Author: openjargon

Gold miner Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) is one of six ASX shares set to join the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) later this month.

S&P Dow Jones Indices announced its December quarter rebalance after the market closed on Friday.

Of the six companies joining the index, four are miners.

The others are fellow gold miners Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) and Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG), and Canadian uranium miner, Nexgen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG).

Telecommunications share Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) will also ascend into the ASX 200 index.

Another business joining the ranks of Australia’s top 200 listed companies is nuclear technology developer, Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX).

What is an index rebalance?

The S&P Dow Jones Indices team reviews Australia’s leading indices every quarter.

Rebalances ensure our indices accurately rank Australia’s largest companies by market capitalisation.

Indices are important because they enable us to monitor and measure the market’s performance.

The ASX 200 is the benchmark index for the Australian share market.

But other indices, like the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) and S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), are also very important.

What does getting into the ASX 200 mean for a stock?

Gaining entry into the ASX 200 is a clear sign that a company is doing well and investors have confidence in its future.

Companies have to meet market capitalisation and liquidity requirements to make it into the ASX 200.

Getting into the ASX 200 can have a direct impact on the share price because it triggers a lot of passive investment.

Many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and managed funds are designed to track the performance of the ASX 200.

This necessitates buying stocks when they enter the ASX 200, and selling stocks that are removed every quarter.

This often leads to extra trading activity around the rebalance date, which may influence a share’s price.

Rebalances matter more than ever due to the growing number of Australians preferring to invest in ETFs over individual shares.

The latest Betashares data shows Australians invested a record $5.99 billion into ASX ETFs in October.

A record $321.7 billion in funds are invested across more than 400 ETFs on the market today.

ASX ETFs are a form of passive, diversified investment that many investors perceive as lower risk.

They are a basket of shares that investors can buy in one trade for a single brokerage fee, with low ongoing management fees thereafter.

This next rebalance will become effective on 22 December.

The post 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50?
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform as iron ore and copper prices strengthen
• Investors can target $1,240 a year in dividend income from $20,000 in this ultra-high-yielding ASX 200 gem – here’s how
• 2 big ASX 200 shares this fund manager rates as buys

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 positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. 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 put in a strong performance in 2025.

Stock in Australia’s oldest bank has lifted by about 17% in the year-to-date (YTD) and reached a record $41 in November.

The ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is up about 23% YTD and reached a new record of $38.93 last month.

The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price has risen 9% in 2025 and reached an all-time high of $45.25 last month.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have risen by just 0.25% in 2025 after reaching a record $192 in June.

What about dividends?

Westpac shares paid a full-year FY25 dividend of 153 cents per share.

The consensus estimate among analysts on CommSec is for Westpac to pay a full-year FY26 dividend of 155 cents per share.

This equates to a forward dividend yield of about 4.1%.

Looking ahead to 2026

Westpac has released its corporate calendar for 2026. Here are the dates for investors to note.

Westpac will release its 1H FY26 results and announce its interim dividend on 5 May.

The ex-dividend date for the interim Westpac dividend will be 8 May.

The record date will be 11 May.

Westpac will pay the dividend on 26 June.

The ASX 200 bank will announce its FY26 full-year results and final dividend on 2 November.

The ex-dividend date for the final dividend will be 5 November.

The record date will be 6 November.

Westpac shares will pay the dividend on 21 December.

The annual general meeting is scheduled for 16 December.

Should you buy Westpac shares?

Macquarie has an underperform rating on Westpac shares.

The broker’s 12-month price target is $31, indicating significant potential downside in 2026.

In a recent note, Macquarie mentioned that Westpac has seen strong growth in its business lending segment.

The bank now has about 16% market share of business lending compared to the segment leader, NAB, with 22%.

The broker also noted a modest improvement in Westpac’s net funding position over the past three months.

Morgan Stanley also has a sell rating on Westpac shares with a price target of $34.10.

Ord Minnett has a sell rating with a price target range of $30 to $31 per share.

Jarden has a sell rating with a price target range of $30 to $32.

Citi has a hold rating on the ASX 200 bank share with a price target of $38.50.

UBS also has a hold rating on Westpac with a share price target of $40.

The post Own Westpac shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold?
• Buying NAB shares? Here’s how the bank aims to cement its market leading business
• Forget Westpac shares and buy these ASX dividend stocks
• Westpac versus CBA shares: Which bank is a better buy for 2026?
• ANZ shares are lagging the other big banks: Here’s why

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Recently, the ASX small-cap stock Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) has experienced one of the toughest falls on the ASX. It’s down around 60% in the past year, as the chart below shows.

The footwear ASX retail share has disappointed investors a number of times in the past 12 months after delivering weak trading updates.

In November, the company’s trading update was again not quite as strong as hoped.

With such a volatile and cyclical industry like discretionary retail, I think this could be a good time to invest amid retail pain and no recovery in retail trading conditions in sight – that’s partly why the Accent share price has fallen so far.  

The business is nearing the depths of how much it fell during the COVID-19 crash in 2020, so at this valuation I think it’s attractively opportunistic to consider the business for a couple of key reasons.

Cheap valuation

Firstly, on valuation grounds.

It certainly seems true that the ASX small-cap stock’s near-term earnings are going to be weaker than investors were expecting a year ago. But, are long-term earnings likely to be 60% lower forever (based on the share price decline)? I doubt it.

FY26’s earnings may be disappointing, but FY27 or FY28 earnings could positively surprise in the same way that FY26 earnings have suddenly negatively surprised the market. At this lower valuation, I think investors have a good margin of safety for the long-term.

For now, analysts are expecting a large rise of earnings per share (EPS) in FY27. For example, the projection from UBS suggests a possible EPS rise of 28% and the EPS forecast on CMC Markets suggests a rise of 35%.

UBS’ longer-term projections suggest EPS could climb to 11 cents in FY28, 13 cents in FY29 and 15 cents in FY30.

Five years is a long time in the retail world, but I think a recovering net profit could help give confidence again.

While UBS was unimpressed by the recent update, it still thinks the company’s costs and margins can improve in the longer-term.

Sports Direct Australia

Secondly, the growing potential growing influence of Sports Direct Australia.

Accent is seeing mixed performance within its business, with some brands performing (such as The Athlete’s Foot and Hoka), and some not (such as Platypus, Vans and Skechers).

In the coming years, Sports Direct Australia could be the key to whether the ASX small-cap stock recovers to former share price heights or not.

This business is Accent’s partnership with Frasers to open dozens of large sports stores across the local market. Not only can Sports Direct Australia sell Accent brands, but it can also sell Frasers brands (like Lonsdale, Everlast, Karrimor, Hot Tuna and more) and key global brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, ASICS, New Balance, Under Armour and Puma.

The ASX small-cap stock is planning to have at least three stores open in FY26 and at least 50 stores over the next six years. This initiative could be a gamechanger.

This expansion will mean incurring various costs as it establishes Sports Direct Australia ahead of the sales generation, so investors will need to be patient.

I think long-term investors could be well-rewarded if they buy Accent shares at this level, but there could be plenty of volatility over the next year or two.

The post Why I think this ASX small-cap stock is a bargain at 96 cents appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX retail shares: 2 to buy and 1 to sell amid rising inflation
• These 2 ASX 300 shares are bargain buys
• Why Accent Group, EOS, Mayne Pharma, and Pilbara Minerals shares are falling today
• What’s Morgans’ view on Accent Group shares after Friday’s sell off?
• What’s driving a 9% divergence in ASX 200 consumer staples vs. discretionary shares?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Accent Group. 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 Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX dividend stalwarts could be the right investments to buy in this uncertain era because of the resilient dividend income they can provide investors.

The listed investment company (LIC) Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) should be one of the businesses that income-focused investors look closely at because of multiple factors, in my opinion.

It offers much more than a solid dividend yield for investors, though that is a strong starting point. Let’s get into why it’s a good buy today.

Dividend yield

One of the first things that Australians may look at is how much passive income they’re expecting from an investment.

Pleasingly, the business has maintained or grown its annual ordinary dividend every year this century. That’s a pleasingly consistent level of passive income compared to many other stocks known for their dividends.

In FY25, the business slightly increased its annual payout to 26.5 cents per share, which translated into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.3%, including franking credits.

Diversification

One of the reasons that AFIC is a compelling ASX dividend stalwart is because of the useful diversification it offers.

It’s invested in a wide array of ASX shares from different sectors, giving the portfolio pleasing diversification.

Some of the LIC’s larger holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

As time goes on, I think AFIC’s portfolio is likely to become even more diversified.

I like that some of its portfolio is allocated towards more growth-focused businesses such as Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD), ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) and REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), helping drive returns and capital growth for AFIC over time.

Low fees

Some LICs have high levels of management fees, while AFIC is one of the LICs with the lowest fees. That means more of the portfolio returns stay in the hands of shareholders, rather than being lost to a fund manager.

The business currently has a low management cost of 0.16% and no additional fees.

Good value ASX dividend stalwart

There are a number of different ways to value a business – AFIC regularly tells investors about its net tangible assets (NTA) value, which is predominantly the share portfolio value and cash.

On 28 November 2025, the business had a pre-tax NTA of $7.91. The AFIC share price is trading at a discount of around 10% to its underlying value, which I think is a very appealing valuation and I think this makes it an appealing time to invest for the long-term.

The post An ASX dividend stalwart every Australian should consider buying appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The 4.4% ASX dividend stock you can set your watch to
• 5 best Australian dividend stocks to buy in December
• Own AFIC shares? There’s a double special dividend coming your way
• Age Pension worries? 7 income stocks to consider for retirement
• The 2 ASX dividend shares perfect for building a retirement around

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 positions in and has recommended ARB Corporation, CSL, Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, ResMed, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, ResMed, Telstra Group, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation, BHP Group, CSL, Goodman Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX mining stock Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) will join the S&P/ASX 50 Index, effective prior to the open on 22 December 2025. This decision follows the quarterly rebalance announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices.

What did Lynas Rare Earths report?

• Lynas Rare Earths will be added to the S&P/ASX 50 Index as of 22 December 2025
• The move comes as part of S&P Dow Jones Indices’ December quarterly review
• Lynas is currently a leader in rare earths production operating out of Western Australia and Malaysia
• No changes reported for Lynas regarding revenue, profits, or dividend in this announcement

What else do investors need to know?

This index inclusion means Lynas will soon become one of the 50 largest companies on the ASX by market capitalisation and liquidity. Many funds and ETFs that track the S&P/ASX 50 will now need to add Lynas shares to their portfolios, which can impact trading volumes.

Index changes can sometimes lead to increased visibility for companies and may influence the share price in the short term. However, the announcement does not include updates to Lynas Rare Earths’ financial performance or operational outlook.

What’s next for Lynas Rare Earths?

With this promotion to the S&P/ASX 50, Lynas could see greater investor interest and more active trading, especially from institutional investors tracking the index. The company’s future performance will still depend on its ability to execute its growth strategies in rare earths mining and processing.

Investors will be watching for any upcoming company updates or changes to the rare earths market, as these may impact Lynas’ long-term growth prospects.

Lynas Rare Earths share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Lynas Rare Earths shares have risen 103%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 mining shares outperform as iron ore and copper prices strengthen
• Investors can target $1,240 a year in dividend income from $20,000 in this ultra-high-yielding ASX 200 gem – here’s how
• 2 big ASX 200 shares this fund manager rates as buys
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Centuria Industrial REIT announces 4.2 cent December 2025 distribution

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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.