Author: openjargon

Block Inc (ASX: XYZ) shares opened 2% higher on Friday to $115.06, after already jumping 4.5% higher on Thursday. That’s lifting the gain over the past 12 months to around 17%. Despite that solid run, the Afterpay owner still looks like a very interesting proposition for growth-focused investors.

Block offers exposure to some of fintech’s most attractive growth themes, including payments, lending, financial services, point-of-sale software and buy now, pay later. Its Cash App, Square and Afterpay businesses give it multiple avenues to capture that growth.

Investors may also have another reason for optimism: analysts believe Block shares are far from done. 

Block has multiple growth engines

Block has one of the most attractive long-term growth runways in the ASX tech sector. The company owns Square, Cash App, Afterpay and other payment and financial technology businesses, giving it exposure to merchants, consumers, payments, lending, point-of-sale tools, buy now, pay later and broader financial services.

Two powerful ecosystems sit at the centre of the strategy of Block shares. Cash App serves consumers, while Square provides payments, software and financial services to businesses. Afterpay adds another connection between shoppers and merchants.

Cash App’s opportunity extends well beyond peer-to-peer payments. The app is increasingly becoming a financial hub where customers can receive wages, use a debit card, save, borrow, invest and pay for purchases.

That gives Block several ways to deepen relationships with existing users. Someone who starts by sending money to a friend could eventually use Cash App as their primary financial account.

Is Block’s strategy starting to pay off?

The strategy appears to be gaining momentum. Cash App gross profit rose 38% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY26, while consumer lending origination volume jumped 82%.

Square provides another substantial growth engine. Its combination of payments, point-of-sale hardware, banking tools and industry-specific software allows sellers to manage more of their operations through one platform.

International expansion could provide another leg of growth for Block shares. Square’s international gross payment volume rose 35% year-on-year in the latest quarter, yet international volumes remain materially smaller than those in the US, representing approximately 22% of total Square GPV.

AI could add another growth catalyst

Block is also investing in practical artificial intelligence.

Moneybot is now live across Cash App, while Managerbot is being scaled across Square sellers. The tools are designed to help customers and merchants take action rather than simply receive information.

If AI helps sellers identify problems, improve workflows or understand patterns, Square could become even more valuable. Similarly, AI-powered financial guidance could encourage deeper Cash App engagement.

Analysts see major upside

Analysts remain broadly optimistic about Block shares, with several brokers maintaining buy ratings based on the company’s long-term growth potential and prospects for a rebound as economic conditions stabilise.

The average 12-month price target stands at $172.33, implying approximately 50% upside from the current share price.

The most bullish forecasts reach as high as $256, suggesting potential returns of approximately 123%.

For investors seeking exposure to a diversified fintech business, Block’s combination of Cash App, Square, Afterpay and AI initiatives could make the shares one of the more interesting long-term growth opportunities in the ASX technology sector.

The post Experts tip Afterpay owner Block shares to deliver over 50% returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 Block. 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 iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) are two popular ways for ASX investors to access US shares.

I think both are strong long-term investments.

But the better choice comes down largely to how much concentration and volatility an investor is comfortable accepting.

Why I like the IVV ETF

The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors exposure to around 500 of America’s largest companies.

I like it as a core holding because the portfolio reaches across technology, healthcare, financial services, industrials, consumer businesses, and other major parts of the US economy.

There is still plenty of exposure to companies benefiting from technological change. Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are among the major businesses represented.

But the investment case does not depend as heavily on technology remaining the strongest part of the market.

That makes the IVV ETF the option I would favour if I wanted broad US exposure and something I could comfortably keep adding to through a wide range of market conditions.

Why take more risk with the NDQ ETF?

The NDQ ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which contains 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq.

Its portfolio is much more concentrated in technology and growth businesses. That could work particularly well if areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductors, digital advertising, and software continue expanding strongly over the next decade.

I also like that the Nasdaq 100 can change as new corporate leaders emerge. Investors are not locking themselves into today’s biggest technology companies forever.

The trade-off is that the NDQ ETF can be much more sensitive when growth shares fall out of favour.

A sharp sell-off in technology can hit a large portion of the portfolio at once, while the IVV ETF has more exposure to other industries that may behave differently.

For investors comfortable riding through those swings, I think the extra concentration could also provide greater upside if its major growth businesses continue performing strongly.

Which would I buy?

If I wanted the more balanced option, I would choose the IVV ETF.

It still gives me access to many of America’s leading growth companies, but I would be spreading my money across a much wider section of the economy.

If I had a higher tolerance for risk and wanted greater exposure to technology-led growth, I would lean towards the NDQ ETF.

There is also no reason investors necessarily need to choose only one. Holding both would increase exposure to many companies that appear in each index, so I would just be conscious of that overlap.

Foolish takeaway

For me, this is less about identifying a winner and more about choosing the ETF that suits the investor.

The IVV ETF would be my preference for someone wanting broad US exposure with less concentration.

The NDQ ETF could suit investors willing to accept more volatility in pursuit of stronger growth.

I think both can be excellent buy and hold investments when matched with the right risk tolerance.

The post IVV vs NDQ ETF: Which is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day

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 Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, 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.

The ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) share price is trading around $31.89 on Friday.

For a global healthcare business with a long runway still ahead, I think that price is becoming difficult to overlook.

A huge amount of the market remains untreated

ResMed is already one of the world’s leading providers of sleep apnoea treatment, but the potential market is far from mature.

The company estimates that more than one billion people globally have sleep apnoea. Yet fewer than 20% of patients in the US are diagnosed or treated, with penetration below 10% across the rest of the world.

That puts the growth opportunity into perspective. ResMed does not need to discover an entirely new market. There is already an enormous population that could benefit from treatment but has yet to receive it.

The company also expects the number of US adults with obstructive sleep apnoea to reach around 77 million by 2050.

I think improving awareness, diagnosis, and access to treatment could keep bringing new patients into the market for many years.

More patients can mean years of spending

ResMed’s opportunity does not finish when somebody receives their first machine.

Treatment generally involves masks and other products that need replacing over time, giving the company an ongoing relationship with patients.

ResMed says the global device market is growing at a mid-single-digit rate, while the market for masks is growing at a high-single-digit rate.

I like that combination. The company can benefit from more people beginning treatment while continuing to serve the large group already using its products.

ResMed is also expanding more broadly into sleep health, including areas such as restless legs syndrome following its acquisition of Noctrix.

The valuation looks attractive

According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share forecasts stand at $1.69 in FY27, $1.84 in FY28, and $1.98 in FY29.

At $31.89, the company trades on a PE ratio of just under 19 times forecast FY27 earnings.

By FY29, today’s ResMed share price represents a little over 16 times expected earnings.

I think that looks cheap for a business expected to keep growing earnings while pursuing such an underpenetrated global market.

There are still risks. Competition, changes in treatment methods, healthcare reimbursement, and weaker-than-expected patient growth could all affect the outlook.

Foolish takeaway

What attracts me at $31.89 is the combination of a cheap valuation and a growth opportunity that still looks substantial.

ResMed already has global scale, but treatment penetration suggests there are many more patients still to reach.

With earnings also forecast to rise over the next few years, I think the current share price offers an attractive entry point for long-term investors.

The post Is the ResMed share price too cheap to ignore? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 shares tipped by brokers to return 17% to 43%
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• Where I’d invest $10,000 in ASX shares in September

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 ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. 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) is edging higher again on Friday after a choppy start to September.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.12% to 9,031 points, after briefly climbing above 9,060 earlier this morning.

That follows Thursday’s 0.46% gain, which snapped a 3-day losing streak and helped the market recover some of Wednesday’s 0.97% fall.

The positive start is being seen across much of the market. At the latest check, 126 ASX 200 shares were trading higher, compared with 57 fallers and 17 unchanged.

So, what is driving the market higher today?

US markets set the tone

The biggest support came from Wall Street, where US stocks finished higher overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose 1.18%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) lifted 1.06% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) shot up 1.40%.

The rally came after US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he would support keeping interest rates unchanged this month if upcoming data shows inflation is continuing to cool.

That saw markets reduce the chance of a September rate hike to around 50%, down from more than 63% a day earlier.

But investors will get another important piece of data tonight when the latest US jobs report is released.

Economists expect the US economy added around 56,000 jobs in August, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.1%.

Banks and gold stocks move higher

Back home, the major banks are helping push the market higher this morning.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 0.85% to $161.95, while ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is 0.97% higher at $38.38.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have gained 0.56% to $39.49, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is up 0.63% to $35.13.

Gold miners are also having a strong morning after the gold price rose around 2.54% overnight to roughly US$4,480 an ounce.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are up 1.99% to $23.63, while Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) has gained 1.50% to $15.24.

BHP and Rio Tinto weigh on ASX 200

Not everything is moving higher today, with weakness among the big miners holding the ASX 200 back.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 1.73% to $62.68, despite its US-listed shares pointing to a stronger start before the opening bell.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is also down 1% to $175.34, although Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is moving the other way, up 1.65% to $17.23.

The post What’s driving the ASX 200 higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
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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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I had $15,000 ready to invest today, I would spread it evenly across three ASX shares I think can keep finding new ways to grow.

Here are three shares I would buy with the money.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Netwealth would be my first pick.

This ASX share provides the investment platform and technology financial advisers use to manage client portfolios and superannuation.

I think the opportunity is increasingly about helping advice practices operate better. Advisers have to manage investments, reporting, administration, tax information, client communication, and an expanding range of products. A platform that can bring more of that work together can become increasingly important to how the practice runs.

Netwealth can keep improving those capabilities while competing for more advisers and client assets.

It also operates in a market with a strong long-term tailwind. Australia’s pool of superannuation and investment wealth should continue expanding over the years ahead.

For me, $5,000 invested in Netwealth would be backing a company that could potentially capture more of that wealth while becoming more valuable to the people managing it.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

I would put another $5,000 into home appliance manufacturer Breville.

What I like here is the repeatability of the growth model. Breville can develop a strong product, build a reputation around it, take it into more countries, and then introduce those customers to other products across the kitchen.

Coffee has become a major strength, but I do not think the investment case needs to stop with espresso machines.

Breville has spent years building expertise in product design and a premium brand that can extend across many kitchen categories.

If the company keeps producing products people are willing to pay more for and expands its presence across international markets, I think it has a straightforward path to becoming a much larger global consumer business.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

My final $5,000 would go into Catapult Sports.

Professional sports organisations now generate enormous amounts of information from athlete tracking, video, training, and competition. The challenge is turning all of that information into better decisions.

Catapult is building technology around that entire process. Its products can help coaches and performance teams understand how athletes are moving, review matches, prepare tactics, and increasingly connect information that previously sat in separate systems.

I think that could make the company much more deeply involved in how sporting organisations work.

New areas such as athlete development, strength training, and scouting also give Catapult room to expand beyond the products it first became known for.

With professional sport played at enormous scale around the world, I think there is plenty of territory left for this ASX share to pursue.

Foolish takeaway

With $15,000 to invest, I would be comfortable giving each of these ASX shares $5,000.

The common thread for me is the ability to keep expanding what they already do well.

That gives me enough confidence to buy today and let the businesses, rather than short-term share price movements, determine the outcome over the years ahead.

The post Where I’d invest $15,000 in ASX shares now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Netwealth 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) spiked to an all-time high in early August. After falling from that peak, it remains up around 3% year-to-date.

Concerns about inflation, higher interest rates and a rising oil price saw stocks soften across much of the index.

Some ASX 200 shares, like Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL) and Aurizon Ltd (ASX: AZJ) were smashed by the slump in sentiment, while others, such as APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) bucked the trend and flew higher.

Here’s a breakdown of how each of these shares are tracking now, and what brokers tip next.

Hold APA shares

At the time of writing, APA shares are trading at $10.94 a piece. That’s a 6% increase over the past month and around a 21% increase for the year-to-date.

The shares stormed higher after the company reported its FY26 results in mid-August, which surpassed guidance.

APA reported an 8.3% increase in underlying EBITDA as part of its FY26 results this morning. It also announced a 3.2% increase in its free cash flow and 1.9% uplift in statutory revenue (excluding pass-through), and a 81.4% jump in statutory net profit.

Going forward, APA is also guiding a higher underlying EBITDA of between $2,260 million and $2,340 million for FY27.

The share price has climbed around 8% higher since its results announcement, but it looks like the shares could now be around fair value.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a hold rating on APA shares. The average $9.65 target price implies a potential 12% downside at the time of writing.

Hold Transurban shares

Transurban shares have fallen around 8% over the past month, at the time of writing. The slump means the shares are now down around 3% for the year-to-date.

The shares started sliding after it posted its FY26 update. The toll road company reported a 7.5% increase in its proportional operating EBITDA and a 6.7% increase in its proportional toll revenue growth. EBITDA market also increased to 75.7%, up from 74.9% in FY25.

But it looks like investors are concerned about Transurban’s climbing debt-servicing costs and are now questioning whether its shares are now trading at over stretched valuations. The shares are now down around 6% since the results announcement.

Brokers are also reserved about the outlook for the shares. Market Index data shows that the majority have a hold rating on APA shares. The $13.95 average target price implies around a 2% upside ahead, at the time of writing.

Hold Aurizon shares

Aurizon shares crashed around 13% following its FY26 results last month. There has been a slight share price recovery, but they’re still down around 12% over the past month. 

The rail freight operator posted a 6% increase in revenue, a 9% increase in underlying EBITDA, and a 24% increase in underlying NPAT. Management also raised its full-year dividend 46% to 23 cents per share.

Going forward, Aurizon is guiding underlying EBITDA of $1,725–$1,775 million, with full-year dividends expected to be in the range of 23 to 24 cents per share. 

The company is targeting higher earnings in the Network and Bulk divisions, but it said Coal is expected to moderate due to lower contracted volumes. Containerised Freight is forecast to reach break-even on an EBITDA basis.

But it looks like investors are concerned about the cautious FY27 guidance figures and declining coal haulage expectations.

Brokers are also reserved. Again, Market Index shows that the majority of brokers have a hold rating on the shares. The $3.68 target price implies a downside of around 1% at the time of writing.

The post Here’s what brokers tip next for APA, Transurban, Aurizon shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are edging higher on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the accounting software stock is up 0.82% to $81.37.

It has been a much better story over the past month, with Xero shares gaining around 14% after falling to a 7-year low of $61.45 in late July.

But even after that rebound, the stock is still down close to 30% since the start of 2026 and more than 50% below its 52-week high of $166.

So, can Xero shares continue their comeback?

Xero is still growing

The share price has taken a beating, but the business itself is still growing at a decent rate.

Xero reported FY26 operating revenue of NZ$2.75 billion, up 31%, while annualised monthly recurring revenue jumped 37% to NZ$3.27 billion.

The company also added 506,000 customers during the year, taking its global customer base to 4.92 million.

Average revenue per customer rose 23% to NZ$55.44, while adjusted EBITDA increased 18% to NZ$757.4 million.

Net profit went the other way, falling 27% to NZ$167.4 million, with costs from the Melio acquisition weighing on the result.

Still, management expects another strong year ahead.

FY27 revenue guidance sits between NZ$3.62 billion and NZ$3.73 billion, which points to growth of around 30% at the midpoint.

And Xero still has plenty of room to grow. The company has previously estimated its total addressable market at around 100 million small and medium-sized businesses.

That compares with fewer than 5 million customers today.

What do the brokers think?

Despite the weak share price, several brokers still see plenty of upside.

Citi has a buy rating and $113.60 price target, while Morgan Stanley is even more bullish with a $130 target.

UBS sits at $127, Ord Minnett at $110, and Morgans at $111.

But there are some more cautious views as well. RBC Capital has a hold rating and $85 target, while Jefferies has a $77 target.

According to TipRanks, the average 12-month price target is $99.29.

That would put the shares around 22% above where they trade today.

Is the comeback getting started?

I think there’s still a bit more to prove before this rally can really get going.

Xero needs to keep growing while integrating Melio and making sure higher costs don’t eat too far into earnings.

However, the rebound from its $61.45 low is at least a sign that investors are starting to take another look at the stock.

At $81 a pop, Xero shares certainly look more appealing than they did when they were swapping hands for close to $200.

If the company delivers on FY27 guidance and keeps making progress in the US, the shares should keep climbing.

The post This ASX 200 tech giant is down 30% in 2026. Can it make a comeback? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d use ASX shares to build wealth outside my superannuation
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Jefferies Financial Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) share price is in focus after WIN Group announced it has increased its economic interest in Nine Entertainment to 31.18%, following on-market purchases of 47 million shares since April 2026. WIN Group’s voting power in Nine has also risen to 25.94%.

What did Nine Entertainment report?

• WIN Group acquired 47,012,885 Nine shares on market between 27 August and 3 September 2026.
• WIN Group’s aggregate economic interest increased from 28.22% to 31.18%.
• Voting power for WIN Group rose from 22.98% to 25.94%.
• No changes were made to WIN Group’s existing cash-settled equity swap position in Nine.
• Total shares held by WIN Group now stand at over 411 million.

What else do investors need to know?

Nine Entertainment disclosed these substantial shareholdings after receiving a formal update from WIN Group, led by Bruce Gordon through Birketu Pty Ltd and WIN Corporation Pty Ltd. The acquisitions reinforce WIN Group’s position as the largest shareholder in Nine, and mark a notable increase from its previously disclosed position in April 2026.

The move was disclosed in accordance with Takeovers Panel Guidance Note 20, ensuring the market is kept informed on changes that could affect control or influence within the company. Nine released the information to the ASX to maintain transparency and comply with regulatory requirements.

What’s next for Nine Entertainment?

Looking ahead, investors will be watching whether WIN Group continues to consolidate its interest in Nine Entertainment Co. Any further increases in shareholding or moves relating to the company’s strategic direction could influence future governance and business decisions.

The company plans to keep shareholders and the market informed about any future changes to major shareholdings, in line with its ongoing disclosure obligations.

Nine Entertainment share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Nine Entertainment shares have declined 41%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post WIN Group increases Nine Entertainment stake past 31% 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 Nine Entertainment. 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.

Earnings season has just finished, the economy is growing slowly (but also too quickly!), and rate rises are on the horizon.

There is a lot going on in the world at the moment. And it’s affecting our economy and investments.

Our Chief Investment Officer, Scott Phillips, will be hosting a LIVE one-hour market update and Q&A TODAY, September 4, 2026 at 12pm AEST to update viewers with his thoughts on all of that and more.

Plus, taking your questions, LIVE, on YouTube in the process.

And you can watch it right here!

The post YouTube LIVE: Today at 12pm AEST appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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 Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR) share price is in the spotlight after the company announced a $105 million deal to acquire 100% of the Moranbah South coal tenements, boosting its resource base with 724 million tonnes of measured and indicated coal.

What did Stanmore Resources report?

• Stanmore agreed to acquire all of Moranbah South from Exxaro for US$105 million.
• The Moranbah South tenements contain 724 million tonnes of measured and indicated coal resources.
• The deal is conditional on Exxaro acquiring Anglo American’s 50% joint venture stake, giving Exxaro full ownership ahead of sale to Stanmore.
• The acquisition removes up to US$60 million in deferred and contingent payments for Stanmore’s Isaac Downs Extension project.
• Stanmore will fund the acquisition from existing cash and liquidity, so no shareholder approval is required.

What else do investors need to know?

The Moranbah South tenements are strategically located next to Stanmore’s existing Eagle Downs and Isaac Plains Complex mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The resources are considered to be high-quality, premium hard coking coal and may benefit from shared infrastructure if Eagle Downs is developed.

This transaction is expected to add significant value across Stanmore’s portfolio by increasing resource scale and potentially lowering development costs. The deal also cancels significant future payment obligations tied to earlier agreements on the Isaac Downs Extension, making the economics more attractive.

Completion is expected before the end of 2026, subject to Exxaro acquiring full ownership and meeting regulatory approvals including the Foreign Investment Review Board and ACCC. An independent resource report is planned after the deal closes.

What did Stanmore Resources management say?

Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Marcelo Matos said:

The acquisition of the Moranbah South tenements will represent a significant milestone for Stanmore’s development portfolio, increasing our resource base and strengthening the platform to deliver on our future growth aspirations. The tenements are strategically complementary to Stanmore’s neighbouring projects, particularly Eagle Downs and the Isaac Downs Extension.

What’s next for Stanmore Resources?

Stanmore has signalled its intent to commission an independent report on the newly acquired resources, aiming to update shareholders and the market once new technical and feasibility studies are complete. If the acquisition closes as planned, Moranbah South could provide long-term synergies to future mining operations and development options.

The company remains focused on strategic growth from its expanded portfolio and delivering increased value for investors as integration and further exploration proceeds.

Stanmore Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Stanmore Resources shares have risen 64%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 3% over the same period.

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The post Stanmore Resources to acquire Moranbah South, boosting coal resources appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Stanmore Resources posts higher revenue and steady production in 1H FY26

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