’s next for Washington H. Soul Pattinson?

Looking ahead, Soul Patts says its strong balance sheet and cash reserves give the group flexibility to pursue new investments as opportunities arise, especially during market volatility. Management expects to continue rotating capital into global private markets, with a focus on quality and disciplined deployment. The reactivated Dividend Reinvestment Plan allows shareholders to reinvest in new shares for the 2026 final dividend, with grants expected to grow now that the Soul Patts Foundation corpus has expanded post-merger.

Market conditions remain uncertain, but management is prioritising liquidity management, a continued defensive portfolio approach, and active capital deployment to sectors with long-term structural growth. Soul Patts’ history of resilience and dividend growth underpins its guidance of ongoing value creation for shareholders.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Soul Patts has risen 16%, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is flat over the same period.

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The post Washington H. Soul Pattinson posts 502% profit surge after Brickworks merger 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 positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. 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.