Author: openjargon

Building wealth for an early retirement often comes down to owning quality investments for the long term. A balanced mix of reliable ASX shares and diversified ETFs can help investors grow passive income, compound returns, and reduce portfolio risk over time.

For Australians targeting retirement earlier than expected, combining defensive infrastructure, blue-chip retailers, and broad-market ETFs may provide a strong foundation.

The following ASX shares and ETFs offer exposure to dividends, international growth, and long-term economic trends that could support a successful retirement strategy.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group can play an important role in a retirement portfolio thanks to its stable infrastructure earnings and reliable income generation.

The company owns critical gas pipelines and energy assets across Australia, creating a predictable cash flow that supports attractive dividend payments. For retirement-focused investors seeking passive income, APA’s defensive business model may help reduce portfolio volatility during weaker market periods.

While energy regulation and interest rates remain risks, APA continues to benefit from long-term demand for essential infrastructure.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers offers retirement investors exposure to some of Australia’s strongest retail and industrial businesses, including Bunnings and Kmart.

The company has a long track record of earnings growth, disciplined capital management, and fully-franked dividends. Those qualities make it a popular core holding for long-term retirement investing.

Wesfarmers also provides diversification across retail, chemicals, healthcare, and industrial operations, helping strengthen portfolio resilience through economic cycles.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is another infrastructure giant that may suit retirement investors seeking stable long-term returns.

The company operates major toll roads across Australia and North America, generating recurring revenue linked to population growth and rising traffic volumes.

Infrastructure assets like toll roads often deliver inflation-linked earnings, which can become increasingly valuable during retirement when preserving purchasing power matters.

Although higher interest rates can pressure infrastructure valuations, Transurban’s long-term growth outlook remains attractive.

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Fund (ASX: STW)

The ASX ETF STW offers investors simple exposure to Australia’s largest listed companies.

For retirement planning, broad diversification can reduce reliance on individual stock performance. STW spreads investments across banks, miners, healthcare companies, and industrial businesses in a single ETF.

The fund also provides dividend income and long-term exposure to Australia’s economy without requiring constant portfolio management.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

This ETF gives retirement investors access to leading US companies, including major technology and consumer brands.

International diversification is important for retirement portfolios because it reduces dependence on the Australian economy alone.

The S&P 500 has historically delivered strong long-term growth, driven by innovation and global corporate leadership. For younger investors targeting early retirement, exposure to high-quality US businesses could significantly boost long-term compounding returns.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF expands retirement diversification even further by investing across global developed markets.

The ETF holds hundreds of international companies across the US, Europe, and Asia. That global exposure can help smooth returns and provide access to industries less represented on the ASX.

For investors building wealth steadily over decades, VGS may become a powerful retirement compounding tool.

The post Fast-track your retirement with these ASX shares and ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How beginners could go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares
• How I’d build a simple ASX portfolio with just 3 ETFs
• How to retire early at 57 with these 3 Vanguard ASX ETFs
• Are these the best ASX ETFs to buy with $1,000 now?
• Building wealth with ASX ETFs? Don’t make these errors

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Western Australia-based drone technology company Boresight Ltd (ASX: BST) is looking to raise $8 million ahead of a listing on the ASX next month.

Drone targets the differentiator

The company said in its prospectus lodged with the ASX that it was incorporated in 2020, “with the purpose to provide low-cost aerial drone targets to service western and allied militaries as they tackle how to respond to the rapidly changing battlespace”.

The company said further:

Military customers require a cost-effective and reliable way to evaluate counter drone technologies. Once these capabilities are deployed, they must develop effective tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) for their use, and undertake continuous training to ensure that personnel are properly trained, and maintain those skills, throughout the life of the technology. To achieve this, customers require low-cost, disposable training drones (targets) – and lots of them. Boresight was created to meet that need.

The company said it provides target drones which emulate real-world threats, “in a reliable and repeatable manner, at a price point that supports live-fire, testing, destructive evaluation and training without placing undue pressure on defence budgets”.

The company said:

Considerable investment has been made into the optimisation of the manufacture of the target drones, allowing easy scaling of the manufacturing process to meet demand. More recently, Boresight also expanded into ISR Drones (also known as ‘camera drones’), which are designed specifically as cost-effective camera drones designed for missions where a live video feed from the drone is required.

Boresight said it had sold more than 6,000 drones to customers globally since its launch and had offices in the US, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The company has sold drones to 15 militaries across 12 countries, “and has recently commenced low-rate manufacturing in the United States to support local customers”.

Growing market

The prospectus said the market will continue to evolve, with aerial targets of different sizes and complexity needed in the future.

It also said many Western militaries have moved away from using Chinese-manufactured drones for security purposes.

The funds raised will be used to expand the company’s engineering and production teams, ramp up production in the United States, increase its additive manufacturing capacity, and further vertically integrate operations.

The company expects to have $8.94 million in cash following the capital raise and to be valued at $48.8 million.

Boresight generated $4.36 million in revenue in FY25, up from $2.77 million, and posted a loss of $596,421, the prospectus said.

The capital raise is expected to close on May 19, with the shares to start trading on the ASX on June 10.

The post Let’s have a look at the latest drone company looking to list on the ASX appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why these ASX 200 tech shares could beat the market over the next decade
• Down 50%, these 2 ASX growth shares look too cheap to ignore
• Fast-track your retirement with these ASX shares and ETFs
• Are these the 3 most undervalued ASX 200 shares right now?
• 3 ASX ETFs for investors in their 60s

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

The turbulent 2026 for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has been somewhat of a rollercoaster for investors. 

However, it has also created rare buying opportunities for some of the country’s biggest companies. 

After a difficult 12 months, including heavy losses this year, here are three of the most undervalued ASX 200 stocks. 

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group operates one of Australia’s most recognisable online real estate advertising companies. 

Its share price has fallen 33% from yearly highs. 

However, a recent update from the team at Bell Potter indicates it could be a rare opportunity to scoop up this ASX 200 stock at a considerable discount. 

As James Mickleboro reported yesterday, Bell Potter said that REA Group delivered a strong and resilient third-quarter result despite higher interest rates. 

Listings grew 1%, supported by strong performance in Melbourne and Sydney, while revenue from residential, commercial, and financial services all performed well. 

The broker also noted that cost growth was controlled, helping profit margins improve significantly.

Bell Potter was particularly positive about REA Group’s pricing power, noting that the company plans to increase prices by 8% in FY27, compared to rival Domain Holdings Australia planning only a 4% increase. 

Bell Potter believes this shows REA remains confident in the value of its platform and its dominant audience reach.

While the broker expects property listings to decline slightly in FY27, it believes the housing market is moving into a more balanced phase after a period of very strong demand.

This culminated in an increased price target of $217, which indicates a 23% upside from current levels. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Moving to the technology sector, WiseTech Global shares are down nearly 40% year to date. 

The logistics software provider now appears to sit firmly in the value window. 

Yesterday, Aaron Teboneras laid out the bull case for a rebound. 

Its sticky customer base and implied EBITDA margin of around 40% to 41% in FY26 make current valuations look particularly appealing. 

This ASX 200 stock is currently trading around $42.36 per share. 

This is more than 80% below recent target prices from brokers. 

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Finally, in the struggling healthcare sector, Pro Medicus shares appear to be well below fair value. 

The medical imaging technology company has continued to secure blue-chip contracts and has experienced strong growth this year. 

Pro Medicus software becomes deeply embedded in hospital imaging workflows, making the systems difficult to replace and creating strong switching costs alongside reliable recurring revenue streams.

In its HY26 result, this operating model has led to revenue growth of 28.4% to $124.8 million, while underlying profit before tax climbed almost 30%.

Despite these green flags, its share price is down more than 40% year to date. 

At the time of writing, it is trading at roughly $129 per share. 

Recent broker estimates have placed fair value at $200 per share, making current prices a tempting entry point. 

The post Are these the 3 most undervalued ASX 200 shares right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX 200 shares this week
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Down 40% but not out: Is Pro Medicus the buy of the decade right now?
• Why the ASX 200 is being smashed today
• 3 ASX healthcare shares to buy while they’re on sale

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

Investing in your 60s can require a different mindset.

At that stage, I think many investors still want growth, but they may also care more about income, diversification, and avoiding unnecessary risk.

That does not mean moving everything into cash. Retirement can last decades, so growth still has a role to play. But I think the balance needs to be more thoughtful.

For investors looking for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), three ASX ETFs stand out to me.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The first ETF I would consider is the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF.

As the name suggests, this fund focuses on Australian shares with higher expected dividend yields.

I think that can make it useful for investors in their 60s who want their portfolio to produce income without having to pick every dividend stock themselves.

The ASX has a strong dividend culture. Banks, miners, insurers, infrastructure shares, and other mature businesses often return a meaningful portion of profits to shareholders.

The VHY ETF gives investors a way to access a diversified basket of these income-paying companies.

There are risks. A high yield does not automatically mean a safe yield. Some sectors can be cyclical, and dividends can be cut when earnings fall.

But as part of a broader portfolio, I think the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF can be a sensible way to generate income from Australian shares while still keeping some exposure to capital growth.

Vanguard Diversified Conservative Index ETF (ASX: VDCO)

The second ETF I would look at is the Vanguard Diversified Conservative Index ETF.

This is a very different type of fund. The VDCO ETF is designed for investors with a lower tolerance for risk. It targets a 70% allocation to income assets and a 30% allocation to growth assets.

That kind of split could make sense for investors in their 60s who want a steadier ride than a share-heavy portfolio may provide.

The ETF invests across a range of underlying funds, giving investors broad diversification across different asset classes. In other words, it is not just about owning Australian shares or global shares. It also includes income assets that can help reduce volatility.

I think that simplicity is appealing. Rather than trying to build a diversified conservative portfolio from scratch, investors can use the VDCO ETF as a ready-made option.

It currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of around 3.5%, which may also appeal to investors looking for income. While this yield is lower than some share-focused income ETFs, the trade-off is a more defensive asset mix.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

The third ETF I would consider in my 60s is the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF.

This fund provides exposure to global consumer staples companies. I think that is an interesting area for investors nearing retirement because consumer staples businesses tend to sell products people buy in most economic environments. This can include food, drinks, household goods, and personal care products.

These are rarely the most exciting companies on the market. But that is part of the appeal.

During tougher economic periods, consumers may delay buying a new car, renovating a house, or booking a luxury holiday. But they still need groceries, cleaning products, and everyday essentials.

That can give consumer staples companies a more defensive earnings profile.

The IXI ETF also provides global diversification, which is useful for Australian investors. The local market is heavily weighted toward banks and miners, so adding global staples exposure can help broaden a portfolio.

Foolish Takeaway

For investors in their 60s, I think the best ETF portfolio is one that balances income, resilience, and enough growth to keep working over time.

None of these ETFs removes risk completely. But together, I think they could help investors build a portfolio that is more suited to the retirement years than a pure growth strategy.

The post 3 ASX ETFs for investors in their 60s appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Building wealth with ASX ETFs? Don’t make these errors
• How to build a $1,000 a month passive income from the ASX
• How to make $12,000 of passive income from these ASX ETFs
• How much do I need to invest in ASX dividend shares for a retirement income of $5,000 per month?
• 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy and hold for a decade or more

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 recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you have $20,000 available to invest this week, the ASX 200 offers a number of high-quality growth shares.

The key is finding businesses with clear long-term drivers rather than focusing only on short-term share price moves.

Here are three ASX 200 shares that could be worth looking at.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The first ASX 200 share that continues to stand out is Goodman Group.

Goodman owns, develops, and manages industrial property around the world. Its assets are used by companies that need logistics facilities, warehouses, and data centre sites.

This gives the business exposure to several powerful trends. Ecommerce continues to support demand for well-located distribution assets, while cloud computing and artificial intelligence are driving demand for large-scale digital infrastructure.

Goodman’s advantage is that it has the land, development capability, and global customer relationships needed to serve these markets.

With demand for logistics and data centre assets continuing to grow, Goodman arguably remains one of the ASX 200’s strongest long-term growth shares.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Another ASX 200 share worth a closer look is Megaport.

It provides network connectivity services that help businesses connect to cloud providers, data centres, and digital infrastructure on demand.

As more companies move systems and workloads into the cloud, flexible connectivity becomes more important. Megaport’s platform allows customers to scale network usage without relying on traditional fixed infrastructure.

The company has also expanded its opportunity through the acquisition of Latitude, which adds compute capability and opens up its addressable market beyond connectivity.

That gives Megaport a wider role in the digital infrastructure stack. It is no longer just helping customers connect to the cloud. It is also moving closer to the infrastructure that supports cloud and AI workloads.

This acquisition has proven very successful so far, with Latitude recently reporting a major contract win.

If demand for cloud services continues to rise, Megaport could have a very long runway for growth.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

A third ASX 200 share to look at for the $20,000 investment is WiseTech Global.

It provides software to the global logistics industry through its CargoWise platform.

Its customers operate in a complex world of customs, freight forwarding, compliance, and cross-border supply chains. That complexity creates a strong need for software that can automate workflows and improve efficiency.

WiseTech has spent years building a platform that can handle these tasks at scale. It has also continued to expand its product suite, giving customers more reasons to use its software across more parts of their operations.

With a large addressable market and a deep product offering, WiseTech appears well placed to benefit as the industry continues modernising.

The post Where to invest $20,000 in ASX 200 shares this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Is this the best ASX 200 stock to buy in May?
• 3 super ASX tech stocks I’d buy in May with $3,000
• How I’d invest $5,000 across ASX tech stocks
• Money to invest? I’d follow Warren Buffett to get rich

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a tough start to the trading week this Monday, along with many ASX shares. After ending the week on a sour note last week, investors clearly didn’t regain any confidence over the weekend.

The ASX 200 spent today’s entire session in red territory and ended up closing down 0.49%. That leaves the index at 8,701.8 points.

This rough start to trading this week for Australian investors comes after a more positive end to the American week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) barely broke even, inching just 0.025% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more confident, though, rising a happy 1.71%.

But let’s get back to this week and the local markets now for a look at what was happening with the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Dyno Nobel, Inghams, Metcash, and Strike Energy shares are charging higher today
• Why the ASX 200 is being smashed today
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Metcash and A2 Milk shares
• This ASX 200 stock is rocketing 10% after a surprise profit update
• Explosive ASX 200 share jumps 8% on first-half profit surge

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

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) shares are pushing higher on Monday after the gold miner announced a new high-grade discovery.

At the time of writing, the Pantoro share price is up 3.39% to an intraday high of $3.505.

That takes its gain over the past week to almost 10%, giving shareholders some relief after a tough start to the year.

But even after today’s rise, Pantoro shares remain down around 30% in 2026.

So, what has investors buying today?

A high-grade discovery at Racetrack

In its ASX announcement, Pantoro said it has made a significant high-grade gold discovery at the Racetrack target.

Racetrack sits within the company’s 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia.

The discovery is part of Pantoro’s wider drilling program across the Norseman Mainfield. The program is testing Racetrack, Golden Goose, and extensions to the Crown Reef.

Pantoro said drilling along the Racetrack trend has found a high-grade zone over a current strike of 400 metres. It extends from near surface to 600 metres depth.

The company also advised that the zone remains open to the east and down dip.

Some of the standout intercepts include 8 metres at 28.68 grams per tonne gold, including 1 metre at 189.84 grams per tonne.

Another result came in at 2.01 metres at 82.99 grams per tonne, including 1 metre at 165 grams per tonne.

Close to existing infrastructure

Pantoro said Racetrack is around 600 metres north of the OK Underground Mine and existing infrastructure.

That short distance could make the discovery more valuable if follow-up drilling supports a mineable resource.

Discoveries close to existing operations are usually easier to assess because the roads, mine access, plant, and other infrastructure are already nearby.

Notably, Pantoro Managing Director Paul Cmrlec said the company has a “clear pathway” to bring the ore into production in a capital-efficient way.

A closer look at the Norseman project

Pantoro is focused on unlocking the full potential of the Norseman Gold Project.

The project has a 1.2 million tonne per annum processing plant and two active underground mines. It also has an ore reserve of 949,000 ounces.

Pantoro’s medium-term aim is to lift production above 200,000 ounces per year.

The company has also been generating stronger cash flow recently.

In the March quarter, Pantoro produced 17,757 ounces of gold and sold 20,016 ounces at an average price of $6,916 per ounce.

The stronger gold price helped drive quarterly EBITDA to $88.4 million.

Foolish Takeaway

The share price had a poor start to 2026, but the company is producing gold, generating cash, and still finding high-grade mineralisation at Norseman.

Racetrack is still an early-stage discovery, so follow-up drilling will be needed.

The post This ASX gold stock is up 10% in a week. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is this ASX gold stock a buy, hold or sell after its quarterly results?
• Morgans names 3 ASX 200 gold shares to buy
• Why Beach Energy, Domino’s, Origin Energy, and Pantoro Gold shares are dropping today
• Why is this $1.5 billion ASX 200 gold stock tumbling 8% today?
• This ASX gold stock just made a key move. Here’s why investors are watching closely

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are outlined below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $40.00 price target on this industrial property company’s shares. The broker believes that Goodman will reaffirm its FY 2026 operating earnings per share guidance for 9% growth when it releases its third-quarter update later this month. However, Citi also sees scope for management to upgrade its guidance given accelerating activity levels and continued strong execution across its portfolio. In light of this, the broker appears to see plenty of value in Goodman’s shares at current levels. The Goodman share price is trading at $30.99 on Monday afternoon.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Another note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $32.10 price target on this family safety technology company’s shares. Citi is feeling confident about Life360’s quarterly update this week. It believes that recent product improvements will be a boost to engagement and monetisation from the advertising business. And while app download data suggests that monthly active user (MAU) growth may have slowed in April, Citi thinks investors should be wary to assume that this is an indication of current trends. In fact, the broker believes that MAUs will be in line with consensus estimates and weighted to the second half. The Life360 share price is fetching $19.88 at the time of writing.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating on this property listings company’s shares with an improved price target of $217.00. According to the note, the broker was pleased with REA Group’s performance in the third quarter. It notes that the company delivered a resilient result thanks to strong performances in Melbourne and Sydney. And while Bell Potter recognises the potential for disruption, it believes the multiple compression is overdone. This is especially the case considering that REA Group’s moat lies in decades of property, customer and buyer intent data, as well as an inherent network effect via an established and highly engaged audience. The REA Group share price is trading at $177.35 on Monday.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bell Potter says this dominant blue-chip ASX 200 share is a buy
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• How to build a $1,000 a month passive income from the ASX
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: ARB, Aurizon, and Goodman shares

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group, Life360, and REA Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are having a tough start to the week.

In afternoon trade, the banking giant’s shares are down almost 3% to $35.77.

Why are ANZ shares down today?

The weakness in the ANZ share price is being driven primarily by the bank trading ex-dividend for its latest shareholder payout.

This means investors buying ANZ shares from today onwards will not be entitled to receive the upcoming interim dividend.

As a result, the share price will often fall by roughly the value of the dividend on the ex-dividend date, all else being equal.

What does ex-dividend mean?

When a company declares a dividend, it sets a record date to determine which shareholders are eligible to receive the payment.

The ex-dividend date is the first trading day when new buyers are no longer entitled to that dividend.

Because that dividend entitlement has effectively been removed from the share, the market commonly adjusts the share price lower on the ex-dividend date.

This does not necessarily mean investors are reacting negatively to the business itself. It is just that a dividend forms part of a company’s valuation. And investors don’t want to pay for something that they won’t receive.

The ANZ dividend

Last week, ANZ released its half-year results for the six months ended 31 March 2026.

The bank reported statutory profit of $3.65 billion and cash profit of $3.78 billion for the half. Cash profit was up 70% on the second half of FY25, or up 14% when excluding the impact of significant items.

ANZ also reported a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.39% at 31 March, up from 12.03% at 30 September 2025.

In light of the strong performance, the ANZ board declared an interim dividend of 83 cents per share. This payout is 75% franked, which is up from 70% previously.

ANZ said the increased franking level was supported by an improvement in the performance of its Australian operations.

When is payday?

Eligible ANZ shareholders won’t have long to wait until payday.

They can look forward to receiving the interim dividend in around seven weeks on 1 July.

After which, the consensus estimate is for a partially franked final dividend of 85 cents per share later this year.

That will bring its total dividends to $1.68 per share for FY 2026.

The post Why are ANZ shares sinking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why ANZ, CSL, Dateline, and DroneShield shares are sinking today
• Why the ASX 200 is being smashed today
• Buy, hold, sell: ANZ, Eagers, and Woolworths shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded this week

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Starting with no investments can feel like a huge disadvantage.

But I think beginners have one major advantage that is easy to overlook: time.

With enough time, regular investing, and a sensible portfolio, even small monthly amounts can grow into something meaningful.

For someone starting from zero, I think a $50,000 ASX portfolio is a realistic first major milestone.

Start with a simple monthly plan

Let’s say a beginner invests $250 a month into ASX shares.

That works out to $3,000 a year.

On its own, that may not sound like a lot. But when it is invested consistently and allowed to compound, the numbers become much more interesting.

If that money earns an average return of 9% per annum, the portfolio could grow to approximately $50,000 in just over 10 years.

That return is not guaranteed, of course. Some years will be negative, some will be flat, and others may be much stronger. But I think 9% is a reasonable long-term assumption to use when showing how ASX share investing can build wealth over time.

The important point is that beginners do not need to wait until they have a large lump sum.

They can start with a manageable monthly amount and let the portfolio grow step by step.

Focus on quality from day one

If I were starting from zero, I would not try to find the next speculative winner.

I would want the first $50,000 to be built on quality.

That could mean using broad exchange-traded funds (ETFs), high-quality shares, or diversified portfolios that reduce the risk of relying too heavily on one company.

One option could be the iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV).

This ETF gives investors exposure to many of the largest companies in the United States. That includes global leaders across technology, healthcare, consumer goods, financials, and industrials.

For a beginner, I think the IVV ETF can be a useful way to own a slice of some of the world’s strongest businesses without needing to pick them individually.

Add a quality filter

Another ETF I would consider is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY).

This ETF focuses on global companies with quality characteristics, such as strong profitability, low debt, and stable earnings.

I like that idea for beginners because it encourages them to think beyond share price movements and focus on business quality.

Not every company in the market is worth owning. Some businesses are highly cyclical, heavily indebted, or vulnerable to disruption.

A quality-focused ETF can help tilt the portfolio toward companies that may be better placed to compound over the long term.

Keep it diversified

A third option could be the Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG).

This is a more complete portfolio in a single investment. It provides exposure to Australian shares, international shares, emerging markets, and some defensive assets.

For beginners who want something simple, I think the VDHG ETF can be appealing because it removes a lot of decision-making.

Instead of building a portfolio from many separate holdings, investors can use one ETF as a diversified core.

That simplicity can be valuable. The fewer moving parts there are, the easier it may be to keep investing through market volatility.

Foolish takeaway

Going from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares does not require a huge salary or a perfect stock-picking record.

At $250 a month, a beginner could reach that milestone in just over 10 years if the portfolio earns an average return of 9% per annum.

That outcome is not guaranteed, but the maths shows how powerful regular investing can be.

For me, the best way to approach it would be with quality at the centre. ETFs such as the IVV, QLTY, and VDHG ETFs can help beginners build a diversified portfolio from day one and give compounding the chance to do its work.

The post How beginners could go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to retire early at 57 with these 3 Vanguard ASX ETFs
• Are these the best ASX ETFs to buy with $1,000 now?
• The best way to invest in AI on the ASX
• 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy and hold for a decade or more
• How to become a millionaire with ASX shares starting with $0

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 iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.